New York Meets New Zealand at This "Rugged Beauty" Montana Ranch Wedding
The two first met at a brunch Jason hosted in his SoHo loft, and they wasted no time planning their first date the very next day (which also happened to be Ella’s birthday). They spent the day at Maison Premiere in Williamsburg, and as Ella recalls: “It quickly became clear that our lives were meant to converge.” For their epic proposal, Jason set the scene at their apartment, transforming the space with hundreds of flickering candles and blush flower petals down their long hallway. After Ella said yes, Jason revealed a surprise celebration with their closest friends.
From the very beginning, Ella and Jason envisioned their wedding as a journey, one that reflected the merging of their two worlds: “New York and New Zealand, city and wilderness—set against the Montana landscape that has played such a meaningful role in our story,” says the bride. Thus, their celebration unfolded as a three-day experience, each day with its own aesthetic but a part of the overarching theme of their venue’s “rugged beauty.” This is why hosting their wedding weekend at Lone Mountain Ranch was a no-brainer. Ella shares: “We designed the weekend to unfold a natural progression of experiences. Beginning with Western authenticity on Thursday, evolving into a lively saloon soiree on Friday and finally to Saturday’s elegant black-tie affair.”
The design followed that natural rhythm, with earthy tones for the rodeo events, while deep woods, leather accents and moody lighting defined the saloon night. “We transformed the ranch into a sequence of unexpected venues: A private rodeo with professional cowboys, a custom Meshika hat-making station, a mechanical bull,and a lantern-lit Western lounge on the deck of the Trapper’s Den,” Ella says. One of their favorite memories happened on the Western-style night, according to Ella and Jason. “A meaningful moment came during the private rodeo, when both the US and New Zealand flags were raised for the national anthem—a quiet tribute to the cultures and families coming together,” they note. The first night also reimagined the ranch’s on-site restaurant with custom furniture and a live performance by the Amanda Stewart Band. What followed was a saloon party and an after-hours gathering at the Auric Room with a whiskey wagon offering tastings under the stars, the perfect way to kickstart the celebrations.
By Saturday, the palette softened into neutrals, elevated by floral elements like “woven grasses, wild sage and tonal meadow florals, with pampas, yarrow and airy meadow greens,” says the bride. “Each venue across the ranch carried its own personality and design language. We sought to embrace and enhance what was already there,” Ella adds. “For the ceremony on the ridge, we kept the decor understated to let the panoramic views of Big Sky do most of the work.” The aisle itself was inspired by the Spring/Summer 2024 Hermès show, with a design they say complemented the outdoor space without “competing with it.” The bride even arrived by horse-drawn carriage beside her father and her nieces, who were the couple's flower girls. A close friend officiated the wedding, beneath a chuppah of smokebush, dried textures and ivory flowers.
For her wedding day style, Ella worked closely with Laura Kim, who's her close friend and the co-creative director of Oscar de la Renta, to curate multiple looks that balanced fashion-forward elegance with the Montana setting. Her ceremony look was a strapless A-line ball gown with rosettes, accessorized with a classic veil and understated jewelry. The groom wore a custom Tom Ford suit for the rehearsal dinner and a custom Tom Ford tuxedo for the black-tie reception, while bridesmaids and flower girls were styled to complement the landscape. “The overall fashion narrative honored both of our worlds: high style and natural simplicity,” says Ella.
For the reception, a tent was transformed into an elegant lounge and was scentscaped with a custom fragrance by Azzi Glasser. Their team of vendors also utilized a blend of soft amber lighting, layered seating vignettes, a 360-degree bar and equestrian-inspired details (like stirrup napkin holders). “Nothing was technically DIY, but every space was meticulously customized in collaboration with EKS Events and HMR Designs to create seven distinct environments over three days,” Ella adds. Inside the reception tent, florals became richer and more layered with tones to match the late summer vibes with clusters of berry-, apricot- and terracotta-toned ranunculus, toffee roses, cymbidium orchids and burgundy amaranthus. Lit by candlelight, the tent’s palette of warm copper, caramel and blush hues and the floral arrangements crafted a space Ella calls “modern, unfussy and connected to the land.”
Personalization was at the heart of the entire weekend, especially that Saturday night, ending with a dramatic reveal: Ranch Hall transformed into a Hotel Costes–inspired nightclub, complete with one of the couple’s favorite DJs flown in to keep the energy going well into the next day. The couple recalls: “The energy carried us through until the early hours of the morning, a perfect crescendo to a three-day celebration.”