Married in Montana 2015

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Contents: Play this . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Authenticity vs Attention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Cherry Creek Wedding Fair guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 A Montana proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Step-by-step: a wedding timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Unplug, tune in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Cover Photo by Cathrine L. Walters Photography 317 S. Orange St. • Missoula, MT 59801 Phone number: 406-543-6609 Fax number: 406-543-4367 E-mail address: independent@missoulanews.com

Cathrine L. Walters Photography

Capturing your biggest day from getting ready to reception cathrinewaltersphotography.com 406.546.2274

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Classic, daring and modern dance songs for your wedding day by Erika Fredrickson There is nothing wrong with a ceremony accompanied by Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” or a rendition of “Pachelbel’s Canon.” Classic is always in style. For the same reason, it’s perfectly fine to have a first dance to “Fly Me to the Moon” or Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” or even, if you can stand the incessant earworm, Lonestar’s “Amazed.” Those songs have become almost as traditional as any-

thing else on the list of wedding-appropriate tuneage. It’s a list that keeps growing, too, because weddings are seen more and more as a place for a couple to express their tastes, for better or worse—and have fun doing it. It goes without saying that late-night reception music can run the gamut—almost anything goes. And, obviously, as masters of your own marriage, you and your spouseto-be should pick whatever music suits you. But as with any event/experience, it’s good to think about the tone you’re trying to set, including for your possibly very opinionated family and in-laws. You might love Metallica, but they probably won’t provide a good wedding march atmosphere, unless you’re doing it cemetery-style. (“Nothing Else Matters” seems perfectly fine for a first dance, however.)

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First dance

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Weddings have changed. There’s all manner of inventive ways couples choose to gather their loved ones together to witness their affirmation of love. And, there’s a lot of music out there to choose from—some brand new, some old and waiting to be rediscovered. With that in mind, here are some ideas for songs, including a few from Montana musicians, that set a happy tone while feeling fresh, if not a little daring.

The processional “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes: With lyrics like,

“Laugh until we think we’ll die/ Barefoot on a summer night/ Never could be sweeter than with you,” “Home” is perhaps one of the most romantic songs of the past decade. It’s a bit of a bold move for a processional— it’s dramatic and rockin’ and full of horns—but it’s catchy bravado that would get a wedding party smiling from the get-go. “At Last” by Etta James: The sweet, soulful and celebratory classic doesn’t get as much play as it should, but it’s perfect for a stroll down the aisle. “At last,

my love has come along,” she belts out. I t gets straight to the point. “The Back of Beyond” by Bill Mize: This acoustic instrumental from Missoula guitar extraordinaire Bill Mize switches between bright minor and major chords, providing some gravity, sweetness and a lot of whimsy to your occasion. Other ideas: “Hoppipolla” by Sigur Ros, “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele and “Sea of Love” by Cat Power.

“Falling” by The Lumineers: The Lumineers have a ton of beautiful, romantic songs that feel right for a wedding, but if you listen to the lyrics there’s a lot of heartbreak, which doesn’t quite fit the scene. “Falling” is about falling in love in a kind of down-to-earth, goofy and mischievous way. It’s sweet without too much darkness and should get a few chuckles, too. “Primetime” by Janelle Monae: If anyone can get a party started, it’s Janelle Monae. This song is on the slower side, giving it a slow-dance, romantic feel with just a tinge of hip-hop groove. If people know it, they won’t be able to stop themselves from singing along: “It’s a prime time for our love! And heaven is bettin’ on us!” Everyone else should be pleasantly surprised by the weird but apt choice. “Exactly Like You” by Hot Club of Cowtown: This swingin’ version of the standard is playful and cheeky. If you’re into retro musical styles and, perhaps, you’ve taken some dance lessons to wow your guests, this is a great first dance song to get the party started. “Liquid Velvet” by Mudslide Charley: Another rockin’ song, this time by local and self-proclaimed “gut-bucket blues” and “ramshackle soul” band, Mudslide Charley. Marco Littig sings with raucous fervor, “I like sugar in my tea,” and other fun metaphors for love.

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Other ideas: “The Book of Love” by Magnetic Fields, “You Ain’t Alone” by Alabama Shakes and “I Love How You Love Me” by Camera Obscura.

