Samantha + Forrest
Wedding Date & Location:
September 7th, Private Family Farm in Bigfork, MT
Samantha’s wedding was the perfect blend of elevated backyard charm and personal touches, set against the stunning backdrop of her family’s retired Christmas tree farm. She and her husband exchanged vows beside a spring overlooking the mountains, with a close friend officiating to make the ceremony even more meaningful. The reception, nestled among the old pine trees strung with lights, felt cozy yet elegant—long tables lined with pine boughs, charcuterie spreads, fried ravioli, and live music set the tone for an unforgettable evening. Guests enjoyed six types of pizza (including bride-and-groom signature flavors), a mobile bar with custom drinks, and huckleberry cheesecake for dessert. Special dances, heartfelt speeches, and a personalized shot ski kept the celebration lively and uniquely them. Samantha’s advice to future brides? Be present and soak in every moment—your joy will set the tone for everyone else’s.
What was the vision for your wedding?:
Elevated backyard wedding, incorporating the pine trees from the retired family Christmas tree farm. I think it ended up pretty well & exactly how I wanted. I chose my vendors with what matched my style & what highlighted some of my favorite things like the food - charcuterie & pizza & Cheesecake, photographer & videographer - love their style, music - was my favorite genre, etc.
How did it go on the day of?:
Since the wedding was just across the street from our place, the ladies got ready at my in-laws' house on the property. We had freshly baked goodies and coffee while getting our hair done. We got some local blooms from two Kay’s flower farm, and the bridesmaids put together our bouquets, which added a unique personal touch. The men got ready at our house. We had a wedding coordinator putting together the final touches on the day of while we got ready. The ceremony was my favorite part; it was right by a spring on the property overlooking the mountains. We had a friend officiate our wedding, which made it more personal. It was everything I dreamed of. Afterward, we had the reception within walking distance in some old Christmas trees that had grown. We strung lights in between the trees & had long tables with pine bows and lights as the centerpieces. At the entrance, the guests were greeted by a charcuterie table of meats and cheese ( Montana picnic co ) and fried raviolis ( sauce & bread food truck) & Tommy Edwards & Chance Cole serenading with music. After taking family photos, we had just the parents give speeches & we gave our thank you. We did our father-daughter dance (Sweet Child o' Mine ) and grandmother & grandson dance (What a Wonderful World ), since Forrest’s biological father had passed. We then did our first dance to Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers. The main dish was 6 different types of pizza ( one named after the bride of my favorite toppings, another named after the groom with his favorite toppings, then the rest of the usual different options). We had a mobile bar with 2 personalized drinks . We then did a cake cutting of huckleberry cheesecake as our dessert, which is a family favorite. The music switched to a dj and we danced the night away. We also had a personalized shot ski with our last name on the back for guests to take pictures and drink. It was so much fun & overall it was really our style.
What is your #1 tip to future brides?:
As cliché as it sounds, try to be present and enjoy the moment. It’s overwhelming to try to say hi to everyone at your wedding, but I think it’s so important to just be in the moment because it flies by so quickly. I was worried about everyone having fun & I learned that if you have fun, the guests have fun.
