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Lakeside Wedding

Shore Lodge Lakeside Wedding in McCall, Idaho

Amy Isacson February 24, 2023
Sunset Bride and Groom on Dock
 

Maureen and Ben envisioned a classic and natural wedding at Shore Lodge, set on the south side of beautiful Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho. It was nothing short of spectacular, as the weather Gods delivered picture perfect weather.

Shore Lodge

Shore Lodge is one of McCall’s top wedding venues, for good reason. This historic resort has been around since 1948 and offers Idaho mountain luxury at its finest. By its pure proximity to the lake and being right in town, it’s easy to see why many couples call it their absolute dream venue. Not only is it ideal for couples hoping to tie the knot with incredible lake and mountain views, it also offers high-end amenities. With lodging, banquet rooms, massage offerings, spas, hot springs and restaurants on site, it has everything a couple looking to get married could possibly need!

One of my favorite spots at Shore Lodge is The Cove. You can get full massage packages which include access to their private hot springs and their two heated saltwater immersion pools. Romantic date tip = book a couple’s day here! Think experiences over things, always. I gifted this to my husband at Christmas last year and we had such fun. SO decadent!!

Because Shore Lodge provides a full-service wedding venue, there is no guesswork in creating your dream wedding day. The staff is fully equipped to cater to all needs for couples planning their wedding, from day of coordinators to fully catered delicious meals.

Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho
Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho

McCall Lake Cruises

Maureen and Ben did it all right. They kicked off their wedding destination weekend with a rehearsal dinner aboard the Payette Lake cruise boat, The Idaho, enjoying dinner and drinks surrounded by their closest family and friends. McCall Lake Cruises offers a variety of cruise options and two levels of boat goodness. The upper level is open and the lower level is a bit more protected. They provide cocktails and dinner, while cruising around the lake. I cannot wait to shoot a wedding aboard this boat this coming summer. Stay tuned!

 
The Idaho Payette Lake Cruises
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Following their day out on the lake, Maureen and Ben got ready at Shore Lodge itself and the beauty and energy was absolutely wonderful. Weddings at this magical spot are always on point. They opted to have all photos and celebrations near Shore Lodge or nearby on Payette Lake.

First Look

Maureen and Ben’s first look out on one of the docks was super touching and their supportive bridal party was one of the best out there! Their vendor team was superb; it was fantastic working alongside my fabulous associate shooter, (Sage Donnelly Imagery) and the super talented videographer (Films by Aly). She came all the way from Utah and was an absolute delight. I really enjoyed my time alongside the entire team that worked together to make this day so spectacular.

Details

There was no shortage of wonderful details too. A champagne wall and signature drinks offered to guests provided just the right festive and personal touches. For him: Jack and Coke, and for her: Huckletinis with fresh local huckleberries!

From their wedding vows in the banquet hall surrounded by the pristine lake and mountains, to their reception and dance party, it was truly a day to remember! As always, I am so grateful to be able to witness these monumental moments. I am not just there to photograph love, I am there to celebrate it. And what a fantastic celebration it was!

A big congratulations to Maureen + Ben!

 
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The Creative Team

Venues: Shore Lodge | McCall Lake Cruises

Dress: Essence of Australia

Hair: The Salty Blonde

Makeup: Styled by Kenzie

Florals: Farm to Market Florals

Videography: Films by Aly

DJ: Ian Williams

Cake: Shore Lodge

Suit: Menguin

Ring: Blue Nile Diamond

Associate photography: Sage Donnelly Imagery

Photography: Amy Isacson Photography

 
In Idaho Wedding Venues, Elopements, Mountain Wedding, Weddings Tags Shore Lodge, Wedding, Idaho Wedding, Wedding photographer, Mountain Wedding, Elopement, Lakeside Wedding
9 Comments
Ridge Wedding

Luxury Wedding at Scandia Inn - McCall, Idaho | Miso + Travis

Amy Isacson February 9, 2023

Scandia Inn

Miso and Travis picked the Scandia Inn as their destination wedding venue in McCall, ID for very good reason. These days, Scandia is the IT spot for couples with its ideal amenities. Scandia has undergone a fantastic transformation from its original look in the 1970s as Finish homesteaders style mountain ski cabins to what is today. It definitely maintains that mountain cabin feel, yet boasts high-end finishes and luxurious bedding which is a welcome to our little town. It’s a smaller venue, with that small-town feel yet high end class. The new managers, Jess and Aaron, are super friendly and accommodating.


