Katie and Anthony’s autumn Sky Ridge Ranch Wedding in Ronan Montana was nothing short of magical. The sheer amount of love, happiness and joy that surrounded every moment of their day is something I think everyone aspires to in their lives, and Katie and Anthony have it in spades.

Their wedding day couldn’t have been more perfect – Montana was in rare form this September day, and not only were we treated to perfect weather, but the bright autumn colors were winking at us from within the trees, and we were all privy to a sunset so stunning I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen the likes of it before – it blew me away and couldn’t have been a better wedding day present for these two.

Indoors and around the ranch was just as beautiful with decorations so lush and so naturally gorgeous that the harvest of the season looked like rich jewels.

Guests sat amidst an aspen grove, its autumn leaves fluttering in the breeze, and dragonflies flitted about. Katie walked down the grassy aisle towards Anthony, and they shared heartfelt, emotional vows with one another. There were tears, but there was also so much laughter, and soon everyone was clapping and cheering for the two as they walked down the aisle as newlyweds.

Friends and family enjoyed a cocktail hour on the lawn, and soon folks made their way inside to be treated to a delicious dinner, punctuated by some fantastic toasts that had everyone in stitches as well as reaching for tissues to dry their eyes. Cake and pie followed, as did dancing beneath the indigo Montana sky, twinkle lights swooping across the mountain view as laughter floated out onto the night air. Folks had a fantastic time getting their groove on as the evening marched along.

As things wound down, it was time to bid farewell to the new couple, and everyone lined up to cheer them on once again with sparklers and smiles. Katie and Anthony dashed through the fireworks and to her 1966 Mustang, which they drove away into the black of night as friends and family cheered and wished them well.

Katie and Anthony – I can’t express enough just how special you two are. Every moment of working with you has been so meaningful and so fun, beautiful and happy (and full of laugher!), and it’s an understatement to say just how much it meant to me to see everyone pour so much of their love into the two of you on such a wonderful day in your lives. You deserve every ounce of happiness and love there is in this world, and to see just a cross-section of that and to get to document it for you was such an honor. Here’s to the two of you! Love you guys!

Vendors for Katie and Anthony’s Autumn Sky Ridge Ranch Wedding in Ronan Montana

Venue: Sky Ridge Ranch, Ronan, Montana
Coordination and Floral: Habitat Events, Missoula, Montana
Videographer: Mighty Fine Productions, Montana
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
Pies: Break Espresso, Missoula, Montana
Ceremony Musicians: Avalon Trio
DJ: RMF Entertainment, Missoula, Montana
Makeup: Jacqueline Kukay, Alchemy Mineral Blends, Missoula, Montana
Hair: Boom Swagger Salon, Missoula, Montana
Officiant: Bob Romness, friend of the bride’s father
Caterer: Riversong Gourmet Catering, Missoula, Montana
Rentals: Eastgate Rentals, Missoula, Montana
Transportation: Beach Transportation, Missoula, Montana
Paper Goods: Noteworthy Paper and Press, Missoula, Montana
Wedding Dress: a Modern Trousseau design from Hitched Bridal Couture, Washington DC
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew
Groom’s Suit: from Macy’s
Menswear: Pants from J.Crew; bow ties from Bows N Ties

On the docket: portraits!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I think the best part of my job is getting to work with genuinely happy people – and Jennifer and Aaron certainly were the epitome of this at their Ronan Montana wedding at Sky Ridge Ranch. But before their festivities at the ranch began, I met up with Jennifer at the Kwataqnuk Resort in Polson where she was all smiles (and maybe just a few nerves), getting ready to see Aaron for the first time.

They chose to have their first look along the shores of Flathead Lake as that’s a favorite and important place to both of them. And it was such a great moment. The look on Aaron’s face when he saw his bride for the first time was just pure happiness.

The happiness of their wedding day continued as we moved to Sky Ridge where friends and family were eagerly awaiting Jennifer and Aaron’s ceremony. The two held their ceremony on the pond at the ranch, and as they spoke their vows to one another there were plenty of smiles and laughter as well as a few tears here and there as well. After being pronounced husband and wife, Jennifer and Aaron led the way across the pond and Aaron celebrated with a click of the heels (gotta love a groom who does this!).

