Stunning Fall Wedding in Kalispell | Autumn + Jack

Montana Bride
Oct 15
4 min read

Autumn and Jack's September wedding in Kalispell, Montana, perfectly paired western charm with effortless beauty. Photography by Macy Spencer Photography.

"We met while we were both living in Louisiana – he was active duty military, and I was in grad school. With our crazy schedules, we probably wouldn’t have met any other way, but we connected online, and honestly, we clicked right away. One of the first things we bonded over was the fact that we were both Midwest kids, born and raised just a few hours apart. What’s even crazier is that our small rural colleges had actually played each other in sports, but somehow, we never crossed paths.

When we finally met in person, it just felt easy, like we’d known each other for a long time. We laughed a lot that night, and things just grew from there. But soon after, he was deployed, and we had to figure out how to keep building something real while being apart. We spent so many nights on the phone, talking about everything – our days, our families and what we wanted for the future. Those long-distance months were tough, but they made us stronger. They taught us how to show up for each other, even when it wasn’t easy.

When he got back, we both knew we had something special.

He proposed in his hometown, Geneva, Illinois, this adorable little town that feels like something out of a Hallmark movie. There’s this street there, Third Street, that we love. It’s full of charm, with little shops and restaurants, and it’s always been one of our favorite spots. We were just walking down the street, like we’d done so many times before, when he stopped, started talking about us and everything we’d been through and then got down on one knee."

Wedding Day

"We got married on a gorgeous late September day by the Flathead River. The weather couldn’t have been better, with sunshine and just the right amount of that crisp fall air. The river and mountains gave us the most beautiful backdrop, and the whole place just felt peaceful and full of love.

Our ceremony was simple and personal. Seeing him standing there with the biggest smile, waiting for me, is something I’ll never forget. We wrote our own vows, which made it even more special. It felt like it was just the two of us, even with everyone there.

One of the best parts of the day was the custom hat bar we had for our guests. Everyone picked out a hat and made it their own with different bands and details. By the time the party got going, the dance floor was full of people wearing their custom hats, and it just added so much fun to the night.

Dinner was delicious, with hearty food that everyone loved. We also had signature drinks – his was a whiskey, mine was a spicy margarita. The whole vibe of the day was relaxed but really beautiful. We wanted it to feel like us.

After the sun went down, we danced, laughed and just had the best time with our friends and family. One of my favorite memories is dancing with my grandma, both of us wearing our hats, spinning around like we didn’t have a care in the world. Later, people hung out by the fire pit, some had cigars, and the whole night just flowed in the best way.

It was everything we wanted. Not because everything went perfectly, but because it felt so right. It felt like us, and we wouldn’t change a thing."

Advice From the Bride

"We had a two-year engagement, which gave us the time to really enjoy the process and make thoughtful decisions about what we wanted. One of the easiest choices we made was deciding to get married in Montana. We both love being outside, hiking, and exploring, and Glacier was one of the first big trips we took together as a couple. It’s a place that holds a lot of memories for us, and we couldn’t picture starting this next chapter anywhere else.

When it came to planning, we were lucky enough to work with vendors who truly understood our vision and helped bring it all to life. Every single one of them was a dream. From our photographer, who captured every moment so beautifully, to our planner, who made sure everything ran smoothly, to the hair and make up squad, who absolutely nailed the look and feel we wanted – they all just got it.

Our venue was everything we had hoped for, giving us that perfect balance of Montana’s natural beauty with a warm, welcoming space for our family and friends. The food was amazing, and the drinks were exactly our style and don’t even get me started on the custom hat bar. That was such a hit and added such a fun, personal touch to the day. And what’s even more fun is that people are still talking about it to this day!

If I could go back and plan it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything just flowed, and it all felt so right.

What made it even more special was sharing this place with our guests. So many of them had never been to Montana, so it was really meaningful to show them a place that’s so close to our hearts. Watching them take in the mountains, the river, the stars – it made the whole experience that much more unforgettable." -Autumn, the bride