When you live in an area surrounded by no less than 55 different lakes (it’s true!), a nod to nautical style is hard to resist. Tim and John’s Hayden Lake Country Club wedding absolutely nailed it. Inspired by their affinity for classic wooden boats, the couple, who dated for 17 years before tying the knot, spend their summers in Hayden Lake, and the rest of the year in Sun Valley. If that isn’t enough to inspire your summer home jealousy, just check out their stunning ceremony views!
The couple says, “We are summer residents of Hayden Lake, and winter residents of Sun Valley, Idaho. We had previously lived (for nearly 20 years) in the Seattle area, but became full time Idahoans in 2013. When Idaho’s same-sex marriage ban was struck down in October of 2014 (and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2015), we were in Sun Valley. Although we knew we wanted to marry at Hayden Lake, we got our license that day and contacted the Hayden Lake Country Club to select a date for the coming summer. We are members of the HLCC and consider many fellow members close friends, and staff like extended family. We also preferred a summer wedding, based on the fact that many guests and wedding party attendants would be visiting Idaho for the first time, and Hayden Lake and the surrounding region is so beautiful during the summer months. We are active boaters and own two vintage wood boats, so we wanted the ceremony to have an old-school, nautical feel. The historical architecture of the Clubhouse, paired with a stunning outdoor lakefront area for the ceremony and tented reception, was the perfect combination to achieve the look we wanted. As far as our most memorable part of the event, we both felt that our departure from the HLCC dock in our 1953 Shepherd wood boat was probably the highlight. Lit by a giant spotlight, we exited the party to cheers from guests on the deck above, while a remix of Christopher Cross’ ‘Sail Away’ played. The staff at the HLCC had given us a bottle of great Cabernet Sauvignon just prior to our departure, and we floated out to middle of lake where we sipped and keyed down for a bit before heading home.”
