Intimate Adventure Wedding in McCall, Idaho
Sarah and Josh’s intimate McCall wedding was one filled with love, adventure, and all the things & people that meant the most to them. From their early morning sunrise session all the way until their evening hike to a lake in the middle of the mountains, they were ready to celebrate in a way that felt beautifully aligned to them, and their unique relationship.
Sarah & Josh’s Intimate McCall Wedding
A day free of stress & full of joy
What was most important to Sarah and Josh was that their wedding day be stress-free, joyful, and beautiful—all of which was undoubtedly accomplished with their intimate wedding in McCall, Idaho. They curated a small guest list of only their closest family and friends to join them, as they both liked the idea of a smaller crowd and celebration in general. Rather than follow all the usual wedding traditions or plan an intricate day full of complex design and decor, they kept things simple yet intentional—choosing an intimate guest list instead of one that never ends, a gorgeous bridal bouquet rather than a detailed arbor, a minimalist ceremony site out in nature over a typical venue. McCall intimate wedding
A blissful sunrise session on the docks
Sarah and Josh began their day early, coffee cups in hand as they headed out to the docks for a brief sunrise session. The warm glow of the lanterns they carried brought beautiful, subtle warmth to the cool tones of blue hour as we waited for the sun to rise over the water, anticipating the rest of the day’s excitement to come. If you are having a wedding with guests but also want a bit of quality time to yourselves on the big day, a sunrise session is a great way to get that time in before you meet up with everyone—and plus, who doesn’t love watching the sun come up, especially on one of the biggest days of their lives?
Getting ready at the Scandia Inn
We made our way back to the Scandia Inn for the rest of the morning, Sarah and Josh separating to get ready in their own individual rooms. The room where Sarah got ready featured some beautiful exposed brick, wood floors, and an elegant chandelier, all of which provided a gorgeous backdrop for her getting ready photos. Capturing these quiet moments with family members is always one of my favorite parts of a wedding day; seeing her bridal look come together as she strapped on her heels, fastened her necklace, and picked up her vibrant fall-inspired bouquet was stunning and oh-so-easy to document. Josh got ready a few rooms over with the help of his buddies, donning a deep green long-sleeve paired with a black vest that would go perfectly with the greens of the creekside scenery.
A creekside ceremony with mountain views
Sarah and Josh shared a private first look before joining their family for their ceremony on a tributary of Payette Lake. The early fall temperatures and sunshine made for a spectacular setting for both their first look and ceremony. You can never predict what fall in the mountains of Idaho will bring you, but we were fortunate enough to get absolutely wonderful weather with cloudy blue skies, little pockets of sunshine here and there, and vibrant greens reflected in the surface of the creek.
Sunset wedding portraits in the mountains
Sarah and Josh’s decision to have an early afternoon ceremony allowed them plenty of time to enjoy the rest of their day as newlyweds, starting with a casual lunch at a restaurant back in town with their families. There is nothing better than celebrating with your loved ones over a delicious lunch! The rest of the day was spent exploring Payette Lake on their own and hiking to a picturesque lake outside of McCall for sunset portraits.
The hike was only about two miles round trip, so it was a perfect way to add a bit of an adventure into the day without requiring too much effort. Sarah and Josh wore the most adorable Husband and Wife tees, personalized with their wedding date, for the hike in.
After reaching the lake they changed back into their wedding attire, and we took a set of stunning sunset portraits to end the day. I loved Sarah’s decision to throw on a cozy sweater once the sun started to set—a great way to make sure you stay warm when taking portraits outdoors, while maintaining your stylish bridal look!
McCall intimate wedding vendors
Hotel: The Scandia Inn Dress: Savvy Bride Beauty: TenHulzen Hair Co Florals: Petal Works Design Studio
Full McCall, Idaho Elopement Guide
Are you interested in planning your own McCall elopement or wedding? I may be biased, but it’s a fantastic destination to choose for your big day—read through my full McCall Elopement Guide to figure out if it’s the right fit for you. For more unique wedding and elopement inspiration in the McCall area, take a look at the galleries: McCall Elopement With Epic Mountain VibesMcCall Idaho Wedding at Historic Roseberry
McCall Intimate Wedding Photographer
Did Sarah and Josh’s wedding inspire you to create your own wedding day that feels personalized to you, and allows you to get out and explore the beautiful outdoors that McCall has to offer? If so, I’d love to chat with you about photographing your own McCall wedding or elopement