Montana Wedding Florist and Montana Wedding Planner

Vendor Spotlight

2012-02-28T14:51:00.006-07:00

Noteworthy* Paper & Press, located in the heart of western Montana, is the brainchild of Taylor Valliant and Amy Dolan. Born from a passion for paper, letterpress printing and the undaunted belief that even Montana girls need fine stationery, Noteworthy* opened its doors in June of 2008.

They have the most beautiful paper goods available and all are very unique and eye catching...

~ a save the date

~ a wedding announcement

Noteworthy Paper & Press can print up your save the dates, your wedding announcements all the way through the menu, place cards and thank you notes.

You can find them at Noteworthy Press & Paper!

The Wedding Ring

2012-02-22T13:11:00.007-07:00

Left: Artisanlook Middle: Anjaydesigns Right: Fernando Fine Art Jewelry

The wedding band is traditionally worn on the ring finger. This developed from the Roman "annulus pronubis" when the man gave a ring to the woman at the betrothal ceremony. According to tradition in some countries (derived from Roman belief), the wedding ring is worn on the left ring finger because the vein in the left ring finger, referred to as the "vena amoris", was believed to be directly connected to the heart, a symbol of love.

Krikawa Unique & Unusual Wedding Rings

Originally the wedding band was worn by wives only. Wedding rings became customary for both husbands and wives during the 20th century.

Peaces of Indigo, Etsy shop

In older times, the wedding rings were not only a sign of love, but were also linked to the bestowal of 'earnest money'. According to the prayer book of Edward VI: after the words 'with this ring I thee wed' follow the words 'This gold and silver I give thee', at which point the groom was supposed to hand a leather purse filled with gold and silver coins to the bride.

- Wikipedia

Bandscapes, Etsy shop

Cowgirl Boots

2012-02-16T14:00:00.006-07:00

Photo Credit: David Hebert and Loni Carr

For a fun mix-it-up foot wear, Cowgirl boots are a wonderful, comfortable alternative to heels.

Cowgirl boots have really gotten fancy and beautiful. Some are very intricate with embroidery and/or are hand painted. Very artistic. You can really set yourself apart and show off your personality with a pair of these cowgirl boots!

Old Gringo Boots

You can really fancy it up or play it down. Cowgirl boots look beautiful with wedding dresses and the bridesmaids will look adorable as well. And you can't beat comfy, dance all night footwear!

Sheplers Boots

Cowgirl Boots and Bridesmaids

Roses Are Red...

2012-02-09T13:47:00.007-07:00

You can say a lot with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Just make sure you know what you're saying!

Red: I love you, Enduring Passion
Orange: Enthusiasm, Longing
Yellow: Friendship, Freedom, Congratulations to Newlyweds, Graduates or New Mothers
Coral: Desire
Peach: Appreciation, Gratitude
Pale Pink: Gentleness, Grace, Gratitude
Light Pink: Fun, Happiness
Deep Pink: Thank You
Lilac: Love at First Sight, Enchantment
White: Truth, Innocence, I Miss You

Need some gift ideas for Valentines Day?
Flowers are always appreciated and go great with any other gift, such as:

gift certificates to the local massage therapist or spa
chocolates or baked goods from a local bakery
a romantic dinner out
a DIY spa basket ( with lotion, bubble bath, scrubbies and WINE!)
home made gift certificates for massages, doing the dishes, vacuuming, doing the laundry, watching the kids so she can have a girls day.

Happy Valentines Day!

What To Wear To A Wedding

2012-02-09T11:10:00.008-07:00

www.modcloth.com

The most important thing is that you don't want to pull focus from the bride. So wearing white is a no no. The same goes for red. It's such a strong eye catching color, it's best to steer clear of it.

Stay away from super mini dresses and plunging necklines or anything risqué. Save that for the Bachlorette party!

You also don't want to look like you are part of the wedding party. There is no need to try to match the bridesmaids or the mother of the bride. Take this chance to dress up in your own style.

www.modcloth.com

Always check the invitation dress code:

For black tie an evening gown or cocktail dress is expected.
For white tie nothing less than a ball gown will be required.
For lounge suit dress code or informal dress a daytime summer dress, a skirt and blouse or a light suit is expected.
If there is no dress code on the invitation, I would choose a colorful summer dress or skirt and blouse.

It's okay to wear black for an evening wedding, but keep it light and happy. Don't choose a sleek and severe dress. Steer clear of the Little Black Dress as it can be a bit boring and drab.

Jeans are not appropriate to wear to weddings. If the dress code is casual wear slacks! (Unless it's specifically stated on the invitation...)

www.maurices.com

The Groom

2012-02-02T13:28:00.002-07:00

It's time to dress the groom! If it's important to you that the groom stands out from the groomsmen, there are a few ways to do that and stay uniform.

The groom can wear a slightly different tux jacket. If the groom is wearing a double breasted jacket the groomsmen can wear single breasted. Or the groom can wear a different color tux.

www.bridalguide.com

The groom can wear a different colored tie or bow tie. For example the groom can wear a silver tie or bow tie and the groomsmen can match the bridesmaids.

www.projectwedding.com

The groom could also wear a different color vest. You could put him in a black tie and vest and the groomsmen in vests that match the bridesmaids.

If your wedding is very formal and wearing mismatched tuxes isn't an option you can run with a different flower in your boutonniere. It can be as simple as adding a little something different to the grooms boutonniere such as berries or an herbal accent. If you want to have a different flower in the groom's keep it in the same color palette, but use a little different flower than the groomsmen.

www.leslielukas.com

If the groom is in the armed forces wearing his Class A's is a dashing way to go and he'll stand out from the groomsmen.

www.onewed.com

The Wedding Dress

2012-01-29T21:50:00.014-07:00

Martha Stewart Weddings has a wonderful tutorial on finding the perfect dress for your big day. She has wonderful words of wisdom (of course! we'd expect nothing less...) and great ideas for the bride-to-be.

Real Simple Wedding Dresses is a very simple, yet thorough walk through of what dress will work best for your body shape. Pear shaped? Busty? Plus sized? You will find this link very helpful in narrowing down what will work best for you.

A few things to keep in mind when shopping for your wedding gown:

Are you having a formal wedding? Formal ceremonies call for floor length gowns with long trains. While informal ceremonies are the perfect place to wear a shorter gown without a train.

For a winter wedding you need to take into consideration the weather. If it's cold where you are getting married be prepared with a shawl or pretty cover up if you want pictures outside. Winter weddings are great for the heavier fabrics like satin. If you are having a summer wedding then a lighter weight fabric would be best. It's important that you are comfortable on your special day!

While most traditional ceremonies call for a white gown, in many cases, wedding dresses don't have to be pure white anymore. Many women choose dress colors that best complement their skin tones, ranging from diamond white to ivory to champagne to actual colors. Pick the color you feel most beautiful in.

All pictures from BHLDN.

Hey Lady!

2012-01-22T11:31:00.007-07:00

I ran across this website when I was researching the all important wedding shoe.

This site is like eye candy. Simply beautiful.

Twins, Emily and Jessica, started Hey Lady out of necessity. Finding a beautiful, comfortable pair of heels had proven to be difficult and even sometimes impossible. They wanted a shoe that was at once beautiful, comfortable and something you could dance all night in... "They wanted a shoe with a sparkly, sassy personality as individual and unique as the bride. Charmed & classy, fresh & flirty. Full of whimsy." And the Hey Lady shoe was born!

The styles were inspired by modern day leading ladies as well as those memorable ladies of the past, Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor.

I just had to share it with you.

These shoes really caught my eye. They could be your something blue...

Robin's Egg Blue Shoes.

Then there are these little cuties...

Princess Buttercup.

And the perfect simplicity of the Yes Mam!

Montana Wedding Cakes: Cakes by Jenn

2011-12-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

I am always amazed at the talented vendors I find living in the far reaching corners of Montana. Here is a sketch by little known dessert artist and cake baker, Jennifer Regester. She lives just up the road from my home town of Ennis--near Harrison, MT. Her cakes and desserts taste amazing....and I can't wait to work with her this coming year! Who doesn't get excited about dessert! And, like me, she travels all over southwest montana delivering her yummy goodies. She is also a designer at Big Sky Carvers and has a generous design background.

There are few cake designers that take the time to sketch their ideas, but Jenn is one of them. If you would like more information on her work or how to find her...just look at FaceBook! She has some great photos of things she has been working on lately!

This is a sketch that we are working on for a Bride of mine for next August! Enjoy!

Montana Destination Wedding: what you would do for friends

2011-12-12T13:35:00.002-07:00

I was priveledged to be a part of Kristi and Josh's wedding in a very partial, yet, wonderful role. Amazingly enough, I have never met Kristi in person, but I know her sister Jeni Fleming, a local jazz artist, very well. I have worked with Jeni for years in the industry and with her non-profit Hand Me Down Some Silver. Whenever Jeni calls, I am happy to help!

Kristi sent me a few photos of what she was looking for for flowers, and since she has such an amazing sense of style, we just helped pull together a few details behind the scenes and the family took charge of the rest!

So, to be completely honest, I only created the bridal bouquet and boutonnier, purchased the flowers for her friend Kathy to put together, and provided the linens. The rest is a complete effort by the family from the dessert tower, place-settings, and everything in-between. I did have several converstations with Jeni about set-up, liquor amounts to order, among other things....but this is what friends do for each other. I am so glad I got to be a part of something so beatuiful!

