A Pop Up Wedding! And everyone is Invited! Saturday 4/11 at 3pm

It all started with a photoshoot at Bozeman’s newest downtown hotel, The Lark.   While we were setting up, I was talking with the manager, Keith, and he mentioned they were very interested in hosting wedding.  On a Lark, I said how 'bout next Saturday…. and just like that #weddingonalark was hatched. 

Well, its one thing to have a great idea but another to actually put it into play.  Katalin Green, Montana Bride Publisher and Event Planner,  jumped on social media and asked “Who wants to get married next Saturday?”   Well guess what…lots of people answered, but we found the perfect couple in Steven + Sarah.  A few quick emails, a phone call, a meeting and there you go…. We found our lovebirds so let’s have a wedding!  

We love the Montana wedding community because we knew from the start this was the sort of thing they would embrace.  Katalin whipped out her iPhone and vendors started jumping on board. We brought Sarah into Avant Bridal, and she picked out a gorgeous gown from Blush by Haley Paige.  While in the shop, we talked flowers with Avant Floral and turns out she loves yellow, which is perfect since that’s The Larks Signature color.

Amealia Anne Photography was the photographer for the photoshoot that inspired this idea so she was the natural choice for Steven + Sarah (plus we LOVE her work!).  She arranged a quick E-Session while we made a few more phone calls.

Can’t have a wedding without cake…. Carrie at Sweet Pea Bakery was giddy about the idea, and we could  not be happier to have her on board.

Rings!  We knew exactly who to call and The Gem Gallery jumped right in just as we knew they would.

Sarah had the perfect gown, but we brought in the talented makeup and hair artists  from Indulgence to pamper her before she says “I Do”

Since we are inviting everyone, we had to have invites!  We had just interviewed Sabia (Letters from Georgia) for an intern position and she does incredible calligraphy, so she is doing the design.  We stopped by the fabulous Ice Pond Press and Molly immediately joined us to do the printing!

Every Bride needs a bridesmaid….  Sarah’s girl arrives Thursday and is going straight to Plume Bridal to pick out the perfect dress to wear to #weddingonalark.

And for the Groom...  Jim's Formal Wear is sending the latest Michael Kors Tuxedo for Steven and his Best Man.

Catering you ask?  Well of course!  Just a Taste Catering will be on location with sliders and their famous 4 cheese Mac & Cheese.  If you need to find us, this will be a good place to start your search… YUM!

If you plan a wedding in a week and invite everyone to attend, you want to make sure you get that on film.  Britney Paige Cinematographers will be on hand to do just that!

What’s a wedding without a reception!  Ted’s Montana Grill donated a very generous gift certificate to the couple so they can celebrate being Mr. & Mrs. with friends and family after saying “I Do”

And that is how you plan a Pop Up Wedding!  One week, a cell phone, a little inspiration, a lot of incredible Montana wedding vendors,  2 lovebirds, and a fabulous venue = A Wedding On A Lark!  And Guess What? …  You’re all invited…. So join us on Saturday, April 11 at 3pm at The Lark in Downtown Bozeman, and let’s make this an amazing day for Steven and Sarah.

The Team

Concept, Design & Styling: Katalin Green Events
Venue: The Lark Bozeman
Photography: Amelia Anne Photography
Cinematography: Britney Paige Cinematography
Dress: Blush by Haley Paige
Bridal Shop: Avant Bridal
Bridesmaid Dress: Plume Bridal
Tuxedo: Avant Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Indulgence
Flowers: Avant Floral
Rings: The Gem Gallery
Cake: Sweet Pea Bakery
Catering: Just a Taste Catering
Reception Gift Certificate: Ted's Montana Grill
Invitations Printed by Ice Pond Press

{Montana Bride Featured Wedding} Kari + Philip | Red Lodge, MT

 

How We Met

We met in Missoula through a mutual friend who ended up being the best man in our wedding. I was living in Great Falls at the the time and moved to Missoula to be with him and be closer to my sister. Philip ended up moving back to California to be with family about 4 months after we started seeing each other, but moved back to MT 4 weeks later to be with me. We both knew it was right and that we wanted to spend our lives together. A year and half later we moved to Billings for a new adventure and it became home to us. We have both fallen in love with fly fishing, and many other things that we enjoy together and even more with each other.

