Rustic Winter Cabin Elopement in Northern Idaho
- Karlie Larson
- May 8
- 6 min read
Derek & Alicia's Rustic Winter Cabin Elopement in Priest Lake, Idaho
Derek and Alicia decided on a Rustic Winter Cabin Elopement in Northern Idaho
to tie the knot! The picturesque mid-February landscape, blanketed in pristine white snow, provided the perfect backdrop for their special day.
When they first reached out to me to discuss their wedding plans, I mentioned Priest Lake as an excellent option - it's one of my go-to locations here locally. Derek and Alicia love spending time on the lake together, so they for sure wanted to incorporate that into the scenery they picked!
This particular location is known as the Crown Jewel of Idaho for its scenery and in the winter it tends to receive more snowfall due to its northern latitude - perfect for a winter elopement!
The added bonus is that there are several stunning cabins available for rent, which can accommodate couples and their loved ones in a cozy, intimate setting. We arranged to meet up and scout out the location together, ensuring that it aligned with their vision for the day.
The combination of the rustic charm of the cabin they chose and the stunning natural beauty of the area made it an ideal choice for their celebration. Ultimately, they fell in love with Priest Lake, leading them to choose it as their elopement location!
Getting Ready in a Rustic Forest Cabin
February is one of the best months up in Idaho for a winter elopement. Sometimes we don't have snow until January, and by February we typically get some late winter storms. This made for the most picture-perfect winter scenery for their elopement.
We started the day at this stunning cabin nestled right in between these stunning tall trees while also being close to the lake, perfect for what Derek and Alicia wanted! Alicia got her hair and makeup done upstairs while Derek got ready separately.
This cabin is right off the main road, so even in the winter it was easy to access while still feeling like you got transported to the middle of the woods 🌲 This cabin was the perfect place for getting ready photos for their wintery adventure!
Alicia's dress was absolutely stunning on her and her florals were so so beautiful and colorful, they added the perfect pop of color to the wintery landscape.
A Heartfelt First Look at Hill's Resort
When it was time for their first look, we found the perfect location at Hill's Resort! You just can't go wrong with the views here, the mountains and the frozen water made for the most perfect, quiet scene for Alicia to surprise Derek with a gift, along with their first look and a mini-hot cocoa picnic!
Planning Tips for Eloping in Priest Lake:
There is limited cell service throughout the Priest Lake area so you are always welcome to follow me in a separate car to locations in this area.
Download offline maps and add pins to your favorite locations. Some locations go by a different name or don't have an exact location marker on the map.
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, you can expect more snow in Priest Lake vs Coeur d'Alene in the winter months. So come prepared when driving in the snow without cell service - a good chunk of the highway up to Priest Lake has no service.
If you're finding this information helpful, feel free to check out this blog on How to Elope in Priest Lake for even more planning help!
Wintery Ceremony at Ledgewood Picnic Area
This spot is one of my favorite locations in the Priest Lake area! It's so serene. As you drive down the road to this location you can see the rocky peaks of the Selkirk Mountains poke out between the trees. With snow covered mountains surrounding you and a large open beach, this spot always works so well for a ceremony and photos.
My couple had a very small group join them for this scenic ceremony. They loved this spot when we scoped it out together and decided on this location for the ceremony!
✍️Planning Tip: Even if the parking lot for this location isn't plowed in the winter, there's a place to pull off right before you turn in so this is another great location to use in the wintertime!
Cake and Dancing in a Cozy Cabin
With winter days comes it getting dark sooner, so as we finished up the ceremony and a few bridals we decided to do the family portraits back at the cabin in front of the fireplace and warm up with some good local pizza from Millie's.
Derek and Alicia even brought a super cool record player which added such a unique and personalized touch to their mini-reception!
This elopement had around 15 people for a cozy and intimate reception complete with a gorgeous (and absolutely delicious) cake, speeches, and lots of dancing - the perfect way to end this romantic, wintery elopement day.
Idaho Winter Elopement Inspiration
Idaho Elopement Vendors
These Idaho Elopement Vendors made this day that much more special and beautiful! Hiring the right vendors can seriously make the biggest difference in your overall elopement experience. From Alicia's long train and veil with her dress, to the most colorful and cascading floral bouquet, to the most charming and rustic Airbnb, all of these vendors came together to create this winter elopement story.
Photography: Karlie Larson Photography
Dress: Say Yes Bridal Boutique, and a shoutout to Sewing North Idaho for being a rockstar for Alicia's dress alterations!
Hair and Makeup: Terri Reece Studios
Florals: Rose and Blossom
Cabin: Autumn's Lodge
Cake: Just American Desserts
Idaho Elopement Photographer
I am so happy that I get to work in Priest Lake as an Idaho Elopement Photographer so often! This location is local to me and I've worked up here in all 4 of Idaho's seasons. This is definitely the place I recommend for those who want to elope in North Idaho!
And if you haven’t considered eloping in the winter yet and need a little more inspiration, here’s some blogs that just might convince you ;)
And here’s a blog as well all about how to plan a winter elopement in Idaho filled with tips on the best locations in Idaho, the best attire to stay warm, winter activity ideas and more!
Alicia and Derek's Review From Working Together:
"Karlie helped me and my husband Derek start planning our elopement from the day I contacted her expressing interest in her services. The pictures on her website caught my eye, but her amazing help with organizing everything from vendors to the schedule of the day was really impressive. We were determined to get married by a lake and in February. She didn’t miss a beat. She came through with ideas that made our dream wedding come to life!
How were the photos? Absolutely stunning. We did private vows practically knee deep in snow and she got some phenomenal picturesque shots that made us have a feeling of only the two of us in the whole world in uncharted territory.
Karlie gave us a stress free (as possible) wedding day for Derek and me! Everyone in our elopement party is still talking about the amazing time we had 2 months later. Karlie gave us our dream wedding and the photos to remember it by! Thank you, Karlie, you will always be family to us!!"
Read more about the elopement experience with Karlie!
Idaho Winter Elopement Packages
If you're interested in eloping in Idaho in the wintertime, check out my pricing and info page! I go more in depth on the elopement experience, and how I assist you throughout the whole process.
Here's what comes with my Idaho Winter Elopement Packages:
↠ Booking Gift
↠ 72 Hour Turn-Around Time for Sneak Peek Images
↠ Day of Elopement Gift
↠ Beautifully Edited Final Images
↠ Access to High Quality Print Products
↠ Free Phone Consultation or Zoom Call
↠ Timeline Creation
↠ Leave No Trace Guide
↠ Idaho Location Guide
↠ 90+ Page Elopement Planning Guide
↠ Vendor Recommendations
↠ Unlimited Planning Assistance
↠ 6-8 Week Turnaround Time for Full Elopement Gallery
↠ Travel & Accommodations are Covered for Photographer
Contact me here to elope in the beautiful state of Idaho - during any time of the year!
For even more information on eloping in Idaho, I have an entire blog going super in depth on how to elope in Idaho - the ultimate guide from a local!
Otherwise feel free to pin the image below on Pinterest to save this Rustic Winter Cabin Elopement in Northern Idaho for your winter elopement planning needs!
