This Colorful Wedding is the Ultimate Summer Wedding Inspiration

While we are huge proponents of the fact that Montana is awe-inspiring at any time of year, our state truly shines in the spring and summer months. The sun illuminates the landscape, bringing out the most vivid hues that nature has to offer. From emerald in the forest trees to the sparkling blue lakes to various colors seen in the wildflowers, Montana steps into the spotlight from April – August. And don’t even get us started on summer sunsets!

It’s no wonder that many couples have their hearts set on getting married in Montana during this season. The weather is glorious, the natural scenery radiates, and guests can take full advantage of countless outdoor activities, like kayaking and hiking. This certainly was the case for one of our amazing couples, Aly and Sean. They not only desired a summer wedding, but they wanted to play up Montana’s joy and beauty during this season by having a colorful wedding!

Thus, we filled their wedding celebration with the most vibrant colors, including pinks, oranges, purples, yellows, and blues. Their wedding color palette was as bright as their love for one another, as they tied the knot with their closest loved ones surrounding them at Great Northern Resort.

Their colorful wedding is the ultimate summer wedding inspiration! As you read their wedding story, you might just discover new ideas for your own nuptials. Maybe you’ll love Aly’s colorful wedding bouquet or their unique double wedding arch. Their nature-inspired unity ceremony may strike a chord with you or upon seeing Aly’s second dress, you may start searching for your own party gown.

No matter which pieces of Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding sparks something in you, we wish you a wedding day that is as beautiful as you are! Now let’s dive into Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding!

Colorful Wedding Details at Great Northern Resort:

Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding took place at Great Northern Resort. The venue’s Meadow was the stage for their ceremony and the adjacent tented site became the setting for their reception. On the day of this bright summer wedding, our lead planner, Katie, facilitated the process of bringing the couple’s vision to life alongside their talented vendor team. For their ceremony, they set a double wooden triangular arch, meant to emulate the silhouette of the mountains. Two vivid floral meadows sat at the base of the arch and a corresponding floral spray decorated the side of it.

Matching floral meadows also lined either side of the aisle, creating a breathtaking scene where Aly and Sean would soon exchange vows.

In the colorful wedding reception space, Katie and the vendor team set a long king’s table as the dining table with clear bud vases with colorful wildflowers running down the center. Seafoam green taper candles interspersed the wildflowers and gold votive candles, completing the table centerpiece. Every place setting had blush pink linen napkins and water goblets, both accented by gold flatware.

One special touch that we just loved from this colorful wedding reception was the personalized thank you notes at each place setting. Aly and Sean took the time to write individual messages to every guest, so that each person felt so loved, cherished, and welcomed at this celebration. So sweet!

First Looks and Colorful Wedding Ceremony:

Pre-Wedding First Looks

As the vendor team executed Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding design plans, Aly held three different first looks. She did one with her dad, her soon-to-be mother-in-law, and then her soon-to-be husband! Many happy tears were shed, as Aly dazzled in her ivory wedding gown with lace back.

Aly and Sean’s first look took place in Glacier National Park, which is mere minutes from Great Northern Resort. At the banks of Lake McDonald with the mountains towering behind them, Sean saw his bride for the first time. Even though the lake gleamed, Sean only had eyes for Aly. They embraced and realized that the day they had been waiting for was finally here.

Wedding Ceremony

After capturing photos in Glacier, the nearlyweds hopped back over to the venue for the ceremony! There, Aly and Sean’s loved ones took their seats in the Meadow, trees engulfing the area and casting a vast sense of profoundness over the area. As the notes of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” wafted through the air, Aly made her way down the aisle on her father’s arm. Her colorful wedding bouquet added the most beautiful pops of color to her bridal look.

Their colorful wedding ceremony was joyous, filled with heartfelt smiles and laughter. Aly and Sean chose to have a nature-inspired unity ceremony, where they both planted a sapling in fresh soil. Symbolizing the start of their union, this would be a treasured keepsake that they could take home with them and watch as the tree grows alongside their marriage. During this special unity ceremony, Aly and Sean each poured soil into the planter and watered it together. The delicate yellow blooms on the sapling popped against the natural greenery and blended beautifully with the wedding floral. This made it the perfect token of remembrance of the ceremony!

Then, Aly and Sean became husband and wife! Cheers and bubbles filled the air. The newlyweds then kissed and made their way back up the aisle, this time as a married couple!

Fun Wedding Cocktail Hour Ideas:

After the ceremony, Katie invited guests into cocktail hour to kick off the party! There, they were treated to appetizers, like bison meatballs and cheese tarts with huckleberry. They also delighted in the couple’s signature drink, a Huckleberry French 75. This Montana twist on a classic drink called for huckleberry liqueur to be infused with the champagne, creating a refreshing flavor!

As everyone sipped, mixed and mingled, they enjoyed snapping Polaroids for Aly and Sean’s guest book. They also had a blast playing “Aly and Sean Bingo!”. The newlyweds created special bingo cards to help guests get to know one another and make new connections. With directives like “Take a selfie with a Youtuber” and “Find Aly’s longest childhood friend,” this was such a creative way to help their loved ones uncover fun facts about each other and get the fun of the evening started. As an accompaniment to this bingo game, they also had “Solve & Sip” wedding crossword puzzles!

A Colorful Wedding Reception:

To kickstart this colorful wedding reception, everyone found their seats at Aly and Sean’s gorgeous wedding tablescapes. Each table was named after a specific place in Montana, like Goat Haunt and Saint Mary Lake. They oohed and aahed over their custom, agate place cards and eagerly awaited the newlyweds’ grand entrance. And they were not disappointed! Upon making their entrance into the reception, Aly and Sean went right into their first dance, where they put on a show! They started off as you would expect, but then threw on costumes like a baseball shirt and hat to perform the rest of their whimsical choreographed number. What a way to start the party!

The remainder of this colorful wedding was marked by good food, good desserts, and the most epic sunset! For the latter half of the night, Aly changed into her second wedding dress. This was a sleek, cowl-necked gown with an open back. The sky transformed just for them, as the sun set behind the mountains, hues of orange, peach, and pink tinging the sky and clouds. It was as if Mother Nature got the memo about Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding!

A Summer Glacier National Park Adventure Session:

The fun didn’t stop there! The day after Aly and Sean’s colorful wedding, they got to embark on an incredible summer adventure session in Glacier National Park! Aly wore both her wedding dresses again to capture unique photos throughout the park, exploring truly everything Glacier is known for. From the lakes to the mountains to the waterfalls to the wildflower meadows, Aly and Sean got to see and take one-of-a-kind photos all over. This resulted in the most stunning images that they’ll get to keep forever.

A Word from Katie:

Aly and Sean, your colorful wedding was EPIC! I loved being a part of your wedding vision and day! Not only was it downright beautiful, but you guys were so much fun to work with and I had a blast meeting your family and friends! Cheers to a great weekend and an even greater marriage!

-Katie

Vendor Team:

Venue // Great Northern Resort

Planner // Big Day Celebrations

Photographer // Carrie Ann Photography

Catering // The Kopper Kitchen

DJ // RMF Entertainment

Content Creator // Keep Candid

Cakes & Desserts // Mountain Mamas Cupcakery

Floral // Mums Floral

Rentals // The Party Store // Empress Tents & Events

Transportation // Mountain Shuttle

Agate Place Cards // SJ Letter Co

Rehearsal Dinner // Bias Brewing

Let’s Plan Your Colorful Wedding!

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!