Lucky Sevens: Hayes & Ryan

A century-old dress, a horse ranch in Idaho, and a very special date.

Ryan and I met serendipitously in April of 2002. I was a bridesmaid and Ryan a groomsman in a Teton Valley wedding of two of our closest friends. At the time, Ryan was living in Driggs, and I was living in Seattle. As luck would have it, prior to meeting him, I had arranged to spend my summer guiding outdoor adventure programs in Idaho and Wyoming. We got to know each other better over the summer. As the seasons began to change, I decided to take a job in Jackson rather than return to Seattle. Four years and many fun adventures later, Ryan asked me to marry him—while on a ski trip in Switzerland.

Since neither of us had spent much time dreaming about our wedding day, we were at a loss when it came time to plan it. We were certain of only two things—we wanted to have an outdoor wedding and we wanted to get married in Teton Valley, Idaho. We knew that the earliest we could be relatively assured of good weather was the beginning of July. Coincidently, the first Saturday in July was 7/7/07. I figured it was a memorable date that would be hard for Ryan to forget, and just maybe there was something to that lucky sevens thing.

Ryan and I made a quick trip to Teton Valley from Seattle, where we’d moved to, to look for a location for the ceremony and reception. We returned home without finding the perfect spot. Fortuitously, one of my friends suggested that I contact Linn Canyon Ranch—located just north of Victor. She’d attended a beautiful wedding there and was sure that it was the place we’d been looking for. A couple of days later, I had a great phone conversation with Trudy Linn and booked the ranch sight unseen (in fact, we didn’t visit the ranch until a few days before our wedding).

A few months passed and my mom called to tell me that my Aunt Ruth had found “the blue trunk.” Tucked inside the trunk was a family heirloom—a one-hundred-year-old wedding dress that my family affectionately calls “the dress.” My mom and my aunt couldn’t wait for me to try it on. The dress was handmade by my great-great-aunt, Emily Williams Kern, who wore it when she married my great-great-uncle, Leroy Kern, on October 23, 1907. In fact, over the last hundred years the dress has been worn by seven brides—there’s that lucky number again!—and their initials and wedding dates are all embroidered in its lining.

Given that our ceremony was going to be outside, and that Ryan and I are pretty casual folks, I hadn’t even considered wearing a formal wedding gown. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to continue the dress’ legacy. My Aunt Ruth, who got married in the dress in 1973, was thrilled when I tried it on and it fit. After a twenty-six-year hiatus, the dress was gently laundered, pressed, and readied for me to wear. My mom took some lace that was tucked in the trunk alongside the dress and made a veil. She also collected photographs of all of the women who had worn the dress, and we displayed them at the wedding. Most of the photos were formal shots, except for Emily’s. It was apparent from her photo—and from what we know about her—that she was a bit of a free spirit. Even knowing that, I doubt she could have guessed that her dress would end up in an outdoor wedding held at a horse ranch in Idaho a century after she’d worn it.

As planning continued, we remained committed to including elements that reflected both our personalities and values. We sought out local talent—who happened to be our friends—for the photography, cake, and music. Ryan’s brother made the beer. A friend designed and made our invitations, and to minimize the paper trail, we set up a website with information about our favorite things to do and see in Teton Valley. In preparing our reception cuisine, Linn Canyon Ranch used vegetables from their organic garden. The flowers were grown locally, and our centerpieces were native wetland plants displayed in barnwood boxes that Ryan made. After the wedding, the wetland plants were donated to the Teton Regional Land Trust to be used in a wetland restoration project. Almost two-thirds of our friends were able to camp at the ranch for the entire wedding weekend, which created a great community feel and minimized the need for people to drive to and from the wedding site.

With friends and family gathered from every corner of the country, Ryan and I were married on a perfect day in a clearing surrounded by aspen trees. The ceremony was short and sweet; our good friend Emily served as officiant. Our dog, Fozzy, was the ring bearer and quite the crowd pleaser.

Once the ceremony and photos were finished, I carefully took off the dress and donned a (modern) red party dress. I enjoyed our guests’ reactions as I emerged from the lodge. The reception that Linn Canyon Ranch orchestrated was casual but elegant. The food was incredible, with plenty to go around, and Pete Linn at the smoker was one of the attractions. Cultures mingled, at least fourteen dogs played among the crowd, and young kids tore up the dance floor. Having our wedding at Linn Canyon Ranch turned out to be a great decision. Trudy and Katy Linn seemed to understand exactly what we were looking for, perhaps even better than we did. They were laid back, easy to work with, and attentive to details. The entire Linn Canyon Ranch staff worked together to make our wedding exceed all expectations.

That night, Ryan and I stayed in one of the luxury platform tents overlooking the ranch. We fell asleep listening to the distant sounds of friends having fun and the band playing around the campfire.

