Looking for golden hour?
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Looking for golden hour on your wedding day? Montana does it best. Come find it at Rugged Horizon.
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Dramatic Mountain Wedding - Seguin + Norb, Nov. 4, 2023
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Seguin and Norb wed on a dramatic November day, with purple clouds drifting across the mountains and a breeze rustling through golden fields. After their ceremony below the Mission Mountains, everyone returned to a cozy, glowing reception filled with hearty laughter, good food, and dancing. Photo Credits: David Clumpner Photography
Read MoreMontana Wildflower Wedding - Kaylee + Ian, June 17, 2023
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Brighten your day with these colorful images from Kaylee and Ian's wildflower-inspired wedding. The bride and groom treated their guests to the bounty of the area by including locally-grown flowers and organic popsicles. They also added their own homemade touches to every detail. Photo Credits: Jenna Ballard Photography
Read MoreMountain Wedding Arches
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Match the dramatic Montana view with a set of mountain wedding arches.
Read MoreTop 5 Reasons for a Summer Wedding at Rugged Horizon
/Here are our top 5 reasons to open the barn doors wide and celebrate a summer wedding at Rugged Horizon.
#5: Every good love story deserves a dramatic backdrop.
Romeo and Juliet had Verona, Rick and Ilsa had Casablanca, and you can have the Mission Mountains to set the stage for your own love story.
Photo Credit: Echoo Photography
#4: Get to Know Your In-Laws in the Great Outdoors.
Give your family and friends an opportunity to get to know each other by scheduling some activities in the Mission Valley. What better way to break the ice than with a challenging hike in the Mission Mountains, a cherry-pit spitting contest on Flathead Lake, or a paddleboard race on Mission Reservoir? Alternatively, entertain your guests at one of our local events, such as the Arlee pow-wow and rodeo, St. Ignatius Good Ol’ Days, Pioneer Days in Ronan, or the cherry festival in Polson. Please get in touch with us if you need ideas for activities during your wedding weekend.
Mission Reservoir is a stunning spot to swim, paddle, camp, or picnic.
The hike to Mission Falls is beautiful and challenging.
In late July and August, huckleberries are ripe for the picking.
Visit one of the U-pick cherry orchards on Flathead Lake and make everyone smile.
#3: Brighten Your Wedding Day with Seasonal Flowers.
We can put you in touch with many talented farmers and florists who would love to make the barn pop with color this summer. Do you have a green thumb? Then show it off with sunflowers, lavender, succulents, and wildflowers you grow yourself.
Photo Credit: Echoo Photography
Photo Credit: Two Sisters Photography
Make your guests feel welcome with jars of farm-fresh flowers, Montana wine, and dried lavender tucked into their napkins.
#2: Showcase Your Inner Foodie.
Hand-built goes with homemade. Give your guests an authentic Montana experience with locally-sourced cuisine, such as Montana-made cheese and wine, homemade huckleberry pie, or U-pick cherries from Flathead Lake.
Want to end your wedding on a happy note? Treat your guests to huckleberry pie or ice cream. Photo Credit: Echoo Photography
Make your social hour special with huckleberry lemonade and a selection of Montana beer, wine, or spirits.
Set a grazing table outside for your guests to snack on locally-made cheese, homemade jam, and farm-fresh fruit.
#1: Let the Outside in.
Open our big barn doors and let the outside in. During those long summer days, you will have views north to Flathead Lake, east to the Missions, west to the Bison Range, and south toward our farm’s rolling meadows.
Hang tulle drapes inside the barn to frame the views toward Flathead Lake.
Make a grand entrance through our 14-foot barn doors. Photo Credit: Paige Marie Photography
String bistro lights on the patios to add a romantic glow to your reception dinner.
Open all the barn doors and dance under the Big Sky.
Move cocktail hour outside so that your guests can sip their drink while watching the sun set on the Mission mountains. Photo Credit: Paige Marie Photography
Are you ready to plan your summer wedding? Please get in touch! We are taking inquiries for 2021 weddings and would love to be a part of your day!
Rainy Day Weddings
/Photo Credit: Paige Marie Photography
Sometimes it rains on your wedding day… And sometimes it rainbows.
Did you know? When you book a wedding with us, we work together with you to create an inclement weather plan so that you can relax and enjoy the luck that rain and rainbows bring.
Happy New Year!
/Wishing you and yours a twinkling and bright new year.
Top 5 Reasons to Host a Spring Wedding at Rugged Horizon
/Spring — the wildflowers are blooming, the Mission Mountains are snow-capped, and the valleys are lush and green. Here are our top 5 reasons for hosting a spring wedding here:
#5: Tiptoe through the Wildflowers
Grab your best gals and go waltz in the flowers. In the spring, the fields are filled with bright yellow arrow balsamroot, dainty blue flax, and bursting apple blossoms.
Bride and Bridesmaids walking through the flowers. Photo Credit: Katy Shay Photography
Take a walk in the wildflowers before you get married at Rugged Horizon.
