Monday, July 26, 2010

A June Montana Wedding for Chris and Charity

So now that I am blogging, I simply can't help myself.  I must bring you snippets of a wedding that is so very close to my heart.  My one, my only, my most treasured little brother (little as in younger, since he is all of 6 foot) found a woman that is kind, funny, intelligent and special beyond words, and he proposed.

Now, for fun, allow me to give you a little background.  My brother (forgive me, Chris, for carrying on) is a rare species of man.  A true outdoors man, a fly fishing guide, a tango instructor and a guy that cooks a mean homemade pizza, he is special to me in ways that would take a lifetime to describe.  So when he called out of the blue to ask if he could bring up 'a girl' to tango in my great room, I was naturally intrigued.  About a year and a half later he called me to get together for coffee (If he had called for a beer; I would have thought nothing of it. But coffee? I knew it was something was about to go down).  Over coffee he told me that Charity was 'the one' (Hurray!), and shortly thereafter he planned a proposal in the very great room in which he had danced with her on their first date -- complete with 300 candles and dancing to a song that would become their own.


Long story, ever-so-slightly shorter, Chris and Charity celebrated their June wedding at The Woodlands in true Montana style.  We woke up to snow that morning (honestly Montana!) but all that snow melted back into the earth by afternoon, and they said their vows under the grand Montana sky.  They were so relaxed and accepting of the weather that it never phased them.   The most powerful moment came just as they were saying their vows: a beaming ray of sunshine broke through the clouds to illuminate them as they made their commitments.

A fun taco bar featuring beef from Charity's family ranch in Circle, MT kept the mood relaxed, and homemade apple pie and brownies were all made by relatives with love.  My dear friend and wedding photographer Morgan LaMare captured the chilly but beautiful day as their family and friends surrounded them in celebration. 

And they tangoed happily ever after.

P.S. Just for a laugh, take a look at the last picture.  My Grandma is plugging her ears since she thinks the band is too loud.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Montana love is sealed under the towering trees of The Woodlands

May I just say, I love working with genuine,  grounded and outstanding people!  It's one of the joys of my job.  I had the brilliant opportunity to guide Chelsea and Adam through their final planning details as well as coordinating the day itself {July 17th} so that they could do what every bride and groom should do, which is relax, have fun and live in every precious moment!  After all, life only really exists in this one current moment. Now.

If 'now' is your wedding day, then all I hope for you is that your time is truely embraced and treasured.  Do you have any idea how much I would love to go back and re-live my wedding day?  Since I  cannot, then do me a favor, and live yours deeply, fully and completely. Let someone else handle all the many details and do what Chelsea and Adam did.  Breathe the mountain air, smile till your cheeks hurt, sip champagne, take time to swing in a hammock together and be touched every time you look around you and see a sea of people that love and support you.  And raise a glass to Larry Stanley, the talent that captured the moments that are so precious.

Wedding moments among the mountain wildflowers.


If you didn't love hammocks already, how can you not love them now!
No words. . . simply sweetness.


Sigh. . .a moment of peace among the guardian spruce.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Welcome to The Woodlands first wedding blog!

After steering clear of what seemed like yet another task in an otherwise very busy wedding world, I have decided to take the blogging plunge. There is such value in understanding the voice behind the service and person you will be working with and, of course, amazing value in opening a forum for comments that help us continually exceed your expectations.   I am excited to explore everything from the little details we have noticed from a creative bride, to the occasional brief story of "the other side of the wedding world" which could be about what meal we whipped up to blow off all this working steam.

The Woodlands started as the vision of two totally inspired, totally in love people. {Enter Elsa and Chuck} In turn, we had to be totally insane and totally tenacious about putting hard work and soul-sweat into actualizing the dream of creating an especially meaningful place to celebrate life and all its milestones. My husband, a builder and visionary, put shape to my plans and pulled off things you wouldn't believe in a time frame that would blow you away. Yup, he is THAT cool. Voila! The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon.

Every year, with every event, we get the joy and challenge of creating a special space and helping to shape each couple's individual expression of a Montana wedding that brings together all that is important.   How can you not love being part of something so tender, joy-filled and awesome?

So folks, I am new to this! Feel free to shout out some comments on what perspectives you want to hear and what wedding wisdom you may be seeking and you too, can help shape something simple into something greater and more meaningful to readers like yourself.