The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon

Article on a sought-after wedding venue

2011-07-05T10:00:00.004-06:00

Alternative online newspaper The Bozeman Magpie and local favorite Katie Lineberger Thomas introduces those that aren't in-the-know to a pristine and delightful wedding and event venue. Any guesses as to where such a treasure might be? ;)

The article is brought to life by the beautiful images taken by Lauren Brown Photography who shoots at The Woodlands at every opportunity we can have her! She always brings warmth with her fresh perspective as she captures the beauty and personality of each event.

Now that you know the talent lowdown, take a peak at what other people are saying about The Woodlands.

Rustic Elegance at The Woodlands

by Katie Lineberger Thomas

New Beginings

2011-06-30T13:27:00.003-06:00

I have been terrifically absent in my blogging communications so I am peaking in to say hello to those who find themselves cruzin' The Woodlands page. We are in fact. . .still here and lovin' life as much as always!

New Beginnings seem to be everywhere and just as our brides are starting out on their wedding journey, which inevitably leads to that even more important marriage journey, fresh starts are happening here too.

We enjoyed the off season break by powering through the final stages of building our home and then did the 'dreaded move' which has been followed by the much anticipated 'settle in'. Ah, it is truly and indescribably good to be home! My sweet husband started work on our home 5 years ago (yes, five. . .you read that right!) by moving mountains and felling trees. What a man! Then we practiced our zen like patience while the trees harvested from this very property dried and then he milled, and milled and milled the logs for all the siding, flooring, beams and more. Now you are getting a picture of how 5 years can pass by! We always paused during wedding season to give our full focus an attention to our amazing clients, so with starts and stops, lots of planning, a million and a half decisions and with love in our hearts, our home came to fruition.

It's not unlike planning a wedding! So many choices and considerations and factors and costs and weighing of what is important and what is unnecessary. Then balance two people's opinions and educate yourself about things you have never thought of before, put your time management skills to the test and eventually it all adds up to one really big, wonderful event creation that speaks of two people, their lives, their histories, their future and their people. The accumulation of which is what living life is really all about!

So wherever you are at in your journey, we know, we understand and we have been there (in several different ways!) We hope to help you with your process of creation. Whether it's through our suggested floor plans, assistance with linens, finishing touches or services that help you live in the moments of your day instead of working your way through it, we have your back!

So the wonder of all the new beginnings in 2011 settles in. Wedding season and fresh starts for sweet couples are happening every week around here. Planning is in full swing for 2012 clients with some dates still available for those just starting out and we even have one more big new beginning to share with you!

Just in time for our coming off season, we will have a new little life {translation: a precious baby. . .girl!}that will be joining our family here! So if you see me and I look bigger than last time we met. . .don't worry yourself with questions on whether I have just discovered chocolate for breakfast, I am indeed pregnant. ;) All this wonderfulness in one place is enough to give me a huge burst of joy and energy. I hope to share that with you!

After. . .Ever After

2011-01-19T12:53:00.007-07:00

Our 7th Annual Bridal Event, Ever After had a great turn out even though the weather wasn't very inviting. Brides, grooms and other attendees all enjoyed themselves immensely. One couple raved about how much they got accomplished in one setting. Even better, a groom said "This wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It was really pretty cool" ;)

After playing with colors, fabrics and textures in the planning stages, we opted for a rich eggplant, a smoky violet and accents of pewter and deep mossy green. It was a rich warm feel to come into after braving that chilly day. I would like to thank each of our colossally cool vendors for their energy and enthusiasm. Let me take a moment to introduce you to them in case you didn't get the joy of meeting them in person. Each vendor's mention will take you to their website so you can check them out.

The Zebra Cocktail Lounge offered great expertise on one of the most important parts of any great event, {The Bar}! And they offered some wonderful selections of delightful yet affordable wine and champagne tastings to help keep your large group happy and your pocket book not hurting. They even featured a purple color coordinated specialty cocktail of Black Cherry Mojitos.

