Gallatin River Hideaway Wedding of Muriel and Aaron

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A few weeks back, I photographed the intimate Gallatin River Hideaway Wedding of Muriel and Aaron in Bozeman, Montana.

This bride and groom each has strong Montana roots from growing up here but over the last seven years of dating, they have supported and followed each other across the country to foster each other’s goals. Aaron got his PhD in engineering and Muriel just finished up her MFA in printmaking in Tennesseee. Last year they decided to move back to Montana and now make their home in Helena, Montana.

Over all this time, their relationship together has been a beautiful balance. Aaron loves how Muriel brings him out of his shell. His life has always been ruled by routine. For him, doing things alone can sometimes be intimating. But together Muriel has supported and helped him do activities that he normally wouldn’t. Her empathy and kindness she gives to the people around her have inspired and helped him realize his full self. Muriel loves Aaron’s mind. He’s the perfect balance of thoughtfulness and silliness without ego. His sense of humor and talents as a musician have brought a smile to her face for years.

This wedding couple chose The Gallatin River Hideaway for their wedding celebration with guests and loved ones coming from as far as Ireland to make the event.

Muriel and Aaron wanted a laid-back, social event filled with color documented in my photojournalistic approach.

During their wedding, they had a handfasting ceremony officiated by the bride’s sister. Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. Tears flowed as Muriel’s grandfather sang a lovely Irish tune. After their enthusiastic vows, Muriel and Aaron sealed their commitment to each other with a kiss and walked down the aisle under a cascade of bubbles.

At the reception, the newlyweds and their guests were treated to their favorite iced coffee drinks from The Red Coffee Trailer. Excited and properly caffeinated, people mingled, played yard games then everyone got in line for a delicious BBQ dinner. After speeches and heartfelt toasts, the celebration energy cranked up. In between dancing and a conga line, the guests explored the costume possibilities in the Greener Visuals Photo booth. Laughter and giggles ensued. Photo booths are the perfect invitation for the young and old to play together.

I really enjoyed my time photographing the wedding celebration of Muriel and Aaron and I wish them a lifetime of happiness. -M

Vendors:

Caterer – Ghost Boy Catering (Alex Hester and Brad O’Neil)

Coffee – The Red Coffee Trailer

Coordinator – Mary C. Baumstark

Dessert – Wild Crumb and Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream

DJ – Glacier DJ Jesse Frohriech

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Roy’s Barn Montana Wedding Day of Eva and Dillon

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I had the pleasure of photographing the Roy’s Barn and Lodge Destination Wedding of Eva and Dillon in Bozeman, Montana.

Eva and Dillon have been dating since 2020 and have made a life together in Austin, Texas with their two dogs.

This couple wanted to celebrate their destination wedding in a place that meant so much to them. Dillon attended college at Montana State University years ago. On a vacation together, he introduced Eva to his favorite mountain state. She found the same wonder and appreciation for the Big Sky State. Under the guidance of their wedding planner Killian Flanagan Payne, of Events by Killian, the wedding couple chose Roy’s Barn and Lodge as the perfect rustic setting for their Montana celebration.

Eva loves how much of a caring, thoughtful person Dillon is. He shows his selflessness through his endless acts of service to her and all around him. She notices the little things. Whether he’s has a great dinner on the table after her busy workday to his attention to detail keeping the house tidy. Eva feels taken care of and loved by him every day.

For Dillon, life alongside Eva has been one filled with laughter. It’s been a relationship that has made him a better man over the years. Her caring, positive energy (with a great southern accent which he loves!) has been infectious for him. It’s made him more productive at work and he has better interactions with others throughout his day. Her belief in him has elevated his life for the better.

I love seeing the excitement of wedding guests that have never experienced the Montana culture before.

Eva and Dillon’s energetic crew of friends and loved ones came from as far as Mississippi (Eva’s home state) to raise a glass to the newlyweds. You could tell from their energy that they were excited to be there.

The bride and groom got ready at separate Bozeman AirBnb’s. Both sought a morning of relaxation and quality time together with their best buddies.

A party bus picked up the groom and groomsmen and then the bride and her bridesmaids taking us to MAP Brewing Company for a midday pre-wedding party. At the edge of Glen Lake, the brewery provided a relaxing setting where microbrew libations and snack food were served overlooking the waterfront and the Bridger mountains.

