Sun Valley, Idaho is a bit of heaven and one of my favorite places in the world. What a delight to see one of Honey Paper's recent couples and their stationery featured on Style Me Pretty highlighting the rustic, unfettered charm of this wild landscape through the lens of a late summer wedding. Dev Khalsa Photography was there to capture every moment.
Every detail was considered - from the custom illustrated watercolor map to the modern calligraphic script in rich fuchsia announcing the destination of each wedding invitation. Guests opened an envelope lined with an illustration of Sun Valley's Sawtooth mountains nested in a band of wildflowers and foliage. I worked closely with Kelly, Terry and Kelly's mother to ensure guests felt at home and warmly acquainted in the Valley where the sky is a canyon for the sun.
A slate gray pocket held the invitation and enclosures. The suite was cinched with a hand-dyed silk ribbon the color of rich alpine wildflowers. A drawing of the majestic mountain ridge line with the couple's monogram completed the suite while the gray ink was a nod to the surrounding ragged mountains.
Because Sun Valley is a place dear to Kelly it was important that the four day celebration be as much about sharing the culture, landscape and history of Sun Valley as it was about getting family and friends together to celebrate.
Kelly and Terry didn't want their guests to miss out on the opportunity to explore the many wonderful destinations, nooks and vistas of the Wood River Valley. After deciding which places they wanted to spotlight, I created a custom watercolor map that included Trail Creek Cabin, Silver Creek, Java on Fourth and the historic Sun Valley Lodge which was the first ski lodge in the United States.
Wedding invitations often reflect the personalities and interests of the engaged couple and set the tone for the events to come. Together with escort cards, menus and custom watercolor maps, this combined paper symphony is a way to familiarize guests with the subtleties and distinctions of a place. Extra touches like the custom stamp pressed into fuchsia wax seals the suite and adds an elegant, old-world character.
Delicious local fare and majestic vistas are at every turn in Sun Valley. A welcome dinner at River Run Day Lodge was only the beginning of a perfect wedding weekend. We love how the simple initial and antler original Honey Paper design was carved into a beautiful slip of timber that welcomed guests.
I worked closely with Kelly's mother to create a custom watercolor map with icons representing the surroundings they wanted to share. We took it a step further and created packages of folded notes which were presented to guests illustrating local places of interest that held meaning for Kelly and Terry.
Each folded note was captioned, "It Happened in Sun Valley", taken from the Glenn Miller song written for the 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade.
The ceremony and reception were held at Trail Creek Cabin whose rustic atmosphere is enhanced by its western architecture and decor. Stone fireplaces heat rooms cozy with furs and stacks of wood while outdoor pergolas made from thick local timber hold twinkling chandeliers.
Escort cards with an illustration of the mountain peaks that visitors and residents hike and ski each year were nestled into split logs. The mountain detail was repeated on the dinner menu and cocktail napkins to create an overall cohesive narrative.
Trail Creek Cabin was built in 1937 along its namesake creek and guests can enjoy the sound of its rush from an outdoor seating area. From anywhere on the property Bald Mountain can be seen rising from stretches of woolly mountain pine and northern fern.
The florals - a lively cast of snow white hydrangea, peony, rose and orchid seemed to grow out of every wooden joint, notch and seam. A hanging garden of vine and tiny clusters of petal floated above guests as they raised their glasses to Kelly and Terry.
The dinner menu repeats the elegant gray ink of the invitation and an illustration of the Sawtooth Mountains with Kelly and Terry's monogram. The slate and aged-wood browns were an earthy, rustic starting point on which to add the rich gem tones of fuchsia, emerald and grape.
Over the course of their relationship Kelly and Terry have always pushed each other beyond their fears. Skiing and scuba diving were two activities that developed their trust in each other and allowed them to grow personally. The cocktail napkins were a small way to depict that aspect of their relationship.
Being part of this Sun Valley wedding was an absolute pleasure. Life, happiness and love shone bright with the talent and vision of Kelly, Terry, Kelly's mother Lisa and event planner Heather Minor of Heather Minor Events. Sue Bridgman of Bridgman Florist created the heavenly floral designs. Dev Khalsa Photography was there to capture the magic of Sun Valley and all the joy Kelly and Terry's friends and family brought to the celebration.
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more of our custom watercolor maps
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