McCall Idaho Winter Elopement | Amber + Ben

New Year’s Eve is always a good reason to celebrate, and after this past New Year’s, my favorite way to spend it is in the divine company of two people in love and eloping! It was an inward journey for me as well as them; focusing on this special day for these two that will forever be the day they got married.

When Amber and I first spoke on the phone, she made it clear to me that they wanted this day to be purely about the two of them. They wanted something simple and deeply meaningful where the focus was on their love for one another. This day was just that.

Amber and Ben are the owners of Watkins Pharmacy in Cascade, right in the center of town. They had their ceremony at Ben’s house in Cascade, where they got ready, he courted her on guitar and they exchanged vows with just the officiant and Amber’s hair and makeup stylist, Yolanda.

Ahead of time, we discussed a number of possible activities after the ceremony, as the weather became increasingly a major component to consider (hello, dumping snow!) In the end, they decided to head up to Blackhawk on the Lake to a beautiful home for some fun western vibe/amazing stone fireplace shots and then finished up with some fun tromps in the surrounding area.

One thing many people don’t realize is when the snow is thigh-high and there one lane is plowed, you can’t just park on the road. There needs to be pull-out parking and walking ANYWHERE becomes an issue because you need areas that are plowed or else you’ll look ridiculous standing in the deep snow. This all required considerable scouting which I was happy to do!

In the end, this day was definitely one for the books. The love between these two was so evident when they looked at one another. We could all feel it. I loved that they made their elopement day all about them. And I am so grateful to have been asked to be a part of it!

Dress: David’s Bridal

HMU: Yolanda Thayer of Primadonamakeover

Walking hand and hand in the snow, Ben and Amber stroll through the snow at Blackhawk on the Lake, near McCall, Idaho.

We took a pretty rough unplowed side road to get to Blackhawk on the River following the ceremony in Cascade. At one point, there was a car approaching us in the same single tire tracks our two vehicles were following. We all slowed down at an intersection and were able to successfully pass each other! Ah, mountain life!! This frosty heart below formed on my windshield as I followed Amber and Ben on that memorable drive. That blurry form is the newlyweds ahead of me…