The Ultimate Bozeman Wedding Planning Guide

Last updated on January 31st, 2024 at 09:12 pm

If you are planning a destination wedding, the Bozeman area needs to be high on your list! We have put together this complete Bozeman Wedding Planning Guide, to get you all the information you need to get married in Bozeman,

Bozeman, Montana, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, presents a breathtakingly beautiful setting for a wedding. Nearby you will find both Paradise Valley, where John Mayer lives and the inspiration of the show Yellowstone, and Big Sky, one of the premier ski destinations in the country. Big Sky was even ranked as one of the best wedding destinations in the US.

Bozeman’s proximity to natural wonders such as Yellowstone National Park and the Gallatin River enhances its appeal. Couples can incorporate outdoor elements into their wedding, from breathtaking photography in natural settings to adventurous pre-wedding activities like hiking and fly fishing.

No matter what you are planning for your wedding in Bozeman Montana, this guide has got you covered!

Venues in Bozeman – Bozeman Wedding Planning

One of the unique features of the Bozeman area is its blend of rustic charm and modern amenities. The city offers a range of wedding venues from historic barns and elegant ranches to luxurious resorts and intimate bed & breakfasts, catering to a variety of styles and preferences.

• Firelight Farm: This venue is a beautifully renovated vintage barn set in a historic setting, designed for creating unforgettable memories. Rustic meets luxury here, blending a historic ambiance with modern amenities. It’s an ideal choice for couples looking for a blend of Montana’s rural charm and sophisticated elegance​
• Gallatin River Hideaway: Situated on the Gallatin River, this venue provides a picturesque and natural setting. It features two event spaces: the Creekside Pavilion and the Bridal Veil Pavilion, each offering a unique outdoor experience with beautiful landscapes, ideal for a nature-inspired wedding
• Roy’s Barn & Lodge: Located near Bozeman, Roy’s Barn & Lodge offers a rustic and authentic Montana experience. The venue includes a beautifully restored barn and a lodge, perfect for hosting both the ceremony and reception. It’s ideal for those looking for a rustic, country-style wedding
• The Woodlands at Cottonwood Canyon: This venue offers a mix of elegance and natural beauty. Set amidst forests and mountains, it provides a serene and picturesque setting for both ceremonies and receptions. The Woodlands is known for its beautiful outdoor spaces and elegant indoor facilities

Venues in Paradise Valley

• Chico Hot Springs: This venue is ideal for all seasons, featuring both outdoor and indoor spaces. It includes a picturesque gazebo for ceremonies and a large indoor convention center that can accommodate up to 180 guests. After the event, couples and guests can enjoy the naturally occurring mineral hot springs
• Sage Lodge: Located in Paradise Valley, Sage Lodge offers a blend of rustic charm and elegance. It’s open year-round and can host up to 120 guests. The venue provides both indoor and outdoor event spaces, including inclement weather backup spaces. They also offer on-site accommodations, food and beverage services, and necessary rentals like tables, chairs, and linens. A wedding planner is required when booking this venue
• Copper Rose Ranch: Located in the heart of Paradise Valley, Montana, Copper Rose Ranch is a stunning venue that offers a perfect blend of rustic elegance and modern amenities. The ranch features a beautifully renovated 100-year-old barn, which can accommodate up to 250 seated guests. This barn is adorned with barn wood walls, 18th-century antique chandeliers, and a western-style bar. The venue provides indoor/outdoor event spaces and includes inclement weather backup options. The ranch also offers lodging with 10 log cabins and a farmhouse, accommodating up to 66 guests. Surrounded by the breathtaking Absaroka Mountain Range, Copper Rose Ranch is ideal for couples seeking a picturesque Montana wedding with a balance of rustic charm and elegance

Notable Venues in Big Sky

• Moonlight Basin: Offers elegant indoor and outdoor spaces with seating for 150 guests.
• The Lodge at Big Sky: Features three wedding venues, hot tubs, an indoor pool, and is close to ski slopes, accommodating up to 450 guests.
• Montage Big Sky: Known for its luxury, offering a Grand Ballroom with views of the Spanish Peak Mountains, seating 250 guests.
• Lone Mountain Ranch: Offers a true ranch experience with options for ranch buyouts, including historic cabins and local catering, accommodating 150 guests

For a more robust list of Venues in the area check out our Bozeman wedding venues page.

