Charlie and Dixie’s Vintage Yellowstone Wedding

May 19, 2017May 19, 2018

This wedding will always be extremely special to me because it’s the first wedding day I ever professionally coordinated. Besides being genuinely kind, Dixie was an extremely hands on bride, DIYing almost everything for her elegantly vintage themed wedding. That lady has some serious talent and an amazing eye for detail! And I have to tell you, the fact that this wedding was held in Yellowstone National Park makes it one of my favorite weddings ever.

It was a typical rainy May day, but that didn’t damper the spirits of the day.
The ceremony was held at the historic Mammoth Chapel in front of the couple’s closest friends and family.
One of my favorite moments of the day was the ring exchange between Chuck and Dixie’s son. It was so beautiful to watch them all honor their vows and truly come together as a family.

After the ceremony, everyone made the short trek down the road to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, where the reception was held in the historic Map Room. The hotel provided full catering (a delicious Italian buffet!) and bartending services, but for desserts, Dixie had cakes brought from Bozeman, and they were displayed alongside a beautiful croquembouche .

Joe’s Mobile DJ services provided the music that kept everyone dancing the night away (and helped Chuck to serenade Dixie with a super sweet surprise karaoke performance)

So, here are some of my favorite detail shots from the day, taken by my amazing photographer pal, Missy Short Photography. Enjoy!

Simple Elopement Styled Shoot

July 21, 2016July 21, 2016Leave a comment

One of the things I love most about being in the business of weddings is seeing how special and unique each wedding is. Some folks want to throw a big party, surrounded by friends and family. Other couples would rather keep it short and sweet–hosting a ceremony with just a few witnesses, or even simpler as just husband, wife, and officiant. That was the inspiration behind this mini-shoot with Simple Reflections Photography.

We wanted this elopement shoot to be simple, sweet, and romantic. We set up a picnic blanket and accented it with an antique basket, vintage jar lanterns, and a delicious pie. Our bride was decked out in an adorable dress from Moda Fashion Truck. She carried a simple bouquet of white hydrangeas, and our groom stayed casual in jeans and a tie.

Can we talk about how stinkin’ cute this real life husband and wife are? Seriously the most perfect models for this shoot! 🙂

Here are a few more images for your viewing pleasure–Enjoy!

Interested in Eloping? We’re happy to help! We offer an elopement package that’s almost completely customizable and would love to talk with you about your dreams for your day.

The Blooming Beetle, a floral up-cycling service

April 22, 2016April 22, 2016Leave a comment

We are so happy to announce the launch of our free new service, The Blooming Beetle, floral up-cycling and delivery.

So what the heck is floral up-cycling, you ask? It’s a service designed to cut back on post-wedding waste by giving back to our local senior community.

Have you ever thought about what you’ll do with all of your centerpieces/floral after the wedding is over? Sure, you could take everything home to clutter up your counter tops–OR you could give them a second life by donating them to The Blooming Beetle.

It’s all pretty simple!

Decide to donate some or all of your wedding/special event flowers
Contact us to schedule a free pick up (We request at least 7 day advanced notice if possible.)

From there, we’ll use your flowers to create several smaller arrangements and deliver them to local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Here’s a short article that explains how your donation can make a huge impact!

Not only can you feel good knowing you’re brightening the day of senior citizens, but what an amazing way to start off your new life as a married couple!

Our signature “Blooming Beetle” delivery vehicle is still in the works with plans to be debuted Summer 2016. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to keep up with the latest news. Want to donate sooner? Contact us and we’ll make it happen!

Now a few of the “fine details”

While we’re SO excited to offer this service, it is not exclusive to just History in the Making clients; We gladly accept donations from any event, and would love to be able to provide this service all year round (here’s looking at you, Christmas parties!)

