We’ve had lots of practice dodging summer storms on a wedding day! But it didn’t stop us from enjoying every minute of Samantha and Travis’ gorgeous (and rainy!) Sylvan Dale Ranch wedding! 

As we headed into this beautiful day, we had a feeling we’d be playing Russian Roulette with some early summer storms. So we just put on our meteorologist hats and kept a close eye on the Doppler. One thing we do know about rainy weddings is that it’s important to arrive early to scout out LOTS of alternative spots for portraits. Lucky for us, this gorgeous venue had plenty to choose from! 

When we arrived we were greeted by the sweetest pups dressed in handsome little suits. It was immediately clear they were going to steal the show! The smaller dog wouldn’t leave Samantha’s side, so as she got into her dress he got comfy on the bed, just taking it all in. 

The groom and his groomsmen were getting ready nearby in their own cottage by the river. The entire room was filled with laughter and excitement in anticipation of the day to come. 

Before the ceremony, Samantha and Travis met by the river, helping to ease the nerves and set the tone for the day. But just as we expected, dark clouds began to roll in! We held our breaths, hoping the storm would pass quickly. 

As soon as the wedding party joined us for portraits, we heard thunder in the distance along with that distinct gust of wind that precedes a big storm. We had our clear umbrellas in hand, but as soon as that wind popped them inside out, we knew it was time to run for the cottage!  

We never let a storm waste our portrait time, so we took advantage of the adorable kitchen in the cottage. There was incredible light still pouring in through the windows, so we picked up right where we left off! 

The storm passed quickly, so we all made our way up to the ceremony site overlooking the Rocky Mountains. It was clear we needed to spend a little time wiping down the soaking wet chairs for the guests! Jeremy and I jumped right in with towels in hand and helped prep the space.

Before we knew it, the skies cleared just in time for the ceremony. Friends, this is such a great metaphor for marriage, or just life in general! When you wait just a bit, the storm clouds will clear and reveal the most spectacular, vibrant colors. That’s exactly what happened as the ceremony began! 

Following the wedding, Robin Hood of Howe Eventful kicked off the reception and kept things rolling! Samantha’s dress swap was spectacular, and the perfect way to jump right into the celebration! 

By the way, dress swaps all the rage right now, but it’s important to consider if it’s truly the right choice for you. Essentially, a dress swap is when a bride chooses to change out of her wedding gown and into a second dress for the reception. 

It’s a great option if you’d like to ensure your wedding dress stays clean and to have a little more freedom (and comfort!) on the dance floor. 

Just remember that if you swap dresses, it’s possible your accessories may not match. And lots of brides also realize they only wear their wedding gown once, so they want to squeeze every last minute out of wearing it! 

Ultimately, a dress swap is a personal choice for every bride to consider. If you’re interested, be sure to speak to your photo and video team. They can help determine the best timing of making the swap with your wedding day timeline in mind. 

The reception was tons of fun and definitely put a smile on everyone’s face, especially with dessert provided by The Cupcake Gypsies (our favorites!) The rustic vibes, dancing, and laughter was the perfect exclamation point to an incredible day. 

Samantha and Travis, we loved sharing this special day with you. Jeremy and I wish you all the best! 

VENUE | Sylvan Dale
FLORIST | Reale Events
CAKE | Cupcake Gypsies
DJ | Howe Eventful
CATERER | Slyvan Dale
HAIR AND MAKEUP | Jordyn Held
DRESS | Emma & Grace