Outdoor Weddings


A few weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing the Bridger Foothills Fire Wedding weekend of Raven and Jordan outside Bozeman, Montana.

In all of my years of photographing events, there was nothing quite like documenting the Bridger Foothills Fire wedding of Raven and Jordan. It was an experience I was proud to be a part of.

For so many recent brides and grooms, 2020 has been a year of pivoting with the continuation of the Covid-19 virus. This past year its has been a source of disruption for countless wedding day plans.

Raven and Jordan’s wedding day was originally planned for an earlier Spring date. Unfortunately, the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything for them. They decided to delay their wedding celebration to a time when their loved ones could safely be in attendance.

Undeterred, this Arizona couple decided to postpone their destination wedding plans to a later summer date and a familiar venue, her parents Bozeman, Montana home. Their extended families arrived for a three-day event at her family’s 140-acre property set against the beautiful Bridger Mountains backdrop.

It was a magical setting orchestrated by the fabulous team from Imoni Events. The rustic setting was complete with huge Under Canvas teepee tents and a wall tent city for their guest to comfortably “glamp” in during their Montana stay. The first two evenings were causal and laid back. Raven and Jordan spent the time reconnecting and celebrating with their family and guests. I was happy to document their Welcome Party and a Nike/Harry Potter themed Groom’s Party photographs.

It’s not every day that wedding couples have all the most important people in their world surrounding and celebrating them. It was a gift this family took full advantage of throughout the weekend.

After social distancing this past year, you could feel the high energy from everyone in attendance. Everyone was thrilled to be amongst friendly, loving faces again.

My role was to document and photograph all of the candid fun while creating special memories of the weekend celebration. It was all leading up to the main event, their outdoor wedding day celebration.


Fire on Wedding Mountain

Staying true to the theme of uncertainty in 2020, Raven and Jordan’s wedding day turned out to be quite a surprise adventure.

On the evening of the Groom’s Party, a lightning strike created a small, wildland fire began near a hiking trail ten miles south of the wedding site. Small at first, by midafternoon on their wedding day, strong winds and very dry conditions made things worse. The dry winds fueled the blaze into an 8,000-acre raging fire and was heading in the immediate direction of the Raven and Jordan’s wedding celebration.

About an hour prior to the start to their wedding day ceremony, a call came in from the local fire marshall. The news traveled fast. We were ordered to emergency evacuate the area due to the fast encroaching Bridger Foothills Fire in Bridger Canyon.

In a state of emergency, where does a couple uproot and move their entire wedding?

Without warning, Raven and Jordan’s meticulously planned wedding, constructed over the past two months, suddenly needed to be torn down, relocated 100 miles, and put back together in under three hours.

Thankfully, their wedding caterer Ashley Gutmann, of Cinnamon and Sage Catering came to the rescue. She offered her ace-in-the-hole (last-minute) venue alternative at Headwaters Ranch in Logan, Montana.

First, it was the pandemic that delayed their wedding. Now, it was a fast approaching wildland fire messing up their plans. Once again, Raven and Jordan were forced to alter their wedding plans, yet again, and move their entire operation away from danger. Thankfully, this was a resourceful group. Through creative, emergency carpooling, the guests were able to make their way around roadblocks and away from thick smoke to the new wedding venue an hour and a half away. The lovely Headwaters Ranch outside of Logan, Montana was our new safe haven.

Sometimes in life, there are forces we can’t control. With focus and the summoning of positive attitudes, wedding vendors and guests alike, snapped into action.

Under the professional orchestration of Raven and Jordan’s wedding planner Jenni, of Imoni Events, we were able to pivot as a working group of professionals and pull off a wedding feat for the books.

Raven and Jordan’s Bridger Foothills Fire wedding wasn’t the event originally envisioned. But considering the circumstances, things worked out rather well.

It was a remarkable effort by every single guest and wedding vendor. Everyone rallied together to make Raven and Jordan’s wedding day a success.

