FAQs
Question
What is an Elopement Weekend?
Answer
This is a great question, and we would love to share our vision with you all! We have always dreamed of getting married or eloping in the Tetons. We also wanted to share this with our closest friends and family, with whom we already know well and have deep personal connections. We ultimately chose to have a small elopement ceremony with you all over a larger traditional wedding because it is more congruent with our values as humans and as a couple. This weekend is designed with our values in mind, which include intentionality, meaningful connections, and authenticity. We additionally value quality over quantity, sustainability, and intimacy. This weekend emphasizes deep, personal experiences with close loved ones, allowing us to focus on shared memories and intimate connections. It minimizes the production typically associated with a traditional wedding. We have chosen to hold a very small, intimate elopement ceremony backdropped by the Tetons at the Ashton Lodge. This weekend includes the family and friends who would have been in our wedding party had we chosen a traditional wedding with a larger guest list. Our vision for the weekend is getting to spend time with our family and friends, who we know and enjoy deeply. We selected the Ashton Lodge as it lets us all enjoy the mountains. We designed the weekend with a balance of structure and leisure time in mind. We are excited to celebrate with a Welcome Party, a Ceremony, and an After Party as the main planned events.
Question
When do we need to RSVP by?
Answer
Please RSVP through Zola invite by April 1, 2026.
Question
What are the times and date of the Elopement Weekend?
Answer
We ask guests to plan their arrival on Friday, August 14th, 2026, between 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm. We will be staying at the Ashton Lodge at Henry's Fork for the entire weekend. We must have guests make their departure by 9:30 am on Sunday, August 16th, 2026. Should we be able to offer late checkout, this may change, and we will alert you accordingly; however, we will not know until a couple of weeks before the event.
Question
Where are the events taking place?
Answer
The events will all take place at the Ashton Lodge at Henry's Fork. This lodge offers ample accommodations for everyone invited to the elopement, as well as two kitchens, 7 bathrooms, laundry, billiards, multiple communal spaces, a hot tub, a lake, ample outdoor space, and a wrap-around porch. The Welcome Party will be held outdoors on the wrap-around porch. The Ceremony will be held in the green space on the side of the lodge. The Reception and After Party will be held in this same green space.
Question
How do we get to the Ashton Lodge at Henry's Fork?
Answer
This lodge is just outside of Ashton, Idaho, looking over the Tetons! It is about 1.5 hours from Idaho Falls, the closest city. If you are local to Idaho/PNW, you can opt to drive to the venue. Please arrive at the venue on August 14th, 2026, between 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm. Guests may choose to fly to Idaho. Please fly into Idaho Falls Regional Airport. We will be helping arrange transportation from the airport to Ashton, which is about a one-hour drive. You may arrive at the airport on Friday, August 14th, anytime before 3:30 pm. The Welcome Dinner is at 6:00 pm, so arriving by this time gives us plenty of time for transfer and to settle in! If you must arrive on Thursday, August 13th, please arrange accommodations for yourself in Idaho Falls, and we can then help with transportation on August 14th.
Question
What is the general agenda for the weekend?
Answer
We have planned a weekend with plenty to do, as well as time to relax and hang out together! We will kick things off on Friday night with a Welcome Party, followed by games, billiards, and swimming. Saturday, we eat breakfast all together before getting ready for the ceremony! We will hold the ceremony in the afternoon, followed by a cocktail hour and a dinner reception. Once finished with dinner, we will start the After Party! On Sunday, we will have breakfast before saying goodbye! See the schedule page for more detailed information.
Question
What food will be served during the weekend? Will dietary accomodations be made?
Answer
We will be keeping everyone well-fed all weekend! There were vegetarian options all weekend. We will also do our best to accommodate other dietary restrictions. On Friday, we will have artisan pizzas for the Welcome Party, with bread and salad service. We will be serving water, soda selections, and one signature drink. Saturday, we will have breakfast consisting of pancakes, sausages, farm-fresh eggs, fresh fruit, and yogurt. We will additionally have coffee and orange juice. There will be a mimosa bar while getting ready. Lunch will be served informally in the middle of the day during the getting-ready time. This will consist of sandwiches, chips, dips, and fruit/veggie trays. A cocktail hour will be hosted with various hors d'oeuvres. The ceremony dinner will include various pastas (white and red sauce options), protein (chicken and shrimp), and a vegetable side dish, with salad and bread service. The after-party snacks are chicken strips, plant-based Chik'n strips, and fries. We will be serving water, soda selections, and one signature drink. Sunday morning will feature a grab-and-go breakfast with fresh fruit, muffins, and croissants. Coffee and orange juice will be served. If you have deitary restrictions please contact Randy at 970-373-9897 by April 1 to discuss your needs and how we can meet them throguhout the weekend!
Question
What is the dress code for the Welcome Party?
Answer
The attire is cocktail casual. Women can wear a dress of any length, or a blouse with a skirt/pants with comfortable, stylish sandals or closed-toe shoes (e.g., loafers). Men can wear a suit (with or without a tie) OR formal pants/slacks and a button-down shirt. Guests should choose bright summer colors and are optional to dress with a western flair/aesthetic. Please see the Pinterest board for ideas and guidance on aesthetic: https://pin.it/5TU3e2pn1
Question
What is the dress code for the Ceremony?
