Country Wedding at Mackay Bar Ranch

Penni and Mike brought Texas to Idaho with their country-style wedding at Mackay Bar Ranch, a beautiful Salmon River wedding venue that brings all the best parts of the rugged Frank Church Wilderness into one place. With 25 of their closest friends and their sweet dog, they celebrated amongst some of the best views in Idaho, surrounded by mountain views and the winding rapids of the Salmon.

Penni & Mike’s Mackay Bar Ranch Wedding

Texas countryside comes to the Idaho wilderness

It’s such a funny story how Penni and Mike, two Texas natives, managed to find this venue deep in the Salmon River wilderness: they searched “dog-friendly wedding venues” on Google, and what do you know—Mackay Bar came up. They ended up falling in love with the property and getting married here sight unseen, driving up from Texas along with 25 of their family members for quite the adventure. It was a lot of fun watching them bringing bits and pieces of their life in Texas into their Idaho wedding, from cowboy hats, bolo ties, and boots galore to the relaxed, low-key atmosphere they created to enjoy quality time with their loved ones. Incorporating aspects of your personalities, hobbies, and hometown is always a special way to bring meaning to your wedding (from your attire to your decorations), especially if you’re getting married away from home—you can take a couple out of Texas, but you can’t take the Texas out of a couple!

A laid-back weekend on the Salmon River

Given that everyone drove quite a ways to get to Idaho, Penni and Mike decided to make a full weekend out of it, extending the festivities across more than just a single day. The day before their wedding, they met up with their guests at Vinegar Creek, ready to boat up 23 miles to get to the ranch for the next few days. The evening was spent just hanging out with their friends and family at the ranch, enjoying this time together in a beautiful location away from home. How could you not want to take full advantage of the gorgeous scenery, the rugged landscapes, and the spectacular property that the ranch has to offer?

It was heartwarming to see how special this time was for everyone, and how much Penni and Mike focused on not only planning a fabulous wedding day, but really planning an entire three-day trip for everyone to enjoy; an opportunity to relax, connect, and adventure. One of the ways they included the most important parts of their lives in their celebration was by bringing along their lab, Rip—who is clearly a huge part of their relationship, being that the reason they found Mackay Bar in the first place was through looking for dog-friendly venues. It’s always a great idea to bring your pets to your wedding or elopement, as long as you have somebody who can watch them throughout the day!

A hillside ceremony with a view

The next day, Penni and Mike got married at the ranch with a beautiful ceremony out on the airstrip. It was an absolutely breathtaking day in Idaho, with blue skies, lush greens, and a gentle summer breeze blowing in the air as the two exchanged their vows. A fun moment was when they invited all of their guests to reach under their chairs, where they would find printed photos of the bride and groom throughout their relationship—such a cute way to invite guests into your story and reflect back on all the moments that have led up to this exciting day. Rip stayed right by their sides for the entire ceremony, laying in the grass between them as they officially became Mr. and Mrs.

An intimate dinner overlooking the river

Dinner took place down on the patio, one of my favorite areas of the lodge where you can look out over the Salmon River, and enjoy a meal beneath the vibrant trees that arch over the patio. The sun shone through the leaves as Penni and Mike made their grand entrance, then enjoyed a delicious dinner with their loved ones at a set of gorgeously-decorated tablescapes. Mackay Bar is an incredible wedding venue for many reasons, one of the biggest ones being that they provide full catering for weddings—not just for a day, but for their full three-day package. You won’t have to worry about cooking, serving, setup, or teardown; just enjoy the delicious meals and the opportunities it provides for connection, like Penni and Mike did with their family.

Sunset portraits on the bluff

After dinner, we jumped in this old Willys Jeep to head to the bluff for portraits—the coolest thing ever. The views at sunset were spectacular as we looked over the river and back toward Mackay Bar, and were perfect for snapping bridal portraits of Penni, Mike, and Rip, of course. They concluded the evening dancing and partying with their friends, but the celebration wasn’t over yet—the next day I tagged along with them and their family for a sightseeing trip out on the river. What a great way to end an incredible weekend at Mackay Bar Ranch, exploring the Frank Church Wilderness and taking in all the summertime scenery!

About Mackay Bar Ranch, a Stunning Salmon River Wedding Venue

Mackay Bar is a private venue that truly makes you feel like you’ve escaped into the wilderness; when you get married here, you’ll have exclusive access to the property and an amazing staff on-site to make sure your trip is unforgettable. You’ll be responsible for bringing your own decor, but they’ll take care of the rest, from accommodations to catering. Choose from multiple breathtaking ceremony sites across the property, and plan outdoor activities with your loved ones—they’ll guide you on jet boat rides, take you out swimming on the Salmon, or along some of the best hiking trails in the area.

Mackay Bar Wedding Packages

Package costs for weddings at Mackay Bar vary by group size, with one rate for the first 15 guests and one rate for groups larger than 15. You can choose between their elopement & wedding packages, but the wedding package will include the most services and amenities such as the following:

Jet boat transportation from Vinegar Creek to the ranch
2 nights of lodging & meals
Rentals such as chairs, tables, linens, etc.
Activities such as jet boat rides, fishing, hiking, & swimming
Accommodations for up to 40 guests
String lighting
Custom menus
Small cake
Fully catered ranch

You can get a full look at & compare their packages here.

Mackay Bar Ranch Wedding Photographer

Ready to tie the knot at Mackay Bar Ranch? As a Salmon River local, I’d love to come along and document your wedding or elopement at this gorgeous guest ranch. Contact me now to start planning your special day in the beautiful Idaho wilderness!