Colleen and Josh's Wedding

This wedding was just perfect- a wonderful couple, a fantastic venue and a fun party.

Colleen and Josh were married at the Gallatin Gateway Inn.  This hotel is seeped in history and somehow you feel like you are stepping back in time when you enter it.  Colleen walked down the beautiful sweeping staircase to join Josh in the ceremony and he had the sweetest smile on his face!

The reception followed in the same venue with a delicious dinner and dancing.  The dance floor was never empty from the moment the music started.  I think that the best dancing award would have to go to Colleen's grandmother who gathered a crowd around her as she was breaking it down with Josh and Colleen!

Colleen and Josh are headed of to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for their honeymoon. I hope you two have a fantastic time and thank you for having Justin and I there to photograph your special day!

Jeanelle and Nathan's Wedding in Yellowstone

What a romantic winter wedding!  Jeanelle and Nathan were married in Yellowstone National Park the evening of January 3rd.  It was a cold, bright day and a starry night.  They were married in the charming stone chapel at Mammoth.  The candles were all lit inside the chapel, adding a special glow to the ceremony.  The couple did not see each other before the ceremony and their smiles, and tears when they saw each other were touching.

Taking Jeanelle and Nathan's pictures together after the ceremony was a joy.  They were just so happy that they were married to each other, they were absolutely glowing and so relaxed and happy.

The evening ended with a lovely desert and champagne reception at the restaurant in Mammoth.  Again, many smiles and tears came out during the toasts.  The whole wedding was just very personal and lovely and I am so happy that we were there to capture this couple's special day.

Have a fantastic honeymoon in Mexico Jeannelle and Nathan!

Brianne and Murat's Wedding in the Florida Keys

Brianne and Murat are delightful and their wedding was too!  The couple met in 7th grade but truly fell in love as adults.  However, their long shared history had connected their families so beautifully and everyone was thrilled to celebrate their union.

They were married at the Coconut Palm Inn in the upper Keys.  It was a fabulous place tucked backed from the road and right on the beach.  The 70 guests were able to have the run of the place and it was wonderfully inviting.  

The ceremony and reception all took place there on the private beach.  The weather was fantastic in the 70s with a light breeze and it got cool enough at night to enjoy the bonfire and the s'mores!

I just loved being a part of this intimate, fun-filled and truly special wedding.  I look forward to making an album for Brianne and Murat because the pictures are just so fun and being back in Montana now, I'm dreaming of palm trees and white sand beaches!

Have a great time on your honeymoon in St. Lucia

Christina and Joe's Wedding in Mexico

Ahhhh.  What a wonderful celebration.  Christina and Joe got married in Sayulita, Mexico on October 28th and I am so glad I was there to capture all the fun.  Christina is one of seven children and her whole family made it down to Mexico for the celebration.  Joe is from Ireland and much of his family also made the trip to enjoy the warm (very warm!) Mexican sun.

The families rented a large complex on the beach with a pool, beach volleyball court and the beautiful Pacific right outside the door.  The had their rehearsal "fiesta" there the night before the wedding.   With a taco stand and margaritas to add to the Mexican flavor of the event.

The wedding day itself was just beautiful.  They were married at La Palapa which overlooks two beaches and miles of blue Pacific behind them.  the ceremony was so personal and touching, with both their parents and all their siblings taking part in the ceremony.   In fact, Christina oldest sister Kathy performed the ceremony.

The reception just continued the fun.  Everyone there (especially Christina!) could DANCE!  The fiesta lasted into the evening and I was sad to say good-bye, they had made us feel so welcome!

Buena suerte Christina and Joe and thanks for having us there to photograph your wedding!  Check out my website for their wedding in the featured wedding section.

Katrina and Eric's Wedding

This was the perfect fall wedding. The air was crisp, the leaves were showing their fall colors, the sun was shining and a bag piper filled the air with music. That's right- Katrina and Eric hired a bag piper to lead them in and out of their lovely wedding ceremony. The couple met at McCallister College and apparently they had bag pipers at all the major events. It added a fun and festive air to the wedding.

Katrina was a radiant bride and on her finger she wore the most beautiful wedding ring I have ever seen. The ring was her grandmother's and Katrina's father and his brothers agreed to give it to Katrina the youngest grandchild. They spoke of her grandmother's amazing history in politics and social justice. She sounded like an amazing woman. Katrina was clearly honored to wear her wedding ring.

