From handmade bolo ties and barefoot guitarist to a caber toss on the lawn, this Whitefish wedding at the North Forty Resort was joyful, outdoorsy, and wildly personal. Set among tall pines just outside Glacier National Park, it was the kind of day that stays with you forever—and one of the most serendipitous moments of my entire photography career.

A Whitefish Wedding That Broke the Mold

Malia and Andrew’s summer wedding at North Forty Resort in Whitefish, Montana wasn’t your typical mountain wedding—it was better. It was completely tailored to who they are as a couple, perfectly integrating elements from a traditional wedding and things that made sense for them.

This wasn’t about recreating Pinterest perfection. It was about showing up fully as themselves. And it made for the kind of wedding that felt alive and free.

Intentional, Untraditional, and Full of Heart

The day started slow and joyful, with Malia and Andrew getting ready in cozy log cabins nestled among the pines. In keeping with their love of the outdoors, the entire bridal party wore Chacos and the groomsmen wore stunning hand-crafted stone bolo ties. Andrew looked sharp with a clean man bun and his bolo tie. It struck that rare balance of relaxed and elevated, cozy and incredibly cool. Malia’s brother played acoustic guitar barefoot as she walked down the aisle in her pink ballgown. The couple’s nonbinary best friend officiated.

The couple chose to be hand-fasted during their ceremony, symbolically “tying the knot” with a braiding climbing rope. Their vows were deeply personal and the joy between them on their first kiss as a married couple was met with rapturous applause by their guests.

And on the couple’s exit down the isle, the grooms brother blew a conch shell sendoff straight from Saipan—one of many tender personal touches that brought the day to life.

An unexpected connection 6,000 miles in the making

Before I go on to their incredubly fun receptio,n I have to pause to talk about one of the most serendipitous moments of my life. One month prior to their weddings, I’d been at Annual Training with the Army Reserve in Saipan. It was my last visit after a two-year assignment and I wanted to commemorate my time there with a piece of handmade local jewelry from a local artist. I found the perfect necklace at the cutest little shop, Bonitu Basula, and went on my way. The artist was out for the day so I never got to meet him.

Fast forward to this wedding, 6,000 miles away, and someone says, can you take a family portrait, the groom’s brother is here from Saipan. I lit up, I know Saipan! I was just there! So I head over to their cabin before the ceremony and the brother stops me and says, “That’s my necklace—you bought that from me.”

What are the odds?! One of the wildest, most meaningful full-circle moments I’ve ever had.

OK back to the wedding. 😉

The Reception: Keg Stands, Caber Tosses & Huckleberry Pies

Following the ceremony, the toasts were some of the most emotional I’ve heard in a long time—filled with tears, belly laughs, and beautiful affirmations of who Malia and Andrew are: generous, grounded, and deeply beloved. Chef Stef at Montana Table catered a lovely Thai-inspired meal that had me salivating over samosas.

After the dinner however, this Whitefish wedding turned it up to a full-blown party which was SO. MUCH. FUN.

One of the couple’s Scottish relatives showed up in full tartan and brought an actual caber—you know, those logs you toss at the Highland Games. Many of the guests took turns tossing the caber, including the bride and groom!

There was craft beer, emotional toasts, and Montana-made huckleberry pies. And in one of the most legendary moments of my career, the bride—looking like a pink cupcake in her ballgown—pulled off a keg stand that brought the house down.

This is why I stay late. This is why I love what I do.

Favorite Moments from This North Forty Resort Wedding

• Outdoor-lover’s elements throughout the bridal party & ceremony
• A conch shell call across continents & jewelry connection to Saipan
• A bride in a ballgown doing a keg stand
• A Highland caber toss on the lawn
• Emotional toasts that left the whole forest misty-eyed

Why The North Forty Resort is Ideal for Whitefish Weddings

North Forty Resort is one of the most accommodating wedding venues in Whitefish, Montana. The staff truly go above and beyond—like hammering in a new nail above the entrance just so we could hang a dress in the perfect light. The on-site log cabins give your guests a cozy, convenient place to stay, while still offering you and your partner the privacy of your own space. Their reception area includes a full chef’s kitchen (a dream for caterers), and the grounds feel relaxed and inviting—your guests can wander through the trees, sit at the amphitheater, or mingle under the sky. It’s the kind of venue that’s beautiful and easy to be in—not stuffy or overly curated, just naturally perfect.

And did I mention they’re only 30 minutes to the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park?

Sample 8-Hour Wedding Timeline at North Forty Resort

Planning a wedding near Whitefish? Here’s a real-life timeline that worked beautifully with the forested setting and cabin-style layout at North Forty:

Time	Activity
1:00 PM	Photographer arrival & getting ready
2:00 PM	First look + couples’ portraits
3:00 PM	Ceremony in the trees
3:30 PM	Group and family photos; cocktail hour
4:30 PM	First Dances, emerging from the trees
5:00 PM	Buffet Dinner to seat guests & toasts
6:00 PM	Dancing begins; caber toss, epic celebration
9:00 PM	Huckleberry Pies & Goodnights

Vendor Team

Here’s the team that brought the day to life:

• Photographer: Salt & Stone Adventure Photography
• Venue: North Forty Resort, Whitefish MT
• Catering: Chef Stef at Montana Table
• Bolo Ties: Tamarack Bolo Ties, handmade in Bozeman
• Officiant: Wilderpines Elopements
• Desserts: Huckleberry pies from Loula’s

Thinking About Your Own Whitefish Wedding?

Whether you’re planning a Montana wedding at North Forty Resort or dreaming of a ceremony under the pines, I’d love to tell your story.

Weddings like this remind me why I do what I do—capturing moments that are wild, weird, emotional, and real. No templates. Just you.

Reach out here to start planning your own unforgettable Whitefish wedding story.

XOXO, Kat