Wedding Accommodations

I highly recommend looking for a wedding venue with lodging on-site. This will make things a lot easier for you and your guests. Montana is a big state, often a hotel will be a 30-minute drive from the nearest venue. Here are some great venues with lodging.

Venues with lodging

• Rainbow Ranch – Big Sky
• Hard Scrabble Ranch- Bozeman
• Buck’s T-4 – Big Sky
• Sage Lodge – Paradise Valley
• Chico Hot Springs – Paradise Valley

Bozeman Lodging

1. The LARK: A vibrant and contemporary hotel in downtown Bozeman, known for its custom local artwork and plush beds. It offers a unique experience with amenities like a taco truck and access to The Ridge Athletic Club​​.
2. RSVP Hotel: Located in Midtown Bozeman, this boutique hotel is owned by sisters Hillary and Haylee Folkvord. It features stylish Italian furniture, in-room record players, and luxurious bath amenities. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, hot tub, and the Farmer’s Daughters Cafe and Eatery​​.
3. Element Bozeman: A trendy hotel in downtown Bozeman with contemporary designs, large windows for mountain views, and a rooftop terrace. It’s close to local attractions and outdoor adventure destinations​​.
4. Homewood Suites by Hilton: Ideal for extended stays, offering spacious studio or two-bedroom suites with kitchens and comfortable living spaces. It provides facilities like an indoor swimming pool and a gym​​.

Big Sky

• Summit Hotel at Big Sky Resort: This hotel is a popular choice among guests, offering very good amenities and services. It’s conveniently located within the Big Sky Resort, making it a great option for those looking to enjoy the outdoor activities the area has to offer.
• Residence Inn by Marriott Big Sky/The Wilson Hotel: Known for its wonderful service and facilities, this hotel is another excellent choice in Big Sky. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and is popular for its comfortable and well-appointed rooms.
• Montage Big Sky: This hotel provides an exceptional stay with luxurious amenities. Located near the Spanish Peaks mountain range and close to Yellowstone National Park, it offers ski-in/ski-out access, fine dining options, and a range of services including spa treatments.

Paradise Valley

1. Chico Hot Springs Resort: Known for its natural hot springs, this resort offers a variety of accommodations, from cozy cabins to a historic inn. It’s ideal for those looking to relax in a natural setting.
2. Sage Lodge: Provides a luxurious retreat with stunning views of Paradise Valley. It offers comfortable rooms, a spa, and fine dining options, perfect for a relaxing stay amidst nature.

Local Wedding Vendors

Wedding Event Rentals Bozeman

1. Montana Party Rentals: This company offers a wide range of rental options for celebrations, including tables, chairs, furniture, tabletop items, food service equipment, décor, lighting, and linens. They have been in business since 1996 and provide delivery services throughout Montana and beyond. Their team assists with every step of the event planning process, from creating a wishlist to finalizing the rental order. Their showroom is located in Bozeman, and they can be reached at 406.586.7727 for appointments and inquiries.
2. Roam Rental Co.: Roam Rental Co. brings decades of event experience to assist planners, brides, and organizations with a variety of rental needs. They offer a robust inventory of design-inspired furniture, tabletop, and decor to create the ideal atmosphere for your event. The company was founded by Kaitlyn Dineen, who started it after planning her own Montana wedding. The team at Roam Rental Co. can provide hands-on styling services, sourcing, and fabrication. They are based in Livingston, Montana, and also have a location in Texas.
3. Gallatin Event Rental: Specializing in a full range of rentals including tents, tables and chairs, tabletop, linens, lounge furniture, and more, Gallatin Event Rental caters to weddings, parties, and other events. They are noted for their quality items and specialize in tent rentals. Located at 128 Timberline Dr. #5 in Bozeman, they can be contacted at 406.624.9856. Gallatin Event Rental offers a comprehensive selection of rental items, with full-service delivery and setup.

Each of these companies offers a unique selection of rental items to help make your event in Bozeman memorable and unique

Hair And Makeup Artists Bozeman

1. Ethereal Hair & Makeup Artistry: Owned by Brittnee, who grew up in Bozeman. She specializes in hair and makeup for weddings and photoshoots and focuses on enhancing natural beauty and helping clients feel their best.
2. Indulgence Beauty Bar: Established in 2002, Indulgence Beauty Bar offers a wide range of beauty and wellness services, including facials, lashes, makeup, waxing, and more. They are committed to helping clients look and feel their best and are located in downtown Bozeman.
3. Beauty & The Belief: This salon offers a comprehensive range of services, including haircuts, coloring, extensions, makeup, brow shaping, and lash extensions. They focus on bridal services, having worked with over 300 brides in Montana, and offer on-site services for wedding days.
4. Glam Ranch: A Bozeman-based licensed esthetician and makeup artist, they offer personalized services with a focus on quality. You can call or text 480-980-8768 to book an appointment with them.

