Merging histories, cultures, and their love story, Leah and K brought their friends and family from across the US and the world to their their Billings Historic Depot wedding in Billings, Montana. It was a beautiful October day (and unexpectedly warm for October, too!). The trees outside the depot were just starting to sport the changing colors of the season, and it truly couldn’t have been a more perfect day for Leah and K to vow their love to one another.

Their journey began in college at Yale, where they shared an internship at the Yale Art Gallery. Fast forward a few years to their wedding, and they had the most amazing blend of Armenian and Native American traditions. They pulled from Leah’s Armenian and Arab heritage, and K’s Native American Little Shell and Crow roots to easily and joyfully merge the two cultures, creating a space where love and happiness were center stage.

Leah’s uncle in his judge robes, adorned with a stole beaded by K’s mother, officiated their ceremony. And what a ceremony it was! There were happy tears, raw emotions, and so much laughter — especially when Leah tried to steal an early kiss, which K ducked! Everyone in attendance absolutely howled with laughter, as did Leah and K! Soon it was time to officially, OFFICIALLY seal it all with a kiss, and everyone cheered as the newly married couple walked down the aisle together, hand-in-hand and beaming.

Their grand entrance into the dining and dance hall was nothing short of spectacular. Leah, K, and their entire wedding party danced and wound their way through the tables to the dance floor as they performed a line dance to a traditional Armenian wedding song. Soon everyone joined in, held hands, and the dance floor was rocking! Boots stomped, people laughed, and it wasn’t long before K led everyone in a traditional Native dance, too. As someone who loves all sorts of music and dance, I was absolutely blown away by how incredibly beautiful this was to witness.

Continuing the blending of cultures, beaded bolo ties and earrings (crafted by K’s mother), adorned each member of the wedding party, including Leah’s father. The rugs, a gift from Leah’s parents and a family heirloom from Leah’s great-grandmother Leila, added layers of personal history to the celebration. Incorporating Native American traditions, a prayer was offered for Leah and K, followed by a giveaway where the couple bestowed blankets, fabric, tobacco, and money to their loved ones. The favor bags for guests were adorned with a flower designed by K’s mom and the words “thank you” in Ojibwe, Armenian, and Arabic.

Leah and K’s family shared so many beautiful, emotional toasts that had everyone laughing, and perhaps with a tear or two in their eye. The shoe game, masterfully orchestrated by Leah’s aunt Susan, added a healthy dose of extra fun to the evening, and everyone continued to kick up their heels on the dance floor as the tunes spilled out from the open doors into the indigo evening.

Leah and K! Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for inviting me to document your wedding. What a truly incredible day it was for two incredible people! Your friends and family are *chef’s kiss* stellar, and I loved every second of your day. Here’s to you and what I know will be a fabulous future together!

Vendors for Leah + K’s Billings Historic Depot Wedding:

Photographer :: Kristine Paulsen Photography, Missoula, Montana
Venue :: Billings Depot, Billings, Montana
Catering :: Mas Taco, Red Lodge, Montana
Florals :: Mac’s Floral, Billings, Montana
Coordinator :: Planning Everyday Events, Billings, Montana
Videographer :: Elevate Media, Belgrade, Montana
Cake :: Sweets by Sam, Billings, Montana
Spirits :: Magic City Casino Catering, Billings, Montana
Decorator :: Better to Gather, Billings, Montana
Hair :: Samantha Law, Billings, Montana
Makeup :: Makeup by Alexa Elise, Billings, Montana
DJ :: Magic City Productions, Billings, Montana
Officiant :: Thomas Barbar (Leah’s uncle)
Leah’s dress :: a Mikaella by Paloma Blanca design from Vows Bridal, Watertown, Massachusetts
Wedding party dresses :: from Azazie Bridal
K’s attire :: from Bindle & Keep, Brooklyn, New York
Wedding party suits :: from Suitshop

On the docket:

Portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

After a couple years of planning and several delays (you know, because pandemic times), I was beyond delighted to document Matthew and Andrew’s Woodson Ranch Wedding in Sheridan Montana.

Not only is the ranch absolutely gorgeous, it’s also incredibly special to Matthew and his family. His grandfather purchased the ranch when he was born and his family has been running it ever since as part of the Ruby Habitat Foundation (which is super cool — check it out!). Matthew spent three summers working on the ranch, as well as many summers visiting it.

After having met Andrew, they would visit the ranch often. And, in fact, they even got engaged there, too! (They gave each other watches.)

So, it made perfect sense for Matthew and Andrew to say their “I Do’s” at a place so very special to them both. It was such a gorgeous day for their wedding. The Ruby mountains made for a majestic backdrop and the Ruby River ran in front of the house, keeping all the local birds happy and well-watered.

We started out the day by making portraits of the wedding party and Matthew and Andrew’s families, having a blast laughing together, and getting excited about their upcoming ceremony. Soon it was time to get started, and both Matthew and Andrew walked down the aisle on their mothers’ arms.