It’s true…your wedding day can be one of the happiest days of your life. Whether luck played a part or not, our wedding went off without a hitch and without a bit of stress on our part (thanks in large part to the staff at Linn Canyon Ranch). We felt very “lucky” to share our special place, Teton Valley, and our wonderful event with so many of our friends and family. -

bride and groom

Hayes and Ryan Swinney

photography by

Kisa Koenig

wedding date

July 7, 2007 (7/7/07)

officiant

Emily Sandefur, our friend

location

Linn Canyon Ranch

florist

Ronni Neumann at Abundance Flowers

musician/dj

Tall Boys from Bozeman

caterer

Linn Canyon Ranch

dessert chef

Ang Swedberg - Miso Hungry

rental

Teton Rental Center




	>> home Lucky Sevens: Hayes & Ryan A century-old dress, a horse ranch in Idaho, and a very special date. Ryan and I met serendipitously in April of 2002. I was a bridesmaid and Ryan a groomsman in a Teton Valley wedding of two of our closest friends. At the time, Ryan was living in Driggs, and I was living in Seattle. As luck would have it, prior to meeting him, I had arranged to spend my summer guiding outdoor adventure programs in Idaho and Wyoming. We got to know each other better over the summer. As the seasons began to change, I decided to take a job in Jackson rather than return to Seattle. Four years and many fun adventures later, Ryan asked me to marry him—while on a ski trip in Switzerland. Since neither of us had spent much time dreaming about our wedding day, we were at a loss when it came time to plan it. We were certain of only two things—we wanted to have an outdoor wedding and we wanted to get married in Teton Valley, Idaho. We knew that the earliest we could be relatively assured of good weather was the beginning of July. Coincidently, the first Saturday in July was 7/7/07. I figured it was a memorable date that would be hard for Ryan to forget, and just maybe there was something to that lucky sevens thing. Ryan and I made a quick trip to Teton Valley from Seattle, where we’d moved to, to look for a location for the ceremony and reception. We returned home without finding the perfect spot. Fortuitously, one of my friends suggested that I contact Linn Canyon Ranch—located just north of Victor. She’d attended a beautiful wedding there and was sure that it was the place we’d been looking for. A couple of days later, I had a great phone conversation with Trudy Linn and booked the ranch sight unseen (in fact, we didn’t visit the ranch until a few days before our wedding). A few months passed and my mom called to tell me that my Aunt Ruth had found “the blue trunk.” Tucked inside the trunk was a family heirloom—a one-hundred-year-old wedding dress that my family affectionately calls “the dress.” My mom and my aunt couldn’t wait for me to try it on. The dress was handmade by my great-great-aunt, Emily Williams Kern, who wore it when she married my great-great-uncle, Leroy Kern, on October 23, 1907. In fact, over the last hundred years the dress has been worn by seven brides—there’s that lucky number again!—and their initials and wedding dates are all embroidered in its lining. Given that our ceremony was going to be outside, and that Ryan and I are pretty casual folks, I hadn’t even considered wearing a formal wedding gown. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to continue the dress’ legacy. My Aunt Ruth, who got married in the dress in 1973, was thrilled when I tried it on and it fit. After a twenty-six-year hiatus, the dress was gently laundered, pressed, and readied for me to wear. My mom took some lace that was tucked in the trunk alongside the dress and made a veil. She also collected photographs of all of the women who had worn the dress, and we displayed them at the wedding. Most of the photos were formal shots, except for Emily’s. It was apparent from her photo—and from what we know about her—that she was a bit of a free spirit. Even knowing that, I doubt she could have guessed that her dress would end up in an outdoor wedding held at a horse ranch in Idaho a century after she’d worn it. As planning continued, we remained committed to including elements that reflected both our personalities and values. We sought out local talent—who happened to be our friends—for the photography, cake, and music. Ryan’s brother made the beer. A friend designed and made our invitations, and to minimize the paper trail, we set up a website with information about our favorite things to do and see in Teton Valley. In preparing our reception cuisine, Linn Canyon Ranch used vegetables from their organic garden. The flowers were grown locally, and our centerpieces were native wetland plants displayed in barnwood boxes that Ryan made. After the wedding, the wetland plants were donated to the Teton Regional Land Trust to be used in a wetland restoration project. Almost two-thirds of our friends were able to camp at the ranch for the entire wedding weekend, which created a great community feel and minimized the need for people to drive to and from the wedding site. With friends and family gathered from every corner of the country, Ryan and I were married on a perfect day in a clearing surrounded by aspen trees. The ceremony was short and sweet; our good friend Emily served as officiant. Our dog, Fozzy, was the ring bearer and quite the crowd pleaser. Once the ceremony and photos were finished, I carefully took off the dress and donned a (modern) red party dress. I enjoyed our guests’ reactions as I emerged from the lodge. The reception that Linn Canyon Ranch orchestrated was casual but elegant. The food was incredible, with plenty to go around, and Pete Linn at the smoker was one of the attractions. Cultures mingled, at least fourteen dogs played among the crowd, and young kids tore up the dance floor. Having our wedding at Linn Canyon Ranch turned out to be a great decision. Trudy and Katy Linn seemed to understand exactly what we were looking for, perhaps even better than we did. They were laid back, easy to work with, and attentive to details. The entire Linn Canyon Ranch staff worked together to make our wedding exceed all expectations. That night, Ryan and I stayed in one of the luxury platform tents overlooking the ranch. We fell asleep listening to the distant sounds of friends having fun and the band playing around the campfire. It’s true…your wedding day can be one of the happiest days of your life. Whether luck played a part or not, our wedding went off without a hitch and without a bit of stress on our part (thanks in large part to the staff at Linn Canyon Ranch). We felt very “lucky” to share our special place, Teton Valley, and our wonderful event with so many of our friends and family. - - By Hayes Swinney bride and groom Hayes and Ryan Swinney photography by Kisa Koenig wedding date July 7, 2007 (7/7/07) officiant Emily Sandefur, our friend location Linn Canyon Ranch florist Ronni Neumann at Abundance Flowers musician/dj Tall Boys from Bozeman caterer Linn Canyon Ranch dessert chef Ang Swedberg - Miso Hungry rental Teton Rental Center