Give yourself permission to dream…
After agonizing over venues and looking at a thousand pins on Pinterest you wake up in the middle of the night and realize this isn’t us. We want a meaningful, totally unique wedding experience.
The amazing thing is that getting married doesn’t have to be stressful or dictated by tradition. Your wedding day can be anything you want it to be. You can elope, you can plan an intimate wedding next to a beautiful river or if you have enough resources you can get married in space. Give yourself permission to dream and create an adventurous wedding experience that really speaks to your heart.
What is an Adventurous Wedding?
Adventurous weddings come in all shapes and sizes but simply put they are a wedding celebration in the great outdoors that is completely focused on you and your wedding adventure. Adventurous weddings can be an elopement (2-20 people) or an intimate wedding (50 or less guests). This type of wedding celebration is created by you, for you and can include any level of adventure; from getting married on your favorite beach on the Oregon coast to taking a helicopter tour in Alaska and exchanging vows on a glacier.
Planning an adventurous wedding gives you permission to ditch tradition
There is no reason to stay with traditions that don’t matter to you. If you don’t want to throw your bouquet… Don’t do it! If you want to get married on the top of a mountain…. do it! If you don’t care for white… wear a black dress instead. Saying no to tradition set’s you free. It allows you to create a wedding day that is the perfect blend of your love and personalities.
How to start planning an adventurous wedding
While adventurous weddings are epic they take planning, imagination and experience. It is so important that you find a wedding photographer that is experienced in the area you are planning your wedding in. This will make your wedding experience and photos a 100% better because your photographer will be able to recommend amazing locations and they will understand the realities of bring your adventurous wedding vision to life.
If you are considering planning an adventurous wedding begin your planning process with finding a photographer. Many adventure wedding photographers will have vendor recommendation and location suggestions for the areas they serve. This is an awesome resource for you!
Once you have found a photographer you can start bringing your wedding dreams to life! This will include researching locations, finding vendors and deciding on what activities you would like to do during your wedding day. Below is a link to more info on how to get started planning your dream wedding day!
Feeling like an adventurous wedding is perfect for you? Here is a little inspiration from an adventurous wedding venue on the Salmon River….
If you love water and boating you could chose to get married at a backcountry guest ranch along the Salmon River in Idaho. You would start your wedding adventure at a boat launch at the end of a road; 25 miles from the nearest town and 4 hours from the nearest international airport.
Dahlias for the Bride.
Vinegar Creek Boat Launch
Jet Boat Pickup
After loading all of your belongings in a jet boat you would head up river. You could sit on the back of the boat and soak in the sun and untamed beauty around you. Wildlife abounds in the canyon and you might spot a mountain sheep or black bear. Along the way, you could stop for photos with mountain views to document the epic joinery you are taking into the Frank Church Wilderness.
Jet Boat Romance
Taking in the beauty en route
Arrived at Mackay Bar Ranch.
Bride & Groom Sunset Kisses.
Romance and togetherness.
After a 45ish minute jet boat ride you would arrive at Mackay Bar, an intimate wedding venue located at the confluence of the South Fork and the Main Salmon River. A vintage Willy Jeep will help you settle into your amazing wedding weekend. From here you could choose to get married at the ranch or spend an afternoon hiking or horseback riding out of the canyon for an evening ceremony with epic views of the Frank Church Wilderness.
Wedding Supplies Unloaded
Willys CJ6 Jeep Ride
Willys Jeep transports precious cargo.
Holding Hands in Willys Jeep
Willys Jeep Hauling Dahlias
If you chose to get married at Mackay Bar Ranch, you could get ready in one of the venue’s onsite wall tents. The ranch offers several locations to host your ceremony, including a white sand beach. After your ceremony you could head upriver for some couples photos. The options for adventuring after your ceremony are endless….. you could chose to hop in a jet boat and take photos along the river.
Brides Wedding Gown
The Wedding Invitation
Grooms Wedding Shoes
The Bridal Bouquet
The Post Wedding Jet Boat Ride
The Wedding Couple Photos
Adventure Romance Captured.
The Wedding Couple United
Newly Wedded
Wedding Detail Closeup.
If you were getting married in the summer you could spend the rest of your wedding weekend exploring white sand beaches, relaxing at the ranch and fly fishing the South Fork.
Sunset Bonfire Holding Hands
Mackay Bar Ranch Bonfire
Romantic Moments with Beach Bonfire
Venue: Mackay Bar Ranch Florals: South Fork Flowers Jewelry: McCall Jewelry Company Photography: Autumn Lynne Photography Dress: BB Bridal Beauty: Salon Topside
