DIY Wedding at Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley, Idaho | Lillian and Joel
Lillian and Joel have totally unique personalities, so it’s no surprise that their mountainside wedding at Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley, Idaho, encapsulated that! Homemade decorations, screamo and metal music, whiskey flasks, and bubble guns were all part of this entirely one-of-a-kind day.
How Lillian and Joel’s Love Story Led to a Memorable Proposal in Seaside, Oregon
Their love story began in the summer of 2020 when they had their first date with a walk and seafood dinner. Two years later, Joel proposed when they were on a trip to Seaside, Oregon. Joel had originally planned to propose in a helicopter tour over Cannon Beach, but the weather wasn’t good so he decided to wait for a sunny day on the beach. The couple collects water and earth samples from where they travel to, because they like bringing back a little piece of the earth with them. Joel had asked Lillian to go collect one so he could get on one knee. “When she turned around I was on one knee, and I'll never forget the look on her face,” he said. “Disbelief and joy in a way I've never seen. Thank God she said yes!”
Lillian and Joel's Wedding Vision: Fun, Unapologetic, and True to Themselves
For their wedding day at Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley, they wanted it to be as fun and true to them as possible. “We've decided to just go for full-blown fun, we're not going to take it too seriously and just be absolutely ridiculous about it because that's true to who we are!” they said. “We couldn't be more excited to be building a life together, so this is just a big ‘ol celebration of how excited we are to be doing this with friends and family there to share it with us!”
They both prepared for the big day in cozy log cabins at the Redfish Lake Lodge. Chrischelle Hirano did Lillian’s makeup and Summer Hutchins did her hair, and the Maid of Honor, Hannah, assisted Lillian in getting dressed. Lillian wore a unique, golden crown from Carbickova Crowns and a dress from Margene’s Bridal. With a few last fixes of her crown and some cozy photos indoors, they were ready to go.
Despite the rain starting to fall, the couple decided to have their first look outside the cabins. They were both clearly so overjoyed, and it showed in the photos! After a moment alone, we headed to the ceremony.
A Ceremony with Personal Touches
They chose to have their wedding ceremony on the banks of Stanley Lake because “Stanley is one of Joel's all-time favorite places,” said Lillian. “It was a beautiful place he got to live and work with his dad before he passed away so it holds a special place in his heart.”
The ceremony area was decorated with an arch created by the couple adorned with the bride's handcrafted florals. Guests were greeted with a playful sign Joel made, reading “Holy Shitballs today is going to be awesome,” that set the tone for the day. Their unconventional choice of walking down the aisle to metal and screamo songs perfectly reflected their personality. Nicole Foster, a Reiki practitioner, officiated the day. Even as torrential rain poured during the ceremony, they continued on! The guests had bubble guns ready to soak the couples, but everyone was already soaked!
After family formals and with a stroke of luck, the sun came out for portraits by the lake. The mountains and the lake behind them was absolutely stunning. “The main vision we've had is around the ceremony on the Shoreline with the lake and mountains framing that moment,” they said. “Talk about decoration!”
A Reception Full of Quirky Details That Reflect Lillian and Joel's Fun-Loving Personalities
The reception was true to their quirky personalities. The tables had funny signs reading, “Live, Laugh, Loathe Entirely”, “We’ve waited 3 years to party with you, please party accordingly” , “Till Death do us party” and on their head table “Shit just got real.” They also had quirky decor all over the tables, like gemstones, tree logs, moss, and antlers. The couple loves to collect rocks and minerals, so those were on display as well!
Even though they had some unique aspects to their wedding, they still had a classic cake cutting and first dance. They cut the cake from Blondie’s Bakery and performed a choreographed first dance to "Through Glass" by Hands Like Houses, followed by a casual and relaxed evening of dancing and socializing. A friend of the couple even offered haircuts outside the tent, which is something I can say I’ve never seen at a wedding before!
As the night drew to a close, the couple and I headed to the dock for additional sunset portraits by Redfish Lake, a perfect ending to their unique and wonderful wedding day.
Their goal for the day was, in their words, “Unapologetic, lighthearted, chaotic fun,” and I believe the day fully achieved that!
No matter what kind of Idaho wedding day you’re planning, I’d love to capture it. From the Redfish Lake Lodge in Idaho and beyond, let’s document your perfect day! Check out some more weddings below!
Venue : Redfish Lake Lodge
Invite Suite / Florist / Accessories / DJ / Signs : DIY by the bride and groom
Bridal Crown : Carbickova Crowns
Hair Stylist :
Summer Hutchens
Makeup Artist :
Chrischelle Hirano
Bridal Shop : Margene’s Bridal
Groom Shop : Mens’s Wearhouse
Dessert : Blondie’s Bakery
Officiant : Nicolle Foster
xx,
Jennifer Lourie