PHOTOGRAPHER: Audrey Hall

LOCATION: Deep Creek Grange

FLORIST: Leslie Lukas and Kathy Koelzer

RENTALS: Montana Party Rentals

Invitations, Business Cards, Graphic Design and a beautiful lady

2011-10-28T09:57:00.001-06:00

I had the privledge of doing Bri Davey's flowers for her wedding a couple summers ago. Her family owns The Rainbow Valley Lodge in Ennis, MT. At the time of her wedding, she was working for Fancy Flour's doing marketing and web for them! She is an amazing designer and has a keen eye for detail. She currently lives in Portland, OR and has bought a letterpress! I can't say enough about Bri's energy and style....and as you can see by these gorgeous designs and the quality of her work, she is going to take the market by storm!

She recently aquired a letterpress, and if you are in the market for letterpress anything, don't count out this talented woman! Here are some fabulous styles that I took from her blog to share with you that she has already created for some lucky clients....enjoy and be sure to visit her online to see more of her work-- {www.creativelabpress.com}

This rustic invitation suite is one of her flat-print (digital) designs (not run on a letter press) really caught my eye...and would be perfect for a late summer/fall wedding or party! She has

Dynamic Color Combo--Young and Fun

2011-10-13T09:10:00.000-06:00

A friend called upon me to do the flowers for her daughter's wedding just outside of Livingston, MT at a ranch on the Wine Glass Mountain. The event barn where the reception was, is a family party spot where many country stars have performed for their private parties.

I called on my friend Angela of Fresh Designs to help do the planning, so I could concentrate on the flowers. Here is a sample of what came about!

Photo Credit: Morgan Lamare Photography

Catering: Zac's Montana Kitchen

Planning: Fresh Designs

Rentals: Montana Party Rentals

Flowers: Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events

The Cake...Oh, MY!!!!

2011-09-22T15:44:00.008-06:00

I have planned and attended so many weddings, and really, the cake to me is still the super star next to the bride! I get so much joy in sharing my favorite cake designers/bakers with my clients, and even more joy out of the tastings! Seeing what design my clients choose is always fun, and to see what the designers come up with is always AMAZING!!!

The dessert of all desserts, the wedding cake, just can't be replaced by using a dessert bar--which I also love and will put in a future blog, but always splurge for a CAKE---your grandmother will expect it! Here is my ode to the Montana wedding cake and some of my FAVORITES from weddings past....

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.morganlamare.com

Cake created by Mother of the Groom

photo credit www.photoartamy.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Mother of the Groom

photo credit www.photoartamy.com

Cake by Blue Moon Bakery, Big Sky

photo credit www.morganlamare.com

Cake By Chef Sarah White, Bozeman, Montana

Town and Country Foods

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com

Cake by Blue Moon Bakery, Big Sky, Montana

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com

Grooms Cake!!! Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com

Cakes by Jenn, Bozeman, Montana

photo credit www.photoartamy.com

Cake by Chico Hot Springs, Pray, Montana

www.chicohotsprings.com

Photo Credit www.montanaweddingphotographer.com

Cake by Van's IGA, Bozeman, Montana

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.lonemanphotography.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

Cake by Rebecca Nicklin, Bozeman, Montana

www.cakesfromcabinridge.com

photo credit www.nashan.com

morgan lamare photography: love . . .

2011-09-16T16:30:00.001-06:00

One of my best friends, who just happens to be a wedding photographer, is also an amazing writer. I follow her blog all the time, and I just love it when she blogs about her personal life! Because we are such good friends, this was a tear jerker for me because she just lays it all out there. I have been married for 13 years, have two amazing children, and her writing just puts it all in perspective and makes me want to be a better wife, partner, mother, and friend!!! Just hearing how happy Morgan is, just made my heart smile! I wish this could be today's news!!! Have fun reading....

Morgan with my son, Henry, at a recent family BBQ.

Click below to go to her post:

morgan lamare photography: love . . .: For some reason this evening, kind of out of nowhere, I decided, I am going to blog something deeply personal. And I don't know if it is s...

Grace Ormonde Wedding Style...yes. we. can.

2011-09-14T11:07:00.002-06:00

photo credit to www.laurenbrownphoto.com (1.)

I have always set my sights high in this business. To be the friendliest, most organized, and consistent planner and designer in Montana. Sometimes, I strive for perfection, even though in a perfect world, perfection still doesn't exist. I am flattered by the magazine editors that have chosen our work time and time again to feature in their prestigious magazines. We are pleased to announce that we have THREE, yes THREE photographs of our work that will be featured on Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine's on-line gallery. It was going to be launched September 1st, but with the recent events of Hurricane Irene on the East Coast, it put their team behind. I will be sure to shout it from the roof tops when it is actually on the site! I am so thankful that they were all ok, and thankful for such an AMAZING publication!!! Thank you for bringing our photos to life in your gallery. We are grateful.

Lauren Brown has captured two images that caught the eyes of Grace Ormonde and staff. The first one, featured above (1.), is a styled shoot at The Woodlands that took place in the fall. We used bamboo chairs and linen provided by Montana Party Rentals, and Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events provided the table settings, floral, and fine details that made the scene look urban-rustic. The second photo by Lauren Brown, featured below (2.) was taken of a bridal bouquet designed by Leslie Lukas for her bride, Kendra Haugen, who was married at the Rainbow Ranch last year. Alexa Miller captured a photo that they loved as well. (3.) featured at the bottom of this post was from a wedding at the Rainbow Ranch as well. Grace Ormonde made a call out to designers and photographers looking for simple styling and modesty. You just never know if your photo/design could be the next big thing!!!!

To be recognized by Grace Ormonde is beyond amazing!!! I get to work with Montana's finest photographers. So, I wanted to take a moment to thank them for documenting amazing photos for me and my clients.

Lauren Brown www.laurenbrownphoto.com (featured together on Grace Ormonde Wedding Style)
Melanie Nashan www.nashan.com (featured together in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, BRIDES, and Modern Bride magazines)
Kene Sperry www.eyeintheskyphotography.com (featured together in The Knot)
Audrey Hall www.audreyhall.com (featured together in Mountain Living and Montana Living magazines)

Others I admire and should be recognized:
Morgan Lamare www.morganlamare.com
Doug Loneman www.lonemanphotography.com
Cali Sparring www.calisparingphotography.com
Janie Osbourne www.janieoweddings.com (did her wedding flowers and LOVE her to pieces!)
Larry Stanley www.montanaweddingphotographer.com

There are so many photographers out there, and if we haven't met, be sure to give me a shout!!! The above mentioned photographers are in my comfort zone, and I have worked closely with all of them.....so don't be shy, someone gave me a chance when I first started out in the business, maybe you deserve one! I know there are more great photographers out there! and more opportunities to get our work published, bringing attention to our great state and attention to quality vendors for brides and grooms looking for their dream team!

photo credit www.laurenbrownphoto.com (2.)

photo credit www.alexamiller.com (3.)

Horse Ranch Wedding...my summer favorite!

2011-09-09T09:21:00.001-06:00

I had the privilege to work with an amazing couple this summer, Susanne and Andrew, who choose to dedicate their life to rescuing horses and animals that simply need to be cared for and loved. Many of their animals are "seniors" and they take care of them through their last breaths. They have a beautiful horse ranch on River Road just outside of Bozeman, and this property will be available to host tented events in the coming year!

Their love is so apparent for each other, and once those rings were on their hands, they have vowed to never take them off! They were brought together by life's circumstances. I LOVE this type of devotion and love, and I want to congratulate them on having found one another, and choosing to live beautifully.....

I had so much fun choosing all the fine details for their wedding to make sure it was family friendly, rich with memories, and an unforgettable day. I used as many local sources as possible. We are so fortunate to live in an area with so much talent! Here is some outstanding photography by Lauren Brown, who captured the love so eloquently.

There are so many vendors to thank for making this all come together on the fourth of July Weekend. I will be posting about details of the wedding in future blogs, as there were so many fun things that we did to make this wedding so special! Cheers to the following vendors and a HUGE thank you!

Ingredients for the Perfect Day

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events: Full Service Coordination, Flowers and Concept to Completion Event Management. Ennis, Montana
Lauren Brown Photography: Photographer. Bozeman, Montana
Ro Sham Bo, Priscilla Foster Hand-Made Books: Horse Logo, Invitations, Photo Book, Menus, and more. Bozeman, Montana
Montana Party Rentals: Rentals. Bozeman, Montana
Chef Knecht: Catering. Livingston, Montana
Cakes from Cabinridge: Wedding Cake. Bozeman, Montana
The Pie Lady, delicious pies! made in Ennis, Montana
Casanova Carriage, Horse Drawn Wagon and Carriage. Virginia City, Montana
Six Shooter Photo Booth: Retro Style Photo Booth. Helena, Montana

More sources to come as details are unveiled!!!

Elegant Montana Bride

2011-08-31T13:57:00.001-06:00

Isn't Rachel stunning? My glamour, Hollywood-esque bride, blew me away. Photograph by www.laurenbrownphoto.com

More to come.

Cheers to a Beautiful Summer!

2011-08-16T15:16:00.000-06:00

Things have been rolling along well for us here at Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events this summer! I am so happy with all of my clients, vendors, and team members and what we have been able to accomplish with each and every wedding weekend! It has also been a beautiful summer here in Southwest Montana, which dramatically makes my mood change with every sunbeam!

I just want to share a bit of summer lovin, and a bit more of our style of floral and design. I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I do of a beautiful couple, Blythe and Greg, who were married on August 13th at a private residence in the Madison Valley! I can't wait to show you the entire wedding story by budding photographer, Amy Hallenius, of PhotoArt by Amy.

My coffee lady gets Hitched!!!

