One of the greatest compliments a photographer can receive is to be referred by past clients. I was introduced to Unique and Luke via Sarah and Dom and I simply cannot thank them enough. And while it's not unheard of for grooms to take the lead on hiring the photographer that was the case here, and I actually didn't speak with Unique until the week before the wedding when we all met at Snowline to talk wedding logistics.
This is so far the largest wedding I've ever photographed, with close to 300 guests all told, but it honestly didn't feel too unwieldy thanks in no small part to the lovely Snowline Acres wedding venue, and to just everyone being so nice.
Anna and John's intimate wedding at Haymoon Resort in Whitefish was such a delight, and an opportunity to work with some of my absolute favorite wedding vendors in the Flathead Valley. I sound like a broken record when I say this but I truly felt like a member of the family as I photographed the evening's festivities. The couple kept checking in with me to make sure I had everything I needed, that I had gotten to eat, etc. which just goes to show I work with the best wedding couples ever.
Sometimes from the first discussion with a couple, you know your paths were fated to cross at some point in your lives. Anne and Kari were one such couple for me this summer. I was scheduled for a phone consult with them to discuss their wedding and to see if we might be a good fit. No biggie, and often these calls, even when they go great don't tend to last more than 30-45 minutes because you ask each other the questions you need to do, discuss the wedding plans, etc. and everything is groovy. Anne and I did all of those things in about 15 minutes, but then remained just chatting for almost two hours about life, art, and yes photography.
As the wedding day got a little closer we chatted on the phone again for over an hour, but this time it was primarily about the wedding day details and how best to tackle the day. And because it was on some family land I scheduled time to meet Anne's dad to walk the property and get a concrete lay of the land. At this point, it is probably worth mentioning Mr. Lehmer is a longtime fine art photographer, so I'll admit I was a bit nervous, but he couldn't have been more welcoming, and we ended up walking around the property, and chatting for a couple of hours. Naturally by the time the wedding day arrived, I pretty much already felt like part of the family, and it was such an amazing honor to be included in such a special, purposefully planned day.
And all of this is still ignoring the intimate dinner and reception with Rob & Halladay quist performing the music, a belly dancer, and ice cream!
I was so thankful that Whitefish-based wedding officiant Sarah Harding brought me into the fold for this wonderful intimate wedding at Star Meadows Ranch between Chelsea and Corey. Because they were simply having a short ceremony followed by a group dinner they initially planned on simply relying on friends with cell phones and cameras to document the day. Thankfully Sarah convinced them to book even just an hour of my time so that everyone could really soak in the moment as they tied the know and it was my absolute pleasure to document everything.
Teaming up with officiant extraordinaire Sarah Harding is always such a pleasure, and doing so with Jennifer and Vincent on the North Fork was no exception. Though I suppose it didn't start out that way for the couple. What with getting married at the forefront of their mind, the marriage license was left at home and they had to turn around to go get it and Jennifer forgot Vincent's ring.
Now normally, this could really sour the mood of a couple on such a special occasion, but love and positivity won out, as everyone involved simply laughed it off, a 'ring' was fashioned out of some grass, and the ceremony went off without a hitch. Well, I suppose it went off with one hitch, that of Jennifer and Vincent 'getting hitched.' but that is all semantics.
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.
A week or so before they were to elope I received a message from Lianne to see if I were available to photograph their simple elopement ceremony with just the two of them and their officiant. I happened to be free that afternoon and was more than happy to do so. They were both so sweet, and you've got to love the expression on Ron's face as they said their vows to each other. It's such an honor to be a part of these intimate moments in people's lives.
It was so great to see Sarah and Dominic again during the winter holiday season after their engagement session this past summer and get to meet their friends and family. They really wanted to make it a welcoming affair and had tons of great Christmas touches like a hot cocoa bar, Christmas trees, mil and cookies for dessert, and as you'll see in the image above a first kiss under the mistletoe.
When I spoke with Alison and Airam early in their booking process we were discussing the pros and cons of the varying amounts of coverage offered in my photography packages. They had been leaning toward the longest coverage I offer by default because—and I quote—"We don't want you to leave if the party is just really starting to get going!" It was at this point I knew this wedding was going to be lots and lots of fun. When it came time for their wedding day, all my assumptions were proven correct.
From early on and the "getting ready" photos, to everyone chipping in and helping get everything set up, through a beautiful ceremony and just a tremendous party, it was a stellar end to my primary wedding season, and one I'll remember for years to come.
Documenting Kate and Benjamin's intimate backyard wedding was really just like hanging out with longtime friends—and dare I say 'family'—by the way they kept trying to attend to my every need and I had to remind them I was there to blend into the background as much as possible and document the day as it unfolded.