Wedding Vision

When Miso and Travis reached out and described their vision, I knew their day would be indeed special and their wedding was my EXACT vibe. As an Idaho wedding photographer, I see a lot of different wedding styles. This past year especially, there was a wide range of venues and visions! That’s also what I enjoy so much about what I do. I don’t really know what I’m in for until I show up on the day of. Sure, there is a lot of back and forth with my questionnaire and I have an overall sense of the look, but that feeling when arrive and go ok now I get it! This is what it all has been leading up to is honestly one of the most fun parts of my job. I get to capture every part of it. From the small details, to the simple interactions and the big moments!!

Miso and Travis envisioned their day at Scandia Inn to be modern, clean and simple, I knew I’d be in for a treat. And indeed I was! As a first-generation Korean-American, Miso wanted to incorporate her heritage into their wedding. Her mother wrote a touching letter to her in Korean which was also translated into English. She also wore a beautiful traditional red Korean hanbok and looked absolutely stunning.

They were determined to do it all themselves (she did her hair + makeup effortlessly while chatting with her bridal party). And they were committed to having a good time. Miso sent over a timeline that was super organized and I so appreciated. We sorted out the details together and decided to include a separate location for the first look. The only thing I had to come up with was a fun first-look location. The day ended up being very hot and it snowed the following week! Mountain weather - go figure! They were such troopers. I encouraged them to bring a change of shoes and they were like yeah, no. So we hiked around the rocks in the heat and did our beautiful thing.

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Details

They had a very small and intimate wedding and invited about 50 family and friends. Every detail was absolutely perfect. Guests dressed in their finest black attire, as did the wedding party; giving it a cosmopolitan feel. The ceremony took place on the lawn adjacent to Scandia, below the towering pine trees. Travis comes from a very large family and his dad was the officiant. One of my favorite photos from the ceremony was immediately after Travis had walked up to the alter and was facing his dad, awaiting Miso to walk down the aisle. The two of them were talking to each other, father to son, as Travis was about to marry his bride.

My other favorite moment was immediately following this private father-son moment, when Miso walked down the aisle with her mother and father. The look on Miso’s face says it all. So emotional!! Their wedding ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt.

Miso knew she wanted a white rose petal tossing after their first kiss. It was fabulous to see them get absolutely blanketed with them!!

Once the sun began to set, the string lights criss-crossed the lawn and were aglow and the candlight inside the lodge set the scene for a clean reception space, complete with a white-washed brick wall. White florals, lovely place-settings and clean everything. The first dances were especially touching, and after Miso and her dad danced, there was not a dry eye in the house.

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Reception


The reception dance party was a blast, and I always love the cut- loose time at weddings. I stole Miso and Travis away for a few final outside shots before the sun officially set. These casual, blurry shots may well be my favorite of all. It depicts a happy duo, relaxed and carefree. They are finally married and SO IN LOVE.

We finished things up with a sparkler exit back where it all began under the big tall trees. A beautiful day and night, in all ways.

Scandia Inn set the stage for this couple to celebrate this momentous day in the most glorious way. I am honored to have been witness to the love story between Miso and Travis. If you ever want to do it right in the heart of beautiful McCall, ID - THIS is the place. I look forward to returning to Scandia Inn again this next year!! x

As always - so grateful for my couples who trust in me. Love you, Miso + Travis.



