Boho Bozeman Mountain Wedding | Sarah + Sam

We fell in love with Sarah and Sam, their story, their style, and their wedventure. Do you recognize them? You should. They are our amazing couple gracing the cover of our magazine. But their story is much more than just a cover photo. Read on to get their whole story, as featured in Montana Bride, Volume 18. Photography and Videography by Montana Bride Vendor Opal & Ox Photography and Film.

DAY ONE | HYALITE PEAK TRAIL

“In January of 2012, Sam and I met at the Crystal Bar in Bozeman during their infamous ‘power hour’ (if you know, you know). I was new to town, and Sam was fresh off the oil rig the night we met. Thinking it would be fun and short-lived due to his work schedule, we traveled, explored, and always hit the ground running when he was home. We moved in together five months after we met and never looked back. Sam had the mountain man vibe I shamelessly loved (and I got lucky that he was actually a nice guy) – and he also laughed at my jokes.

We are always happiest in the mountains. I knew Hyalite Peak would not be an easy place to get to, but we knew it would be worth it. Of our crew of 12, only two others had ever conquered a hike of this distance. After two hail storms, lots of laughs, and a few beers, the 7-mile trek up culminated in gale force winds at Hyalite Lake. Our sunset summit would have to wait until morning. We set up camp and waited out the weather overnight.”

DAY TWO | REACHING THE PEAK

“I had dreamed of a magical, intimate moment with Sam on Hyalite Peak – one more mile up – and we finally made it the next morning. The mountain will forever hold a special place in the hearts of everyone that was on that hike: the crazy weather, the change of schedule, the campfire conversations. Then, the next day was pure love. We wanted to create something unforgettable for all of our people – something to remember forever. We did not exchange vows on that mountaintop. For us, the emotion on top of the peak was a vow in itself, and it left us both perfectly speechless. I am so proud of that moment. It is ours forever.”

DAY THREE | WEDDING DAY

“We were meant to summit Hyalite Peak on Thursday evening at sunset. Due to weather, we headed up Friday morning, which postponed our return to town by several hours. We had no cell phone service for 36 hours. The best moment was – after speeding back to Bozeman – dirty, wet and tired, and throwing our packs down – rushing to see our entire family waiting for us (and let them know we were alive). It was time to share the story, the love, and to celebrate. Party time!”

SARAH’S CREDITS

“Book Opal & Ox. Kristi and Ralphie dove head first into our crazy vision and made our experience an absolute blast. They rolled with the punches and captured the energy, emotion, and love within those three days. They are amazing humans and their creativity and talent is one-of-a-kind. We are so grateful to have found them.

I want to acknowledge my parents. My father – the ‘yes’ man. Through the craziness of revamping our plans, his priority never wavered from making sure we were happy. I will forever be grateful and have never doubted his ability to throw a fun party! My mother – who I left to handle everything. I wanted nothing to do with decor, napkins, chairs, or anything else in between. I took off on the hike and came back to the most magical, bohemian, wildflower farm table I had ever experienced. She wrangled everyone and threw a magnificent celebration for us. Thank you, Mom. Lastly, my stepfather and officiant, Mike. Your words and wisdom were everything we could have imagined. Having watched you and my mother grow together for 20 years, I knew you were the perfect man to send us into our next chapter. We love you.”