Lone Mountain Ranch is a dream for a wedding or Big Sky, MT elopement and damn was Alicia and Shawn’s elopement a sweet one! So many aspects of their day were thought out and intentional which made every part of their wedding meaningful to them. So I’m a little bit obsessed!!!
Alicia + Shawn originally wanted to elope just the two of them, but couldn’t imagine leaving their parents out of their day. That’s the great thing about elopements, there are no rules! You get to do exactly what you want and not worry about the rest. So they invited just their parents along and we all had the best time together.
When I showed up at Lone Mountain Ranch, Alicia was getting ready in their cabin. She was the most chill, laid-back bride getting ready that morning! She wore a custom flannel she brought with her. It had the lyrics of their first dance song stitched into the shirt – how freakin’ perfect?!
While we finished getting Alicia ready, Shawn headed to the ridge first. Alicia hopped into a horse carriage for her entrance and she took her dad’s arm when we arrived and walked down the grassy aisle to her soon-to-be husband. Right there under that wooden altar, those two lovers exchanged some of the most heart-felt, intentional vows. The ceremony wasn’t long, but it was so sweet and so meaningful to them. After, they toasted with their families and I stole them away for some golden hour portraits.
Golden hour turned out to be a little smokey for this elopement, which can be a possible reality when getting married in Montana in late summer or early fall. But a little smoke didn’t put a damper on our day and Alicia + Shawn rocked their portraits! In fact it created a beautiful dreamy haze. They were running all over the field, jumping up on rocks, and having a damn good time! We turned up the cuteness level up with the addition of some furry friends, a ranch pup and even some horse friends too! We ended with their first dance under a golden haze and these two babes rode off together in the carriage! And, then they ended their laid-back day in Montana the right way, with some bbq + beer!!!
If you loved A+S’s gallery at Lone Mountain Ranch, you are going to want to watch out for Leah + Aaron’s too! I somehow got lucky enough to shoot not one, but two weddings on the ranch last year. Who’s trying to snag my third wedding at Lone Mountain?!!? ‘Cause I am in! Contact me here and let’s get to planning the most perfect day EVER, yeah?!
Xx, J.
