Tag Archive for: destination wedding photographer

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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Jardin del Sol Garden Wedding Photos of Allison & Wade

I had the pleasure of traveling to Snohomish, Washington, to make Jardin del Sol Garden Wedding Day Photos of Allison & Wade.

Allison and Wade’s paths merged at Western Washington University. In between classes, they started to know each other over walks around campus or in exploring the nearby forests together. Their social groups overlapped around the campus Christian community house and their shared faith. Soon after they began dating, Allison and Wade knew they had found their person.

Wade loves how Allison is such a caring person who makes him and others feel loved and heard. She is authentically genuine and a full-energy type of listener. Allison has always had a love of the outdoors, and was excited to get into backpacking with Wade. She admires how Wade is so considerate of others’ feelings. It’s the little actions that mean so much. On one long backpack, Wade went back on the trail to walk with her when the trail became long, helped her through, and carried her pack.

When you find your person, every challenge is lighter, together.

As a couple, they build their community around gatherings. Wade and Allison balance each other and show deep support. With much of their family scattered throughout the country, these newlyweds looked forward to creating a moment where their favorite friends and family came together.

Wade and Allison’s community was woven into their celebration. (The theme of close community was already apparent when friends helped Wade get Allison’s custom engagement ring across the border in time for him to propose at Hug Point State Recreation Site in northern Oregon.) Allison’s aunt performed the ceremony and I was honored to be able to photograph my cousin, Allison’s, wedding day.

Allison and Wade are not the type to seek the shine of the spotlight. After the ceremony, we stepped away from the crowd to offer them a chance to focus on themselves, and savor the moment that marks the official start of their lives together. The opportunity yielded us some beautiful photographs created around the lush Jardin del Sol Garden wedding venue. From there, the party was in full force as Wade’s best man emceed and kept the energy high and lighthearted. Heartfelt speeches were shared, and then the dance floor came alive.

Allison and Wade, I wish you a lifetime of happiness! It was an honor to be a part of your wedding celebration! -M

FEATURING

Venue: Jardin del Sol

Photographer: Greener Visuals Photography

Florist: Save the Day Floral

Cake: The Cakewalk Shop

Caterer: Alexa’s Catering

DJ: PJ Parsons Presents

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The Nest on Swan River Wedding Day Photos of Lisa and Thomas

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Back In late August, I traveled up to the Flathead Valley in northwest Montana to photograph The Nest on Swan River Wedding Day of Lisa and Thomas.

While Lisa is originally from Montana, this couple resides in Hawaii with their children. They wanted to have their wedding celebration in the culture of her home state.

For these two newlyweds, their shared love of country music quickly fostered a strong bond between them when they met in January of 2019. They’ve been singing and dancing together ever since.

During the build up to their wedding day, I got to know these two and what they cherished about their relationship. Both commented on how perfect they felt for one another and their mutual down to earth approach to life. As Thomas puts it, “God put her in my life for the better.”

Thomas loves how her sparklely personality and great sense of humor is enhanced by her thoughtfulness towards others. Lisa has a charming humility that teases out the best in the people around her. He loves seeing her engage and love his three children from a previous relationship as her own. Lisa smiled as she told me about Thomas’s big, marshmallow heart. “He’s so intelligent and spiritual. I love how we can both express our values and ideals to eachother,” she recounted, “He cares so much about my feelings and is so loyal to me and the kids.”

While the surfable waves of Hawaii were absent, The Nest on Swan River Wedding was the perfect setting for their waterside wedding day.

When it came to their wedding plans, Lisa and Thomas wanted to have a relaxing, peaceful time with their friends and family along the water. The versatility of their The Nest at Swan River provided the perfect backdrop. As the bridal parties got ready, their guests enjoyed walking the lush riverside property. Everyone was enjoying the lovely late summer Montana weather. Some guests even assisted the curious local whitetail deer to forage apples on the property. Their lovely, intimate wedding ceremony was held under the tree canopy shade surrounded by their loved ones.

As the sun set over the Swan River, their focus transitioned into a classic Montana celebration. Wild game appetizers paired with great local microbrew beer enticed their wedding guests. The conversation and laughter flowed. Despite a leg injury that limited the groom’s mobility, he traded his usual dance moves for singing on stage. Backed up great live music tunes from the Band of Drifters, Thomas performed a variety of his songs for his new bride. Soon after dinner the band got people twirling back out on the dance floor.

