An Elevated Countryside Wedding in Wyoming

Kalen and Boyd

kalen boyd wedding couple — Carrie Patterson

Kalen and Boyd first met while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Indiana University and started dating two years later. After over half a decade together, talks of marriage had come up and Kalen sensed a proposal was in the works. Boyd knew the only way to surprise his future fiancée was to catch her off-guard. Upon returning from a long weekend away and exhausted from their respective trips, the couple had a regular Sunday night, eating dinner and going to bed. But a surprise was in store.

After Kalen fell asleep, Boyd decorated a room in their house with flowers, candles, and Champagne. "At 3 in the morning, I woke her up, took her hand and told her to follow me downstairs," Boyd recalls. He popped the question—but that was not the only shocker—he had also booked a celebratory trip to Florida, with their flight scheduled to leave four hours later!

After the trip and back home in Indianapolis, they got right into planning their big day. "I had always wanted to do a destination wedding to try and keep our numbers somewhat smaller," Kalen explains. As a result, the couple chose Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a place they both held dear to their hearts and somewhere they'd visited together. It also fit perfectly into the couple's vision of hosting a wedding near mountains. "We wanted somewhere that was so beautiful that you didn't really need to add a lot of extra décor because of the natural beauty of the landscape," the bride says of their incredible location. Besides the natural charm of the town itself and the people there, Kalen and Boyd loved the fun pun of getting married in Jackson Hole since they were becoming Mr. and Mrs. Jackson—their wedding hashtag was aptly #jacksonsinjackson.

On June 25, 2016, with 150 guests, Kalen and Boyd exchanged their own vows and became husband and wife at the Snake River Ranch's Grey Barn. The couple opted for a "rustic elegance" theme, focusing on more simplistic designs and elevated homey touches using greens, crisp whites and creams, and accents of color.

01 of 19

The Invitation Suite

kalen boyd wedding invite — Carrie Patterson

With help from their planner, Michelle Rago, the couple worked with XOWYO Paper + Press and chose a map (which Boyd helped sketch) with their wedding event locations printed onto handkerchiefs, allowing guests to have a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Another fun accent to the cool blue-and-white suite was the rustic, wood veneer card outlining the weekend's events.

02 of 19

The Welcome Bag

kalen boyd wedding wagon — Carrie Patterson

Guests were welcomed to the wedding festivities with a goodie bag of local delights like a half-bottle of Jackson Hole Winery wine (complete with a personalized label), Snake River Brewery Beer, and jerky made by the groom himself. "Anyone who knows Boyd well, knows jerky is one of his favorite foods, so he made two huge batches right before we left for our wedding week," Kalen explains. A cute little moose hangtag boring the couple's logo also served as another keepsake that could double as a Christmas ornament.

03 of 19

The Fashion

When it came to dress shopping, Kalen knew she wanted lace detailing and a trumpet silhouette. She ended up choosing a Matthew Christopher number with those exact features. However, it wasn't the traditional all-white gown. "At first, I wasn't too sure if I wanted to do the taupe underlay but I am so glad I decided to!" she says. Kalen kept things within the "rustic elegance" theme with Vince booties and topped off her ensemble with a sweeping cathedral-length veil, a borrowed pearl bracelet from her mom, and a silver bracelet gifted to her by her husband-to-be at their first look (the first of two presents). Come nightfall, Kalen glammed up her look with a fur stole.

Much like his bride, Boyd went slightly off the traditional route and opted for a custom dark gray suit.

04 of 19

The Bridal Party

kalen boyd wedding bridesmaids — Carrie Patterson

Even before Kalen found her wedding gown, she envisioned navy bridesmaid dresses to fit with the country-chic theme. As a result, her bridal party, consisting of a mix of family and friends, popped against the greenery in their various Joanna August gowns.

05 of 19

The First Look

Right before the ceremony, the twosome posed for some stunning portraits in the woods next to the barn where they wed. "We really liked the idea that the first time we saw each other on our wedding day was alone, private, and personal—just us two," the bride says of their choice to do a first look.

06 of 19

A Special Booklet

kalen boyd wedding booklet — Carrie Patterson

"Over the years, Boyd has always drawn on the cards and notes he gives me," Kalen explains of the second present she received from her groom. "This leather-bound book was where we could draw or write big events and chapters in our lives to keep a journal of together, that we can look back on over the years."

07 of 19

The Wagon

At the Snake River Ranch Grey Barn where the couple's ceremony took place, it is tradition to have someone take a covered wagon to the barn. Kalen and Boyd jumped on that idea and rode to the ceremony with their respective wedding parties in two different wagons, with the bride and groom even taking hold of the reins on the way over.

08 of 19

The Ceremony

kalen boyd wedding ceremony — Carrie Patterson

Not wanting to distract from the scenic surroundings, the couple kept things simple with potted baby's breath dotting the aisle. Inspired by a wedding that their florist, Lily & Co had previously done, they also had a table at the altar, decorated with antlers (a tie-in to the newlywed's logo) and candles to represent each of their parent's lineage and ancestors.

09 of 19

The Recessional

kalen boyd wedding recessional — Carrie Patterson

The new Mr. and Mrs. Jackson recessed to "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles, a subtle nod to Kalen's love of the band—the couple's dogs are named after Beatles-related people and songs: George (Harrison) and Penny (Lane).

10 of 19

The Truck

kalen boyd wedding truck — Carrie Patterson

Kalen and Boyd needed something to take them from the ceremony location to the reception tent and what's more rustic than a good ole' pickup truck? Danette Burr of Style Jackson Hole added a little flair to the vintage truck, decorating it with some blooms, greenery, and throw pillows.

11 of 19

The Reception Location

kalen boyd wedding tent — Carrie Patterson

For their reception, the newlyweds had a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop at Cottonwood Lake. "It was like a movie, it didn't look real," the bride gushes. The reception tent, which was constructed close to the water, gave guests the feel of being on a boat. The reception spot also held fun memories for the couple as their two dogs (who could not attend the wedding) had swam in that lake when they had previously visited to shoot their engagement photos.

12 of 19

The Escort Cards

kalen boyd wedding escort cards — Carrie Patterson

Displayed on little wooden logs, minimalist escort cards by XOWYO Paper + Press had guests' names printed on them, complete with a quaint moose illustration.

13 of 19

The Lounge

kalen boyd wedding lounge — Carrie Patterson

Everyone could take in the picturesque views in the lounge. Sticking with the day's color palette, the seating area featured white and cream furniture, finished off with wood accents and hints of greenery.

14 of 19

The Reception Décor

The reception featured a mix of round and farm tables, with taupe linens and an abundance of natural wood. Playing off the couple's logo and the locale they were in, it only felt fitting to have antler chandeliers as a fun accent. "We actually purchased the one above our sweetheart table and had it shipped home to us," Kalen says. The twosome has plans on hanging it in their new house that is currently being built.

15 of 19

The Table Settings

kalen boyd wedding table — Carrie Patterson

Cream and white roses, peonies, and scabiosa, accented with greenery served as centerpieces while a spring of thistle adorned the unique round menus on each place setting.

16 of 19

The First Dance

kalen boyd wedding dance dip — Carrie Patterson

The newlyweds had their first dance to "Quiet" by Jason Mraz. "That song basically embodies the idea that even if everything in the world surrounding you is hectic and chaotic, as long as you're with each other, everything will be fine," Boyd explains of their special song choice.

17 of 19

The Cake

kalen boyd wedding cake — Carrie Patterson

The couple's three-tiered Jackson Cake Company confection boasted delicate floral decorations, topped off with a few blush posies and a "J" to signify their last name

18 of 19