Cristine & Josh

Josh and I met while attending the University of Montana in our early 20s. Our first date was at the climbing gym on campus. We quickly fell head over heels and started spending all of our time together. Josh led me all over the western states climbing, hiking, and exploring. We spent many nights sleeping in the back of Josh’s Prius on a crash pad while we drove along the coast on our way to the next climbing area. Over the next seven years, through life’s obstacles, our love and support for each other grew. At the top of one of Montana’s most beautiful hikes, he told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and I agreed!

At first glance, our wedding might have looked like any other, but it was in the details that made our wedding unique and special to us. Growing up in Missoula, Josh feels most at home on a river bank, so saying our vows on the Flathead river felt very fitting. Also, as a piano player myself, it was important to me to have live piano music at our ceremony. One of the most talked about parts of our wedding were the cupcakes. They were decorated to match the bouquets and tasted delicious. Plus, there was no need for extra plates, forks, or clean-up!

I think people would describe me as a very organized person, but if I were to do it all over again I would think more seriously about hiring a wedding planner or at least a day of coordinator. When you first start planning, you don’t realize how many tiny details need to come together at just the right moment for everything to work out like you wanted. Plus, although a wedding planner might sound expensive, they have access to discounts and other decorative items you can borrow that will save you money in the long run.