The wide expanses of the American West have been special to bride Haley for a long time. When she was growing up, her dad would take the family out to Big Sky Country for adventurous trips full of fly fishing and exploring. When Haley first brought now-husband-Adam with her for a visit, he quickly understood why the West had won her heart.
“There is nothing like it out there,” the couple says.
So Haley + Adam—based in Florida—decided to plan a destination wedding weekend in Montana with help from planners and event designers Josiah + Justin of SAMKOMA that would capture the “adventure, spirit, and rugged charm of the West” while still staying true to the couple’s unique personal style.
“We knew many of our guests would be flying in from across the country, some going west for the first time,” the couple says, “and we wanted them to experience the magic of Montana that we had grown to appreciate and love so much.”
Haley + Adam began the celebrations by skipping the traditional rehearsal dinner and opting for a hoedown complete with chuck wagons! And the following day’s wedding at Rock Creek Cattle Company was an elegant Western dream.
Hats. Boots. Beyond beautiful scenery. There was so much to love about Haley + Adam’s chic-yet-rustic Western wedding weekend, and Presley Gray took the pics to prove it.
The Night Before
What a way to start the weekend! “We wanted our guests to feel like they weren’t just there for a wedding,” Haley + Adam say, “but also for their own little adventure in the state known as the “Last Best Place.’”
If Haley + Adam’s unforgettably unique pre-wedding plans have you feeling inspired to think outside the box, check out our guide on how to plan a rehearsal dinner! It’s full of creative planning ideas!
How cute are those personalized leather drink holder from Circa ’62 Leather Works! Love that they’re stamped with the wedding date. 🥰
Oh, and that engagement ring! Round-cut, diamond band perfection.
“I picked a Monique Lhuillier floral mini-dress that broke the mold of rehearsal night tradition,” says Haley of this absolutely adorable white embroidered flowery look. “I paired it with green Tecovas boots and a straw hat with florals in it that Meshika made for me that day.”
Take a peek at our list of the best rehearsal dinner dresses if you’re still searching for your own night-before look!
The First Look
“We met organically at a local coffee and tea shop, just before the world hit pause for COVID,” remember Haley + Adam. “We had some mutual friends and had both been regulars at the shop for over a year.”
“It was one of those perfect situations where our paths finally crossed.”
The Ceremony
These gorgeous arrangements from The Wild Blume captured all of the colors innate to the gorgeous Montana prairie landscape.
Prairie Portraits
“Finding my wedding dress was quite the journey!” says Haley of how she chose her strapless Reem Acra gown and created this stunning long sleeve lace bridal silhouette. “After hitting four stores in Miami and feeling disappointed, I was ready to throw in the towel. But on a whim, I decided to check out one last place that day—Chic Parisian in Coral Gables. And that’s where the magic happened!”
“I said yes to the second dress I tried on, and it brought all of us to tears,” Haley says. “Everything about it felt perfect, from the long sleeves, the low back to the high neckline. There was something about a classic dress being worn on a muddy ranch that made perfect sense to me.”
Can we just take a moment for this intricate, sparkly reception dress from Yolan Cris?!
Our Advice To Those Planning Now There are no rules! Sure, everyone loves to talk about tradition, but sometimes you just have to do what feels right for you. We kept some tradition alive but also ditched a lot of it and don’t regret it for a second. No bouquet toss, no huge bridal/groom parties, cowhide coasters that went with floral plates and horseshoes. A rehearsal dinner? Nope. We ended up throwing a western chuckwagon hoedown. Stay true to yourselves and have fun with it.
Also, we recommend spending the morning together before parting to get ready. Seriously, 10/10 recommend! You spend so much time stressing over every detail, and then the big day arrives, and you barely see each other until the ceremony! It goes by so fast! We even spent the night before (again, breaking traditions!) just hanging out and watching movies, which was a blast and really helped ease any wedding day jitters.
Congratulations, Haley + Adam! Your western wedding weekend was elegant, Montana magic. Best wishes to you both from GWS!
photography: Presley Gray // venue name: Rock Creek Cattle Company, Deer Lodge, Montana, USA // event design: Samkoma // planning: Samkoma // florals: Wild Blume // wedding dress: Reem Acra and Yolan Cris // wedding dress boutique: Chic Parisian // bride’s shoes: Lucchese // hair stylist: Bridal Hair by Victoria // makeup artist: Fumi // videography: Klassey Productions // paper goods: Lettered Press // tabletop rentals: Montana Party Rentals // furniture rentals: Montana Party Rentals // linen rentals: BBJ La Tavola // music: Bradshaw Media // photo booth: Primrose Views // tenting + lighting: Montana Party Time // day-of paper: JLF Calligraphy // totes + napkins: Kate Wiseman Creative // leather goods: Circa ’62 Leather Works // hat bar: Meshika // welcome party dress + wedding day bolero: Monique Huillier Bride // welcome party boots: Tecovas // wedding hat: Stetson