I recently photographed the Kelly Canyon Wedding Day celebration of Lisa and Noah in Bozeman, Montana.

When planning their wedding day, was important for Lisa and Noah to return to their cultural roots.

These two currently live in Kirkland, Washington where Lisa works as a computer scientist and Noah has started his graduate school program with a developing interest in Chinese medicine. This couple met two years ago through online dating here in Bozeman. As their relationship flourished over the next two years, Noah would eventually propose to Lisa on his family farm Kelly Canyon outside of Bozeman, Montana.

When it came time to plan their wedding day, there was no better wedding venue to host it than on his family’s farm back where it all began.

Their wedding would be a wonderful hodgepodge of tradition and a unique blend of the couple’s own interests.

Their shared love of medieval fantasy book genres influenced their wedding decorations, outfits, and even an honorary object for the day. The wedding party all took turns wielding the wedding couple’s authentic battle hammer named “Schmerglehermer”. With a sense of humor throughout, the wedding couple and party included the hammer in the festivities. It was walked down the aisle during the ceremony, guests posed throughout the day with it in photos, and it even found its way onto the dance floor. I love a couple and community that geeks out together. Their wedding was nothing short of epic.

Tucked back against a large stand of pine trees, the bride and groom’s friends and family gathered together on their family farm to witness a traditional Quaker wedding ceremony to honor Noah’s family roots.

The bride and groom were married “under the care of a Quaker meeting”. It’s a ceremony before God and gathered family, friends, and meeting members. The Quakers’ beliefs are unique in that their ceremonies are for all purposes, officiant free. The idea is based on the tenet that only God can join a couple in marriage. Quakers believe that no church official is essential for a marriage to take place. Instead, family and friends during hour-long ceremony, would occasionally break the silence by stepping up to the microphone to give words of advice, tell stories, or give well wishes.

I found their Kelly Canyon Wedding ceremony to be a really relaxing and thought-reflective. It was special for the bride and groom to hear the words of loved ones spoken in front of all. It was a special way to honor their guests just as much as they were honoring them.

Like all good weddings, they sealed theirs with a kiss surrounded by a roar of cheers. The wedding celebration moved on to their evening wedding reception at the Lindley Center in downtown Bozeman. The newlyweds and their guests danced, played outdoor games, and dined on a good steak BBQ throughout the evening. They also played in my Greener Visuals Photo Booth.

The fun was in full force.

It was an awesome time and a wonderful reflection of all the things that are important in these newlyweds’ lives. I could not be more excited for these two. I wish them all the best! -M