Montana?

I am considering Montana for my destination wedding in July 2009. My fiancee and I are outdoorsy people and we really want a location by the water. The mountains are an added bonus.

I need some help with one of the following:

1) suggestions in Montana (Gateway near Bozeman) for vendors, etc.

2) any other wedding locations like this in the US? We don't want out guests to pay an exuberant amount, but still like the RELAXED and LAID BACK atmosphere idea... I havn't been able to find that in the Caribbean. (any suggestions that might contradict my findings there would be appreciated too!)

If you're outdoorsy... you'll LOVE Montana. Although if you're wanting Mountains... you should move more west than the Bozeman Big Sky area. It's pretty flat out there. I'll work on a few suggestions for you. July is a great time. Eastern Montana has a lot more wildfires during that time then the west side. I will get back to you real quick on some great places with relax laid back, but also giving you some options for your guests to enjoy!

Oh, also a few great things about Montana: There is no time limit after getting your marriage license, it takes 10 minutes to get and you can get married right away!; things are lest expensive here; and there is no sales tax

My number 1 recommendation is the Montana Island Lodge on Seeley Lake. The lodge is a big lodge actually on an island on the lake. They will accommodate anything you want! They have brought a hole wedding party in on sleighs. They bring out everyone to the island and they even have room to accommodate your guests, depending on how many guests you have. There are plenty of places to go hiking, and they have plenty of things everyone can go out and do on the lake. Their website is MONTANA ISLAND LODGE

Look at Montana weddings on Montana Bride for several places, alot of these places are out east but there is quite the selection. Also look at Brides & Grooms - by Missoulian.com this covers the west side of the state. If you have ANY questions PM me. I have lived up and down the west side. We have a lake house on Flathead Lake and a family cabin up in Whitefish. We also have a lake house in Coeur D' Alene, ID and that area is very similar to Montana.

Welcome to the forum!

My FI and I attended a wedding in Montana last summer and it was a great trip. We got to go hiking and visit the national parks the week before the wedding and it was a blast. The wedding we attended was at Holland Lake Lodge...it was beautiful, but small...and not near Bozeman, we actually flew into Missoula, so not sure that's any help to you, but I'm happy to contact the bride for her vendor list if you're interested!

My DH and I really want to go here - we have heard AMAZING things about it The Resort at Paws Up - Luxury Adventure Vacations & Montana Ranch Vacations

Good Luck!

Welcome to the forum.