A Winter Sun Valley Resort Elopement

There’s no more magical way to elope in winter than to take a sleigh ride to your ceremony. Hunter & Whitney’s winter Sun Valley Resort elopement felt like something taken straight out of a storybook. I can’t wait to share all about this wonderful couple and the one-of-a-kind day they had in the dreamy mountain landscapes of Idaho!

A couple in formal wedding attire stands together in front of the iconic red barn in Sun Valley, Idaho. Snow covers the ground and the day is overcast. The bride is wearing a long sleeve, lace wedding dress and the groom is in a dark grey suit. This couple eloped at the Sun Valley Resort.

A bronze deer statue stands on a stone pedestal. In front, a custom wooden wood sign displays a wedding couple's names and date. The sign is two-tone, tan on top and dark grown on the bottom. The sign displays the name of the national forest where the couple was married.

Hunter & Whitney’s Winter Elopement in Sun Valley

The vision: intimate, joyful, & magic-filled

Early on in the planning process, Hunter and Whitney realized that what was most important to them was getting married for them—not for a crowd of people, not for Instagram, not to meet societal expectations. The two have always been each other’s best friends, and wanted this day to revolve around them + their memories. I love what they told me in their initial elopement questionnaire: that they have never felt the need to have a crew of friends and extended family there to validate the experience. While Hunter and Whitney did decide to invite their immediate family to be there to share in this experience with them, they made sure they still prioritized their own wants as a couple—and their family was incredibly supportive in that venture.

If this sounds like the type of day you and your partner are craving, too, check out my blog post featuring 6 Reasons Why Elopement Weddings are the Most Authentic Celebration.

A long-sleeved lace wedding dress hangs on a wooden hanger against a dark wood-paneled wall at Sun Valley Resort. A bouquet of flowers is placed above it, while a pair of winter boots rests on the stone ledge below.

A white lace wedding dress hangs on a wooden hook, showcasing a deep V-neck and intricate patterns. Above it sits a bouquet of white peonies flowers and greenery. This scene captures the elegance of a Sun Valley Resort winter elopement.

A bride in a wedding dress and winter boots sits on a plush chair in an elegantly decorated room at Sun Valley Resort. There is a large framed painting hanging over the fireplace behind her. The bride is pulling up the hem of her dress to show her boots off. The black-and-white scene captures the intimate charm of an elopement.

A bride in a white dress sits on a chair, holding a bouquet, in a window lit room at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. The wood-paneled walls, mountain painting, and patterned carpet create a cozy and intimate atmosphere perfect for bridal photographs.

A groom in a dark suit and bow tie smiles as he looks to the side. The groom is softly lit by window light. The groom is wearing a black and spotted white feather bow tie from Blackish Bow Ties.

A groom in a dark grey suit is having a boutonniere pinned to his lapel. The boutonniere features a white ranunculus flower and greenery. A pair of hands is pinning it. The groom is wearing a black and spotted white feather bow tie from Blackish Bow Ties.

The venue: Sun Valley Resort

Hunter and Whitney tied the knot at Sun Valley Resort, a charming resort & wedding venue in the Pioneer Mountains that offers an incredible array of experiences for every guest, including scenic gondola rides, hiking trails, ice skating, yoga, live music, and more. Whitney and Hunter worked with a planner from the resort to coordinate their sleight ride, ceremony, and dinner.

The Sun Valley Resort is truly the perfect destination if you’re looking for an escape into the mountains on your elopement day, full of premier lodging options for you and your guests, and a variety of breathtaking wedding venues (from mountain top restaurants to romantic outdoor pavilions). I definitely recommend eloping at Sun Valley Resort and taking advantage of all the incredible amenities & opportunities the property has to offer—learn more about weddings at Sun Valley Resort here.

A bride and groom walk hand in hand on a snowy path during their elopement at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. The bride wears a V-neck, long sleeve lace dress and holds a bouquet of ranunculus flowers and greenery. The groom wears a gray suit and feather bow tie from Blackish Bow Ties. Snow-covered mountains and trees form the picturesque background.

A couple embraces in the snow at their elopement in Sun Valley, Idaho. The groom gently kisses the bride's forehead. They are dressed warmly, she in a white coat and he in a gray suit. A snow-covered mountain is visible in the background.

An eloping couple shares a kiss against a snowy mountain backdrop in Sun Valley, Idaho. The bride is touching her groom's face as they kiss. The bride wears a long steeve, lace wedding dress, and the groom is in a gray suit. The bride's grey snow boots are peeking out from underneath her dress.

A bride and groom embrace, facing each other, on a snowy cattrack during their Sun Valley Resort elopement. The bride, in a long white lace gown, and the groom, in a dark suit, stand amid snow-covered trees and mountains.

A sleigh ride elopement straight out of a storybook

Now onto the magic of Hunter & Whitney’s day, and the main event that truly made it feel like a fairytale: a sleigh ride to their ceremony destination! Walking around this winter wonderland is one thing, but riding in a private horse-drawn wagon, cozied up next to your closest loved ones, while you take in the scenic views, is on a whole other level. The snow-covered mountains and pure white landscapes were incredible to witness in such a unique way.

A close-up of a dark brown horse fitted with a sleight harness. The horse is part of the Sun Valley Resort's winter sleigh team.

