Intimate Summer Wedding at Lone Mountain Ranch | Sarah + Walt

Sarah and Walt gave up planning a traditional wedding at home in Pennsylvania, for a true Montana celebration in Big Sky. Photography by Brittany Lee Photography.

"Walt and I met through mutual friends in 2012. We went to the same high school, and hung around the same crowd. I went on to work as a hairstylist, and he spent a few years in college. After graduation when he moved back home, we got together at our local county fair for our first real ‘date’ and the rest was history. Our hobbies and interests are very similar! We both grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors in the backwoods of Southwest Pennsylvania. I think we both knew it was a perfect match from the start. Years later, he proposed in Ligonier, PA under a beautiful, historic gazebo. It was a clear September afternoon, and the timing was perfect. Of course I said yes. Originally when he proposed, I immediately began planning a large, traditional wedding in our hometown without much thought. But life threw a curveball, and two months later, I got into a scary ATV accident. It was a huge wake-up call to seize every day. Medical bills were adding up, Covid was still raging, and I had a change of heart. We decided to follow our dreams and plan a small, intimate wedding out West.

Montana has always been on our bucket list to visit, being the outdoor enthusiasts we are. We decided flying out would be the best option, to maximize our time there. We looked at multiple venues before deciding on Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky. The ranch took care of just about everything, including our overnight accommodations, cake, dinner, and my flowers. The day of our ceremony we had beautiful, sunny weather. I got ready with my mom and sister in the cutest cabin called Bull Moose. Walt and I shared our first look outside of the cabin before heading up to the ridge. The emotion on his face is something I’ll never forget! It was so sweet. We were surrounded by our immediate families and the most gorgeous mountain backdrop during the ceremony. The night ended with lots of drinks, a delicious buffet-style meal, and a wonderful band playing on a flat-bed trailer. It was a true Montana style celebration, complete with a horse and wagon ride back down to our cabin. We would not have changed a thing about our day. We finished out our week in Big Sky honeymoon style, with a tour of Yellowstone, hiking, good food, and lots of fly fishing!" – Sarah, the bride