Christine and Mike were married last Saturday at Springhill Pavilion in Bozeman. They were hoping to have an outdoor wedding and had picked a beautiful location. With it's rustic buildings, apple trees, gazebo and green pastures nestled up against the mountains, Springhill Pavilion is a wonderful true Montana wedding venue. However, when planning a wedding in Montana you always have to consider the weather. It can be beautiful and sunny one minute here and hailing the next. Usually the rain showers do not last for very long and can be waited out. Unfortunately, that was not the case with Mike and Christine's wedding day. They had to make the difficult decision at the last minute to pull their ceremony indoors. Luckily, they had chosen a venue where they could do just that. There is also always the option of renting a tent and using it as your backup plan if your venue does not have a building, or even if it does. If you are using a wedding planner they can help you with all of those details. If you are not using a wedding planner, a rental company, such as Montana Party Rentals, is a good place to go to discuss all of your options once you have chosen your venue.


Mike and Christine both have a great sense of humor and were not phased one bit by the weather. They never once lost sight of what their wedding was really about.

I loved how Christine put the names of her bridesmaids on the vases used to hold their bouquets. It added a personal touch to the wedding party's table.


One last look at the rain before deciding what to do.


They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck, but when getting married in Montana it is best not to leave your wedding day plans up to chance. If you are prepared for all of the types of weather that this state can throw at you, you will be able to relax and enjoy your wedding.

My friend Kyle has been sending me unusual wedding stories for years now. Some of them are odd, crazy, sad, or just embarrassing. I finally thought of sharing them on the blog.

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) - The bride wore white - and a face mask. A Chicago couple married in surgical masks and latex gloves Sunday after learning less than 48 hours before that they both had swine flu. Ilana Jackson and Jeremy Fierstien went ahead with the ceremony after doctors assured them guests wouldn't be at serious risk.

But to be sure, the 26-year-olds kept a 10-foot distance from family and friends at all times, even walking around the gathering instead of down the aisle at a Highland Park synagogue.

Jackson says they'd joked about swine flu after both experienced vomiting, achy limbs and fever. But they never thought they really had it.

She says the circumstances were unfortunate but that they took it in stride.

...and another:

A couple proved their were head over heels in love during their wedding by getting married in zero gravity.

By Paul Thompson in Florida , London Telegraph
Published: 7:39PM BST 21 Jun 2009

Noah Fulmore and Erin Finnegan floated around as they became the first couple to tie the knot while weightless.

They were married on a special flight that simulates the zero gravity experienced by astronauts on space walks.

The couple paid more than £10,000 to have their wedding in a converted Boeing 727 jet that undertakes roller coaster-style dives.

As the jet plummets, passengers inside the padded cabin experience weightlessness.

Actor Tom Hanks prepared for his role in the film "Apollo 13" by taking a zero gravity flight.

Richard Garriott, the British-born space tourist, officiated at the ceremony.

The couple, both science fiction fans, came up with the idea after deciding they didn't want a conventional wedding.

Mr Fulmore, 31, and Ms Finnegan, 30, from New York, exchanged rings made from precious metal fragments of a meteorite that crashed to Earth in Namibia 30,000 years ago.

Their flight took off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

The zero gravity flight, which lasts 90 minutes, made 16 roller coaster-type dives, known as parabolic arcs, to create the weightlessness inside the cabin.

Mr Fulmore said:" It was outstanding, and everything we were hoping for."

His wife wore a designer wedding dress with trousers to protect her modesty during weightlessness.

I have been photographing weddings for the last 18 years in Montana. Nothing beats the natural beauty of our scenery, the friendliness of our people and the wide variety of things to do while your guests are here. This is no secret. Montana has been featured in many of the national publications as the best place to live and visit.

Planning your wedding is a daunting task. In many ways I thing living in our country is more complicated because of all of the choices we have. Do we really need to choose between 50 types of bread when going to the grocery store? The same is true about planning a wedding. There are so many options that it is difficult to choose one and stay with it. Working with competant and creative vendors makes the whole process easier. A wedding planner is worth their weight in gold if they know how to do their job well. The Montana Wedding Planners listed on our site have helped many brides bring their dreams to fruition in a way that is both personal and fun. (I love the idea of being a wedding planner, but it is the hardest job in this industry because you have to be a master at everything as well as be able to multi task and have exceptional people skills.)

