French Countryside Wedding on Whitefish Lake

Wedding design is our favorite form of artistic expression, where colors, textures, and patterns come together to transform a blank canvas into a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. We find inspiration for wedding designs everywhere. This includes interior design trends, nature and different cultures and places around the world that offer us a fresh perspective. Our goal is always to create something that feels completely immersive and reflective of each couple’s love story.

For Tami and John’s big day, that inspiration came to life in a beautifully romantic French countryside wedding at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Although we were at home in Whitefish, Montana, it really felt like we were transported to Europe through this couple’s al fresco ceremony and reception on the open waterfront. We kept pausing in disbelief at how much it felt like we were no longer in Montana, but in Provence! 

What was even better though was the experience that Tami and John created for their loved ones through their wedding. From the very beginning, they envisioned a full wedding weekend centered around their family and friends. They wanted to create space to connect with their favorite people and simply enjoy being all together. This resulted in 4 magical days filled with good food, music, and company. 

Wait until you see all the unique surprises that we set up for Tami and John’s guests! These added to the energy of their French countryside wedding weekend to make it truly unforgettable! 

Montana Wedding Weekend Day 1 

Two days before Tami and John’s French countryside wedding, our Big Day Celebrations’ owner and lead planner, Katie, welcomed the pair to Montana! We’re no strangers to helping our couples plan destination weddings here, which often translates into venue walkthroughs over FaceTime, planning meetings through Zoom, and many emails and phone calls exchanged. But when we get a chance to meet our destination wedding couples in person, we make the most of it! 

Thus, on the Thursday before their French countryside wedding, Katie met Tami and John for a table mockup before their wedding rehearsal. They met at the venue to put together a sample reception table, complete with all the decor, from linens to candles to vases and more. Doing this allowed Tami and John to see exactly what their reception tablescapes would look like. They also had the chance to make any final tweaks before the big day. 

Then, Katie ran their rehearsal in the exact spot where they would tie the knot a couple days later. Holding a rehearsal is always a good chance for everyone involved in the ceremony to feel comfortable and confident with the proceedings. They learn where to stand and what to expect from the ceremony on the day of. 

Following this, Tami and John kept the fun going with a private yoga class nearby! We love that they planned this because it allowed them to spend quality time with their best people, doing something they love. 

Overall, day 1 was a slow, intentional ease into the weekend. It definitely set the tone for a celebration all about connection and presence. 

Montana Wedding Weekend Day 2

The day before their French countryside wedding, Katie began coordinating vendor load-in at the venue. Anytime that we’re able to have access to the wedding space before the big day itself is a blessing, so we strive to maximize that time by completing as much pre-setup as possible. Usually, this is part of the process that you don’t see, but it’s hugely important in ensuring that everything runs smoothly on the wedding day! 

That evening, Katie transitioned to Blackstar BrewPub, where Tami and John held a welcome dinner for their wedding guests. With live music by WildWind Music and pizza and burgers for everyone to enjoy, it was a relaxed way to officially kick off the festivities. 

Welcome dinners like this are especially wonderful for destination weddings because it’s a chance to greet all of your loved ones and thank them for traveling to celebrate with you. It makes the start of your wedding weekend feel even more personal and memorable for everyone involved! 

French Countryside Wedding Day

All the good times so far culminated in Tami and John’s wedding day! This is when it started to feel like we were transported to France. When we tell you it was the most gorgeous day, we really mean it! The skies were as blue as could be, the sun shone down on us, and Whitefish Lake absolutely sparkled. 

Knowing that we had such a beautiful wedding site to work with from the beginning, we leaned into natural textures and soft color tones for the wedding design. When we are conceptualizing a wedding design, we never want to detract from the natural beauty of the venue and landscape around us. That’s why we utilized a romantic color palette of ivory and blush with touches of yellow, gold, and lots of natural greenery. We complemented these hues with wooden accents, as seen in the crossback chairs, table numbers, and ceremony arch, to name just a few examples. 

All of these details gave us a timeless and elegant atmosphere. With the lake serving as the backdrop to the celebration, it felt like a day in a French coastal town!  

Lakeside Wedding Ceremony 

For Tami and John’s French countryside wedding ceremony, Hawthorn House Flowers installed the most gorgeous square arch made up of various intertwined branches. This was accentuated by two statement floral sprays. We lined the aisle with white rose petals and set long wooden benches for the guests, flanked by wooden crossback chairs that we would later repurpose for the reception. With the mountains and lake in the background, this was a heavenly spot for their wedding ceremony! 

Tami glowed as she walked down the aisle that day, escorted by her two sons, Jack and Tanner. Her sleek wedding gown mirrored the elegance of John’s white suit, but more importantly, they both wore matching ear-to-ear grins as they spotted one another from across the ceremony site. Two of their loved ones, Linda and Jim, officiated the ceremony while all of Tami and John’s kids surrounded them at the altar. It was both joyous and romantic, as they exchanged vows and officially tied the knot! 

