In the midst of an incredibly fiery and smoky Montana summer, somehow we lucked out and the smoke cleared giving way to blue skies for Aika + Rob’s St Ignatius Montana intimate garden wedding, for which we were all incredibly grateful! Aika and Rob are big time rock climbers, and Aika’s got a personal connection to St. Ignatius and its views, so it was even more amazing that we got to see the mountains and make photographs with them as our spectacular backdrop.

Aika, originally from Japan, came to Montana as an exchange student back in her high school days. While she was here she stayed and studied in St. Ignatius, and eventually continued her schooling at the University of Montana. (Her older sister also had also come to Montana as an exchange student and stayed with the same host parents as well!)

Fast forward to Aika and Rob’s wedding day, and it just made sense to get to share such a special day in an equally as special place – the back yard of Aika’s host parents!

Their day started out with a first look amidst the mountains – Rob had such a happy grin on his face as he saw Aika for the first time, and we all enjoyed getting to make beautiful images of these two with such a gorgeous, mostly-smoke-free backdrop, too!

Soon it became time to get ready for their ceremony. We zipped on back to Aika’s host parents’ home and Aika and Rob hid away in their gorgeous garden, from which they’d make their grand entrance into their ceremony.

Everyone smiled as Aika and Rob pledged their vows with one another, and both Aika and Rob’s mothers shared readings – in both Japanese and English – as a touching element to their wedding. It wasn’t long before Aika and Rob were pronounced husband and wife, got to seal it all with a kiss, and then literally tied the (climbing rope) knot! All their friends and family even got to get a tug in, too.

Afterwards, everyone mingled, laughed in the sun, and was treated to a delicious smorgasbord featuring Japansese and American food, tasty cake and touching toasts.

Aika and Rob! Thank you again for inviting me to document your beautiful wedding day! It was such a treat to get to meet you in person and make these images for you. I especially enjoyed meeting all your friends and family and was so touched by all the lovely personal and cultural elements in your wedding day! (And thank you again for the goodies and food, too – so kind of you!) Here’s to a lifetime of happiness together, filled with love, climbing and plenty of Montana visits! Congratulations again!

On the Docket:

Weddings and portraits! Don’t miss out!

Cheers,

-Kristine