In the end, it was completely worth it to witness the moment when these newlyweds kissed and walked hand in hand back down the aisle. Confetti rained from the sky. The enthusiastice cheers of their loved ones congratulated them just as the sun setting below the horizon.

There was a sense of victory and tears of joy in all of us. Raven and Jordan, along with their friends and family, danced the night away.

I could not be happier for Raven and Jordan. It was an honor to be apart of their wedding celebration. What a wild day! I wish them both a lifetime of happiness. -M

To view all of their fun wedding weekend photos, click here.

FEATURING:
Event Planning and Design: Imoni Events
Floral Designer: Carte Blanche Design
Photography: Greener Visuals Photography
Videography: Moshunal Videography
Entertainment: Joe’s DJ Service
Desert and Cake: Elle’s Belles Bakery

Paper Stuff: Freed Hands
Hair & Makeup: Indulgence
Rentals: Montana Party Rentals
Draping and Lighting: The Party Store MT
Linens: La Tavola Linen & BBJ Linen Rental
Glamping: Under Canvas
Host Hotel: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing Bridger Mountains Wedding Welcome Party and Groom’s Party of Raven and Jordan outside Bozeman, Montana.

For so many recent brides and grooms, 2020 pandemic has been a year of pivoting and a reliable source of disruption for countless wedding plans.

Raven and Jordan’s originally planned their wedding for an earlier Spring date. Unfortunately, the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything for them. They decided to delay their wedding celebration to a time when their loved ones could safely be in attendance.

Undeterred, this Arizona couple decided to postpone their destination wedding to a later summer date and to a familiar venue, her parents Bozeman, Montana home. Their extended families arrived for a three-day event at her family’s 140-acre property set against the backdrop of the beautiful Bridger Mountains.

It was a magical setting orchestrated by the fabulous team from Imoni Events. Huge Under Canvas teepee-styled tents decorated the wedding property. For their wedding guests’ accomidations, an additional wall tent city was erected so they could comfortably “glamp” in during their Montana stay. The first two evening parties were causal and laid back. Raven and Jordan spent the time reconnecting and celebrating with their family and guests. It was all in anticipation of their upcoming wedding day!

The first two evenings were causal and spent reconnecting and celebrating with their guests during their Welcome Party and a Nike/Harry Potter themed Groom’s Party.

My role was to document and photograph all of the candid fun while creating special family memories of the weekend celebration.

It’s not every day that wedding couples have all the most important people in their world surrounding and celebrating them. It was a gift this family took full advantage of. This family celebrated their relationships in style. Laughter, great food, libations, fun in the Greener Visuals photo booth, and some serious games of cornhole entertained during the two evening events.

All in attendance at their Bridger Mountains Wedding Welcome Party and Groom’s Party were in high spirits. Even my labrador, Tippet. During the party, she happily entertained, nuzzled, and retrieved objects thrown by occasional wedding guests. Invited to the Groom’s Party (by the bride’s family), my dog promptly managed to cut a good size gash in her leg. Though it wasn’t serious injury, the wound was later mended during a midnight visit to the emergency vet.

During the party, she happily entertained, nuzzled, and retrieved objects thrown by occasional wedding guests.

After social distancing this past year, you could feel the high energy from everyone in attendance. Everyone was thrilled to be amongst friendly, loving faces again. I think it made this event even more special. There is a lot of love and support for this couple.

Here are some favorites photographs from their wedding welcome party and Groom’s Party festivities. It was all leading up to the main event, Raven and Jordan’s outdoor wedding celebration the next day.

A wedding day that I or any other person in attendance will soon forget. -M

To view all of Raven and Jordan’s Wedding day photos, click here.

To view all of the Photo Booth photos from the weekend, click here and click here.

FEATURED VENDORS:
Event Planning and Design: Imoni Events
Floral Designer: Carte Blanche Design
Photography: Greener Visuals Photography
Videography: Moshunal Videography
Entertainment: Joe’s DJ Service
Desert and Cake: Elle’s Belles Bakery

Paper Stuff: Freed Hands
Hair & Makeup: Indulgence
Rentals: Montana Party Rentals
Draping and Lighting: The Party Store MT
Linens: La Tavola Linen & BBJ Linen Rental
Glamping: Under Canvas
Host Hotel: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman


Last weekend I photographed the Salem Connecticut Destination Wedding celebration of Knikka and Greg on her family’s property. 

