HI Brides

A Wedding Full of Vintage Looks Amongst Wyoming's Lush Landscapes

Oct 20, 2025

Photos by Peter Lobozzo

Emma and Sam knew they wanted to get married at the Wedding Tree in Bridger-Teton National Forest, even if that meant some logistical quirks and having their wedding week start with the ceremony! The only thing more stunning than the view of the Teton mountains was the look after look Emma served all weekend long. 💛

The Teton Mountains served as the backdrop for Emma and Sam's ceremony.

Tell us about your wedding day and the surrounding events! Where did it all go down? Did you have any particular inspiration or musts when choosing the location?

Our wedding weekend was a bit unconventional! We wanted our wedding to be an authentic reflection of the life we have built in Jackson, Wyoming, over the last ~decade – a weekend that felt true to us and our relationship, but also a way to show friends and family who were visiting a snapshot of our lives in this beautiful (and inconvenient!) place we call home.

Therefore, we knew we wanted to have our ceremony at the Wedding Tree – a site in the Bridger-Teton National Forest 30 minutes outside of town that can only be reserved if you pull a permit. We were able to get one for Friday, June 27, 2025, which meant that our first wedding event would be our ceremony, and we planned everything else around that.

Friends and family making the gorgeous, although inconvenient, trek to the ceremony.

After our ceremony, we had our Welcome Party at the Jackson Hole History Museum, which reopened last year and has an amazing roof that overlooks town.

On Saturday morning, we infused some friendly competition into the weekend with a pickleball tournament held at the local courts. 70 of our friends entertained our vision and played in the tournament; we had both a social and competitive bracket, so there was something for everyone.

A little friendly competition to start off the wedding festivities...

Saturday evening, we had our reception at the Linn Ranch in Wilson, Wyoming.

It’s a gorgeous working ranch run by Jenelle and Olaus Linn (who are amazing!). We did a cocktail hour with passed apps, followed by a sit-down dinner, and then an epic dance floor party. Jackson has a noise ordinance, which meant the band had to stop playing at 10pm, so we moved to the Stagecoach Bar right down the road for the afterparty.

The pastoral Linn Ranch where Emma and Sam had their reception.

How did you and your partner meet? What was the proposal like?

My husband, Sam, and I were set up in the fall of 2018. This is a bit convoluted, but bear with me. One of my best friends was visiting Jackson that fall and asked if her friend, who also had a trip booked to Jackson at the same time, could crash at my house. My friend’s friend went to a college that had a ton of alumni who moved to Jackson after graduation – we played the name game, and I knew a lot of her friends in town, except this guy Sam. She thought we would hit it off, so she texted him my number, and he actually reached out (after some prodding from one of his friends who knew me).

"To his dismay, I would occasionally introduce him as my “future fiancé” after about a year and a half of dating."

We went on a date, and it was pretty unremarkable… but we kept seeing each other around town, and the attraction steadily grew. After an unremarkable start, I quickly became obsessed with Sam and knew he was the one.

To his dismay, I would occasionally introduce him as my “future fiancé” after about a year and a half of dating. Despite my certainty, we had to navigate building a life together in Jackson (we are very different people with very different careers) and felt like we really figured it out by 2023. (A whopping 5 years in!)

Emma walking down the aisle with her parents.

For Christmas that year, Sam gifted me a card that had details for an appointment with a local jewelry designer. We brought my grandma’s ring in and reset the stone into my dream ring! A few months later, Sam proposed to me at the Darwin Ranch, a guest ranch run by one of our dear friends, which had become an incredibly special place to us over the years.

We went on a walk where he proposed, and when we returned to the ranch, a bunch of our friends were waiting there as a surprise. It was perfect.

Describe your Happy Isles dress and/or dresses! When did you know it was the one?

I knew I wanted to get my wedding outfits secondhand and was beyond excited to go to Happy Isles. I grew up outside of NYC, so I flew home for an appointment. My friends joke that I have a pretty androgynous style, and I guess they’re onto something – when I got to Happy Isles, I asked if they had any white suits.

Courtney (the amazing stylist I worked with) said they had just gotten a 3-piece Laura Biagiotti Cream suit that day.

Emma in her stunning 3 piece suit from Italian designer Laura Biagiotti.

For my mom’s benefit, I first tried on a traditional full-skirt Carolina Herrera dress. It was stunning – my mom cried when I came out of the dressing room, but I knew it wasn’t me. I tried the suit on next and fell in love – just had to have it. And to my mom’s credit, she said she “had never seen me so happy” in an outfit before.

On the second trip, I tried on a few more dresses and liked elements of each, but hadn’t felt the same instant click I had had with the suit. Courtney pulled a dress that brought in the different details I was drawn to in the other dresses that I hadn’t even noticed on the racks. It was amazing. A deep cream Vintage Max Mara with a high neck and mother-of-pearl shells on the bodice.

Emma in her Max Mara gown - proof that your stylist can always surprise you!