Custom Dining Experiences greeted guests with one of my favorite appetizers, Shaved Rare Beef and Red Wine Onions with Maytag Blue Cheese and Cracked Black Pepper. Yum! Lauren Brown Photography and Larry Stanley Photography showed off their flair for amazing photography and their warmth with each of the clients that they work with. Both these photographers are now offering weekday discounts to Woodlands clients!

Larry took one brave and beautiful model, Charity, outside to play in the deep snow (in heels, no less) and captured these photos. The hot little red number and the necklace is by the lovey After 5 and Weddings, who always wows people with the stunning gowns they bring each year. The make up and bracelet was by the charming ladies at Indulgence, who always specialize in bringing out each woman's natural beauty and glow.

Red dress & Necklace by After 5 and Weddings

Tess, from Happily Ever After gave brides a big sigh of relief when they realized how much easier she makes the ceremony process. She officiates, leads rehearsals and has wonderful tools to help you put together a ceremony that fits you without re-inventing the wheel. Leslie from Leslie Lukas Wedding & Events displayed floral options from wholesale flowers for the DIY'er to full floral displays and was chatting with brides about her coordination and planning options. More to come on her DIY floral arranging classes coming this spring! Brides options are extensive with this warm and creative lady as your talented resource.

Leslie Lukas, floral designer extraordinaire

Boy was Elle's Belles a hit. How can you not get excited about all the delectable samples? Elle brought the ever popular cupcakes, showcased her full wedding cakes and of course her famous cookies make the best favors!

Suelto Boutique turned up the heat with their sexy lingerie options. Perfect for a fun boudoir shoot or well, just any time you want to feel fabulous! Pop into her store to check out the red lacy set of lovelies I couldn't stop ogling and they will start you a wish list.

Venus Catering offers down to earth, delicious and wonderful options for catering, from rehearsal to wedding receptions alike. Joe Trudgeon was booking DJ gigs right and left, so I know we will see a lot of him as always and if you don't have a DJ, talk to him. Kene with Eye in The Sky Photography introduced people to his fresh perspective and style as well as featuring his associate photographer, Tori, for those who are looking to trim the budget a bit without sacrificing quality. Country Flower showed off their beautiful floral options and had some sample bouquets for the models. Alara had everyone realizing it was high time to explore jewelry that is fresh, unique, classic and as cool as you are. They can custom design rings or help you find an attendant gift everyone would love. One of our brides is working with them to design an arm band to wear on her wedding day. Love it!

Montana Party Rentals made everything look beautiful as always and this year they introduced their new rental concept, Vintage Rentals, which I have been waiting for someone to do for the longest time. Hurray! Now you can bring a truely unique element into your event.

Vintage Rentals by Montana Party Rentals

Priscilla at Ro Sham Bo brought in all her amazing textures and prints for albums, invitations and so much more. Our local kitchen store, Baker Street gave people a wonderful and personal source for wedding registry. I hope you get a chance to deck out your kitchen with some of their 'must haves' {I couldn't live without my Microplane grater and my garlic peeler}.

So there you have it. The longest blog post ever. Yet what better way to introduce you to the resources you are looking for, to help make your day flow smoothly. To each bride, attendee, vendor and friend that came by, a warm thank you for your smile last Sunday. We appreciate each individual's contribution and presence. It helps bring meaning to what we do.

Wedding Flashback June 2010 ~ Whitney & Kevin

2010-12-09T19:59:00.002-07:00

Midsummer in the wedding world is pretty much non-stop. There is never enough time to blog or share all the wonderful events we get to be part of at The Woodlands. While we are settling in for some deep breathes this winter, I will be blogging about a few more from 2010 to help inspire the next round of brides for 2011 and to reminisce and honor the weddings of this last year.

This beautiful event had all the elements of Montana including a big chuck wagon turning out great wood-fired Tri-tip, mixed with feminine elements of pale pinks, vintage pearls and accents of burlap for a fresh and unique feel. Whitney was inspired for the event's overall feel when she found the perfect lacy, vintage wedding gown. Many antique family heirlooms where woven into the decor including a teacup cake topper that belonged to her Great Grandmother. The food and flowers were all from local vendors in Three Forks, as the couples family are cattle ranchers there. There is so much to be said for keeping it local and close to home!