 

 

The Proposal

The night Philip proposed a huge winter storm had came in and we almost didn't go out to dinner. I wasn't expecting anything too special so i threw on a sweater and my hair in a ponytail. We went out to dinner at Montana Sky a restaurant we have been to a few times. We were looking out the window at the snow, and he got on one knee and proposed!

 

The Wedding

Our wedding couldn't of gone any smoother. Rock Creek Resort did such a fantastic job, and their staff was absolutely fantastic. The ceremony was beautiful right next to Rock Creek. The Jaded Ladies played during the reception. Jessica and Becky became good friends of ours after we met them playing at the Bull n Bear in Red lodge when we were trying to learn how to dance. Philip actually asked them to play at our wedding before he even proposed. Our friends and I started a tradition a couple years ago at our friends wedding ... we all get in a circle and sing Hotel California while we lift the bride and groom. It was one of our favorite memories from that evening. There was a lot of dancing, love and support that evening.

The Vendors
Photographer: Becky Brockie Photography
Rehearsal Dinner: Lion's Park in Red Lodge, MT.  A friend made carne asada
Ceremony & Reception: Rock Creek Resort, Red Lodge, MT
Florist: DIY
Catering: Rock Creek Resort
Cake: Bride and her Aunt
Band: Jaded Ladies
Invitations: Bride's sister
Lodging: Rock Creek Resort
Officiant: Skip Alkiesch

{Montana Bride Featured Wedding} Sara + Henry | Red Lodge, MT

Henry and Sara have somewhat of an unusual love story.  How else would a California girl and a cowboy from Montana meet?  A sheep conference of course!  It all started at the American Sheep Conference in Arizona where Sara's sister Lesa met Henry and immediately said to Henry "you need to meet my sister, Sara."    Sara then received text messages from her sister saying, "I met your future husband, he's a sheep rancher from Montana" which Sara replied, "um, you sheep people need to lay off the whiskey" 

After the conference Henry and Sara kept in touch through text messages and phone calls.  Henry began telling Sara that she needed to visit Montana, which she replied "I'd rather not be chopped up into tiny pieces thanks" but after 6 months of phone chats and texting, Sara then thought, why not?  She booked her ticket to visit Montana in June 2012 and what do they say?  The rest is history.

Sara and Henry dated long distance for 6 months.  Once they both realized they were committed to each other for the long haul Sara moved to Montana early 2013 where she lived with Henry on the sheep ranch in Molt.

Before Henry proposed he had told Sara that he wanted her to live and experience life in Montana before committing to marriage.  Henry was nervous how a California girl would adapt to living in rural Montana.  Once Sara survived the winter, lambing and the ups and downs of the sheep market Henry knew Sara was the one.  It was then time to propose marriage and begin the next step in their lives together. Henry likes to say that Sara planned her own proposal without knowing.  Henry needed to make a business trip up to Canada to meet with sheep customers and Sara came along for the adventure.  One afternoon Henry didn't have any meetings scheduled so Sara suggested a drive to Banff National Park since she had seen pictures of it online (and was also featured in an episode of the Bachelor).  It was about a 2 hour drive from where they were in Canada, upon entering the park we were met with pure beauty.  Snow topped mountains, and majestic forests.  They drove up to Lake Louise and walked around for a while.  It was VERY COLD and after they walked around for a few minutes Henry said to Sara "do you want the rest of your birthday present?" Sara was confused since her birthday was 3 weeks prior but not surprised since Henry is a little late with about everything.  Henry reached into his pocket and brought out a small box which immediately led Sara to say "OH MY GOD" Henry then proposed and Sara screamed "YES!"