I NEVER would have thought I would want the shell detailing, but it was THE dress. It was unexpected, yet classic. Then we turned our attention to the afterparty look, and I loved so many of the dresses and pant sets I tried on.

But Courtney, the protagonist of my story, brought me another dress I had passed over on the racks...

Emma in the *ultimate* after party dress - a 2006 Versace fringed mini. Swoon!

It was a 2006 Versace mini dress with leather fringe and a corset top. She thought it would fit the western location, and she was more than 10000% right. The dress was absolutely crazy; if it were a person, they would likely be unhinged. But it fit like a glove, and I knew it would be unbeatable on a late-night dancefloor. I’ve since reconsigned this dress with Happy Isles, and it already sold – I’m so excited another bride will get to do her justice! (Editor's Note: Read more about reconsigning with us here!)

Needless to say, I cleaned up at Happy Isles, and I have never, and likely will never, have more fun shopping anywhere else. (Editor's Note: Aw shucks!)

Shake that fringe, Emma!

What did your partner wear down-the-aisle and did you share outfit pics before the big day?

Sam wore a forest green J.Crew suit with a Liberty of London printed tie down the aisle. It was classic and looked fab in the natural setting of our ceremony. His real outfit moment of the wedding was a custom suit he had designed by Beckett & Robb in San Francisco for our reception on Saturday.

Sam, a firefighter in Jackson Hole, made sure that they arrived in style for their reception.

It was made with a gorgeous Loro Piana linen blend fabric in a light gray/cream, which he paired with a Todd Snyder white tee and a pair of white Chuck Taylors. I had my hand in some of these details, but the look was largely driven by Sam, and I was so proud! (For reference, he is a salt-of-the-earth firefighter who never buys clothes and very kindly entertains my obsession with fashion.)

As you can tell, his outfit decisions were an open discussion, but I kept what I was wearing a secret…mostly. I told him about the Laura Biagiotti 3-piece suit because I was too excited to keep it in.

How did your guests respond to your outfit/s? Were there any standout reactions?

The guests were beyond positive, and their reactions to my sartorial choices were a highlight of the weekend. My closest friends loved my ceremony dress because of its subtle, simple, classic beauty, which they felt reflected my sense of style.

When we entered the Welcome Party at the museum and I had changed into the suit, it was a showstopper moment.

A show stopping moment when Emma entered in the Laura Biagiotti suit and colorful accessories.

And when I changed into the Versace the next night after the reception, I was welcomed by lots of screams of excitement on the dance floor. People don’t warn you that you get a taste of what it feels like to be famous on your wedding weekend! It was so fun, but I’m more than happy to be brought back down to earth again.

Where did you shop for accessories, and how did you style your looks? Give us the deets!

I knew it would be hard to match shoes to the color of the Max Mara wedding dress, so I was shopping for nude or clear shoes. I was also going to be walking on a dirt trail, so I needed something practical. I tried to buy the Gianvito Rossi Metropolis heel in nude secondhand, but they came in the wrong size.

I landed on a pair of simple Larroudé clear slides with a kitten heel – nothing to write home about, but they did the trick. I wore one of my maternal grandma’s bracelets that has little blue sapphires on it for my something blue and a pair of her gold studs as my something borrowed.

Emma in her Grandmother's bracelet.

When I tried on the Laura Biagiotti suit at Happy Isles, Courtney put a vintage Chanel bow in my hair to style the look. I remember telling her that I would never be caught dead with a bow in my hair… but as always, she knew best because it completely COMPLETED the look.

Unfortunately, the bow was not in the budget, so I decided to recreate it. I found a vintage Chanel Camellia black silk flower brooch on Vestiaire and ordered a cream satin 1.5” thick ribbon. A close friend in Jackson is incredibly handy and works at a hat shop in town – we went to the studio one night and she sewed the ribbon onto a hair clip and added the flower. I had my bow!

A look at Emma's fab accessories!

As for the shoes, I knew I wanted to wear a colorful loafer. I became fixated on the Gucci x Ken Scott collab and found a pair of Gucci Jordaans in the Ken Scott print in my size at a secondhand store in Toronto. Their condition was great, the price was VERY right, and they had to be mine!

Beyond the bow and shoes, I knew I wanted a pair of sunglasses and a purse to round out the look. I borrowed a pair of white Valentino sunglasses from my best friend’s mom (who is like a second mom to me and is my absolute fashion inspiration). And then I borrowed a small Pucci purse from one of my other best friends; she found the purse at a secondhand and vintage store in Houston, and it was the perfect pop and print to match the loafers.

Oh! And one last detail – I wore my grandfather’s watch. He was unable to attend the wedding, so it meant a lot to have a little piece of him with me.

Emma wearing her Grandfather's watch. 💛

What was the most memorable aspect of your dress shopping experience? Is there anything you would like to highlight or share with other brides considering an appointment at Happy Isles?

I think all my responses so far touch on this, but the most memorable aspect of my shopping experience was the feeling of being so understood by the Happy Isles stylists.

"The shopping experiences didn’t feel personal at all. Happy Isles was deeply personal and SO fun."