2011-06-19T19:54:00.000-06:00

Living in a small community has it's advantages for sure, but in my book, it's all about your relationship with your coffee lady. It could be a coffee man, for that matter, but mine happens to be Jessica, a lady. She married the love of her life yesterday, Jason, and I had the privilege of doing her flowers.

Modest by nature, and just wanting this day to get here.....and so it did. We saw the signs around town that a shindig was about to take place, and I couldn't be happier for her.

So, here is my coffee lady. The one that nurtures me, gives me my energy to get through the day, fixings for my sweet tooth, and some of the best salads on the planet. To all the crew at Corral Creek Coffee Company....cheers to the newlywed, Jessica!!!!

Photos: PhotoArt by Amy

RSVP---what the heck?

2011-06-13T20:58:00.000-06:00

Well, I have news for you! I have planned weddings for over 10 years, and I have never received 100% return on RSVP's---Why can't everyone do their part and put their RSVP card in the mail? I only have theories, but no real data to support the why behind the non-rsvp'ers, but it is frustrating!

Procrastinators by nature? Not sure if they can make it? Don't have a mail slot convenient enough? Whatever the reason, here are some ways to get more positive results from your guests---

Make it as easy as possible. Always stamp the rsvp card with appropriate postage and be sure it is labeled with the correct return address to come straight to you.
You can use language to make RSVP'ing more fun. I have currently seen my brides and grooms use phrases such as "why not?" "just can't..." even ad-lib games to get more responses. Traditional is also good...if it is straight, to the point and gives you the information you need.
Give them more than one way to RSVP. While this is more work for you, it may get more responses from your guests. Provide an email address for them to send their RSVP or many of the free wedding websites have an RSVP feature.
When all else fails, track your guest down via email or a call.

If you are guilty of not sending an RSVP card....the reasons why it is so important should be clear by now. While you invited your guests for a reason, and you truly want them to be there for your special day, you also want the opportunity to save a few dollars if you can.

So, the next time you get an invitation in the mail, email, whatever....do your part, and let your first gift to that couple be your RSVP in the mail! Pronto!

Disposable Wedding Cameras

2011-05-20T09:46:00.001-06:00

I have been doing a little research lately, on...you guessed it, disposable wedding cameras. I had always questioned the decision of my brides about having them. I know the idea and concept of guests taking candid photos to capture those "missed moments", but it always has seemed that the little kid at the wedding gets a hold of it, and the end result is 27 photos of the floor. And, you did just spend money on a quality, professional photographer, right?

SUPER CUTE STYLE, 27 exp.

http://www.mywedcams.com/ starting at 2.99. The black and white above retails for $4.99

So, I am admitting, as a planner, I never really new what to do with them. I mean, I knew what to do with them, but was so reluctant!!! Do I put them on the fabulously dressed guest table that we spent months picking out the linen, flowers, and all of the fine details, only to cheapen the look by YIKES!!! a disposable camera? Do I a decorate a special box or basket and print a cute note and stuff them in there, hoping someone notices them or knows what to do with them?

None of the above! I have finally figured it out.

SIMPLE, CLASSY STYLE, 27 exp.

http://www.myweddingfavors.com/ $6.99 more colors available

The only way that I see these being "a cool" thing to do at your wedding, is to include them in your GUEST WELCOME BAGS as your guests arrive for your wedding weekend . You know, the ones that go to the hotel or resort where your guests are staying to warmly welcome them??? or, the following fun ways to incoporate them into your reception......
Here are a few cute ways to make it happen:

1. Instruct your guests that you want pictures of them enjoying their vacation and wedding related activities. Encourage them to take photos along the way, and bring it to the wedding to finish off the roll and leave it in a special basket on the gift table. You can always post the photos on a site like flickr or facebook and direct them to the site after the wedding is over.

2. Make a wedding scavenger hunt for your guests. Type up a cute and fun list of things they must see while they are on vacation. Such as: take a picture with the dinosaur at the Museum of the Rockies, or show off your vacation wear...or take a picture from the zip line at Big Sky Resort, then finish with a photo of you and your new husband kissing. Tell them the guests who get the most creative will get a fun surprise after the wedding! Be sure to take a photo of yourselves, indicating who the photographers were of that particular camera!!!

3. Personalize it even further by instructing your bridal party and family to get photos of people that are really special to you. My brother took photos of all the couples at my wedding kissing. Now, that was a surprise when we developed the photos later, and memories I will always cherish!!!

4. If you are NOT going to do welcome bags for your guests, use the concepts above at your wedding reception to make it more interactive for your guests and to get the results that you are looking for. This would be a great way to have a photo booth at your wedding, too.

I hope these ideas get you started on a new way of thinking and bring new life to those disposable cameras! Now I LOVE them!!!

Custom Camera, $5.99

http://www.wedcams.com/

Leslie Lukas, regular contributor of BRIDES magazine

http://www.leslielukas.com/

Montana Flowers--Inspriation for today!

2011-05-11T12:01:00.000-06:00

Spring has officially sprung, and I have had the best time creating some fantastic gift bouquets for friends the past couple days! Here are some of my favorites! Enjoy!

Best trip ever!

2011-05-10T10:18:00.001-06:00

So, if you are a client or friend of mine....you know that I recently went on a trip with my family to Maui. and..... it was everything we hoped it would be! Lots of sun, sand, and sandcastles....and of course fresh food, family time and relaxation!

The following photos just can't say enough to the amazing time we all had, and how refreshed I feel to move forward into wedding season! We stayed in a modest condo unit that we found on http://www.vrbo.com/ for $120 a night, cooked for ourselves, enjoyed the sea turtles, whales, and all the other abundant flora that comes with going to a Hawaiian island. We bought banana bread and the best coconut candy I have ever had on a trip around the island on one of the craziest stretches of road I have ever been....we laughed the entire time it was so fun to drive on! Joe went fishing, I went snorkleing....our days went kind of like this: wake up, breakfast, beach, pool, nap, pool, beach, pineapple break, more beach....and tons of fun with the kiddos!

DIY FLORAL CLASS OFFERED

2011-04-17T12:58:00.001-06:00

Are you ready to learn from an expert on how to create your own flowers for your wedding? Join us for this fun filled Do-It-Yourself Bridal Event at the Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon! Be ready to be inspired as Montana wedding planner Leslie Lukas walks you through a bridal bouquet, boutonnier and cost effective centerpieces!

Keys to this successful DIY Bridal (floral design) show:

Tool kit with everything you need to create your own flowers
Hands on Experience
Refreshments
Other Vendors on-hand to answer your DIY questions
A teacher with over 15 years of experience!!!
REGISTER at http://www.montanaweddingflorist.com/ by May 14th

BRIDES April 2011-- Party in the USA, mountain west

2011-04-04T16:26:00.001-06:00

Hi all! I am thrilled to announce that the latest issue of BRIDES Magazine has hit the shelves, full of great information and fabulous ideas. It represents several regions in the article "Party in the USA"!!! I am featured as an expert on page 296 bringing good ideas to life for the mountain west!

While I have been in lots and lots of publications, it starts to feel a bit like bragging after a while, which is not what I am about at all! I love sharing information on how to make weddings more beautiful, and things that are approachable that anyone can do! I am so thankful that a publication such as BRIDES, allows local experts to have a voice to its readership. I love it when someone I know sees it and gets excited that they know someone who is in print!

So, RUN, don't walk...and get your copy today!

PS...I did notice that in the article, they promoted acorns instead of pinecones...oh, well! It would all be darling, you just don't find many acorns around here! I was explaining to them that one of my destination brides that came to Montana to be married, brought acorns to use on her tables for a little flavor from back home. We don't have a ton of acorn producing trees, here, that is why it is so funny:)

The country-hick-montana-elegant wedding

2011-03-22T15:05:00.001-06:00

So, when I first met Heather, she was with her mom, dad, and cousin, and had traveled all the way from Seattle to make her wedding wishes come true. She needed full wedding management on a tight budget, and I knew that I wanted to work with her....immediately! She grew up in Billings, and there were so many wonderful details that she was creating on her own, that I knew I could help her pull her vision together, and use the materials available to make for her country hick, meets sophisticated elegance wedding a reality!

When she told me she wanted a country-hickish, Montana elegant wedding with super great tasting food--at Springhill Pavilion, my wheels started spinning...and ultimately knew that she wanted a FUN yet elegant wedding! So, if we were going to call it that, we would need to live up to it! The hick parts really didn't evolve much, but did come out in the music (Costas Lazardious & Band--a family friend and recording artist living in Belgrade) and the rustic elements like the burlap table cloths and mason jar florals took center stage.

The color pallet ended up being red and lavender, a first for me, but I knew that the combination would be striking if used in the right way....

My beautiful friend Morgan Lamare took the photos you are about to see, and captured some really enchanting moments. Heather was laughing and smiling the entire day....and the warmest thing for me was when Heather and Bill thanked me personally for making everything just perfect for them!

I think we achieved something pretty special--

Loving, Laughing, having fun....

more laughing and loving!!!!

Her dress was just beautiful on her and really matched her personality!

The decadent dessert bar was by Elles Belles

The lilacs in the centerpieces were from my neighbors yard....in late June if you can believe it!

The Orchids were grown by Bill's Aunt who has an orchid farm in California....GORGEOUS, and we used them in everything!

Elles Belles baby bell cookies were part of the dessert bar....

The birds were a theme throughout, and little wooden birds served as take home trinkets for the guests beyond the edible treats....

I love this combination of flowers against the red dresses. Simply fabulous!