I loved the laid-back and friendly atmosphere of this wedding. The couple gave activity bags to the little kids that were there and Eric's brothers (one his twin) were hysterical during their toasts. With all the warmth and love present it was clear to me that Katrina and Eric have a fantastic support system as they embark on their lives together.

I'm sure that they will have fun! Best wishes to you both.

Mary Ellen and Ken's Wedding

Oh wow! Mary Ellen's and Ken's wedding on the small island of Poros, Greece was just fabulous. Mary Ellen's grew up in Greece and when she and Ken got engaged she knew she wanted to go back to Greece to get married. It was such a fantstic experience to get to see and experience a real Greek wedding!

Justin and I were treated like honored guests. And even though this was the first time we had met Mary Ellen and Ken, by the end of the weekend I honestly felt like we had known them and their friends and family for a long time. We sat with Mary Ellen and Ken's best friends during the wonderful meals we had over the course of the two day celebration. And a celebration it was!

The rehearsal dinner was full of Greek dancing with professional greek dancers to teach the non-Greeks how to move and lots of clapping, napkin waving, dancing in circles. It was fantastic to watch and photograph!

We woke up (late) the morning of the wedding to a rainy day. What amazed me though was Mary Ellen's laid back attitude about the whole thing. And although it did rain, everything was just as lovely as you could imagine. And the clouds made the sunset pictures after the ceremony even more stunning.

The reception went late into the night. Ken's parents were still dancing when we turned in at 4 am. I think no one wanted the night to end. It was just so much fun!

I am looking forward to seeing Mary Ellen and Ken again in January when I visit my sister in DC. Thank so for having us there at you beautiful wedding! All the best to you both!!

Jamie and Casey's Wedding

This wedding was a blast! We headed up to the small town of Geraldine, Montana for Jamie and Casey's wedding. The entire county gets invited to weddings in this small town and the church and reception hall were bursting at the seems with good wishes and good cheer for the couple.

We had a lot of fun taking portraits of Jamie and Casey at the old train depot in town. The bright color of the depot against the cloudy sky was stunning. However, my favorite part of the group portrait session was when the whole wedding party headed to the local bar and stood on the bar to toast the bride and groom. So fun!

Justin and I would like to thank you all for your hospitality and wish Jamie and Casey all the happiness in the world!

Rachel and Roger's Wedding

There was the most beautiful light for Rachel and Roger's wedding ceremony at Chico Hot Springs. It had been threatening rain all day but Rachel and Roger kept positive attitudes- they just knew it wouldn't rain on them on their wedding day. They were right! As their guests walked up to the Field of Dreams the sun broke through the clouds and they exchanged their vows in the diffused sparkle of the September sun- absolutely beautiful!

We had so much fun doing the portraits. Roger is a photographer as well and he seemed to not only be enjoying snuggling with his new wife but also just thinking about how great the photos would look in this light.

What I enjoyed the most about this wedding was how laid back and comfortable Rachel and Roger were. This made all their guests just kick back and have fun too- Justin and I included! Since this wedding was the day after our wedding anniversary, Rachel had a seperate table set up for us with candles and flowers. So sweet!

Wishing you all the happiness in the world Roger and Rachel! Thanks for having share in your special celebration.

Ruthi and Soren's Wedding

Ruthi and Soren are just really cool people. Two days before their "official wedding" ceremony, they and 40 of their family and friends climbed Lone Peak and performed a ceremony on top of the peak. Soren's mother sewed a cape for the wedding which they used at both ceremonies. On one side it said "Soulmates" and on the other side it said "Earthmates". Each ceremony represented a different union one here and one in the universe.

The two are passionately committed to each other and to our planet and both were evident at the their wedding at Moonlight Basin Lodge in Big Sky. Something in the way they look at each other just gives you goosebumps. They just fit together so well!

Their reception was wildly fun with everyone dancing up a storm to the music provided by Fresh Tracks, my number one pick for DJs in the area. Ruthi and Soren were incredible dancers and really wowed the crowd with their first dance.

However, the sweetest, most beautiful part of the evening was when Soren picked up his acoustic guitar and sang Ruthi a song which he had written for her specifically for their wedding day. Incredible. I was honored to be a part of this wedding. All the best in the world to you both!