Each shared their emotion-filled and humorous vows with one another, exchanged rings, and sealed it all with a kiss. They walked down the aisle as husband and husband as friends and family tossed petals into the air and cheered for the newly married grooms.

Guests were treated to a delicious multi-course meal, scrumptious pie and ice cream, and were entertained by numerous toasts.

As the sun meandered its way behind the mountains, everyone kicked up their heels on the dance floor, had fun donning colorful wigs, and sang their hearts out as the music soared into the starry, starry night.

Matthew and Andrew! What a wonderful day and evening it was for you! Thank you again for inviting me to document such joy and happiness in your lives. I’m so excited for you two and wish you a life filled to the brim with love, which you’ve clearly already got a great start on. :) Congratulations again!

Vendors for Matthew and Andrew’s Woodson Ranch wedding in Sheridan Montana:

Venue: Woodson Ranch, Sheridan, Montana
DJ: Bozeman DJ, Bozeman, Montana
Caterer and Serving Staff: The Shovel & Spoon, Sheridan, Montana
Groomsmaid dresses: from Azazie
Menswear: from Articles of Style and The Black Tux

On the docket:

Portraits, weddings, brand shoots and editorial work! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

As seems to be the theme of this year in Montana, it was a little bit of a rainy day for Laura and Melinda’s Holland Lake Lodge wedding. However, Mother Nature played nicely with us and decided to treat us to some sun just as the ceremony was about to start, much to everyone’s excitement!

Despite a few rain showers here and there, it really couldn’t have been a more gorgeous day for Laura and Melinda to celebrate their love for one another. Everyone in attendance sported giant smiles (and a few tears, too) as Laura and Melinda shared their vows, promises, laughter and love with one another, cloud-encircled mountains in the background.

To make it official they decreed it so while waving their wands, and then sealed it all with a kiss as everyone cheered for them while they walked down the aisle, hand-in-hand, with smiles a mile wide.

Folks surrounded them to bestow upon them hugs and well-wishes, and soon it was time to enjoy appetizers, tasty dinner, and some heartfelt toasts. Cake wasn’t far behind, and before long it was time to cut a rug on the dance floor.

We were all treated to an absolutely magnificent sunset on the lake, and to top it off, people enjoyed the warmth of the bonfire and some ultra-tasty s’mores, not to mention guitar music and singing!

Laura and Melinda! Thank you again for inviting me to document your wedding day! I truly love seeing how much you two love one another, as well as all your friends and family, and I adored every single magical second of your day! Thank you again for being such fantastic people (and for the invitation to join you for s’mores, too!). Here’s to a lifetime of happiness for you both, and many Montana visits in the future!

Vendors for Laura + Melinda’s Holland Lake Lodge Wedding:

Venue: Holland Lake Lodge, Condon, Montana

Florist: Habitat Floral, Missoula, Montana

Cake: Margaret Ambrose Barton, Missoula, Montana

On the Docket:

Weddings, portraits, elopements and more! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

If I had to use only one word to describe Jackson and Logan’s Kimberley Alpine Resort Wedding in British Columbia Canada, I’d be hard-pressed to find the best superlative. Why? Because their wedding day was worthy of every superlative out there. Seriously. I’m a pretty darn happy person in general, but man – my cheeks were literally sore from smiling so much. (A friend of theirs pointed this out to me too!)

The day started out with Jackson and Logan’s friends and family heading up Northstar Mountain via chairlift (a seriously stylish way to travel, I tell you; and I was gripping my cameras as tightly as I possibly could!). The day before had been a bit rainy in Kimberley, but for their wedding day, we were treated to nothing but deep blue skies, the most gorgeous clouds, and winks of sun here and there. (There were some rainshowers off in the distance, but they never reached us – they were purely decorative).

Soon it was time for Jackson and Logan and their wedding party to head up the mountain themselves, so everyone grabbed a chair and enjoyed the view on the way up. Jackson and Logan were last in line and took the 11 minutes up the mountain to read private vows that they’d written for each other. There were tears, laughter, smiles and kisses as those vows were shared. All against an amazing backdrop.

After everyone got to the tippy top of the mountain, the wedding party meandered down the hill to the chalet to get ready to walk down the aisle. Friends and family eagerly awaited the start to the ceremony, and soon the wedding began. Wedding party members grinned, the sun shone and it became time for Jackson and Logan to make their grand entrance. They each walked from different areas at the top of the mountain, joined hands, and walked down the aisle beaming and with happy tears in their eyes.

They laughed and grinned as they shared their second set of vows with one another and had smiles a mile wide for all of their beaming friends and family as they walked down the aisle as newlyweds, hand in hand.

After guests headed down the mountain again, Jackson, Logan, their wedding party and I stuck around up top for a bit to make some images, and I swear, we were all in stitches as we created their portraits. Such a fun group! Eventually we needed to zip on down the mountain ourselves so we hitched a chair again (Jackson and Logan’s had a perfect “Just Married” sign adorning it), and then met up at the base to go in search of a waterfall. (Talk about perfection, right? We even discovered a forest-y area with abundant wildflowers. Yes please!)

