kalispell Archives - Thewmatt Photography

May 19, 2023

Dana’s Surprise 40th Birthday Party

Nothing is more exciting, and a little anxiety-inducing, than when you're hired by another photographer for a job. But it's ultimately always a blast. My colleague Jennifer Vernarsky's husband was turning the big 4-O and was holding a surprise party for him at a Kalispell vacation rental. It was so much fun arriving early to capture some of the custom decorations she'd ordered from Etsy, and getting to hang out with her in-laws while we waited for them to arrive for the big surprise. Of course, I had a piece of the delicious cake from the Crumb Cake Bakery.

The good news, the surprise was a success, and everything went off without a hitch in the plans.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Event

Tags: birthday party, family, family portraits, kalispell, Montana, surprise party

March 10, 2023

Ammie & Blake’s Courthouse Ceremony and Glacier National Park Portraits

My friend Katie with An Epic Elopement texted me one evening as she and her husband were having dinner with one of her neighbors to see if I was interested and available for a weekday portrait session with them. They were going to be getting married at the courthouse soon and were hoping for some portraits at the courthouse, and then 'somewhere epic' later on.

Well, it doesn't get much more epic than Glacier National Park in this neck of the woods, even if it is winter and there are low clouds everywhere. We left the sunny, blue skies of downtown Kalispell to the completely socked-in winter setting of Lake McDonald and took advantage of all the beauty it has to offer.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Maternity, Portraits

Tags: Civil Ceremony, couples portraits, Flathead County Courthouse, Glacier National Park, kalispell, maternity, Montana, Portraits, winter maternity

February 10, 2023

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Leila & Jay at Diamond B Weddings

I don't want this post about Leila & Jay's wedding to sound like a paid promotion for another business that is completely unrelated to photography, but that is actually how I first met Jay. He runs Rocky Mountain Power Systems here in the Flathead Valley and was responsible for selling and installing an on-demand power generator at my house. And what I didn't know at the time was I'd actually met his mom through My Montana Wedding when I first joined the association.

Fast-forward a couple of months after his initial consultation visit to my house but I run into him at Kaite & Beau's wedding at Diamond B Weddings because—surprise!—Katie is Jay's youngest sister!

Then a few months ago I get a call from Jay saying he's found the love of his life and he's going to be getting married in January for a winter wedding. Naturally, I was more than happy to oblige, even with the stress of working in front of one of the Valley's long-established photographers Joanna Adams who was in the wedding as the Aunt of Leila.

It's a small world after all.

Venue: Church at Creston and Diamond B Weddings / DJ: Destination DJ / Second Photographer: Kyle Stansbury

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: church, Diamond B Weddings, kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

October 8, 2022

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Taylar & Jared at Jewel Basin Weddings

I was fortunate to meet Taylar at Jared at the My Montana Wedding Expo & Style show this past January and was so honored to be included in their lovely fall wedding at Jewel Basin Weddings. They invited their closest friends and family for a lovely evening that felt more like a family reunion or a backyard get-together among friends. It is one of my biggest honors to be included in such gatherings, and record them for posterity.

Venue: Jewel Basin Weddings / Officiant: Shawna with Best Day Officiants / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / Bakery: Sweet Traditions / Second Photographer: Cortney Foster Photos

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Jewel Basin Weddings, kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

June 8, 2022

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Unique & Luke at Snowline Acres

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.

Venue: Snowline Acres / Catering: Vista Linda / Band: Mike Murray / Bar Services: Treasure State Hospitality / Couture: Eddy K Dreams with alterations by Odie Fashion & Design / Second Photographer: Kyle Stansbury

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, snowline acres, Wedding

December 10, 2021

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Sarah & Dominic at Best Western Plus Flathead Lake

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.

Venue: Best Western Plus Flathead Lake / Catering: Vista Linda / DJ: V-Team DJs

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Best Western Plus Flathead Lake, kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

September 4, 2021

Kalispell Engagement Photographer, Sarah & Dom

This was a really special engagement session for me. While they wanted to naturally get photos of just the two of them for their engagement, it was also important to Sarah and Dom to include Sarah's son in the portrait session as well, and he made it so fun. It was an unseasonably hot day here in Northwest Montana, even for July, but he was a real trooper, and was super happy to cooperate, especially after he got to play art director for some of the photos. We met up at Lone Pine State Park and then headed over to Woodland Park closer to downtown Kalispell.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Engagement, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: engagement, Engagement Session, family, kalispell, Lone Pine State Park, Montana, Portraits

August 19, 2021

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Cristine & Josh at Diamond B Weddings

You may recognize Cristine and Josh from this post a while back featuring a styled wedding session at Star Meadows Ranch. At the time they were engaged, but a few months later I was contacted by Cristine to check my availability for their actual wedding at Diamond B Weddings in Kalispell and if I would be interested in being their photographer. "Of course!" I remember exclaiming and the rest they say is history. Cristine and Josh were so much fun, and so kind, it was great to work with them—and Katie from Big Day Celebrations—again as they shared their actual wedding vows instead of just pretending to.

Venue: Diamond B Weddings / Planning: Big Day Celebrations / Catering: Porteus BBQ / Bakery: Sugar Happy Cupcakes / Jewelry: Riddle's Jewelers / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Diamond B Weddings, kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

August 17, 2021

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Katie & Beau at Diamond B Weddings

I am absolutely not trying to shame anyone, but did you know that grooms can do some of the heavy lifting of planning a wedding in addition to the bride? Beau and Katie's wedding was a great example of that. I dealt primarily with Beau throughout the booking process via email, phone, and text. He asked all kinds of great questions, and I couldn't wait to hang out with them on their wedding day. Even with all of those great conversations, I couldn't have possibly been prepared for how kind all of their friends and family were.

From helping wrangle a very large collection of family and extended family for formals to a delightful dance party to close out the night, we were made to feel like part of the family the whole evening. Also, check out one of my favorite "first look" reactions of all time. Ladies, find you a man who reacts like this when he sees you in your wedding dress.

Venue: Diamond B Weddings / Second Photographer: Kayla Jacobson / Catering: Mountain Berry Bowls

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Diamond B Weddings, kalispell, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

July 22, 2021

Kalispell Wedding Photographer, Kelly & Adam

This was wedding number three for Kelly and Adam, and boy were they ready to celebrate. Ironically, it was the first wedding they actually began planning, but then things began to happen. Little things, like global pandemics! So they first ended up with a civil ceremony at a courthouse in California. Then came the reception in Taiwan so some of Kelly's family that wouldn't be traveling to the U.S. for the festivities could share in the joy. Then—finally!—came the wedding and reception at Adam's dad's house here in the Flathead Valley. It was a fun and much-needed celebration—as with so many weddings originally planned for 2020—after postponements and uncertainty.

Planner: SG Weddings & Events / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Catering: Vista Linda / Bakery: Miss Patticakes / DJ: Noise Box Productions / Hair & Makeup: Brooke & Whitney William