Friday, June 23, 2023
Thank you Faith (Faith Mertens Photography) for coming over from Spokane to be my second shooter!
Hannah reached out last August about photographing her wedding and I was beyond excited! June crept up for me, and I can't imagine how it was for Hannah & Evan!
They had their wedding at Hart Ranch Wedding & Events in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. I've never been there before, but have seen many beautiful photos that other photographers have posted. The venue is even more beautiful in person! It has views of the mountains, there's a creek and a pond, and they have several spots throughout the area for photography opportunities. The venue also provides a beautiful bridal suite, as well as a cabin for the groom, all perfect for pre-ceremony / getting ready photos.
We started with bridal suite photos and had so much fun! All the women had their hair and makeup done by the time Faith and I arrived. They had adorable robes that said "Bride" and "Bridesmaid" on the back of them. We took many different group poses, photos of the party's dresses and shoes, the rings, and Hannah's bouquet and jewelry. There were many laughs and so much love in the room that Faith and I could not stop grinning from ear to ear as we captured these moments.
The Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids got their dresses on while Hannah got her wedding dress on- she looked stunning! Her dress was very elegant and had a long train. We took photos of her mom zipping up her dress. Her shoes and jewelry were perfect too and we got photos of Hannah's Maid of Honor (sister) putting her necklace on. When she was ready, her dad came up to the room for "first look" photos, and you can tell he was teary-eyed. I love capturing these sweet moments. After the first look with her dad, we all went outside for Bridal Party photos, then Faith and I headed to the cabin to meet Evan and his Groomsmen.
The lighting in cabin is a little darker than the bridal suite, so Faith and I had to get creative. Evan and his party were already dressed, and we basically had Evan dress up again, hehe. His mom straightened his tie and his dad helped him put his jacket on. Then we took photos outside with the guys. We could tell that the relationship between Evan and his friends are pretty tight. The guys are so funny, we could not stop laughing!
Most guys I photograph do not like having their photos taken- I completely understand that, and very much appreciate their cooperation! Some of them do not understand the importance of "getting ready" photos, but trust me when I say you'll cherish these photos forever. These photos help tell the story of this important day, and many things are said and done during this time that you'll remember for the rest of your life! After photos at the cabin, it was time for the ceremony.
The ceremony was short, sweet and perfect! It was held outside and the venue provided benches for guests. Hannah's dad had a slingshot sticking out of his back pocket while he walked her down the aisle and Faith and I thought it was so creative and funny!
When Hannah and I were discussing her photography timeline, she at first said they were going to do a "first look" before the ceremony, but then later said Evan decided he wanted to see her for the first time when she walked down the aisle. I captured his reaction and "WOW" was written all over his face, hehe!
After the ceremony, it was back to the cabin to sign the marriage license and from there we did photos. We started with a few photos of Hannah & Evan on a little bridge with a view of the mountains. Then it was back to the front lawn by the pond for photos with their wedding party, family and friends. After that, we took a few more couple photos.
Inside the reception area, there were several big tables for guests to sit at and talk. The venue also has a bar for everyone to enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Hors d'oeuvre floated around the room and the wedding cake and cupcakes waited to be eaten. Faith and I did not stay for the reception, but we took some detail shots before we left.
Congratulations Hannah and Evan and thank you for giving me the opportunity to capture your beautiful day! Sending you best wishes for an amazing journey ahead!
*** The quality of the photos have been saved as a smaller file size to help optimize the images for website performance ***