Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
Dirk and I moved from Raleigh, NC to Salt Lake City, Utah for a four-month summer adventure to explore the national parks of the West. While my family was visiting us, we decided to drive to Glacier National Park in Montana and start a hike into grizzly territory outside of Bowman Lake, a remote area of the park. Since we all love hiking and the land doesn’t get much prettier than in northern Montana, we decided to take the quick hike. What we thought would be quick was not quick, nor was it easy. It began at a moderate level, quickly becoming a steep incline at a consistent grade. I began complaining about the speed everyone was hiking and the frustration I had trying to keep up. We were all alone on this remote trail and right in the middle of grizzly’s homes, which made us all a little uneasy. After pushing through and thinking that surely the end of the trail would yield a beautiful view, it ultimately led me to the most romantic story of my life. On a questionable, rickety bridge at the Lower Quartz Lake in Glacier with only my mom, dad, brother, and dog present in a 3-mile radius, Dirk got down on one knee and my mind became mush. I made the bridge shake, my legs became weak, and my only focus was Dirk’s smile and the sentence, “I want to travel with you and have these same crazy experiences with you for the rest of my life.” Let’s just say the hike back was no longer a problem or difficult. We have our wedding date set in our favorite place which defines our passion of the National Parks – Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming!
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Truly, it’s a culmination of things. The dress shopping with my mother, the website drafting, and the invitation design have all been my favorite.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
I do a little at a time. Each day I move a little closer to my finish line whether that be calling a photographer, caterer, or just researching decor ideas. Anything to avoid last minute, hectic scrambling!
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
Having Joy employees available to help troubleshoot and answer questions!
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Make sure you edit your website and read it over numerous times before releasing!
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Do not put an excessive amount of work, stress, and money into something that will last only a few hours. It’s important to focus on what will make you and your partner joyful and happy while being surrounded by people you love. Doing this and it will ensure the day ends with smiles on your faces!
