A Formal, Rustic Outdoor Wedding in Wyoming

July 28, 2011

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Kristina and Jesse

Yvette Roman

Kristina and Jesse -- two lawyers who met at a nonprofit event at the suggestion of a mutual friend -- leave southern California for the magical mountain setting of the bride's family vacation home.

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The Location

Yvette Roman

Nestled in the Teton Mountains, the property offers privacy, serenity, and stunning views from every angle. With ponds, pine and cottonwood trees, and lush pockets of vibrant wildflowers, the natural setting combines a magical woodland atmosphere with the Western mountain landscape.

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The Stationery

Yvette Roman

Tiny Pine Press's stationery suite uses a mix of textures and natural elements. A handmade folder houses the different pieces, with a twig and twine closure.

The hand-colored photograph of the house and the pond is the save-the-date and a preview of the wedding location.

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Welcome Bags

Yvette Roman

Guests receive welcome bags filled with local delicacies, like Cowboy Chocolate. An acre of rainforest is also donated in each guest's honor as a wedding favor and a way to offset the wedding's carbon footprint.

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The First Look

Yvette Roman

Prior to the ceremony, Kristina and Jesse meet with their photographer, Yvette Roman, in the woods for their first look at each other on their wedding day. Not wanting to miss too much of their cocktail hour, they take a handful of portraits before the ceremony, including some snapshots of the bride in an old tepee on the grounds.

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The Bridal Look

Yvette Roman

Kristina pairs a full-skirted Oscar de la Renta gown with Christian Louboutins for portraits, changing into ivory Frye boots for the woodside celebrations. Her mother's Art Deco ring and her stepmother's pearl earrings are her "something borrowed." Jesse designed Kristina's engagement ring himself, with help from 23rd Street Jewelers in Santa Monica, California.

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The Bridal Bouquet

Yvette Roman

Kristina's bouquet, by Cecelia Heffernan of Flower Hardware, combines antique garden roses, sweet peas, clematis, and scabiosa.

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Well Suited

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The groom keeps it classic in head-to-toe John Varvatos

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Boutonnieres

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Boutonnieres of wildflowers and herbs tied with leather cord adorn the men's lapels.

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Sisters

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Sisters Shauna, India, and Kristina pose for a family portrait before the ceremony.

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Preceremony Refreshments

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Huckleberry lemonade is served in Mason jars before the ceremony. An alcoholic version during the cocktail hour serves as the evening's signature drink.

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The Ceremony

Yvette Roman

Kristina is escorted to the ceremony by her father.

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The Ceremony

Yvette Roman

Just under 200 guests gather for the 6 o'clock ceremony by the water. A good friend (and shared yoga teacher) of the couple leads the ceremony as dusk falls on the early August day.

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The Ceremony

Yvette Roman

The huppa, built from Aspen tree wood and topped with a simple cream fabric, doesn't distract from the beauty of the surroundings.

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Musical Musts

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The couple, who share an affinity for South African music, enjoy the spirit and emotion provided by a singing troupe. The groom's one "must have" for the wedding day creates a moving moment for the duo and their guests alike. The troupe's singing and drumming begin before the ceremony, and the bride walks down the aisle to an a capella song.

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The Ceremony

Yvette Roman

The ceremony honors the couple's different backgrounds as well as the land they stand on. The personalized service has most guests in tears of joy by its conclusion.

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The Rings

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The ring pillow uses soft twigs, dried flowers, and moss to echo a bird's nest. Leather cord holds the wedding bands -- from 23rd Street Jewelers

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The Flower Girl

Yvette Roman

The bride's sister, who serves as the flower girl, wears a crewcuts by J.Crew dress and carries a rustic pail of petals and blooms.

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Cocktail Hour

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Small tables dot a nearby meadow for the cocktail hour. Hors d'oeuvres such as "Wyomato" gazpacho are passed on platters made from thinly sliced tree trunks.

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Cocktail Hour Decor

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Wildflowers set in rustic wood boxes top the cocktail hour tables.

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Cocktail Hour Decor

Yvette Roman

An old jug with wildflowers enhances the natural beauty of the clearing in the woods.

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A Private Moment

Yvette Roman

Kristina and Jesse take a private moment at a small table for two. They enjoy a few appetizers, toast each other, and revel in their newlywed status.

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The Reception

Yvette Roman

The African troupe leads guests from the cocktail meadow through the woods to the reception tent. Wooden directional signs line the path, and Mason jar lanterns hang overhead.

Twenty-foot tables are covered in ivory linen and wildflower-filled wooden vessels. Rustic barn wood painted with table numbers perches on the end.

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The Placesetting

Yvette Roman

Menus are tucked into neatly folded linen hemstitched napkins, along with a petite bunch of wildflowers and herbs.

Guests dine on mostly local and organic fare prepared by Bistro Catering. The dinner includes greens with truffle vinaigrette, roasted chicken with mushrooms, Moroccan-spiced salmon, and wines from California and the Pacific Northwest.

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Tabletop Touches

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Even the salt and pepper, housed in small wooden boxes, matches the decor.

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The Lounge Area

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An old barn door placed atop hay bales and a sofa with flaxen pillows offer guests an area to relax. Outside the tent, Adirondack chairs surround a fire pit ready for roasting marshmallows.

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Dancing

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Kristina's sister, Shauna Brittenham, performs an original song titled "I Do" for the couple's first dance. Dancing continues to the sounds of West Coast Music, a 12-piece band brought in from Los Angeles.

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Dessert

Yvette Roman

In honor of the bride and groom's favorite flavors, and as a metaphor for their marriage, the cake combines red velvet and carrot cake layers united by their classic topping, cream cheese frosting. A dessert buffet created by Pai's Place features homemade vanilla and caramel ice cream, as well as mini fruit pies and cobblers.

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Sources

Yvette Roman

Photography: Yvette Roman Photography
Event Planning: Yifat Oren & Associates
Rentals: Canvas Unlimited
Lighting: Images by Lighting
Sound: Hughes Production
Transportation: Driver Provider; Valley Valet
Hair & Makeup: Robyn Lynch

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