Gallatin Gateway Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

This Graphic Designer’s Colorful Ranch Wedding Just Did Western Elegance Oh So Right.

With a little help from the talented team at Soiree 99 Events, this gorgeous couple absolutely perfected their rustic yet elegant western wedding with a little southwestern twist – and the results couldn’t have been more beautiful. From the colorful flowers in the bride’s Disney princess-worthy hair to a horse-drawn carriage ceremony entrance to the breathtaking mountain views – we can’t even begin to explain the beauty in here, people… you’re just going to have to see for yourself at the full gallery, all taken by Orange Photographie!

From the bride… Montana is a place that is so close to our hearts. It’s where some of my greatest memories are from my childhood. It’s where my family lives. It’s the first place Chris and I visited together when we were dating, and where many of our first adventures took place. Living in New Jersey, Chris and I crave that mountain air and those open spaces. We visit every single chance we get. Friends and family frequently ask us “Why Montana?!” …which is clearly only ever asked by someone who has never been before! After Chris proposed, it was immediately agreed that our wedding needed to be in Big Sky so that we could share this beautiful place with all the people that mean the most to us. It’s the place where we truly feel the most “at home.” No other place in the world felt as fitting for us as a couple. Our wedding weekend was all about showing our loved ones, who traveled from all ends of the country, why Montana is called “The Last Best Place.” We kicked off the festivities with a group whitewater rafting trip where 45 of our guests joined us on the Gallatin River. That was followed by a cocktail party on my parents’ property, and we finished off the night with some of our closest family and friends at an outdoor country concert in the town center. When all of our guests arrived to town, we hosted everyone at our favorite local barbecue joint for a welcome dinner.

All of our guests stayed in cabins on the ranch where we were getting married. This is the ranch where I learned to horseback ride as a little girl. It’s where Chris rode a horse for the very first time! The ranch where we’ve have had countless holiday and birthday dinners, chuck wagon rides and sleigh rides. It was a no-brainer to pick the 320 Guest Ranch because of the nostalgia and its sentimental value to us. To make sure our guests experienced everything else Montana has to offer, welcome bags were delivered to each cabin. We filled them with our favorite local beers and antler bottle openers, hangover kits, monogrammed water bottles, huckleberry treats, plus a map and booklet filled with all our top eats, sights, and activities. As an artist, I had a clear idea of what I wanted our wedding to look and feel like. Chris and I both had a very good sense of what we wanted for this day and thankfully there was nothing we disagreed on (or that he put up a fight about… lol). So for the most part, the planning process was pretty effortless (I even purchased the very first wedding dress I tried on!). Owning my own stationery business, I had always dreamed of designing my wedding invitations so that part was definitely the most fun for me. It’s where the overall inspiration for the rest of our wedding was born. I love color, especially warm and bright colors! So it was important to incorporate that into our wedding palette while also blending it with colors and textures from the natural landscapes surrounding our venue. We combined sage greens, dusty teals/blues and tans with peaches, golden yellows, and pinks. We wanted our wedding to have rustic yet elegant western vibes with a little southwestern twist. We used leather accents to add that rustic touch, from our engraved leather invitations, to the place cards, and a dusty blue leather guestbook where guests filled out mad libs about their journey to get to our wedding and their experience in Montana. We also incorporated copper in every aspect of our wedding – from my boots, to the mule mugs and signage at our bar, the chargers and vases on the tables at our reception, to the copper on our wedding cake and Montana-shaped sugar cookies for dessert. We also tried our very best to bring in little “Montana” details into what we were wearing that day. My crocheted wedding dress and cowboy booties gave all the western feels, but my Montana Sapphire wedding bands were what really meant the most to me. I wanted to wear a constant reminder of not only my vows and my marriage, but the place where it all happened. Not to mention, they tied into our color palette beautifully. And Chris and his brother Kevin, the best man, had some Montana-themed socks hiding under their chambray suits!

THE CEREMONY

My dad and I rode in a horse-drawn carriage from the cabin where I got ready across the ranch to where our guests and my future husband were waiting at the ceremony site. Our ceremony took place under an arch with views looking out across a field into the canyon. The sun was shining, but the dark storm clouds covering the mountains behind us and the draft horses who followed us down made for such a cool backdrop. On the arch hung an elk skull that was gifted to us by grandparents. It meant so much to say our vows under something they had given us. I know it’s something we will keep in our home forever as one of the many reminders of how our loved ones were such an integral part of this day. Our florist also covered the arch in greenery and colorful blooms (after the ceremony, this was a great photo op for our guests!).