After a few hours of relaxing and socializing on the outdoor patio, we loaded back onto the bus and headed towards the wedding venue.

Upon our arrival at Roy’s Barn, we had a brief rain delay on our scheduled wedding party portraits before the ceremony. The wedding party was not to be deterred. The rustic backdrop and shelter of the historic red barn worked perfectly for some individual bridal party and family portraits where everyone stayed dry. Once the storm passed, we were able to walk the property and make some fun group photos of their closest friends.

Despite the mid-afternoon weather front, when the wedding ceremony began, we had a clear view of the green-colored Bridger Mountains. After a brief ceremony, we all quickly transitioned to the grand celebration.

It was an awesome gathering of the people that mattered most to Eva and Dillon.

The Southern hospitality runs strong between these two newlyweds. This wedding couple really leaned into the Montana theme of their wedding day. Eva and Dillon’s guests were treated to a wide assortment of treats and entertainment including a taco bar, cigar bar, a mobile horse trailer bar, and a Greener Visuals Photo Booth. Once the guests were well-fed and primed on signature cocktails (named after the newlywed’s two dogs), the wedding blossomed into an epic dance party. The rest of the evening was spent dancing hard and singing to their favorite songs up in the barn loft.

It was a pleasure to be a part of Eva and Dillon’s wedding day celebration. There are some of my favorite photographs from their wedding. Congrats again to the newlyweds! What an awesome day with you two! -Mike Greener

Click here to check out all of Eva and Dillon’s wedding day photographs!

Wedding Vendors:

Wedding Venue: Roy’s Barn and Lodge

Photography: Greener Visuals Photography

Planner: Events by Killian

Transportation: Party Bus Rentals and Snow Country Limo

Dessert: Cupcake Mountain Cupcakery

Catering: Southern Hospitality Montana

Florist: Karen’s Floral Artistry

Bartending: 406 Mobile Bar

Makeup Artist: Aesthete Beauty

Entertainment: DJ Will Entertainment

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Ennis Montana Wedding of Riki and Lee

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A few weeks back, I photographed the Ennis Montana wedding of Riki and Lee overlooking the Madison Mountain range.

Getting to know these two over the past year leading up to their Ennis Montana Wedding day has been wonderful. Right from the start, the shared, rich intellect and loving kindness of Riki and Lee were an apparent, magnetic force.

Lee and Riki met four years ago while pursuing their PhDs at Northwestern University. They are now both budding powerhouse chemists on the East Coast.

In our first conversations, Lee shared what they admire most about Riki. They love how Riki is so good at genuinely seeing people. Riki is kind and doesn’t hesitate to help others. “Whether it be her colleagues, students, friends, or our community of loved ones, Riki shows me how to be a better partner,” Lee said. They also admire Riki’s intellect, “She is extremely smart and was the best in her class. I love how she challenges me.”

Riki feels the same – she loves Lee’s mind. This couple’s roots began first as friends. Riki immediately felt that she could be herself around Lee and with their first conversations, they dove deep. Riki, who describes herself as straight-edged, admires the diversity of Lee’s rich life experiences. Lee’s adventurous approach to life makes it easy for Riki to walk outside her comfort zone, in all the best ways. 

We met up last Fall to highlight their relationship and photograph their engagement couples photos in Lee’s hometown of Butte, Montana.

When it came to choosing their wedding location, this couple knew that Montana was the only place they wanted to be.

Riki and Lee gathered an intimate group of close friends and family out at their uncle’s property for their DIY Ennis Montana wedding day. It has been a wet June in Montana this year. Upon arriving at their wedding venue, guests were greeted by the vast mountain landscape covered in a lush pallet of green colors. As far as Montana standards go, you could not have had nicer wedding weather.

Their wedding day was carefree and relaxed. The couple got ready together with their friends while sipping coffee, eating bagels and BBQ, and telling countless funny stories. There were numerous special details of their day on display. Riki wore her grandmother’s wedding dress from the 1950s and a sapphire wedding ring she and Lee found in Phillipsburg, Montana mine.

Everyone in attendance worked together to make Riki and Lee’s wedding day special and uniquely their own.

