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Proposing in Paradise

I got an email from Michael a couple of months ago and began the process of setting up the photography of his surprise proposal to Sarah in Yellowstone National Park. Little did we know that all the precise planning was going to be ‘awash’, so to speak in the challenges of a disastrous flooding of the Yellowstone River starting in Yellowstone park and continuing south though many towns down river.

Well, it’s quite a story which I’ll make time for later in the week. The bottom line is that Michael and I for the last week, carried on daily secret conversations to bring us all together without blowing the secret. Amazingly, we did it… and yesterday Michael proposed marriage to Sarah on the banks of the mighty and still swollen Yellowstone River.

I posed as a hobbyist photographing birds near a pre-planned location and the rest is history!!! Here’s a beautiful image I grabbed right as the couple was walking by me to the planned spot. Then the real event began!

Congratulations to Sarah and Michael, newly engaged and my new friends! smiles…

Livingston Peak Wedding

Ah yes, springtime in the Rockies. We had all been watching the weather forecast closely for the past couple of days, hoping for a break from the dark rainy day that had been predicted. AND THEN… things changed and the threat of a rainy day was going to back off a bit just in time for the planned ceremony in the mountains above Livingston. phew !!!!!

Here’s the mountain road on my way to the wedding. Yikes! ‘A river runs through it’ – perhaps not what the movie title made reference to… smiles

When I arrived everything was moving forward in the face of the current weather conditions. Dick, the Father of the bride, was putting the floral touches to the wedding arch and soon the bride would arrive. The closer and closer we got to the time of the wedding the rain diminished and slowly gave way to a brighter day. And finally, right before the wedding began, the clouds lifted and revealed Livingston Peak and the amazing mountain range. A little drizzle remained, but no one was noticing. It was so beautiful… absolutely amazing!

Thank you to such kind people that made me feel like part of the family. I really appreciate that! Warm regards to Alex and Reem and the whole crew.

Livingston Peak Love

Alex and Reem came into town this week for their wedding in the mountains under the radiance of the massive Livingston Peak. Yesterday, I decided to take a drive up the mountain road to explore the route to the wedding location. I always like to get the feel for a place and check the conditions of rough mountain roads before the day of.

As I was poking around at the locked property gate hoping for a sign of life, up drove two pickup trucks. I introduced myself and told them my business. The gentleman smiled widely and as fate would have it was the father of the groom. So, he invited me to follow him up to the ranch and showed me the wedding location. OUTSTANDING!

Soon I got a call from Reem and went over the details of the upcoming wedding plan. With the potential of some wet weather on her wedding day, we decided it would be wise to meet at the property later in the day for some pre-wedding photos. We had a delightful hour together running around making photos in the beauty of this high mountain valley.

Thanks to Tarvez and Dick for the hospitality and a delicious snack before I hit the road.

Cheers to Reem and Alex!

Paradise Valley surprise proposal

What was going to be a simple ‘surprise proposal’ stroll along the banks of the Yellowstone River with a camera turned into a wild spring weather experience. I was all set up about a half mile up the river bank at the Yellowstone Valley Lodge when a weather front blew in with a rage. It came with such force that I had to run for my vehicle to take cover and somehow the lightening caused my cell phone to glitch out. I lost all connection with the ‘groom to be’ as we were trying to coordinate the last minute location details for the surprise. All our planning was out the window. The storm went as quickly as it came, so I began the walk back down to the planned meeting place. Then the miracle arose.

I could see the sun light start to refract in moisture filled air. The beginning of a rainbow started take to the sky. I grabbed my gear and ran back up to the lodge in hopes of finding my ‘couple’! There they were standing on the deck above watching the rainbow grow. The groom was somewhat shell shocked by the ravaged plans we had made… and in awe of the rainbow forming in the sky above.

Up to this point his lady was still unsure of what was happening. Not wanting to spoil the surprise, I yelled up to the couple and ‘spun a little story’ about how I was shooting some images for the Ranch and would they PLEASE come down into the field and just be an anonymous couple taking in the spectacle. They jumped at the chance to be in my photos. Down they came, running out into the field as I yelled out directions to get them into the frame. All this time the rainbow was growing more bright and tall in the valley. It was too good to be true…. AND THEN!!!

He took the lead! He turned to his lady, took her hands and spoke the words of a lifetime. She was visibly changed as she melted and merged with the reality. The rainbow continued to grow as I made some images that Chris and Katia will cherish for a lifetime. It was quite miraculous. See for yourself!

Cheers to my new found friends! And thanks to the folks at Yellowstone Valley Lodge for being such fine neighbors for years here in Montana.

Larry

Yellowstone river surprise proposal

Proposing marriage on the Yellowstone River is magic!

This week on the Yellowstone River, Matt and his family pulled off the most fantastic surprise wedding proposal! Several weeks ago, Amy the mother of the groom contacted me, for ideas and seeking help to ‘somehow’ create and photograph the surprise proposal for her son Matt to Sydney, her future daughter in law. They were planning a family vacation here in Paradise Valley and Sydney, Matt’s girlfriend of 6 years was coming along. So the planning, scheming and brainstorming began!

It was a complicated equation to find a way to pull this off! ‘Long story short’… we hired a sight seeing guide to meet the couple in the morning and take them to a trail along the Yellowstone where Matt’s family, and also the Mother and sister of the bride that flew in to accompany the family entourage for this amazing occasion. And… I’d be there to capture the surprise!

I had searched and found a public place along the river where the family could hide amongst trees and bushes as I played the part of a local photographer that just happened to be set up along the riverside with my long lens and tripod photographing the Sandhill Cranes that come back to Montana in the early spring. Sure enough the cranes were dancing and cackling in the field adjacent the river when I arrived.

Everything went off without a hitch. The couple were guided down to the planned location on the river’s edge and in short order, Matt proceeded to propose to his beloved. Then… the family broke their cover and ran out to cheer! It was quite the surprise, definitely one for the books!

It was a gorgeous day and a remarkable proposal! Enjoy the view!

320 Guest Ranch , Big Sky wedding

Nicole and William married at the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky on a beautiful day in August. Families and friends gathered alongside the river on this lovely historic Montana ranch. It’s the perfect place for a Big Sky wedding in the mountains where a river runs through it. At every wedding there is always a bitter sweet environment that is always with us as human beings. That is the truth of life and death. This occasion was immensely sweet, beautiful and wonderful in every way and yet the knowledge of the recent loss of the bride’s father was in everyone’s heart and his life was celebrated on this special wedding day. His presence was tangible at his daughter’s wedding! It was an honor to photograph with this couple, their families and friends. The pictures tell the story!