1. Real Weddings

A Rustic DIY Mountain Wedding at Swanson Lodge in Troy, Montana

Alicia, 23, a patient account representative, and Kody, 21, works at Beaverhead Home Center, met in elementary school but obviously didn’t start datin

Alicia, 23, a patient account representative, and Kody, 21, works at Beaverhead Home Center, met in elementary school but obviously didn’t start dating until high school. Several years later, Kody was a student coach for the University of Montana football team, and both of their parents were visiting for the weekend. After the game, Alicia walked onto the field to wait until after the team meeting to greet Kody. “Soon after, the entire team started walking my way,” she says. “I thought I was in the way or something, but Kody's mom kept pushing me forward. That is when I realized the song playing over the loud speakers, ‘Marry Me’ by Train. Kody got down on one knee. Then the entire team got down on one knee and Kody asked me to marry him.” The couple wanted their wedding to be rustic, classy and reflective of the love they have for their small mountain town. Family and friends worked together to create DIY details including picking up their own rental equipment from Idaho. Inspired by blue mason jars, the couple used shades of blue throughout the day. “With hard work and dedication the wedding went off without a hitch,” Alicia says. “There isn't a thing I would go back and change. It was perfect.”

Blue, White Watercolor Invitation Suite
Cushion, Square-Cut Engagement Ring, Simple Band
Blue, Gray Wedding Party
The bridesmaids wore long strapless chiffon dresses from Marcella’s Bridal. Each dress was a different shade of blue.
The groom and groomsmen wore gray ties and three-piece gray Dillon suits from Jim’s Formal Wear.
Alicia carried white orchids, white daisies, seeded eucalyptus, dusty miller and queen ann’s lace.
Rose, Seeded Eucalyptus, Baby's Breath Lush Boutonniere
A Wedding at Swanson Lodge in Montana
Alicia and Kody exchanged vows in a field next to a pond nestled next to the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness. “We couldn't have had a better backdrop, the mountains, the lodge and the beautiful weather gave us the perfect location for our wedding,” Alicia says.
The couple created a little doorway at the ceremony aisle entrance that was decorated with lace and baby’s breath wreaths.
Gray Wedding Arch, Whiskey Barrels
Alicia and Kody at Swanson Lodge
Guest Book Table, Sign Decor
Guests signed Jenga game pieces instead of a traditional guest book. They say in a basket next to a sign that said, “Help us build memories.”
DIY Social Media Hashtag Wedding Sign
Alicia and Kody had their outdoor reception in a fenced yard next to the Swanson Lodge Cabin. “We wanted our wedding to represent our love for home so the location was perfect,” Alicia says. “We wanted our wedding to have a small town feel but still be classy.”
Gray, White Table Linens, Outdoor Reception
Alicia’s father is a logger, so he made all the wooden discs for the centerpieces. Daisies, roses and baby’s breath sat in blue mason jars that Alicia and her mother had collected for years. The antlers were to represent Kody’s love for hunting and the outdoors.
DIY Gray, White Rustic Wooden Table Numbers
Alicia and Kody had three cakes. The largest was a three-tier vanilla cake with turquoise buttercream icing. The other two cakes were lemon cheesecake and coconut cheesecake. All the cakes sat on decorative vintage stands.
Swanson Lodge Wedding Venue
Boat Exit in Troy, Montana