Ann & Zach

Montana

Monterey

Point Reyes

Gualala

Montana Ale Works and Plonk - Downtown Bozeman, Montana

We started the weekend off at Montana Ale Works for dinner and pitchers of Strong Scottish Ale. At 7.7% alcohol by volume, that introduced all our visitors from Utah to the ways of Montana. Dinner was good, having the only sensible choice of the pulled pork sandwich.

As the sun finally set on the longest day of the year (after 9:30pm, with the sky staying light well past ten o'clock) we wandered to downtown Bozeman to reconnect at Plonk after a short stop at Boodles. Having spent lots of time in Plonk working on a 3D reconstruction of the building, we felt at home and stayed until close.

See Megan Plumlee's photo gallery of the weekend and festivities.

Gallatin River Lodge - Montana

Checking in at the Gallatin Gateway Inn, we held a casual rehearsal at which we quickly planned the entire ceremony and reception. Who said it takes months to host a wedding? Afterwards we ate dinner at the (newer) Gallatin River Lodge, and had a pepper encrusted pork loin, barbequed chicken, rice, potatoes, vegetables, several types of cheesecakes and crumbles for desert, and Bozeman Brewing Company's Bozeman Hopsimelia, an Imperial IPA described here as a full bodied, sweet grapefruit and slightly malted ale, served in a snifter.

Guests and visitors not associated with the wedding spent the day floating on the Madison river, hiking, or fishing the upper Gallatin, which looked like it was fishing very well in the afternoon. We were able to fish briefly at a trout pond near Gallatin River Lodge. Everyone caught at least two rainbow trout.

See the Gallatin River Lodge photo gallery.

Gallatin Gateway Inn

Finally, the big day, Ann was off to get her hair done with my Best Man (Cassie, my sister), so everyone else stayed at the Gallatin Gateway Inn to arrange flowers and decorate the grand fireplace room where the festivities were to be held. Several nervous hours later, the Reverend Justin Goss held a short ceremony that outlined the scientific method as an analogy for our relationship, and we adjourned to hors d’œuvres and drinks.

Dinner was a choice of chicken wellington in a cream sauce, or beef tenderloin and wild mushrooms. Both were excellent, and the chicken held up well against the steak. Our cake was from the Sweet Pea Bakery, seven thin layers of vanilla genoise, chocolate cake, and chocolate mousse topped with mocha and bittersweet and gold leaf. Very good. Dancing and more photography followed until late.

See Andrew Youderian's photo gallery of the evening.

See Katie Van Sant's photo gallery of the weekend.

See the June 23 photo gallery.

Our photographer was Alexa Miller, who works in fashion and photojournalism as well as weddings. See the Pictage photo set here.