The bride, Whitney Lin, is a talented wedding photographer herself and it's always a high honor for one photographer to choose another fellow photographer to shoot their own wedding, so it came as no surprise that Whitney picked the sweet and bubbly red-head, Cali Sparing Photography to capture her day. Thank you to Cali for all the wonderful photos below and thanks 'a-lot' for making it so hard to choose which ones to post, as there were so many to choose from! :) So sit back and soak up the lush, the green, the tall, the trees, the vintage, the beauty and of course the fun.

And they lived happily, ever after!

The Woodlands Bridal Event of the year - Ever After

2010-12-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

It is the most wonderful time of the year! You may be thinking of Christmas but no! It's time for The Woodland's delightfully different and outrageously beautiful bridal event 'Ever After'! So grab a pen, (or your Blackberry) mark your calendar and call all your friends!

The festivities are one day only, January 9th, 2011 (only a month or so away!). Once you shake the snow off your boots (boots are always a good idea in a Montana January) and you are relieved of your coat, you will find yourself with a choice of champagne, hot cider or another delicious beverage by The Zebra Cocktail Lounge & Catering. Our great room will be decked in the splendor of this years chosen colors: purples, moss greens, lavender and charcoal and the room will be filled with super fun and amazingly talented vendors to chat and mingle with.

Nibble samples from our caterers or view some beautiful photography, try on a wedding dress (or five!) by After Five and Weddings, check out papers and invitations, music, sexy lingere and so much more.

There is no other event like it and rumor has it, this one is the most fun! We aren't biased around here. ;)

An updated list of the vendors at The Ever After event will be posted shortly. Oh and one final note, you do not have to be a bride to attend. I have had past brides come and mingle just to revisit the memories of their day at The Woodlands. Mom's, friends, and bridesmaids come to gather info for a bride in a different state or one that can not attend. Or you can pop up just to say hello. My husband even puts on a tux for the day so that is worth seeing right there! I can't wait to meet and mingle with you all. We will be here to help you make the wedding planning process as easy as it is fun!

Happy Autumn, strangers!

2010-10-26T12:45:00.002-06:00

Well, you may (or may not) have noticed that I have been a bad, bad blogger lately. Life slid easily from weddings non-stop to a whirlwind of catch up and reconnecting with other projects that were back-burnered during the intensity of wedding season. To sum up, I had my first weekend off since May and that was a slice of joy. I escaped to the spectacular Double T Ranch and got my groove on with those fine ladies there, Private Chef Sarah Knecht and all my Assets for a flurry of cooking, tablescaping and photo shooting that ended in a prime rib dinner under the stars. (Photos and details to come on that adventure soon!) I went garage sailing for the first time all season. I went to my grandfather's 80th birthday celebration in Portland and I made cookies with my daughter. A little less work and a little more balance.

With this spectacular autumn we have been experiencing, I was inspired to sift through some family photos that Melanie Nashan, of Nashan Photographers did for us this time last year. Life seemed so busy and it was a challenge to find the time to do this, however without Melanie's gentle encouragement, I would not have these treasures. {Thank you, Melanie!} I love that we have these memories to reflect on. I thought I would share them since they do give you a delightful peak at a Woodlands autumn with the glorious foliage and a peak at the people that make the Woodlands all that it is to you. May your autumn be full of blessings and may you discover bountiful harvests in all your endeavors.

Happy Anniversary: Jane and Tim

2010-09-29T10:58:00.001-06:00

A little reflection is a good thing and with that thought, I welcome you to this segment of our blog where we celebrate a couple that joined their lives in the space under our Woodland trees a year ago.

Last September we had a truly delightful and genuine couple that fell in love with our property for their wedding. They touched us with their kindness, appreciation and open hearts. They celebrated with a simple yet beautiful fall reception featuring copper and garnet with accents of burnt orange for a lovely fall scheme.

The lovely Miss Janie O of Janie Osborne Photography was there to capture the warmth of the group and the delightful Mollie Eckman coordinated the details with style as always. The ceremony was officiated by the wonderful Tess Jones of Happily Ever After, flowers by Avant Floral and the linens customized by The Woodlands (as always!)