We also happily accept donations from floral shops and private donors. When making a floral donation, we ask that the donation contain enough stems to create at least 6 small arrangements. (size reference: an average Mason jar) or 1 large arrangement (cylindrical vase) We also ask that flowers be in useable condition. We can certainly handle picking out a few droopy flowers or browning petals, but please don’t donate an entire bunch of half-dead flowers. We want these arrangements to be beautiful, uplifting, and something that will last at least a few days.

Our free pick up service is available in the Bozeman, Belgrade, and Three Forks areas. Since this is a not for profit service, we have a $15 suggested donation to assist with fuel costs for floral donations from Livingston or Big Sky.

Know someone that would like a special floral delivery? Let us know and we’ll do our best to make it happen!

A few reasons to say “I Do” in Bozeman

April 16, 2016April 25, 2016Leave a comment

I may be a bit biased here, but Montana is a seriously incredible state. Not only are we home to 2 national parks, but we have countless acres of state parks and forests, tall mountains, vast plains, national monuments, ghost towns–I could go on for days.

Bozeman, located in Southwest Montana, is an amazing place to live, work, and get married. Here’s a few reasons you should consider saying “I Do” in our little piece of paradise.

Incredible local vendors

Here in the Bozeman area, we’re lucky to have an abundance of amazing vendors who can make your day everything you’re hoping for. Beyond the typical vendors, you can also find a variety of food trucks, dozens of bands and musicians (and we’re not talking crappy about wedding singers), liquor infused cupcakes, and a fresh oyster bar, to name just a few of our local gems.

Venues for all styles (and budgets)

deco11 deco9 lepetit

Whether you’re dreaming of a gorgeous rustic barn, an upscale ballroom, or a Victorian style mansion, we’ve got it covered! With so many options, there are price points to fit most any budget, from city owned venues priced at a few hundred dollars to luxury properties that run at several thousand. The best part? You’re guaranteed mountain views at almost every single venue, and no matter the style of the venue, there is always a feeling of authentic Bozeman.

Plenty to keep your bridal party and guests busy

Best know as the “Gateway to Yellowstone”, Bozeman provided countless other opportunities for locals and tourists to get out and about every day.

Love shopping? We have a fair share of well known chain stores, and our Main Street is lined with small, locally owned businesses, restaurants, art galleries, and coffee shops.

If you enjoy history, Bozeman is home to the American Computer Museum, the Pioneer Museum, and the world famous Museum of the Rockies.

For the adventurous folks, Bozeman offers the “Main Street to the Mountains” trail system. There are 45 miles of trails within city limits alone–and hundreds more if you want to get out of town. Some of the most popular city trails are: The M hike, Bozeman Pond Trail, and the Highland Ridge Trail. Looking for something more? Check out the 6 rock climbing boulders scattered around the city for a fun climbing challenge.

After a hard day of adventuring, quench your thirst at one of Bozeman’s local breweries. There are several breweries and tasting rooms to choose from, as well as a vodka distillery located downtown. Take a short road trip to the small town of Ennis to get a taste of Montana moonshine (and be sure to stop for a dip at Norris Hot Springs on the way)

Interested in learning more about getting married in Bozeman? Let’s chat! We love working with local AND destination couples to bring their wedding ideas to life.

Photo Cred: Missy Short Photography, Merissa Lambert Photography, Silver Orchid Photography, and Tracy Montoya Photography.

2016 Montana Wedding Event

February 22, 2016February 16, 2016Leave a comment

This year marked my second year as a vendor at the Montana Wedding Event, and I was really excited about the opportunity to meet new couples and new vendors!

This year my booth design started with these ah-ma-zing giant letters! I had so much fun building them, and hope to get a lot of use out of them in the future.

Since I knew the letters would create a wow factor, I wanted the rest of the design to be simple but complimentary. As I was developing the design, it seemed to be heavily feminine so I consulted with my husband on a few different ideas to keep it “man friendly” while still pretty and elegant. But true to my typical design aesthetic, this table is affordable to re-create on almost any budget.

