Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 1 of 2)

We chose our simple, unassuming ceremony site in Polebridge partly for its convenience, accessibility, and proximity to our reception, but there was also something utterly breathtaking about being married in center of a small town in the shadow of such stately peaks. Although part of me wishes we’d chosen to be married on the shores of Lake McDonald or had been given permission by the Park Service to wed at Bowman Lake, I loved our ceremony setup something fierce.

Though the grass was lumpy and there was no beautiful arbor or ancient oak to enshrine us, we felt like nature was truly our temple. A small creek bubbled at our feet, and the wilderness stretched behind us vastly North into Canada. In front of us, our friends and family who had journeyed hundreds of miles. It was truly special.

As my mother and sister played Wachet Auf on their violins, the bridal party began processing. First, my Maid of Honor and closest girlfriend, Rachel…

Then Amy, whom we met while backpacking in Glacier on the day we were engaged! (She is getting married to her boyfriend, Tom, on July 4th of this year in Virginia.)

Then my younger sister, Allie…

and, my next youngest sister, Liz…

Our ring bearer followed, holding our rings aloft on the tree-trunk “platter” he had made:

Then, it was our little flower girl’s turn. But she was having none of that walking business, instead preferring to point her flower clutch like a baton and letting mama direct her.

I can’t blame her for not walking… after all, she was only one-and-a-half. But oh, she was so cute! And I was just so happy to have a flower girl at all after our first little lady had to cancel.

Plus, having mama walk her down the aisle meant we got some cute pictures of her polka-dots and lovely boots!

Then, it was my turn. I love when it’s my turn!!

My dad, who was quietly standing by, took my arm and we started walking, slooooowly, because I wanted to remember it, from behind the outhouse to the end of the aisle. I had no idea we were being watched by most of the town, parents and children alike:

(Aside from our secret audience, I also like that you can see both the outhouse, on the right, and the satellite dishes Polebridge uses to receive all communications, in the upper left.)

At the end of the aisle, Mr. Cherry Pie was waiting, looking handsome and proud, with our officiant Cathy, who is his dad’s long-time girlfriend:

Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 1 of 2) : wedding pictures recap seattle 11cerem
I couldn’t stop beaming, even though it made me look ridiculous. Not even when I almost tripped in a hole. But everyone had to stop and laugh when one of the Polebridge pups trotted leisurely right across our path wearing an expression that said distinctly, “WTF are you doing?”

Our long walk was all too quickly over. Of course, now it’s all a blur anyway, but I think I had hoped somehow to slow down time and take in everything: the weather, the faces of all our guests, the look on Mr. CP’s face when he first saw me. But I failed so hard that I didn’t even remember that that dog ran by until I saw the picture. Oh well, I guess that’s why we should hire photographers to document our more overwhelming moments!