The merriment continued into the evening as friends and family laughed and chatted over dinner, enjoyed some really lovely toasts to the couple, and then kicked up their heels into the evening with the magnificent Mission Mountains in the background.

Jennifer and Aaron! What a truly wonderful wedding day you had! It was such a treat to get to see you both so happy and loving every second of such a beautiful, joyful day. Here’s to a future filled with smiles and love, which I can tell will be an easy task for you both. :) Congrats again!

Vendors for Jennifer and Aaron’s Ronan Montana Wedding at Sky Ridge Ranch

Preparation Venue: Kwataqnuk Resort, Polson, Montana
Wedding and Reception Venue: Sky Ridge Ranch, Ronan, Montana
Florist and Rentals: St-Char-ro Floral and Event Rentals, Ronan, Montana
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
DJ: RMF Entertainment, Missoula, Montana
Caterer: Famous Dave’s, Missoula, Montana
Paper Goods: Mixbook
Bar and Spirits: Flathead Lake Brewing, Missoula, Montana
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal

On the docket: weddings and portraits! Don’t miss ’em!

Cheers,

-Kristine

It may have been a bit of a rainy day for Ashley and Adam’s wedding, but I think it only added to the natural beauty of the setting and of their truly heartfelt ceremony. I’m pretty sure everybody felt more in touch with all that makes Montana wonderful as the mountains peeked out amidst the clouds, as the raindrops fell on our shoulders and as we all soaked in and appreciated the notion of place and the people with whom we share it.

Adam stood before friends and family and watched as his daughter, Iris, in a sweet, layered dress, made her grand entrance in a little red wagon, and not long after, her mother, Ashley, followed walking arm-in-arm with her father, a flower crown adorning her hair.

Adam and Ashley laughed and smiled as friends and family lovingly looked on. They gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, took in the view of the mountains in the distance, and spoke their vows to one another as they bound their hands together and exchanged rings.

Soon they were dancing down the aisle amidst a shower of lavender, rose petals and raindrops. Friends and family congratulated them and celebrated to the tunes of live bluegrass music, and soon folks were sitting down to a tasty dinner punctuated by emotion-filled toasts. Not long after, the shoes came off and people began to dance in the cool grass, the mountains highlighted by alpenglow in the background.

Ashley and Adam – what a truly beautiful day for you both! It was such an honor to be invited to photograph such a special moment in your lives together, and I wish you many years ahead of love, laughter and dancing among the mountains. :)

Vendors:
Venue: Sky Ridge Ranch, Ronan, Montana
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
Ceremony and Cocktail Music: Ted Ness & the Rusty Nails, Missoula, Montana
Reception Music: Shakewell, Missoula, Montana
Dress: custom made from Angelica Atelier in Arcata, California
Catering: Badlander Beverage Catering, Missoula, Montana, and John’s Angels Catering, Whitefish, Montana
Rentals: Celebrate Rentals, Bigfork, Montana

On the docket: weddings, portraits, and more weddings! Don’t miss out!

Sometimes Montana weather in June can make us all look up at the sky in bewilderment – it was supposed to be a rainy day for Stephanie and Danny’s wedding, but lo and behold, it was drop-dead gorgeous and Mother Nature even decided to go all out and match their wedding colors with bright blue skies and lush green grass.

As the girls and guys readied themselves for the ceremony, there was a lot of laughter and giggling, which is always a great way to start the day in my book. The ladies laughed as Stephanie steadied herself as her maids laced up her dress, and the guys guffawed at their slick-soled shoes, and may have attempted some Michael Jackson-esque moonwalking.

Stephanie and Danny kept themselves hidden away from each other until the big moment when Stephanie’s parents parted a white curtain to reveal to Danny his beautiful, blushing bride. Danny was overcome with emotion, which touched everyone to their very core. (A quick note to all men out there: embrace your emotions! It’s just so perfectly wonderful in every possible way!) Tears of happiness flowed during the ceremony, laughter punctuated their words and soon everyone was cheering as Stephanie and Danny kissed for the first time as newlyweds.