Dance with parents “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King: If you can forget the dead body of Stephen King’s novel-turned-firm, this song works well as a sort of tribute to parents who we always need no matter what, even when we get married and start a new family. “If I Should Fall Behind” by Bruce Springsteen: You can pretty much find a song for any occasion from the Boss and this one fits well with the idea of sticking together even through big changes (like a marriage!). It’s pretty sentimental, but it will probably make your parents cry with bittersweet joy, so it’s worth it. “Strawberry Cake” by Stellarondo: This track has nothing to do with parenthood or the need for family, per se, but it’s full of nostalgia with ethereal string music and lines like “Carry me back to Easter dresses and stomach aches, carry me back to my old library card.” It’s about childhood and old memories, and the dance with your parents should have a feel of looking back at the time you’ve spent with them. It’s a daring pick, but one people will remember as a good one. Other ideas: “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty, “Rainbow Connection” by The Muppets and “Too Marvelous for Words”

photo courtesy of Johanna B Photography

by Frank Sinatra.

Last dance “Can I go Home with You” by Caleb Klauder: In this rockabilly song the frontman asks, “Can I go home with you sweetheart?” making it a fun one for the end of the evening. It’s flirtatious and playful, and it’s one everyone will want to dance to. “Sweet Thing” by The Waterboys:

Technically, this could be a first dance song, but it has a late-night, drunk-onlove feel to it, which would work better for a finale. Van Morrison’s version would work, too, but The Waterboys give it a fuller symphonic feel. “Let Loose” by Gil and the Spills: The local blues and R&B band released the album Hazardous Waters a few months ago with a handful of hot tracks, includ-

ing this simple and totally danceable ditty. It’s about letting loose and dancing— nothing too deep—providing just the kind of release you might be ready for after as your big day is coming to an end. Other ideas: “Baby Likes a Love Song” by Malcolm Halcomb, “Marry Me!” by Drive-by Truckers and “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers.v

When only the best will do.

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The ins and outs of planning your perfect wedding by Ariel Meadow Stallings I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the pursuit of authenticity versus the pursuit of attention. The first feels very internal, like you really have to look within yourself with a lot of introspection and thought to determine what’s important. The other feels very external, like you’re hunting for other people’s eyeballs. And why does one seem like so much fun, while the other seems like so much work? When you’re striving for authenticity, you’re working to be as true and honest to yourself as you possibly can— and in order to do that, you first have to figure out what your values even are, and get a grasp on what really matters to you. In the case of wedding planning, it can be about

setting your priorities. Is it all about family? Is it all about your vows and the ceremony? Is it all about food? Authenticity is all about truly knowing yourself and your partner. It takes effort and guts to figure yourself and your partner out, and it’s usually kind of a private, introspective process. No meetings with vendors or collages here—just looking inside and considering yourself. Pursuing attention, on the other hand, feels super externalized. It’s all about other people’s expectations and reactions and responses. On a certain level, when you’re attention-seeking, you’re handing over your happiness to other people—because that thing that you’re doing? It only really matters if someone else is looking and (hopefully) approving. It can make you feel manic and anxious, always thinking, Will they like this? Will this amaze them? What will people do when we hit them with THIS?! It can lead to a ton of validation-seeking, where you’re constantly testing out ideas on people and watching for their responses. “We’re thinking of having all our parents walk us down the aisle together,” you say to a friend, and then watch for a smile or a twitch of the eyelid. Did that smile

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mean they like it? Or did it mean they’re just being nice? Shit, I can’t tell! Now I think I’m going to have an anxiety vomit all over the floor! So, if seeking attention is the more stressful way of doing things, full of freaking out and anxiety vomit, why

does it feel so much more fun? Why would many of us rather spend our time obsessing over the perfect guest gift basket (“Ooh, I’m going to put themed breath mints in, and then we’ll pull out a box before our first kiss— ZOMG IT’S PERFECT!”) over spending a few solid

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hours into consideration over our vows? Why do we get all giddy over the delicious details, but find ourselves repeatedly changing themes or venues because we’re just not sure what’s really even important when it comes to the big picture?