After a lovely, emotional wedding ceremony, Riki and Lee with their wedding guests took in the sunset during the cocktail hour. Guest dined on a satisfying taco buffet provided by Fork and Spoon catering under the reception tent where many heartfelt toasts were made.

Weather moves fast through the Madison Valley. Throughout the day, we had an assortment of epic clouds roll through that created beautiful pockets of sunlight. The group came together to batten down the reception tent when a strong wind and rainstorm moved through. Thankfully, the rainstorm was a short-lived event. At its conclusion, we were rewarded with a lovely rainbow over the Madison Valley and beautiful golden hour light we were able to photograph.

After everyone was fed, tables were cleared to make room for the epic dance party. Orchestrated by the incomparable DJ Missy O’Malley, Riki, Lee, and their wedding guests went wild dancing late into the evening.

In all, this couple’s warmth, adventurousness, kindness, and focus on each other created such an amazing energy to be around. I love documenting love and had such a great time celebrating and photographing Riki and Lee on their big day.

I could not be happier for these two. Congratulations to the bride and gride! I wish them a lifetime of happiness! -M

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The Woodlands Rainy Wedding of Shannon and Liam

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A week ago, I photographed The Woodlands rainy wedding day of Shannon and Liam outside Bozeman, Montana.

It has been lovely getting to know this couple and their five-year-old husky/shepherd, Iroh, over the past year.

Shannon and Liam met in Monterey Bay, California in the Fall of 2014. What started off as a friendship, quickly blossomed into a strong relationship. Together, they have been exploring the world together ever since. As an introvert, Liam loves Shannon’s extrovert energy. She cares so much about her relationships with others. She is loving and fits perfectly into his family dynamics. He admires her moral compass and how it constantly helps him navigate toward the right decisions.

Shannon loves how Liam truly understands her. He has helped her grow as a person and gives endless support to her. He keeps her accountable and showers her with love and patience.

Last summer I photographed their Mount Ellis trailhead engagement portraits in Bozeman. If one thing was clear, this couple was head over heels for one another and they were so excited for their approaching wedding day.

With friends and family traveling in from California and New Jersey, this engaged couple wanted a venue that could accommodate all of the fun.

They choose to celebrate their wedding day at The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon under the guidance of their wedding planner, Events by Killian.

The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon offered plenty of space for the wedding party to get ready – girls upstairs, gentlemen downstairs. The venue also offered plenty of space for the wedding guests to take shelter in a pinch.

Right before the wedding ceremony was to begin, a rainstorm came through that forced everyone to leave their ceremony seats.

As it turned out no amount of water could dampen the spirits of this group. Forward-thinking from the talented wedding vendors provided guests with clear umbrellas before the ceremony, just in case. The Woodlands Rainy Wedding didn’t phase anyone in attendance. After a brief delay, everyone returned to the outdoor lawn ceremony site for a heartfelt exchange of Shannon and Liam’s wedding vows under sunny skies.

Smiling ear to ear, Shannon and Liam welcomed their guests for a reception evening filled with great BBQ from Just a Taste Catering and the good tunes from Catered Rhythms DJ coaxed the wedding guests into dancing all night long. It was a really fun evening with everyone. Here are some of my favorite moments from Shannon and Liam’s wedding day.

I’m excited for these two and wish them a lifetime of happiness! -M

Wedding Vendors for Liam and Shannon’s Wedding Day

Venue: The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon

Wedding Planner: Events by Killian

Photography: Greener Visuals Photography

Catering: Just A Taste Catering

Rentals: Montana Party Rentals

Bartender: Jade Pierce Bartending Services

Dessert: Sweet Pea Bakery

Entertainment: Catered Rhythms

Florals: Bouquets and More

Videography: Cosmic Cine

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Mount Ellis trailhead engagement portraits of Shannon and Liam

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Last summer I photographed the Mount Ellis trailhead engagement portraits of my wedding clients, Shannon and Liam.

It has been just lovely getting to know this couple and their five-year-old husky/shepherd, Iroh, over the past year.

This couple met in Monterey Bay, California in the Fall of 2014 and they have been exploring the world together ever since.

