Sunset Horseback Riding Elopement in North Idaho

Shannon and Jesse booked me for an epic 2 day elopement experience here in North Idaho! My couple travelled all the way over from Ohio with their family to have a western style elopement in Idaho. Day 1 consisted of their family adventure day which was a UTV ride through the mountains around Priest Lake (which included exploring a lookout tower, how cool!) and day 2 was their Idaho horseback riding elopement!

Their North Idaho elopement took place in August, and this year we definitely lucked out with having stunning views as the wildfire smoke this year wasn't bad at all! In years past we can't even see a stretch of road in front of us, and I kept telling them and their family that usually we wouldn't be able to see the mountains at all around this time, but the views of the mountains were nice and crisp and clear, yay!

Shannon and Jesse's wedding was complete with the perfect weather, stunning river views, adventurous hiking bridals, a catered lunch in the forest, a romantic sunset horseback ride, and of course some great memories for them and their family. I also got to work with Hannah K. Brengle as their videographer! Let's take a look at some of the photos from their 2 day adventure here in North Idaho.

UTV Rides with Priest Lake Adventures

We started day 1 of their 2 day elopement with meeting up at Priest Lake Adventures in Coolin for some epic UTV riding! At first Shannon couldn't decide between trails in Coeur d'Alene or Priest Lake, but I convinced them on Priest Lake because I personally think it's prettier, and is less busy than Coeur d'Alene! Priest Lake has lots of lush ferns and cedars, and has rockier mountaintops since it's so close to Canada. Priest Lake is also Idaho's Crown Jewel, so it made sense to me to have my out of state couple get to see the beauty of Priest Lake!

Getting Ready at Cedar River Weddings

Shannon found Cedar River Weddings as a base camp for the morning of the elopement! It was located on a nice property in Priest River with really pretty views of the river. Here her and her daughter got ready together, and Shannon also had a first look with her dad here as well! Shannon's awesome viking inspired hairstyle was done by Aliceea with Vibin'Hair.

Ceremony on Priest River

The ceremony location they chose was nestled in between some trees as it overlooked Priest River. It was a gorgeous lush setting perfect for their intimate ceremony with family. Their officiant was Coeur 2 Coeur which always does beautiful ceremonies!

Catered Lunch in the Forest

When Shannon and I first starting planning together, she mentioned she wanted a "feast in the woods." This was a big reason why she ended up renting a venue for the morning portion of the day, so their caterer Brownell's could come and set up and serve a delicious lunch in the forest! They all shared an intimate lunch together, and was shortly after followed by a cake cutting from Kendra's Cakes.

North Idaho Forest Bridals

Shannon and Jesse also wanted to embrace a bit of adventure, so we found a nearby trail with some gorgeous views of Lake Pend Oreille to get some hiking in! We ended up finding a really pretty spot with tall trees, making it look like they were in the Redwoods!

I keep finding so many spots in North Idaho that resemble the Redwoods! This is why I love North Idaho for elopements, it has the gorgeous scenery of popular areas without the same crowds 😉 And when my couples and I explore places like these together for the first time, it's so so special! For another spot in North Idaho that resembles the Redwoods, check out this Spring Forest Elopement in Priest Lake blog!

Sunset Horseback Ride with Caribou Creek Outfitters

One thing my couple had to have for their elopement was a horseback riding excursion, and Shannon found Caribou Creek Outfitters located in Athol, ID! They taught us everything we needed to know (even if you're a total beginner like I was, plus with camera gear)! They made sure we could do the basic maneuvers to control our horses, and once we were all set we hit the trails! We had some stunning mountain views at the top of a ridge, which was the perfect background for Shannon and Jesse's first dance together! We got some really fun photos with the horses and it was truly and unforgettable experience.

North Idaho Elopement Inspiration

Idaho Elopement Photographer

It's so neat when my couples travel across the country to elope in my home! It never gets old to me and I love making such special memories with my couples. No matter the time of year or adventure, I'm here to be your elopement expert and make your day a memorable and meaningful experience! I like to help my couples accomplish this by providing vendor recommendations, custom location suggestions, a personalized activity idea list, and more! I am your elopement expert, not just your photographer :)

Read more about what it's like to work with me!

For even more information on eloping in Idaho, I have an entire blog going super in depth on how to elope in Idaho - the ultimate guide from a local!

Planning Tip: Shannon and Jesse planned this elopement in just a handful of months! This is definitely possible, but a tip for planning on short notice is to elope during a weekday! This means more vendor availability for your top picks of vendors!

Idaho Elopement Packages

Check out my pricing and info page to go more in depth on the elopement experience, and how I assist you throughout the whole process to create your dream elopement day!

Here's what comes with all of my Idaho elopement packages:

↠ Booking Gift

↠ 72 Hour Turn-Around Time for Sneak Peek Images

↠ Day of Elopement Gift

↠ Beautifully Edited Final Images

↠ Access to High Quality Print Products

↠ Free Phone Consultation or Zoom Call

↠ Timeline Creation

↠ Leave No Trace Guide

↠ 30+ Page Planning Guide

↠ Vendor Recommendations

↠ Unlimited Planning Assistance