I’m 150 percent guilty of this, and not just in wedding planning. Why is it so much more fun to impress other people than to truly know yourself?! What if you’re an extrovert and seeking attention is authentic? Gah! My brain! It’s pretzeling! I guess it comes down to this: Attention gives you the cheap high of other people’s energy focused at you, but authenticity gives you that deep, long-lasting satisfaction of knowing you’re on the right path and you’re doing the right thing. While the quick high is more fun in the short run, the deep satisfaction is ultimately more filling.

The pursuit of attention is thinking the day after the wedding, “OMG PEOPLE SAID OUR WEDDING WAS THE MOST AWESOME WEDDING EVER!!!” and then realizing you can barely remember the day because you were so worked up. The pursuit of authenticity is thinking to yourself five years after the wedding, “I’m still living out my vows in this commitment … every single day.” v

Ariel Meadow Stallings is the author of Offbeat Brides: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides and the publisher of OffbeatBride.com.

photos courtesy of Mariane Maynard Photography

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photos courtesy of Cathrine L. Walters Photgraphy

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Four brides offer wedding ideas and advice eMorgan

surrounded by Ponderosa pine forest in between the Mission and Swan mountains ranges. Table-top craft: Morgan spray painted second-hand vases a glossy sea-foam and robin egg blue and filled them with flowers. They borrowed deer sheds from a friend to decorate the table, along with burlap runners

with “N� and “M� stenciled onto them. Morgan and her bridesmaids made colorful cloth napkins, which were used at dinner and served as gifts for guests. Viva la marriage: Morgan and Nathan wanted a reminder of their time living in Arizona, so they decorated the reception area with papel picado, Mexican flags

+ Nathanf

How they met: Morgan hails from Kalispell and Nathan from Virginia, but the two met at a climbing gym in Flagstaff, Ariz. “He kept having mutual friends introduce us and I kept kind of ignoring him,� Morgan says. “A lot of guys try to talk to you in the climbing gym if you’re a good climber.� Eventually, she took notice. The proposal: The couple floated the Salmon River with friends, and after they set up camp Nathan asked Morgan to go for a walk with him. At a bridge at Bargaining Creek, Nathan innocently asked her what was at her feet. “I looked down and there’s a locket on the bridge,� Morgan says. “I was like, ‘Who would leave this here?’ I still had no idea. I bent down to pick it up and inside it said “Will you marry me,� and when I turned back around he was down on one knee. It was awesome.� The location: The couple got married at the old Condon Ranger Station, which now serves as a Forest Service rental property. It sits on a bench above wetlands

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hung during celebrations. “It’s not our culture and you have to be careful about that,” Morgan says, “but it represents when we met and where we were when we met.” The food: Porteus Catering from Kalispell roasted a half pig and served up several barbecue sides. For dessert, the couple did it Montana-style, with homemade huckleberry cheesecake and pie from the bride’s mom, plus gluten-free chocolate cake and a three-tiered wedding cake placed on a pine round. Wedding tip: “I made sure that I didn’t end up with too many obligations. We hired a friend of a friend to coordinate the day of the wedding to make sure everything looked nice and everything got done when it needed to. You’ve got to have someday who knows when to say, ‘Hey! It’s time to eat cake now!”v photo courtesy of Cathrine L. Walters Photography

eRachel

Photographer: Cathrine L. Walters

+ Jimf

How they met: Rachel and Jim are high school sweethearts—they dated all four years. But after graduation, they split up for college. “I broke up with him—and broke his heart,” Rachel says. “We started talking again a couple years after college. I had to beg him to come back. We’ve been together for eight years now.” The proposal: Rachel coaches softball at Hellgate, and one afternoon, after her team beat the crosstown rivals, Jim knew she’d be in a good mood. He invited her to his parents’ cabin at Seeley Lake where he proposed before taking her for a steak dinner at Lindy’s. The Location: The couple was married at Gray Wolf Ranch, near Placid Lake overlooking the Jocko mountain range. The lodge offers a wedding suite with a wrap-around balcony, stunning views and luxurious amenities. “Even the bathroom was amazing,” Rachel says. “I could have lived in it.”

photo courtesy of Mike Williams Photography

Food delights: The owner of Montana Jacks and The Fat Cat catered chicken with dijon mustard sauce, salad, rolls and other sides. Black Cat Bakery made a lemon chiffon cake with huckleberry and lemon cream filling, and solo