So, here are just a few pictures from the show. I hope you all like it as much as I did!

See those pretty chair sashes? Watch for my post on how to make them in the near future 🙂

Mountain Inspiration-a mini styled shoot

February 17, 2016February 17, 20161 Comment

It was Super Bowl Sunday, and I had some time to kill before the big game. I also had a table and chairs in my car from the Montana Bridal Event the day before, so my mother in law and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous 40 degree day and head up the mountain to Hyalite Reservoir for an impromptu mini shoot.

Luckily these amazing views make up for my lack of professional photography skills. It was such a fun day that left me feeling really inspired.

For an adventurous couple wanting an authentic Montana Winter wedding, it doesn’t get much better than this!

Yes, even being buried up to my knees (and sometimes hips) in snow pack, I had such a blast!

History in the Making @ the Helena Bridal Fair

February 13, 2016February 13, 20161 Comment

In January, I made the trip to our state capital to “set up shop” at the Helena Bridal and Anniversary Fair. It was my first time at the Helena Civic Center, and after driving through a blizzard to get to the event, I was pleasantly surprised by the awesome variety of vendors, set up on 2 levels. I got to set up on the mezzanine.

Pretty cool view, right?

For my booth, I wanted the space to feel warm and welcoming.

My amazing hubby built me this gorgeous fireplace mantle.

My favorite element? Definitely the table!

The inspiration started with a beautiful antique recurve bow. From there I decided I wanted to create a rustic, elegant design with a lot of natural elements.

I constructed the table runner from fresh ferns and alstroemeria. The bow rested on a small set of antlers. Candles, set in gold mercury glass and mason jar lanterns, were scattered among the ferns (with less overhead lighting, this design really comes to life!)

The place settings featured gold chargers, ivory napkins, and a single alstroemeria.

To pull the design together, I rented wooden chairs from Montana Party Rentals. If I’m being totally honest, these might be my favorite chairs ever.

Behind the Design:

When I created this design, I really wanted it to show that it’s possible to bring your passions into your wedding design. While I used a recurve bow (perfect fit for my love of all things authentically vintage and my husbands love of hunting), it could easily be altered to fit other elements, such as fishing rods, skis, or oars.

It was also so important to me to showcase a design that was unique, beautiful, and affordable. Trust me, this table looks way more expensive than it actually was! (and that makes me love it so much more!)

Here’s a few more shots. Enjoy!

October 17–a beautiful day for a Bridal Tour!

October 27, 2015October 27, 2015Leave a comment

I was so absolutely excited to be a featured designer on the Montana Bridal Tour 2015!

This year the tour featured 4 beautiful venues, and I was lucky enough to set up at the historic Story Mansion, located just blocks from downtown Bozeman.

Our venue featured authentic farm-to-table pulled pork created by Claudia’s Mesa, an amazing bluegrass trio called Acony Belles, gorgeous gowns from Plume Bridal, and model styling from Brooklynn Studio. Merissa Lambert Photography, our featured photographer, captured the fun moments throughout the day.

The Story Mansion sits on a full city block, and many wedding receptions take place on the grounds. Gallatin Event Rental set up a tent on the lawn to showcase one of the many ways that couples can use the space.

Oh, and a big congratulations to Zebra Catering and their delicious sangria for winning Bride’s Choice–Signature Drink!

Enjoy the images and behind-the-scenes design tidbits!

Design Inspiration:

I really wanted the Story to have a feeling of richness and warmth that only seems to happen this time of year. Being inspired by the season, the venue, and the mixing of textures and materials, our design theme was Fall Sangria.

We used shades of purples, greens, ambers, golds, and reds for the focal colors. I chose ivory for the table linens, which allowed the other colors to pop. The wooden chairs, rented from Montana Party Rentals, matched the original golden wood trim that’s found throughout the Story.