This was a special wedding for me.

I came to know Knikka years ago while working as a photojournalist for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. At the time, she was a young parent raising a child and about to have another, I followed her and her family as part of a documentary story for the newspaper.

What started out as an assignment, turned into a friendship.

As the years have gone by, I’ve remained in touch with Knikka. I’ve even gotten to know her family members during their frequent visits to Montana over the years. They are wonderful people.

Through her family grapevine, I heard the news of her engagement to Greg. I was thrilled when they reached out to ask me to be their wedding photographer and was over the moon with excitement.

It’s always such a joy for me to document the wedding celebrations of friends.

While I’ve visited NYC and had a life-changing experience at the Eddie Adams workshop upstate, I have never visited New England.

It was time to remedy that.

This destination wedding would serve as a chance to photograph and celebrate two amazing individuals in a place I’ve always wanted to visit.

The wedding day took place on Knikka’s large family property. It’s an old farm homestead that’s settled amongst the historic Connecticut countryside outside of Salem. Their fall wedding was timed perfectly with the peak Fall colors of the trees.

Greg and Knikka’s DIY wedding had all the custom touches of a tasteful, rustic wedding shaped by their own personal styles.

The newlywed’s friends and community all contributed making everything special for the bride and groom. Everything from cakes and bread pudding to the homemade smoked BBQ, antique table settings, and the elaborate outdoor scene.

It was a hoot. For their Salem Connecticut Destination Wedding, the newlyweds even hired a minstrel band in costume to entertain the festivities at their themed wedding.

Here are some favorite photographs from their wedding day festivities.

I could not be more excited for these two. Congrats my friends! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness! -M

Destination_Wedding_Photographer_California_wedding_portrait

About a month ago, this Montana destination wedding photographer photographed the Murrieta California Destination Wedding day of my two artistic friends Rex and Tandy.

There are few things in life that bring me more joy than being able to photograph the wedding celebrations of dear friends.

This wedding was particularly special for me to document.

Rex and I have been close childhood friends since elementary school. What started as a shared love of artistic endeavors growing up, went on to foster countless visual creative collaborations in our formal middle school and high school years.

It was with Rex at my side that I first discovered the possibilities of what a camera could create. Together we explored our surroundings and even went as far as to build a darkroom in my mom’s spare closet. Soon we were off to the races chasing this new creative rabbit hole. Little did I know then that those times with him would be the beginning of my life-long pursuit of exploring the photographic medium. I wouldn’t be the same person without knowing him in my life.

Rex also followed his creative muses through life. He graduated from art school and now makes his living in Missoula, Montana working as a remote video game designer. I heard he had found himself an equally talented creative partner in Tandy, a successful illustrator, I knew he had found his person.

When Rex and Tandy asked me to photograph their wedding celebration on her family’s property in Murrieta, California, I could not have been more honored.

Their Murrieta California Destination Wedding day was a lovely, intimate DIY wedding staged at Tandy’s mother’s large home. Their friends and family worked together to transform the newly renovated yard into a special and memorable wedding atmosphere. Cute, homemade gray and yellow decorations added a lovely pop of color to the green surrounding landscape.

As the sun set over the valley, the wedding couple said their vows witnessed by their close loved ones. They cheered as the newlyweds kissed to seal the deal. The rest of the night we laughed, told stories, ate homemade pies, and danced the night away.

Here is a selection of favorite photographs I made throughout their day.

I could not be more excited for these two. I wish them a lifetime of happiness! -M

Bozeman Wedding Photographer Kelly Canyon Quaker Wedding portraits

I recently photographed the Kelly Canyon Wedding Day celebration of Lisa and Noah in Bozeman, Montana.

When planning their wedding day, was important for Lisa and Noah to return to their cultural roots.

