I met Jackie and Dusten several years ago while photographing one of their friends’ weddings. I’ll never forget how cute they were together, with Jackie’s vivacious laughter alongside Dusten’s quiet nature. When I found out that they were engaged after 10+ years together, I couldn’t wait to congratulate them and talk to them about wedding photography! I was so honored when Jackie told me that they wanted Foxtails Photography to photograph their Sheridan, Wyoming wedding!

Jackie and Dusten’s Love Story

Jackie and Dusten met while Jackie was bartending. Rumor has it that Jackie makes her Long Island Ice Teas a little too strong, and this led to a funny conversation between them. Throughout their ten-year history there were many great moments, including the time Jackie got Dusten’s truck stuck, and they spent all night getting it un-stuck (whoops)! But even that tough moment turned magical as they watched the sunrise together once they got the truck out.

As they approached their ten year mark, Dusten decided it was time to tie the knot. And he had the perfect way – Jackie has always been a fan of flying. She’ll tell you how she always wanted to fly helicopters and wanted to be a pilot, etc. So while flying over the Oregon coast in her first helicopter ride, Jackie got an even bigger surprise when he proposed! Talk about a crazy first ride! The couple carried the helicopter theme into their wedding, with Jackie arriving via helicopter!

Capturing the Perfect Engagement Session – Complete with Horses

After they had some wedding details set, Jackie and I started to chat about what they envisioned for their engagement session. They told me how important it was to include their horses along with beautiful views and some wildflowers. Because of this, we opted to wait for warmer weather so there would be wildflowers and a gorgeous spring landscape.

Their dream of a nature-filled shoot put some great location options in my head! But, one in particular stuck out for this rowdy country couple! We ended up choosing a local, red dirt road that has unbeatable views of the Wyoming landscape. 

We had cloudy, dreary weather at the start of the engagement shoot, which was not ideal. But, we decided to get some shots without the horses while keeping our fingers crossed that the clouds would clear. To our luck, halfway through our session the sun came out! At this point, we captured some beautiful golden light amongst the mountainous backdrop. 

Sessions with horses are always fun and can be challenging, but these two horses were the best I’ve ever photographed. I always try to work slow and carefully with horses to make sure I don’t spook them. But, you do have to be quick enough to capture those gorgeous moments before they move. 

When horses are involved in my shoots (or any animal really) I make sure to follow their lead by going in whichever direction they move. By doing this, I can capture efficiently and easily, without making the photo unnatural or making the animal unruly.

A Beautiful Country Wedding in Sheridan, Wyoming

Dusten and Jackie’s dream was to have all their friends and family at a big country wedding. A small wedding was not an option for them, so the COVID restrictions definitely added some pressure to the wedding planning. Luckily, Wyoming eased their restrictions just in time for Jackie and Dusten’s wedding in Sheridan, Wyoming! So, we were able to plan exactly what they dreamed of – dancing, drinking (long island anyone?), and celebrating the night away! And, having their country wedding in Sheridan, Wyoming was nothing short of breathtaking for these two!

Jackie kicked the wild ceremony off by flying in on a helicopter. And the ending was equally as fun as the beginning –  Jackie and Dusten closed out the ceremony by riding off together on their horses.

After all that excitement on a hot summer day, the reception was a great way to cool down. Everyone enjoyed some drinks and live music from a great band. Wyoming country swing dancing made its way into the reception! Swing is truly the way to every woman’s heart up here, and it definitely holds a special place in Jackie and Dusten’s . They kicked up their boots to Wicked Game by Chris Isaak for their first dance together! And, they ended with cake pops and a tiered cake with a custom topper, featuring a couple on their horses.

This whole wedding was true to their story, and it had so many elements of who they are! An authentic country wedding in Sheridan, Wyoming was an amazing way to celebrate their love, and I was honored to capture every detail!