July 5, 2024

Kiara & Quinn’s Glacier National Park Elopement in Two Medicine

Kiara and Quinn are big outdoor people. So much so, that this is the only time I can recall talking a bride out of something to 'get the shot.' We were at Running Eagle Falls, and the bridge had yet to be placed over the creek for the season. There was a small, thin, precarious, downed log that people were using to cross and Kiara was on her way over to it, hiking up the train of her dress. I calmly assured her that it really wasn't necessary and we could get a very comparable photo elsewhere in the vicinity.

As you can probably tell from the photos we did contend with the typical blustery winds found in the Two Medicine area and all of the East side of Glacier National Park.

June 18, 2024

Morgan & Ben’s Spring Wedding at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

The theme of this spring here in Montana has been wild swings in weather, but it seemed to work with Morgan and Ben's wedding day schedule anyhow. Rain threatened all day, and there was considerable cloud cover throughout. However just as Morgan began walking down the aisle for the ceremony the sun broke through the clouds and hung around throughout the ceremony. Then as we were wrapping up wedding party photos, the clouds opened up and showered us in a downpour with small hail. We sprinted back to the pavilion at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and enjoyed a beautiful reception.

Venue, Lodging, & Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / Bakery: Montana Wildflour / DJ: Sidecar Audio / Florals: Pure Happiness Wedding Flowers / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

April 26, 2024

Abbey & Kyle’s Spring Montana Wedding at Diamond B Weddings

I couldn't wait to get Abbey and Kyle in front of my camera again after their engagement session in West Glacier this past Fall. They had planned a fairly large wedding here in Kalispell at Diamond B Weddings, which in addition to kicking off my 2024 wedding season, was also the same venue where I photographed my first ever Montana wedding back in 2018.

As is common for spring in Montana, the weather was a very big variable in terms of the plans for the ceremony location. Thankfully, in addition to the large heated event space Dimaond B added five years ago, the original barn is still there and was able to serve us well for the ceremony with a rainy, chilly forecast for the day.

Regardless of location, the day was always going to be filled with laughter, love, and smiles with Abbey and Kyle surrounded by over 150 friends and family.

Wedding Venue: Diamond B Weddings / Catering: Atomic Tacos / DJ: V-Team DJs / Hair & Makeup: Glacier Beauty / Transportation: Venture Shuttles / Rentals: Hi-Country Linen Service / Second Photographer: Cortney Foster Photography

November 24, 2023

Fall Wedding at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Dakota & Quinn

I've said it before and I'll probably say it evermore, but it takes a hearty, self-assured couple to choose a Fall wedding in Northwest Montana. I firmly believe it is the most beautiful time of year here, but is also the time with the most fickle weather imaginable. And it will often be cold and rainy.

That was certainly the case for Dakota and Quinn at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake this November. The reception and accompanying dance party were naturally held in one of the ballrooms, and there was a secondary ceremony location set up in another ballroom as a plan B, but these snowboarding enthusiasts had no intention of holding the ceremony inside. Plan A was the only option for these two, out on the pavilion platform with Whitefish Lake in the background. I only call out the snowboarding detail because these two were my third couple this year who snowboard, and went full-send on holding the ceremony outside no matter the weather. And I am here for it.

Venue and Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / Planning, Coordination, and Florals: Hawthorne House / Bakery: Bakes and Cakes by Brie / DJ: Sidecar Audio / Photobooth: Pixelated Gigs / Videography: Treasure State Entertainment / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

November 3, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Christopher & Nick’s Backyard Wedding

Christoper and Nick were another couple I was fortunate to meet at the My Montana Wedding Expo back in January. They approached my booth with a unique request. They were planning an evening, outdoor wedding. Their timeline guaranteed that artificial light would be needed so they needed to see how comfortable I was working with artificial lighting. Great news, I'm super comfortable with it, it's something I don't get to do as often as I'd like because we get so many hours of daylight here during the summer months—not that I'm complaining—so I was all in.

The wedding was happening in Christopher's parents' backyard, it was planned by family members, and the food was prepared by the families, it couldn't have been more intimate.

Bakery: Ephemera Confections / Couture: Rococo Bridal & Formal Wear / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

November 1, 2023

Montana Wedding Photographer, Rebecca & Bobby at Green Valley Ranch

Rebecca, Bobby, and I initially met to discuss their wedding at Gunsight Saloon in downtown Columbia Falls. It was primarily a vibe-check meeting to make sure we were compatible. You see over and over again on social media that you should get along with your photographer because of all of your vendors, you're going to spend the most time with them on your wedding day, and that is one piece of advice I wholeheartedly agree with.