The bridal bouquet was a collection of blooms from Heather's grandmother's garden and came from Billings in a white little garbage pail full of water....they were lovingly cut knowing that Heather would be carrying them down the isle....

The bride and groom stood under a rustic archway covered with Orchids from his aunts farm....it was a pleasure helping them with their wedding, and enjoyed hours of planning with them!
Ingredients for the perfect day
Morgan Lamare Photography, photographer
Springhill Pavilion, venue
Steve Kuntz, Chef
Callisto Studios, Video
Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events, full wedding management and floral
Costas Lazardious, band and music
Connie Duglin, Linens

Fourth of July Springhill Pavilion Wedding, Bozeman, MT

2011-03-16T12:33:00.001-06:00

So, as I write this post, I am so grateful to be surrounded by such lovely photographers in our great state. One of my favorites, Melanie Nashan, was hired to shoot Toby and Kim's Fourth of July wedding that took place at the historical Springhill Pavilion just outside of Bozeman, MT. This is a magical wedding venue, and many of my couples choose it for its charming outbuildings, beautiful fruit trees twinkling with light in the evening hours, and the stunning views of the areas gorgeous mountains. The couple had so much fun with multiple days of activities, from a ranch style reheasal dinner, the wedding at Springhill, then a fun day after brunch complete with floating on intertubes down the Madison River. Here are some of my favorite details from their day!

Fruit Pies were tucked away in these hand caligraphered, stamped muslin bags that lead the guests to their seat! What a fun and creative parting favor that has dual purpose! The guests LOVED them! Thanks to Elles Belles tasty confections....

We knew paper straws were trendy before anyone else! These were a fun way to sip spiked lemonade and a fresh lavender spring decorated each jar!~ super cute and a cost effective detail

Paper parasols are a wonderful way to create shade for your guests while sitting in the sun during the ceremony...our guests used them all evening and thought they were great!

We created a wonderful atmosphere in the Pavilion by using banquet style seating for a rustic feel. We also hung metal chandeliers from the ceiling that looked so wonderful as the evening light streamed through the windows. This is seating for 120 guests, with plenty of room for dancing.

Elles Belles mini pies and environmentally friendly bambu plates and forks...to keep with a natural, rustic feel.

The candy bar, which had lots of old fashioned favorites!

Melanie had this to say about me:

“Last year I had the pleasure of working with Leslie on Kim and Toby’s wedding at the Springhill Pavillion, one of my favorite wedding spots. While working with Leslie is always fun, things happen on schedule and as planned. Not only does Leslie do wedding planning but she creates lovely ‘Montana Style’ flower arrangements that bring a bit of nature into the photos. Leslie and I have worked together forever and I think you will love working with her just as much as I have.”

Ingredients for the perfect day
Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events--full service flowers and planning
Melanie Nashan--photography http://www.nashan.com/
Zac Kellerman--catering http://www.cookingontherange.com/
Elle Fine--mini pies, fruit pies for escort cards, cupcakes, tarts and yummy desserts http://www.ellesbelles.com/
Springhill Pavilion--venue http://www.springhillpavilion.com/
Blue Jack--Band http://www.bluejackband.com/

Etsy--signs and table numbers

Chicago couple falls in love wih Big Sky, MT

2011-03-13T16:48:00.001-06:00

Tony and Jill had been dreaming of having a Montana wedding since the beginning of their courtship. Jill is a native Montanan and had played basketball for UM...Tony was from back east and had settled in Chicago to help run his family business. They wanted a beautiful Montana setting to share their special day and chose Moonlight Basin as their location. I had weekly meetings with them via phone for almost 11 months! Jill found many of her treasures from Etsy vendors and we helped the process along by offering our sources as well. Most of the printed items were locally crafted by Erin Leonard out of Virginia City, MT.

The weekend couldn't have been more memorable, as President Obama was on his national park tour and ended up being at our same hotel in Big Sky! It also snowed in Big Sky...in August! Silly weather! Thanks for capturing it so well through your beautiful photos, Lauren!

Ingredients for a perfect day:

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events--full service planning and floral design
Joe Trudgeon--Joe's Mobile DJ
Lauren Brown--Lauren Brown Photography
Rebecca Nicklin--Cakes from Cabin Ridge
Moonlight Basin--Big Sky, Montana, Venue
Various Etsy Vendors for details and table cards

Anthropologie, how I love thee, Welcome BHLDN

2011-02-20T18:59:00.001-07:00

Oh, Anthropologie, how I LOVE that you have made it to the world of weddings. It has been a long time coming, and no one would be able to do it as good as you! I wish you much success, and look forward to amazing customer service to my clients and I can't wait to find a darling cocktail dress for myself!

Here are a few photos from the site----http://www.bhldn.com/index.cfm

You will find wedding gowns, lingerie, bridesmaids dresses, accessories, shoes......did I mention the COVER-UPS???? all tasteful, timeless, and of course....FABULOUS~!~~!!!! If you are looking to be a knock-out Montana Vintage Bride, check out their new lines...I find the price points to be perfect, and better yet, such a beautiful site to gain inspiration from! I could see a few Montana Brides sporting one of these styles above!

Warmly, LL

Leslie Lukas
regular contributor of BRIDES magazine
leslie lukas weddings & events
"a montana wedding planner"

Something.....

2011-01-13T14:45:00.001-07:00

Something Old---

The other day, I came across some old photographs from 2001. The following is a wedding that Melanie Nashan took and was the first of several of my weddings that were published--all by being fortunate enough to work with Melanie! My work would have never been seen had Melanie not submitted her images from so many stunning weddings. Thank you Melanie! You can see more of the publications we have our work in on our website!

pardon the scan job...digital cameras, were they even available yet???

hydrangeas in galvanized buckets. Never get old....

a kiss under the tree....Chico Hot Springs as it was in 2001, is still much as it is today! The wagon is still in the same magical place!

a classic Melanie shot...she was the first that I EVER saw arrange bridal parties in such a creative way. Now I see so many photographers do this!

Here is the BRIDES magazine spread...it was featured Spring of 2002

Something New---

I just moved my entire home office to the flower shop....messy, messy, messy, but not for long! It is such a beautiful and creative space, and is coming together beautifully! The retail part of the store cannot be seen in this photo, but you are seeing the design side, which is all open forum work space! Our clients love to watch us hard at work! If you ever want to venture over to Ennis, please come and see us Otherwise, I'll gladly meet you in Bozeman or on location.

Here is the desk in its new position at the flower shop and our consultation area. Messy still, but coming together nicely!

Something Borrowed--

I get to work with a few new vendors this year, which is always exciting: here is one that I thought I should take the time to spotlight. By the way, you can borrow her. She is for hire! I haven't worked with her yet, but she is on my radar as one to watch!

Carol Clift Photography--
She just moved to Ennis, Montana from Tennessee. Loves her dog. Is very tall. She is married, and her husband is her second shooter. I really liked her personality and liked her work! Fashion Inspired Photography.

She asked me to create a really fun, bright and vivid floral piece for her bridal shows that are all happening this January! It was meant to draw attention and be bold....like she is! You can see her work in person at the Bridal Affaire on January 22nd at the MSU sub ballroom in Bozeman.
www.carolcliftphoto.com

Darling photo featured on Carol's facebook wedding photos gallery....I want that to be me! Cute birdcage veil, too!

photo I took in my shop of the arrangement I made for her. Taken by my Droid phone. I really need a new camera!

Something Blue--

booohoooohoooo........
We have limited availability left for this summer (June-September). Call to find out if we are still available for your wedding date...and use this blog as inspiration to find new ideas, fresh flower trends, and more!

Getting ready for Ever After Bridal Event

2011-01-08T19:29:00.003-07:00

As I get ready for the Ever After Bridal Event, my friend Mindy Schroder stops by to say hello! She is an amazing novice photographer, shooting everything she can. Well, she always has her camera with her, and while I was busy working, she was taking these BEAUTIFUL photos. This is also a brand new camera she got for Christmas! I am in LOVE with the photos she takes!

Here is a sneak peak as to what is in store at the bridal event on Sunday as seen through Mindy's camera!!!

This first picture excites me because it showcases how I lay all my goodies on my design table in layers to make sure it all is going to flow together. And a bonus...Mindy captured a neat reflection in the mirror~

The "3" is a table number and the apothocary jar will be used like a "wedding wishes" jar at the event tomorrow to capture potential client information...

A deeper look at my inspiration table....

A trick that I will be sharing "using foliage in your table scape design"....

Metal lanterns from India...we like to place moss in the bottom and use a battery "flicker" candle in ours!

I have been growing these paper whites since December 14th or so. I kept them in a really cold location, but with proper light, so that they would be perfect for the Ever After Event....

You can follow Mindy's work at http://ladybugfamily.wordpress.com

Welcome 2011

2011-01-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and reflect on another year passing by, I am in awe at just how quickly 10 years can come and go. From 2000-2010, I have tirelessly worked on creating a business that not only feeds my passion, but has helped countless couples walk down the isle in style, more organized, and more beautiful because they let me into their lives.

How did this all come to be? I thank the good lord for Martha Stewart....she makes some people crazy, but if she hadn't inspired me to make my laundry room prettier, fold my sheets correctly, or the art of a thank you note, and bringing to reality that homemaking can be beautiful, I may have found myself uninspired in the early years of my marriage as a part time stay at home wife with a part time job as a florist. Then came Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and her many books on entertaining, wedding planning and flowers all accessible to the everyday person...need I say more? This was a florist-stay-at-home-wife's dream...I took the dreamy route. With the inspiring people that surrounded me and a little raw talent, I took the road less traveled and settled as an entrepreneur. Serendipity. The right place, at the right time. And so my journey begins....

we were in this issue!!!!