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dessert caterer Jenna Benson made carrot, lemon, german chocolate and red velvet cupcakes. Vintage scenery: Rachel and Jim had their wedding outside, but they added some indoor objects to the mix. From

Elegant Events in Missoula they rented a trellis with a window panel hanging from it and set up a mantel with a unity candle to serve as their backdrop. Thoughtful shoes: All seven groomsmen wore cowboy boots—perfect for a


Montana wedding. Rachel and her five bridesmaids wore flats from Toms, a company that offers a pair of shoes to a child in Africa each time someone makes a purchase. Wedding tip: “We did take a moment just to ourselves, after we signed our wedding document, and just overlooked and saw everything—and I think that’s important,” Rachel says. “It goes by fast, it’s a whirlwind and maybe to have 30 seconds with your significant other the day you get married is priceless.” v

Photographer: Mike Williams Photography

photos courtesy of Mike Williams Photography

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eAnamarie

+ Shanef

How they met: Anamarie went to the University of Montana and Shane went to Montana State University—and they fell in love anyway. Shane was in Missoula to see the hip-hop act Blue Scholars and the couple met through mutual friends. The proposal: A few years into their relationship, Anamarie and Shane had a daughter, Quinn. The following Christmas, the couple joined both of their families in Shane’s hometown of Whitefish, and Shane proposed to Anamarie on Christmas day. The location: Fifteen years ago, Anamarie’s family and some of their friends bought an old church camp, complete with lodge and cabins, located in the Elbow Lake area off the Clearwater

River. The spot holds a lot of memories for Anamarie—plus it has a great view—which made it the perfect place for the wedding. The dessert: Anamarie is a writer and marketer for Rocky Mountain Bride, and though she says that made her a picky bride, she also knows some secrets, like that Rosauers makes good wedding cakes. The white layer, funfetti cake they got from the store accompanied scores of home-baked mini-pies made of berries, rhubarb and apple. Dress up: To get away from the oft-done pink and blush bridesmaids dresses, Anamarie asked her attendants to pick out black dresses. She wore a white dress by Watters/Wtoo—“bohemian, but not too much,” she says—from the new Missoula bridal shop, Velvet Bride. Shane and his groomsmen wore black, making it a classy black-and-white wedding.

photos courtesy of Buffalo James Photography

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Community landscape: The flower arrangements included seeded eucalyptus antique garden roses and white dahlias, but plant styling didn’t stop there. The couple’s family and friends all chipped in labor and time before the wedding to landscape the venue with live greenery to make it even livelier. Honeymoon digs: Anamarie and Shane got to spend the night in style. Their neighbors surprised them with a “glamping” tent complete with a large bed and other homey trappings. Wedding tip: “I learned pretty fast that if you have really specific things you want at your wedding, you should do them first, and early,” Anamarie says. “As long as you’re keeping a reasonable timeline, it’ll all work out fine.” v

Photographer: Buffalo James Photography

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photos courtesy of Johanna B Photography

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eTadra

+ Mattf

How they met: Tadra and Matt first met at a party many years ago, and hit it off but parted ways. Years later, they met again and started dating—but it wasn’t until Tadra dug up an old picture from the long-ago party that they realized they’d met before. The proposal: The couple started a tradition of going to Lopez Island in the San Juans each Fourth of July to camp and watch the fireworks on the beach. On the last day, Matt gathered Tadra and their two dogs together. He said, “I think it’s time we become an official family together.” He offered the dogs two matching collars and gave Tadra her great grandmother’s antique ring, which he’d procured from her family. The location: Tadra and Matt had their first date at a Griz game, so having their wedding at the university’s Oval made perfect sense. “It was such a beautiful backdrop so we really didn’t have to do too much for décor,” Tadra says. “Thank God, too, because half the flowers that we ordered, wholesale online, showed up browning and dead!” The best part: Getting a beautiful wedding venue for free. Reception romance: The Manzer family, which owns Monk’s Bar, helped the couple set up a reception that would transform the watering hole into a place fit for a wedding party. Candles lit the exposed brick and arches of the venue to give it a cozy, romantic feel. “We pretty much had a blank slate to work with so we could really make it our own,” Tadra says. “And they’re used to hosting a party, so the dance floor, lights and sounds system are all already there.” DJ Squirmy, one of the house DJs, provided the tunes. Pasta time: The Silk Road set up a pasta bar that Tadra calls delicious but also “surprisingly affordable.” “My mouth still waters when I think about our meal,” she says. “We got compliments all night long and for a few months after on the food.” Lasting dessert: Like Rachel and Jim, Tadra and Matt had a huckleberry-filled lemon chiffon cake from Black Cat Bakery along with red velvet cake with cream cheese filling. “We just had our anniversary cake a year later, and even that was good,” she says. “No, seriously!” Wedding tip: Tadra seconds the emotion that finding a moment to spare with your partner on the wedding day is paramount. She also learned a lesson from buying flowers online: buy local and/or get a florist.v

