Ok, so you want to get married in Montana! It’s beautiful and even if you’re planning a destination wedding, our experience is that your guest list will love an excuse to come visit.

Before you get to enjoy your wedding day, first you get to plan it! You’ve come to the right place. As a venue, we’ve seen tons of different wedding planners and wedding photographers. We’ve seen what works and what to avoid. And listen, everyone is different. Each couple has their own vision, and their own priorities for their wedding - so my biggest piece of advice is always to do what feels right to you.

But, if you aren’t quite sure where to start, these timeline tips are for you- and they’re geared for folks getting married in the Flathead Valley, Kalispell, Whitefish, on Flathead Lake, or near Glacier National Park.

Ok, we’re almost there. First, I wanted to share some universal truths about wedding timelines.

A. Most weddings run late. It’s ok. The guests generally enjoy the chance to chat, and the party can’t start without the couple/bride anyway. There is a lot going on.

B. Almost half of weddings forget a piece of their timeline. Whether it’s the first dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss… ultimately, it’s ok to miss something. I always say a wedding is a success if you’re married at the end of the day!

C. Timelines are useless if nobody else knows the plan. Ultimately a timeline is a way to coordinate your vendors, family, and friends. The goal is to make sure everyone knows the plan so they can stick to it- and help you stick to it!

Without further ado, here are my top Montana Wedding Timeline Tips

1. Distribute your Wedding Timeline!

   Note, you should have at least two versions of the timeline - one for your wedding guests and one for the wedding party/family. The wedding guest version (aka the ‘public’ version) should go into the handout/bulletin/etc. if you’re doing handouts and, if not, should be posted somewhere in the reception space and on your website, your officiant should also go over it. Your wedding party/family version (aka the ‘insider’ version) should have more details and should be available to them on their phones (text it to them the day before during rehearsal dinner!) and, ideally, on paper as well. Don’t forget to send the timeline to your vendors too, even if they have a small part to play in the day.

2. Ask your photographer to weigh in.

   Most wedding photographers have a rhythm and an order that they like to stick to. While there can be reasons to switch up their normal routine, I recommend at least sticking to their order for family photos and portraits. They’ll have a mental list that they’re ticking off (Couple with bride’s family, couple with bride’s parents, couple with bride’s siblings, etc.)

3. Book a separate day for bridal portraits.

   If you’re getting married in Montana, you’re going to want shots with your spouse in front of mountains and this incredible landscape. Often, couples have to compromise epic shots in Glacier National Park or general epic outdoor bridal photos because they also want shots with their family and friends (who have flown in to spend time with them!) The answer to this conundrum is to enjoy your wedding day with your friends and family, then book another day with your photographer for portraits. Take the whole day! Go wherever the mountains are calling!

4. Go through your timeline and plan for weather.

   Once you’ve finalized your wedding timeline, go through it and talk through what you’ll do if it’s raining. Then talk through if there’s snow or it’s really cold. Then talk through if it’s really smoky out. It’s important to have talked through these, just in case.

5. Plan a Wedding Weekend

   Don’t forget to plan activities and your movements before and after your wedding day too- do you want to host a welcome dinner? Rehearsal dinner? Brunch the day after? These extra events are how you maximize time with your friends and family while they’re in town to celebrate you!

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