Photo: Taylor Glenn Photography
After a year of dating long distance, Susan Gushard and Michael Patrick decided they’d both move to Boston, Massachusetts, the city where they first met. A few years after that, Michael surprised Susan with an unforgettable proposal after hiking through Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire.
Although their love story has roots around the city, it was immediately clear to the duo where they’d get married. “We both knew we wanted to get married in Wyoming,” the bride says, and the pair wasted no time in booking the Chapel of Transfiguration for their ceremony and Snake River Sporting Club for their July 18, 2015 reception. Mother Nature offered a few surprises (including an impromptu hailstorm and rainbow!), and Taylor Glenn Photography was there to capture every magical moment.
Susan brought her mom, dad, and future sister-in-law along to several bridal boutiques while on the hunt for her perfect wedding dress. When she tried on a white Alencon lace and silk sheath from Marisa Bridal, they all knew it was the one. Susan accessorized with pieces that felt meaningful to her, including her mother’s pearl earrings and a bracelet that Michael gave her on their first Christmas together.
Michael wore a navy suit, white shirt, brown shoes, and a soft peach colored tie. His groomsmen wore slightly darker suits with matching brown dress shoes.
Susan’s bridesmaids wore flowing chiffon Donna Morgan dresses in the same blush color but in varying styles. “I wanted the bridesmaids’ dresses to complement the natural beauty of Wyoming,” the bride says.
The ceremony took place in a beautiful log chapel in Grand Teton National Park. To warm up the wooden exterior, the couple asked their florist to decorate the door with a wreath in tones similar to the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets. Inside, guests were seated in wooden pews embellished with flower-filled mason jars that had been tied to the end of each row with blush ribbon.
“Moments before I walked down the aisle, the hail came,” the bride says. “We heard it’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day, so hail must be even luckier! A rainbow followed the storm and our photographer was able to get some beautiful photos of us.”
Once the weather settled down, Susan and her father walked down the aisle to the classic Pachabel’s Canon in D Major, which was performed by an organist.
Before making a grand entrance as husband and wife at the reception venue, Susan and Michael created an unforgettable moment together exchanging personal vows by the river. “It was a special moment for us to pause and reflect on the day together with a glass of champagne by the peaceful Snake River,” the bride says.
At the reception, guests were served raspberry-peach prosecco punch, the couple’s signature cocktail, along with appetizers like beef sliders and seared scallops with bacon lardon.
Susan created DIY place cards for her guests using seed paper, small fern leaves, and pink rice flowers. For dinner, guests were seated at rectangular wooden tables adorned with tall candles in gold holders and ivory flowers with a pop of peach. They were served zucchini spaghetti in a tomato white wine sauce or grilled tenderloin with a blue cheese cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.
After a night full of dancing and toasts, the newlyweds cut into their three-tiered honeycomb-inspired wedding cake. Susan and Michael chose a Tahitian vanilla bean cake with raspberry mousse and cream cheese frosting, but also offered oatmeal cookies and pistachio, apricot, and vanilla bean macarons for dessert. In addition to being delicious, the sweet treats fit well with the couple’s peach, rose, and dusty blue color scheme.
Photo: Taylor Glenn Photography
For this happy couple, wedding planning was all about focusing on the details. “Everything we chose, from the elements that made up the save the date and wedding invitation to the warm oatmeal cookies after dinner, had some kind of significance or meaning to us,” Susan says.
Ceremony Venue: Chapel of Transfiguration || Reception Venue: Snake River Sporting Club || Wedding Planner: Lovely Day Events || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals || Hair: Debbie Ferrante of L’Equipe Salon || Makeup: Stephanie of Frost Salon || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Donna Morgan || Groomsmen’s Attire: The Black Tux || Flowers: Lily & Co. || Invitations: Ceci New York || Other Paper Products: Of the Earth; Jan Boyd Calligraphy || Music: John Michael Haines and Bill Hummer; Jeff Eidemiller || Catering: Spoons Bistro & Bakery || Cake: Jackson Cake Company || Photographer: Taylor Glenn Photography
Considering your own destination bash? Then you’ll be inspired by another couple’s epic getaway wedding in Cape Town, South Africa, seen below.