Bridal Guide

2016

Park and Sweet Grass counties

Page 2

Bridal Guide 2016

Bridal Guide 2016

Page 3

Photographers for that special day

By Jasmine Hall
Enterprise Staff Writer

hen choosing a
wedding photographer, couples
are faced with
numerous choices with different photographic styles, goals
and experience.
For those looking for a wedding photographer in Park
County there are many choices with their own personal
approaches, as well as techniques to incorporate the Montana landscape. Here are just
a few photographers to choose
from.

Isaly Photography

Livingston resident Keelia Isaly,

28, has been working as a professional photographer for four years and
said she enjoys freezing moments
in time so that couples may have
them forever.
The owner and photographer of
Isaly Photography she said her connection to clients and all-day wedding coverage sometimes shooting
for as long as 14 hours sets her
apart from other wedding photographers in Park County. Her all-day
coverage allows her to capture
moments throughout the entire day,
and she says it also relieves stress
on the happy couples.
Its stressful to know that you
only have a photographer for five
hours that day, Isaly said. Because
then you feel like you need to
squeeze all those special minutes
into those hours.
Shooting venues at Chico Hot
Springs Resort, the Livingston Depot
Center and family ranches, Isaly
likes to incorporate the landscapes of
Montana because of clients personal
connection to their chosen venue.
I feel like we live in a really beautiful spot and, for a lot of people, it
holds a lot of meaning to them, she
said. Whether they get married at a
family ranch, or in Paradise Valley
where they grew up, or things like

Photo by Keelia Isaly of Isaly Photography

Luke and Kenzie Jesson embrace at a family ranch located between Livingston and Bozeman.
that, especially in Montana, we have
such grand landscapes and they
mean a lot to people.
Leaning towards what she calls a
lifestyle approach to capturing a
wedding, she said she likes to photograph moments as they genuinely
occur.
I would rather let it unfold and
capture those moments, Isaly said.
To see Isalys work visit her website at www.isalyphotography.com.

Kacie Q Photography

Owner and Photographer of Kacie

Q Photography, Kacie Quesenberry,
28, has been working professionally
as a photographer for 4 years.
A Bozeman resident, and former
Livingston resident with family still
residing in Livingston, she has photographed numerous wedding in the
Park County area including locations
such as Chico Hot Springs Resort,
Deep Creek Range, Music Ranch
Montana and other various private
locations.
Valuing the relationships she
forms with her clients, Quesenberry
said she aims to capture couples
happy day by watching emotions
unfold.
I try really hard for my work to
be timeless and romantic, Quesen-

berry said. Im almost trying to

read a moment before it happens.
Quesenberry described her photography style as a mixture of
directing clients when necessary, as
well as shooting natural moments.
I also want that candid, very emotional, intimate moments, she said.
Sometimes if theres too much
directing I feel like that gets taken
away. So its trying to find a balance
of both.
Part of capturing the special day,
is her inclusion of the Montana weddings venue and landscape.
Everyone wants that outside
experience, she said. The mountains, the fields, the trees, the river,
so incorporating that into a couples
story of their day is very important
to me.
When asked why a wedding party
should hire her, Quesenberry said
because of she is invested in telling
the clients story.
Their storys important, Quesenberry said. And it such an honor to
be able to tell someones love story.
To view Quesenberrys portfolio
visit Kacie Q Photography at www.
kacieqphotography.com.

See Photographers, Page 5

On the cover: Eric and Catherine Kitty Scanlon kiss in the snow after their ceremony at the Murray Hotel in Livingston December, 2015
photographed by Melanie Jones of Melanie Renee Photography

Page 4

Bridal Guide 2016

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Photographers, from Page 3

Photo by Kacie Quesenberry of Kacie Q Photography

Hannah and JD Churchwell are pictured on their wedding day at Deep Creek Range in Paradise Valley.