These two currently live in Kirkland, Washington where Lisa works as a computer scientist and Noah has started his graduate school program with a developing interest in Chinese medicine. This couple met two years ago through online dating here in Bozeman. As their relationship flourished over the next two years, Noah would eventually propose to Lisa on his family farm Kelly Canyon outside of Bozeman, Montana.

When it came time to plan their wedding day, there was no better wedding venue to host it than on his family’s farm back where it all began.

Their wedding would be a wonderful hodgepodge of tradition and a unique blend of the couple’s own interests.

Their shared love of medieval fantasy book genres influenced their wedding decorations, outfits, and even an honorary object for the day. The wedding party all took turns wielding the wedding couple’s authentic battle hammer named “Schmerglehermer”. With a sense of humor throughout, the wedding couple and party included the hammer in the festivities. It was walked down the aisle during the ceremony, guests posed throughout the day with it in photos, and it even found its way onto the dance floor. I love a couple and community that geeks out together. Their wedding was nothing short of epic.

Tucked back against a large stand of pine trees, the bride and groom’s friends and family gathered together on their family farm to witness a traditional Quaker wedding ceremony to honor Noah’s family roots.

The bride and groom were married “under the care of a Quaker meeting”. It’s a ceremony before God and gathered family, friends, and meeting members. The Quakers’ beliefs are unique in that their ceremonies are for all purposes, officiant free. The idea is based on the tenet that only God can join a couple in marriage. Quakers believe that no church official is essential for a marriage to take place. Instead, family and friends during hour-long ceremony, would occasionally break the silence by stepping up to the microphone to give words of advice, tell stories, or give well wishes.

I found their Kelly Canyon Wedding ceremony to be a really relaxing and thought-reflective. It was special for the bride and groom to hear the words of loved ones spoken in front of all. It was a special way to honor their guests just as much as they were honoring them.

Like all good weddings, they sealed theirs with a kiss surrounded by a roar of cheers. The wedding celebration moved on to their evening wedding reception at the Lindley Center in downtown Bozeman. The newlyweds and their guests danced, played outdoor games, and dined on a good steak BBQ throughout the evening. They also played in my Greener Visuals Photo Booth.

The fun was in full force.

It was an awesome time and a wonderful reflection of all the things that are important in these newlyweds’ lives. I could not be more excited for these two. I wish them all the best! -M

Bozeman Wedding Photographer Kelly Canyon Quaker Wedding ceremony

Montana native newlyweds Lisa and Noah got married on his family’s property in Kelly Canyon just outside of Bozeman Montana last weekend. Perfect sunny weather blessed the day where these two celebrated their Quaker wedding with their close friends and family. I’m working hard to edit through all of the fun photos I made throughout their wedding day.

For now, check out a preview of some favorite photos I made for them. Stay tuned for more… -M

Livingston Wedding Photographer Yellowstone River wedding portrait

A few weeks back, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Livingston KOA Montana Wedding of Erika and Josh.

For this engaged couple, their wedding day was all about returning to the source of where they met.

Little did they know after a chance encounter over a foosball game table, two years later they would be celebrating their wedding at the Livingston KOA in the beautiful Paradise Valley where it all started.

Both Erika and Josh are well-versed in the art of hospitality. Josh is a chef at Feast Raw Bar & Bistro and Erika is a former wedding planner and now operations manager for the Shane Center for the Arts.

Erika and Josh wanted to have their wedding day focus “be about letting their friends and family know how much they’ve impacted us in our lives.” They intended to create a personal wedding experience for their guests. They wanted their wedding photography that honored their guests in the same way.

In a wonderfully intimate setting along the Yellowstone River, guests were met with great food, meticulous decorations of 1,000 paper cranes and rock cairns, homemade booze-infused cupcakes, and the right tunes to keep the dance floor busy.

Their attention to the little details made their wedding day a true delight.

Not even the constant rainfall throughout the afternoon could dampen the spirits of those in attendance.

