An Elegant, Rustic Wedding Outdoors in Idaho

Pauline and Peter

In December 2009, Peter Shanley popped the question to Pauline Montupet on a trip to the slopes of Idaho's Sun Valley Resort. So when it came to choosing a wedding location, Sun Valley made perfect sense.

"We loved it before we loved each other," says Peter. Finding a venue proved just as easy. The duo envisioned an alfresco affair, and Pauline proposed Trail Creek Cabin, an idyllic, woodsy spot she'd first visited for a Lyle Lovett concert at age 12 and had adored ever since. Peter was immediately onboard: "I'd only seen it under snow, but I trusted her."

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The Stationery

Presented as a helpful packet, the stationery suite features separate cards supplying details about the welcome dinner and transportation options. Touches like the invites' faux-bois borders, kraft-paper-colored extras, and Wild West-style engraver's font (later repeated on the place cards and cake topper) set the scene for the alpine fete.

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The Palette

Locally grown flowers, including lavender, Queen Anne's lace, white phlox, and purple butterfly weed, add color to the festivities.

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The Bridal Party

One of the attendants, Casey Larkin Blond (second from right), designed the bridal party's dresses and had each hand-dyed with natural ingredients like pear and walnut leaves.

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Pre-Wedding Gifts

Pauline and Peter planned a hike with friends and family for the day before the wedding and doled out baggies of trail mix as an energy-packed snack. Each one is finished with baker's twine and a customized label from Kraft Outlet.

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The Flower Girl

Ready for her flower-girl duties, Peter's 2-year-old niece looks precious in a Baby Gap frock with a sash dyed to match the bridesmaids' dresses.

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The Aisle

Vases of bare birch branches flank the aisle leading to the creekside archway.

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Ceremony Refreshments

Lemonade is at the ready to quench guests' thirst before the ceremony.

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The Vows

Pauline's grandmother lent her a 200-year-old tortoiseshell comb from her prized collection. Her mom had borrowed another, smaller design for her own wedding 38 years earlier.

After their "I dos," the two gleefully skipped back up the aisle during their recessional to "Home," by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. "There was something so sweet and authentic about it," says photographer Kirsten Shultz. "It moved me to tears."

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The Ceremony Program

Peter chose an Ernest Hemingway quote for the cover of the program, a fitting tribute since the famed author is actually buried in nearby Ketchum, Idaho.

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Groomsmen

A pair of groomsmen mug for the camera. Peter gave them all custom Nike sneakers that sported the wedding date and each man's last name.

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Cocktail Hour

Cocktail-hour bites included beef carpaccio with sun-dried tomatoes, creme fraiche, and basil on toasted French bread.

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Escort Card Display

Seating tags, dangling from birch branches, led guests to chairs adorned with oversize name cards.

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Table Decor

Rectangular boxes with holes hold the slender, wildflower-filled vases that decorated every table. As a nod to her French parents, the bride had a sprig of lavender laid across each menu.

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The First Dance

Proving that dance lessons do pay off, the couple whirl around to She & Him's "Sweet Darlin'." Their chosen song first made an appearance on a CD Pauline once burned for Peter.

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The Bride's Family

Pauline's aunt, who hosted the welcome party at her home, beams at the newlyweds.

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Cheese Course

The groom wanted a cheese course to follow dinner for those who, like himself, prefer savory to sweet.

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Dainty Desserts

Pistachio- and coffee-flavored macarons, prepared by Trail Creek Cabin, were set out after dinner at the same time as the cheese course.

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The Cake

The honey-spice cake won the bride over instantly with its cream cheese frosting. Wedding guest and woodworker Luke Bartels carved the "P" topper in honor of the duo's shared first initial.

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Happy Guests

Friends and family gather under a huge tent on Trail Creek Cabin's grounds.

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The Guest Book

Given the couple's history with Sun Valley Resort, a volume on the destination's storied past is a fitting guest book.

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Puppy Love

Pauline and her mom cuddle the bride's Chihuahua, Frankie.

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Favors

Every guest received a bag of goodies that included an aluminum water bottle from ePromos emblazoned with the couple's names and one very important date.

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