Brooke and Chris's Idaho Winter Elopement - An intimate, heartfelt adventure in the Sawtooth Mountains in Southern Idaho.
Can I just start off this blog by saying I seriously have the coolest and most fun couples?? I had such a blast down in Stanley and Sun Valley Idaho documenting not just one, but two winter elopements this last December! This blog is just going to be part 1 of the incredible adventure that I had with my couples. So up first we have Brooke and Chris, who came up from Boise to have an intimate, Pioneer Park winter elopement in Stanley, Idaho. They had their ceremony at Pioneer Park right in the town of Stanley, which offers super easy access to some of the best views of the Sawtooth's in the area! They also decorated a tree, enjoyed their "first married Chipotle", and enjoyed wandering around throughout the area creating unforgettable memories together 😍
One thing you need to know if you're dreaming of those easy going, love-filled photos, is to just to simply be in love with your partner! I hardly had to pose Brooke and Chris throughout the day, they were just so happy to be together and shared so many laughs and meaningful moments throughout this day!
Getting Ready in Sun Valley Condo
The start to this beautiful day began with the bright sun shining in through the windows as Brooke and Chris got ready in their condo in Sun Valley. Luckily the day was still very wintery even with the sun! I hung Brooke's stunning dress that she got in Alaska by the slider door and the fireplace and took photos of some details while Brooke finished writing out her vows at the dining table. They wanted to have a first look together, so Brooke got ready upstairs and Chris got ready downstairs. And Brooke even made sure to have something blue (her shoes and adorable puffy coat)!
Also, Brooke's stunning burgundy and orange floral bouquet was the perfect contrast to the wintery scenery awaiting us outside, too! She also had an elegant updo done to complete the look.
✍️Planning Tip: Sun Valley is also a great option for more affordable and more options for lodging vs in Stanley. Stanley is very isolated, so with Sun Valley being just over an hour away, it's a great place to consider for more amenities and places to stay, without missing out on being close to the mountains.
First Look at Sun Valley Barn
Brooke and Chris ended up hiring a driver to drive all three of us around for the day - which was honestly genius! I will definitely recommend my couples hiring a driver from here on out so we can all relax and recharge as we are being driven to and from locations!
And so the driver went and dropped off Chris at the Sun Valley barn while he came back and picked up me and Brooke and the rest of our stuff. Funny story, when we got to the barn I didn't even see the gate to get inside the fence even though we parked right next to it, so me and Chris wandered all around the barn until I passed it on the way back to the car, haha! To be fair the gate blended right into the fence😂
But once we found our way in the Sun Valley Barn acted as the perfect backdrop for their really sweet first look together! Chris even got their wedding date sewn into the collar of his suit to surprise Brooke with! Little details like this make the biggest impact for photos - trust me!
Decorating a Tree with Ornaments
After their first look, we drove over to Stanley and explored the area looking for a good tree to decorate. Since this elopement was in December, Brooke and Chris brought some really fun ornaments to decorate a tree with for some photos! Our driver found a really pretty spot by a creek and we spent a little bit here taking some photos and having a good time! At this point it started snowing just a bit, enough that it looked like it was snowing sparkles - so stunning! Chris even brought his Santa hat to complete the activity.
First Married Chipotle Burritos
You know it's gonna be a good day when you bring Chipotle burritos all the way from Boise with you for your elopement in Stanley! My couple wanted to celebrate with their "first married Chipotle" and made sure to indulge in their favorite burritos for the occasion. They were even kind enough to bring me my go-to Chipotle order, how sweet of them! 🥹
They also brought a game they like to play and arranged the cards into their wedding date of 12/13. Seriously, how fun is that?!
Heartfelt + Intimate Ceremony at Pioneer Park
After all these fun activities - which goes to show you can definitely include super fun + unique activities before the ceremony actually starts - we met up with their officiant in the winter wonderland that was the Pioneer Park located right in the town of Stanley. I loved the officiant's approach to the ceremony, she had Brooke put her flowers on the ground (which still looks stunning in photos) and had her and Chris hold hands to really feel that connection for the ceremony!
Brooke and Chris read their vows to each other as well during the ceremony, and that was truly such a heartfelt experience for them! Chris told Brooke a haiku from memory, and Brooke and Chris shared in so many genuine laughs from their vows, their love really shone for this ceremony.
How to Elope at Pioneer Park
The Pioneer Park in Stanley, ID is such a great location to consider for your elopement! Here's a few reasons why I love this spot:
It's easy to access. Since it's right off the main highway, it's easy and quick to get to if you're staying in the town of Stanley.
The views are unbeatable. If you aren't able to hike far or if you have guests/family that aren't able to hike but you still want those mountainous views, you won't miss out if you're at the park!