Dinner and dancing soon followed, and boy could these folks, young and old alike, kick up their heels! Everyone enjoyed cake and cupcakes (especially the little ones) and to top off the evening, we were all treated to a most spectacular sunset to ride off into.

Stephanie and Danny – thank you again for inviting me into such a special, beautiful day in your lives. You truly are wonderfully in love, and I wish you many, many more stunning sunsets to punctuate the rest of your lives together. :)

 Vendors:

Venue: Flying Horse Ranch, Corvallis, Montana
Florist: Blooming Blessings, Harrison, Montana
Cake Artist: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
DJ: Jake McMillan with RMF Entertainment, Missoula, Montana
Makeup Artist: Skin Chic, Missoula, Montana
Hair Artist: The Total Look Salon, Missoula, Montana
Dress: “Giovanna” style by Maggie Sottero from After 5 & Weddings, Bozeman, Montana
Bridesmaid Dresses and Men’s Suits: Beautiful Weddings, Missoula, Montana
Officiant: Pastor Dan Nagel of Missoula Alliance Church, Missoula, Montana

On the docket: lots more weddings and portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for Ellen and Jeff’s wedding day celebration – after days and days of rain, the sun decided to grace us with its presence and showcase Missoula in all its sunny splendor. Smiles, laughter and hugs abounded as everyone readied themselves for the big day.

Ellen and Jeff’s first look was incredibly sweet and full of emotion, and their ceremony treated everyone to some “scene stealers” by their dog, McKinley, and their adorable daughter, Audrey, as they walked down the aisle. Laughter, tears and many, many smiles were highlights, and afterwards guests were treated to delicious appetizers as well as a tasty meal.

Ellen surprised Jeff with a Seahawks design on their cake, and Jeff surprised Ellen with a last minute cake smash to the face after initially leading everyone into thinking he’d play nice. :)

Spirited dancing continued into the evening as the sun sneaked behind the mountain tops, and punctuated the end to a perfect day.

Ellen and Jeff – thank you SO much for inviting me into such a special day in your lives – I was so honored to be your photographer and had an absolute blast working with you, your families and friends. Here’s to many happy years together and lots of visits to Montana, too. :)

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: The Keep, Missoula, Montana
Hair and Makeup: Boom Swagger Salon, Missoula, Montana
Flowers: Monaco Flowers, Missoula, Montana
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
DJ: Zootown DJ, Missoula, Montana
Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses: from house of Brides; wedding dress Allure style 8862
Men’s Suits: My Sister’s Closet, Missoula, Montana
Archway, Tulle, Candleholders and Linen Overlays: from Oh So Chic Boutique, Missoula, Montana
Ceremony Chairs: Eastgate Rental, Missoula, Montana

On the docket: weddings and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Maddy and Colin are just so sweet. And so in love. And so perfect for each other. How could their day be anything but amazingly beautiful, full of emotion, and filled with lots of fun and laughter? And of course, it was!

The sun released its golden rays into the blue sky, dotted it with a few puffy clouds, and set the scene for Maddy and Colin to pledge their vows of love to one another before friends and family. Even their dog, Felix, was a participant in their ceremony!

The party continued into the evening after guests had a chance to dine on some delicious food and tasty cupcakes. Dancing was lively and everyone had a blast checking out one another’s dance moves. Folks enjoyed the warm evening outside as well, basking in the light of a round, glowing moon.

Maddy and Colin – I can’t thank you enough for inviting me to be a part of such a beautiful, special day in your lives! You two are so wonderful – I had an absolute blast, not only with you, but with your friends and family as well. Here’s to a life full of giggles and grins and lots of love!

Vendors:
Venue: The Ranch Club, Missoula, Montana
Cupcakes: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
Florist: Habitat Floral, Missoula, Montana
DJ: Jay Bruns with Watt House Productions, Missoula, Montana
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Victoria’s Secret
Rentals: Eastgate Rental, Missoula, Montana

On the docket: weddings, portraits and more weddings! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Sarah and Neil traveled all the way from Alaska to get married at Montana Pines Hideaway, a picturesque spot on Seeley Lake that Sarah’s family owns.