THE COCKTAIL HOUR

Cowboy boots were highly encouraged! Women wore sundresses, and many of the men wore jeans and blazers. Some guests even broke out the bolo ties! It was super important that everyone be comfortable and that our event feel as laid back as possible. During cocktail hour, guests could play corn hole, ladder golf, or have a seat by the fire pit. We had an outdoor seating area with blankets that guests could use to keep warm after the earlier storms had cooled everything off. In keeping with our Montana theme, our bar served all Montana-made wines, beers, and liquors. We had a menu that listed out these special options, as well as his and hers signature cocktails using some of our favorite Montana spirits. One included a huckleberry vodka and fresh huckleberries that our guests are still talking about! We had Montana trivia questions copper foil stamped onto our cocktail napkins so that guests could learn some fun facts with they sipped on their drinks. We opted out of some of the traditional wedding things like announcing our entrance to the reception (we just casually snuck into our cocktail hour), a bouquet toss, or garter toss. We replaced those with some of our own traditions like a set of shot skis that my dad made. He and my mom searched far and wide for months to find to get the perfect vintage wooden skis. My dad removed the bindings and affixed magnets to the skis that were strong enough to hold shot glasses. Having magnets on the bottom of the shot glasses made it so easy to swap them out each time. Each glass was engraved with our custom monogram so that guests could also keep their glasses as favors!

THE RECEPTION

Our reception was held in a tent along the Gallatin River. Our florist really helped us transform the space by creating and hanging 3 giant floral chandeliers down the center of the tent. Each of our dinner tables were named after Montana mountain ranges. Guests were directed to their seats with our escort display made from an old barn window that I found in a local antique store. The peeling rust-colored paint on the old wood fit with our wedding palette too perfectly to pass up! We used our wedding color palette to color code the designs on each menu based on our guests’ entree choices, and on the back was a thank you note to our guests who traveled so far to celebrate with us. Each menu was wrapped in suede cord that held a hand-lettered leather place card. My mom put her heart and soul into searching antique stores and thrift shops across Montana to find depression glass votives and vases and some old kerosene lanterns for our reception. The floral arrangements on each table were surrounded by a variety of these yellow, pink, and peach glass votives.

THE BRIDE’S FAVORITE MEMORY

Besides getting to marry my soulmate, some of my most favorite moments of the day were those moments leading up to the ceremony. We woke up to sunshine on our wedding morning, and all day long it was clear blue skies. The iffy forecast from earlier that week had changed in our favor and the radar looked completely clear! Around 4:30pm, when the carriage came to pick up my dad and I, some dark clouds suddenly started rolling over the hills behind our ceremony site. All of sudden, thunder started booming in the distance but strangely enough, the radar was still completely empty. Then came the rain… and the hail! My dad and I were standing at the door of the cabin just staring at the sky and drinking some spiked seltzer together. I was weirdly calm for a bride who was watching it hail on her horse and carriage on her wedding day! I was just really appreciative of that time my dad and I got to spend together. The band played through the rain while our guests were hiding in the reception tent and our coachman (like a true Montanan) sat out in the carriage with his horses and denied the umbrella we offered him. This went on for nearly an hour. Since nothing ever showed up on the radar, when it was looking like there might be a break in the clouds, my dad and I decided to just make a run for it. We grabbed a bunch of towels from the bathroom, wiped of the carriage, and booked it across the ranch. As we were riding, we passed a field where the ranch’s draft horses were grazing. They got excited and started racing alongside our carriage. They followed us all the way to the ceremony site and stayed there amongst the beautiful backdrop for the whole thing! And not only had the rain stopped, but as my dad and I, arm in arm, reached the beginning of the aisle, the sun started to shine again. My dad stopped, looked out to Chris while pointing at me and said “here’s your sunshine!” And then the sun was out until it set that night. I hope this is a metaphor for what our life is going to be like as husband and wife.

Big Sky Montana Wedding at Rainbow Ranch Lodge

I’m officially labeling today’s fete as ‘mountain wedding magic’. Big Sky really is incomparable when it comes to providing a beautiful backdrop for rustic romance… trees dotting the river line that would make Bob Ross do a happy dance, an elegantly rolling horizon line and such peaceful sounds of nature. Our incredibly talented Little Black Book Member, Simply Sarah, captured that atmosphere and so much more for Nikki and Kevin. With planning by BASH, there are plenty of steal-worthy details to experience in the full gallery.