Photographer: Johanna B Photography

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Reduce wedding-planning stress by following this simple timeline If you want to keep it simple for the rehearsal dinner, make it casual but still classy: Go for gourmet pizza.

Be selfish. Seriously. As much as you and your partner may aspire to somehow please everyone, this is your day. Make sure it remains that way.

• • • • •

Make a budget Research venues Decide the style of wedding you’d prefer Type up a tentative list of guests Research and make appointments with potential wedding planners, photographers, and bands or DJs

12 months

11 months

• • • • •

Pick your caterer and confirm menu Solidify your guest list Pick your ceremony officiant Choose and confirm your attendants Start looking for a wedding dress and groom’s attire

10 months

• • • •

Set the date and book your venue(s) Select a wedding planner Meet with caterers and set up tastings Book your band or DJ, or start putting together playlists • Line up your photographer

Your officiant may have his or her own way of doing things, but here’s one suggestion for personalizing the service. Have both the bride and groom write separate letters about what they love about the other person, and deliver them to the officiant. This gives the person conducting the ceremony some deeper sense of your relationship—and perhaps some material for the service.

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9 months • • • • • •

• Finalize invitations • Gather addresses for guests • Discuss attire with groomsmen • Choose rehearsal dinner menu • Discuss honeymoon

• Select attire for wedding party • Decide on ceremony music • Set up a wedding website

8 months

Interview florists Research wedding cakes Decide on food and liquor for reception Register for gifts Research wedding rings Order or buy wedding dress

Not into creating a gift registry? Don’t really want or need material things at all? No problem. One suggestion is to make your honeymoon the focus of the gift. Provide a wish list of places you’d like to stay or things you’d like to do. Let guests sponsor items and experiences for you, and promise them a postcard in return. You’ll get the funds you need and your guests will feel like they’ve contributed to a concrete part of your experience.

7 months

6 months

• Choose and order invitations, table cards, thank you notes and save-the-date cards • Book hotel rooms for guests • Select and order rings • Choose groom’s attire

Delegate, delegate, delegate. Even if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, you’re going to need help, especially as the big day approaches. If you must be hands-on, pick something you can complete ahead of time, like invitations or playlists.


photo courtesy of Night Owl Photography

photo courtesy of Slikati Missoula Photography Embrace imperfection. In other words, expect things to go wrong and be prepared to roll with it. It may be hard to grasp in the moment, but often the most memorable aspects of a wedding are those that occurred completely by accident or in the midst of a perceived crisis.

Wedding vows can be daunting. If you’re writing your own, take a look at some samples online to get inspired. Most importantly, keep it simple. If you plan on being humorous, make sure you don’t go overboard.

• • • •

Place print order for programs Order cake Address invitations Try on wedding gown and address any adjustments needed • Plan order of ceremony events • Write or choose wedding vows

5 months

4 months • • • •

• Review and approve programs • Decide on post-wedding brunch • Make appointment with hairdresser and makeup artist • Update registry and website • Discuss bachelor and bachelorette party plans with attendants

3 months

Purchase or rent groom accessories Pick ceremony readings and readers Make honeymoon reservations Send out save-the-date cards

When delegating readings, think of people who are confident in front of a crowd and will talk slowly and clearly.

photo courtesy of Pam Voth Photography

2 months

• Send wedding invitations • Confirm music selections with DJ or musicians • Write newspaper announcement • Purchase wedding favors • Visit hairstylist for practice appointment

