Consultation
We began designing for Casey and Mike as we always do, with an in-depth consultation to uncover what makes them unique and understand their ideal guest experience. The couple’s engagement occurred during a memorable trip to Montana, rich with big skies and fly fishing excursions, so they decided to bring their closest family and friends back to Paradise Valley for their wedding week. Instead of a traditional wedding day, they envisioned treating their guests to a true getaway—a week of adventure, relaxation, and celebration.
Casey and Mike wanted their favorite people to feel completely spoiled upon arrival at Sage Lodge, so we planned to welcome guests with thoughtful baskets filled with sentimental surprises.
researcH & inspiration
To gather inspiration for Casey and Mike's brand story, Sam dove into the beauty of Paradise Valley. She pored over wildflower field guides to identify specific flora that would scatter the fields during wedding week. She studied the unique wildlife of Yellowstone National Park and immersed herself in the art of fly fishing, exploring its rich history, the craft of fly-making, and discovering which species of flies would appeal to the Yellowstone River fish come mid-June.
While the couple chose a ceremony surrounded by all the nature that Big Sky country has to offer, Mike's family treasures their faith and it was important to the couple to honor that devotion. As a nod to the traditional church bell, Sam selected the harebell wildflower—a simple yet meaningful emblem—as the centerpiece of their event branding.
Further inspired by nostalgic imagery of classic family vacations, Sam set out to design the visual identity for Casey and Mike's unforgettable week of family adventures.
the design process
For each guest room, Sam sourced charming picnic baskets designed to mimic vintage fishing creel baskets. Naturally, she planned to fill them with everything guests would need to feel comfortable while exploring the great outdoors: the couple's favorite snacks and drinks from their home states, along with a complete amenity kit packed with bug spray, SPF, electrolytes, sleepy-time tea, and more. And, of course, a pack of playing cards—printed with the custom, hand-painted wildflower pattern from their save-the-date—to help pass the downtime between outdoor adventures.
For most events, this collection would be more than enough. But for Casey and Mike’s intimate group of loved ones, we wanted to include a sentimental memento to commemorate such a special week together. Since Casey and Mike planned to introduce their guests to fly fishing during the trip, Sam proposed a hand-painted keepsake fly box: an heirloom piece designed to hold the beginning of each guest’s new fishing fly collection.
gifting mockups
production
For each keepsake box, Sam hand-painted harebell flowers and our production team installed the shearling lining. We partnered with an expert fishing fly maker to hand-tie three brand-new Syl’s Midge flies for each guest’s collection. The Syl’s Midge, a classic fly, was originally designed in Montana, on the very river where the guests learned to fish. Following the traditional “recipe,” we swapped hen feathers for quail feathers—an homage to Mike’s home state bird. Each box included a note explaining the story behind the flies.
Alongside the keepsake box, we included a hardcover copy of The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies. Inside the box, we shared the page number to read the history of their Syl’s Midge flies, and the couple wrote personal thank-you notes in the book covers.
For each guest, we printed personalized welcome notes and itineraries, securing them with whimsical moose-shaped paper clips. We carefully sourced and packed snacks and amenities, tying each basket with a silk ribbon before delivering them to the guest rooms at Sage Lodge.
Of course, we didn’t forget Casey’s young nieces and nephews. For each child, we selected a Yellowstone-native stuffed animal, wrapping its neck with a personalized bandana for a delightful surprise.
