1. Real Weddings

A DIY Country Wedding at a Private Residence in Pray, Montana

Sarah Montana Hart (30 and a lawyer) and Daniel (Danny) Clerget (33 and owner of Minuteman Firearms) met online. Sarah’s engagement ring has been in h

Sarah Montana Hart (30 and a lawyer) and Daniel (Danny) Clerget (33 and owner of Minuteman Firearms) met online. Sarah’s engagement ring has been in her family since the 1800s. “The large diamond is a miners cut diamond, which means that it was actually cut and polished at the mine,” Sarah says. “Because of that, when you really look at it you can see that the facets aren't all exactly the same. I love how unique it is and all the family history behind it.” Danny’s ring was made from a silver quarter that belonged to Sarah’s grandmother. The year is 1941 because that was when the first aircraft broke the sound barrier. The couple collected vintage items from garage sales, auction sites and even the dump and loved being able to use it all in their rustic country wedding. Every detail was a "pickin’ treasure," heirloom or something Sarah made herself. She even made all the blue bridesmaid dresses herself out of quilting cotton. The shotgun shell boutonnieres and gun shell aisle decor were an ode to Danny as someone who had been in the military and is now a gun dealer. Sarah rode her horse, whom she had since she was 8 years old, to the aisle. “I picked out my dress specially knowing that I was going to ride a horse (no sidesaddle nonsense) to the aisle,” she says. Her father surprised her by booking her favorite cowboy band, The Saddle Tramps, for the reception, and they danced into the night on a dance floor he and Danny made from wooden pallets from the train yard.

DIY Stationery from Michael's
Sarah’s engagement ring has been in her family since the 1800s. “The large diamond is a miners cut diamond, which means that it was actually cut and polished at the mine,” Sarah says. “Because of that, when you really look at it you can see that the facets aren't all exactly the same. I love how unique it is and all the family history behind it.” Danny’s ring was made from a silver quarter that belonged to Sarah’s grandmother. The year is 1941 because that was when the first aircraft broke the sound barrier.
Sarah wore a Casablanca lace gown and worked with Linda, the bridal store owner to alter it to fit her. The bride had a difficult time finding a dress she could ride her horse in. She made her own veil and wore her great grandmother’s vintage Justin cowboy boots.
Blue Bridal Bouquet
When Sarah asked her friends to be bridesmaids, she sent them each a pair of cowboy boots with a tape measure asking them to send their measurements back if they said yes. Then, Sarah and her aunt made all the bridesmaid dresses out of quilting cotton. “I wanted them to look similar, but I liked the thought of them fitting together like a patchwork quilt,” she says. She added antique lace to each from when she studied abroad in England.
Danny wanted to wear jeans to his wedding, which set a casual tone for the wedding. The groomsmen wore jeans, too, with olive green Carhartt work shirts, which were a gift from Danny. They completed with look with brown boots and belts and pistols in brown leather holsters.
The groomsmen wore shotgun shells filled with blue thistle to complement the country theme.
DIY Wooden Wedding Sign
Sarah rode her horse, Sam, to the aisle. Her dad gave her Sam when she was 8 years old. “We showed together for years and were once ranked fourth in the country in the quarter horse circuit together,” Sarah says. Now, Sam is 29 years old and retired.
Sarah and Danny exchanged vows on Sarah’s family’s ranch in Pray, Montana, just 20 minutes from Yellowstone Park. They loved the fresh green color of the trees and fresh snow on the mountains in the background.
“The shells holding flowers at the front of the ceremony were treasures Danny picked up when he was flying helicopters for the army in Canada,” Sarah says.
Sarah and Danny Wedding in Montana
Paper Cones for Recessional
Sarah made the invitations herself, and used the leftover paper to make cones that held grass seed for guests to throw during the recessional.
Danny's father harvested grass seed to be thrown by guests during the recessional to "sow the seeds of happiness."
Key To Success Guest Book
Key Guest Book
Cocktail Hour Backhoe Beer Holder
DIY Hay Bale Reception Seating
Cocktail Hour Drink Display
Tented Rustic Reception
Sarah’s mother made the wedding cake for Sarah and Danny’s wedding. “The buttercream frosting is the same she made for every birthday cake growing up,” Sarah says.