And just like that, after months of planning, and a weekend of wrangling, it was time. Our vows were only hours away, but there was still work to be done. We had a solid plan and now we had to execute. I took my friends up to the pass to set up the ceremony site, and Sarah stayed back with her friends to prepare. Our wedding was going to be radically different, and to make it so, we had to lean on our family and friends. And they really came through for us.

My brother Sean, his girlfriend Lisa, Sarah's brother Chris, and my friends Kasey, Jenna, and Ashley did yeoman's work setting up the site. My dad and Sarah's mom made the beautiful decorations. Sarah's mom, sister-in-law Amanda, and friends Rekekah and Sophia prepped the cabin for the reception and got Sarah all ready.

Note: All photos in this section were taken by Steve and Randy of Steve Tinetti Photography. They did a wonderful job!

The site at the pass we had chosen the previous day

Chris directing traffic while Lisa hauls chairs

Meanwhile, back at the cabin, the dresses are out

Kasey and Ashley model backpacks for a surprise we had in store later

Bride, her mom, flower girl, and maid of honor

Jenna and I setting up the posts my dad made for the occasion

An aside on the posts and decorations. My dad Jim made and finished a bunch of posts with attaching shelves, designed to go on top of rebar pounded into the ground. He found a Lakota Sioux group that hand carved the small animal figures on top. We had enough to line the aisle and the path down to the ceremony. Sarah's mom BJ designed and made the flower arrangements you see on the shelves, and the centerpieces and flower arrangements for the reception. My dad also made the tree-trunk cupcake holder for the reception. All these decorations turned out exactly as we were hoping, and really tied in the outdoor theme of our wedding. Sarah and I can't thank them enough for all the work they put into our wedding!

Where do you change when the ceremony is in the middle of nowhere?  In the woods! — Where do you change when the ceremony is in the middle of nowhere? In the woods!

The guests are showing up, Sarah is 10 out from the site, and it's go time. My friends are escorting everyone to their seats. I'm alone up at the top of the aisle. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear the blood rushing in my ears. I'm happy and excited and nervous all at once. The mountains are all around me, and wind is ripping around me. Then it's time, and I see Sarah descending the hill, and that's all I see.

It was amazing. Our vows made each other cry. We couldn't stop smiling at each other. It went by in a blur, and we were married.

The first day of the rest of our lives together