#4: Dine Al Fresco
It would be a shame to miss the garden patios in bloom and the bright colors of spring all around. So why not open those barn doors or move tables outside to enjoy the fresh air?
The barn is surrounded with patios so that you can hold your social hour or dine outdoors for your Wedding Reception.
The flower gardens at Rugged Horizon are bursting with color in the spring.
#3: Relax in the Loft Apartment
Slow down. Enjoy some special moments with your bridesmaids, your mom, and your close friends. The upstairs loft apartment is a private space where you can eat brunch with your wedding party, let a spring breeze drift through the balcony doors, touch up those vows, and get ready to walk down the aisle.
A bride and her bridesmaid share a hug before walking down the aisle. Photo Credit: Katy Shay Photography
The Loft apartment is a perfect spot to do your hair and makeup before walking down the aisle. Photo Credit: Eden Bryant PhotograpHy
The Bride and Her Mother Share a Sweet Moment Before Walking Down the Aisle. Photo Credit: Katy Shay Photography
#2: Let the Adventure Begin
Let the first day of your married life be a grand adventure! Give your guests wedding favor bags filled with trail mix, and encourage them to get out and explore this beautiful area. With the National Bison Range behind you and the Mission Mountains before you, there is no reason to stay inside.
“The AdVenture Begins” Wedding Favor Bags.
Views from that National Bison Range in spring, with Arrow Balsamroot Blooming and views of the Mission Mountains. From the Top, See if you can spot the Rugged Horizon Barn!
#1: Make Your Walk Down the Aisle Memorable
It’s okay to have your breath taken away twice — once when you see your spouse and once when you see the Mission Mountains on a spring day. So go ahead, indulge yourself. It’s your wedding day!
Flower Girl Walks Down the Aisle During a Wedding Ceremony at Rugged HOrizon. Photo Credit: Eden Bryant Photography
Exchanging vows in the Meadow at Rugged Horizon. Photo Credit: Eden Bryant Photography
Chairs set up for a ceremony in the meadow at Rugged Horizon.
A glowing spring day at Rugged Horizon.
If you would like to plan a spring wedding here, please contact us any time! We would love to hear from you and can be reached at 406-240-9903 or info@ruggedhorizon.com.
Top 5 Reasons to Celebrate a Winter Wedding at Rugged Horizon
/Never fear winter! This season is the perfect chance to host a cozy, intimate wedding with your friends and family. Here are our 5 favorite things about winter:
#5: Doughnuts and Hot Cocoa Bars
Host a brunch reception for your wedding guests! They will love a hot cocoa and coffee bar with a tray of fresh doughnuts to munch.
We offer a number of rental items to help with your winter wedding plans, including hot coffee bars, cake stands for displaying doughnuts and other food items, and cozy lighting to set the mood .
#4: Intimate Wedding Ceremonies
Winter is the perfect time of year to host an intimate ceremony with your dearest friends and family. Gather the twinkle lights, pine boughs, and silvery ornaments to make the barn smell like a forest and glitter like sun on snow.
#3: Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Get outside and enjoy the magic of a fresh snowfall in the Mission Mountains! There are some wonderful trails in this area for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
#2: Off-Season Discounts
We discount our package prices in the winter, so you can save money and put those dollars toward a beach honeymoon.
#1: Toasty Warm Barn with Radiant Floor Heat
What is the number one reason to marry here in winter? Heated floors and a toasty barn! Even when it’s -15 degrees outside, you can still dance barefoot and wear that sleeveless gown inside.
Photo credit: Aaron B Photography
Photo credit: Aaron B Photography
If you are interested in planning a winter wedding, please get in touch with us! We can be reached at 406-240-9903 or info@ruggedhorizon.com. We would love to be a part of your celebration.
Top 5 Reasons to Wed at Rugged Horizon in Autumn
/Are you trying to pick a wedding date? Wondering what the barn will look like at different times of year? We’re here to help! For the next several posts, we share our top 5 reasons to marry in each season, beginning with Havila’s favorite (autumn!).
#5: Fiery-Hued, Farm-Fresh Flowers.
What better way to complement the barn than with the colors of harvest? Grab your favorite farmer-florist and go wild with burgundy dahlias, pumpkin celosia, and berry leaves. These beauties are from Agile Goat Flower Farm.
#4: Give Me Pie. And Lots of It.
Trust us, no one will complain if you skip the flowers and make pie your table centerpiece. To make sure everyone gets a taste, line the tables up family-style — then everyone can share! This spiced peach dainty was made from scratch at Bernice’s Bakery.
#3: The Larches.
Oh, the larches. On Sunday, when you’re tired of talking to people and just want to escape with your new spouse, take a drive or a hike out to the Missions and revel in some golden glory.
#2: The Alpenglow.
The alpenglow is at its finest in September. Want a ceremony that will knock your guests’ socks off? Then mix up the traditional wedding schedule and have dinner before you wander down to the meadow to exchange sunset vows.
#1: Gather ‘Round the Campfire.
Our number 1 reason to get married in the fall has to be the campfire, as it is the place you toast your toesies, laugh with your friends and relations, and channel your inner cowboy poet.