For those couples in this past decade that allowed me into the most intimate details of their world, thank you. I am forever grateful and satisfied by the work I have accomplished, the many honors I have received, and the countless magazines that my company's work has been published in. There is much to be celebrated and it is all because of YOU!

B2 Photography

Today, I celebrate that a decade has come and gone and new one is beginning. I celebrate the new clients that will come into my life, the wonderful vendors that I surround myself with, and the wonderful opportunities that are formulating right now.

Lauren Brown Photography

I celebrate my beautiful little family. Joe, Henry and Jaclyn Claire...you are my world!!! I celebrate that I finally have moved my home office to my shop...this has needed to happen for the past 10 years and I understand how important it is that you have me completely when I am home!!! Thank you for the humility, holding the mirror up, and supporting me the entire way! I also celebrate my best girlfriends for those same reasons!!!

Lauren Brown Photography

Morgan Lamare Photography

taken by Henry Lukas, 6 yrs old

Lauren Brown Photography

I celebrate that I am moving forward on a new chapter with my business, and that I am regarded as a leader in my field. Being chosen as a contributor of BRIDES magazine on a regular basis is validating, at least for me! I am proud of being published so many times, the simple elegance that I create and most of all, helping the bride-to-be achieve wedded bliss.

Morgan Lamare Photography

Again, all of this could not have happened without YOU...the ones that believe in me. The couples of my past, present and future. My family, my friends, the wonderful vendors....living life in the present....learning from the past.....moving forward, living fully, passionately, and without hesitation.

Welcome 2011.

Ever After Bridal Event

2010-12-26T18:46:00.002-07:00

We are proud to be a part of the Ever After Bridal Event at the Woodlands!!!

Come see me at the show on

SUNDAY, January 9th

11-4pm

to visit about your wedding plans and to gain inspiration from yours truly!

photo: leslie lukas by lauren brown

be ready for sensory overload with our fresh floral designs--inspiration for 2011 brides
see why BRIDES magazine recognizes us as a top vendor of the mountain west and chooses to publish our work again and again
purchase our DIY floral kits, and make sure that you are well on your way to the perfect wedding day.
get insider tips on planning the perfect wedding

This is a show you won't want to miss! There will be several other vendors representing all areas of expertise to help you plan the perfect day!

Budget do's and don'ts for your Montana Wedding

2010-11-07T18:13:00.003-07:00

I often see my brides and grooms contemplating the many choices they have in front of them while they plan their wedding. The most common errors occur with budgeting...leaving some important things out to make room for the more frivolous expenditures. I call these things the "wants" vs "needs" and I am here to help you sort it out.

Be sure the following has room in your budget!!!

Needs:
--a divine photographer
--a planner you can trust, check their references or it's a waste of your time and money***at least 5 brides from the current year and at least 5 vendors that have been in the industry more than 3 years
--a florist that will create a day that is a reflection of you***references and samples are a must!
--a venue that meets your needs
--a stylist to make you look your best for your wedding day
--a beautiful gown for you and a snazzy suit for him
--cute shoes
--stationary and printed items that pull your look together
--a smart caterer that will work with you and all those fun ideas. One can really express themselves with food! go for it!
--music, live band, DJ or an ipod, no matter which direction you go, this can set the mood and theme for your event just as much as other details do.
--cash bar, at the least!
--the marriage license
--someone to marry you and a plan for the ceremony. This is often an afterthought and I would hate to see the ceremony just disappear all-together. Come on, this is why you are having a wedding!

This icecream truck was only $50 to come to the wedding site, and we only paid for what the guests wanted! It was such a great addition and at such a low cost!

Things such as special transportation, favors, make-up, and the bar are negotiable items to nix or cut back on in the budget and not a necessity. A bride and groom can get to the wedding in a family vehicle, you can make your favors (even bake cookies), do your own make-up, and not host a bar all night....you can go without these things...no really, you can!~

If you enlist the help of a professional, it is up to them to spell out for you where your money is going, and creative ways to make it go farther....

Here is a smart list from BRIDES magazine that I thought I would share with you....
Do's
--do consider dates that fall outside the wedding high season
--do look into having a day reception. You can serve a lighter meal and expect a lower bar bill*** a morning wedding with a brunch reception would be divine and uncommon.
--do pick a fully furnished site to avoid rental costs on chairs, tables and linens, which can add up*** The Woodlands, Chico Hot Springs, Lazy B Farm, and Gallatin Gateway Inn are great examples of this...
--do pick a venue that doesn't specify which vendors you must use in their facility, instead, choose on that has a wide list of approved vendors in a range of prices.
--do pick a planner that can offer you discounts on a range of services, often they have insider deals that no-one else can touch. http://www.leslielukas.com/ can do just that!
--don't get married during a holiday weekend--hotel costs for you and your guests will be at a premium as well as flights and vendor fees.

Flowers & Decor
--do reuse the bridesmaids bouquets at the reception, they can be used on the head table, slipped into vases on the escort card table or decorate the powder room.
--do take advantage of seasonal sales to buy items like candles
--use masses of candles you bought in bulk
--do not order out of season flowers that need to be flown in
--don't spend money decorating reception areas that won't be heavily trafficked, such as staircases and hallways. Put your money where guests will see it.

--don't think of centerpieces have to be classic floral arrangements, a glass bowl filled with water, rose petals and candles is a luminous, low-cost alternative, especially for decorating the bar, escort card table, and more.

Trendy new montana wedding idea, rustic elegance

2010-10-29T13:50:00.001-06:00

Have you ever completely fallen in love with a magazine spread of a beautifully set table, ripped it out of the magazine, and taken it to your wedding planner, only to be disappointed in how much it will cost you per table?

My job as a designer is to pull something together that I know you will love, in a price point you can afford. Not everyone can afford exactly what jumps out at them from a magazine, but don't be discouraged, use that photograph as a tool to give your florist or planner inspiration....

The following perspective was beautifully photographed by Morgan Lamare. Lauren Brown also shot this table, and I will unveil her perspective later in a photographer comparison shoot!

I love the old post vases that I have custom made here in Ennis, MT. They fit small blooms perfectly and don't cost a lot to make a large impact.

Styling shoot....creating a memorable montana wedding

2010-10-29T13:47:00.001-06:00

I recently had the privileged of doing a styling shoot at the Double T River Ranch with a fist full of talented event professionals. My goal for this styling shoot was to show a table, beautifully set, in three different versions. Here is a bit of that hard work in action. I will price each look out in a future post. You can see by each photo, the use of different materials.

First Look: The Bouquet

2010-10-07T09:40:00.001-06:00

Rarely do I get to see the big moment when my bride first sees her bouquet...this is largely due to the details I am tending to at the reception site or putting the finishing touches on the ceremony. I love to make my brides bouquets as it leaves my signature on the event and is one of my most favorite things to do!

Nicole married the love of her life, Alex, two weekends ago at Chico Hot Springs. You may remember the engagement shoot that I posted a while back. Here are some priceless images from Morgan Lamare showing the "first look" of her bridal bouquet!

A country carnival wedding...

2010-09-26T17:32:00.004-06:00

The most amazing thing happened this past year. I was able to work with a most fabulous lady, Cassie LaGreca and her fiance Chris Bailey, originally from Billings, now residing in Chicago. This couple was anything but ordinary and they wanted to make guest enjoyment a high priority on their wedding day--from a special MP3 event, to relay games, and a beer garden. Now, I have seen blogs and magazine spreads on country carnival themed weddings, but this was the first of its kind for so many reasons.

Cassie works as a graphic designer for an event planning company called Kehoe Designs in Chicago....and the photo story by Nashan.com below will tell you a lot, but let me explain a bit of the rest at the end of this photo display....

The day was filled with so many details that flowed flawlessly together by the wonderful vendor team that was in place. Cassie and Chris are a true DIY couple and exhaustively created so many of the parts and pieces to this unique wedding that there are too many to count! It had an MP3 event during the ceremony where guests were asked to go on a journey with the cupids of love, all the while a duck race down the creek unfolded the "winner" and what last name Cassie was to take or Chris was to take (Lagreca, the brides maiden name, won and the groom is now Chris LaGreca!) The bride, also a burlesque dancer, was serenaded by her "girls" late night, and oh....if you could have only been a guest!

Whatever your dream plans are, be sure to enlist the services of an experienced wedding planner to help all your carefully made props, decor, and details come together on the wedding day. Cassie and I had a ball working on this wedding together....hope it inspires the DYI'er in you!

Ingredients for this perfect day:

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events--event planning, day of management and decor assistance

Nashan Photographers--Melanie Nashan

Montana Epicurean--unique country carnival fare! and provided the bar, too!

The Bad Larry's--the band

Moonstone Pictures--videography

Montana Party Rentals--event tents

Kehoe Designs--unique event props, signage and video story booth

Ice Cream Truck---awww, you'll have to call for the source!

Elles Belles--unique pies, cupcakes and other desserts

Roys Barn--venue

Tonic Salon--Hair and Make-up

Dresses--Vintage Couture

A special new spot...Big Sky Resort

2010-09-14T20:41:00.001-06:00

So, in all my years of wedding planning, I have never come across this view of Lone Peak...

mainly because I am not a down-hill skier and to typically get this view, you need to be one! This image was captured by none other than Melanie Nashan, owner and much published and accredited photographer of Nashan.com. I am very happy that I got the opportunity to ride the lift and organize this very beautiful and intimate wedding.

