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Albino Lake Horseback Wedding in Big Sky, Montana Elopement Photo Story Award

Studio portrait wedding photographer Mike Greener
Mike Greener
Helena, Montana

Are you searching for inexpensive Big Sky elopement photography that will allow you to have your day documented in a way that is both thorough and original? Montana documentary elopement photographer Mike Greener would love to hear from you if you are preparing to arrange a simple occasion that might be an adventure, countryside, intimate, remote, or another type of non-traditional wedding. The following small wedding took place at Albino Lake in Big Sky, but Mike is available for intimate weddings in or around all of Montana. For more info about having this professional adventure wedding photographer expertly document your elopement, contact Mike Greener today.

Joy and tears as family watched the bride and groom recite their vows in the mountains

The bride's mother and sister wore gratitude and tears as they watched the couple recite their vows in front of the serene lake

Gratitude and tears from the bride's mother and sister during their small ceremony at Albino Lake.

Over the 4th of July weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing the 320 Ranch backcountry horseback wedding of Addie and Nate.

Back in 2017, these two hired me to photograph their wedding at Bridger Bowl Ski Area with 100 guests. They wanted to celebrate their community of loved ones in the mountains – rain or shine.

They were so excited.

Over the next couple of months, the couple discovered that the addition of planning for their big wedding day had become a bit too much to juggle.

Between the busyness of finishing school and working demanding jobs, Addie and Nate made the decision to postpone their wedding day to a later date.

Enter Spring 2020.

While the rest of the world was shutting down, most of my wedding clients were being rescheduled for 2021. Addie and Nate, to my surprise, reached out and let me know that despite the challenging circumstances, the time had come. They were going to make their wedding happen…with a twist.

Rather than the big wedding celebration they originally planned for, they instead decided to ride horses into the backcountry with their immediate family members for an intimate wedding ceremony at Albino Lake south of Big Sky, Montana.

It was a wonderful alternative to a large group gathering that ended up being a unique, more personal solution.

Their enthusiastic group met up at The Nine Quarter Circle Ranch. After horses were assigned, we loaded up our gear and the wedding party rode out on horseback for a wedding ceremony in the wilderness.

For Addie and Nate, being together in the mountains is such a restorative, important aspect of their relationship. 

Under warm blue skies with puffy, white clouds against a gorgeous mountain lake backdrop, they said “I do”.

After exploring and making photos around the lake, the group descended down the mountain. We then drove over to the 320 Ranch, just down the road, for a small outdoor reception. There we connected with a few other family members and friends who joined for a BBQ, cake, and cold libations.

Everyone had such a great time celebrating these two newlyweds.

There’s no better reason for a group of folks to gather than to celebrate love and the union of two great people. I think all guests in attendance missed the feeling of being around others. I think these photos show all the love that surrounds Addie and Nate.

The bride and groom take an adventurous horseback ride to Big Sky's remote Albino Lake for an elopement ceremony

The couple embark on an adventurous six-mile horseback ride to the remote Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana where they will have an elopement ceremony

Addie and Nate make the 6-mile horseback ride to the remote Albino Lake for their elopement ceremony in Big Sky, Montana.

The bride is lovingly surrounded by her family at Albino Lake, Montana, as they help her get dressed

The bride is lovingly assisted into her dress by her mother, sister, and mother-in-law at Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana, creating a memorable wedding photo

Addie gets into her dress with the help of her mother, sister, and mother-in-law at Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana.

Moms embrace with joy, marveling at the Albino Lake's remote ceremony location

The two mothers share the joy of the upcoming wedding, locked in an embrace as they look out over the breathtaking view of Albino Lake

Mother of the bride and mother-in-law embrace with excitement before the start of Addie and Nate's remote mountain elopement at Albino Lake.

The guests' hand archway frames the bride and groom's remote mountain elopement in Montana

A moment is captured as the newlyweds walk through the hand archway created by the small number of guests present at their remote Albino Lake elopement

The few guests in attendance make a hand archway for bride Addie and her father to walk under during the start of their remote Albino Lake wedding elopement ceremony.

The newlyweds exchanged vows at Albino Lake, Big Sky, creating a beautiful, everlasting memory

At Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana, the bride and groom exchanged vows in a beautiful elopement ceremony, creating a lasting memory for the newlyweds

Addie and Nate say their vows during a small wedding elopement ceremony at Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana.

The Montana sun illuminated the couple's intertwined hands, a timeless image of their mountain elopement

The newlyweds' intertwined hands shone brightly in the Montana sun, a moment captured that will last forever from their mountain elopement

Details of the newlyweds hands during their mountain elopement ceremony at Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana.

Bride and Groom joyfully celebrate after elopement ceremony in Big Sky

The newlyweds joyfully lifted their arms in a celebratory gesture as their small wedding ceremony in Big Sky, Montana came to a close

Newlyweds raise their arms in celebration after the conclusion of their small wedding ceremony at Albino Lake in Big Sky, Montana.

The brides horse grazes after her elopement in the MT mountains

The bride allows her horse to feed on the grass, the sun shining down on them after their elopement ceremony high up in the mountains

Bride Addie let's her horse feed on grass before heading down the mountain after their elopement ceremony at Albino Lake.

The happy bride and groom cut the wedding cake at the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana

The newlyweds gleefully cut the wedding cake as their family looked on in celebration at the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana

In front of a small group of family members, newlyweds Addie and Nate cut their wedding cake at the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana.

WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.