Melanie Renee
Photography

Melanie Jones, 30, has

worked as a professional
photographer for the past
5 years and has shot Park
County weddings at The
Murray Bar, in the Absaroka Mountains and at a private Paradise Valley
ranches.
Owner and photographer
of Melanie Renee Photography, Jones studied for
two years at the Academy
of Art University, a master
of fine arts program, in
San Francisco. She said
her understanding of the
technical aspects of photography sets her apart.
(Using) technical skill
to be able to capture what
I want to capture is something I had to train myself
for, Jones said. I feel like
theres a lot of photographers but I feel that a technical ability is something
sets certain photographers
apart.
Although she has a technical background, Jones
said she values capturing
natural beauty with little
editing.
I think that remembering you how you were is so
important and not what my

vision of you should have

been, Jones said.
She said her ability to
see moments, has come
handy. One such moment
was capturing a snowy
wedding photo outside the
Murray Hotel pictured
on the cover of this guide.
I do give some direction
to create some of those
moments, but I also see
opportunities as the whole
ceremony within the ceremony, she said.
Her goal when shooting
weddings is to combine the
natural Montana landscapes with the personalities of the bride and
groom.
I think that marrying
those two things, so that
you not only capture their
personalities, and love, and
relationships that youre
shooting, but also capturing why theyre here, and
why they got married
here, Jones said.
To view Jones work visit
Melanie Renee Photography at www.melaniereneephotography.com.

Sarah A. Burns
Photography

Page 5

Bridal Guide 2016

Sarah Burns, 33, has

worked as a professional

photographer for around

eight years. After receiving
her Bachelors degree in
film and photography from
Montana State University
in 2009, and previously
working at Livingstons
Crazy Mountain Photography, she has gained strong
experience in the realm of
digital photography.
I have a very thorough
sense of light, Burns said.
Which is essentially what
photographys about and
then theres the mechanical end of exposure.
Burns, photographer and
owner of Sarah A. Burns
Photography, said she has
photographed over 15 weddings at Park County venues such as Deep Creek
Range, Chico Hot Springs
Resort and private Pine
Creek locations.
Born and raised in Park
County, Burns said she values peoples connection the
area, understanding that
couples venue is personally important to couples.
It just lends itself to
beauty, she said. So when
you put a happy couple
that are about to join their
lives together I think it
just adds to the beauty of
the day,
While capturing the wedding, she said she directs
while in the moment. She
said part of the photographers job is to direct to
help keep schedules and
alleviate stress for the
bride and groom.
People want you to
direct them, Burns said.
Theyre not used to being
in front of the camera,
they dont know how they
want you to present themselves.
Her goal is to capture
the overall feeling of joy
while holding true to her
subjects Burns said.
Theyre are not overly
posed. Theyre not pressured, Burns said. I really try to hone into who Im
photographing and do
what I do for them so that
they like the product that
Ive taken.

To view more of Burns

work visit her website at
www.sarahburns-photography.com.

Shuman Shots
Photography

Tanya Shuman, 39, has

worked as a professional
photographer for four
years with her business
Shuman Shots Photography. For the past two
years she has photographed around 17 weddings.
Mostly at private Park
County locations, such as
Wilsall ranches, she said
capturing what the bride
and groom want is most
important to her.
My focus is usually the
bride and groom, she said.
During the conciliation
we go over exactly what
they want.
Shuman Shots Photography is located in downtown
Livingston at 219 S. Main
and she said a bridal shoot
is usually part of her wedding process.
I try to keep everything
very simple and personalized to my clients, Shuman said. To make sure
theyre getting exactly
what they like and want.
To really photograph
what the bride and groom
desires she usually hires
with a second photographer to assist with the
wedding day.
I generally try to capture every moment of the
wedding details that
they wouldnt normally
capture, she said.
Montana is also an
aspect to her wedding photography as she said venues are what makes the
photographs special.
Ill try to get the landscape, the scenery, she
said. Thats what makes
some of the best photography is our location in Montana.
To see more of Shumans
work visit her website at
www.shumanshotsphotography.com.