Cocktail Hour on the Lawn 

After Katie sends you down the aisle and the ceremony is underway, that is when we usually do one final walk through the cocktail hour space and check in with the caterers to ensure that everything is ready to go for post-ceremony. That way, even if the ceremony ends early (and they usually do!), we’re still prepared to kick off cocktail hour.

On this day, Tami and John walked back up the aisle to cheers and applause from their friends and family. We then escorted them to a private room, where they were able to enjoy appetizers with their kids. While they were soaking in this special family time, we invited the rest of their guests to cocktail hour. 

There, they played lawn games, signed the newlyweds’ wooden hearts guest book, snapped Polaroids, and enjoyed each others’ company over some good drinks and light bites, all while the incredible music from the dueling pianos floated through the air. We even got to surprise everyone with a flash tattoo artist! With a variety of tattoo designs to choose from, guests had the chance to receive a permanent souvenir from this incredible day! 

French Countryside Wedding Reception Design

Since all the festivities were outdoors, everyone seamlessly flowed from cocktail hour to reception. Underneath the reception tent, we had elegant dining tables waiting for guests. These had classic white linens, blush napkins, gold flatware, and a variety of floating candles and delicate floral in bud vases at the center. One small but impactful detail we loved was the thank you notes that Tami and John handwrote for each place setting. It was such a personal way to show their genuine gratitude and love for their people. 

On one side of the tent, we brought in a vintage white buffet table to display the newlyweds’ pie bar on. From the famous Loula’s Cafe, there were 6 different pie flavors, ranging from huckleberry peach to bourbon pecan to blackberry cherry. Most were even vegan! This is another great example of how Tami and John stayed true to themselves on their French countryside wedding day. As you’ll soon see, they opted for a pie cutting instead of the traditional wedding cake cutting! So fun!

In another corner of the reception, we set up a cozy lounge area with a mustard yellow sofa, a matching pair of olive armchairs, a vintage burgundy rug, and a distressed white coffee table. If you know us, you know we love a good lounge area! It’s an opportunity for guests to gather, mix and mingle in a photo opp-worthy setting. In Tami and John’s, the plush textures of the lounge furniture contrasted with the wooden tables and surrounding landscape, adding an element of dimension to the overall wedding design. 

We saved one of our absolute favorite design elements for last! From the ceiling of the reception tent, we had two gorgeous chandeliers with lush, dripping smilax hanging off them. It was definitely a statement piece and the perfect way to tie all of our design elements together. 

Reception Fun

When it was time for this French countryside wedding reception to officially commence, we invited everyone to take their seats. Tami and John then formally welcomed everyone before the dinner service began. One of the many details we manage as wedding coordinators is overseeing guest flow, particularly if you have a buffet-style dinner service. Rather than having everyone line up at once, we release tables a little at a time, helping to prevent long lines and bottlenecks. It’s a small detail that you may not initially think of, but logistics like these play a big role in creating a smooth experience for everyone! 

That evening, the newlyweds shared a beautiful meal with their 130 loved ones, danced to “I Am Yours” by Andy Grammer for their first dance, and cut into a wedding pie instead of a wedding cake. The MAC Band kept guests on the dance floor all night and the energy was impeccable, especially when the sun set and the tent was aglow with amber candlelight. It was both romantic and electric all at once! 

As the night went on, we surprised guests one last time with fun late night snack options, including pizza and tater tots stations! Everyone dug into these in between dancing, getting flash tattoos, and enjoying the fresh breeze down by the lake. 

And the fun didn’t stop when the reception did! Tami and John invited everyone to an after party inside the main venue to keep the party going. Then, they all got to enjoy a post-wedding brunch together the next morning. 

It was truly a wedding weekend to remember!

A Word from Katie: 

What a weekend! Tami and John, it was an absolute JOY getting to work with you for your French countryside wedding. I had a ball every step of the way and especially on the day-of! Your smiles were so infectious and I wish you immense happiness together forever!

-Katie

Montana Wedding Vendors: 

Wedding Planner: Big Day Celebrations

Venue: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Photography: Thewmatt Photography

Floral: Hawthorn House Flowers 

Hair & Makeup: Mary Kendall Beauty

Band: MAC Band

Tattoo Artist: Meraki Beauty Bar

Content Creation: Keep Candid

Dueling Pianos: Fun Pianos

Rentals: Empress Tents & Events // The Party Store

Bakery: Loula’s Cafe 

Yoga Instructor: Love Yoga 

Welcome Dinner Venue: Blackstar BrewPub

Welcome Dinner Musicians: WildWind Music

Let’s Plan Your French Countryside Wedding in Montana!

Big Day Celebrations offers full-service wedding planning, coordination & design services, and micro-wedding packages, so no matter how you envision your wedding, we will make it happen and have a whole lot of fun along the way!

Ready to get started? Drop me a note below and let’s do this!