A Chic Rustic Wedding at Grey Wolf Ranch in Seeley Lake, Montana

Starting their ceremony with a reading from a children’s book, Mackenzie Prentice (28 and a teacher) and John Dickinson (28 and works in construction) made their wedding truly theirs. “John and I have been together for nearly 10 years; therefore, all of our friends in our bridal party are best friends,” Mackenzie says. “We wanted them to be involved in the ceremony, paying love and respect to our years of friendship. So when I found ‘I Like You,’ a sweet little book from the '60s, it seemed perfect. I split up the passages, and they started at one end, read down the line and completed with the same person that started. It was so fun, they totally hammed it up, and it was such a special part of our ceremony.” The couple worked with Thea Rae D Events to bring their ultra-chic rustic wedding to life without losing the details that made it feel so personal. They chose Grey Wolf Ranch for their venue because John’s best friend owns it, and John spent his summers working and hanging out there, which created great memories from his childhood. “Throughout our relationship, we spent time at this beautiful ranch and both appreciated the special quality of life,” Mackenzie says. “When we got engaged, we both knew that Grey Wolf Ranch would be our venue. We didn’t look at any other places; it was perfect for us.” To accent the gorgeous surroundings, the couple worked with Margo from White Antler Flowers to create beautiful floral arrangements freshly cut from her farm in Missoula, Montana. She also added fresh fruit for sweetness, freshness and color in the centerpieces. Lauren Brown Photography captured all the details of the day. One of the best parts, though, was Mackenzie’s surprise for John at the reception: “In the early stages of our wedding planning, we discussed some dream ideas,” Mackenzie says. “Given the logistics of a destination wedding, John thought we should let go of his blackjack table idea. Together with Shane (the manager at the ranch), we found a dealer, gathered the supplies and funded the bank to host a blackjack game throughout the reception. After John and I finished our first dance, the DJ came over the mic and said, ‘John, there is just one more thing you need to do with your wife.’ At that time, the dealer unveiled the table, and the two of us played the first hand of blackjack. Lucky for us, we both got 21--big winners! The table was open for the rest of the night and such a hit!"