They listened to what I wanted and got a sense of my taste, and were able to pull things for me that I had totally overlooked. Two out of three of my Happy Isles purchases were picked out for me, rather than something I found on my own.

I had also gone to a few wedding dress designers, and it felt like I was just another bride in their wedding dress factory. The shopping experiences didn’t feel personal at all. Happy Isles was deeply personal and SO fun. I wish every shopping experience could be like that.

We always love when the pets make it into the wedding party! 🐾

Okay. Your HI wedding dress is a person. What is their name, and describe their perfect date!

This question is too creative for me, so I asked my trusty sidekick: ChatGPT. It came back with, “Diana is a beautiful name for this dress. It carries a balance of elegance and strength — timeless yet approachable. It also brings in the aura of Princess Diana, who was known for simple, graceful silhouettes with subtle detailing, very much like this gown’s clean lines and shell-like embellishments. It feels like a name that would honor both the classic femininity and understated power of the dress.” Sure, that sounds good.

As for the date, I think she would like a picnic on the beach. Classic red gingham picnic blanket and a wicker basket full of desserts. And a stroll along the water at sunset. This came from my own mind, but ChatGPT approved, “If Diana were headed on her perfect beach picnic date, it would be understated but unforgettable — a scene where timeless romance meets the natural rhythm of the sea.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

The wind and the landscape making for truly next level pics!

Getting serious for a second. Did you ever feel like you were breaking the mold or challenging expectations while wedding planning? What were some ways you stayed true to yourself during what can be an emotionally complex experience?

Yes! Having our ceremony at the Wedding Tree was a logistical challenge. You are not allowed to bring any vendor services because it’s in the National Forest. So no chairs, no flowers, no caterers. It’s also down a dirt trail at just under 7,000 feet of elevation, which meant it would be difficult for the older generation to get there or be there comfortably.

We ended up relying heavily on friends who acted as our “pit crew” for the ceremony – they helped put out a few benches (which is allowed at the site) so older folks didn’t have to stand, brought up coolers full of water and drinks, and helped usher guests to the right location. Couldn't have done it without them.

The windswept bride.

It is also difficult to get a lot of people there, and this brought into question the guest list – a very emotionally charged part of the wedding planning process. Ultimately, we conceded to our families’ requests and rented large buses to ensure everyone could be at the ceremony. It was not exactly the intimate experience we had pictured, but it was still perfect – and the more, the merrier!

Despite this not being the easiest place to get married for all of the above, we felt very committed to the site because of its unparalleled views of the Teton mountain range, and we wanted people to spend time in nature since that’s a pillar of our relationship. It was completely worth it to stay true to our vision.

Nature provided it's very own wind machine for the affair!

They say every wedding has a “wild card” moment. Did anything unexpected happen or surprise you during planning or on the day of?

The true “wild card” moment in our wedding was nature, which is usually a wild card, so we got what we signed up for. The weather was perfect, but it was incredibly windy at our ceremony site. The wind picked up dust from the trails and slightly impacted the audio, but more than anything, it added dimension and drama to the scene (which looked so cool in photos).

And, it was a real reminder that because we wanted to get married in nature, we could not control all the elements! A good lesson in letting go and not sweating the small things. (At least it wasn’t raining!)

A kiss between newlyweds among the greenery.

HOT TAKES: Do you have any wedding planning or dress shopping advice? Please pay it forward to our future brides!

Wedding planning advice: Go with your gut. It’s your weekend, and it should be a reflection of you!

Also, if possible, know your photographer. Our extremely talented photographer, Peter Lobozzo, is also a dear friend, and it made a HUGE difference during our weekend. He made us feel comfortable and looked out for us at every turn.

Dress shopping advice: Go to Happy Isles. Seriously.

Emma and Sam's dear friends acted as officiants.

If you had to choose your single best wedding day memory, what would it be?

Oh my, this is a near impossible question. I’m going to cheat and pick 2 since our wedding felt like 2 distinct days!

First, two of our closest friends officiated our ceremony together and did an INCREDIBLE job. They captured the essence of us, weaving in a perfect balance of humor and sentimentality. It was such a unique experience to feel so seen and accurately reflected, as individuals and as a couple, by people you love. And have that be shared with your closest friends and family.

The second would be the Saturday night dance floor. The band, The Famous Undercover, was electric and brought the energy. And all of our friends understood the unsaid assignment: Let loose, get weird, and have fun.

The bride in a leather fringe Versace and the groom in cut offs. These two were ready to dance the night away!

Now that the wedding chapter has come to a close, what are some dreams you have for your future, both personally and as a couple?

Personally, I have been trying to settle back into reality and pick up new hobbies to fill the time I spent on wedding planning. Wedding planning really shows you that you have more capacity in your day beyond work and day-to-day routines.

So, I spent the summer volunteering with the local version of a food bank and am considering signing up for a ceramics class!

As a couple, we haven’t gone on our honeymoon yet. We are planning on going to Japan, likely in 2027. So we will start planning that trip, and soak up married life in Jackson in the meantime!