Page 6

Bridal Guide 2016

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Bridal Guide 2016

Unique Park County venues

Page 7

By Samantha Hill

Enterprise Staff Writer

earing a wellfitted white

gown surrounded by
flower arrangements, a
tiered cake and family and
friends, would not be complete without a location to
have a wedding. Whether it
be in a building full of history, outdoors among the
mountains or outside of a
small home, Park County
has it all.

Outdoors

Nestled in Sacajawea Park in

South Livingston is a beautiful newly refurbished gazebo with the
Absoraka Mountains and Yellowstone River serving as the backdrop. The location is good for anyone seeking a more casual affair.
Although the area is great for
ambience, it may require bringing
in chairs and tables for the guests,
according to Livingston Parks Foreman Eric Schneider.
For the bride and groom to
reserve the space, the couple should
contact the Livingston Parks and
Recreation Department to find out
requirements.
A fee may be assessed for those
providing food or drink for guests,
or for those wanting to use the Livingston Civic Center in case of
inclement weather.
The area is very versatile for anyone wanting a large or a more intimate wedding.
For details contact the Parks and
Recreation Department at 223-2233.

Indoors

The Livingston Depot Center is

the home of many events in Livingston for work parties to fancy galas,
but it can also a beautiful wedding
venue.
The building was erected in 1908
as a train depot designed by the
architect of Grand Central Station
in New York City, so the building is
filled with beautiful,elaborate struc-

Photo courtsey of the Livingston Depot Center

Tables are set up outside the Livingston Depot Center as a wedding takes
place.
tures, according to the Centers Collections Manager Chris Rodgers.
The venue provides chairs and
tables and some other accessories
but renters of the venue would be
required to provide music, food and
any kind of alcohol,
Located in downtown Livingston,
the space is close to several hotels
within the city limits and ample
parking is available.
The space is available for guests
all year round and works for groups
from anywhere between 50 to 200
people, Rodgers said.
The cost of the venue is $500 for
the day, and there are extra fees for
kitchen use and a dance floor.
The Livingston Depot Center is
located on 200 West Park St. in the
heart of the downtown. For more
information, contact 222-2300.

A Little Bit Out of Town

B Bar Ranch is guest ranch outside of Emigrant that serves up fun

for groups looking to enjoy the outdoors while with a little luxury.
The space is recommended for 30
to 40 people who would stay in the
space. The cost $250 per person but

they are provided with a meal from

the lodging chef and accommodations for the evening.
Space is provided outdoors for the
event and tables and chairs are provided outside the guests house.
There is also a $1,000 event fee,
according to Guest Services Supervisor Trina Smith.
If the happy couple is looking for
a larger event, there is a historic
barn on the property that could cover more people for an extra feet.
There is also room on the property
for a tent.
However, even though there is
enough space for a large number of
guests, Smith advises the closest
over-night accommodations are at
Chico Hot Springs and Resort, a distance away from the ranch.
The ranch is located on 818 Miner
Creek Road, 23 miles southwest of
Emigrant. For more information,
call 848-7729.
Although this does not cover all of
the wedding venues for Park County, it gives a variety of locations and
prices for those seeking a place for
their special day.

Page 8

Bridal Guide 2016

YELLOWSTONE
PIONEER LODGE
Hotel packages and group
rates for families and guests
Several different meeting
rooms to accommodate any
size reception or rehearsal
dinner
Event Planners on staff to help with
all the details
Deluxe Parlors and Suites for Bride & Groom
Beautiful Indoor Pool Area with stage for the
ceremony

