Outdoor Wedding at a Rustic Montana Wedding Venue

Who says a Montana wedding has to be on a mountain? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good mountain view, but Montana has so much more to offer as well! When you try to picture a Montana wedding venue not atop a mountain, you might think of towering birch trees, log cabins, or tranquil lakes, all of which would be spot on! Bethany and Ryan chose to have their big day at Six Mile Estate in Bigfork, Montana that encompassed all of these elements. This rustic yet luxurious Montana wedding venue was the perfect setting for their 150-person celebration. Everything took place outdoors, from the ceremony in the trees to the reception tent with its romantic twinkle lighting.

Bethany and Ryan were such a fun couple to work with and they had one heck of a celebration! There were champagne pops, the coziest of lounge furniture setups, a live band that brought the house down, and even Pacman! If you are searching for a Montana wedding venue, but don’t necessarily want to trek up and down a mountain, then this is the wedding inspiration post you need! Keep reading to learn how we pulled off this gorgeous outdoor wedding!

Outdoor Wedding Dos & Don’ts:

While Six Mile Estate is a lovely Montana wedding venue, they don’t offer in-house catering or include any décor pieces in the package (Did you know that we have free décor pieces for all booked BDC clients to use? Check them all out here!). That meant that we had to bring in everything, from all the major wedding vendors, like a photographer and florist, to the vendors you might not always consider, like a portable restroom provider. Having to consider every tiny detail that you may need may seem overwhelming to some couples, but that’s why I’m here! I have tons of experience with these types of weddings, so you can be sure that you cover all your bases.

Considering having your wedding at an outdoor, standalone venue like this one? Here are some quick “dos” and “don’ts” to think about:

Do:

• Ask your musician how much power they will need & make sure the venue can provide that.
• Ask your caterer how much space and power they will need. Don’t forget to ask what equipment they bring versus what tools or equipment they may need once onsite.
• Consider if the venue has enough restrooms for your guest size.
• Think about where guests are going to park. Is there a large enough parking lot or will you need to bus guests in?

Don’t:

• Nix the tent. Even if you are adamant on having an outdoor wedding, book a tent anyway as a backup plan!
• Underestimate the amount of time your vendors will need for setup and breakdown. Especially if the wedding is outdoors, oftentimes vendors will need to bring extra equipment with them to accommodate.
• Assume that the venue already has XYZ in-house. When in doubt, ask!

Before the “I Dos:”

A great perk of having your wedding at a Montana wedding venue, such as Six Mile Estate, is that all the festivities can be held at the same location! Bethany and Ryan hosted their rehearsal dinner and wedding there in addition to staying overnight. The Estate has the cutest log cabins with rustic décor that’ll make you feel like you’ve just stepped into Gaston’s tavern!

On the morning of the big day, Bethany and her bride tribe got their hair and makeup done in the Pines Cottage while Ryan and his guys got ready and relaxed in the Honeymoon Cottage. There were antlers mounted above the big, stone fireplace, a retro Pacman video game console, a pool table, and a bunch of comfy lounge areas. What better place could there be to hang out on the day of your wedding?

When it was time for this couple’s first look, Bethany slipped into her sleek Rime Arodaky gown and grabbed her breathtaking bouquet filled with peach, light pink, white, and burgundy blooms. Typically, with a first look, the bride comes up behind the groom and taps him on the shoulder, but we just love that Ryan decided to switch it up and come up behind Bethany. He already had the biggest smile on his face before she even turned around and it was the sweetest thing to watch!

Their excitement was palpable from the moment they locked eyes and their wedding party only added to the fun when they all had a private toast before the ceremony began.

The Ceremony:

Bethany and Ryan incorporated so many fabulous décor details in their wedding, which started with the ceremony! Upon arrival, their guests were greeted by a custom welcome sign and as they entered the ceremony site itself, they were blown away by the simple beauty of the space. We set a simple wooden arch at the altar, which was accented by peach roses and greenery. Coupled with the glassy lake in the background, we couldn’t have asked for a more picture-perfect ceremony backdrop!