Sarah walked down the aisle naturally created by historic buildings on the property as friends and family watched, many with a tear or two in their eye, especially after the two read their handwritten vows to one another, voices quavering with emotion.

Afterwards, guests enjoyed a scrumptious dinner put together by friends and family, and enjoyed a pretty great cake smash followed by lively music.

Sarah, and Neil – thank you so much for choosing me to be your photographer – it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of your day and witness such a beautiful love between you both.

Vendor Information:

Venue: Montana Pines Hideaway, Seeley Lake, Montana
Florist: Family
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, Montana
DJ: RMF Entertainment, Missoula, Montana
Hair Artist: Gina
Wedding Dress: From Artic Rose Bridal Boutique in Wasilla, Alaska; design by Alfred Angelo – Sapphire collection dress #854
Bridesmaid Dresses: Romy’s, Missoula, Montana
Rentals: Eastgate Rental, Missoula, Montana

On the docket: weddings, portraits and more weddings! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Jean and Nick share a mutual love for each other, and a mutual love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In fact, they got to know one another over a pb & j sandwich at a camp at which they both worked, and they made sure to incorporate all of their favorite things during their beautiful wedding day at the Double Arrow Lodge in Seeley Lake, Montana. From personalized dice for guests to a unique cake topper (made by Nick!) celebrating their fondness for the character Cthulhu from one of their favorite books, their wedding day was uniquely them.

There were a few tears, lots of laughter and plenty of fun to be had. Guests enjoyed a scrumptious dinner, games in the golden sunlight, and lively camp dances late into the evening. Such a fun day filled with many great memories!

Thank you so much, Jean and Nick, for inviting me into your most special of days! Here’s to peanut butter and jelly forever! :)

Vendor Information:
Venue and Catering: Double Arrow Lodge, Seeley Lake, MT
Flowers: Habitat Floral and Events, Missoula, MT
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, MT

On the docket: weddings galore and portraits galore! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

From the cowboy boots on Emily’s feet to the cowboy hat on George’s head, theirs was a wedding that truly spoke to who they are as a couple (remember their awesome e-session from a bit ago?). Every bit of their wedding was simply beautiful and simply THEM. A friend married them, their siblings stood up with them, and they looked to the mountains as they pledged their vows to one another.

Even as the wind whipped and rain threatened, George and Emily took it all in stride and had a blast sharing their wedding day with their friends and family. Big Sky beers flowed (gotta love Summer Honey and Scapegoat), the conversation and toasts were both merry and touching, and the dancing was punctuated by quite a lot of comedy (I’m still smiling!).

Thank you so much, George and Emily, for inviting me to document your wedding day and for being such kind, caring people – what an absolutely wonderful and moving celebration of the two of you getting to spend the rest of your lives together. Congratulations and all the best to you both!

Vendor Information:
Venue: The Double Arrow Lodge, Seeley Lake, MT
Catering: The Double Arrow Lodge
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula, MT
Flowers: Habitat Floral, Missoula, MT
DJ: Friend of the groom
(If I’ve left anyone out, will you please let me know so I can give them credit? Thanks!)

On the docket: weddings, a fun trash the dress session, portraits and more weddings!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Tom and Solange. Solange and Tom. A beautiful pair, a couple that is truly meant to be. They were married at St. Francis Xavier Church of Missoula, in a ceremony filled with a variety of emotions – giggles, laughter, tears, and most of all – love, pure love.

I had the honor of capturing their special day, and witnessing the absolute joy between them. Solange and Tom – I wish you all the best in your new life together – thank you for allowing me to document the amazing, heartfelt moments of your wedding!

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis Xavier Church, Missoula
Reception Venue: Marshall Mountain, Missoula
Cake: Bernice’s Bakery, Missoula
Flowers: Bitterroot Flower Shop, Missoula
Catering: Two Sisters Catering, Missoula
BBQ: Charlie B.’s, Missoula
DJ: Kaleidoscope Entertainment, Missoula
Live Music: The Getouts, Bozeman

On the docket: A rustic wedding along the Clark Fork River!

Cheers!
-Kristine