Beautifully landscaped backyard with awning to

accommodate outdoor receptions

Copper Johns Catering and the YPL Banquet

facilities are prepared to
accommodate any size wedding:
From an intimate gathering in our Dining
Room to the full-scale wedding reception in
our beautiful Yellowstone Room.
Our professional staff is ready to make your
day the most memorable event of your life!
1515 W. Park Livingston 406-222-6110
catering@theyellowstoneinn.com
www.yellowstonepioneerlodge.com

Page 9

Bridal Guide 2016

Finding big love in a small town

By Mackenzie Reiss

You see more infidelity

than people actually going
out. It is sad, but thats kind
of the way it is, Ellett said.
He typically observes
more single men out than
women and recommends
they adopt a less aggressive
approach if they want to be
successful.
And as for pickup lines?
Ellett says theyre a no-go.
Pickup lines are cheesy,
thats why theyre called
pickup lines, he said.

Pioneer Staff Writer

Success story

It was love at first sight,

Justin Countryman said of
meeting his now wife, Jessica Countryman, back in
2008. She had come to Four
Winds Ministry Center all
the way from Virginia on a
mission trip with hopes of
eventually settling in Big
Timber.
Before their introduction,
Countryman didnt date
much as a single father
who steered clear of the bar
scene, his options were limited. But when he saw Jessica he just knew, and when
she returned to Virginia the
pair stayed in touch, sometimes spending hours on the
phone getting to know one
another.
They played the dating
game the old fashioned way
a way that few are wont
to do in these modern times
where instant gratification
is king.
It really allowed us to
build a foundation that was
built on knowing each other
in every way but physically,
which I think really helped,
Justin Countryman said.
Four years later, Jessica
returned to Big Timber
this time for good, and she
and Justin began dating officially.
Because of our belief
system, we had both been
praying that we would know
who we were supposed to
spend the rest of our life
with, that we wouldnt waste
time or feelings or emotions
on other people ... so before
we even went on a first date
it was openly talked about
and it was understood that
we would date with the
intent to marry, Justin
Countryman said. My parents have been married for
almost 50 years and Jessicas parents have been married for 35 years, and they
both told us that it takes
work ... I think both her and
I went in knowing that it

New ways
Photo courtsey of City of Big Timber

The city of Big Timber is pictured in this undated photo.

was going to take work.
The Countrymans are
among many locals who had
to search beyond the borders of Sweet Grass County
to find love. With a limited
population, few avenues for
meeting people and a lack of
anonymity, small-town dating is ripe with obstacles.

Small pool

In Sweet Grass County, 62

percent of residents over
the age of 15 are married,
leaving 38 percent, or 1,387
individuals unmarried. Of
those individuals, just 16.7
percent fall within the most
common marriageable age
range of 20 to 39 years old,
equating to an estimated 231
single residents.
Local resident Amber
Overstreet said the small
pool of singles and lack of
venues for meeting people
makes dating difficult.
Just going to the bar by
yourself, which is like what
youre supposed to do, is a
suicide mission, Overstreet
said. Theres like a 1 percent chance that youll meet
someone.
Overstreet added that
should you meet someone,
people are quick to jump to
conclusions about the status
about your relationship.
If youre two local people, its hard to ... spend time

in public when youre getting to know each other

before youre dating without
people just deciding that
youre dating ... the stakes
are higher I guess because
peoples eyes are on you,
Overstreet said.
She said past experiences
at the bar havent proven
successful for meeting a
match its a place shell
sooner frequent to spend
time with friends, rather
than seek out a partner.
Overstreet says the trouble in Big Timber is that
theres no meeting place for
the middle-of-the-road sort
of folks people who arent
particularly religious nor
too heavily immersed in the
bar scene.
It seems like you either
go to the bar or the church,
or the bar and the church,
Overstreet said.
The best option, from her
perspective, is to be introduced to a potential date
through a friend. That way,
she knows that person is
pre-vetted, so youre not
halfway wondering if
theyre a serial killer, she
said with a laugh.
Timber Bar bartender
Ross Ellett said he hasnt
witnessed many successful
relationships begin from
behind the bar, but rather
the opposite.