It can be reserved if you're having a larger group and a more traditional setup, this website has the reservation form!
There's convenient amenities like restrooms and picnic tables.
For more information on eloping in Stanley in general, I have a whole blog on this topic, with even more locations, activity ideas, and more!
Winter Bridals in the Sawtooth Mountains
After the ceremony and a quick warm up session in the car, we ventured back out into the elements for some absolutely stunning winter bridals with the snow covered Sawtooth's as their backdrop!
I must be acclimated to the cold well because I actually stayed outside and took in the views while everyone else went to warm up, gotta love being from Idaho, haha!
Ways to Stay Warm for Winter Photos
Not only fashionable, but practical as well, Brooke brought along a fuzzy stole to wrap around herself as we took photos! I absolutely love how this adds a cozy feel to the photos - and it helped keep Brooke warm!
As we are taking photos, I always let my couples know that if they are too cold at any point to keep going, to let me know that they need a warm up break in the car! This especially came in handy with the driver they hired because he was able to wait in the car and keep it warm for us!
Check out this blog for even more winter elopement tips!
Dancing in Ketchum Town Square
To finish off this magical day, Brooke and Chris wanted to find some pretty lights downtown Ketchum to take some photos with, and since our driver was local he recommend Ketchum Town Square - and it did not disappoint (this spot also has the coolest looking Starbucks I've ever seen)!
We took a few dancing photos and the location was all decorated for the season, which looked absolutely stunning in photos and perfectly matched the feel of their elopement + their matching jean jackets! This was the perfect spot to end our adventure together.
Winter Elopement Inspiration in Stanley, Idaho
Stanley Elopement Vendors
This dream team of Idaho elopement vendors helped bring this elopement to life! From Brooke's gorgeous flowy dress, to her colorful florals, to even hiring a driver so we could sit back and relax, I've linked their websites below so you can reach out to them for your mountain adventure wedding!
-Florals: Tara Bella Flowers
-Photographer: Karlie Larson Photography
-Dress: Bateau Bridal Boutique in Anchorage, Alaska
-Hair: Sun Valley Salon and Day Spa
-Catering: Chipotle
-Officiant: Pauline Downey
-Driver: Miller's Limo
Stanley Elopement Packages
Stanley is definitely a place that you have to visit at least once to experience its rugged beauty! I absolutely recommend this place for your elopement if you're envisioning an outdoorsy setting with rustic cabins, alpine lakes with scenery unlike anywhere else, and of course the Sawtooth Mountains that will take your breath away! My Idaho elopement packages include everything you could need to plan an unforgettable day here:
Booking + Day of Gift
Sneak Peek Images
Beautifully Edited Final Images
Access to High Quality Print Products
Free Phone Consultation or Zoom Call
Timeline Creation
Leave No Trace Guide
90+ Page Planning Guide
Vendor Recommendations
Unlimited Planning Assistance
My Travel is Covered
Stanley Elopement Photographer
As an Idaho elopement photographer, seeing my couples living the absolute dream while exploring my home of Idaho is my goal! Not only do you get a photographer when you work with me, but you get unlimited planning assistance, guidance, personalized location and activity suggests, and so much more so you can have the best adventure together in the place I love most.
A Sweet Review from the Couple:
"Karlie was such a pleasure to work with. She is extremely professional and yet personable at the same time. From our initial phone call when she wanted to get to know us as a couple and what we were looking for with our elopement, to the day itself, Karlie proved herself to be an expert in the industry that we could rely on. Karlie frequently checked in with me about personal details to make sure I had everything I wanted for our big day. She was great with suggestions and even has a client binder with local vendors, tips and more. Karlie sent cell phone pics the night of the elopement and our sneak peak album (50+ photos) within days! If you want someone who feels like a friend, is an expert and can capture your candid moments- look no further! Karlie is simply the best :)" -Brooke and Chris
A huge part of my business is helping craft the ultimate client elopement experience! I talk about this a bit more in depth more over on my about page if you're interested in checking it out - but I really just love helping my clients have such a fun day together, and with this the best photos will follow!
I hope this day in the photos came across as fun-loving as it was in real life! This intimate, Pioneer Park winter elopement in Stanley, Idaho was definitely one for the books and I honestly just really love winter elopements - they're romantic, cozy, and whimsical! If you love winter elopements as much as I do, hopefully this blog convinced you to have a winter elopement in Idaho - you can contact me here if it did! 😉
More Stanley Elopement Inspiration
I recently bought the Beth Dutton Blue Coat from Real Jacket Maker, and it’s just as stunning as it looks on Yellowstone! The quality and fit are perfect totally worth it for any fan of the series.