Answer
We ask that guests wear only formal black-tie attire. Women will wear their designated color (yellow, purple, blue, or pink) full-length, ankle-length, or midi gown with nude or light-colored heels or sandals. Men may wear only a black tuxedo/suit (with a white shirt) and may choose a black bowtie or tie. A vest/cummerbund is optional for men. Pocket squares will be gifted to all men. Please see the Pinterest board for ideas and guidance on aesthetic: https://pin.it/2pkWRXgX0
Question
What is the dress code for the After Party?
Answer
Go wild with us at the After Party! Randy and I are going to change into a second look for the after party and welcome you to do the same! Guests may choose to stay in their ceremony/dinner attire or change into more comfortable cocktail, semi-formal, or festive attire. If you opt to change: Tasteful western flair is encouraged! Women may change into short knee-length western themed dresses/skirts/shorts, comfortable for dancing (jean skirts included). Western boots are great! Men may change into a western button-down shirt and trousers/jeans. Western boots are great! No color requirements, feel free to wear any colors and textures! Feel free to bring your own cowboy hat, cowgirl boots, glitter, and other props as we dance the night away. The bride and groom will be in boots, hats, and glitter*! We will be hosting a glitter bar during the After Party (glitter and face decals provided). Slippers will be available for dancing. *Hats, glitter bar and photo props will be available to everyone. Please see the Pinterest board for ideas and guidance on aesthetic: https://pin.it/7IAygUmUR
Question
This is an August wedding, it would be 100 degrees, right?
Answer
The daytime high temperature in Ashton is actually in the low 80's during August. The Ashton Lodge sits at around 6000 feet in elevation in the mountain foothills and sits on a large lake. As the sun sets behind the mountains earlier, the temperature quickly drops from the 80s to the 70s/60s around 6:00 pm. With these factors, we are more concerned about guests feeling chilly than hot during the ceremony and nighttime activities. The attire chosen takes these factors into account, and we intend that wearing longer dresses and suit jackets will help everyone feel comfortable. Additionally, we recommend that guests bring layers such as cardigans, shawls, and light jackets to wear over their attire.
Question
Why is there a specific dress code?
Answer
If you know Emma, you know she loves her aesthetic and cares deeply about a party's ambiance. We invite you to lean into these requests and utilize what you already own to feel and look your best this weekend! The design of our elopement weekend was to include family and friends who would be in a wedding party in a traditional wedding. While we chose an untraditional elopement structure, all guests would have similar attire requests during a traditional wedding, as you all would have been in the wedding party! Our goal is that the pictures and experiences reflect who we all are! Pinterest boards with inspiration and guidance on the aesthetic we are looking for are listed with each dress code. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!
Question
Will there be an open bar?
Answer
No, there will not be an open bar for the weekend. This is not a formal wedding venue and does not have insurance policies for wedding parties. Therefore, we will not have an open bar or serve alcohol to guests. Here is what we plan to do: We will offer one signature drink for the welcome party and one for the ceremony. Additionally, we will offer champagne toasts (non-alcoholic options available as well) at the ceremony. We will also have a shot during the After Party. We welcome guests who bring their own beverages for the duration of the weekend. We will have fridge and cooler space available for your drinks! If you are getting picked up at the airport by us, we can stop at local stores so you can pick up any drinks or other items you need for the weekend!
Question
What other details do I need to know or plan for?
Answer
Overall, we want this to be a fun weekend where we cannot only celebrate our marriage but also the amazing community we share! We invite you to bring any games you want to share/play with us, your cameras, and your swimsuits. Most of all, please bring the party!!
Question
Do you (the bride) need any help?
Answer
Yes! I will always welcome help as we are doing a non-traditional elopement-style weekend! We will absolutely need help setting up and taking down the spaces for this weekend! If you are interested in a job or helping with one part of the weekend, I would love to hear from you! This weekend would not be possible without our amazing friends and family!
Question
Can I take pictures during the cermony?
Answer
We love that you want to capture our special day! We have a firm request that there be no cell phones out during the ceremony (which will be only about 20 minutes) so our paid photographer and videographer can capture this moment for all of us! At the end of the ceremony, before exiting, we will invite guests to take out their phones and cameras to capture all the photos and videos they want. We will share the photos/videos from the ceremony so everyone can access them in lieu of capturing them on your own personal device.
Question
What is the weather like in the Tetons during August?
Answer
The daytime temperatures range from the low 60s to the low 80s. The nighttime temperatures can drop into the 50s, but it is typically still warm until the middle of the night. Ashton and the Tetons are in the mountains, which means there is cooler mountain air at night. We recommend guests, at the very least, bring a light jacket or a Cadigan; however, some people are comfortable in hoodies/jackets this time of year.
Question
The RSVP only lists my name, can I bring a +1?
Answer
The RSVP will list only those people who are invited to the elopement weekend. Our guest list is small and is closed, meaning we are no longer able to extend invitations beyond those already invited. This weekend's design prioritizes our values of a small, intimate elopement. Where it is a nontraditional elopement rather than a wedding, we have a limited, small guest list. Additionally, we chose to celebrate this way so that everyone invited could stay at the Ashton Lodge for the entire weekend. This weekend is not meant to be exclusionary; rather, it is meant to be inclusionary toward those people who are closest to us. There are many ways to celebrate marriage, and we are asking for respect and support of our choice to hold a very small, intimate elopement ceremony in lieu of a large wedding with extended family and friends (as well as +1's).