The dating scene in Big

Timber changed drastically
during the past century.
Technology altered the way
we communicate and even
find dates with the advent of
texting and resources like
Match.com, OKCupid.com
and Tinder.
Selma Gibby recalls a different time when dating
was more like courtship
than a 400-yard dash. She
met her husband, Forrest, of
65 years through her brother, Arnold Mosness. She was
in eighth grade the first
time she came across him,
and when he returned from
the service years later, the
pair began going out.
(In) those days when you
went to a dance or something a whole bunch of you
loaded in a car, and we just
started getting together,
Gibby said of her relationship with Forrest.
In the late 1940s and early
50s, the thing to do on a Saturday night was to go out
dancing or stop in at
Dwyers Cafe for an ice
cream. Sometimes they ventured to Greycliff or
McLeod to go roller skating.
Back in the day, she
remembers how Forrest
would open doors for her
and treated her like a real
lady.
And today, 65 years later,
not much has changed.
He still opens the doors,
usually, Gibby said, even
if he is getting kind of
shaky.

Page 10

Bridal Guide 2016

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Bridal Guide 2016

Page 11

Engagement Announcement Form

Engagements may be announced several ways.
FOR TRADITIONAL

Names of bride's parents

of (city and state)

(Not Mr. & Mrs.. John Doe, but John and Jane Doe)

Name of bride to be
of (city and state)
Groom's name

of (city and state)

Groom's parents names
of (city and state)

(Not Mr. & Mrs. John Smith but John and Jane Smith)

Wedding date

Wedding location

OPTIONAL: Information about educational background of the prospective bride and groom may be
included. Example: The bride is a (year) graduate of Gardiner High School who graduated from the
University of Montana in (year). Her fiance is a (year) graduate of Big Timber High School, who
graduated from Carroll College in (year).
Include this information on the lines below:

NON-TRADITIONAL
of (city and state)
of (city and state)
are pleased to announce their engagement.
Wedding date
Wedding location
They are the children of
Groom's parents' names
of (city and state)
Bride's parents' names
of (city and state)
Groom
Bride

IMPORTANT: If neither the prospective bride nor groom resides in Park County (for the Enterprise) or Sweet Grass
County (for the Pioneer), please include information about their connection to the community, unless it is obvious from
the parents' residency here. Example: Sally Doe is the granddaughter of Big Timber resident Harry Doe OR former Big
Timber resident Sally Doe.
PLEASE NOTE: Wedding write-ups and a photo (or photographer's proof) of the bridal couple must be submitted
within six weeks of the ceremony. It is important the information be submitted within this time frame, in order for the
entire write-up to be published.
Information may be sent to: communitynews@livent.net or news@bigtimberpioneer.net or bring them to the Enterprise
office at 401 So. Main, Livingston or the Big Timber Pioneer office at 105 W. Second St., Big Timber.

Page 12

Bridal Guide 2016

Receptions and more...

kitchen dining area
dance floor lounge

Elks Lodge

130 S 2nd St Call 222-2511 for reservations.

Call for information on our menu options from

simple buffets to elegant dinners

Dont say I do until youve submitted an

engagement form to The Big Timber Pioneer
or to The Livingston Enterprise.
Its a great way to share the big news with friends
and distant relatives.
You can find the engagement form on page 11 of this
guide.

ENTERPRISE


111S.
S. 11th
11th. 222-6691
206
222-6691

h e

i v i n g s t o n

On & Off-Site Catering

Available for Rehearsal Dinners
and Receptions.

Dont do it!

Bridal Guide 2016

Please email to communitynews@livingstonenterprise.com or news@bigtimberpioneer.net
or bring it to the appropriate office: 401 So. Main, Livingston
105 W. Second St., Big Timber
or mail to: P.O. Box 2000, Livingston, MT P.O. Box 830, Big Timber, MT 59011

* Please list city/state for all persons. *This application must be received within 30 days of the event.