The sounds of the consistent rain and the high waters of the nearby Yellowstone River serenaded the evening. The big pavilion worked as a perfect, versatile space. It began as the ceremony site and transformed smoothly into the catered dinner area. Soon after, it transitioned into an energetic, all-night dance party at their Livingston KOA Montana Wedding.

Happiness smiles, and good times abound. What a fun day!

Here are some of my favorite highlights from my day photographing their wedding celebration. Congrats again to the bride and groom Erika and Josh! Wish you guys a lifetime of happiness! -M

Springhill_Pavillion_Bozeman_Wedding_Photography

Spring in Montana lately has been a sight to behold. Yesterday could not have been a better setting to photograph the Springhill Pavilion Mountain Wedding day of Camille and Matt just outside Bozeman, Montana.

The warm spring rains promised in the weather reports failed to dampen the day. Not that it would matter.

This was a group that shrugged off inclement weather.

The wonderful combined family energy of Wisconsinites and Montanans raised the level of a wedding celebration to a new high bar.

They raised their Coors Light libations with smiles and focused on the task at hand, celebrating two special people through hugs, laughter, songs, and dance during their Springhill Pavilion Mountain Wedding.

I met Camille at a fishing friend’s house over ten years ago. I was working at a newspaper in Northern California and spending my weekends chasing steelhead in the multitude of incredible nearby rivers. We ran in the same flyfishing circles. Camille was about to graduate high school, and the buzz in the fishing circles was that she was already quickly becoming one of the most successful women anglers in the United States.

Camille was raised between Montana and Alaska. Every summer growing up she was at her family’s fishing lodge on the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay. She began guiding at a young age. She has since enveloped herself in the national fly fishing community and has become an advocate for the great outdoors.

Presently, Camille is dominating the internet. She divides her time advocating against the Alaskan Pebble Mine efforts and works as Alaska & Christmas Island Program Director for Yellow Dog Flyfishing. She is living her dream of traveling the world guiding with a fly rod in hand.

It was only natural that she would find a partner with the same passion for the outdoors. Through Camille, I got to know Matt. He’s a kind, caring, and incredibly talented hunting and outdoor lifestyle photographer based here in Bozeman.

Their shared love of the outdoors helped influence their Springhill Pavilion Mountain Wedding day style.

Yellow flowers intermixed with whitetail deer antlers accentuated the venue. As their wedding guest dined on wild game appetizers and sipped local Montana wine and microbrew. The wedding couple’s mutual love of fishing was highlighted by artwork details of fly fishing files for the table settings and incorporated into the bridal party boutonnieres and corsages.

Their wedding day was a wonderful and complete representation of all that was important to them in their lives. I loved meeting all of their loved ones and photographing the festivities during their wedding day.

I could not be more thrilled for these two newlyweds! Congrats Camille and Matt! It has been a pleasure getting to know these two over the past year. I am convinced that anyone would be hard-pressed to find a better pair of people so perfectly suited for one another. Wish you guys a lifetime of happiness! -M

Livingston Wedding Photographer Yellowstone River couple portrait

This past Monday, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Livingston Montana Wedding Day Photography of Erika and Josh on the banks of the Yellowstone River at the Livingston KOA.

For newlyweds Erika and Josh, it was all about returning to the source.

Little did they know after a chance encounter over a foosball game table in Livingston, Montana, two years earlier, they would be surrounded by friends and loved ones celebrating their wedding in the beautiful Paradise Valley just south of town.

Both being well versed in hospitality (Josh as a chef at Feast Raw Bar & Bistro and Erika as a former wedding planner) wanted to have their wedding day be “about letting their friends and family know how much they’ve impacted us in our lives.”

Great food, meticulous decorations of 1,000 paper cranes and rock cairns, homemade booze-infused cupcakes and the right tunes to keep the dance floor busy.

It made the day a true delight.

Not even the constant rainfall throughout the day could dampen the spirits of those in attendance.