6 weeks

• Scope out the venue to decide where the wedding party will dress • Go to final gown fitting and arrange for pick up or delivery • Purchase gifts for wedding party • Get marriage license

4 weeks

Eat. One of the most common mistakes on wedding day is forgetting to eat, either before the ceremony because of nerves or during the reception because of all the festivities. Task a member of the wedding party with fixing you a plate of food and, if necessary, following you as you greet guests. • • • • •

Finalize reception guest list Give the headcount to caterer Set up delivery of decorations Call guests who have not RSVPed Talk with family and special guests who are not attendants to delegate any leftover duties

3 weeks

• • • •

Confirm floral order Meet with attendants to discuss duties Determine seating for guests Visit makeup artist for practice session; schedule manicure, pedicure • Finalize plans with photographer

1 week

• Eat a good breakfast • Take some time alone with your to-be • Go to hairstyle and makeup appointments • Breathe • Get ready to have fun

wedding

• Start packing for honeymoon • Pick up wedding dress • Sit down with your tobe to discuss any loose ends or points of stress

after • Arrange for transportation of gifts • Make a list of gift givers

Beyond the duties of your wedding planner, there are things you’ll need from your attendants, if only a little emotional support. Let them know what your concerns are for the wedding and have them keep an eye out to make sure things go smoothly.

Missoula Independent Page 23 2015 Married in Montana


How to tell guests to put down their devices by Ariel Meadow Stallings So there you are at the altar, gazing into the eyes of your beloved, saying your vows. You turn to sneak a glance at your wedding guests, all your friends and family… and are greeted by a sea of down-turned faces staring at their phones. When your photos come back from your wedding photographer, all your guest shots include your favorite people locked on their favorite devices. People are smiling, but they’re all looking at little screens. Welcome to the era of the over-documented wedding, where, even if you’ve hired someone to take photos, every guest has a camera and an iPhone and is tweeting the whole event. They’re there with you, but are they really present?’ As a web nerd who spends the majority of my life plugged into my laptop and smartphone, even I think it’s critical to take a few moments to be truly present. Smell the air, look around, feel the texture of the world around us. A wedding ceremony is exactly the kind of fleeting, important moment when it’s especially valuable to be in the moment rather than relating to the world through a small LCD screen. When you discourage devices at your wedding, you encourage your guests to look up and drink in the world. Let’s call it “inthe-moment matrimony.” While many churches have no-camera policies, more and more nontraditional secular couples are also considering an unplugged wedding—at the very least, asking guests to turn off their devices during the ceremony.

Now, let’s acknowledge that a fully pluggedin, hyper-documented wedding makes perfect sense for some couples. If, however, you and your partner are looking for a few less beeps and a bit more face-to-face connections with your guests, an unplugged wedding could be a good fit for you. Perhaps the strongest proponents of unplugged weddings are professional wedding photographers, who sometimes experience significant challenges working around guests trying to capture the event for themselves. “Too many wedding crowd shots these days include distracted people checking cellphones and camera LCDs… especially during the processional and recessional,” says Jenny Jimenez. Wedding industry insiders even have a name for the aggressive amateur photographer getting in the way at weddings: Uncle Bob. You don’t have to look very hard to find a million rants about how Uncle Bob has ruined professional wedding photos with the flash from his camera, photobombing gorgeous poses, kneeling in the aisle and blocking the view of the vows, and even standing on pews. Wedding officiants are starting to get more requests for unplugged ceremonies, as well. Celebrant Jessie Blum said, “I’ve had a few couples who have requested that no photos be taken at the ceremony. Often times, when the

Missoula Independent Page 24 2015 Married in Montana

photo courtesy of JesseandNelli.com

request comes from the officiant, guests will take note and respect the couple’s wishes. Guests get so bogged down in taking photos sometimes—it’s nice to be able to step back, and just enjoy the moment.” In this era of 24-hour connectivity, where there’s an iPhone in every pocket, a Facebook status update in every encounter and a digital hobbyist photographer in every family, it’s important to carefully consider the issue. Digital devices are ever-present in our daily lives; what role do you want them to play at your wedding?v

Ariel Meadow Stallings is the author of Offbeat Brides: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides and the publisher of OffbeatBride.com.


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