Montana Meadow Microwedding
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
Micah and Kailin’s late September Montana wedding day was unseasonably warm, bright and vibrant. They chose this meadow as their micro-wedding venue as they wanted a spot that would be accessible and navigable for both of their parents to be present while having a great view outdoors. They knew they wanted photos at Glacier National Park afterwards and were excited to avoid the hassle of permitting needed inside the park. There was palpable excitement (nerves!?) that shifted quickly to overwhelming joy and delight with this very passion filled couple and their inclusive compassion and respect for their parents.
Kailin and Micah were so pure in their thoughtfulness and attention, and were movingly loving to each other and to their parents.
Though the ceremony was quick and intimate, they brought in and decorated special chairs, introduced unique elements to the ceremony and made sure each member of the group had a role and was served by the moments of the ceremony that would resonate and reassure.
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
This bride and groom were decked out! From the self-described Bandido bolo tie and cowboy hat, to the full tattoo sleeve, and lacy dress with a train that never ends, it was hard to look away from this handsome couple.
A last minute addition to the ceremony, incorporated almost on the spot, was an interest/passion/funny story about ROCKS! While waiting for the bride to arrive, Micah’s mom shared how he had always loved collecting rocks, and then had recently somehow purchased a mystery shipping container FULL OF ROCKS, (and semi-precious stones), which then covered their front “lawn” with rocks… Long story short, we found the biggest rock in the meadow on which to perform the ceremony and then I wove it into the script with some casual mentions and grounding energy.
A unique touch that they included was to have their hand fasting cord customized with their names and a little blessing.
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
The wedding was petite but precise: rusty fall/Pendleton colors for flowers, glitter and shimmer on the chair decor and for the eyes, cowboy hats and boots for the guys, classic black and white for the ladies. A lovely assortment for a festive celebration!
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
Though I seldom include religious components to my services, Micah and Kailin really wanted to nod towards the Catholic beliefs of their parents. I found a lovely “blessing of the hands” that we incorporated into their hand tying ritual which felt fitting and smooth. I also researched and found a classic prayer that resonated with the whole gathered family and was shared by the mother of the bride. She was quite emotional during her reading, as was everyone at that point, and my role was to simply validate and support the strong feelings everyone was sharing.
My absolute favorite moment was when Kailin arrived at the front of our little makeshift walkway, Micah could barely breathe and whispered, “They didn’t tell me I was marrying an angel!” while Mary, Kailin’s mom, extended the dress train out in billowing waves around her.
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
My second favorite moment was when Mary came up to share a reading and Kailin the bride asked her to pause in order to wipe her face from a lipstick smear. It was a gentle and caring gesture from daughter to mother, and I knew that carried significant weight on this particular day.
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
Yet another fantastic moment, which doubly amplified the emotions of the day was a closing moment in which they asked me to declare - “ Wait….. There’s one more thing! Micah and Kailin asked me to share these surprises with you.” This led to a gifting of two sweet packages, one for each set of parents, that when opened revealed a: “Bun in the Oven”!
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
There was no stopping the tears after this exchange. Everyone was just celebrating and breathless. I still feel overwhelmed thinking about the joy in all our hearts that day!
Photo: Rachel Jobst Photography
TEAM
Officiant: Audrey Hyvonen, Bespoke Ceremonies Montana
Photography: Rachel Jobst Photography
Videography:Blume Photos
Venue: Secret Meadow near Glacier National Park
If you’re thinking of planning a Montana wedding or elopement, peruse some additional posts to learn more about the options for elements to include and places to consider for your ceremony. Then be in touch!
