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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Skyview at Fall River Village Resort Wedding of John and May

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Bridger Foothills Fire Wedding of Raven and Jordan

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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

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Bridger Mountains Wedding Welcome Party and Groom’s Party Photos

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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,