 

Sara was nervous to plan a wedding in Montana since she was not familiar with vendors, venues, photographers, etc.  She took a lot of recommendations from coworkers and friends.  Once she saw Wildflower Gardens and heard their plans for a new barn it was a no brainer.  Sara also has a HUGE love for Red Lodge, the small quaint town is one of her favorite places to escape to for a day.  The wedding was a “destination” of sorts for Sara’s family and friends all coming from California and she wanted a spot that would provide a “Montana experience” for the guests.  Since Henry's family has deep roots in the sheep industry they wanted lamb to be a part of the menu and was able to serve Hollenbeck lamb appetizers to the guests which turned out to be a huge hit among guests, many who had never tried lamb before.  Sara was a “DIY” bride to an extent finding sales, shopping around, borrowing linens, creating decorations, and trading meat for services – all to get a good deal!  Hollenbeck ranch also employs sheep herders from Peru who happen to be very skilled in braiding, Sara asked Gilmer if he would make the bridesmaids belts.  Sara bought the leather from Montana Leather and Gilmer braided the belts. Sara found bargain fabric that matched her pink dress for the belts to tie together.  The favorite moment of their wedding was their vows, to Sara’s shock Henry suggested they write their own vows, which made the wedding so intimate and created an atmosphere that allowed all guests to really get to know Sara and Henry as a couple and showcased their love for one another.  The day of the wedding it hailed and rained, but when it came time for the ceremony it could not have been more perfect, at one point a light shined through the clouds directly on Sara and Henry.  The groom and groomsmen took their photos at Fairgrounds, they are all ropers so the backdrop was so fitting for their personalities.  The bridesmaids went to Sara’s favorite bar The Snag and a few shots in Red Lodge around town showing off their goofy behavior. 

 

Another special touch was Sara's step father made the arch for the ceremony and used family heirlooms to create a special touch, the horse shoe was from Sara's great aunt who had passed away only a short time before the wedding, also included were braces from the house Sara grew up in that was hand built by her great grandfather, after the ceremony they moved the arch to the reception area and had guest sign the wood.  The arch is now in Sara and Henry's' yard to commemorate their wedding forever.

 

 

ORGANIZE create an agenda for everyone that lines out the day before the wedding, rehearsals and day of wedding.  Its better to be over prepared!  There is nothing worse than an unorganized wedding.  The last thing you want to be doing is stressed out because someone can’t find a decoration or no one knows what time pictures are.  Have a schedule for the venue, DJ, family, bridal party, and yourself.  It keeps questions to a minimum and allows you to enjoy the day more.  Hire a cater, trust me, its worth it.  Hand write your thank you cards, it means a lot to the people that celebrated with you and got you a gift.   Have a backup in case it rains, its Montana… the weather is unstable here!  Make your rehearsal dinner fun and laid back, we used the back room in Red Lodge Pizza, having pizza was so easy and everyone LOVED it, especially all the kiddos and buzzed bridal party.

 

The Vendors

Photographer: Ronnie Ruiz
Venue: Wildflower Gardens, Red Lodge
Catering and Bar: Tiny's Tavern, Billings
Brides Dress: Belle en Blanc, Billings
Dress Designer: Tara Keely - JLM Couture

Bridesmaid Dresses: Western Ranch Supply, Billings
DJ: Travis Kemp - Best Music ProductionsPies and Cake: Stella's Kitchen & Bakery, Billings
Flowers: Evergreen IGA, Billings
Makeup: KendraHalverson
Hair: Ashley Tuss, EuphoriaSalon
Ceremony Arch/Arbor: Made by the Brides Step Father James Drew
Tent Rental: Party Time Plus
Bridesmaid Belts: hand made by Gilmer who is a sheepherder at Hollenbeck Ranch
Rehearsal Reception:  Red Lodge Pizza Company