Heather and Jeremy's Wedding

I was happy to finally have the chance to photograph Heather and Jeremy's wedding. We met them while photographing Dena and Jeremy's wedding last fall and it is always a pleasure to see familiar faces. It's like photographing old friends!

The ceremony was performed under beautiful blue skies amid the stunning scenery at Chico Hot Springs. Their guests had travelled from far and wide to celebrate with the couple and the toasts at the reception reflected the love and caring felt for this special couple.

We also got to catch up with Dena and Jeremy and were excited to hear that they are expecting their first baby this fall. I always enjoy watching as a couple move from bride and groom to mom and dad.

I always love weddings at Chico Hot Springs, and this wedding reminded me again of why it is a special place. Wishing you all the best Heather and Jeremy! Thanks for having us there on your wedding day!

Amanda and Ryan's Wedding

When Amanda and Ryan and I met to talk about their wedding details, they told me that they loved the photos I have of the whole wedding party jumping.  They asked me to please get lots of fun, active shots of them and their wedding party.  I promised to do that and knew that the wedding would be fun.  What I didn't realize at the time was just how much fun Amanda and Ryan would be!  

They met as while both working at a camp and still had some of that camp spirit in them.  Amanda had "bridal" Chaco sandals that she had had laced with white netting the match her wedding dress and during their portrait session after the ceremony, the two laid down in the grass for some of the shots.   So, so fun!

Best of luck you two.  I'm sure that your life will be full of laughter.

Emily and Casey's wedding

Emily and Casey's wedding in Big Sky was a beautiful occation. The wedding ceremony was held at Soldiers Chapel which is one of the most amazing locations in all of Montana. Lone Peak is perfectly framed behind this stunning chapel.

I met Emily and Casey last fall when I did their engagement session last fall. I knew they would be easy to work with when it was about 10 degrees outside and they braved the weather with smiles on their faces. I also noticed that their smiles got bigger every time they looked at each other. The same was true on their wedding day-the bride was positively glowing!

Emily planned every detail of the wedding perfectly. One of the best details was the red wedding cake decorated with pine cones and branches. This matched perfectly with the bridesmaid's dress and Emily's adorable red shoes. Guess what Emily's favorite color is!

The reception was held at Buck's T-4 lodge in Big Sky and everyone enjoyed dancing and singing with the happy couple. Even the DJ got into the spirit of the party! Congratulations Emily and Casey, best of luck!

Stacy and Mike's Wedding

Stacy and Mike's wedding was so full of love and fun! Mike is from Australia, where he and Stacy currently live. They area a wonderful couple and you could tell they were loved because about 40 family and friends made the trek from down under to Springhill Pavillion to attend the celebration. Their friends were great and while the Aussies showed the Montanan's how to party the Montana contingent didn't disappoint! A fantastic time was had by all with much laughter, tears and hugs (especially from Stacy)!

This was also a special day for Justin and I. We were married there about 3 years ago and have not had the opportunity to go back together. Being at Springhill brought back a lot of special memories and we both had a great time. I am so glad that it was for this wedding as the bride and groom were obviously very special people and so full of love.

We wish them all the best and wish we were going to Fiji with them! Safe travels Stacy and Mike and hope to see you again.

Tiffany and Steve's Wedding

Steve's mom, the adorable Sodie, got in touch with me this winter and I just feel in love with her.  She was so full of life and so excited about this wedding.  The wedding plans sounded pretty spectacular.  All the groomsmen and the groom were planning to arrive at the wedding (at a private residence in Big Sky) on horseback while the bride and bridesmaids would arrive in a horse-drawn carriage.  It would take two photographers to cover the event and Sodie was delighted to hear that I always work with a second shooter/ assistant.

The wedding was just as awesome as it sounded over the phone, partly because how delightful Tiff and Steve were.  The weather was dicey with thunderstorms coming in and out of the area, but Tiff and Steve were cool and calm.  The weather cooperated well for the lovely outside ceremony were Tiff and Steve read their own personal vows to each other and more than a few tears were shed.

The best part of the evening though was Tiffany and Steve's first dance.  They started out with your traditional slow song, when suddenly the music skipped and they sprung into a choreographed hip-hop routine.  So cool.  Overall, it was a wonderful. wonderful evening and I am so happy I was there to document it!