As a literal nod to sangria, I cut the bottoms off of various wine bottles, illuminated them with flameless candles, and placed them on the staircase in the foyer. (FYI real candles look beautiful in the bottles, but they cause the glass to get extremely hot)

Stacy with Big Announcements did a fantastic job designing the custom paper pieces that accented the tables.

The floral, created by Karen’s Floral Artistry, added a simple, beautiful elegance to the tables. Karen followed through with my idea of mixing fruits with florals by adding pears and grapes to the centerpieces.

the table designs:

While both tables had the same plates, flatware, and glasses, I used accent pieces to create two different designs. Both tables featured beer bottle candle holders, which were cut in a similar way as the wine bottles. They were one of my favorite design elements.

Table #1

The place settings on the first table featured golden woodgrain chargers, a menu card, place card, and a golden fabric accent band. Alongside the beer bottle candle holders, the centerpieces also featured red pears and gold mercury glass candleholders. The look was completed with a thin green fabric band wrapped around the tops of the chairs.

Table #2:

The second table had a completely different design, and was meant to be a bit more interactive from a guest’s perspective. The place settings were simple, featuring a rustic woven charger and a small bowl of fruit.

Yes, real, edible fruit. (A lot of people were surprised by this) There was a mix of red grapes, purple grapes, and blackberries. The bowls that held the fruit were made from the bottoms of the wine bottles I had cut for the stairs. Interesting AND economical.

Finally, there was a sweetheart table, placed in front of the beautiful fireplace. Karen decorated the mantle with a large wooden garland and floral arrangement. The place settings included glasses of fruit, mercury glass candle holders, and a small floral arrangement. The chairs had strips of gold fabric wrapped around the top.

So, there you have it! I really loved how the whole design came together, and it was so much fun to work with all the other vendors. Here’s a few more shots of Team Story:

Team Story!

The Story Mansion, tent, and ceremony set-up

Zebra Catering

Acony Belles

Plume Bridal

Merissa Lambert Photography

Pulled pork, and cilantro slaw from Claudia’s Mesa

Sweetheart table

History in the Making and Marriage Equality

October 28, 2014October 28, 2014Leave a comment

First, let me apologize for posting an uncharacteristically heavy topic. I know there is quite a bit of controversy around the idea of marriage equality, and it can bring out a lot of strong emotional responses from people on both sides of the issue. My goal with this blog post isn’t to create negative feelings, but I’m aware that, as with any controversial topic, someone will probably disagree with me. That’s fine. I just feel that this is a topic I need to take a minute to discuss.

On a personal level, I am completely behind the idea that love is love, regardless of gender, religion, or race. I have friends in the LGBTQ community, and their sexual orientation doesn’t change my mind about who they are as people. We were childhood friends before they “came out”, and we remain friends after, simply because we are friends. Who they find attractive or fall in love with doesn’t change the years of memories we created, it doesn’t degrade them or make them any less great. We are friends, and part of being friends is accepting each other unconditionally for who we are. If we can’t do that, how were we ever friends to begin with?

But this post goes a little deeper than this, since I’m also a business owner.

To be honest, it was never a question in my mind about whether or not I would coordinate same-sex marriages if the opportunity arose. I know there are other business owners struggling with this, because it really can be an issue of faith vs. finances. Choosing to work with same-sex couples to create their wedding day is a personal choice each vendor will have to think about and make on their own. I’m sure there will be businesses that choose not to provide services for gay marriages. For my company, I proudly choose to support every couple who loves each other and wants to commit to spending their lives together. I believe every love story is different and beautiful. When two people love each other so much, it should be celebrated.

I’ve accepted that this could impact my future client base. I know there will be clients who choose not to work with me based on the fact that I support same-sex marriage. That’s ok! I respect their beliefs, just as I hope they can respect mine.

To keep this blog post short and sweet, I stand confident in my decision to be a supporter of same-sex marriage, and am looking forward to creating a network of other vendors who feel the same. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

History in the Making Special Events

Creating your unique life story, one event at a time

Tag: montana