Outdoor July Wedding at Great Northern Resort (Plus Adventure Session!)

Here at Big Day Celebrations, it’s no secret that we love any and all weddings, no matter what your wedding vision is. Some couples dream of a large, more traditional wedding where they dance the night away. Others desire a more intimate affair where they can simply share a meal and hang out with their closest loved ones. We are completely here for you, no matter where your wedding vision falls on the spectrum! Caitlyn and Tim envisioned their July wedding to be on the intimate side and it was a total dream!

Together with 20 of their friends and family members, Caitlyn and Tim had an outdoor July wedding at Great Northern Resort. Their big day had everything we could ever ask for from an intimate summer celebration: a ceremony amongst the trees, the cutest outdoor dining setup, and lemon raspberry cake! They even got to go on an epic adventure photo session in Glacier National Park after the festivities concluded. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to miss those shots at the end of this post!

How They Met:

Caitlin and Tim first met through mutual friends when they were freshmen in college. They had crossed paths a few times before, but never got to talking until one fateful Friday night filled with spontaneity, friends, and a whole lot of laughter! They became friends from that night on. In time, their friendship grew to best friendship, which then evolved into a dating relationship. After many late-night conversations, cooking and baking failures, cups of coffee, picnic dates, and a half marathon together, they knew that this was it.

The Proposal:

It’s no wonder that these two chose to have a July wedding and mountain photo session in Montana because they have such adventurous spirits and wild hearts! Tim proposed to Caitlin on a hike in Olympic National Park, where they were surrounded by mountains and the lake. After Tim popped the question, they returned home to an indoor picnic by the fire with all their favorite foods, Caitlin’s favorite flowers, and photos of their journey to look through together. How romantic!

A July Wedding in the Mountains

When Caitlin and Tim first came to me with their creative and adventurous wedding vision, I knew we were a great fit! For their July wedding, we went with a natural and neutral color palette that included sage green, white, and light pink. We infused these hues throughout the wedding design, from the sage green bridesmaids’ dresses to Caitlin’s wildflower bouquet. We did add a pop of coral pink for the cake floral to help give their cutie cake that summer feel.

Caitlin and Tim held their ceremony out on the lawn at Great Northern Resort, where we set up a wooden hexagon arch with just a couple delicate floral sprays and lanterns at the base. We placed their communion table next to the arch and added floral arrangements to the aisle chairs to finish off the look.

For the wedding reception, Caitlin and Tim treated their guests to an al fresco dining experience! We set up one long rectangular table in front of the resort’s canvas tent, where twinkle lights were hanging overhead. I brought the ivory gauze table runner, wooden lanterns, and silver votives from our free décor inventory and used those to decorate the reception table. The wooden lanterns matched the wooden table and chairs perfectly, creating a simple and natural vibe that was ideal for dining within nature.

Caitlin and Tim’s wedding cake was a two-tier naked cake with the coral floral I mentioned and a custom cake topper with their name and wedding date on it. We placed the cake display table inside the canvas tent both to make sure it was shielded from the elements and just because it looked adorable in there!

A First Look Alternative

It’s become trendy to have a first look before the ceremony starts, and I can see why! This gives you and your soon-to-be husband or wife a private moment before the whirlwind of festivities begin and it relieves any pre-ceremony jitters! If a first look isn’t quite right for you though, you may choose to have something called a first touch or first prayer, like Caitlin and Tim did.

Instead of seeing each other prior to walking down the aisle, this sweet couple opted for a first touch, where they stood on opposing walls and held hands to pray together. Not seeing each other actually made this moment all the more special, evoking the rawest and most tender of emotions. Then, they got to have the best of both worlds when they saw each other for the first time as Caitlin came down the aisle.

After Caitlin and Tim’s first touch, Caitlin actually then had a first look with her dad! This is a wonderful option for brides looking to include their parents in special ways on the wedding day. We guarantee that Dad will tear up when he turns around and sees his little girl as a bride for the first time!

A July Wedding Ceremony

Caitlin and Tim’s July wedding ceremony began with John Mark’s “Give and Take” filling the air as Caitlin and her dad came down the aisle. This family truly is so special because they are all so close! During the nuptials, they were all included in a family prayer to bless the union of the two families and Caitlin and Tim’s new marriage.

Then, before they knew it, Caitlin and Tim were husband and wife!

An Outdoor July Wedding Reception

The weather on this day was absolutely perfect for an outdoor July wedding! The sun was shining, but not blazing, and there was the gentlest of breezes. Caitlin and Tim had their first dances and subsequent parent dances right out on the lawn. Then, everyone sat down at the reception table for dinner and toasts. One reason why couples have intimate weddings is so they can truly spend time with each and every one of their guests. Seeing Caitlin and Tim smile, talk, and laugh with their people throughout that evening filled my heart and confirmed that I had done my job for them.

Adventure Photos in Glacier National Park

After the newlyweds cut their incredible lemon raspberry cake, they headed off to Glacier National Park for their adventure photos! They chose the most picturesque spots near Lake McDonald and arrived in time to get amazing sunset photos. And these two weren’t afraid to get wet! They had fun hopping in the lake together, which is just another reason why I love this couple!

Final Word from Katie:

Congratulations, Caitlin and Tim! Your July wedding was gorgeous in more ways than one! I’m so grateful we had the chance to work together! I know you both have such a bright future ahead of you. No matter what, I’ll be cheering for you!

-Katie

Vendor Team:

Venue: Great Northern Resort

Coordinator: Big Day Celebrations

Photographer: Elizabeth Samuel Photography

Videographer: Micah Nazarino // Turner Weins

Florist: Flathead Farmworks

Caterer: The Kopper Kitchen

Rentals: The Party Store

Linen: BBJ Linen

For More Information:

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!