From the bride… Planning the wedding was such a blast for me. I was never the girl who grew up dreaming of her wedding day and had it all planned out. I work events at my current job, where I see a ton of curated parties and weddings all summer and winter. Over the years, I’ve been able to narrow down what I didn’t want – and that helped start the process of planning for me. Over the years, I was also able to nail down all the vendors who’s work I loved, so I knew exactly who I wanted to use when the time came. They’re truly the ones who really helped bring it all my ideas to life. I knew I wanted the wedding to feel romantic but also “handsome” with greys, creams, greenery and tones of pink. In Montana, the scenery is so beautiful you can do a simple tablescape and let the mountains and giant trees do the rest of the work! I also knew a clear top tent would be perfect, so we could maximize the views and then stare at the stars all night while on the dance floor. A lot of our guests had never been to Montana so I wanted them to be able to enjoy the scenery the entire time! Also, having an amazing band from Detroit was something we knew we needed to incorporate. A piece of “home” for me, intertwined with our new lives in the mountains.

My favorite memory besides the ceremony was walking down the aisle with my mom and dad. That was really special for me. And having my 92 year old grandma there. That was so so amazing. Then I just loved dancing all night with our loved ones. It was so surreal to have all the people you care about, new friends + family and old all together with you! That never happens when you move 1700 miles away from your families.

Simply Sarah Photgraphy was the perfect fit for us! Sarah’s calm and collected demeanor were huge for me. Especially on the wedding day, having someone who is kind, organized, helpful and amazing at what they do is worth every penny. Everything was clear, outlined and planned from the get go. She’s organized and in communication the whole wedding planning process which is so nice! Kevin and I loved working with Sarah and Will and had a blast doing it! Absolutely would recommend to any and all brides- they were the perfect choice for us!

Lone Mountain Ranch Winter Wedding Inspiration

Here in New England, it’s rare that we get our first snow after Christmas. But this year, Old Man Winter decided to make his debut a bit later than usual and is still withholding the fluffy white stuff that makes you want to make a snowman. So, until then, I’ll be living here, in THE VAULT with BrittRene Photo, Buzzworthy Events SF and team, dreaming of Moscow mules and cozy ranch sleigh rides.

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From Buzzworthy Events SF…I have been dying to get my hands on a rustic lodge to style! Lone Mountain Ranch presented that opportunity and we could not be more pleased with the results! Some of us jumped in the car while others flew, and spent 48 hours engulfed in the full Lone Mountain Ranch experience. Montana is a very special place. It is clean and wild and feels somewhat untouched. The people are genuine and the atmosphere is fresh and rejuvenating. The activities, parks, and experiences are endless. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

Lone Mountain Ranch is a historic ranch that has been around for decades. They recently made some enhancements to the property and it is a hidden gem! We had a blast touring the property and creating a “wedding” for them. We got to get the full feel of the property and soaked in every moment there. Lone Mountain Ranch has a horse ranch right on site. There is a sleigh ride to the top of the mountain where a chef prepares dinner nightly. The rustic barn and gorgeous horses make for an incredible backdrop. A snow covered mountain, the open fields, and streams running through the property make you feel a bit tucked away from the rest of Big Sky. The dining set up was a rich blend of rustic, sophistication, and simplicity to match the property. I really wanted to stay cheery and bright to match the snow and mood of the property. The bar and dinning room is a rustic, inviting, and cozy. The bar has a giant fireplace and copper bar top, where they host live music nightly, and is super cozy. We created moonshine mules with local Montana Moonshine. The bar hosts plenty of delightful cocktails as well. I really had a blast creating a hot chocolate bar with different local chocolate and adult options. The marshmallows were handmade by A Spoonful of Sugar in San Francisco. We created coffee sleeves with the couple’s logo for take away hot chocolate. We spiked them with peppermint schnapps. Perfect on a snowy night. Katie is wildly creative and continuously popping up with ideas. Katie sourced and for local branches and flowers. We brought the anemones from home and mixed them to create the bouquet, tabletops, and adorned the horse. Anemones are my favorite flower. Brittany climbed mountains of fresh snow, climbed over horses, and froze her butt off to get all these gorgeous shots! She is a trooper and will go the extra mile(s) to create amazing images. Brittany’s mother knit the blanket you see photographed (which she is starting to sell! shop opens soon, keep your eyes open) The dress is ugghhh-mazing. Stone Cold Fox makes stunning gowns and are my new favorite dress designer.

