Snowy Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding

Alison & Clay’s Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Story…

I met Alison and Clay at a small coffee shop in McCall last August. Clay worked for the Forest Service and Alison was finishing up PT school. We chatted a bit and made plans for their engagement photos. A month later we hiked to a small alpine lake outside of Cascade and spent the evening adventuring around the mountains, disturbing fireweed and enjoying the fall sunset. As we were walking down to the car Clay looked off and said ‘that’s where it’s all happening’ and pointed to the Sawtooths. Little did we know it was going to be an epic ‘happening’.

Bride and groom embrace with snow falling around them at their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Fast forward a year….

I left for Stanley, Idaho on a sunny June day. In McCall I stopped to pick up Alison and Clay’s wedding cake from a local baker and was greeted with a lecture on how to appropriately drive whilst transporting a cake. No stress at all! The drive was beautiful and I managed to deliver the cake without any damages to the coolers at Redfish Lake Lodge.

Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding venue in Stanley, Idaho

Their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Rehearsal At North Shore

The North Shore Picnic Area is a short walk from the lodge and can be reserved for rehearsal dinner and other wedding festivities. Alison and Clay reserved it for their rehearsal and wedding ceremony. The skies were beautiful for the rehearsal dinner and I would never have guessed it was going to snow the next day.

Pine tree wedding decoration inspiration for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho

Band plays at a rehearsal dinner for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho

Their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Day

Wedding day dawned cold and overcast and by 10am it was storming. The groomsmen assembled the wedding arch just past the North Shore Picnic area and by noon it had blown into the lake. It continued to snow and sunshine throughout the day and the wind didn’t ever really stop.

Weather is probably one of the biggest stressors of a wedding day. I always tell my couples that snow or shine I am there to capture their wedding day in all of its beauty and chaos. Alison came to me about half way through the morning wondering if they should move the ceremony into the reception tent. I encouraged her to do what she needed to for her guests. In the end she decided to keep it outside because the whole point of them getting married in Stanley was the Sawtooth’s.

Getting ready for their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding

Redfish Lake Lodge has several cabins right on the lake that Clay and Alison rented for getting ready in.

Bridal party helps bride get ready during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bridal jewelry inspiration with pears and white gold for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bride dress being buttoned up during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bridal party laughs together in a circle during Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bride leads bridal party through pine trees during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bride stands on the redfish lake lodge rock with the sawtooth mountains behind her in Stanley Idaho.

Bridal party stands together on the redfish Lake Lodge dock in Stanley, Idaho with the sawtooth mountains behind them during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding.

Bridal party laughs together under an umbrella at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

White, pink and yellow bridal bouquet inspiration for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding color inspiration with pink and white roses and salmon colored tie for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding boutonniere inspiration with pale pink roses, seeded eucalyptus for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Groomsmen and groom laughing during a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Groom suit wedding inspiration with charcoal and pink for a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Ceremony at North Shore

Ceremony time rolled around and it was snowing sideways. The groomsmen built a fire in the picnic area next to the ‘ceremony beach’ and everyone stood around getting warm and watching it snow. The bridesmaids where sent to handout ribbon wands and get the wedding guests moving toward the beach.

Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding ceremony site in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding welcome sign ideas for a Wedding details covered in snow at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding details covered in snow at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Weddings guest walk through falling snow at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

The snow stopped just as Alison and her dad started down the aisle. It was the craziest thing! The clouds thinned and Alison and Clay were able to exchange vows in front of the mountains that held so many memories for them. After the first kiss the skies clouded up and it started snowing again! The rest of the evening was spent staying warm and celebrating with loved ones at Redfish Lake Lodge.

Sawtooth mountains under fog at Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley, Idaho

Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Venue Ceremony location

Bride puts on grooms ring during their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Couples first kiss at their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding couple celebrations after getting married during their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding would stands with sawtooth mountains behind them during their Bride and groom embrace with snow falling around them at their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding couple hugs at snow falls around them during their Bride and groom embrace with snow falling around them at their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding couple dances in front of the sawtooth mountains during their Bride and groom embrace with snow falling around them at their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding Reception

The rest of the evening was spent staying warm and celebrating with loved ones in the Redfish Lake Lodge reception tent. The reception was complete with amazing food and drinks catered by Redfish Lodge and bluegrass music from the Lonesome Jet Boat Ramblers..

Wedding tent inspiration with lights and greenery strung above the tables at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Wedding head table inspiration at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Desert table at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Band plays at aWedding details covered in snow at a Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Bride and groom dance together during their Redfish Lake Lodge Wedding in Stanley, Idaho.

Rock Mountain Bride Feature

Alison and Clay’s crazy, snowy June wedding was featured this month by Rocky Mountain Bride. You can visit the RMB feature by CLICKING HERE. In the feature Alison shares their planning process and why they chose a destination wedding at Redfish Lake in Stanley, Idaho.

Vendors

Dress Shop LaNeige Bridal / Dress Designer Martina Liana / Bride’s Shoes Kate Spade / Jewelry La De Da Jewelry / Rings Mike Rogers of Precious Metal Arts / Hair and Makeup Kiwi Blue Salon / Bridesmaids Dresses Free People / Band Lonesome Jet Boat Ramblers/ Invites Zola / Venue Redfish Lake Lodge / Florist Southfork Flowers / Photography / Autumn Lynne Photography – Stanley, Idaho Wedding Photographer