Tricia Parker and Tom Thien wanted their wedding to be on a special day, and chose the evening of December 31st , 2008 to be married. They picked the Idaho Botanical Garden (IBG) as their venue. If you’ve never been to the IBG’s Winter Garden Aglow, you’ve missed an incredible display of holiday lights. The gardens are lit up with over 250,000 lights, artistically arranged and beautifully designed, creating a spectacular display of color. It made a fairy-tale like setting for their wedding.
Steve (Smith) and I, (Jeane Gadd) of Steve Smith Weddings were delighted to be chosen to photograph Tricia and Tom’s wedding. This would be the first time we’d ever photographed a wedding on New Years Eve, and the first time we’d photographed a wedding in the Garden in winter. We had done a really fun engagement session with them earlier in the month, so all things considered this was a wedding we were looking forward to shooting.
I went to Tom’s parents home, (where Tricia was going to get dressed) around 2:00 in the afternoon to take pictures of her getting ready. When I arrived, Heather Thien, Tom’s stepmother, greeted me at the door. Tricia was still at the beauty salon, so I asked if I could started taking pictures of her dress, and the wedding invitation. Heather was very accommodating.
Tricia arrived shortly thereafter with Tom’s adorable daughters, Sydney and Madison. The girls started getting ready immediately,
but Tricia wanted to wait until her mother, Diane, arrived before dressing, so she could be a part of the process.
Tricia’s good friend Jenni Kenley, who helped organize a lot of the details of the wedding, helped her put on her satin wedding boots and garters
All dressed and ready to go, she looked positively stunning.
Tom and his son Zack changed at the Grove Hotel. Steve was there to take some photos of the two of them getting ready.
Tom, Zack and Steve met Tricia, Diane, Jenni and I at the Idaho Botanical Gardens a little after 4:00 in the afternoon with plans to take some special pictures of the bride and groom.
While we women hid in the “Cottage” at the Garden, Steve took Tom to the English Garden, where we had decided to do “the Reveal”. Once in place, he called me on my cell phone to tell me they were ready. Tricia, Diane, Jenni and I walked to the Gardens where Tom’s back was turned to us. I positioned Tricia just so, and then hid out of view. Steve gave Tom the okay to turn around. I wish you could have seen the look on each of their faces. Tom was positively blown away by how beautiful Tricia looked, and Tricia was equally thrilled by how handsome Tom was. Tom had surprised Tricia by shaving off his goatee in honor of the occasion. They positively glowed with love and adoration for one another.
The “Reveal”
“I’m one lucky guy!”
Portraits in various locations at the Idaho Botanical Gardens.
Once the sun dropped behind the mountains, we all got into our cars and were about to head back to Tom’s parents house to wait until shortly before the wedding. But then we realized, if we did that, we might not make it back in time. A long line of cars had formed awaiting the 6:00 opening of the Winter Garden Aglow to the public. The wedding was scheduled to start at 6:30. So we opted to stay at the Garden and wait.
Tom and Steve walked over to the event tent where the wedding would be held.
The Cottage was locked, so Tricia, Jenni and I waited in my car. It was a little comical as each time a car would enter the parking lot with an arriving wedding guest, Tricia would duck down, so as not to be seen by anyone until the ceremony.
When it was time for the ceremony to begin family friend, Bailey Kenley (flower girl), Tom’s children, Zack (Best Man), Maddie & Syd (Maids of Honor), and Tricia and her parents, Diane and Jerry, lined up just outside the tent.
The procession began with the children leading the way single file.
Then Tricia was escorted down the aisle by both her Mom & Dad.
Once at the altar Jerry presented his daughter to Tom, and the ceremony began.
When it came time for them to exchange rings, guests were treated to two fun surprises. 
The ring bearer, was none other than Tricia and Tom’s beloved black labrador, Daisy, who came happily bounding down the aisle.
The rings were attached to her ribbon-adorned collar.
Once they were able to get the rings untied (no small task with an excited dog prancing about), Tom was asked to place Tricia’s ring on her finger.
I wish you could have seen the look of surprise on Tricia’s face. It wasn’t the band she was expecting. Unbeknownst to Tricia, Tom had purchased a beautiful new ring for her. It was a dazzler, and she was thrilled!
The officiant pronounced the two husband and wife, and the newlyweds sealed it with a loving kiss.
YAHOO!
After the ceremony, the wedding party formed a reception line to receive their guests.
It was a warm and loving exchange between the couple and their well-wishing family and friends.
Afterward, Steve and I photographed various combinations of Tricia and Tom with their family and friends.
Leslie Charles of Incredible Edibles provided the catering: a beautiful buffet consisting of cheese and crackers, artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped sausages, individual containers of macaroni & cheese, red potato halves with sour cream, cheese and bacon bits, skewers of chicken and shrimp, and fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate.
After dinner, champagne glasses were filled for all the guests, and the toasts began.
Even Daisy the dog got to partake!
Tom got a little frisky during the toasts.
Toasts were followed by the cake cutting.
Everyone thought it was going to be a respectfully “clean feeding”.
But at the last minute, the bride got a little mischievous.
Tricia lovingly dabbed the icing off of Tom’s face and suit coat,
and they kissed and made up.
Zack couldn’t wait for cake!
The bride and groom proceeded to the dance floor for their first dance together as husband and wife.
Tricia danced with her Dad, Jerry, and Tom danced with his Mom, Butch.
Tom stepped out with his stepmother, Heather.
Then it was Tom Sr.’s turn with the bride and Diane’s turn with the groom.
Tricia danced with her brother, Mike, and her brother danced with Tom!
The children danced with their parents
and with one another.
(They were much more limber than many of the dancers on the floor.)
Tricia decided when it was time for the garter toss.
And Tom dutifully obeyed.
Then Tricia tossed her bouquet.
And afterward, the dancing resumed.
Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
Our heartiest congratulations to Tricia and Tom. What a way to bring in the New Year! We wish you and your family a lifetime of love, joy, good health, and prosperity. Thank you for letting us be a part of such a momentous occasion.
To view the wedding in it’s entirety, click on this link.
Posted by jeanegadd 
Steve Smith Weddings Blog - Boise, Sun Valley, McCall - Idaho 