Here are some thoughts and wisdom that Jane shared as she looks back at the day.

What was the best decision you made?

"I think the best decision I made, hands down, was to enjoy not just the wedding day itself, but every step of the planning process leading up to it. I knew I wanted my wedding day to be peaceful and harmonious and joyful, and that if I spent the entire year stressing and panicking over the linens and flowers and seating arrangements, then on the day itself I'd look around at those things and associate them with how stressed I felt when I was deciding on them. Because I decided that planning for a joyful day should be a joyful process, when I looked around on my wedding day I was thinking about how much fun the last year had been and how much fun married life would be going forward."

What was a favorite moment you remember?

"We held the ceremony outside on a perfect fall day. The sun was shining and there were fluffy white clouds in the sky. It wasn't too hot or too cold - everything about the weather was ideal. During the ceremony and afterward, during some of the picture taking, little bits of white cottonwood fluff began to float down from the sky onto the meadow. Post-ceremony a couple of the kids had the best time chasing the fluff around. It was like a magical fairy land."

"This isn't a description I throw around lightly: it was absolutely perfect. Elsa was a joy to work with during the planning - and thank you again for providing our dream location!"

Thank you Jane for your wonderful perspective. It was an honor and joy to have Tim and Jane at The Woodlands to celebrate their day.

All the best to them and here is to many, many more joyous years to come!

Happy Anniversary!

Just for Fun: Escape from Wedding in Subaru

2010-09-24T12:35:00.000-06:00

Considering Montana's love affair with the Subaru, I thought this was a totally Bozeman appropriate post.

P.S. Honey, if you are reading this, (even though it is charming) I do not, {I repeat}, do not want this for our second honeymoon. Think sand, hammocks, sushi and Coronas - K? ;) Love you!

Powerful wedding planning tools by Google & Style Me Pretty

2010-09-23T08:37:00.003-06:00

The internet has dramatically changed the process of planning weddings. Now brides are sitting in front of the computer screen and discovering creative ways to DIY, planning weddings in Montana from a far, and exploring more creative ideas than you (and definitely your fiance!) will know what to do with. But thank heavens some of the daunting tasks of planning a wedding have become easier.

GoogleDocs and Style Me Pretty have teamed up to take the nightmare out of the large task of hunting down each person's address on your guest list. It's like wedding planning software without having to buy the software. This process allows you to send out a 'save the date' via email that acts as a request for all your wedding guests to reply back to you with their current mailing address so you don't have to hunt down the mailing address of nearly everyone you know. It carries each guest's entered info right into a complete spreadsheet for you to work from, come invitation time. Simply click on the GoogleDocs link for a super quick video that describes the whole process.

It is not fondly that I remember the task of address gathering for my wedding and I am 'googly-eyed' over the options that are out there now. Ok, enough with the puns. Just check it out. If you are planning a wedding or any kind of event now, you will save time and when we spread the love, the love always comes back, so really, everyone wins! ;)

A spectacular fall Montana wedding for Jenna and Joe

2010-09-18T23:47:00.002-06:00

Jenna has an impeccable eye for detail and with her mom assisting with the vision and her dad there to build what she needed, like the gorgeous half wine barrels for their iced bottles and the redwood cake base, this fall wedding was truly made with love. The grooms mom, Michelle of Budget Bouquets and More designed all the flower arrangements with the great height of curly willow, a variety of richly colored orchids and little succulents which were complemented by the natural touches of burlap runners and Montana slate. Jenna and Joe love to dance so they did a unique room arrangement of square tables in a U shape around the perimeter of the room giving them a generous dance floor to kick their heels up! Here is a few peaks at the room and the Michelle's beautiful tablesscapes.

The bride and groom showed off their smarts by choosing an all star cast of wedding vendors and as a result, their day was smooth and perfectly detailed. Kene Sperry of Eye in the Sky was there to work his magic, capturing the moments right down to the detail with his amazing signature perspective. It is always a pleasure to work with the great talents of our area and Kene is surely one of them. Plus the guy has one hell of a smile. The lovely fruit laden cake cake was by kick-ass Sarah of WeeBee's and the mouthwatering plated dinner was by Mr. Steven Kuntz of Montana Epicurean another super cool human being and foodie favorite.

