An Intimate Wedding Weekend on the Shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

An effortlessly chic celebration woven with Western flair, wild blooms, soft ivory drapery and a surprise celebrity appearance

From high school to heartfelt vows, Samantha and Drew’s love story has been years in the making – rich with history, laughter, and a deep sense of intention. When it came time to plan their wedding, every detail was a reflection of their journey: personal, poetic, and effortlessly stylish. Set against the serene backdrop of Coeur d’Alene, their wedding weekend unfolded like a dream – where timeless elegance met modern minimalism. From picnic-style dinners to ceremony florals blooming like a lakeside meadow, each moment was artfully designed to feel unforgettable, and being beautifully captured by our talented member, Nirav Patel. Lush purple florals, custom linens, and floating fabric walls transformed their venue into a living installation, while nostalgic touches like vintage Polaroids and analog photo booth rooted the celebration in sentiment.

An Intimate Wedding Weekend on the Shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Our Rehearsal Dinner

^{Décor & Ambience}

We spent the afternoon before the rehearsal floating around Lake Coeur d’Alene on a wooden Stancraft boat—a quiet moment together before we said “I do.” We envisioned a summer evening with a picnic-style dinner for our intimate gathering. Acoustic music played while our family and friends gathered by the fire, with the graze board of my dreams right at the center. That night felt romantic and sophisticated, with heartfelt speeches from my soon-to-be in-laws and childhood friends. We ended the evening with huckleberry ice cream and warm chocolate chip cookies. We focused on natural materials such as wooden boards, stone plates, and linen menus. One of the sweetest touches was a display of vintage-style Polaroids from our family’s and friends’ weddings—celebrating the love stories that had inspired us along the way.

^{Our Style}

Drew and I matched in Jacquemus, and I, of course, wore Khaite boots to complete the look for our western-inspired evening. Everyone wore denim, leather, and fringe, which added to the overall aesthetic of the night.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

Drew and I met when we were both just 15. We’d pass each other between classes, sharing quick glances. Drew made the first move and asked me out. Since neither of us was old enough to drive, our parents actually dropped us off for our first date. From that night on, we have been inseparable. Looking back now, over a decade later, it’s surreal to think that what started as a teenage crush turned into forever.

^{The Proposal}

Drew had planned a weekend getaway to Palm Springs for our anniversary. I should have caught on to the surprise because he was unusually quiet the entire drive. That night, on our way to dinner, he took a "wrong" turn that led us to a bridge lined with candles and red roses. It was so special to spend the rest of the weekend just the two of us.

^{The Engagement Ring}

Drew put so much thought into finding the ring. He dove deep into learning about diamonds and even custom-set the stone. Over the years, I dropped plenty of (not-so-subtle) hints, pointing out what I liked. It must have helped because I am so happy with my ring and love all the effort behind its creation.

Our Wedding

^{The Location}

Coeur d’Alene has always been our happy place—creating so many memories together every summer on the lake. We wanted to have the wedding somewhere that had meaning to us and share it with our closest family and friends.

An Intimate Wedding Weekend on the Shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

^{The Vision}

We were inspired by juxtaposition—contrasting natural elements with contemporary structure. The idea of "less is more" guided most of our choices and made the day feel authentic to the venue and our personal style. With so few weddings at Gozzer Ranch, we felt like we were able to create a weekend unique to us.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Sophia Goff and I clicked from the start. She understood our vision and encouraged us to lean into what was considered "unconventional." She brought unmatched creativity, experience, and a fresh perspective that made our day everything we hoped for and more. One of the first vendors we booked was Nirav Patel. We were immediately drawn to his photos, and he told the story of our day perfectly!

^{The Ceremony}

We envisioned a ceremony that felt natural and grounded—almost an extension of the space—with the lake as our backdrop. We opted for a less traditional aisle and created a meadow of purple, local blooms woven between the seating. We softened the space by draping custom linens over the wooden benches. It was important to us that everyone was seated to share in the moment. It rained all morning while we were getting ready, but just as the ceremony began, the sun broke through the clouds—it truly took my breath away.

An Intimate Wedding Weekend on the Shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

^{The Cocktail Hour}

Our cocktail hour was at the iconic Gozzer Ranch Tree Bar, a retro-inspired bar wrapped around pine trees that’s covered in license plates. We joined everyone for huckleberry lemonade, etched our names into the wood, and even ran into Miles Teller. It felt like the perfect start to our marriage.

^{The Reception}

Our reception was a contemporary dream with subtle nods to Coeur d’Alene. The rentals were pieces we would want in our own home, making the night feel like an intimate dinner party. We designed floating walls with gathered fabric and wood frames, and even draped the entire barn from floor to ceiling—transforming the space into what felt like an art installation. We moved inside the barn for our first dances and the after-party. Everyone was on the dance floor, including my 85-year-old grandmother!

^{The Special Touches}

Happiness and nostalgia were common themes throughout our design—like postcard save-the-dates and adult happy meals at the end of the night. We even had a refurbished 1960s analog photo booth—a timeless token that added a vintage element.

An Intimate Wedding Weekend on the Shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

^{Our Favorite Moment}

It’s hard to choose one moment, but we both agree—seeing each other at the aisle was truly an indescribable feeling. We exchanged personal vows, and without knowing it, both ended with the same words: “I love you more today than yesterday, but more tomorrow than today.” After growing up together and being in each other’s lives for so long, our wedding felt very personal. Everyone there had been a part of our relationship from the beginning and had a connection to our story.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I wore a Jenni Kayne linen robe the morning of the wedding with a Maison Margiela slip and Gucci slides. I felt so beautiful all weekend—thanks to Danielle Nastasi! I was convinced I would change my mind about my wedding dress, but surprisingly, I didn't. From the moment I tried on my all-lace Oscar de la Renta gown, I just knew it was the dress. From the backless silhouette and halter neckline to the organic bow detail, it really checked all the boxes. For my second look, I chose a Danielle Frankel dress that reminded me of the reception design—the dress itself draped around me with the most beautiful silk fabric, lined with lace detailing. I almost forgot to change into it because I was glued to the dance floor!

^{Our Bridesmaids’ Looks}

I asked each of my bridesmaids to choose their own dress within the same color palette. It was important to me that everyone felt like themselves, and it was so much fun to see what everyone picked out. My mother, Iris, wore a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown adorned with pink poppies that effortlessly tied in with the girls' dresses.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Take in every moment—it goes by fast. It’s easy to get caught up in the details. Trust the people you have chosen to bring your day to life, and don’t be afraid to speak up about what is important to you. I always joked with my planner, Sophia Goff, that I could have handed everything over to her and still would have known it would turn out exactly how I imagined. We had a lot of trust in each other.

^{For On The Day}

We were thoughtful with our timing and flow, making sure we nailed this down ahead of time so that moving between locations would feel natural and easy. Having a detailed schedule allowed us to enjoy the day and focus on what mattered most—each other.

^{For Post-Wedding}

It was really special to have an extra day with our family after the wedding, giving us time to slow down and soak everything in. For us, waiting to go on our honeymoon gave us the space to reflect on the weekend and extended the celebration.