Thanks so much to Natalie Miller, who hired me to plan and facilitate her intimate Big Sky Wedding. I was in for the treat of a lifetime. While I love large affairs and celebrations, there is something very humble, intimate, and lovely about small weddings.

Natalie and Shawn chose a beautiful day in late July (7.23) and wanted a vast mountain view to take them into wedded bliss. They are both avid skiers and love coming to Big Sky. When they started looking for places, and telling people what they wanted to do, they happened to come across a gentlemen that worked the lifts at Big Sky Resort and told them of this serene place with a larger than life view of Lone Mountain. It required them to purchase a lift ticket for each guest, and the friendly staff at Big Sky Resort gave them discount passes for the group. The staff also drove the ceremony chairs up the mountain for us...and the florals. If you are looking for a resort atmosphere, with an incredible view, look no further than the top of the world (at least that's my name for it) at Big Sky Resort.

The other really wonderful thing about their wedding is they chose to be married on a Friday, so that they could enjoy the weekend with all of the guests, with several planned activities and a trip to Yellowstone National Park. So, the wedding day schedule went like this: Ceremony took place in the early afternoon at Big Sky Resort and then their dinner reception took place in a rented Penthouse at Moonlight Basin Resort. I turned them on to Private Chef, Sarah Knecht, to prepare their meal, and voila! A perfect and intimate Montana Wedding!

Here's me, spreading petals moments before guests arrive...tee hee, you never get to see pictures of me actually working...so here you go!

To view more photos of this wedding go to http://nashanclients.com/RedCart/ and select the Brown.Miller wedding by Melanie! Cheers!

The importance of an engagement session...

2010-09-11T15:26:00.002-06:00

Here are some beautiful images captured by Morgan Lamare of Nicole and Alex. They will be wed in exactly two weeks at Chico Hot Springs, in Paradise Valley. I can't wait to do the flowers for Nicole and Alex as she is so stylish with her color selection of deep purples, teal, chartreuse greens and peacock feathers. The flowers are going to be a comination of orchids, calla lilies and other interesting textures. Oh, and she is going to wear a birdcage veil...

Anyway, the reason for this post is the importance of going through an engagement session with your photographer. It will allow the photographer to get to know you and you to get a feel for how they will communicate with you on the wedding day...and then, you will get images like these:

What I can do for you in these economic times...

2010-08-30T22:45:00.003-06:00

I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most wonderful couples that have ever come through Montana. I like to think that I attract clients that are "real people" just like me, no matter their financial background, race, style, etc...the bottom line is that they want a timeless event and they need help getting it done.

Lets face it, one can spend a lot of money on a wedding these days. Most brides try to save money by shopping at Michael's crafts or other bargain stores...often spending more than they would have with a professional. I am learning to embrace my knowledge, share it, and educate couples on how they can pull off a beautiful wedding and not sacrifice the important things.

I love the type of designs we create that you will look at 50 years from now and appreciate how simple and beautiful they were...I am really not a trend-setter, but look at the subtleties that will enhance my bride, the perfect shade that warms the venue, and a menu that the guests will remember.

One of the most challenging questions I get as a planner is "how much is this going to cost me". So much of the answer to this question depends on YOU, the person with the pocket book. So many wonderful things happen as you begin the journey of planning your wedding. The personal expression that you want to bring to the event, the color of the bridesmaids dresses, the flowers, the food, the venue...it is all exciting to watch come together and share with your closest family and friends, and at the same time, all of this can be quite time consuming to organize and facilitate to achieve the wedding that you wish for. But for many couples in this economy, it is what you are faced with...planning and facilitating a wedding all on your own. I understand, and I REALLY get it.

My job is getting more difficult. With budget conscious couples, over the top communication needs to happen on all things financial. I can see the stress that weddings cause a family during these economic times. At one time, most of my couples could have anything they wanted on their wedding day....and are now forced to make tough decisions. I say, bring it on, and I will help you!

The most important thing you could do in this economy, is hire a professional planner to assist you...if not for the entire process, at least to facilitate your wedding day. I feel strongly about marriage, why we enter into them and what is sacred about the union. I want to get you back to the reason you are getting married and help you enjoy this time in your life. The year you get married is a starting point for the rest of your life, a part of a legacy and document of the two of you as a couple. I also feel strongly about my role as a professional in this field. I am a planner, and I want to teach people how to make their wedding dreams reality without sacrificing great design. It can be simple, you can do it yourself, and I will give you the tools to make it happen.

The top 5 things I see a professional bringing to the table are:

winning vendor teams--they have already met with and worked out many contracts with caterers, musicians, car rentals, event rentals, photographers...and understand what their fees will be. They will quickly point you to the ones that are a good fit for you.
area knowledge--they can find the perfect spot for your wedding day and all of the activities that are available to you
local discounts--many planners have strategic relationships with vendors and can offer better pricing on things such as linens, favors, and event rentals
timing of the day...you may not think it or know it now, but this plays a huge factor on your wedding, and you don't want to go into it without a detailed plan and someone to meet with vendors while you are tying the knot.
giving you the ability to enjoy your own wedding...this is priceless. Just ask any bride who had a professional run their day!

So, if you are a DIY bride, a budget conscious bride, or a bride that needs help with the planning process--STOP right here!!!! It will be a pleasure working together....if you were thinking of doing your own flowers, that is ok! Let me show you how! If you were planning on organizing your own wedding, that is ok! Let me show you how to do that, too, but let me be there on the wedding day.

Get ready, it's going to be a fun journey!

McCurdy 1.mov

2010-08-30T21:22:00.003-06:00

This wedding took place at the beautiful Springhill Pavilion on June 19th of this year. I want to draw attention to the fact that I met Jeanette Ulmer through her website Callisto Studios. She is out of Livingston, MT, and is the master behind the video camera. Since I hadn't worked with her before, I checked her references and had her send me some sample work prior to hiring her... her price point, talent and editing skills were spot on for what I was looking for for two clients of mine. This is a snippet out of about a 40 minute wedding video that she completed for Heather and Bill. I think if you are considering having a wedding video, you should check out her work!

Montana Ranch Wedding: Jon + Millie

2010-08-30T13:46:00.005-06:00

This is the photo story of Millie and Jon, and a beautiful Ranch wedding in the Madison Valley. I have known Jon and Millie since moving into the Madison Valley and have had a wonderful time getting to know them as well as Jon's parents, owners of the Jumping Horse Ranch, over glasses of wine and talking about wedding plans. I am so glad that they brought me into the picture to make sure that everything ran smoothly and looked gorgeous on the wedding day.

Millie and Jon hired me to assist with many details leading up to the wedding such as organizing the rentals, managing the timeline of the day and all of the vendors, and a detailed design plan. Millie, knowing exactly what she wanted for her wedding, completed DIY projects on her own with a little help from Jon. I will share these with you in future posts, but for now, enjoy the photos of this beautiful wedding....

Ingredients for the perfect day

B2 Photography--Brian and Carrie, thank you for the stunning images!

Callisto Studios--Wedding Video

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events--flowers and planning

Montana Epicurean--Steve Kuntz and team, catering

Montana Party Rentals--event rentals and tee-pees

Southwest Septic--port-o-johns

EEL Graphic Design --escort cards, menus, invitations, all stationary

Joe's Mobile DJ--Music for the reception

String Serenades--classical music for ceremony

Jumping Horse Ranch--venue

Montana Weddings---with Nashan Photography

2010-08-09T20:50:00.001-06:00

We have been very busy at Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events! Thanks to the brilliant photography of Melanie Nashan, we have a beautiful record of several weddings that you can browse at her site.

http://nashanclients.com/RedCart/

When you get into the red cart at nashan.com, here are the following weddings you can browse that we helped plan and did florals for!

Brennan.Lowe

Brown.Miller

Cook.Kirsch

Hollis.Bonson

Jackson.Pederson

Lafoley.Graham

Mayes.Fischbach

All of the above detail shots were from the Mayes.Fischbach wedding at Springhill Pavilion on July 3rd this year! Such a fun event! Thanks again Melanie for permission to use these photographs!

Kendra + Nick, Rainbow Ranch, Big Sky, MT

2010-07-30T21:28:00.003-06:00

Kendra and Nick have worked with me since last fall planning their Big Sky Wedding at the Rainbow Ranch. They were married on June 26th. We could not showcase our work without the wonderful talent of Lauren Brown Photography. Thank you so much for these beautiful images, Lauren!

The color pallet and decor were spectacular. To set the tone, each guest received an alternative wood veneer invitation designed by their good friend. All of the other printed items were completed by Erin Leonard out of Virginia City, MT. She does most of our graphic design and is magnificent to work with! There were surprises in store for the guests starting with a hand-made pine cone ornament for each guest to take home, to festive sparklers, and a late night campfire to keep everything in theme of the mountains.

The bride asked for a romantic pallet that would go with teal...and wanted to keep everything very soft for the ceremony. Natural materials were very important to Nick and Kendra, and pulling a bit of an alternative twist to the mountain environment. We suggested adding a pop of orange to create more drama at the reception and make it a bit more lively! I think we managed, and she loved everything!

Ingredients for this perfect day:

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events: planners and flowers
Lauren Brown Photography: amazing imagery!!!
Rainbow Ranch Lodge: venue
Montana Party Rentals: rental tent and extra chairs
Erin Elizabeth Leonard: graphic design and printed materials
Blue Moon Bakery: wedding cake
Duke Sharp: ceremony music
Joe's Mobile DJ: reception music and late night party
After 5 and Weddings: suits

Springhill Pavilion, a montana wedding venue

2010-07-07T18:18:00.013-06:00

Here is the newlywed couple, Bill and Heather McCurdy! I couldn't be more thrilled to have met them. A thriving couple that make their home in Seattle, hired me late last year to plan the most intimate details of their June 19th, 2010 wedding...so many details to catch you up on...here is a wonderful slide show by their photographer Morgan Lamare:

CLICK HERE FOR SLIDE SHOW

Ingredients for their perfect day:

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events, full event management, decor and flowers..