A bride and groom stand smiling in the snow beside a horse-drawn sleigh at their Sun Valley Resort wedding. The bride holds a bouquet of white flowers, and they are dressed in formal wedding attire. Snow-covered trees and a building are in the background.

A horse-drawn sleigh waits for elopement guests to board. The sleigh is taking the guest to a winter wedding ceremony at the Sun Valley Resort.

View from a horse-drawn sleigh with blurred passengers in the foreground. Two black horses pull the sleigh through a snowy landscape in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Two wedding guests sit bundled in warm clothing and blankets as they ride in a sleigh to a wedding ceremony at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. The woman wears a fur collar and holds flowers, while the man wears a brown jacket. Both are smiling. There are evergreen trees in the background.

A red horse-drawn sleigh glides through the snowy landscape of the Sun Valley Resort. The sleigh is transporting guests to a winter wedding ceremony. Mountains form the background.

Once they’d arrived at their destination and stepped out of the sleigh, Hunter and Whitney tied the knot in a short and sweet ceremony, as they had already exchanged personalized letters during their first look. The couple’s paster traveled with them from home and preformed their ceremony, making it even more special. The resort groomed their ceremony location, so that everyone would have a solid place to stand. This made all the difference for easy of access and movement during their ceremony!

A woman in winter clothing gives two thumbs up while smiling. In the background, people are gathered near a sleigh.

A bride in a white dress and fur coat walks arm-in-arm with her father. They are walking down a snowy aisle.

A bride and groom exchange vows at their Sun Valley Resort wedding. Mountains and a snowy background rise behind them. The bride and groom are joined by a small group of guests. The ceremony is taking place on a cattrack.

A couple exchanges rings during their winter elopement ceremony. The bride wears a white coat, the groom is in a gray suit, and an officiant holds a book in the background.

A winter wedding ceremony unfolds in a snowy mountain setting at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. A bride in a white dress and fur jacket holds hands with a groom in a gray suit. An officiant stands between them, conducting the elopement.

A bride and groom share their first kiss during their winter elopement ceremony in Sun Valley, Idaho. Mountains and a snowy background rise behind the couple.

A bride and groom walk hand in hand down the aisle after their ceremony. The couple is smiling broadly. The bride wears a white dress and fur jacket, while the groom is in a gray suit. The snowy mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho rise in the background.

Wedding guests celebrate together in a snowy winter scene. The bride and groom are at the center, smiling and raising their arms with the rest of the group. Mountains and a cloudy sky rise behind the group.

A bride and groom stand on a cattrack gazing at each other. There is a snowy mountain range in the background. The bride holds a bouquet of white ranunculus flowers and greenery. She is wearing a white dress and a fuzzy white coat. The groom is in a gray suit. This couple was married at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.

Following the return of the sleigh ride, we made our way back to the resort to take newlywed portraits around the charming property, which is absolutely gorgeous when the sun starts to go down & the string lights begin to glow.

A bride and groom in wedding attire kiss on the steps of the Sun Valley Inn. There are decorative deer statues on either side of the couple. The building's warmly lit exterior creates a cozy atmosphere.

A couple stands under a covered walkway of a red building with a clock tower and steeple at the Sun Valley Resort. Snow blankets the roof and surrounding landscaping.

A bride and groom stand together on the steps of The Ram Restaurant in Sun Valley. They are framed by the teal accents of the building and two lanterns glowing warmly beside the door.

A bride and groom stand under the entrance of the Sun Valley Lodge. A tranquil pond in front of the lodge reflects the warm glow of the lodges entrance lights. Large, out-of-focus light orbs decorate the foreground.

Hunter and Whitney hosted a casual, intimate reception dinner at the inn with a small cake to cut, a little bit of dancing, and a lot of love shared amongst their guests. It was the perfect way to end the day their day; laughing, smiling, and making memories with the people they love. When I asked them for three words to describe how they wanted to feel on their elopement day, they said: “Intimate, breathtaking, and joyful”—I’d say they succeeded, and what an honor it was to play a part in making their dream day come true!

Sun Valley elopement vendors

A bride and groom stand in a Christmas setting in Sun Valley. A large tree adorned with warm lights is behind them. The groom is kissing the bride's forehead. She smiles while holding a bouquet of white ranunculus flowers.

A bride and groom sit on a vintage red lift chair. They kiss in front of a wooden backdrop with a neon sign that reads 'It happened in Sun Valley'.

A bride and groom stand together on a pathway decorated with overhead string lights. The bride holds a bouquet, and they both smile at each other warmly. Large, out-of-focus light orbs decorate the foreground, capturing the magic of their winter elopement in Sun Valley.

Sun Valley, Idaho Elopement Photographer

Hunter and Whitney’s Sun Valley Resort elopement exemplified that it’s not selfish to prioritize your wants and needs on your wedding day; in fact, that is the best way to ensure you have a day that you absolutely LOVE. Whether your elopement involves a romantic sleigh ride through the snow or a of skiing, I’d love to help you plan an experience that you’ll never forget. Inquire with me now if you’re ready to elope in the mountains of Idaho like these two did—I can’t wait!

Want to see more Sun Valley elopement inspiration & learn about how to plan your own Idaho elopement? Check out a few of my recent blog posts below.