After becoming completely overwhelmed by the prospect of wedding planning and the ongoing pressure from questions like, “have y’all set a date?” Kelly Jo and Justin decided to elope to the stunning Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, a destination that had been on their bucket list for a while. Along with their very good friend and photographer Hailey Pierce, as well as their closest family and friends, Kelly Jo and Justin held an intimate and very personal ceremony with the mountainous beauty of the national park as their backdrop.
They wanted their elopement to be easy going and fun and a representation of both of their free spirits…
Justin and I wanted our wedding to actually be a representation of our personalities and our relationship. We are easy going, adventurous, unique and we truly just enjoy life and each other. We naturally go against the norm…not to try and prove ourselves to others but to try and live this life to the fullest that we can, while we can.
With our lives becoming increasingly ruled by the pressure of modern society and social media, planning a wedding for some couples can be a pretty daunting task. The idea of escaping with your loved one to somewhere out of reach is an idea that is becoming increasingly popular amongst free spirited couples, and Kelly Jo and Justin share with us why.
Look out for the beautiful lake images below – take me there now please!
A Photoshoot, A Dog and One Knee…
Justin proposed to me on December 10th 2017 during a photoshoot with Hailey Pierce. I thought we were just doing a cute photoshoot with our dog, Reese. Justin and I have always made fun of people who get engaged around holidays so he knew I would never expect him to propose that close to Christmas. I was so surprised, I even asked him if he was kidding while he was on one knee.
Whimsical, Delicate and Comfortable…
I wore a Lillian West dress and I loved it! I wanted it to be whimsical, delicate and mostly comfortable. My dress embodied all of those things and I felt it was truly made for me. I got my dress from Ashley Grace Bridal in Lynchburg, VA.
My shoes were Ariat cowboy boots and my veil was from Ashley Grace Bridal in Lynchburg, VA. My earrings and necklace were from Altar’d State
The Urge To Escape…
I always thought I wanted a cute, intimate, traditional wedding. I had an entire Pinterest board of what I wanted that day to be like. But after we got engaged, every time someone would ask me “have y’all set a date?” my stomach would churn. The thought of planning a wedding, having to worry about bridesmaid dresses, flowers, food, blah blah blah…made me want to run away. It’s just not my thing at all. I told my Mom that what I really yearned for was for Justin and I to go somewhere really beautiful and get married with my good friend and photographer, Hailey, with us. Luckily, Justin was thinking the same thing so when I brought it up to him, he was all in. We picked Grand Teton National Park because it was somewhere neither of us had gone before but it was on the bucket list for both of us. Hailey helped us pick the actual spots we had our first look, ceremony and picture locations at.
We stayed a cabin in ID and made the drive over the mountain to Jackson WY.
An Intimate Ceremony…
We had a very intimate ceremony in front of the Tetons with just our immediate family and 2 close friends.
We just let nature do its thing. We really just wanted to let God’s creation shine during our ceremony so we had no decorations.
A $60 Bouquet…
Hailey and my Mom made my bouquet and Justin’s boutonniere out of wild flowers, some greenery from back home and flowers that we bought at a local florist in Wyoming. I originally was not going to have any flowers, but Hailey and my Mom insisted on making me something. My bouquet was phenomenal. It was everything I didn’t know I needed, and it cost us about $60 to make.
A Dream Wedding Photographer…
Hailey Pierce Youstra was our photographer. Hailey is a dear friend of mine that I met when we both worked at a health food store together. She photographed our engagement and now our wedding. She’s been there for 2 of the best days of our lives. We truly love her so much. She is such a talented photographer that can make even the most shy and awkward people comfortable in front of the camera. Her style is GORGEOUS. She is genuine and truly cares for her couples. She also went above and beyond for us…from helping basically plan our wedding to making my bouquet. It was a dream come true to have her photograph our day.
Favourite Moment…
The entire day was so perfect and magical, its hard to pick just one thing but I would have to say our ceremony was my favorite part. My Mom, Lisa, actually married us. My Mom is my BEST friend. Her, Justin and I are like the 3 stooges. She always said he was like her long lost son. She knows our relationship better than anyone else, that’s why we wanted her to do our ceremony. And wow, did she kill it. It was so raw and emotional and meaningful. There was a lot of crying, mainly from her and I. It was so beautiful and perfect.
Any Advice?
I hope that what Justin and I did inspires people to do what they want to do and stop trying to please everyone else with their wedding. American wedding culture is so crazy and expensive, try not to get caught up in it. Because it will pull your attention from what truly matters, your union with one another. Just do what brings joy to your life and avoid the stress.
The Line Up…
Photography: Hailey Pierce Photography; Venue: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming; Bride’s Dress: Lillian West from Ashley Grace Bridal; Bride’s Shoes: Ariat Cowboy Boots; Bride’s Veil: Ashley Grace Bridal; Jewellery: Altar’d State; Ring: Manly Bands; Groom’s Shirt, Yie & Vest: Joseph A. Bank; Groom’s Jeans: Ariat; Groom’s Cowboy Boots: Justin’s Boots; Cowboy Hat: Shelplers
May I ask where you got your amazing invitations?