While I’m still working away at editing all the fun photographs, I wanted to share a small preview of their awesome wedding day celebration. Congrats to the newlyweds! Stay tuned for more photo goodness. -M

I’ve gathered up my Best of 2017 Wedding Photography by Greener Visuals that made during this recent trip around the sun.

As the last days of the year tick away, I find myself reflecting back on my Best of 2017 Wedding photos and all of the fun I had with my wedding couples over the course of this past year.

2017 was a lot of fun!

It was a year with lots of growth, new places explored, new challenges overcome, and many good times were had. I feel blessed for all the new relationships I made throughout the year. It was so much fun being able to tell candid, creative stories through photographs of my incredible clients!

I look forward to what “adventures in documenting the love” await me in 2018.

If you or a loved one you know is in need of new family portraits, business portraits, headshots, engagement photos, boudoir, or an epic Bozeman wedding photographer, Greener Visuals Photography is available for all your professional photographic experiences in 2018! I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy New Year everyone! -M

Paradise Valley Montana Wedding bride groom hug

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing the beautiful Paradise Valley Montana Wedding Day of Brita and John along the banks of the Yellowstone River.

Unlike most of my wedding I photograph, these two opted for my two-hour elopement collection where I focused on documenting their wedding ceremony and making portraits of their friends and family.

While perhaps one of the shortest wedding days I’ve ever photographed, it was still just as fun.

These two had all of their wedding guests meet at this really cool VRBO rental south of Livingston, Montana in Paradise Valley right on the river. As the sunset over the mountains their family and friends circled around them for their intimate ceremony then the celebration evolved into one heck of a pig roast.

In my brief time with them, I had so much fun getting to know them and their tribe. Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding. It was a true pleasure to be able to document their union. Congrats to the newlyweds! -M

To view all of their wedding images, click here.

 

Virginia City Montana wedding day bride and groom train station

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of photographing the Virginia City Montana Wedding Day of Marissa and Tyler.

It’s not every day that I get to go photograph a wedding in the historic small town of Virginia CityMontana. This place is special and one of the most authentic, historical sites in Montana.

The old west city and its neighbor Nevada City, lie along Alder Gulch about one mile apart. It is a true piece of history. In fact, it is considered a National Historic Landmark. Of the nearly three hundred structures in town (standing in their original condition), almost half were built prior to 1900.

When Marissa and Tyler told me they wanted to have their wedding celebration at the Virginia City Depot standing in the old territorial Capitol of Montana, I could not have been more thrilled.

It was like stepping back in time to the Old West.

Between Nevada City and Virginia City, we took advantage of the fantastic Old West architecture and explored the area making fun photos of the bride, groom, and their bridal party along the way.

To reach the ceremony, we all took a ride on the Virginia City Shortline Railroad. From Nevada City, we traveled one mile over to the wedding ceremony site at the Virginia City Depot. It was a huge hit with all in attendance.

Marissa and Tyler are Helena residents and work in state government. They are also huge history buffs. The couple styled their wedding day with their own nod to history. A combination of their love of politics, and love for each other. Their boss just happens to be State of Montana Gov. Steve Bullock who with humor and charm, officiated the ceremony.

It was a rare cool August day and the perfect venue to celebrate the start of their new journey together.

After these newlyweds tied the knot, we walked the streets of historic downtown Virginia City making couples portraits along the way. Eventually, we steered our procession over to the Virginia City Community Center where we spent the night dancing, playing in a photo booth, and celebrating these two amazing people. It was such a fun day and I felt so grateful to be a part of it. Here are my favorite images from the day. I wish these two all the best! -M

Yellowstone National Park Wedding Day

This summer I had the privilege of making the Yellowstone National Park Wedding Day Photography of Judy and Butch.

These two traveled from Beavercreek, Ohio to get married in our nation’s most popular national park. We had their small ceremony in the Mammoth Chapel then celebrated with a post-ceremony picnic where we ate lunch and had a small wedding cake. Because it was just them and their enthusiastic photographer in attendance, we took the afternoon to explore the park and make some fun outdoor wedding portraits on their special day.

