Winter in Montana is like nothing else! Snow falls early and often. It covers the mountains for the entire season, making them even more majestic than they already are. They truly make it seem like we’re in a cozy town straight out of a Hallmark movie!
Having a winter wedding in Montana is just as magical. Between the natural fir trees that are perfect for Christmas and the snow-covered world, a winter wedding here is like having your dream day inside a snowglobe.
Our sweet clients, Naomi and Chris, had their cozy winter wedding at The Silver Knot in Ronan, Montana. They selected an all-white wedding color palette with fir accents and plenty of romantic candlelight. Theirs was an intimate wedding with about 20 of their loved ones to celebrate.
The photos from this winter wedding instantly transport us back to their big day when they tied the (silver) knot between two charming Christmas trees with snow falling softly in the background. We’ll never forget the looks on the newlyweds’ faces as they danced in each other’s arms amidst the amber glow from all the candlelight. And we’ll always remember the way sparks flew at the end of the night, as if to ring in a new chapter in their lives with a bang!
You won’t want to miss this winter wedding story! Check out you’ll read about the personalized details that made up Naomi and Chris’ big day. You’ll learn why they chose to have an intimate destination wedding and discover the extra special magic that happens with a winter wedding in Montana.
The Love Story:
Naomi and Chris’ love story first began in Boston. Chris was a new student in the city while Naomi was a seasoned native. She hadn’t planned on staying in her hometown for more than a couple months… that is, until she met Chris! They first crossed paths in a cozy little coffee shop in Boston and instantly had a unique connection.
One of their earliest and happiest memories was their first weekend away together when they went winter camping. Despite the New England winter cold, love blossomed on this trip and their relationship flourished as a result.
These pivotal details of their backstory led them to choose a winter wedding in Montana. They both have adventurous hearts, enjoy the outdoors, and the setting of their early relationship was in winter. It only made sense that their love story culminated in a romantic winter wedding!
They even took breathtaking engagement photos in the snow here in Glacier! These pictures perfectly captured the nature of their winter wedding that was to come and frankly, they’re just adorable!
Winter Wedding Ceremony Décor:
On the morning of their winter wedding, we worked alongside Naomi and Chris’ vendor team to bring their wedding vision to life. The event space at The Silver Knot features these gorgeous picture windows that offer tons of natural light. The backdrop to the ceremony site is windows overlooking the venue’s ranch, which just so happened to be blanketed with snow on this day. Due to the naturally stunning view, we didn’t need to do a whole lot to dress up the altar area.
We simply set two Christmas trees dotted with white florals and a sprinkling of pampas grass and eucalyptus. These would frame Naomi and Chris during their ceremony. We also placed 3 large bronze lanterns with candles inside them to flank the trees.
For the guests’ seating, we arranged 14 Chiavari chairs with white flowing fabric woven in the backs.
Winter Wedding Cocktail Hour Details:
In the cocktail hour area of this winter wedding, we set standing height barrels to act as tall cocktail tables and set a hurricane candle on each one. We accented each candle with a little pinecone arrangement and a gold mercury votive. We then set Naomi and Chris’ personalized cocktail napkins at the bar, ready for their guests.
As favors for their loved ones, Naomi and Chris gifted them individual seed packets that read “Let love grow.”
Winter Wedding Reception Game Plan:
Later, after the ceremony, we would be flipping the ceremony space to transform it into a jaw dropping winter wedding reception. Together with the vendor team, we staged as much as we could in order to make the flip as quick and seamless as possible. This involved pre-setting the long wooden guest tables with hammered gold chargers, gold flatware, and menu cards.
We laid ivory runners along each table and carefully placed gold terrariums, lanterns, candles, and fir greenery garlands on each one.
First Look & Private Vows:
As we were getting everything ready for this winter wedding, Naomi and Chris were getting all dolled up. Naomi donned an exquisite white strapless wedding dress with a horsehair hemline and embroidered floral details on the bodice. Her wedding shoes were white as well, but they had a subtle pattern and slight sparkle on them, giving her that extra special touch. Perfect for a winter wedding!
Chris wore a classic black tux with black bow tie and we love that he had personalized cuff links on each wrist. One cuff link featured a special note from Naomi in her own handwriting and the other featured a heart and her signature.