Rainy Montana Ranch Wedding

I love the fact that a little rain couldn’t dampen this joyous occasion. Braving the chance of showers, this couple created a day decked out with Montana Party Rentals infused with Avant Floral blooms. Guests gathered at 320 Guest Ranch to celebrate and Orange Photographie captured a gallery proving that all the rain in the world won’t dampen true love.

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From The Bride…When Daniel and I met, we fell in love over skiing, climbing and the outdoors. We wanted our wedding to be an expression of that bond, a piece of us that we could share with our family and friends. We chose to get married at the 320 Guest Ranch near Big Sky, MT for its rustic atmosphere and beautiful riverside location for the ceremony and reception. We were introduced to the 320 Ranch a few Christmases ago, when Daniel surprised me with a sleigh ride, and night in the homesteaders cabin on the property. This personal memory, along with my brother living in Big Sky, and the PBR rodeo during week prior, it just seemed like the perfect choice.

Our style for the day was a shappy chic and rustic, with many handmade aspects infused with love. Our gift to our guests was a mason jar mug; great for at the event, and something special to have at home. Around the neck of the jar we tied a string that held a medallion. On the medallions were one of 4 of our favorite quotes that a jeweler on Etsy custom engraved for us.

The week prior to the wedding all the wonderful women in my life, from aunts to neighbors to family friends helped to finish other details. We made hand stamped name cards to hang from a clothesline style seating chart. We glued flowers to clothespins for our table settings. We ironed burlap and decorated candle holders. Many hours were spent giggling, catching up, and telling stories over wedding day projects.

The day of the wedding was truly special, because as Daniel and I were away fishing with the bride and grooms parties, all of these fantastic women went and set up for the day. They decorated the archway with fabric, aspen boughs from my parents home in Colorado, and flowers. They set the tables and helped all our little details infused with love to become a reality. They had transformed our vision into our dream day. It was so special to look around and know that a community created the beauty around us. It was all full of so much love.

My favorite moment was setting off for the carriage ride to the ceremony. We had completed our first looks, which was amazing, and so the entire wedding party, including my parents, were together. It had been threatening to rain all day, and so the coordinators were watching the weather radar for a clear moment. They thought we had a window, and so they loaded us quickly into the carriage. The driver of the carriage gave us a warning that “We need to go, so hold on”, and the horses lurched to a canter. They were running down the road, the wind catching my veil and all of us laughing. Arriving at the location, they tucked us under the eave of a cabin to wait out the rain. The men gave their coats to the bridesmaids and my niece, and we stood there together, laughing, anticipating and enjoying this funny turn of events. We even shared a couple of beers. The blustery weather continued throughout the ceremony, but I believed it suited our relationship and ceremony perfectly. We were all laughing, and as the officiant spoke of wind and rain to serve as medicine for our marriage, the wind blew and some raindrops fell. It was perfect.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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BHLDN

Bridal 2016

Bridal 2019

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Sareh Nouri

Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Montana Ranch Wedding

You might want to shut your office door for this Montana beauty captured by Janie Osborne, because it’s a take your breath away type of fête. Not only do you run into gorgeous details around every corner thanks to the talented Allison Brooke Designs, but it’s also filled with personality and spunk. It all leaves us with a gallery too fabulous to miss. See why here.

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From Janie Osborne…There was never any doubt for Frances and Todd that they would get married in Montana. Sheep Rock Ranch is Frances’ family’s property and Frances and Todd wanted to share the beauty of the place, not to mention all of the outdoor activities available, with their family and friends.

Frances’ and Todd’s wedding theme was in keeping with the overall Montana surroundings: Tables were decorated with felled birch trees, mushrooms, an assortment of ferns, succulents, pine cones, and lotus pods. The tent poles were designed to look like trees.

A ten-member gospel choir sang Edwin Hawkins’ “Oh Happy Day,” as the bride processed out of the front door and down the front lawn of her family’s second home.

In keeping with the bride’s family’s southern roots, the menu was strictly southern and included Bourbon Glazed Chicken, Corn Pudding, Okra and Tomatoes over Rice, Black Eyed Peas and Greens. The late night menu consisted of Cheeseburgers, cookies and milk! The fondant, hand-painted cake was inspired by Montana’s aspen trees and featured the couple’s carved initials.

Music for the wedding was provided by Simply Irresistible, an eleven piece show band out of Atlanta, Georgia. The couple’s first dance was to Doris Troy’s song, “Just One Look.”

Montana Weddings

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