Ruth and Ted's Wedding

Ahhh.  The coveted 8-8-08 wedding date (yes, I am aware that, that rhymed).  Ruth and Ted were the couple lucky enough to snag this wedding date and I was lucky enough to be invited along for the ride!  I am so happy I was- they are truly wonderful people and I feel honored that I was there to share their special day.

They were married at the lovely First Presbyterian Church in downtown Bozeman, which was beautiful in it's own right,  but the best part was that we were able to do a photo shoot with the bride, groom and wedding party in downtown Bozeman afterwards.  We stopped traffic to take some shots at the mural on the side of Heeb's and headed over to old train depot to get some fun shots there.  Even the bus driver got in the spirit suggesting places for us to stop.

We managed to get to the reception at Bridger Bowl just before a huge rain storm rolled in.  The rain didn't last for long and when it cleared the clouds stayed and hugged the peaks, adding a romantic feeling to the setting.  It was a really magical evening.

Kally and Ken's Wedding

Kally and Ken's wedding in Big Sky was an amazing wedding to photograph. The location was stunning, the light perfect and the couple was so full of love and hapiness that the photos just came naturally. Ken was the perfect groom to shoot since he is a photographer himself. He was really into modeling for me and the pictures came out great as a result.

I knew their wedding would be fun because I met them while photographing Trish and Matt's wedding last summer. They really went out of their way to make my husband Justin and I feel at home during their celebration. It was a truly raucous party and everyone had a great time including my husband Justin and I.

Kally and Ken were both great to work with and their photos are some of my favorite of the season. It helps to have to beautiful Lone Peak as a backdrop and two beautiful people in love!

Maresa and Landon's Wedding

Maresa and Landon's wedding was at Springhill Pavilion on a beautiful, sunny summer afternoon. Weddings at Springhill are always breathtaking, and Maurisa and Landon incorperated their personalities into the ceremony making it an extra special occation. The couple, who met in Missoula during college, had just returned from a yearlong trip through South America. It is truly an inspiring story.

The reception was so much fun and no detail was overlooked. The wine on the tables was made by Maurisa's father and Landon's mother gave a spririted toast that had guests laughing and crying at the same time. Momements like these are why I love photographing weddings. It brings out amazing emotions and the photographs reflect this.

Thanks Maurisa and Landon for having me there and I look forward to seeing you around Bozeman!

Lisa and Zack's Wedding

This was a wonderful wedding. Lisa and Zack were married at the Woodlands in Cottonwood Canyon which is always a great spot for weddings but everything was thought of in this wedding and the result was stunning.

Lisa and Zack's ceremony was performed by their good friends from New Mexico. They were able to infuse the ceremony with their personal thoughts on Lisa and Zack as individuals and as a couple and it made it very special.

One of the of the coolest things about this wedding was the s'mores buffet set up at the reception. This was the brainchild of Elsa from the Woodlands who was coordinating the wedding for Lisa and Zack. You can see more pictures of it in the featured weddings section of my website. It was such a fun activity for all guests to to be a part of!

Kami and DJ's Wedding

I really enjoyed meeting Kami and DJ last fall when I did their engagement session so I have been looking forward to their wedding. It was just as nice as I knew it would be. Kami and DJ are just so easy to be around and comfortable with each other and their wedding reflected this.
They were married at the Broken Heart Ranch which is such a fun place. I especially love the room upstairs especially for the bride to get ready in. Every detail is taken into account.
Speaking of details, another special one was right after the ceremony when Kami and DJ rode off in a horse drawn carriage for some quiet time before the reception. Probably the cutest thing was DJ's huge smile as they drove off. He looked so proud of his new wife!
I would like to thank Annie West (Elrod) a bride from last summer for recommending me to Kami's family. And all the best to you Kami and DJ!

Nicole and Chris' Wedding

Weddings at Chico Hot Springs are just incredible. If you are thinking about planning your wedding there- do it! Chris and Nicole's wedding reminded me of this fact. Their wedding was elegant and laid back at the same time. It reflected their love of the outdoors and the mountains of Montana and their love for their friends families and each other.

I had to smile when I saw all the groomsmen in their spiffy suits and. .. flip flops. So fun and just right for this beautiful summer day.

Nicole and Chris are just such lovely people they seem to make everyone around them feel welcomed and loved. I felt immediately part of the family!

The reception was a blast too. Everyone was on the dance floor dancing to the fun loving band.

Best of luck to you both Nicole and Chris. I have no doubt that you have many happy days before you!