After finishing up our portraits, we all rejoined everyone else at the Stemwinder restaurant back at the resort. Folks signed a handcrafted wooden bench Jackson and Logan had picked up at the Missoula Farmer’s Market, were treated to a fantastic set of toasts by Jackson and Logan’s friends and family, enjoyed a slideshow of photos with some really fantastic moments to be shared, and topped off the evening with shots and a toast in memory of Jackson’s late mother.

As the sun went down, friends and family hopped onto the dance floor and soon people were cutting a rug, dancing hard and having a blast with one another as they celebrated such a happy day for Jackson and Logan.

Jackson and Logan! Holy moly – I’ve probably said this a million times to you already, but man. I am just so very happy for you both (such a huge understatement by the way), and am beyond thankful that you invited me to share in and document such a truly splendid day in your lives. You two are absolutely wonderful, genuine people and I can only imagine that life has got some amazing things in store for you because you both certainly deserve the very best of what’s out there. I hope you have a chance to come back to visit Missoula soon, and when you do, let’s grab some beers! :) Congrats congrats congrats again!

Vendors for Jackson and Logan’s Kimberley Alpine Resort Wedding in British Columbia Canada:

Venue: Kimberley Alpine Resort, Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinator: Jill Bellm with Trickle Creek Lodge, Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada
Florist: MJ’s Floral Boutique, Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Cake: Cakes by Mary
Officiant: Ruby Rioux
Catering and Bar: Trickle Creek Lodge, Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada
Paper Goods: Noteworthy, Missoula, Montana
Ladies’ Dresses: David’s Bridal
Men’s Attire: Express

On the docket:

Weddings, portraits and more weddings! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I was so excited to photograph Jackson and Logan’s engagement pictures in Missoula Montana because I knew we’d have such a great time making images together. I actually initially “virtually met” Jackson through Instagram where we connected via my little bird, Flash, who has a tendency to be featured in some of my posts on the platform. (At one time Jackson had a bird as well.) So when Jackson asked me if I’d be interested in talking more with him and Logan about photographing their wedding, I was so excited to get to meet them in person! (Turns out they’d been guests at Christine and Pete’s wedding that I photographed in 2014.) As I suspected, Jackson and Logan are just so sweet and so in love, and it’s no surprise that it was such a blast to photograph their engagement session. (There was lots and lots of laughter involved!) I also adored that they brought their dog, Dexter, with them to their session, too. (He’s a total sweetheart!)

We had such a nice time wandering through the grassy fields, chatting, and watching Dexter have a blast (and I loved seeing Jackson and Logan crack up at his antics, too).

If this fun session was a precursor to their wedding day (which I’m sure it was), then I am just beyond excited to photograph their nuptials in 2017.

Jackson and Logan! What an awesome session with you two (and Dexter!) – it’s such a treat to see how much you two love one another and I cannot wait for June to roll around! Your wedding day is going to be fantastic and I can’t wait to document such a special day in your lives for you! Here’s to you two!

On the docket: weddings and portraits and even more weddings and portraits galore! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

Autumn weddings are my absolute favorite, and Hannah and Laura’s Missoula Montana Ranch Club Wedding was no exception to this. The sun was shining, the blue sky was filled with beautiful, textural clouds, and these ladies were bursting with happiness and beyond excited to get married (their megawatt smiles *might* have given them away a little). That’s pure perfection in my book.

Before their ceremony they had a super sweet first look – (see above comment about megawatt smiles). We had a great time making some portraits, and then it was time to hide them both away for their big reveal.

Family and friends smiled and teared up as Hannah and Laura walked down the aisle. Their ceremony was framed by a gorgeous mountain backdrop, punctuated with lots of laughter, and topped off with exceptionally heartfelt vows. Everyone cheered as Hannah and Laura sealed their vows with a kiss for the first time as wife and wife.

This happy energy continued throughout their reception as friends and family mingled, laughed and kicked up their heels as the dance music started. Soon the bright sun of the day tapered off into a stunning sunset, and Hannah, Laura and I went running pel-mel to catch the last rays of the day, and oh what beautiful light it was!

We rejoined everyone so Hannah and Laura could toss their bouquets simultaneously (both caught by their sisters!), and the dancing and fun continued inside as the sky turned a deep blue, a little half moon glinting in the night.

Hannah and Laura – what an absolutely beautiful, beyond happy, wonderful day for you two! It was such an honor to document your wedding and your love for one another, and I swear, I’m STILL smiling my face off just thinking about it. I am so happy for you both, and I wish you a lifetime of happiness, which I know you’ll accomplish easily. Cheers to you two!

Vendors:

Venue: The Ranch Club, Missoula, Montana
Brides’ Bouquets: Habitat Floral, Missoula, Montana
Cake and Cookies: Rosauers, Missoula, Montana
Makeup: Skin Chic, Missoula, Montana
Hair: The Total Look Salon, Missoula, Montana
Wedding Dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse, Missoula, Montana

On the docket: one more 2015 wedding and portraits, portraits, portraits!

Cheers,

-Kristine