Needless to say, I felt I had an instant rapport with these two. We only discussed their wedding for about 15 minutes and then proceeded to discuss life in general, snowboarding and skiing, and classic cars for the next hour plus.

They were working with Big Day Celebrations as their planner so I knew the vendor team would be a band of all-stars to work with it, and was eagerly awaiting their wedding day.

As I've said before weather here in Montana can be sketchy in the Fall, but rarely does it stay sloppy all day. Well, this was one of those one in 100 occurrences. It alternated between spitting rain and heavy rain quite literally all day. But true to their laid-back nature, Rebecca and Bobby didn't want to fall back on a 'plan B' scenario for their ceremony and quite literally said "We're going to full-send it" in true snowboarder fashion and it was a beautiful, rain-filled vow exchange in a meadow surrounded by their friends and family.

Venue: Green Valley Ranch / Planning: Big Day Celebrations / Bakery: Mountain Mama's Cupcakery / Catering: Forage 406 / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / DJ: RMF Entertainment / Florals: Conrad Floral / Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss by Lana / Rentals: Empress Tents & Events and The Party Store / Transportation: Montanan Trolly Co. and Wild Horse Limo / Second Photographer: Cortney Foster

October 27, 2023

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Alaina & Harrison at Snowmoon Ranch

I was honored to be brought into this wedding at the suggestion of Empress Tents & Events for this lovely wedding they were planning at Snowmoon Ranch which has an amazing panoramic view of Glacier National Park. We had the absolute perfect weather and a dream team of wedding vendors that made for a night not soon forgotten by anyone in attendance.

Venue: Snowmoon Ranch / Planning and Rentals: Empress Tents & Events / Bakery: Bonjour Bakery & Bistro / Band: The MAC Band / Bar Services: Mavericks Bar & Casino / Catering: A Moveable Feast / Florals: Forage & Floral / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss by Lana / Invitations: Paper Muse Co. / Officiant: Best Day Officiants / Photobooth: Pixelated Photobooth Gigs / Transportation: Wild Horse Limo / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

October 26, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Emily & Kyle at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Montana's Fall weather is rivaled only by Spring weather in terms of unpredictability. What you can bet on, is it will be either beautiful, or sloppy (whether that means cold, rainy, snowing, or all of the above.) Emily and Kyle were blessed with the latter, without the snow. It rained a good majority of the evening but gave us enough of a break for some lovely portraits before the wedding after a first look on the dock.

Venue & Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / Bakery: Ephemera Confection / Couture: The White Dress / DJ: Sidecar Audio / Florals: Elevate Amenities / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

October 25, 2023

Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, Emily & Zachary

Emily and Zachary decided to have a lovely Fall elopement in Glacier National Park and secured a permit for the shoreline behind Lake McDonald Lodge. We met up just outside the park as it's often easiest to do so where cellular service is still available, and then proceeded to Lake McDonald Lodge.

After a brief first look right there on the beach next to where the DeSmet launches for its boat tours, they exchanged vows officiated by Emily's Father. Afterward, we traveled along Going-to-the-Sun Road for some epic portraits. As always it's such an honor to play my small part in such intimate celebrations.

October 18, 2023

Somers Wedding Photographer, Jessica & Tanner at North Shore Farm

Jessica and Tanner are both from the North East, but Tanner's uncle lives here in the Flathead Valley and they've been visiting several times over the years. Tanner's uncle also manages North Shore Farm in Somers, which also had the perfect space along the Flathead River for a beautiful ceremony.

One of my favorite parts of photographing larger weddings is the reception because all the stressful parts of the wedding day are over, the couple can relax—let their hair down so to speak—and just enjoy their time with friends and family. And I've witnessed some crazy dance parties, but none nearly as crazy as this party turned out. Of course, when the party favors are temporary tattoos of the bride and groom in Juggalo makeup, I should've expected nothing less.

Wedding Design, Coordination, and Florals: Signature Events and Design / Bakery: Cakes by Debi / DJ: DJ Portarock / Hair & Makeup: Beauty Bee / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Prints & Canvas

Matt Wetzler is an editorial, motorsport, portrait, and destination wedding photographer based in Whitefish, Montana.

Copyright ©Matthew Wetzler 2008–2024