{Montana Bride Featured Wedding} April + Zach

Our love story started during our freshman year of college at MSU. We first noticed one another during our chemistry lab class. April thought Zach was the best looking guy ever and thought there was no way that he would ever like her, but April did not know that Zach felt the same way about her.  Zach found little ways to talk to April and one night during a study group he asked her for her phone number. The funny thing is that April gave Zach her number and waited for him to call her but Zach wrote down the wrong number and he spent a lot time asking people if they knew her number.  Zach eventually got April’s phone number and we went on our first date and we have had chemistry ever since.
 

After Zach graduated from MSU he went to Great Falls to work as a Project Engineer for a construction firm on a hydro-electric Dam, from there he went to San Diego, California to work on water treatment plants. After April graduated from MSU she was employed in MT. For the most part, our relationship has been a long distance relationship although our love for one another has never faded. We always found a way to stay close no matter the distance. On April’s birthday, September 22, 2012, she went to San Diego to visit Zach.  We woke up early to enjoy the sun rise from the beach. As we sat on the beach in Carlsbad, California, April was playing with an orange juice top which we had just recently peeled off a Tropicana bottle. Zach took the orange juice top and slid it on April’s ring finger and when  she looked up at Zach he said in a sarcastic tone “I think it’s a little too big.” Zach then pulled out a ring box and placed it in front of April and said “this one should fit you much better!” April was speechless and after a few seconds Zach asked April to marry him.  Of course April said “yes”.  We spent the rest of our day celebrating by enjoying a Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan concert under the stars.  We were married on August 10, 2013 at St. Peters Church in Anaconda MT.

Photographer: MKate Photography

Venue: Anaconda Country Club

Catering: Butte Hill

Florist: Christie's Flowers of Anaconda 

DJ: Joes DJ Service

Tuxedo Rentals: Thomas'

Dress: Plume Bridal

Hair: The Vogue Salon in Anaconda 

{Montana Bride Featured Wedding} Megan + Tyler

Tyler and Megan met in college at MSU-Northern through mutual friends and dated for 6 years prior to getting engaged.  Though they had professional vendors on hand, they also did a lot of DIY.  They wanted a "black & white wedding" but Montana style, so they carried that through the theme, including asking the guests to wear black or white.

Photography -  Studio SkM

Venue - Kleffner Ranch

DJ - Entertainment Tonight (Calvin Richards)

Flowers - Leslie's Hallmark

Videographer - Froman Films Production (Andrew Mozer)

Cake/ Desserts - Park Avenue Bakery

Food - Chili O'Brien's Catering (side dishes) and Family made the main course & appetizers

Hair & Make-up - Salon Off Broadway (Jenny Buchman & Erin Weninger)

{Montana Bride Vendor Spotlight} Paul Bellinger Photography

Paul Bellinger has an artistic vision for dramatic fine art wedding photography as epic as your love story.  He specializes in crafting one of a kind artwork preserving your most cherished memories.  Paul takes on a limited number of weddings each year so that each can receive his full artistic attention, and so that each client can be given the absolute finest service possible.  Contact him for any wedding destination.

1. What inspires you?

I vowed at my wedding that my wife would “always be my greatest inspiration.”  So my beautiful wife is my greatest inspiration in all aspects of my life.  I’m inspired by my family, especially my teenage sister who is awesome in every way.  As an artist, everything inspires me, but beautiful light makes me grab my camera quicker than anything else.  I’m inspired by the power of photography.  I’m inspired by people who do big things and take chances on their dreams, people who change the world, and people who use their talents to help others.  I’m inspired by wilderness.  I’m a pretty inspired guy!

2. What is your favorite place or thing about Montana?

If you asked me this question before I moved to Montana eight months ago I could answer in one second: Glacier National Park.  Now that I live in Billings though, I think it’s the Beartooth Mountains.  Just catching a glance of the Beartooths (Bearteeth?) can brighten up my day in Billings.  Being from Nebraska, mountains are addictive to me.

3.  Best piece of advice for the Montana Bride:

It breaks my heart when I see brides stressed out on their wedding day.  I think you have to wake up on your wedding day and just let go of all stress and focus your energy on celebrating every moment of it.  Let other people do the worrying while you enjoy your time with the people you love.  And don’t make your mom do everything!  The bride and mothers of the bride and groom should have the day off!  Of course it makes it a lot easier when you have so many amazing Montana wedding professionals at your fingertips at montanabride.com.

Paul Bellinger Photography

Billings, Montana

406-850-2674

www.paulbellinger.com

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{Montana Bride Featured E-Session} Rachel + Austin

A Beartooth romance that will help you understand the phrase “purple mountain majesty.”  The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is an amazing place, and East Rosebud Lake is one of it’s crown jewels.  I am so blessed to have amazing clients like Rachel and Austin!  They are overflowing with love for each other and their homeland here in Southern Montana.  They couldn’t wait to see the mountain location I had scouted for their engagement session and they didn’t think twice about getting their feet wet for some of these photos.  Thank you so much Rachel and Austin!  Also thank you to Rachel’s awesome maid of honor Carrie, who watched my back for moose and bear and carried an extra can of bear spray for me!

Photography by: Paul Bellinger Photography