Morgan Lamare, photographer..

Springhill Pavilion, wedding venue..

Montana Epicurean, catering..

Story Mansion, rehearsal dinner location..

Montana Party Rentals, rentals..

Erin Leonard Graphic Design, invitations and printed items..

Kostas Lazardious, band..
Callisto Studios, video

FUN FACTS!!!

1. The veil is ‘Brussels Lace’ and was Heather's great grandmothers and it is over a hundred years old.

2. The Salmon was caught by Tom Sprague on the Columbia river, near the mouth of the Pacific ocean.

3. The watercolor on the invitation was painted by Heather's father, Daddy Don.

4. The orchids in the wedding are from Bill's “Aunt” Barbara Rudvalis who owns and runs an Orchid farm in San Diego (http://www.rudvalisorchids.com/about.htm). The deep plum orchids are from a plant specifically bred and named “William” to celebrate this wedding and the all pink orchids are named “Heather”.

5. Many of the flowers in Heather's bouquet are from her Grandmother's garden.

6. The song for the Father/Daughter dance “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue” was chosen because when Heather first heard the song, she asked her Dad for some donuts, because she thought “Donuts” made her eyes blue.

7. The lead singer of the band, Kostas Lazarides, was the lead singer for Daddy Don & Momma Susie’s wedding in 1972.

8. Kostas Lazarides wrote the words to several songs sung by Dixie Chicks, Dwight Yoakum, the Mavericks, and many more. We included one of his songs on our Wedding CD: “Timber I’m Falling in Love” by Patty Loveless

9. Tiara Whitney (Bridal party) has 2 handsome sons, Max and Mahki, and Heather is their godmother.

10. The flower basket was Melanie McCurdy DeVinney’s (Bill’s sister) basket when she was a young girl.

11. The Ring Pillow was handmade by Norma Stewart, who is Heather’s grandmother Hannah's sister in law.

12. The silver hair jewelry was handmade by Heather Stewart.

13. The vows are based on a book that Heather and Bill found while staying over at Melanie McCurdy DeVinney’s house over Christmas. It was one that was purchased by Bill’s mom, Louise McCurdy. We have some of the vows from a page that she had marked off.

14. The celebrant, Dr. Duncan Earle, was Bill’s Anthropology professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and worked with him on projects in Guatemala and more recently the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Duncan is a trained and initiated K’iche’ Mayan Shaman and a member of the Native American Church.

15. This beautiful location was a movie set for “River Runs Through It” and the building was used in the dance scene for “Horse Whisperer”.

16. The photo of the Scotland highland cattle, which you might also see wandering see out back, was sent to Bill by his mother over a decade ago while she was touring the United Kingdom.

17. Something old: The Veil

18. Something new: Journey Diamond necklace from mom

19. Something borrowed: Gold bracelet from Tiffanys which belonged to Heathers great grandmother Kits

20. Something blue: Heather is wearing a blue bracelet around her ankle that was given to her as a Christmas present from Lindsay Stewart (Heather’s sister-in-law) a few years ago. It’s a bracelet that was made by a group of women in Africa who are working to better their life through international trade.

This is the beautiful invitation that was created by Erin Leonard. The image at the top is a water color that was painted by the Bride's father and was later made into framed prints that the father presented to the family!

More on Montana Wedding, Fall Inspiration

2010-07-07T09:18:00.008-06:00

Rebecca and Mark brought many beautiful details to their wedding at the Lazy B Farm in Bozeman, Montana. Thank you for making me a part of your special day! I love the florals for this fall wedding...and the way the tables in the upstairs of the barn were set so beautiful and quaint!

The benches and elk antlers were a welcome touch to this rustic Montana wedding....it set the stage beautifully with the fall leaves littering the isle that the family of the bride collected and brought from back-home.
Blankets were a brilliant touch as it was chilly on this fall day in October!

I have a love affair with flowers. This is my true love and passion, but know that careful planning breeds beautiful bouquets. I have a strategic and wonderful relationship with my wholesalers so that only the freshest, most wonderful blooms are sent my way. Beautiful liquid amber leaves, peach and cream roses, hypericum berries, montbresia pods, astilbe, and more were used to create these beautifully romantic centerpieces. The bride provided a fun, hand-painted table number so that guests could find their way to their seats...

Flip flops were provided for dancing and guest comfort as the evening grew late!
Mountain Moonshine!!!
The invitation was a great representation of what the guests were in for in coming to Montana!!!

Montana Wedding, Fall Inspiration

2010-07-07T09:09:00.009-06:00

This lovely couple inspired me so! The wedding also found it's way to the pages of BRIDES magazine, thanks to Melanie Nashan for submitting--(see entry below!). It was also the moment where I became a regular contributor to BRIDES. So many people to thank beyond this wonderful couple!
Ingredients for a perfect day:
LAZY B FARM--venue
MONTANA PARTY RENTALS--rentals
REBECCA NICKLIN--Cakes from Cabin Ridge, Cake
DUKE SHARP--Ceremony and cocktail hour music
CUSTOM DINING--appetizers
NASHAN PHOTOGRAPHY--Melanie Nashan
LESLIE LUKAS WEDDINGS & EVENTS--flowers
Please see the following photos for inspiration on your Rustic Montana Wedding!

Featured in Brides....twice as nice!

2010-07-07T08:45:00.007-06:00

I am proud to be a regular contributor to BRIDES magazine. This issue featured my advice on finding unique fonts for printed items for your wedding. All these fonts can be found for free at www.dafont.com

In addition to this issue, my work in floral design and advice for a mountain wedding was also featured in another issue of BRIDES this year...check out the beautiful photography from the talented Melanie Nashan of Nashan.com She is to be credited for almost all of the weddings that my work has been featured in. Without the beautiful photos, there would be no documentation, no record left of the day except in distant memories! Thank you Melanie for all the work that you do to be published time and time again!
This is the wedding of Rebecca Bronson, an aspiring and talented wedding photographer in the Spokane, WA area www.rebeccahollisphotography.com, and Mark Hollis, a helicopter pilot. Many of the details were carefully crafted by Rebecca and her family. They collected leaves from her family's property in the mid-west to litter the isle, home-brew was served in mason jars, and the pinecones were also collected by hand. Check out our next post to see all the beautiful photos that Melanie took.

Lost my blog

2010-07-07T08:33:00.005-06:00

Astoundingly, I just learned that my blog is no longer in existence at www.montanaweddingflorist.com All that hard work and extra energy expended to bring you all of the fabulous events that we have worked on the past two years....just vanished! This seems to be a theme for me and some industry friends, but this also gives me a chance to look at the positive, and bring to you a fresh new perspective from what I have learned in this moment.

**I have learned that Technology can sometimes backfire on you, and that you should always have a plan B for your marketing, just as I do for my events.

**I have learned that no matter how many beautiful events are on a website, there are double that number of people to share with you the intimate details of what I did for them to make their wedding or event special and unique!

**I have learned that I LOVE my job, and it is refreshing to put some energy back into marketing and bringing to you our latest work and why our weddings and events are so timeless! I am going to dig in the archives to show you how a wedding that we did 10 years ago seems current today!

**I have learned that I need to share with you all of my kudos as well as failures in order for you to have a successful event!

2009-08-30T14:15:00.009-06:00

KELLY AND MARCUS
A MONTANA WEDDING
JULY 18, 2009
ROY'S BARN-springhill road
BOZEMAN, MONTANA

I have the pleasure of working in god's country. The place where Lewis and Clark journeyed west, pioneers homesteaded, people laid claims on the land and resources. Truly a special gift.

The luckiest part of my job, is the people that I have the privilege of coming in contact with, from the clients to the vendors, and sometimes even the wildlife, it is such a gift that I get to re-live each and every new event! Thank you to www.laurenbrownphoto.com for the story-telling through these beautiful images and congratulations Kelly and Marcus!!!

The couple wanted to bring their blend of cultures, love of Montana, and custom touches into the wedding celebration. They were complimented time and time again on what a lovely, festive day it was!!!

Here are some of my favorite images...

Montana Weekday Wedding

2009-07-29T14:57:00.001-06:00

Lisa and Mark, Tuesday July 28th, 2009

A Montana wedding in the rain plays out beautifully. Just wait 5 minutes.

Location-Springhill Pavilion

I have been working with Lisa, the bride, since last fall, and finally all the details and planning came together beautifully.

DETAILS:

Linens-cornflower blue linens with champagne sheer embroidered overlays

Flowers-hydrangea, sweet pea, white lavender, light pink stock, fragrant garden roses, fever few, bear grass, specialty spray roses, and the bride's favorite, delphinium

Photography-Doug Loneman-thanks for your many talents Doug...

Guest Book-Pricialla Foster hand-made albumn www.pricillafoster.com

Cake-Sweet Pea Bakery

Cookies-Elle's Bell's

Catering-Custom Dining Experiences

Rentals-Montana Party Rentals

Transportation-First Student, school buses

Special thanks to Doug Loneman for these very special photos. Vist more of his work at www.lonemanphotography.com and check back for more photos from this lovely wedding! For more information about any of these vendors, please do not hesitate to call or email!