It was a lovely Montana evening enjoyed by all.

Here are some favorite photographs I made through out Lisa and Thomas’ wedding day. It was such a fun event and I was so excited to be apart of their wedding celebration. -M

To view all of the photos from Lisa and Thomas’ wedding day, click here.

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Salem Connecticut Destination Wedding Day Photography of Knikka & Greg

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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

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Green Oaks Creek California Wedding Day of Marit and Samir

I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Green Oaks Creek California Wedding Day of Marit and Samir outside Santa Cruz, California.

These two are dear friends of mine. I was honored when they asked me to document their hybrid Jain and Jewish multicultural wedding weekend celebration.

Samir and Marit wanted their wedding to highlight all the important aspects of their lives – honoring their numerous religious traditions, celebrating their family and friends, and a dedication to ethical green practices.

I think the best weddings are the ones where the couple creates an experience that uniquely reflects their shared interests and values. These two did just that.

Like their Sangeet Celebration the day before, it was a splendid event organized under the careful guidance and care of wedding planner Aimee Newlander, of Weddings by Aimee. 

They had numerous food booths offering paella and an assortment of delicious vegetarian options. They had bohemian lounges for their guests to relax in and ofcourse, the dance floor entertained all well into the night.

When it came to the wedding day reception, the bride and groom insisted I set my cameras down so I could completely lose myself dancing. We all had a wonderful time!

The warmest congratulations to the bride and groom Marit and Samir!

Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day celebration.

Fellow Vendors:

Venue: Green Oaks Creek Farm

Wedding Coordinator: Weddings by Aimee

Wedding Photographer: Greener Visuals Photography

Food: Gerard’s Paella, Wah Jee Wah Street Food, & Wood Fire Woodie pizza.

Live Music: Pallavi Mehta & accompaniment, from Soor Academy

Drinks: Bernie’s Mixology Mobile Bartender

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Green Oaks Creek Wedding Sangeet of Marit and Samir

A few weeks back, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Green Oaks Creek Wedding Sangeet of Marit and Samir outside Santa Cruz, California.

Marit and Samir are dear friends of mine. It was an honor when they asked me to document their hybrid Jain and Jewish multicultural wedding weekend celebration. The experience was a complete joy to be a part of.

For this couple, they wanted a wedding highlighting all the important aspects of their lives – honoring their numerous religious traditions, celebrating of their family and friends, and a dedication to ethical green practices.

The best weddings are where the wedding couple creates an experience that uniquely reflects their shared interests and values. 

Being surrounded by so many of my favorite people, it was bound to be an incredibly fun weekend event.

We started the celebration on Thursday with Marit and her female family members getting their traditional bridal mehndi artwork by the talented Modern Mehndi. 

Saturday marked the welcome wedding Sangeet celebration before the actual wedding on Sunday. Marit and Samir hosted their wedding festivities at the peaceful Green Oaks Creek Farm, a beautiful organic farm north of Santa Cruz, California. 

The premise of the Sangeet is not only to kick off the wedding festivities but more importantly, to join their two families from Texas and Chicago. The goal was to create a space that they could familiarize themselves with one another prior to the big wedding day.

What better way to do so than through laughter, song, food trucks, and dancing.

Everything with their Green Oaks Creek Wedding Sangeet went off without a hitch due to the careful guidance and care of wedding planner Aimee Newlander, of Weddings by Aimee. 

Relatives and friends of the bride and groom performed music, taught line dancing, ate delicious food on compostable dishware, and gave toasts of good wishes. Then we danced and danced some more.

The warmest congratulations to the bride and groom Marit and Samir!

Here are a few of my favorites from the evening. 

 

I’m working hard on finishing up their wedding day photos. Stay tuned for more…-M

Fellow Vendors:

Venue: Green Oaks Creek Farm

Wedding Coordinator: Weddings by Aimee

Wedding Photographer: Greener Visuals Photography

Food: Gerard’s Paella, Wah Jee Wah Street Food, & Wood Fire Woodie pizza.

Live Music: Pallavi Mehta & accompaniment, from Soor Academy

Drinks: Bernie’s Mixology Mobile Bartender

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