Cheers to all the efforts that made this day just what Jenna and Joe wanted. Now for Eye in the Sky's eye candy. . .

Picture this guys with a Tarantino-style slow motion scene set to music. . .

I know, cool.

Love the little nose nudge. . .

And the forehead touch. . .

Sigh. Thank you guys for finding the perfect setting to celebrate your love in The Woodlands.

May blessings and light follow you always.

Stephanie & Justin's Wedding Slideshow by Doug Loneman

2010-09-15T14:33:00.002-06:00

We were delighted to have the love, light and energy of the new Mr. and Mrs. Alexander at The Woodlands. This classically beautiful bride and her forever grinning groom will steal your hearts
as you view the moments of their day.

Click here to take a peak into this Woodlands Wedding

Thank you Doug of Loneman Photography for your talent and beautiful perspective as you captured the emotion and the celebration of the day. As always, truly beautiful work!

And to the happy couple, many blessings to you!

Chelsea & Adam's Complete Wedding Album by Larry Stanley

2010-09-13T08:00:00.003-06:00

It's always fun to step into the special day of a sweet and beautiful couple like Adam and Chelsea. Explore this July wedding album by a truly excellent photographer who works with zen-like calm, Mr. Larry Stanley. Cake by Deliciously Beautiful, a delightfully light and fresh meal provided by Food for Thought and Day of Coordination by Elsa Campbell of The Woodlands.

Click here for Chelsea and Adam's July Wedding by Larry Stanley

Now an honored "Little Black Book" Montana wedding venue from Style Me Pretty.

2010-09-10T13:02:00.000-06:00

Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book is a highly edited collection of wedding service providers that are handpicked for their artistic and fabulous wedding skills. This list has been compiled to help the discerning bride find the best without having to wade through the rest. Word has it that these vendors are the best of the best.

So on that note, allow me to trumpet the news that The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon is now, not only a Style Me Pretty, Little Black Book Vendor but we are currently the exclusive venue for the entire state of Montana! After Style Me Pretty did the thorough interview process with The Woodlands, they shared with us that one of the reasons they loved The Woodlands was because of our sweet taffy like texture. . . meaning our venue is as flexible as it is delightful and beautiful. So don't stretch your limits, find a venue that will flex to meet what you are looking for. Whether it's a DYI explosion or a deluxe all-inclusive experience or anywhere in between, you will find the solution here. And be sure to check out Style Me Pretty's incredible blog, if you aren't a groupie already. The depth of ideas and insight may capture you so much that you shouldn't be surprised if you totally lose track of time as you explore the site's fabulous wedding and event content.

Nicole & Jason's Montana Wedding: Personal touches and radiant sunshine

2010-09-06T16:36:00.002-06:00

Nicole brought in some wonderfully personal touches to her and Jason's July wedding here at The Woodlands. Nicole collected milk glass vases for over a year (that is dedication!) and then had them filled with the simplest hydrangea in vibrant periwinkle. The cake (Good God, it's gorgeous) was a design by Carrie at Sweet Pea Bakery and featured an antique broach embellishment that complemented the broach on Nicole's dress and in her hair. They chose a more intimate half circle ceremony layout so their guest would surround the chuppah and the couple as they said their vows. I have great appreciation for the beautiful traditions and ceremony the Jewish faith brings to their celebrations.

The Woodlands is honored to share some snippets of the day provided by talented local photographer Charlie, with Eubank Photography. The photos are outstanding! I can't get over how dreamy the whole day looked as the summer sunlight filtered through the trees and touched the ceremony with it's warm rays.

Congratulations Nicole and Jason! It was a beautiful day and we were so honored that you chose The Woodlands.

Each Woodlands wedding is a personal translation.