Now living in Bozeman, these two wanted their couples portrait experience to highlight one of their many outdoor activities together – walking trails with their dog, Iro. We explore the mountain landscape that was littered with yellow arrowleaf balsamroot wildflowers during their trailhead engagement portraits. In the spirit of celebrating, they carried up a bottle of champagne to watch the sunset over Bozeman from a great view at Mt. Ellis. It was a view that was pretty hard to beat. Here are some of their favorite moments from the day. 

Now on the eve of their wedding day, it’s time to pop the champagne once again! Shannon and Liam are about to get married!

Looking forward to celebrating and It promises to be a great time.

I could not be more excited for these two and for their wedding day tomorrow. Let the celebration begin!

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Montana Ruby Valley Engagement Photos of Taylor and Sean

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Plonk Bozeman Engagement Photography

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Grizzly Creek Ranch Wedding of Rebecca and Carter

This past August, I had the pleasure of photographing Rebecca and Carter’s Grizzly Creek Ranch wedding up Tom Miner Basin in Emigrant, Montana.

Rebeca and Carter are both veterans of the Hollywood film industry and these two Californians met on a southwest Montana film project. Their first encounter also introduced them to the beauty and splendor of the Yellowstone River and the surrounding Paradise Valley. It would soon become a favorite place to visit during the downtime of their busy schedules.

They found love in the time of COVID, and moved in together during lockdown. During those challenging times in the closed-down city of Los Angeles, their relationship and bond only strengthened.

Rebecca commented how Carter makes her feel calm, warm and offers an endless amount of patience. He’s a steady hand in the relationship and she shared how his presence creates a calming flow in their house.

To her, Carter feels like home.

Carter loves how Rebecca removes all stress from his daily existence. She’s very loving and always has his best interests at heart. She’s sponteanous, enthusiastic and always up for anything, like an on-a-whim weekend cabin trip to Montana.

Rebecca and Carter’s adventurous spirits and love of nature made the big sky state a natural setting for them. They chose to have their wedding celebration in Paradise Valley, south of Livingston, Montana. It was the place where they first met.

Happily, their community of friends and family traveled from across the country to Emigrant, Montana where Rebecca and Carter hosted their elegant wedding celebration in a place that instilled such reverence for them.

Under the guidance of their talented wedding planner, Killian Flanagan Payne (of Events by Killian), the charming, rustic, working cattle ranch Grizzly Creek Ranch, became the perfect Montana backdrop to their wedding. All of their loved ones had the convenience to stay on and near the ranch which lies just north of the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It was a perfect destination wedding vacation to soak up this time together. For many of their guests, this was the first time many of them had visited the Big Sky Country. Their Montana experience was complete with brief afternoon rains that evolved into a picturesque sunset.

As the evening settled in and with the Montana stars at full shine, the dance floor came alive. The sounds of music, laugher, and energetic celebration went well into the night. This was an amazing crowd to behold! Everyone was in high spirits.

Rebecca and Carter, thank you for inviting me into your story. It was an absolutely pleasure to photograph you and your loved ones in such a striking setting! Congratulations on saying “I DO” in Montana. I wish you all the best! -M

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Gallatin River Family Portraits of the Childress Family

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A recent Gallatin River family portraits session with the Childress family helped turn their Montana vacation into an opportunity for a documented celebration!

“I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.”

― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring Montana then I know this quote from John Steinbeck resonates. And it’s no wonder. Montana truly is spectacular! I have my own family roots in this glorious state. I’m always thrilled to see the excited faces of my clients when they come to know the awesome beauty of this timeless place for the first time.

It’s a pristine land that’s raw, wild, and just begging to be explored.

When you vacation in Montana, you are surrounded by the freshness that comes with changing your rhythm and being in this new environment. This state has a way of helping us let go of the busyness of our lives and slow down to really take in beauty of your loved ones and its amazing landscapes. Time shifts and you are more present, perhaps, than in the daily grind. You have fewer distractions. You get to see your family experience new things, exactly as you do the same. This has a way of letting us relax deeply into the moment, to be curious, and to play.

Over the last ten years, I’ve regularly worked with families that want to turn their Montana vacation into an opportunity for documented memories. Many visitors who have vacationed here have reached out for my photography services because they know that these moments, together, are unique, special, and worth doing right now.