ENTERPRISE
t

h e

i v i n g s t o n

Page 13

Page 14

Bridal Guide 2016

Planning Schedule
Brides and grooms will find this suggested timeline helpful
8 to 15 months to go:
q Have engagement photos taken
q Announce your engagement
with a photo in The Big Timber
Pioneer and/or The Livingston
Enterprise (form is on page 12)
q Choose a wedding date
q Decide the kind of wedding you
want - large or small, formal
or informal, themed or nonthemed
q Set a budget
q Make a system for keeping track
of expenses
q Bride, groom and their families
choose whom to invite - save list
in safe place
q Select ceremony site and
reception site - reserve these
q Ask person who will officiate to
reserve the date
q Select a photographer and a
videographer and have them
save the date
q Start shopping for wedding gown
q Decide on maid of honor, best
man, bridesmaids, groomsmen

6 to 8 months to go:
q Select wedding stationery
including RSVP cards and thank
you cards. Mail invitations with
RSVP cards
q Start planning honeymoon
q Choose ring bearer and flower
girl
q Reserve caterer - choose menu
q Decide on a florist

4 to 6 months to go:
q Reserve rental equipment

q Give photographer and

videographer idea of special
photos/events to cover

q Choose accommodations for outof-town guests

q Plan seating for rehearsal dinner

and wedding

q Send out save the date cards

q Plan seating for reception

q Establish bridal registry

q Let band know about special tunes

- father and bride dance, etc.

q Shop for gifts bride and groom

give each other
q Have dress alterations made

2 to 4 months to go:
q Order party favors and room
decorations
q Order wedding cake
q Check marriage license
regulations
q Order wedding rings
q Order bridal party gifts

1 to 2 months to go:

q Make sure bridesmaids and

groomsmen know where to get
their attire
q Check with invited guests who
havent responded

1 week to go:
q Confirm honeymoon reservations/
travel
q Get brides gown and veil and
grooms tux/shoes
q Give caterer total guest count
q Go over final schedule with
vendors and wedding party

q Decide on hair and makeup and

schedule appointment

q Pack for the honeymoon

q Keep track of RSVPs

q Make sure bridal party knows

procedure and musical cues

q Purchase ring pillow, cake knife,

guest book, toasting glasses
q Change brides name on bank
accounts, drivers license,
subscriptions, etc.
q Obtain marriage license

2 to 6 weeks to go:
q Plan detailed wedding day
schedule - give to wedding party
members and vendors
q Do final fittings for gown and
veil and for bridesmaids
dresses

Day of Rehearsal:

q Go over seating arrangement with

ushers
q Give bridal party detailed
schedule for ceremony
q Give best man check for officiant

Day of the wedding:

q Follow the detailed schedule
q Make sure best man has brides
ring
q Make sure maid of honor has
grooms ring

q Reserve a band or DJ

q Go over ceremony details with

officiant

q Arrive at ceremony site in timely

manner

q Choose bridesmaids attire

q Get rings - check for fit

q Enjoy your wedding

Page 15

Bridal Guide 2016

Strong
Communication
is Key

Be a Part of History, Add to the Legacy

in the Heart of Paradise Valley

Before you say I Do, it may be time to insure your

wedding, cars, home & toys together. Let us find
affordable coverage thats just right for you.
Key Insurance...
because Experience is Key!
123 W. Lewis St. Livingston
Office 406.222.0944 Fax 406.222.0946
danna@keyinsurancemt.com

For information call 406.223.3554

or visit us at www.deepcreekrange.com

Page 16

Bridal Guide 2016

Pinterest: a wedding miracle or curse?

By Lindsey E. Kroskob

Editor Big Timber Pioneer

edding season is in full swing, and technology has

had an impact on the traditional craziness of wedding season.