2010-09-05T20:12:00.002-06:00

Our first wedding of this weekend by Icing on the Cake was beautiful, fresh, and completely elegant with various shades of green and slate accented with beautiful white flowers in silver oversize mint julep vases. The following day, a new wedding came through and translated our space into a punchy, relaxed and fun-lovin' atmosphere with bright orange crinkle linens, colorful Chinese lanterns, happy Gerbera daisies, a killer photo booth in the trees and our relaxed bride in a short lacy vintage dress... and cowboy boots.

Instead of a cocktail hour after the ceremony, they did it before, so their guests drifted in and mingled on the patio with drinks and appetizers. It may not be for everyone, but I personally loved the way it opens people up. By the time the wedding ceremony rolled around, everyone was cheering for the wedding to start instead just cheering at the end! What a great way to relax the intensity and formality of a ceremony if that is something you may be apprehensive about.

Every Woodlands translation tells a story about the bride and groom. Weddings of our generation are so much more a personal expression then ever before, so what would your Woodlands translation be?

Here on The Woodlands blog, we will be continually sharing our brides and grooms unique translations to inspire you as you shape your own. When your celebration is sprinkled with elements that are truely yours, the day will only mean that much more. When it's at The Woodlands it will only be that much more amazing.

A Italiano Rehearsal Dinner, al Fresco!

2010-09-01T10:00:00.020-06:00

We were blessed to have the warmest and most wonderful set of families here at The Woodlands this August for the Stevens wedding. The bride was savvy and took advantage of our weekday discount and then added the option for the discounted 'day before the wedding' for their rehearsal dinner. Jenni and Sy were engaged in Tuscany, Italy (so romantic. . .sigh) and Sy's mother, Denice wanted to honor that special wedding proposal by hosting a rehearsal dinner in true Italian fashion. A mobile wood-fired pizza by the groom's sister was serving individual pizza's (one featured a red wine-rosemary sauce and shaved dark chocolate!). With a look at the beautiful country Italian style that was created in the beautiful afternoon light of The Woodlands, it is safe to say that fun was had by all. What a wonderful way to start a weekend of celebration. That's Amore!

Meet my friend Morgan and her sassy blog!

2010-08-31T18:42:00.001-06:00

Working in the wedding business is hard on the balance in your life. I spend endless hours working at the computer on beautiful summer days and often into the night and since I know my brides would prefer to work with a happy, centered and sane person who's personal state is reflected in our interactions, I find the definite need to seek that balance.

My family is an amazing support and a trip to the hot springs so we can get 'our mermaid on' is always a great way to unwind. However one of my crucial outlets to rejuvenate is my group of sassy ladies called The Assets. We have this special sort of chaos that occurs when we come together that is uplifting and well, kind of like a whole other home. It's five ladies, their midgets, their dogs and a whole lot of wine and amazing home cooked food that begins to evolve as we chop and laugh and sip and catch up between a few hollers at the kiddos.

By some great stroke of luck or genius, we are all in the wedding business so we do a lot of Tuesday get togethers since weekends are crazy but they always lift up my spirit for the next round of rocking the wedding world.

My friend and fellow Asset Morgan is the glue that keeps it all together, one of the great instigators and definitely the hostess with the most-ess. She has just started blogging about our crew and she is witty, well written and generally brilliant, so you are sure to enjoy it. Plus she is one seriously talented wedding photographer. So check out her blog Morgan LaMare Photography.

Megan & Adam's beautiful Montana Wedding

2010-08-29T08:05:00.005-06:00

I received this wonderful email from Megan who had her wedding at The Woodlands this August. It warms my heart when our brides, grooms or their families take the time out of their busy schedule to share with us what really made their day great. Thank you for your feedback, which helps empower what we do and guides us with wisdom on how we might do it even better.

Dear Elsa,

You have been wonderful to work with during this past year of planning and especially on the day of. It was also a great help that my other vendors (DJ, caterer, photographer, officiant, bartender etc) knew the layout of the Woodlands and knew you. They all said the same thing: “Elsa is so great to work with!”