Your family vacation is the perfect time to take advantage of this unique time you all have together.

With the Childress family, they make the annual trip from Texas to Montana every year to explore with their kids and soak up the family time during their Gallatin River family portraits session.

Big changes are on the horizon for this family.

With their daughter already in college, their son was about to enter his senior year of high school. Tina and John were soon-to-be empty nesters. They wanted this year’s Montana vacation to celebrate their kids with a family portrait session. It also proved to be a chance to highlight their son with his senior pictures. Talking with them on the phone, we discovered all that they cherish about their adult children. We also talked about how Montana has positively helped shaped their kids’ lives. Through their parents, their children have fostered an afinity for being riverside and a love of flyfishing.

To commemorate this special time together, the choice to hike along the banks of the Gallatin River was clear winner. It is a place filled with so many happy family memories for them.

I’m completely mobile with my photo studio, we were able to capture both a natural setting and a studio feel look for their son’s senior photos. I loved the ease of this family’s way of being together and enjoyed experiencing the calm Montana afternoon right alongside them.

What can you anticipate on your vacation family photo experience? That’s where the fun begins! We will schedule a phone chat to better understand what you value most about your loved ones and the special moments you hope to create. If you love the outdoors, I can help you find just the right setting. Or, perhaps, you are coming together for a family reunion or birthday celebration, and want candid photos around the celebration. I’d love to hear more about your plans for your 2023 Montana vacation adventure.

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Best of 2022 Wedding and Portrait Photography

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Skyview at Fall River Village Resort Wedding of John and May

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Butte Montana Engagement Photography of Riki & Lee

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A few weeks back, I photographed my 2023 wedding clients Riki and Lee for their Butte, Montana Engagement Photography experience.

It’s been wonderful to get to know these two this year. Right from the start, the shared, rich intellect and loving kindness of Riki and Lee were a clear, magnetic force.

Lee and Riki met four year ago back when they were pursuing their PhDs at Northwestern University. They are now both budding powerhouse chemists on the East Coast.

In our first conversations, Lee shared what they admire most about Riki. They love how Riki is so good at truly seeing people. Riki is kind and doesn’t hesitate to help others. “Whether it be her colleagues, students, friends, or their community of loved ones, Riki shows me how to be a better partner.” Lee said. They also admire Riki’s intellect, “She is extremely smart and was the best in her class. I love how she challenges me.”

Riki feels the same – she loves Lee’s mind. This couple’s roots began first as friends. Riki immediately felt that she could be herself around Lee and with their first conversations, they dove deep. Riki, who describes herself as straight-edged, admires the diversity of Lee’s rich life experiences. Lee’s adventurous approach to life makes it easy for Riki to walk outside her comfort zone, in all the best ways. 

Visiting Lee’s hometown in Butte, Montana has quickly become a favorite annual destination for them. It’s a place they really wanted to showcase in their Butte Montana Engagement Photography experience.

With their excitement growing the closer we got to their photography session date, Lee and Riki elected to book a second hour for their Butte Montana Engagement Photography experience. They wanted to really explore this historic place which means so much to them. I was happy to oblige.

With so much to see in a old industrial town like Butte, Montana, this additional hour gave us more creative freedom to take our time and investigate our curiosities. 

If you know Butte, you know that its heritage and history runs a mile high and a mile deep.

By the end of the 19th century, The Butte copper mines had become the largest copper producers in the world. They would operate until their closure in the late 1940’s. Old stone skyscrapers and the steel engineering relects of another time have now perfectly blended with the weathered Montana landscape. The result is a mountain town with a lot of soul.

We all agreed it would be a perfect, rustic Montana landscape for us to play in. We began at the Original Mine and explored the industrial bones of the headframe and the character of the surrounding buildings. 

Next, we shifted from the playground of the Copper Kings and went off trail to Lee’s beautiful family home. Tucked back in the Butte foothills, their family property offered a more intimate landscape to explore thick aspens groves, dramatic rock formations, and catch the sunset views of the Pintler Mountains.

In all, this couple’s warmth, adventurousness, kindness, and focus on each other created such an incredible energy to be around. In their photos, smiles came naturally. Their excitement for each other was uncontainable. I love the photos we created together and I can not wait to photograph their wedding day June 2023! -M

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