Nicole and Colton’s love story started 12 years ago. Yes, I’m talking middle school — off and on through high school and after, until they decided there was no one else for them. On their wedding day, there was a kindness and sweetness that comes with a young love but also comes with loving someone who knows your whole heart. The best thing about Nicole and Colton is that they are both unapologetically themselves, which makes it easy for them to love each other wholly and attracts all the best kind of people. As a result, let me tell you, these are two people without a shortage of friends — many of which were there when they got together, have third wheeled on their dates, and helped them build their life together. Others who they met later in life, are different generations from them entirely, are work acquaintances from Nicole’s title as the director of the Chamber of Commerce, and are hunting buddies. All of these friends and family came together to support this awesome couple as they made it official this weekend!
When Nicole and Colton got engaged this summer, there was talk of a destination wedding. I, for one, was fully on board with this idea and had plans of convincing them to take me with them to whatever island or beach resort they decided on. However, they talked it over and decided they should have it in their home town with all of their friends and family and be the first couple to get married in their new church. Nicole, an already seasoned event planner, saw no problem in curating her dream wedding right at home. She assembled a team of all star vendors and designed an event that blew everyone away. It was important to them to work with local vendors and also bring in the awesome crew at Better to Gather from Billings to create the dramatic setting. Better to Gather DELIVERED as they transformed the Elks Club ballroom into a candlelit dream, while Friesen’s Floral filled out the room with blooms and created heart stoppingly beautiful bouquets for the tables. The Sherman Inn served a 5 star menu that had everyone’s mouth watering. Kaitlin Hagfeldt styled truly beautiful hair and makeup, while Nicole’s stunning Morganite ring from Sugar Plum Jewelry and a dramatic dress from Belle en Blanc completed her look, along with her red lips and raccoon fur coat, probably the most “Extra” and understated wedding look ever. I was obsessed with all of it. The only slightly intimidating job of capturing it all fell on myself, Jennifer Ray Photography, and Montana Diaries!
To say their church was brand new would be an understatement. The parishioners of this congregation worked tirelessly to have the building ready in time. They got it there — but just barely. So fresh was the construction that maybe… the flooring wasn’t quite down and… the lighting wasn’t quite up, but they had a string quartet playing their favorite songs, (T Swift anyone!) and they were certainly the very first couple to tie the knot there. After the ceremony, things got fancy in a big way. Upon their guests arrival to the Elk’s, the word was, “WOW!” With rich colors, fur wraps, sharp suits, formal dresses, winter greens and 400 candles, this gorgeous wedding was special and “Extra” in the best way possible.
