Are you considering a country wedding in the mountains of Idaho and not sure where to begin? Look no further than Ranch View Venue, in beautiful New Meadows, a 15-minute drive from McCall, Idaho. The wedding of Bethany and Jason was a wonderful example of how some simple details, along with a whole lotta love, can make a profoundly beautiful wedding day!
They chose Ranch View Venue and it was absolutely spectacular. She did all the planning and design and her attention to all the details was impressive. Check out his striking tie, the surprise message on the bottom of his shoes, and their unique send-off at the end!
Going for a Bohemian theme, they went with fall jewel colors to compliment the setting. Bethany wore some greenery in her hair, with lovely, loose curls and that bouquet - created by her good friend Hannah of Ethereal Floral - was to die for! I always ask my brides to text me a picture of their dress, so I have the real vision going into their day. When she shared it, I was floored. It was amazing - I mean. HOW. GORGEOUS! She chose a creamy white dress from Sarabeth Bridal and it was absolutely stunning with lace flowers cascading down the train.
A little back story on them -
Bethany and Jason had known each other pretty much their entire lives, but we were in different groups of friends, so they never spoke much. A few months after graduating from high-school, she became friends with one of his friends, who invited a group of them to go to a haunted house. Afterwards, they were wandering around the corn maze together and started talking. During this time, she began to realize she was developing a crush on him.
She actually tricked him into their first "date"! About a week after the haunted house, she told him she had invited a group of people to explore some nearby caves but never actually did, only inviting him. She asked him if he could drive her because her car was in the shop (which it was not) and that she needed a ride. When he picked her up, she told him that nobody could make it and it was just going to be the two of them. They continued to go on more dates after that and after 4 years together, they finally tied the knot.
Jason is a jewelry designer at Portsches Fine Jewelry and lovingly created BOTH of their incredibly stunning rings. How cool is that?!!
One fun thing Bethany felt strong about was to have a first look with her dad - and my, was it ever touching! We set it up at the airbnb they were staying at and it went perfectly.
She followed up with a first look with Jason at Ranch View. First looks are definitely a big thing to consider when planning your wedding and timeline and are not for everyone. More and more, though, couples are opting for first looks so they can have one on one time together before the day starts moving at a swifter pace. It allows them to slow down and be present with one another. And this time allows for couple portraits without the pressure of eager guests. It’s calm and intentional, with just the two of them. Often the wedding party and family get photos taken together at this point. Typically, immediately following the ceremony it becomes more complicated to round up the wedding party and family members, as a receiving line naturally forms once the couple is married. Having the bulk of obligatory photos done ahead of time is an easy way to have it out of the way before the ceremony even begins!
Bethany and Jason opted for an unplugged ceremony and I cannot stress the gravity of this enough! There’s nothing worse than having photos of people holding their phones ruining your wedding gallery. Not only are they a huge distraction from the final results, but when you chose to have your day unplugged, you know your guests will be fully present in the moments of your day. It is a monumental thing to consider!
The setting of Ranch View Venue and the surrounding countryside was absolutely wonderful. It was my first wedding here and I will definitely be raving about it to future couples. A few months ago, I wrote a little blog about top wedding venues near McCall, ID (and how to pick one) here and I included it in my list. Now that I’ve shot a wedding there, I absolutely recommend it to anyone considering a country wedding with a barn and lots of good, classic ambiance. The newest owners, the Kautz family, are super nice and accommodating. The original barn was built in 1891 with a rich agricultural history. It is surrounded by horses and cattle and fields for miles. They’ve done a wonderful job outfitting the barn to really compliment wedding festivities, including a dance floor in the center and a little dressing room in one corner.
Our Idaho sky put on her best show that night and was beautifully highlighted by the bubble send-off given by their family and friends. Long after they’d left, the guests were still lingering, literally hanging on the fencelines - watching the incredible sky show finale that punctuated the end of a perfect wedding day.
Google Review:
Amy made my special day even more special! My husband and I can be awkward while taking photos, but Amy makes the process relaxing and comfortable with her cheery attitude and professionalism. I can't stop looking through the pictures of our wedding day!
- Bethany + Jason
VENDING TEAM
Catering | 3 Girls Catering
Venue | Ranch View Venue
Bride’s Dress | Sarabeth Bridal
Florals | Ethereal Floral
Rings | Portsches Fine Jewlery
Cake | Allicakes 208
Photography | Amy Isacson Photography - Idaho Wedding Photographer