Caterers in Bozeman

• Just a Taste
  • There is a reason Just a Taste is one of the first Caters that comes to mind for most vendors. Liz does an incredible job of caring for her clients while providing exceptional food! In my previous career in the non-profit world, Just a Taste would cater our annual fundraiser. Our donors would rave about the meal year after year
• Bountiful Table
  • Every wedding I have catered where Bountiful Table is the Caterer the Bride and Groom are just raving. All the food is freshly prepared. Bountiful tables will leave your guests feeling cared for and happily full!
• Food For Thought: Known for their vibrant cuisine, Food For Thought has been operating for over 14 years. They focus on using fresh, seasonal ingredients for their modern luxury catering services. Their offerings include business and corporate catering, intimate gatherings, large events and weddings, and à la carte options. They have been voted Best Bozeman Caterers for eight consecutive years.

Bozeman Area DJ’s

Sure you could have a Spotify playlist, but why not hire a professional to put on an awesome party? Not only will a DJ help you and your guests to dance their asses off, but they will also help Emcee the wedding and keep everything running smoothly.

• Joes DJ Service
  • There is a reason Joe’s DJ has been a staple of the Bozeman wedding industry since 1997. AJ and his crew provide your guests with top-notch service, professionalism, and not to mention an amazing dance party! Having been a part of over 3000 weddings, Joe’s DJ is an incredible resource when it comes to everything wedding-related. Learn more on our Joe’s DJ page.
• Party People
  • Greg at Party People has been DJing for over 20 years. He runs each event with an incredible amount of professionalism. One of my favorite things that Party People offer is a GIF photobooth. This is a fun way to capture memories of your guests and is a huge hit at every wedding!

Wedding Florists in Bozeman

1. The Flower Bar: One of the biggest benefits of Flower Bar is its a la carte services. If you are hoping to keep things easy you have to check them out!
2. La Bellum: Known for elegant and stylish floral arrangements, located at 280 W. Kagy Blvd., Suite C, Bozeman.
3. Langohr’s Flowerland: Offers a wide range of floral services for various occasions including weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries.
4. Karen’s Floral Artistry: A creative wedding and event floral designer based in Bozeman. They provide custom-designed floral arrangements and are available for travel.

Wedding Videographers

1. Wild Grove
2. Elevate Media MT: Focusing on wedding videography, Elevate Media MT is known for its elopement and special occasion videography. They pride themselves on capturing moments for the “wildly in love” and offer both photography and videography services.
3. Eterna Films: As a videography service in Bozeman, Eterna Films captures timeless, documentary-style wedding videography. They are noted for being the longest-operating wedding videographer in Bozeman, focusing on capturing the essence of each couple’s unique story.

Wedding photography in Bozeman

While each of these vendors is an essential part of having an awesome wedding day there are only 2 things you get to take from your wedding. Your spouse and your wedding photographs. This is why I work tirelessly to be sure you have candid and creative images that tell the story of your wedding day and capture those who mean the most to you. Learn more about what it looks like to have your day captured by Charles Moll Photography.

Wedding Desserts

1. Sweet and Tarte: This local bakery in Bozeman offers custom wedding cakes and other treats for celebrations. They also provide allergen-free options including gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free cakes. Sweet & Tarte is definitely a staple of the Bozeman wedding community. They are probably the number one bakery my clients work with.
2. Decadent Bozeman: Specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes, and sugar cookies, creating beautiful and delicious desserts for special occasions like weddings.
3. Cakes by Laura Newhouse: Focused on wedding cakes, Laura Newhouse brings a personal touch to each creation, filling her summers with wedding cake baking and being a part of customers’ special days. I have been blown away by what she puts together. She has created some of the most creative cakes I have seen!

Bozeman Wedding Planners

If you are thinking of having a destination wedding in Bozeman, I highly recommend connecting with a wedding planner. They will help you navigate all the details, connect you with the right people, and free you up to enjoy your engagement. Even if you are local to Bozeman, you can’t go wrong booking a wedding planner. They will keep everything running smoothly and help you have the best wedding possible!!