Like I mentioned in my last post Montana Wedding Florists have a lot of insight and skills that help make each and every wedding unique.

I have been working with Ro Sham Bo and photographing her invitations ever since it opened. Our Wedding Invitation page will definatley give you the option you need to make persoanl invitations that will surely look like no other. Priscilla, the owner of RO Sham Bo is incredibly talented and will make anything you want absolutely perfectly!

Having your hair and make up look perfect for your wedding is so important. I have worked with Indulgence ever since they have opened and they know exactly how to apply make up to look great in your photographs. Make sure you go in for a test run before your wedding to make sure you feel comfortable with the colors and style. They can do anything and I love working with them because they help make my photos look great!

Choosing your location for your Montana Wedding Venue is so indicative of your personality. There are so many options in our beautiful state which cater to a variety of styles and price points.

Your music at your wedding can make or braek the party! Make sure you listen to a cd of the band you choose or if you hire a DJ give them a play list and talk to them about intergrating some of their suggestions into the list. Good Wedding Music will ensure great memories are had by all who dance with you to celebrate your wedding.

Jill from Montana Party Rentals is one of my favorite vendors and people. She and her family know their job and they do it perfectly. They offer such a beautiful selection of 'things' for your wedding including tents, plates, serving 'thingys', linens etc. She is competant and easy to work with. So when you are looking for Party Rentals don't hesitate to talk to Jill.

Finally, and most importantly, Montana wedding photographers. We have a wide selection of photographers on the page. You will find a variety of photographic styles and price points that will surely fit every aesthetic. Choosing a photographer is the most important thing in my mind because your photographs will be all that you have left once everything is done. Choose someone sho'w work you love, who's personality you like and who you know will create images that you will love forever.

I think that goes over every category in the list. Planning a wedding is difficult, we try to make it is as easy as possible.

Have fun planning your wedding in Montana!

We are so fortunate to have a good selection of talented wedding florists in Montana. Not only are they creative and able, but they are easy to work with. Flowers. As they start to blossom around Livingston and begin to grow in my front yard I am taken by how many varieties are my 'favorite.' Right now I have a little bouquet of Lily of the Valley on my counter along with a HUGE bouquet of wild flowers that my neighbor and I picked.

The flowers that you choose for your wedding will become your flower forever! When shopping for potted plants with my kids I chose some of my wedding flowers to include in the pots because it reminds me of our wedding every time I see them. Once you have chosen which type of flowers you want, you then have to choose how you want them to look and feel. Do you want them arranged in traditional, contemporary, funky or relaxed arrangements? What will your complimentary wedding flowers be? I photographed a wedding that had herbs mixed into the bunch and it made it smell divine! ( I love cooking. Wouldn't it be nice to be reminded of your wedding every time you use mint, basil or oregano?)

Your wedding flowers say a lot about who you are and what you love. If I were to marry my husband again, which I would, I would have a bouquet of Lily of the Valley. Somewhere there would be peonies and then I love lilacs! And I think I would want them arranged in a contemporary yet funky kind of way...hmmm what does that mean? Maybe some white feathers and the bouquet tied with white strands of leather or perhaps pieces of silk? Perhaps some antique buttons for accents? The options are endless. Choosing your wedding flowers, just like anything else you will be shopping for, will make you realize that there are too many wedding flower choices.

Here are some of my favorite wedding flower photos for you to look at that I photographed in 2008. Some of them were in Montana and some were not, but they all have ideas that you might want to incorporate into your Montana Wedding. The vendors listed on the Montana Wedding Guide do wonderful work. Take a peak at their sites. See who's work you prefer and then give them a call.

Montana Wedding Florists

Why have a Montana Wedding? Just in case the photos don't speak for themselves it is all about the feeling of Montana. People live here because of the lifestyle it affords them. People get married here to be a part of that mindset and for the beautiful views. These few photos illustrate the diverse feelings you can incorporate into your Montana wedding.

