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A Beautiful Mountain Micro-Wedding at The Bride’s Parents’ Home in Jackson Hole

By Shayna Seid | Photography by 

Carrie Patterson

|Planning by 

In Any Event

Now that it’s crystal clear that hosting a big wedding at this time is just not possible due to the spread of COVID-19, we’re sharing the experiences of real couples navigating the re-scheduling, cancellation, and civil and commemorative wedding processes in an attempt to help others make informed decisions and to spread our support to all during this time.

Morgan Erika Magee, postponed her August 8, 2020 wedding at Snake River Ranch in Jackson Hole due to the spread of COVID-19. Here, she’s sharing how she and her husband, John Hugh Liedtke IV, navigated rescheduling and decided to have a micro-wedding on their original date.

About six weeks before their August, 2020 date, the couple decided to postpone their big celebration to August 14, 2021. “There is so much fear and uncertainty in the world right now, and we did not want to put any of our loved ones in a situation that was going to make them uncomfortable,” Morgan explains. Once it was confirmed that their 2020 wedding couldn’t happen, Morgan wanted to head to the courthouse for a small civil ceremony. “Thankfully my fiancé, J.Hugh, and our moms pushed for this small wedding.” And since they rescheduled so late, they planned their micro-wedding in only four weeks.

“Planning the small ceremony was easy,” the bride says. “Every detail for our original plan was done, so to put together a smaller ceremony and reception was no big deal with the help of my wedding planner Elizabeth Kelleher of In Any Event and vendors.” To set the tone for the day, the couple designed a beautiful invitation suite with Xowyo Paper + Press.

To walk down the aisle, Morgan wore her Romona Keveza dress, and J.Hugh was in a tuxedo from Johnstone—one of the bride’s best friend’s father’s company. The bride knew she had always wanted a gown with long sleeves and lace and couldn’t have been happier with her choice. On the day-of, she got ready with Tanya Crocker, who made her look like the best version of herself.

“I would never describe myself as an emotional person, that’s definitely more J.Hugh, but during our ceremony, I felt all the feels,” Morgan admits. “I think with all the challenges that were put up along the way, we were truly just so excited and amazed that we were actually able to get married this year.” During their quick 15-minute service, in front of a floral arch by Lily and Co., their officiant—someone J.Hugh had grown close to and admired over the years—shared the couple’s story beautifully.

Once pronounced as husband and wife, cocktail hour commenced, and the newlyweds went off to take portraits with their photographer. A seated dinner from Maho Catering followed under a covered area outside the bride’s parents’ home and ended with a small cutting of their Lady in the Wild West confection. For the rest of the evening’s entertainment, Jackson Hole Production Company deejayed, while more drinks were sipped.

Looking back on everything, Morgan feels really blessed to have married “her person” and to have celebrated in “such an intimate and special way.” “With all the challenges this pandemic has presented over the past few months, for us it also brought this incredible moment we are so grateful to have had,” she adds. “We are so excited for what the future holds for us and the opportunity to get married again in front of ALL of our family and friends in 2021.”