Bride Abby has a motto: “Different is dope!” And we are so into the ways that her wedding day embodied this fierce and individualistic energy!!
She and groom Wade both grew up in Montana, so it meant a lot to them to tie the knot amidst the majestic mountains outside Bozeman, MT at Bridger Bowl (where Wade used to ski competitively!). More than anything, Abby + Wade wanted their big day to be all about loud and colorful self-expression—to feel a little like the Met Gala and to incorporate the outrageous fashion vibes of The Capitol from The Hunger Games.
With the help of coordinators from Hyalite Events the couple created a celebration full of custom, colorful wedding day style and bubbles and SO much joy. Photographer Jackie Haugen captured tons of fab photos that we are so excited to show you!!
Let’s get into it!!
First things first: we are IN LOVE with those blush feathery Azalea Wang wedding shoes.
Groom Wade designed this bespoke embroidered and bejeweled wedding suit from Addicted Bespoke himself! It features aliens, spaceships, skiers, Montana Indian Paintbrush flowers, and wrens (Abby’s middle name is Wren 🥰).
Wade’s fab groom look has us remembering another groom—from this intimate retro Colorado mountain wedding—who also rocked a super-cool custom suit from Addicted Bespoke!
The First Look
If these incredible, joy filled photos aren’t enough to convince you to sneak a peak at your partner before the ceremony, check out our list of the 8 reasons why we love a first look.
OKAY. Here is the story of this breathtaking custom sparkly pink gown: “After trying on what felt like every white dress ever made, I finally decided that I didn’t feel like myself in white,” Abby says. “I searched all over the internet for a pink dress, and never found one that really spoke to me, so I decided to create my own dream dress.”
“I had been in LOVE with the style and shapes of the Berta Privée No. 6 collection, so I had an independent designer on Etsy create the base of the mermaid style blush pink dress, then I worked with another designer in Pasadena – Lara from Folklore Dress Studio – to customize and add unique elements to the dress to make it perfectly ME! We went shopping together in the fashion district of downtown Los Angeles to find the perfect rhinestones and appliqués to add to the dress.”
“We added off the shoulder pink tulle detachable sleeves,” says Abby, “and she even made an attachable veil for my bridal hat.” Speaking of—we are OBSESSED with Abby’s hat!! Shop this light pink Wythe Leather Band Felt Hat from Free People for a similar look.
“It was important for me to celebrate my bald head and fully embrace being a bald bride,” says Abby. “I live with the autoimmune disease Alopecia, so I accessorized around that and wore my favorite hoop earrings that always make me feel the most confident and feminine.”
And can we talk about Abby’s stunning, rosy makeup and those rhinestone and pearl face gems?? Well, Abby (aka Abby Wren Artistry) is a makeup artist and created this beautifully blush look herself!
You’re gonna want to explore our collection of the 31 best blush and pink wedding dresses we’re obsessed with if this wedding has you picturing yourself in something pink on your big day.
And don’t miss our list of the 34 most beautiful mermaid wedding dresses if it’s the silhouette of Abby’s gown that’s speaking to you!
“I want to encourage anyone getting married to ignore the hype and the pressure of what social media can sometimes make us feel like we “need” to do for the full bridal/wedding experience,” Abby says, “and encourage any bride-to-be’s out there to lean into what makes your relationship unique, and celebrate the weirdness!
I was a little shy at first about sharing my story of being a bald bride, because I had always envisioned a “bride” looking a certain way. But I’m so glad that I chose to rock my Alopecia on my wedding day, and hopefully it inspires someone else out there to show up authentically on their big day!”
The Ceremony
These super romantic floral arrangements by Kelly Arkell full of pampas grass and pale pink roses are a sweet, soft addition to this triangular ceremony arch.
The guest fashion at this wedding cannot be beat! Listen, we’re definitely not choosing favorites, but this high low lavender tulle dress is SO GOOD.
We love to see a wedding that hands flower girl duties off to other grown-up family members!
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding Wade: "Watching Abby walk down the aisle to the song we heard together when we first met 6 years ago in her epic pink dress, and the moment when Abby's dad surprised us with a mind-blowing rap during the ceremony!"
Abby: "Definitely seeing Wade's face as I was walking down the aisle! It felt like I was actually in the most amazing dream, and seeing him so excited and emotional was such a surreal moment. Also when my dad completely surprised us with the rap, it was the coolest surprise ever and set the creative, love-filled tone for the whole night. We also shared a moment upstairs with all of our closest friends walking down the aisle with us and our parents as we lined up to walk down the aisle, and the energy was just electric and it was so special to share a fun moment with them all before walking down. We did a gigantic group hug and all cheered as loud as we could, then took a group shot of tequila! It was the best vibe."
Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Abby’s dad’s epic red dragon print suit.
“We knew we wanted some fun edits for social media,” says Abby, “and it was a game changer to have Maddie from Shooting Starr Social there to help us capture all the bts moments and film so much extra photo and video that was just airdropped to my phone at the end of the night. Highly recommend hiring a wedding content creator!”
So fun that Abby’s dad surprised the couple with a mid-ceremony rap.
Your serotonin boost of the day, courtesy of this joy-filled ceremony pic 😊
Our Musical Choices Processional: "Coup de Tête" by Bon Entendeur + "Gold Dust" by Galantis
Recessional: "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" by Natalie Cole
First Dance: "How Long Will I Love You" by Jon Boden, Sam Sweeney, Ben Coleman (from the movie About Time)
“We encouraged our guests to dress as creatively and colorfully as they could,” the couple says, “as that’s a big part of how we both love to express ourselves.”
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Abby: "Take a deep breath and try to really enjoy it! It really is so much work, especially if you're planning it on your own like we did, but I really do think that unique personal touches make it an unforgettable experience for you and your partner and the guests. And prioritize the important things for you as a couple. For us it was important to create a colorful, creative, fun vibe and make sure that we stuck together the whole night to experience everything together."
These fellas are nailing the mix-and-match groomsman look! Send your best buds our list of the 29 best groomsmen suits your crew will love to help them find their own distinct look.
Is it even a wedding without cute whale-shaped bubble guns??
The Reception
Snag some of these spiral wire table number card holders to recreate Abby + Wade’s chic and simplistic table number setup.
And grab some small white light-up marquee letters like the ones on their sweetheart table while you’re at it!! SO festive!
Congratulations, Abby + Wade! Your magical Montana wedding was nonstop joy and authenticity! GWS wishes you all the very best!!
photography: Jackie Haugen // venue name: Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Bozeman MT, Bozeman, Montana, USA // planning: Hyalite Events // florals: Kelly Arkell // wedding dress: Folklore Dress Studio // makeup artist: Abby Wren // groom attire: Addicted Bespoke // videography: Veneko Media // music: Starfari // photo booth: Montana Photo Lounge // videography: Thomas Vincent // wedding content creator: Shooting Starr Social // beverage sponsors: A&W Restaurants // beverage sponsors: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company