In addition to the views we have very talented vendors that live & work here. When you become a Montana Bride you reap the benefits of the talented wedding vendors that offer their services at an affordable prices. Check out the Montana Wedding Florists, Montana Wedding Photographers, Montana Wedding Consultants, Montana Party Rentals and you will see the skill level of all of these vendors is on par with any area in the nation.

This spring has been crazy here in Montana. Having a Spring wedding in Montana is a risky proposition at best, Keegan, my 15 year old daughter had the privilege of being Laci and Ryan's wedding photographer. Laci & Ryan were so fortunate to have a nice day for their wedding. They chose to get married at the Woodlands in Bozeman, and Leslie from Montana Wedding Florist did the bouquets.

Laci and Ryan personalized their wedding in so many unique ways that were really meaningful to them. From the sign in 'tree' to the bird cage for gifts in envelopes the theme was clear. They love family, nature and wildlife and incorporated it into so many different aspects of their wedding. Personalizing a Montana Wedding offers so many options but the one theme that is very popular is the love of nature. Lacie and Ryan chose to have the ring bearer carry their rings in a bird's nest and had feathers on the center pieces, her hair piece and broach etc. Lacy's broach and matching hair piece that her mother made set off her wedding dress just perfectly.

This was the first wedding at The Woodlands that was held in the trees and it was a perfect location for their wedding. It set the perfect backdrop of the sand ceremony that included sand from Kiawia and from Oregon, two coastlines that are very meaningful for the two of them.

They frames and labeled portraits of their various family members at their weddings. They were a diverse set of photos but the one cohesive factor was that their family members stayed married for a LONG time.

And don't forget a funky pair of shoes. I loved the fact that Laci's accent color was black. It shows a confidence and sense of style that is so funky and fun!

If you would like to see more of Keegan's photos of Laci and Ryan's wedding please visit http://nashanclients.com/RedCart/
scroll down until you see Keegan: Deller.Kooser
(They will be up by the end of next week.)

Keegan did a beautiful job photographing Laci and Ryan's wedding. You can see those at
http://nashanclients.com/RedCart/
Keegan: Kooser.Deller engagement.

When you are planning a wedding in Montana think of what makes it interesting to you. What were the meaningful places that effected you and how can you share those with your family and friends.

Labels: Montana Bride

What makes a Montana Bride so unique? There are those who live in Montana and want to share our beautiful state with their friends and relatives and there are the 'Montana Brides' who have some sort of special connection to our state and are willing to travel here to celebrate their wedding.



People who live in Montana have a certain sense of who they are and choose to live in Montana for the quality of life it offers. The bride who chooses to have her wedding in Montana usually emanates a self confidence that is indicative of the strong personalities of people who live in our state. Montanans are individuals and typically so are our brides. Life in Montana is not always easy, right now the wind chill is 12 below, so typically the more weak at heart move on to more mild and welcoming climates. (My family, who lives in Florida, thinks I am crazy for living in this cold weather, sometimes I am not certain they are wrong!)




The Montana Bride who tackles the extra burden of planning a destination wedding here has to come to terms with our weather and juggling more logistics. There is always a chance of inclement weather in Montana but our vendors know how to plan for it so please heed their advice. When the rental company suggests that you have a tent 'just in case' they are not trying to make another sale they are trying to make sure your wedding goes smoothly. I have lived in Montana since 1991 and have seen it snow every month of the year! I have also photographed weddings where it has rained and snowed and I have to say the weather has brought together the whole wedding party every single time. There is a sense of togetherness that is evident in those weddings that is not there during any other circumstance. Destination brides can choose to have their weddings anywhere and by choosing Montana they are saying a lot. Montana is a down to earth state. Our people posses an outlook on life that is more about quality than quantity. We choose to live and work here because the pace of life is slower and the pressure to keep up with the Jones' is non existent. Brides who travel to Montana appreciate that perspective on life, they love our landscape, the endless summer days, and the almost perfect climate for two months out of the year.




We love our local and destination 'Montana Brides' because they typically want a more relaxed wedding that celebrates their commitment to one another. They usually have a definite vision that they want implemented, and they trust the vendors they hire to take their vision and execute it in such a way that makes it even better than they imagined. A lot has to do with trust here in Montana. People are trusting and trust worthy.