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Sparkler exit
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Here is a little reel I made from their wedding day…

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A post shared by mccall idaho wedding photographer (@amyisacsonphoto)

“Amy is everything we could have hoped for and more. She is professional, kind and amazing at what she does. Our wedding photos are beautiful, and she got them back to us quickly. I could not recommend Amy more!”
— Miso + Travis

Photography | Amy Isacson Photography

Couple | Miso + Travis

Venue |  Scandia Inn

Catering | Delish Catering

Florals | McCall Weddings

DJ | Matt Jantz Cajone Alone

Hair and Makeup | Lunatic Fringe Boise

Dress | BB Bridal Boutique Boise

Suit | Nordstrom Gucci

In Idaho Wedding Venues, Mountain Wedding, Weddings Tags wedding, Mountain Wedding, McCall Wedding
13 Comments
Wedding Couple Stand amount Longhorn Cattle and Highland Cows

Rustic Idaho Western Wedding at Longhorn Guest Ranch | Stephany + Andrew

Amy Isacson November 2, 2022
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Have you ever dreamed of getting married in the mountains surrounded by horses and cattle? Well, the spectacular setting at Longhorn Guest Ranch fit the bill for Stephany and Andrew and set the stage for one of the most amazing days ever!

If you’re looking for some fun wedding inspiration not only from the venue perspective but for super touching traditions, keep on reading…

Stephany and Andrew met at work in September of 2016. He was in the same position as she and was the person who ultimately taught her how to do her job. They started out as just friends, occasionally grabbing a beer or two after work or going out to the pool hall with friends. They officially began dating on Christmas of 2017.

On Christmas morning in 2020, Stephany had one final present to open from Andrew. It was a medium-large sized wrapped box that had no weight to it and inside of that box was another wrapped box, and another, and another.

Finally, there was one remaining box left to unwrap and inside of that box was a set of instructions for a scavenger hunt which included the first clue. Each clue had a sweet note or inside joke that outlined our relationship and the fourth and final clue led her out to her car. From there, she was instructed to come back inside to warm up (while doing this all in her pj's).

When she got back inside and shut the door, she turned around to see Andrew on his knee holding a ring and asked, "Will you marry me?"

Then, in Stephany’s words, she “Ugly cried and of course, said yes!”

They chose to get married at Longhorn Guest Ranch, deep in the mountains of SW Idaho. It’s a fantastic venue with the perfect blend of natural beauty, friendly Longhorn cattle + Highland cows, a nice mix of horses and dogs and ridiculously cool old rustic buildings with just enough improvements to make them feel perfectly dressed up. As a working ranch, guests can interact with the cows and horses!

I always do a site visit ahead of my weddings and first visited Longhorn the week leading up to Stephany and Andrew’s big day and I can confidently say it is on top of my favorite wedding venues. The weather was incredibly gorgeous and the kindest owner, Victoria, took me on a scenic tour by quad. The entire venue encompasses 214 acres. Along the way, we soon realized we share a deep love for animals, and we happily rode around like two peas in a pod.

On their wedding day, Stephany got ready upstairs in the main lodge with the help of her mother and bridesmaids while Andrew got ready with his best men in one of the quaint rustic cabins.

Wedding Dress
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WEDDING TRADITIONS

Below are some of the noteworthy wedding traditions they used, which included special personal touches:

  • Before putting on her boots, Stephany’s dad gave her a lucky penny to put in her boot!

Lucky Penny for the Boot
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  • Stephany had an extremely emotional first look with Andrew’s sons and read a super sweet not a dry eye in the house letter to them.

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  • The bride and groom asked their grandmothers to be their flower girls and it was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen!! The granny flower girls later danced together at the end of the night.

  • Andrew’s son was ring security for the ceremony - with a special sheriff badge - making him extra official.

  • Both Stephany’s father and step-father walked her down the aisle, one passing her on to the other.

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  • Following their first kiss + dip at the alter, the entire bridal party donned their shades, walking down the aisle like total rock stars.

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After the ceremony, we headed out to the pasture for photos with the super-friendly Highland cows, horses and Longhorn cattle. I was honestly in paradise! The trees and grass were green, there were blankets of purple flowers everywhere and we were surrounded by the stillness and these fabulous creatures. Hanging out with Stephany and Andrew was a blast - they were such fun and so easy to kick back with!!!