It was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July this year! I wish these two years of happiness! Congrats! -M

 

El Western Resort Wedding Photos Becky and Kyle

This past Saturday, I stepped in to create the Ennis Montana El Western Resort Wedding Photography Day of Becky and Kyle.

Sometimes in life, you can’t always plan for the unexpected.

I woke up to an early morning message from a photographer friend of mine. Overnight she had become quite ill and woke up the morning of her client’s wedding day unable to work it. That is a nightmare situation for any working creative. Thankfully, here in southwest Montana, there is a strong community of supportive, talented wedding photographers who when called upon, strive to help out one another.

Luckily, I was available and took over the reins for her agreeing to photograph her client’s El Western Resort wedding.

It makes me proud that I live amongst a community of wedding professionals that go the distance for their clients and help each other out to provide the best service possible for wedding couples having their celebrations in southwest Montana.

While it wasn’t ideal news for bride Becky and groom Kyle to find out the morning of their wedding day, they understood and were grateful for the help.

Not having any time to get to know them before their wedding day, I stepped up to make the best wedding photography experience I could for them. The result was a fun, country wedding celebration filled with good people in the heart of horse and fly fishing country.

A great time was had by all. I have a lot of great photos to edit through but I wanted to share a few favorites so far that have stood out to me. I’m excited to show them all the goods from their special day. Stay tuned for more wedding photos! -M

 

Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Photo Session of Tara and Sky

With the help from some fellow wedding vendors, we created a Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Photography Session in under 24 hours time.

The idea sprouted last Tuesday as I was talking on the phone with my friends Jacy and Matt, owners of Gallatin Valley Botanical. I’ve been photographing and supporting their local organic farm here in Gallatin Valley for the last couple of years now.

They mentioned that they would soon be taking over management of the popular Rocky Creek Farm (another farm down the road from theirs) and in addition to farming the increased acreage of land, they would also be pushing to make it a successful new farm wedding venue. While gathering material together for their wedding advertisement for this past weekend’s Bozeman Bridal Walk, they realized they would need some wedding photography to showcase their new venue to prospective wedding clients.

I told them I could help. The answer…

We decided to have a Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Photography Session. The next day.

Our time was short. We set our photo shoot time for 2 pm the following afternoon and let them know I would take care of everything. After hanging up the phone, I sprung into action. First and foremost, we would need models. I decided to get in touch with my engaged friends Sky and Tara and invited them to be my models for the afternoon. Thankfully, they agreed.

If we were going to have a properly styled wedding photo shoot, we would need to make our volunteer models look amazing.

In need of obtaining a fine suit and beautiful wedding dress for my models to flaunt, I called upon the talents of Persnickety Formal Wear owner Anne Porter. In between all of her fittings for the busy prom season, she happily agreed and got Sky and Tara outfitted with some classy wedding attire.

For their hair and makeup, I stopped into Indulgence to have my friend, the lovely Deirdre Quinn, see to it that Tara looked radiant as a bride for our Rocky Creek Farm Styled Wedding Photography Session

It all came together so well. In all, we organized our impromptu wedding photo shoot in under 24 hours.

Our styled wedding photography shoot turned out awesome.

The Wednesday morning rain clouds had subsided by the time of our two-hour photo shoot commenced, and we were given a nice, calm weather window to utilize.

It turns out Rocky Creek Farms has a lot to offer both in capacity and scenery.

We photographed varies canvases of old barn wood backdrops, orchards and open farmland accompanied with views of the Bridger Mountains in the distance. We even took photo opportunities along the on-property spring creek.

I could have photographed there for hours.

We even utilized a few baby lambs and my new labrador puppy, Tippet, to be featured in our photo shoot.

It was a perfect way to spend a Montana afternoon. None of this could have happened without the hustle and team effort by all the vendors who worked together to make something special on such short notice. I’m so grateful for their willingness, enthusiasm, and professionalism.

Congrats to Sky and Tara on their engagement and well wishes to Matt and Jacy and they grow their new wedding venue out at Rocky Creek Farms! -M

To view all of the photos from our styled photo shoot, click here.