Earlier this week, the mailman brought my copy of the 2020 Grand Wedding Magazine with Samantha + Joey’s wedding story and photos gracing a few spreads between some other stunning Grand Teton weddings. Flipping through the glossy pages, reminiscing on the day, it felt like a good time to share some more of this mountain dream of a wedding with the world.

To say I was excited leading up to this day would be an understatement; getting to revisit one of my favorite places on earth and witness the wedding of dear friends was a bit of a dream come true. Sam and I originally met working together as wranglers at a dude ranch in Jackson Hole a few years back. My time at the ranch relatively brief, but the people and mountains made quick work of stealing a chunk of my heart. Every time I return, it feels a little bit like coming home and this time was no different.

You can read all about Samantha and Joey’s crazy sweet love story through the link above, and you totally should, because Sam has a beautiful way with words and their story is the cutest.

Short version of the day — Sam her girls got ready at Turpin Meadow Ranch, the same ranch where she and Joey now live in the cutest little tiny house with their darling cat, Louie. An uncharacteristically persistent summer storm taunted us with threats of a rained out ceremony over at Diamond Cross Ranch. In a moment that felt like a wedding day miracle, the storms cleared at the last possible second and everyone ran outside so Sam and Joey could seal the deal. They did the thing and said their vows in front of perfect mountain view surrounded by the sort of exhilaratingly fresh air that can only come from recently passed rain and the buzz of joyful anticipation emanating from us all as these two pledged their lives to one another. The evening was full to the brim with all the things a wedding should be full of — food, and dancing, and cake, and more dancing, and my cheeks hurt from smiling by the end of the night.

To finish things off, we took little post-wedding adventure through Grand Teton National Park a couple days later, when the guests had headed back home and the buzz had died down. It was the perfect opportunity to capture the two of them in a landscape so dear to all our hearts. We even had some time for Joey to stop and read the journal Sam had kept for him from the time they were dating up through their wedding day (take notes people, this was the most thoughtful, meaningful gift ever. Wow). These post-wedding adventure sessions are something I love incorporating especially for destination weddings as the allow more time to spend with guests who have come so far for your wedding day, and give the chance to really get into the landscape and explore.

Keep scrolling for all the sweet moments and a list of the wonderful vendors who made this wedding day possible!