The Woodlands itself was gorgeous. So many guest came up to me during the reception telling me what a beautiful location it was—worth the drive! (most of the guests had driven from Billings or further). I loved that the bridal party and then my dad and myself crossed the bridge on our way to the aisle—the way I felt coming across that bridge is something I will never forget.

The patio with the fire column were also a huge hit and keep people up and mingling. The photos Blubird took look so beautiful with the backdrop of the lush wooded hillside in some, and the mountains in others. This woodsy yet elegant feel was exactly what we were looking for for our wedding—and the Woodlands was perfect!

Thanks so much for everything—I will recommend you guys to anyone looking to get married in the Bozeman area.

Megan

I threw in a storyboard of the event for you to check out the room and details. The white paper lanterns are a 'Finishing Touch' offered by The Woodlands, which accomplished a brightening of the space against the dark rich eggplant, sage and mango colors. As always, click on photo to enlarge. The cupcakes are by Elle's Belles.

The Blubird images below by Meggan and Jennie Lynn are as always, beautiful! I love the capture of that signature Woodlands light. These two photographers are so professional, sweet, talented and welcoming which makes them a true joy to work with. P.S. Love those purple shoes Megan!

And they walked off into the sunset.

Wedding Color and Decor Inspiration

2010-08-26T14:22:00.008-06:00

Good heavens! I was shocked to see September knocking at the door. Time files, life flies and I have been soaring right along with it. It's been a gloriously busy and wonderful summer as we mold and shape the space where brides and grooms can breathe the Montana mountain air, capture memories under old growth trees and dance the night away in great celebration. I typically try to find a calm moment to take some images of each event to inspire brides-to-come with color combinations and decor ideas that will help them springboard to their own personal look in our always evolving great room. I thought I would take a moment to re-live a few of the weddings we have seen here at The Woodlands this year. All the linens below are from The Woodlands.

Dory and Mike's fresh color combo turned out great. Satin brown runners, with teal accents and napkins. Flowers by Bloom and the antique double wash bins for drinks are a 'Finishing Touch' offered by The Woodlands. *Feel free to click on each image for a larger view of all the beautiful details. Here are a few to feast your eyes on.

Aqua has been a hot wedding color this year. Fresh like the Montana sky. . . and if you look close enough, you will discover fresh rosemary tucked into the arrangements. I love herb accents, they are so aromatic and earthy!

Amanda was very hands on in all her decor. She went with the bold and vibrant orange Gerbera daisy and brought in the element of organic texture with the burlap. I think Montana weddings do burlap with amazing grace and style! And she featured her arrangements in the ever popular, always charming and yet economical mason jar.

Another Amanda chose The Woodlands for her wedding a week after the Amanda I mentioned above, which definitely kept me on my toes. I have seen purple in The Woodlands great room for wedding receptions plenty of times yet I was struck by the fresh look the added white overlay brought to the room. Hello again, my friend the mason jar.

Adam and Amber embraced their colorful side in all its hot pink glory! The guests picked up on the couples energy for life and danced the night away on the patio under the stars. I am pretty sure I saw a groomsman that abandoned the white suit jacket and shirt leaving only his hot pink vest for the sake of aerodynamics on the dance floor. ;) Oh,yeah.

Please forgive me for not crediting all the floral or cake vendors that contributed their talents for these events. I don't always have that information on hand, but if you do, send us a shout. I would be delighted to honor them with a mention.

Anniversary: Charlton & Elsa- One decade, baby!

2010-08-13T21:01:00.003-06:00

Ten years ago, my husband Chuck and I stood before family and friends and said our vows of marriage.

The celebration of such milestones is always a perfect opportunity to pause in our busy lives and sit in reflection. We promised to honor each others dreams, support each others personal growth and to "speak softly, listen deeply, laugh often, and comfort quickly". As I look back, I have an even better understanding of what we did that day. With our vows, we had committed to a kind of road map of how our life, our marriage and our relationship to each other would be. . and then we celebrated it (sangria and all!).

We pull out those same vows every anniversary and make those very promises to each other. Every year, it means something different in relation to where we are in life, but it means something a little deeper every time.

