June 28, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Krissy & Todd at Star Meadows Ranch

I had my true kick-off to my 2023 wedding season this past week out at Star Meadows Ranch outside Whitefish. It was so great to share that kick-off with Krissy, Todd, and their friends and family. It was almost more like a summer camp outing—though with a more formal dress code than your typical summer camp—than a big fancy wedding but it had all the elements you might want.

Your best friends standing up with you? Check. Surrounded by family? Check. Flower girl and ring bearer? Check. A Jello shot bearer... wait what?

Venue & Lodging: Star Meadows Ranch / Coordinator & Florals: Dear Dahlia / Hair & Makeup: Craft Society Salon / Catering: 406 BBQ & Montana Picnic Co. / DJ & Music: Kadin Beller with RMF Entertainment / Couture: Alena Leena & Indochino / Rentals & Decor: Empress Tents & Events

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

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

September 19, 2022

Julia & Javi’s Abbott Valley Homestead Wedding in Martin City

Weddings are like snowflakes in that no two are exactly alike. But you can expect them to be amazing in their own way. Julia & Javi's wedding at Abbott Valley Homestead in Martin City was in fact incredible, but not in any of the ways anyone expected it to be.

Sustained heavy rain storms seem to be a rarity here in Northwest Montana, especially towards the end of August. When thick dark clouds loomed nearby I assured Julia that while yes the storm looks bad, it's unlikely that it'll last very long. Boy was I wrong. Once it began raining that Saturday, it kept raining. It would stop for a few minutes, and then rain hard again. It really seemed like we'd get a nice break in the weather, just long enough to get the ceremony in which was to take place in a beautiful open field.

Alas, as soon as everyone got into place to begin the ceremony, the skies opened up, and it began just absolutely pouring rain. Everyone involved made the difficult call to move the ceremony under the covered barn back to the reception site. Was it what anyone had initially planned? Absolutely not, but there was something truly special about everyone crowded under the old barn, sitting around the couple as they exchanged their vows.

After the ceremony, we got a wonderful reprieve when the clouds parted, the sun came out and we had a beautiful evening for the formal portraits and dinner. But once dinner ended the skies once again opened up to another downpour. Everyone huddled under the barn again and it turned into a Brooklyn basement party as the couple's musically inclined guests performed songs written for the occasion and covers of songs important to their relationship. And despite the hundred-plus people in attendance, it felt so intimate and special, it was such a humbling moment to be a part of.

Venue: Abbott Valley Homestead / Planner: Weddings by Sara / Catering: The Salty Calf / Rentals & Decor: Empress Tents & Events / Hair & Makeup: Kyndee Masters / Second Photographer: Kayla Jacobson

September 14, 2022

East Glacier Park Wedding Photographer, Caitlynn & Josh at Summit Mountain Lodge

Caitlynn and Josh planned the perfect little intimate micro-wedding at Summit Mountain Lodge and Steakhouse in East Glacier. Purely family and the humble wedding vendors who were invited to take part such as myself, we were treated to the sweetest little ceremony, a lovely dinner, and fantastic music to close out the night.

Venue, Lodging, and Catering: Summit Mountain Lodge and Steakhouse / Hair & Makeup: Project Lex / Band: Taylor Burlage / Florals: My Viola Floral Studio / Videographer: Glacier Wedding Films / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

September 12, 2022

Ginjer & Matt’s Backyard, DIY Somers, Montana Wedding

Ginjer and Matt's largely Do-it-Yourself style wedding—with help from the wonderful Amy Deering—was another wedding very much infused with the couples' personalities in every way. Ginjer is a longtime competitive sailor, Matt's a cowboy. Thus the theme "Boats & Boots" was born and everything extended from that. The ceremony itself was held at the North Flathead Yacht Club, followed by everyone adjourning to a friend's property just a short hop-skip-and-a-jump from the lake. But not without a stop at Del's along the way for the couple and me.

August 19, 2022

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Natasha & Aaron at Whitefish Mountain Resort

I bet you're getting a sense of Deja Vu, thinking "Didn't I just see a couple named Natasha and Aaron on this blog? Didn't they look an awful lot like this couple? And you would be correct!