If you know a bride-to-be, I suggest you figure
out how to block her from the website Pinterest. Every wedding I
go to has signs of Pinterest overload!
I love Pinterest personally. It gives me great ideas for things
such as a pastel checkerboard birthday cake. Three hours into
the project, I was ready to throw the pastel cake and the computer in the garbage and go buy a cake at the IGA. My pastel checkerboard cake took 5 hours (not counting kitchen clean-up), looked
nothing like the picture, and tasted no better than frosted cardboard.
Two summers ago, my niece, Cedar, got married in Colorado.
That was my first introduction to Pinterest, and I did not realize
then how evil that meeting would turn out to be! The wedding
was beautiful, but we barely survived Pinterest.
For quite some time before the wedding, the bride began getting ideas off Pinterest and pinning them. There were amazing
ideas from tea light garlands made of Mason jars to do-it-yourself cupcake liners. She pinned hundreds of ideas, and I had an
inkling that we were going to rue the day she had discovered Pinterest.
When I arrived in Colorado, a few days before the wedding,
their house looked like a Pinterest warehouse. They had taken old
pictures, spray painted them with chalkboard spray, and made
signs for everything from parking to signs for the flower girls to
carry. They had completed dozens of Pinterest ideas, but I was to

find out there were many more to be completed.

Did you know that you can make fondant for cakes with microwaved marshmallows? Me neither, but I spent most of one day
making bags and bags of it. We froze water in balloons, tied flowers and bows on everything, and we even folded the paper napkins into tuxedo folds that housed the silverware, dangled Christmas tree lights from every tree in the park in Eckley, Colorado,
and had a photo booth. We were Pinterestized!
In fact, we were so Pinterestized that we almost forgot how
much time it would take to provide food for 300 people. We were
lighting the candles in the beautifully decorated Kerr jars all
down the aisle as the bride was coming up the aisle. We were so
busy keeping the tuxedo pleated napkins from blowing away
with the silverware that we forgot to put out the 300 bottles of
bubbles that we had carefully tied sachets around. The the waterfilled balloons never made it out of the freezer we stuck them in.
We needed a wedding planner just to keep track of all of the Pinterest ideas that were supposed to have been executed flawlessly.
But the wedding was fairytale beautiful despite the fact that we
forgot the bubbles and the balloons and a bunch of other really
cool Pinterest things.
This summer, I have another niece, Michelle, getting married,
and I am terrified that she too will fall victim to the lures of Pinterest. My sister-in-law asked me to help them figure out what to
do about the cake. I kept quiet about my knowledge of fondant
and found her an on-line cake decorating course that just happened to be discounted by 66 percent. For a paltry fee, I figure
that she has at least two months to learn cake decorating and
make her daughters wedding cake. I am pretty sure she realized
I was joking, but if not, perhaps I can volunteer to make one pastel checkerboard layer, since we have over a month to get it done!

Before you may both say "I do," you need a license
Applying for a
Marriage License

Solemnize the Marriage

License

Marriage licenses are

available at the Clerk of
the District Court's office

Only a qualified officiant may

perform your ceremony and
sign the license.
Those who qualify:
Clergy
Judge or retired judge of a
court of record
Public official with power to
solemnize marriages
Tribal Judge
Mayor
Justice of the Peace

The future bride and groom

must both appear
A valid driver's license,
a valid passport or a birth
certificate may be used for
identification purposes
In the event either party was
previously married, the exact
date of the divorce or death and
the full name of the ex-spouse
must be written on the
application
Cost is $53.00, cash only

Note: After the ceremony the

officiant must return the license
to the Clerk of the District
Court's office no later than 30
days from the date of the
ceremony

Obtaining a copy
Copies of your marriage license
are available at the Clerk of the
District Court's office.
The cost is $5.00 or $7.00 for a
certified copy which is
necessary for official use
Steps in obtaining a license:
Provide full names of couple
(including maiden name of bride)
List date of marriage
Request regular or certified
copy
Provide appropriate fee
(checks should be made out to
Clerk of Court)
Park County:
City/County Complex, 414 E. Callender
Sweet Grass County:
Clerk & Recorder, 200 W. 1st Ave.

