ADRENALINE & LOVE: Jess & Eric

The Making of an Extreme Couple.

Extreme kayaker meets extreme skier. Two states, two different seasons, and two very busy schedules.

Who knew I would meet my future husband on a girls’ kayaking trip? In the spring of 2003, I drove to Ashland, Oregon, to join up with Samantha Glaes for a six-week, spring run-off kayaking trip in California. The first time I met Eric was in the early morning at the put-in for Hatchet Creek. Samantha joked with the four expedition boaters, saying, “One of you will fall in love with this girl from Wyoming. I’m not sure which one, but one of you will marry her.” I have no idea how Samantha knew, but she was right.

The magic was real, but the circumstances were nearly impossible. Eric lived in Ashland and spent all of his time kayaking. I lived in Jackson and spent all of my time skiing. We spent a year maintaining a long-distance relationship, meeting all over the world to go kayaking and skiing. Somewhere between the Alps and the Andes we realized we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

Eric proposed to me shortly after our second trip to Argentina, in the fall of 2006. Knowing our schedules were packed, my mom volunteered to plan our wedding. It turned out to be a perfect reflection of our personalities and strong commitment to our future together. Our wedding took place on thirty acres in the Teton Valley Highlands of Kelly, Wyoming. Not afraid of manual labor, my mom, Eric, and I cleared underbrush from the site and created a river rock path for guests to follow to the Gros Ventre River. Eric built an aspen arch, which was placed next to the river and framed the Tetons. Eric’s younger brother played his guitar as guests arrived, his father was the master of ceremonies, and our vows were a story of how we met and what we hoped the future would bring for us as a couple.

After the ceremony, guests mingled along the river and watched the sun set behind the Tetons. A moose even joined us for the festivities. Dinner was served under a beautiful tent, and guests danced into the wee hours of the morning. -

bride and groom

Jess and Eric McMillian

photography by

Carrie Patterson

wedding date

21-Jun-07

location

Teton Valley, Highlands

Kelly, WY

officiant

Paul Seymour

hair & makeup

Shear Dimensions

florist

www.growersbox.com

musician/dj

Eric’s iPod, rented sound system from ACME Industrial Strength Music

caterer

Dining In Catering

dessert chef

Dining In Catering

rentals

Canvas Unlimited




	>> home ADRENALINE & LOVE: Jess & Eric The Making of an Extreme Couple. Extreme kayaker meets extreme skier. Two states, two different seasons, and two very busy schedules. Who knew I would meet my future husband on a girls’ kayaking trip? In the spring of 2003, I drove to Ashland, Oregon, to join up with Samantha Glaes for a six-week, spring run-off kayaking trip in California. The first time I met Eric was in the early morning at the put-in for Hatchet Creek. Samantha joked with the four expedition boaters, saying, “One of you will fall in love with this girl from Wyoming. I’m not sure which one, but one of you will marry her.” I have no idea how Samantha knew, but she was right. The magic was real, but the circumstances were nearly impossible. Eric lived in Ashland and spent all of his time kayaking. I lived in Jackson and spent all of my time skiing. We spent a year maintaining a long-distance relationship, meeting all over the world to go kayaking and skiing. Somewhere between the Alps and the Andes we realized we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Eric proposed to me shortly after our second trip to Argentina, in the fall of 2006. Knowing our schedules were packed, my mom volunteered to plan our wedding. It turned out to be a perfect reflection of our personalities and strong commitment to our future together. Our wedding took place on thirty acres in the Teton Valley Highlands of Kelly, Wyoming. Not afraid of manual labor, my mom, Eric, and I cleared underbrush from the site and created a river rock path for guests to follow to the Gros Ventre River. Eric built an aspen arch, which was placed next to the river and framed the Tetons. Eric’s younger brother played his guitar as guests arrived, his father was the master of ceremonies, and our vows were a story of how we met and what we hoped the future would bring for us as a couple. After the ceremony, guests mingled along the river and watched the sun set behind the Tetons. A moose even joined us for the festivities. Dinner was served under a beautiful tent, and guests danced into the wee hours of the morning. - - By Jess McMillan bride and groom Jess and Eric McMillian photography by Carrie Patterson wedding date 21-Jun-07 location Teton Valley, Highlands Kelly, WY officiant Paul Seymour hair & makeup Shear Dimensions florist www.growersbox.com musician/dj Eric’s iPod, rented sound system from ACME Industrial Strength Music caterer Dining In Catering dessert chef Dining In Catering rentals Canvas Unlimited