After their possibly unorthodox—but totally awesome—"day before" portrait session, we met up all over again at Whitefish Mountain Resort for their actual wedding day. I met them all at a vacation rental there on the mountain where they were all getting ready. We then made a quick trip to the Hellroaring Saloon to drop off items for the reception, and then we made our way up to Chair one to the summit for the ceremony.

I'd been wanting to try a particular photo here that I'd not had the opportunity to do yet, where I have the couple embracing while mountain bikers bomb down the mountain right behind them. Natasha and Aaron were game for trying it, but bikers were getting few and far between as it was nearing the last chair. Thankfully, a large group came up about 15 minutes prior to the ceremony starting so we made a mad dash a little ways away and they obliged us perfectly. So much fun coming up with silly/crazy ideas and having a couple down to try them.

Venue: Whitefish Mountain Resort & Hellroaring Saloon & Eatery / Catering: Hellroaring Saloon & Eatery / Officiant: Sarah Harding, Celebrant / Bakery: Montana Wildflour / Hair & Makeup: Elegance by Joy Rene

August 12, 2022

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Brianna & Jeff at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

While I myself did not take the plunge, from the look on the faces of everyone who did, there is no better way to end a hot summer wedding with tons of dancing than ending the night in a lake. Wedding attire and all.

This has been a theme this summer, but with the majority of my couples this summer they themselves, and so many of their guests are what I would call "my people." The "people" I'm referring to are art school graduates. Illustrators, Photographers, Dancers, Musicians, you name it. And it just feels like the people I spent so much time with in college when I was pursuing a BFA in graphic design. And it just feels right.

This wedding had everything from the requisite copious amounts of love to interpretive dance, to songs written specifically for the couple. And the aforementioned plunge into Whitefish Lake to cap it all off.

Venue & Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / DJ: Sidecar Audio / Couture: Wtoo by Watters & Indochino / Florist: Elevate Amenities / Bakery: Miss Patti Cakes / Jewelry: Armbruster & Princess Jewelry / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental

July 27, 2022

Whitefish Wedding Photography, Natalia & Ben at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Another beautiful—if hot—summer day at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake for an intimate wedding. Natalia & Ben were having a lovely small wedding with their families and closest friends and enjoyed an absolutely amazing evening on the shore of Whitefish Lake. I didn't stay too far into the dance party however as they opted to spend their budgeted time on an adventure portrait session in Glacier a couple of days after the wedding. The results of which you'll see in the next blog post.

Oftentimes at The Lodge, the couple can take a quick ride around the lake in a vintage 'woody' boat The Lodge keeps. Unfortunately, it had stopped functioning literally minutes before we were to hop on for some photos. Natalia and Ben took it in stride, however, and we simply took photos in it there at the dock. Serving as a reminder of one of my best tips for enjoying your wedding day plans. Things are unlikely to go exactly as planned, just roll with it as best as you can, and everything will turn out.

Venue & Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / Bakery: Fleur Bakeshop / Florist: Mum's Flowers / DJ: V-Team DJs / Couture: David's Bridal

July 18, 2022

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Emily & Logan at Glacier Raft Company

I always get hyped up for photographing a wedding. Doesn't matter if it's big, small, or medium-sized or where it might be taking place. I get doubly hyped up when it's a couple I've been fortunate to do their engagement portraits beforehand. Since we've already gotten to know each other ahead of time over a couple of hours, it's just like attending the wedding of long-time friends.

Emily and Logan's wedding was unique for me personally because they grew up and traveled from the very same area where I grew up in Central Texas. The weather didn't exactly cooperate 100% with the whole evening—it rarely does in Montana—but it did for their private vow recitation in a secluded area of Glacier National Park and the ceremony at the wedding pavilion at Glacier Raft Company, and didn't really bother us with rain until everyone was under the aforementioned pavilion for the dance party.

Venue: Glacier Raft Company / Catering: Gina MacNeil Catering / Hair & Makeup: Mountain Soul Event Styling / Couture: Essence of Australia & Men's Warehouse / DJ: V-Team DJs / Jeweler: James Allen / Florals: Something Borrowed Blooms / Videographer: Taylor Films / Rental & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

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

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