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We returned to friends and family awaiting and the big celebrations began! Pour Choices Country Style Mobile Bar served drinks to guests out of their beyond cute trailer and DJ Dave’s Mobile Disc Jockey cranked up the tunes. The food from Big K BBQ was delicious and the toasts were pretty dang sweet.

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The final touching traditional element they incorporated was a money dance (set to the song Could I Have This Dance) in which the male guests - especially the little boys - paid to dance briefly with the bride, and the female guests - especially the little girls - paid to dance with the groom. It was adorable! Each held a little white bag to carry their loot.

To sum up, touching traditions, often with a fun twist, can really bring emotional elements to your wedding day. Here are my top 7 favorites from this most wonderful day:

  • Dad giving the bride a lucky penny for her boot

  • First look with her sons-to-be and a heartfelt message

  • Both grandmothers as flower girls

  • Groom’s son as the ring bearer wearing a sheriff badge, called ring security

  • In the case of both a dad and step-dad, having each walk the bride part way down the aisle

  • Bridal party donning shades as they exit

  • A money dance

There were countless other fun touches, but these really stood out to me. Details like these culminated in making this day that much MORE heartfelt.

By the end of the night, both young and old were cutting it up on the dance floor and the love between Stephany and Andrew was absolutely glorious. Once again, I am so grateful to get to document moments like these and am constantly blown away not only by the magical way true love originates but how it radiates in every way outwards.

Following all my weddings, I typically make a short Instagram reel set to music. There are some moments that need video and motion. In this case, I used the song they used for their money dance:

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A post shared by McCall Idaho Wedding Photographer (@amyisacsonphoto)

Thank you again, Stephany + Andrew!

Vendors

Venue : Longhorn Guest Ranch

HMU : Primadonnamakeover

Florals : Boise at It’s Best Flowers   

Gown : The Bespoke Bride

Music : DJ Dave’s Mobile Disc Jockey

Cake : Honey Cakes Bakery

Bartending Service : Pour Choices Country Style Mobile Bar

Ring : Zales

Catering : Big K BBQ

Photographer : Amy Isacson Photography (that’s me!)

Couple: Stephany and Andrew


In Mountain Wedding, Idaho Wedding Venues, Weddings Tags Western Wedding, Boho Wedding, idaho mountain wedding, Mountain Wedding
15 Comments
Wallowa Lake Wedding

Wallowa Lake Oregon Wedding near Joseph | Kelsey + Doug

Amy Isacson September 24, 2021
Mountain Wedding

When a bride who is also a florist (Evelyn Frances Floral Design) reaches out to you to photograph her wedding, you know the stars have already aligned in your favor. Kelsey was one such bride. Based out of Portland, OR, she and Doug wanted to get married at his parents’ property overlooking the Wallowa Mountains, near Enterprise, Oregon.

I was fortunate enough to find a room at the Jennings Hotel in nearby Joseph, OR. I had been eyeing the progress of this historic 1910 brick building for years, and was stoked that this place on my bucket list was actually going to become a reality.

It was WAY cool!

The owners have done a hands-down spectacular job of renovating this corner building right on downtown Main St. Joseph, Oregon is a super fun town - I highly recommend it. I definitely will be bringing my family back with me next time! Bonus points were earned by the fact that I had shared common space with others in the hotel (Covid restrictions applied) and met some friendly guests both nights on my way back to my room, one of whom was another guest at this “AMAZING” wedding, as she exclaimed!

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Kelsey and Doug turned out to be the absolute sweetest couple EVER, including me in their welcome BBQ at Wallowa Lake the night before their big day. It was a good opportunity to meet everyone, and we even got to witness Coho Salmon spawning in the river nearby!

