Summer Weddings

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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Countryside Bozeman Montana Wedding of Courtney & Josh

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A week ago, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Countryside Bozeman Montana Wedding of Courtney and Josh.

On a cool August sunny day, their small intimate Countryside Bozeman Montana Wedding was held at her father’s property here in the Gallatin Valley.

I met Courtney and her family a few years back when I photographed her sister Jenny’s wedding celebration here in Bozeman.

While Courtney and Josh have only been dating for the last two years, they have known each other since they were twelve years old. Josh admitted that he had a life-long crush on her when they were growing up together in Bozeman.

As they were coming of age, he was her first kiss. They stayed friends.

Years later, they reconnected and began cultivating a stronger bond with one another. For her, it was his unconditional support and selflessness. For him, he loves her confidence, intelligence, and nurturing presence.

Over the last six months, it’s been great getting to know these two even more and discovering what they love most about each other and their relationship.

After getting to know these two this past year and photographing their portrait photographic experience, it was wonderful to see these two lovebirds say their vows and celebrate at their countryside Bozeman Montana wedding.

Surrounded by family and friends, they spent the evening eating great food and dancing the night away.

Here are some favorite wedding photos from their wedding day. I could not be more happy for these two. Congrats to the newlyweds! -M

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Bozeman Holy Rosary Church Wedding of Cassie and Justin Preview

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This past weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing the Bozeman, Montana wedding day celebration of Cassie and Justin at Holy Rosary Church and Bridger Bowl Ski Resort.

After dating for the past eight years, these two wanted to say their vows surrounded by the most important people in their lives among the mountainous landscape of Southwest Montana they love so much.

Their wedding would be a chance for many of their family members (coming from Florida, Maine, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Washington) to see the place they have called home over the last few years. Many of their wedding guests were traveling to Montana for the first time. The day was filled with Big Sky excitement and surprisingly for July, lots of precipitation.

It has been an unusually soggy Spring and Summer in Southwest Montana this year. The rain found us.

Luckily, it just so happened that their ceremony and reception were preemptively planned for a rainy day – indoor Catholic mass ceremony at the church and then lovely intimate reception at the Bridger Bowl mid-mountain lodge. The rain couldn’t keep us down. We celebrated without a hitch indoors at both locations dancing, eating crusted trout and elk tenderloin and playing in the Greener Visuals Photobooth.

I’m working hard to go through all the fun photos I made during their special day. For now, I wanted to share a preview of their wedding photographs.  Here are a few favorites so far. So many more photos to share.

I could not be more excited for these two. Congrats to the newlyweds and stay tuned for more! -M

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Best of 2018 Montana Wedding Photographer Greener Visuals Photography

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Happy New Year everyone! I’m proud to present my Best of 2018 Montana Wedding Photographs from Greener Visuals Photography!

I always find this time of year to be thrilling.

It’s a moment we collectively engage in looking ahead and backward from where we came.

The last week of the year always holds a lot of important annual events in my life. It’s time spent with family around the holidays, the celebration of my birthday (I turned 36 years old a few days ago, yikes!), and the ringing in of the new year.

I always take this time to self-reflect on the great experiences with my wedding photography clients from the past year. It’s a time to begin throttling forward toward my new creative goals on the near horizon. I’m forever striving to be the best version of myself (mind, body, and spirit) and finding ways to better serve my clients and community.

2018 was a positive year for me. I had lots of growth, explored new places, overcame new challenges, met fascinating people, and made many good memories. I feel blessed for all the new relationships I made throughout the year and for being able to tell candid, creative stories through my photographs!

I’m excited about my upcoming adventures and the fun clients I’ll get to document in 2019.

In the spirit of reflection, I’ve gathered up some of my favorite wedding photographs from the past 2018 wedding season.

It’s such a joy for me to relive some of my favorite moments all gathered in one place. I feel honored to have been a part of all the wonderful celebrations this year with my wedding clients.

With pride, here are my Best of 2018 Montana Wedding Photographs by Greener Visuals Photography.

If you or a loved one you know is in need of an epic Bozeman wedding photographer, engagement photographs, a new family portrait, or updated business headshots in 2019, Greener Visuals Photography is now booking for all your professional photographic needs!

Grateful for all of your continued support and I look forward to hearing from you! -M

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