1. Events by Killian: This service specializes in wedding planning and design for both destination weddings and local couples in Montana. They focus on detail, organization, and delivering an exceptional event experience, working with reputable vendors to bring your vision to life. Killian is hands down one of my favorite planners to work with. She is very go-with-the-flow, organized, responsive, and will knock your wedding out of the park!
2. MagnoliaBlue Events: Based in Belgrade, near Bozeman, MagnoliaBlue Events is owned and operated by Beverly Killian. This professional wedding planning business aims to create seamless and stress-free planning packages for a flawless celebration experience.
3. Wander North Events: Located in Helena, Montana, Wander North Events is a wedding and special events planning company. They are passionate about creating flawless events that leave a lasting impression on couples and their loved ones.

Best spots for photography around Bozeman

If you are planning a wedding in the area and are hoping to get an engagement done these are some of the best spots in the area. If this is something you want to explore further, we have a whole blog post dedicated to photo spots in the bozeman area. We also have compiled a resource on what to wear for your session.

Where to eat during your stay in Bozeman

One of the best parts of Bozeman is it’s Diverse food scene. For such a small town, Bozeman offers a ton of awesome places. I have listed a few favorites, but by no means is this list exhaustive!

1. Feast Raw Bar & Bistro: Situated on West Kagy Blvd, Feast Raw Bar & Bistro provides a sophisticated dining experience with a bistro-style setting. They offer fusion-style cuisine with a focus on specialty seafood and locally sourced meats.
2. Ted’s Montana Grill: For a classic American grill experience, Ted’s Montana Grill on Main Street is the place to go. They serve bison brisket, short ribs, and an array of burgers, poultry, seafood, and beef dishes.
3. Plonk Bozeman: Plonk Bozeman, also located on Main Street, is renowned for its fine wines and global-inspired menus. The restaurant offers a stylish and high-end ambiance, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or a full seven-course meal.
4. The Squire House: On Mendenhall Street, The Squire House offers American-style cuisine with a touch of deluxe dining. They provide seasonal menus with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, serving dishes like Elk Bolognese and seared duck breast confit.
5. Blacksmith Italian: If you’re in the mood for Italian, Blacksmith Italian on West Kagy Blvd is a great choice. They serve multiple-course meals featuring homemade pasta and traditional wood-fired pizza, complemented by a selection of Italian wines and local craft beers.
6. Main Street Overeasy: For a classic breakfast experience, Main Street Overeasy on Main Street offers a variety of breakfast options including eggs, pancakes, bison sausage patties, and vegetarian omelets.
7. Revelry: Located on North Tracy, Revelry specializes in new American cuisine with a diverse menu that includes salads, pasta, pork chops, fish, burgers, and pizza.
8. Jam!: Is a popular brunch spot known for its diverse menu and customer favorites such as eggs benedict, stuffed french toast, loaded hash browns, and huevos rancheros. It has received high ratings from customers for its delicious food, friendly service, and cozy atmosphere. This restaurant is highly recommended for those seeking a delightful brunch experience in Bozeman. My personal favorite part about Jam! is the quality of their drip coffee. They use the good stuff, not just Foldgers!

Marriage License Requirements

If you are getting married you have to make it legal. Here is a quick rundown of what you need.

• $53 Cash, Visa, or Mastercard (There is a $2.33 processing fee for cards) – ** Not every county will accept a credit card. Check with your county clerk’s office to be sure!**
• Valid picture identification (driver’s license, passport)
• Birth Information including City, County, State or Foreign Country
• Social Security Number
• Fathers’ first, middle, and last name, current residence, and birth state
• Mothers’ first, middle, and maiden name, current residence, and birth state.
• Any information regarding previous marriages including date, county, and state of dissolution or death of a spouse
• Must be at least 18 years of age OR:
  • Parental Consent–Parents or legal guardians must sign Marriage Application and the signatures must be notarized.
  • Counseling–Proof of two counseling sessions, not less than ten days apart.
  • Judicial Approval–A District Court Judge must approve and sign the Marriage Application. The Judge may require a conference with applicants and guardian(s).
• You will need Two witnesses, of no specific age present at your marriage ceremony to sign the marriage license thereafter.
• The license will expire after 180 days, so be sure not to get it too early!

The Rubella Blood Test – What is needed to get married in Montana

Historically this was needed to get married in Montana, but it is no longer needed.