Grouse Mountain Lodge Archives - Thewmatt Photography

While the calendar says "April," spring is still largely "indoor wedding season" in the Flathead Valley, as you may guess from the snow-covered mountains in the background of the outdoor portraits. Thankfully we've got a number of venues like Grouse Mountain Lodge that provide outdoor views and indoor party space. Janay & Ryan took full advantage of Grouse's property and had a ceremony and party for the history books.

As is, fortunately, the case more often than not with the amazing couples I get to work with, I was treated like one of the guests as soon as I arrived and it continued throughout the evening. All the way to a parting tequila shot with the wedding party before I left at their insistence.

Venue, Catering, and Lodging: Grouse Mountain Lodge / DJ & Photobooth: Destination DJ / Flowers: Mum's Flowers / Hair & Makeup: Majestic Mountain Beauty / Couture: BHLDN & Mimi's Bridal / Jeweler: Whitefish Goldsmith / Rentals: The Party Store

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Grouse Mountain Lodge, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding, whitefish

When you're a wedding photographer who also really enjoys motorsport photography whenever the opportunity presents itself, you do a legit happy dance when a couple contacts you and the bride is a professional drag racer. Talk about manifesting your ideal clients!

It was so great getting to know Marina and David over the course of a year+ as we conversed regularly on logistics, as they were originally booked for Glacier Park Lodge over in East Glacier. But shortly after booking with me, the East side of the park was closed to anyone not a resident of the Blackfeet reservation due to COVID, and we had no indication of when that might change.

Fast forward about six months, and in the interest of ensuring they kept their original wedding date, they made the decision to move to Grouse Mountain Lodge here in Whitefish and it was just an absolutely gorgeous—if extremely hot—day on Fourth of July weekend.

Prior to the wedding, I stole them both—with help from Marina's dad driving her—for a private first look on the shores of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park before heading back to Whitefish for the ceremony and reception.

Venue: Grouse Mountain Lodge / Officiant: Sarah Harding / DJ: Bradshaw Media / Bakery: Sugar Happy Cupcakes / Videography: JB Creative Co.