When the pair were ready, they headed to Sky Ridge Ranch for their first look. They saw each other for the first time that day among the white aspen grove there, snow crunching beneath their feet. This was such a special moment for them, as they held each other in the quiet stillness of the grove.
They then shared private vows with one another, which is always a sacred exchange for a couple, but we swear that this one was extra magical!
Tying The (Silver) Knot:
After some couples’ portraits among the aspen trees, it was time to get married! Naomi and Chris headed back to The Silver Knot to commence their winter wedding!
The ceremony kicked off with Chris and their officiant, Paddy, walking down the aisle. They chose to forgo a traditional wedding party, so next was Naomi’s grand entrance. She looked radiant as she came down the wooden stairs and floated down the aisle. Once she made it to the altar, she joined hands with Chris.
About 30 minutes later, they were married! They sealed the deal with a kiss and were ready to celebrate.
Reception Finishing Touches:
As guests headed off to cocktail hour, the newlyweds took photos with their family. That’s when we partnered with the vendor team to flip the winter wedding ceremony space to the reception!
We brought in the staged reception tables and arranged them in a hollow square layout. We repurposed the silver ceremony chairs and set one at each place setting. Once the tables were in place, we made sure all the décor on them was picture perfect. We then lit all the candles and repurposed Naomi’s bridal bouquet as additional décor for their table.
We set a large wooden barrel as the cake table in the same spot where Naomi and Chris had just gotten married. Their two tier white winter wedding cake featured large white floral blooms and greenery accents. It was simple, elegant, and looked great as a focal point between the two ceremony Christmas trees!
This winter wedding reception is definitely going in our books as one of our favorites ever! We love the intimate layout, where everyone could see and converse with one another. Everything faced the picture windows through which guests could admire the snow-covered ranch and mountains beyond. And once all the hurricane, pillar, and votive candles were lit, the room positively glowed with warmth and amber light. So romantic!
Celebrating the Night Away:
As the sun began to set, the celebration was only just beginning. We invited guests to take their seats after cocktail hour and the newlyweds had their first dance in the center of the tables. They then shared a beautiful meal with their loved ones before cutting their cake and dancing with each of their parents. Between each festivity, everyone enjoyed mixing, mingling, and taking photos with the disposable cameras we laid out.
Before the night was through, everyone ventured outside where sparklers waited for them. The guests surrounded the lovebirds with light, laughter, and sparkles as they shared another kiss, putting the perfect final touch on this winter wedding.
Post-Wedding Reflections:
This intimate winter wedding was the perfect choice for Naomi and Chris. They meticulously handcrafted their day to be as unique as they are! Every detail reflected them as a couple and their relationship, from the location to the winter theme to the private first look and vows in the aspen grove.
Naomi later told us that “Everything we selected for the wedding was a natural choice and never felt forced. Whenever we had to make a decision, we always asked ourselves what made sense to us as a couple and what would be best for our guests. Celebrating with an intimate group of family and friends in such a breathtaking setting really sealed the entire experience for us.”
A Word from the Newlyweds:
When asked what advice Naomi and Chris would give to other engaged couples during wedding planning, they said:
“Our number one piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner. Once we found Katie, everything just fell into place. Having a wedding planner who is an expert at bringing ideas to fruition is not only going to elevate the wedding as whole, but ensure that the experience is going to be fun and stress-free.”
A Word from Katie:
Naomi and Chris, your winter wedding was absolutely breathtaking! Every detail was intentionally chosen and beautifully executed, and I will truly never forget this day! Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your wedding and I wish you all the best!
-Katie
Venue // The Silver Knot
Planner // An Epic Elopement
Photographer // Dina Remi Photography
Caterer // The Kopper Kitchen
Baker // Montana Wildflour
Florist // Alpine Designs
Hair & Makeup // Bridal Bliss
Rentals // Empress Tents & Events
Linen // BBJ Linen
Let's Plan Your Winter Wedding!
Based in Kalispell, Montana, An Epic Elopement specializes in all-inclusive elopements, micro-weddings, and intimate weddings. Here, you get the full experience of having a traditional wedding, but with a little more adventure included!
Are you ready to start your elopement journey? Send me a note describing your elopement vision and let’s make it happen!
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