Emily and Andrew
Tia Troy, for Brides and Grooms 2011
There’s something extra special about Montana. Most likely it’s a combination of fresh mountain air, bright blue sky and incredible mountain scenery. All of those in conjunction with modern amenities and plentiful, accessible on-the-ground resources and it’s the perfect destination for a wedding.
Over the last ten years, there’s been a substantial growth in destination weddings. In 2001, they accounted for $3 billion in the wedding industry, while in 2009 destination weddings grew to $16 billion.
For many couples that choose a destination wedding, it’s about bringing family and friends together to celebrate with them for more than just the wedding day and to share a location that is significant.
This past June, Andrew and Emily Smith became husband and wife in a western themed wedding at the E Bar L Ranch, about 45 minutes from Missoula in the picturesque and historic Blackfoot Valley.
“We wanted a place where everyone could come and stay for the weekend in one place,” said Emily.
With their wedding centered on the outdoor theme of the western Montana lifestyle and focused on spending time together, it was fitting that they were married at the E Bar L, a family-owned and operated ranch.
While Emily was attending The University of Montana, she became friends with Juanita Vero, whose family has been running the ranch since 1925. While playing lacrosse at UM, Emily had become friends with both Andrew’s sister Caroline and Juanita and spent six summers working at the ranch. As fate would have it, Andrew’s sister was also married at the ranch and it was here at the E Bar L, that Andrew and Emily met, dancing at his sister’s wedding six years earlier.
“From my time spent working on the ranch, I had found this spot in the north pasture and dreamt that I would get married here,” said Emily. “It was a double bonus that we met on the ranch.”
In the planning of their wedding, Emily and Andrew credit Juanita and Matt Knox from the E Bar L with helping them fine-tune the elements that brought it together. By sitting down with them and talking through some of the ideas for the western themed wedding, Juanita and Matt assisted them with being able to pull it off.
The western wedding theme was carried throughout the wedding planning, beginning with the save the date cards that said “Get on your boots.” When guests began arriving in the Missoula area prior to the wedding, they were welcomed with huckleberry jam and caramels from Butterfly Herbs, as well as an itinerary that outlined the activities and locations over the next several days.
Because their wedding was a multi-day celebration, they incorporated many elements of Montana and the outdoors into the festivities. With activities ranging from skeet shooting to horseback riding and games of capture the flag and lacrosse, the outdoor elements and atmosphere available here played a key component in the celebration.
When planning a theme wedding, it’s vital to carry the elements throughout the celebration. The western aspect was incorporated through horses, boots and cowboy hats, plus, some good old-fashioned Montana work ethic. When it came time to build the arbor for the ceremony, Andrew, his groomsmen and ranch hands headed for the north pasture to go to work and prepare the wedding location.
And when it came to the big day, guests were taken to the north pasture and wedding location on a 100-person hayride and were seated on hay bales. While it had rained the previous nine days before the wedding, the sky opened up and offered a spectacular setting for the ceremony.
During the wedding, one of the most memorable moments happened when the bridesmaids arrived by wagon and the groomsmen rode on horseback side by side up the hill. The guests were able to see the tops of the cowboy hats and then the groomsmen and horses arriving over the hillside, Andrew added. As for the bride and her father, they arrived via carriage.
“I remember my dad being absolutely thrilled to be riding in the carriage,” said Emily. “I asked him if he ever imagined that this is what the wedding would be like and all he could do was laugh…he was at a loss for words!”
After the ceremony, guests dined on local food that included Montana ingredients like blackberries, bison and goat cheese, followed by dancing the night away to local Missoula band Tom Catmull and the Clerics.
“Something that was really important to us was using as many local products and businesses as we could,” said Emily.
Wildflowers from Blue Willow Farms were used in bouquets and boutonnières, while photography was provided by Blue Yonder Photography, with hair and make-up by Lisa Chambers at Studio 2. Having the local touches really added to the authenticity of our western wedding, added Emily.
After a night of dancing, the evening ended with a campfire, followed by brunch at the ranch Sunday morning and an afternoon float on the Blackfoot River.
In Montana, weather can play a factor. While summer is typically nice, it’s best to prepared for inclement weather without stressing about it. One key learned during Emily and Andrew’s wedding: have a wedding that can be done in any weather condition.
“Our guests loved that they had rain dripping off their cowboy hats,” said Andrew.
Also beneficial is having on-the-ground support and taking advantage of people who want to help. Utilizing locals to find the right types of vendors helps make the wedding and festivities go smoothly. For Andrew and Emily’s wedding, people pitched in and embraced the Montana atmosphere, which gave Andrew and Emily a chance to have personal time together and appreciate the days they had with their family and friends.
And tying it all together in true Montana style—cowboy boots.
Because as Andrew said, “Everything about a wedding is more fun if you have cowboy hats and cowboy boots.”