As I look back on our wedding, I remember being moved by the overwhelming amount of love I felt from everyone around me and I remember feeling more beautiful than I had ever felt and I was so elated to be marrying THIS man, that I just floated through the day. {That's us below; photo by Winslow Studios} Regular life may have less floating, but it's true, real and good and we should seize every opportunity to celebrate it and its milestones.

Many of you reading this may be in a very different place. As I look back, you look forward,. You are just beginning this journey. But through it all, be it the planning, the day itself or the blessed, yet real life that follows, I hope that you speak softly, listen deeply and laugh often with each other. I hope we get to have you here at The Woodlands to build your own memories to last a lifetime. You too, will get to look back on those moments you made together, under the firs, surrounded by family and friends and celebrate what you did and how far you have come. Even the small victories should be celebrated. . .like finding the dress that makes you feel spectacular, discovering the perfect location nestled in an enchanted forest ;) or finally dropping all those invites in the mail! Celebrate!

One final note; this will be the first part of a new series I want to do on this blog. As we are able, I will be gathering other photos, thoughts and stories for past weddings at The Woodlands and posting Happy Anniversary spots on other couples who have walked the Woodlands on their wedding day. I hope you find inspiration in their perspectives. So look for these and contact me if you have a story or memory to share.

An August weekend of joyous wedding celebrations

2010-08-10T10:34:00.003-06:00

This last weekend was whirlwind of wonderful weddings with outstandingly cool folks. Thursday brought sweet Penny and Nick who had family friend Governor Brian Schweitzer performing their ceremony. I got the chance to tour the Woodlands property with Brian's special services security team and meet some of the great guys from the Highway Patrol for some added excitement and even talked Ghost Pepper salsa (yum) with Justin from Helena's Karmadillos.

Friday, we had a fun-loving crew of people that came to celebrate with the lovely Dory and her new husband, Mike, a scotch and cigar columnist. They were so relaxed and quick to laughter on their day here at The Woodlands that it was hard not to smile just being around them.

Finally, our kindhearted gem of a bride, Stephanie and her handsome Justin celebrated their union in style. I will leave you with these photos - including the fun shot of Stephanie captured by Doug of Loneman Photography - and some heartfelt words from Stephanie on her experience here at The Woodlands.

We cannot THANK YOU enough for the amazing and PERFECT weekend! Our 'Big Day' was even more wonderful than we could have imagined! We will be forever grateful to you and The Woodlands!

All Our Love and Prayers,

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander ;)

A Woodlands Farrie-bell

2010-08-05T13:51:00.005-06:00

There is no description of who I am or what we do that would ever be complete without mention of my daughter, Farris Victoria. The ways that she expands my heart are boundless and her existence has changed the way I look at life and weddings for that matter. So please allow me to introduce you to my 'baby angel'.

When a family arrives on the day of a Woodland bride's wedding, I am often impacted by how quickly life ebbs and flows. I look at my 3 year-old little red-head just beginning to embrace the world and then the bride, a woman stepping beautifully into the next chapter of her life. Our bride's parents must feel like their little girl has gone in the blink of an eye from a 3 year-old like mine (who picks dandelions for bouquets and tells me that she's getting "maryied") to a woman ready to walk down the aisle.

I have never seen time move faster than when Farris came along. She is my little forever-changing reminder of how life moves forward and each day is precious.

I hope many things for the brides that choose The Woodlands for their weddings. I often remind myself that each beautiful bride that graces our doorstep is someone's daughter, someone's treasure, someone's joy. I find great joy in assisting with every mother's daughter's wedding, believing that the peace and happiness I plant now for others will eventually flower in my own life. Someday I will be blessed to see my little peanut take that long aisle walk away from me to join what I am sure will be a wonderful man. In the meantime I'll treasure dandelion bouquets and the privilege of providing wonderful parents and brides the chance to celebrate their own milestones.

A June Montana Wedding for Chris and Charity

2010-07-26T12:58:00.007-06:00

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.

Montana love is sealed under the towering trees of The Woodlands

2010-07-22T23:59:00.005-06:00

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.

Welcome to The Woodlands first wedding blog!

2010-07-12T19:01:00.010-06:00

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.