7 Reasons to book a Bitterroot Valley wedding

We just wanted to take a quick minute to list a few of the reasons why you will LOVE booking your wedding in the Bitterroot Valley! 

1.  THE VIEWS.  

We're surrounded by mountains, and the Bitterroot River runs right through it!  It's a sight to behold - frequently the mountain tops are covered in snow until early July, and in the spring months, the whole countryside is green and full of life!  And at night, the sky is so big and full of stars - you really have to see it to believe it.  There is nothing more romantic than a night sky in Montana! 

2.  THE BANANA BELT.

The Bitterroot Valley is known as the “Banana Belt” of Montana as the weather is far less severe than in other parts of the state.  We're able to grow more produce due to the moderate temperatures as compared to the rest of the state.  Bitterroot Valley weather is known for ideal summer conditions with daytime high’s normally in the 80′s and cool, crisp evenings that dip into the 40′s and 50′s.  Spring and fall are also mild and tend to be drier and warmer than the rest of Montana, and are excellent times to visit the area.  Some of the cities in Montana, like Missoula and Kalispell are known for their cloud inversions, which sit over the Valley for extended periods of time.  We typically don't see that weather pattern down here, and the sun shines almost all summer long!

3.  WILDLIFE.

In order to get to the Valley, you have to drive by one of the larger bison herds in the area.  You're almost guaranteed to see deer, and other wildlife like pheasant, fox, coyote, bald eagles, and elk are often visible out in the fields along the highway.  On rarer occasions, you may even see a bear, mountain lion, or moose!  If you or your guests are coming in from out of state, seeing these animals is a pretty awesome, and it's a uniquely Montana experience.  You won't see much wildlife in the cities of Montana, but head southwest to our Valley, and see it all! 

4.  GREAT ATMOSPHERE.

If you've seen a "River Runs Through It, you'll also know that Norman Maclean was quoted as saying:  “The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana.”  Part of the valley (Lolo, MT) is located in Missoula County, so we're a stone's throw away.  Need we say more about that?

5.  ALL THE VENDORS YOU COULD NEED.

If you need it, we can get it!  It may be small town Montana, but we are wedding professionals!  We can get those Chiavari chairs you want, that teepee lookin' tent, and a fancy 5 course meal.  You just have to know where to look!  And if you don't find it through our association website, call one of our listed wedding planners.  They know exactly who the perfect vendors are for your needs!

6.  MONTANA LIFESTYLE

No need to book that super expensive rustic venue in the big city.  We have the real deal!  Vintage barns galore, or custom log cabins, or antique homes that were built over 100 years ago.  Our venues are all reasonably priced compared to larger cities, very well maintained, and loved by brides! 

7.  ENJOY ANNIVERSARIES HERE.

If you get married here, there are SO MANY activities to enjoy when you return to celebrate an anniversary!  From hot springs, to fancy restaurants, to hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, floating & fishing the river, attending rodeos, and more.  Get married here, but enjoy coming back with your partner for many years to come.  

Planning a destination Montana wedding? Read these 6 tips!

Montana is an absolutely beautiful place to get married, but there are a few things you should be aware of when planning a wedding here.  (We love it here, but it's a bit different from city living!):

1.  Don't like the weather?  Wait 5 minutes.  That's literally a saying around here.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing!  It could be snowing one minute and 70 degrees the next.  It just means you need to be prepared.  Outdoor weddings should all have some sort of tent or covering to retreat to, should the weather change.  Be ready with space heaters or an after-hours fire pit!  And encourage guests to dress appropriately with shawls or wraps!

2.  Montana is one big city.  It's no big deal for residents of the state to drive 2 hours to "town" (one way), just to get something we need.  If you live outside the city, you plan your trips so you can accomplish a lot at one time.  How does this affect you and your wedding plans?  Typically, you're not getting married in a city in Montana, you're probably getting married on the outskirts, or in the country somewhere.  So it just means you need to plan ahead!  Make a list, because if you forget something, it's not a quick errand around here!

3.  It's part of the rustic charm of the state, but we don't have all the same shops that you might have in the city.  If you forget batteries for your tealights, odds are, you aren't going to find the quantity you need because only one local shop carries them.  So again, just plan ahead.  Make a list and check it twice!  Let others look at the list.  Hire a professional to help you with your list.  You want to make sure everything is taken care of in advance.

4.  Mail is slower here.   It has to be sent across the state to get processed and sent out.  So sending something TO Montana takes a while, and getting mail while in the state also takes a while.  Keep this in mind if you're shipping decor or items for your wedding day.

5.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  We are at an altitude of approximately 3200 feet.  It is arrid here, and it's frequent that your skin will dry out,  and your lips may chap.  Not only should you drink lots of water (especially when drinking alcohol at a wedding), but you should be prepared with a great skin moisturizer and lip balm.  No one wants to be ashy in their wedding photos!

6.  Sunscreen.  The sun is incredibly intense here.  It doesn't take long to get burnt really badly.  Make sure to apply sunscreen.  Burning would be the worst that can happen, but just an hour in the sun can give you horrible tan lines.

As vendors, we choose to live in Montana because we appreciate the wide open spaces, the clean, fresh scent of pine in the air, the delicious water straight from the tap, and the fact the mail still seems to come Pony Express.  And we love the elements of nature that make Montana what it is - the ever changing weather, the radiant sunshine, and the dryness of the wind.  But what's most important is that YOU embrace the lifestyle too, so you can get the most out of your Montana wedding!  We hope you find these tips helpful when coming from elsewhere, so you can truly enjoy every moment in this special place we call home!