2009-07-13T11:06:00.003-06:00

.Jason and Kelda.

June.20th.2009.

Although it was a rainy weekend in the Big Sky area, a beautiful wedding ceremony took place at the Big Sky Chapel on June 20th. The wedding reception was beautifully handled by www.320ranch.com

Kelda and Jason, thank you so much for being such a wonderful couple, and such a joy to work with. We wish you only the best!

Cheers!

Photos provided by www.morganroof.net ....she is fabulous! Thank you Morgan!

Montana Summer Weddings Welcome....

2009-05-23T13:08:00.002-06:00

I know that the snow is almost gone, and that with the arrival of the mountain bluebirds, so is the official arrival of wedding season. I am so happy to be working with the most amazing clients this year!

Here are a few images of the amazing design we do here at Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events, always offering fresh flowers, our expert planning, and tons of wedding and event resources such as linens, invitations, and details, details, details...the best of, so to speak!

Here are some examples of our floral and wedding design... of a wedding at Moonlight Basin this Winter...before we get too caught up in the luciousness of Montana Summer!!! Weddings in all seasons are wonderful...and I happen to love this one!!!!

Madison River Wedding, Montana

2009-05-13T20:51:00.001-06:00

I just want to congratulate my colleague, Kene Sperry of www.eyeintheskyphotography.com , for his work featured in a recent issue of The Knot bridal magazine. I had the privilege to plan and execute the design and logistics for this amazing wedding located in the Madison River Valley just last summer. The bride had an amazing book of ideas and new exactly what her vision was and the style that she wished to create.

I assisted the couple with their destination wedding for 30 of their closest friends and family. The primitive, riverside venue, located in the Madison Valley, just minutes from Ennis, MT, was the perfect location for the outdoor enthusiast couple. The bride, an avid angler, was also thrilled with the prospect of tossing a line! To view a slide show of their wedding, follow this link:

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VIEW THIS ENTIRE WEDDING AT--
http://www.eyeintheskyphotography.com/data/slideshow/13/AlexandraPhil/index.html

Phil and Alexandra, were amazing in spirit, and had beautiful families and friends that I grew very fond of. We planned a very intimate ceremony, with the couples closest family and friends in attendance. From the gorgeous bride, carrying a fresh bouquet of peonies and sweet peas to the handsome groom, witty and charming as ever, this wedding was a gorgeous pallet of flawless details.

Kene has an amazing eye for detail and captured this event with true passion. He has an exquisite, creative outlook on every event that he shoots. This wedding was truly one of my most memorable and favorites of the past decade. Thanks must go to the couple and Kene, for a glorious day!

Congratulations to Phil and Alexandra, not only on their nuptials, but they are expecting their first child!!! Look for a new entry with photos coming soon!!!

Ingredients for Phil and Alexandra's perfect wedding:
www.leslielukas.com
www.montanapartyrentals.com
www.eyeintheskyphotography.com
www.sweetpeabakery.com
www.andrewgromiller.com

Brides Magazine, Published Wedding

2009-05-13T20:49:00.000-06:00

I am lucky enough to work closely with Nashan Photographers who has wonderful relationships with many national bridal magazines such as Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, the KNOT and Martha Stewart Weddings Magazines. Melanie submits many weddings that she shoots, and since we work together so much, it allows my work and the work of my company to be published as well. Since 2002, Paradise Custom Weddings has been published over 14 times because of Melanie...and I want to thank her! It adds such creditbility to the level of design and planning that we do for our brides each year. Enjoy this wedding that was published in Brides Magazine just this spring. To see the spread that was recently published follow this link to Brides.com: Devan and Jeff
and to see other weddings that were published a few years ago, follow these links: Mark and Mandy and Jessica and Sean

The detail on the cake mimicks that on Devan's dress....

The bride spared nothing when it came to the details of this carefully planned and executed wedding...

I LOVE the bridesmaids dresses and how they related to the style of the wedding...

and the guests enjoyed every minute...

Ingredients for this perfect wedding:

Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events (formerly Paradise Custom Weddings): wedding design, planning and flowers
Montana Party Rentals: Rentals
Nashan Photographers: Photograhy by Melanie Nashan with second shooter Keegan Nashan
Second Street Catering: Catering
Cakes from Cabin Ridge: Rebecca Nicklin, award winning cake designer
Vision: Devan Pederson, Bride

Lauren Brown and Leslie Lukas-collaboration

2009-05-13T20:44:00.000-06:00

Details, Details, Details!!! Oh, it's so fun to plot and create new ideas and combinations to use as design inspiration for weddings and events! I had the privilege of working with one of Montana's top photographers, Lauren Brown, on a recent shoot that we put together to freshen our portfolios and have a lot of fun in the process! Thanks to Elsa Campbell of the Woodlands for the use of one of the most gorgeous venues for our location and to Montana Party Rentals for allowing us to use a few rentals....A special thanks to Lauren for making it look so effortless and for putting together these inspiration boards!

Holiday....i love the hand stamped table cards that were created to greet our guests and the punch of color from the jewel pink rose. This typically would have been on the boring side without them! Rules need not apply for Holiday!!!

Winter Scene...winter wheat from my families farm and white winter berries help achieve a diverse use of natural materials with interesting textures that don't compete with the wild table cloth...for a simpler look, one could have just used all white flowers in a clear vase for immediate distinction and definition between cloth and decor. This looked completely amazing in the stunning setting of the woodlands...and it left your eyes pleasantly seeking out each pleasant detail.

Fall Flair...I love the fall colors in this story. The red increases the vibrancy of the other materials, making each element POP!

Montana Wedding Details

2009-05-13T20:41:00.000-06:00

"I want to share an incredible letter of praise that I just received from Laura and Mike, a wedding that I coordinated and designed flowers for in late August of this year...the photo story is incredible, as is the photographer that took them, Lauren Brown...! Enjoy!" LL

Dear Leslie,
Let me just say that having you help us with our wedding was
incredible. You are kind, creative, fun, and you pay extra special
attention to the details. You are also professional, prompt, and easy to work
with. We think you are simply adorable and we loved having you with us. In
fact, we both felt incredibly lucky to have you there to help direct our guests and bridal party,
given that our wedding was pretty large.

Leslie, you think of things that we never would have thought about! Here
are a few tiny examples that I would have forgotten.

You made made these beautifully decorated little kits for the wash rooms during the wedding reception filled with combs, hairspray, mouthwash, and mints. People really seemed to appreciated that.
Also, you organized a small ladies party while I got ready for the actual wedding, we had
plenty of drinks, sandwiches, cookies, and fun before the ceremony. It felt so special to have all of my favorite people come and be with me during this time.
You even made beautiful ribbon wands for our flower girls to have on their place settings at dinner! They loved that!

My husband was a little shy at first about having a planner help, and
for us, you were the perfect fit. My mother, who happens to be quite
high strung, was concerned about many of the details with planning and
the flowers in particular. Leslie, you brought a level of comfort and
relaxation to her and we felt that it was imperative. You did a
fabulous job and my mother was elated.

The highlight for me was that we had also hired you to do our
flowers. I had no idea what was in store for us but when I saw what
you had done, my eyes almost popped out of my head! Your flowers were
the most amazing arrangements I have ever seen in my life and I
would not say that if I did not mean it. They were UNBELIEVABLE. Leslie, you
made our wedding look and feel so warm and amazing. Mike and I are
still talking about it and so are our guests. It was the most
beautiful time of our lives. Given the size of our event, you made
it all go more smoothly than any other wedding I have been to. There
was virtually no stress whatsoever!

Leslie, you are awesome and our wedding was personal, perfect, and
unforgettable. I really want other brides to know how extraordinary you are.
Cloud 9 is the best place to be on your wedding day.

Big Hugs,

Laura B. Sawaya
2410 Westridge Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715
www.laurabluepalmerart.com

"Laura is a local artist, and the flower selections that I made were a reflection of some of the dominating color pallets found in her work as I new she would love it! Mike is a bear biologist and I brought in rustic elements that he felt comfortable with, like moss and rocks!"

The guests were greeted with beautiful arrangements in rich, bold, colors. We placed a water table near the entrance with a great looking enamelware water dispenser and glassware, that looked elegant with a small arrangement and river rocks to weight the table cloth...

We almost made the call to move the ceremony, as it started spitting rain, but as the ceremony time grew near, the storm bypassed us, opening up the sky to a gorgeous gray-blue....

Laura and Mike had a non-traditional ceremony which encompassed several religions and spiritual elements...to bring together the difference of religions between thier families and friends....

Guests tossed petals at the newlyweds to help them celebrate....

The couples favorite drink...the mojito...was in plenitude during the cocktail hour, while the bride and groom snuck away for some portraits! Good thinking!!!

More photos by Lauren Brown Photography to be featured in an upcoming blog on this wedding...

Montana Spring Weddings by Leslie Lukas Weddings & Events

2009-05-13T20:38:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note if you are looking ahead and planning a spring time wedding in the Rockies...you must be able to embrace the weather! Anything can happen in Montana spring, from snow, rain, wind and glorious sunshine or all four in the same day! Please take a look at this beautiful and intimate spring wedding. Photography by none other than Lauren Brown Photography of Southwest Montana...

Ruth and Robert's wedding happened to be on the only day in April where it didn't snow! What are the chances! The couple chose Leslie Lukas Weddings and Events while on a mission to find great vendors for their wedding at the Museum of the Rockies Wine Classic, in Bozeman, summer of 2007. At the Classic they saw the gorgeous flowers and design that we did, and they also found their caterer, Ryan Lafoley....you never know where your plans will formulate!