A Personal and Serene Wedding at the Picturesque York Family Ranch

For Seattle and Blake, deciding to have a wedding at your family ranch is an easy decision when your home is the York Family Ranch. 

Seattle and Blake just radiated happiness and excitement for their special day; making it an absolute joy to plan.

The Venue

I am always a HUGE supporter of couples who strive to design a wedding that is unabashedly THEIRS—who are invested in making their wedding personal and distinctive. 

When Seattle and Blake approached me about planning their wedding, I was thrilled when they told me where they wanted their wedding to be a Seattle’s family home, the York Family Ranch. 

I was even more thrilled when I got to see the venue for the first time; the ranch was absolute perfection and everything that I dream of for my Montana clients. Personal, elegant, and surrounded by the beautiful north-western landscape that we are so famous for—it was the idyllic location for a wedding at a family ranch.

The York Family Ranch is close to the classic Montana town of Eureka. Small, rustic, and historic, this small, friendly town is western to the core and an absolutely adorable center to an amazing wedding weekend.

Eureka and the ranch both sit in the vibrant Tobacco Valley and are surrounded by the Kootenai National Forest. The valley also backs up to the famous Glacier National Park. Therefore, it goes without saying—even though I am saying it—that there was no chance of anything but a spectacular setting for the wedding.

The entire wedding was held outside, under an open Montana sky by a lake. The ceremony was by the water on a dock (with benches for seating) and dinner was al fresco at several tables pushed together to create one large farmhouse table. We draped twinkle lights above both the ceremony site and the farmhouse table for an intimate, romantic vibe. For the cocktail hour and for dancing, we decided on a clear tent, with greenery running up its legs, to protect from any elements and still keep that ‘under the stars’ feeling.

The Inspiration & Decor

There was so much natural beauty at the ranch that we wanted to add elements that complemented the natural surrounds and did not distract from them. For me that is always such a fine line with outdoor weddings in a stunning location—you want don’t want the décor to overwhelm the landscape but you also want the wedding to look decorated and lavish.

The Colors

The colors we went with were soft and natural, muted and elegant.

We landed on colors like ivory, a soft orange, blush, and a pop of red. It was the perfect color palette for a rustic, outdoor summer wedding.

The Florals

For the florals from Mum’s Weddings, we opted for classic florals in soft, muted colors to complement the color palette. The medley of different types of roses were lovely in combination with the pompas grass and eucalyptus. The bridal bouquet was decadent with a silk ribbon in the color Santa Fe.

The florals at the ceremony site were amongst my favorite. The asymmetrical pillars of flowers were striking and elegant but still did not distract from the surrounding beauty.

The Linens and Table Decor

To stay with the understated, yet elegant, vision, La Tavola Fine Linen provided us with delightful and unique floral table covers for cocktail hour and for the napkins. A simple neutral table runner was used down the center of the farmhouse table.

For the table, we choose simple, clear glass candle holders with gold trim, cutlery with gold handles, and several full floral bouquets.

One of my favorite aspects of the wedding was the antique sofas and chairs set out for cocktail hour.

The Food

The Kopper Kitchen impressed with its decadent charcuterie displays for cocktail hour and delicious dinner.

Montana Wildflour Baking Co created an elegant naked cake that was decorated with their chosen florals. It definitely tasted as good as it looked.

Having a Wedding at a Family Ranch

As a wedding planner, I highly recommend looking at whether a wedding at a family ranch or home is the right decision for you.

There are, like with any venue decisions you make, pros and cons.

Choosing to have a wedding at an established venue means you are having an event where an event has been had before. This means you will hopefully have fewer ‘surprises’ and that the venue should already have most of the logistics figured out for you. They will be able to tell you where the best place to have the dj set up is, where the buffet can go, etc. There will be electrical outlets where electrical outlets need to be, water where water needs to be, and the appropriate amount of bathrooms for the venue’s capacity.

When you have a wedding at a family ranch or home, you have to figure out a lot of these logistics on your own. You have to make sure there is electricity where electricity needs to be, that there is water for the caterers and that you have easily accessible bathrooms. You have to basically create a venue from a blank slate – which can be so much fun but also opens the possibilities for a lot of problem-solving along the way.

But it isn’t all negative. Having a wedding at a family ranch is fulfilling, personal, and a ton of fun. You don’t have noise ordinances or curfews (unless there is one where you live) and you have the people you love most gathered in a place you love most. What could be more perfect than that?

So, congratulations Seattle and Blake. Your wedding was as stunning as the two of you.

Planner: Soiree99Events

Venue: York Family Ranch

Photography: Jeremiah and Rachel Photography

Florals: Mum’s Weddings

Rentals: The Top Rentals

Rentals: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

Linens: La Tavola Fine Linen

Paper: August and Stone Design Company

Videography: Jordana Silva – Silva Design Company

Custom Builds: Keller Custom Management

Cake: Montana Wildflour Baking Co.

Catering: The Kopper Kitchen