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Originally planning to use her mother’s crocheted dress and going for a Priscilla Presley look, there was some drama in the alteration dept. and Kelsey ended up needing to find an alternative. She found her forever dress at Brides for a Cause and it was absolutely stunning on her! If you are ever on the hunt for a wedding dress in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle or Sacramento, check them out. Such a novel idea - they collect and resale wedding dresses for women-focused charities!

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On the day of their wedding, the weather forecast was for rain so we hoped for the best. We got their first look photos just fine, but by the time we were doing family portraits, the wind had picked up and everyone’s hair was being blown in every direction. It was pretty comical!

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We next went to Wallowa Lake to get some couple shots of just Kelsey and Doug and those may just be my favorite ones from their big day. The light was perfect, and the time spent with just the two of them, delightful.

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Kelsey hoped to get some shots with 9’s, their old man horse friend, so we headed over to the ranch and got what we could before it really started to rain.

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On the way back to Doug’s parent’s house, we stopped for a quick porch shot at the Hurricane Creek Grange, where Doug’s grandmother had been a founding member. It was a sweet moment.

Hurricane, Oregon Grange Wedding
Bride and Groom

We got back to the house, enjoyed some downtime as the storm really blew in the rain came down. The view of the Wallowa mountains disappeared and we could see nothing. His mom lit the woodstove, and we all hunkered down. As sudden as they appeared, the clouds drastically moved on and the sun came out delivering the most spectacular view of the SNOWY Wallowa Mountains in the distance. I yelled “Kelsey, come see the SNOW on the mountains!!” and she was equally thrilled, sharing that Doug had been hoping this would happen. The first snow of the season!

Sure enough, everything looked brilliant. Family and friends rushed to wipe the water off the chairs, and the boys carried the arbor that Doug built and Kelsey decorated up to the front (watch it happen here!) The view was spectacular! That just-rained cleanse filled the air, and the wedding geared up full steam. It rolled outright without delays, along with Doug’s Auntie playing piano and their heartfelt vows exchanged. Doug’s dad was the perfect officiant. It was the first time I’ve heard toasts while the wedding party was at the altar - of which there were some super heartfelt ones by the BRIDE AND GROOM as well as the guests.

Arbor with Wallowas
Wallowa Wedding
Wedding Rings
Wedding
Wedding Flowers
Wedding Exit
Wedding Exit

Kelsey and Doug didn’t miss a beat with a pretty wonderful sendoff - riding the family John Deere tractor down the road!! How cool is that?!!

Wedding details
John Deere Tractor Wedding Exit
Wedding Exit on Tractor
Just Married on Tractor
Wedding Tractor
Wedding Tractor Detail
Photo Booth Wedding
Wedding Photo Strings Details
Wedding Cake
Wedding Table Details
Kids at Wedding
Wedding Rings
Wedding Dinner
Wedding Baby Guest
Wedding String Lights Sky

Despite the wild weather day, we absolutely got a lovely sunset and then some. That sky was spectacular. It was one of THOSE nights. Pretty amazing, in every way!!

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Their day was just perfect in every possible way. The next day, I drove back home to Idaho with a heart overflowing, having witnessed some kind of wonderful as well, knowing I had made some new best friends by the name of Kelsey and Doug. ❤️

* Update - I just had to share this sweet message from Kelsey:

Oh Amy! I just love how you captured our day. Thank you so much for this beautiful blog post! We are thrilled with your photos and feel so lucky to have been able to work with you and get to know you. You were absolutely the perfect fit for us! We are so grateful.

VENDOR TEAM

Photographer | Amy Isacson Photography

Couple | Kelsey + Doug

Dress | Brides for a Cause

Florals | Evelyn Frances Floral Design

Cake | Sugartime Bakery Oregon

Venue | The Wallowa Mountains

In Weddings, Mountain Wedding Tags Oregon Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Mountain Wedding, Western Wedding, Boise Wedding Photographer
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“We were blown away by her talent and professionalism. She perfectly captured the beauty of our day and went above what I ever could have imagined our photos to be. Thanks to Amy, we get to re-live our wedding day over and over through her stunning pictures. She is a beautiful soul and insanely talented.”
— Melissa + Brett

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