As the ceremony started, Bethany’s dad escorted her down the aisle and Sam Smith’s “Stay with Me” announced their arrival. Bethany’s uncle was so kind to officiate the ceremony and he absolutely rocked it! We always love when couples include their family members in the sweetest of ways on their big day!

When the ceremony concluded, everyone cheered, and the new Mr. and Mrs. went for the dip kiss! They then walked back up the aisle with that “We just got married!” glow and their friends and family gave them high fives to celebrate!

The Cocktail Hour:

Bethany and Ryan’s cocktail hour was held in an open, grassy meadow, adjacent to the reception tent. Here, we brought in a mobile photo booth trailer and set up lounge furniture next to it that evoked a cozy and casual vibe. We chose to have a white loveseat along with deep, peacock blue lounge chairs, but my favorite part was the cowhide rug that pulled everything together! We further played up the rustic features of Bethany and Ryan’s Montana wedding venue by using a canoe to hold bottled beers for guests to grab as they pleased.

For the final touches, we added a few lawn games and a custom, glass door seating chart. All of these combined details made for such a fun cocktail hour and by the time the hour was up, everyone was ready to party!

The Reception Details:

In the reception tent, we strung Edison bulbs along the ceiling to give the entire space a soft glow. The guest tables were adorned with greenery garlands, floating candles, and table numbers in the shape of little mountains as a nod to the landscape Montana is most famous for!

I love how their cake table came together as well! The three-tier naked cake with their personalized topper was of course, the focal point, but we also added a burlap “Mr. and Mrs” sign, a fun map illustration of the area, and bright and colorful floral to make this an absolutely striking display!

A Private Moment:

Before it was time for Bethany and Ryan’s grand entrance into the reception, they snuck away for a private champagne toast together. I highly recommend scheduling in a private moment like this because in all the craziness of the wedding day, it’s easy for time to become a blur. Building in dedicated time for just you and your new hubby or wifey to spend together and celebrate privately is always worth it!

In Bethany and Ryan’s case, they went down to the edge of Swan Lake (How perfect is that name by the way?!) and popped the bubbly! They had a ton of fun with it, sharing the bottle and reveling in their new marriage!

The Party:

Then, it was time to party! Grand entrances were made, toasts were given, and cake was enjoyed by all, but by far, the most amazing part of the reception was the live band! Called The Rub, the band had two guitarists and a drummer, who blew the roof off that tent! It was like having a private concert right there on property and I can honestly say that not only did the guests love every minute of it, but so did all the vendors! I can never help but dance once the party starts, especially when there is live music! The band played a good mix of slow ballads and upbeat jams, and they also emceed the event, which is everything you should look for in the best of wedding bands!

Even when the reception came to a close, that didn’t mean the party was over! As the vendor team began strike at the venue, Bethany and Ryan took their guests to the nearby Garden Bar as an after party for more drinks, laughs, and conversation. What a way to end the night!

Final Word from Katie:

Bethany and Ryan, you two were the most fun to work with! I enjoyed every moment we spent together, and it was so rewarding to see all our hard work come together on your wedding day. I’m thrilled and honored to have been a part of such a special occasion and I wish you all the love and joy in the world!

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Eldean!

-Katie

Vendor Team:

Venue: Six Mile Estate

Coordinator: Big Day Celebrations

Photographer: Archer Messenger Photography

Band: The Rub

Caterer: Great Northwest Catering

Bartender: Smoking Aces Events

Florist: Bloom Theory

Baker: Cakes by Debi

Hair & Makeup: Aaris Marsh Cosmetology

Rentals: Empress Tents & Events

Restrooms: Peewees

Transportation: Wild Horse Limo

Wedding Gown:  Rime Arodaky

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Revelry

Suit Rentals: Generation Tux

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!