Want more information about hosting a wedding here? Please give us a call at 406-240-9903. We look forward to speaking with you!
Check Out Our Rustic Bar!
/Take a peek at our new, rustic bar! We just added this beauty to our rental inventory. The top is constructed from the same lumber we used to build the barn, and still retains the saw cuts from when it was originally milled by Hunt's Timbers (our neighbors down the road). This is a great way to showcase your signature cocktail, a selection of Montana brews, or even your wedding cake and desserts.
Wicked-Pretty October Wedding
/New England's fall colors are tough to beat, and we felt a little anxious that we wouldn't live up to expectations given a guest list filled with New Hampshirites. However, Montana delivered colors that we think even the most discerning New Englander would declare "wicked pretty."
These two did an autumn wedding right. They brought their spotting scope so that guests could view the bison that had migrated down to this side of the National Bison Range, and decorated the barn with flowers the bride had grown and dried in her own home garden. We especially loved the sound of string instruments echoing through the valley during their wedding ceremony.
Libby and Phred, we wish you many beautiful autumns and changing seasons together!
Elegant Montana Barn Wedding
/This wedding was both elegant and classic. The bride filled the barn with vintage items she had collected, including a reclaimed wooden arch built from the historic Mercantile in Missoula, antique birdcages, strands of pearls, and lush greenery.
The day was also a lot of fun! The couple brought out Clove Cart Pizza to cater the event, and had a fantastic pizza bar, giant Jenga, and cornhole to entertain guests. We especially loved that this crew knew how to kick up their heels -- they kept the barn hopping throughout the night!
Courtney and Jordan, congratulations on a perfect day. We wish you a lifetime of smiles and laughter together.
It was a hot day and this bride was thoughtful enough to include parasols for her guests.
Just Married!
Winter Cheer
/We are happy to post pictures of our first winter wedding, captured by Aaron B Photos. The best part of our job is meeting incredible people and getting to see the creativity they bring to celebrations.
The couple filled their ceremony with meaningful and symbolic details, which Aaron captured below. We can all admire these two for keeping their smiles on even though it was well below zero out there! Michelle and Jeremy, you deserve all the happiness in the world.
(For information on other vendors from this wedding, see the earlier 12/18 post.)
Taking those important first steps as husband and wife!
Stunning September Wedding
/While the snow flies, we are reminiscing on this beautiful September wedding at the barn. There was a dusting of snow on the mountains, but the day itself was the definition of Indian Summer. This kind-hearted couple left no detail overlooked. They made sure there were plenty of lawn games for the kids, a delicious farm-to-table dinner by Riversong Gourmet, and live music to round out the evening. Tracy and Matt, thank you so much for celebrating with us. We wish you a long and happy marriage.
Photos by: Dina Remi Studios
Catering: Riversong Gourmet
Live Music: Clare Menehan
Flowers: Blue Willow Farm in Stevensville, MT and Fialky Farms
Wedding Dress: Marcella's Bridal in Spokane, WA
Decor & Table Settings: The vintage place settings, photo booth, linens, and decor are DIY by the bride and close friend.
"Golden hour" is an unforgettable time out here. Photo by Dina Remi studios.
The barn's upstairs bridal suite is the perfect place to get ready before you walk down the aisle. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
Take a walk down the aisle with the National Bison Range as your backdrop. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
The "neighbors" came to visit during the wedding. Photo by Tara Dibble-Gunderson.
Farm-fresh flowers add a lovely pop of color to dinner in the barn. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
The lucky couple had snow-dusted peaks for their backdrop, even though it was 80 degrees during the ceremony. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
Clare Menehan and her band kept guests entertained with live music on the barn's patios. Photo By Dina Remi Studios.
Riversong Gourmet created a delicious spread for the reception. Photo By Dina Remi Studios.
Enjoy a peaceful setting at the end of a country road when you celebrate your wedding with us. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
We think boots are the best wedding accessory. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
A stunning end to a big sky wedding. Tracy and Matt, happy trails to you. Photo by Dina Remi Studios.
True Grit
/Congratulations Michelle and Jeremy! This stunning bride proved that lace is an all-weather garment when she showed up in a sleeveless wedding dress when it was 15 below outside. Now that's true Montana grit! We enjoyed celebrating this beautiful wedding with all the other hardy souls who dug themselves out of the snow to come watch these two say "I do." Michelle and Jeremy, we wish you all the best that life has to offer. Thank you so much for being our first winter wedding and bringing so much warmth and joy to the barn.
Decor: To Have & To Hold, 406-241-2161
Cupcakes: Scottage Cakery
Photos (coming soon) by: Aaron B Photography
A gorgeous and dramatic entrance for the bride and groom, decorated by To Have & To Hold.
It may have been brutally cold, but the sun was shining and the mountains were out for these two!
An often-overlooked planning consideration in Montana: some guests will always show up unannounced.
Gorgeous views and rustic charm wait just behind these doors!
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Grab your "something blue" and come celebrate with us in Big Sky Country. We hope you will have a great time here and make memories that last a lifetime.
