This Couples Intimate Wedding at the Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole was a Romantic Winter Dream
A Winter Wedding Full of Family and a Cozy, Romantic Vibe
Kim and Nick’s wedding at the Bentwood Inn was one of those intimate weddings where the love was so palpable, and the family is so close, that watching the memories form was so beautiful. I will never forget it! Kim and Nick had originally planned a big wedding in Philadelphia, but, due to Covid, they decided to make more Covid-friendly plans. They decided to return to Wyoming, where Nick grew up, celebrating with an intimate wedding at the Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole. Kim & Nick are such a fun and quirky match made in heaven. With such different backgrounds and careers, the way they compliment each other and laugh at one another is beyond romantic.
Kim & Nick’s Love Story
Since we didn’t get to chat much before their big day, I asked Kim how her and Nick met and how he proposed while she was getting ready. When she told me that her and Nick had matched through Bumble I was instantly bubbling as that is how Jesse and I met! It was her proposal story that really made me smile from ear to ear though.
The Proposal
Kim, like me, is a lover of moon phases. Nick of course knows this so he decided to propose during a new moon. For any of you who don’t follow the moon phases, a new moon is when you are suppose to set new intentions or start something new. So starting the next phase of your life on a new moon is only one of the cutest and dreamiest proposals. What’s even better though is that while Nick planned this all out, Kim was running behind and Nick had to set outside in his car for HOURS waiting to propose. At last, Kim made it home and Nick proposed with the most GORGEOUS black diamond engagement ring.
The Bentwood Inn – Perfect for Intimate Wedding Ceremonies
Kim and Nick chose the Bentwood Inn near Jackson Hole, Wyoming for their intimate wedding. The Bentwood Inn is a rustic Bed and Breakfast that invites coupleswho crave that small, intimate, cozy feeling for their big day. By choosing Bentwood, everyone they love in their smaller family circle was able to be in one intimate location. Tucked gentle into the forests by the Teton Mountains, the Bentwood in offers cozy surroundings as well as a gorgeous interior.
Candids Only, Please!
Before their wedding at the gorgeous, rustic, Bentwood Inn, we captured the first few photos of the day. These were of the bridal party getting ready, along with a first look in the Bridal Suite with Kim’s dad and brother. For Kim and Nick, it was really important that most of their photos were candids. Especially for Nick, who has a love of authentic storytelling moments, they really wanted a more journalistic approach for their photos.
This was so refreshing for me! I absolutely love being a fly on the wall and getting to capture the moments as they come and go. While having some posed pictures with family is beneficial, it is always the candid moments that capture the real detailed moments of your day. And, candid photos are usually the ones that bring you back to an exact moment or memory: which is utterly priceless.
The Secret Ingredient for an Intimate Wedding Ceremony
During Kim and Nick’s intimate ceremony at they read gorgeous hand-written vows. This is one of my favorite parts of a ceremony: when couples hand write custom vows to each other. I feel so honored to get to document such a special, heartfelt exchange between two people so in love. The ceremony venue at the Bentwood Inn gave this moment an especially intimate feel.
Nick’s brother was the bombastic, hilarious officiant for their wedding. He was so full of charisma and, because he is so close to the groom and both families, he brought personal nuance to their ceremony. If I could recommend one thing to all my couples for their ceremonies, it would be to have a friend or family member as officiant. I find that the best, most sincere, most beautifully written ceremonies have been performed by a loved one of the couple. It just tugs on the heartstrings when the person marrying a couple knows them and their love story so intricately. This leaves so much room for inside jokes, details, old memories, and personal touches to shine through.
Honoring a Loved One at your Wedding
Another detail of this wedding that stayed with me was Kim’s honoring of her late mother on her wedding day. Although Kim’s mother was unable to be there on her special day, she wanted to acknowledge and honor her presence. Kim did this in two special ways. First, her stepmother and mother-in-law had sewn a heart into the lining of her wedding dress. It was a beautiful little symbol of maternal love being with her throughout the day. Kim also placed a silver ornament in her wedding bouquet that had the words “Love, Mom” engraved on it as a gentle love note from her Mom as she walked the aisle. 
I think it’s important to note that most couples are missing a loved one who is passed on their wedding day. I love supporting my couples in honoring a loved one at their wedding. Whether through a small homage that only the bride and groom know about, pictures, love notes, or a public acknowledgement. This is always a gorgeous way to honor your family history on the most important day of your life!
A Bentwood Inn Winter Wedding
After an intimate wedding ceremony, we captured a few photos of everyone on the back patio of the Bentwood Inn. The sun came out for just a few minutes for us, and it made the snow glisten beautifully. It turned out to be a beautiful winter wedding! After the family photos, the sun popped out once again, so I stole Nick and
Kim away to capture some of just the two of them in the Bentwood Inn wintry backdrop.
Making space for my couples to laugh, be silly, romantic, intimate at different parts of the day is so important. Not only to capture a variety of photos for them to keepsake, but to give them a chance to breathe, be present, and refocus on one another during their day. In this little session with Kim and Nick, it was adorable watching them giggle and joke with each other.
Kim had the most beautiful fur jacket to keep her warm over her dress! Her wedding dress was by Alexandra Grecco. It is absolutely one of the most stunning wedding dresses I have ever seen! I LOVED the gold details and deep neckline along with a full princess skirt. Truly a wedding gown with a statement and amazing quality/detail.
The Unplanned, Intimate Moments are the Best Ones
After their couples photos, it was time to enjoy a relaxing evening with the ones they loved most. Kim and Nick wanted to exclusively have candid photos before their dinner. This allowed me to hang out like a fly on the wall and snap little fleeting moments. One really fun moment was when someone spotted a Moose out in the snow! Everyone except for Kim and Nick’s dad went outside, so I got to capture a little snapshot of both moments.
Adventure Photos After The Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole
After their wedding day, my memory-making with Kim and Nick was not yet done! They wanted to be able to do some adventure photos on the Monday after they finished their marriage paperwork! So, Kim, Nick, both families and I went to the Wedding Tree in Jackson Hole as the first stop on our adventure. The Wedding Tree is a favorite among adventure wedding and elopement couples in Wyoming! Located in Bridger-Teton National Park, it provides a gorgeous vantage point of the Teton Mountains.
Next, we stopped at a beautiful, old barn that was starting to fall apart. I was dying to capture this location with a couple and found it such a perfect spot for Nick and Kim! We then headed deeper into the park where we found ourselves among lots of snow and pine trees. Kim loves trees (her last name is Linden so how could she not?!?!) So, being able to pull in the beauty of the aspens and pines for their photos was perfect!
Vendors:
Planner- Elope Jackson
Venue- Bentwood
Florals- Foxtails
Sweets- Absoraka Cake Co.
Catering- Bentwood
Dress- Alexandra Grecco