Page 17

Bridal Guide 2016

BRIDAL ATTIRE CHECK LIST

BRIDAL ATTENDANTS ATTIRE

BRIDAL
SALON
#1

BRIDAL
SALON
#1

BRIDAL GOWN
Designer
Size
Color/Fabric
Train Length
Cost

HEADDRESS/
VEIL

BRIDAL
SALON
#2

MAID/MATRON
OF HONOR
MAID/MATRON
OFDRESS
HONOR
DRESS
Color/Fabric
Color/Fabric
Size
Size
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Style #
Cost
Cost
BRIDESMAIDS
DRESSES

Style

Color/Fabric

Color

Sizes

Veil Length

Manufacturer

Cost

Style #
Cost

UNDERGARMENTS
Bra
Slip
Stockings
Cost

FLOWER GIRLS
DRESS
Color/Fabric
Size
Manufacturer
Style #
Cost

SHOES
Size
Style
Color
Dyeing Charge
Cost

ACCESSORIES

SHOES/
STOCKINGS
Size
Style/Color
Dyeing Charge
Cost

ACCESSORIES

Gloves

Hat

Garter

Gloves

Hankie

Other

Cost

Cost

FITTINGS/
ALTERATIONS

FITTINGS/
ALTERATIONS

Cost

Cost

TOTAL

TOTAL

BRIDAL
SALON
#2

Page 18

Bridal Guide 2016

Wedaversary makes for an extra special event

By Jim Durfey

Enterprise Staff Writer

irsten and
Charles HolyCross were
married by a
justice of the peace June 6
in 2014.
Due to a recent death
in the family and other
complications, the couple
had to opt for whats called
a Declaration of Marriage
at the City County Complex. No friends or relatives were present for the
ceremony, with witnesses
drafted for service from
the halls of the complex.
But the couple didnt want
to settle for that.
We wanted to celebrate
with family and friends,
Charles explained. So the
couple planned what they
called a Wedaversay
event, which occurred
exactly one year later.
The event was to take
place outside, but the
couple did have tents and
awnings in place if Mother
Nature brought rainy
weather.
The big issue was the
weather, said Kirsten.
We worried about it.
But June 6, 2015, was a
bluebird day. Guests were
very comfortable in summer attire. Sun screen was
a popular item.
According to the HolyCrosses, a lot of preparation took place for the
event but since many of
the guests helped getting
everything set up it was
what Charles called a
team effort.
The brides sons surprised the couple with a
fireworks show in the evening, much to the delight
of many of the younger
attendees.
To sum it up, Kirsten
said, We just had fun.

Enterprise photos by Jim Durfey

Kirsten, left, and Charles HolyCross smile as six-year-old Anna Doxatater, right, scatters
rose petals near the edge of the circle of daisies that friends made for the couples Wedaversary ceremony. Between the HolyCrosses and Anna are Charles daughters, Vanessa
HolyCross and Molly Doxatater. The HolyCrosses invited friends and relatives into the circle
during the ceremony. According to Kirsten, it symbolized the union of their families and
friends. Both the bride and the groom had been married before.

Mattie Harris, 10, of Wibaux, Montana, waits to fill out her name tag
while Adrienne Fabich, of Livingston, fills out a tag for a friend before
the Wedaversary ceremony begins.
Attendees came from all over the
state, with a few hailing from outside Montana.

Charles HolyCross, the groom, removes smoked

baby back ribs from a smoker. HolyCross prepared
and cooked 150 pounds of the ribs. Both the ceremony and the reception were held at the HolyCross
home on Hidden Ridge Road in Livingston. Friends
and relatives brought potluck items while the HolyCrosses supplied the meat and the beverages.

Bridal Guide 2016

Page 19

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