As you may have figured out by now, I am not a writer. That is one of the reasons why I post very little. I can tell beautiful stories through my images, but sadly not with words.
I asked Senele and John if they would tell their story for me, and I just gave them a few questions which they answered beautifully. I do hope a future bride who runs across my blog will find this information helpful. Here we go, as told by Senele and John, my lovely couple. Thank you very very much for your gracious contribution about your wedding.
Where was your wedding?
At Chico Hot Springs in Pray, Montana
What made you pick a spot so far away from home?
Call us sentimental. John and I came to Yellowstone in 2008 as friends when a few locals recommended Chico for good food and hot springs. We had such good memories here we decided to come back for our wedding.
Was it difficult to plan long distance?
Yes and No. Difficult because there are a lot of unknowns…what’s the weather like? What’s the hall like? We’d visited once and had never seen more than the restaurant and hot springs in dark rainy weather. But the upside, having to let go of some of the details. Sometimes you just had to trust your vendors and move on. Our wedding coordinator at Chico provided trusted and experienced vendors that turned out to work well.
Did you have a theme or style?
Orange, grey and windy! Well we didn’t choose the wind but when folks talk about our wedding they remember the wind. Our colors could be found in our flowers and paper goods including the paper pom pom flowers we gave to kids. Instead of choosing just a few kids we thought they all deserved a chance to participate. Something more whimsical like the paper poms poms made it more fun. And they loved it.
Tell us about your fantastic dress!
My lovely dress! I had buyer’s remorse the hour after I purchased my dress. It was my first day of shopping and it was the one that made me cry. At the time I didn’t know where I was getting married, Chico or L.A. And I thought it was too city for the country. Nonetheless it proved to be the right dress. My groom loved it!
Your hair and make up were stunning. Can you tell us about that please?
Thank God for Sandap! That’s my good friend who turned into personal stylist on my wedding day (she also did my makeup). My hairdresser is a friend and employee of my husband’s barber shop. Together they made me look and feel good!
Why did you choose your wedding party the way it was?
Being a bit older and having the wedding so far from home, we tried to keep the party small. We picked those we could absolutely not do without!
Would you please tell my readers a little more about your food choices?
Part of the draw to Chico was the great food, and having dragged our guests so far from home, we had to feed them the best. So steak and halibut was our picks. And the cake was a mix of me and my hubby. I picked the design, he picked the shape (square, but I so wanted round!). And we chose a champagne cake with a different filling for each layer, ganache and strawberry.
Our honeymoon was a redo of our first trip to Yellowstone in 2008. Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore and back to Salt Lake City. We drove back to Mt. Rushmore to get a peek because in 2008 it was completely covered in fog. Imagine driving from Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore and not even seeing a nose. This time we saw it all plus the Badlands and finished in Park City, Utah. Great trip.
What is your most memorable moment of your wedding day?
My memorable moment was seeing my groom all choked up. I wanted to hug him through the entire ceremony. Just thinking, “I can’t believe we’re here!”
What is your favorite picture Senele?
Today, because every time I look at them it’s a different favorite, I love the photo of John and me with the kids and their pom poms. The backdrop is beautiful and I loved that the kids got to be a part of the day.
What is John’s favorite picture?
He loves the picture of my dad and stepdad walking with their heads down. It was a nice moment.
As you can see, Senele did not overstate that it was a blustery day. But Big Sky Country also showed itself from it's most majestic. The clouds lifted here and there to let some sun and blue sky come through, and John, Senele and all their guests took the chilly wind in stride. Thank you for a fantastic wedding experience. As a photographer, I could not ask for a nicer, more loving and happy couple. You and your guests will always be remembered.
For me it was extra special, because Suzie of Zomak Photography came all the way from Helena to be my wonderful second shooter. It really was a treat Suzie, and I hope we can have a repeat performance soon.
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