The Bride And Groom Raise Their Joined Hands Under The Lace Arbor As Guests Cheer At Their Big Sky Resort Ceremony.
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Laura & Kieran: Kandi, Chairlifts and a Mountaintop Ceremony at Big Sky Resort

ByCharles Moll

Last updated on October 14th, 2026 at 06:42 pm

The Bride And Groom Raise Their Joined Hands Under The Lace Arbor As Guests Cheer At Their Big Sky Resort Ceremony.

Laura and Kieran got married on August 8, 2026, at Big Sky Resort, with the ceremony on the deck of Everett’s 8800 at the top of the Ramcharger chairlift and the reception down at Peaks. When I asked what they wanted the day to feel like, the answer was two words: “Non-traditional, fun.” That’s exactly what it was.

Big Sky is her home mountain

Laura and Kieran live in Salt Lake City, but Big Sky is Laura’s home mountain, so there wasn’t much question about where this would happen. Montana runs all through their story: their cats came from Billings, and Laura earned her graduate degree in Missoula. Her undergrad degree is in photography, which she mentioned in her very first message to me: “My undergrad degree is in photo so…yeah!”

The Groom And Bride Touch Foreheads And Laugh Together In A Close Portrait.
The Groom Kisses The Bride's Cheek As She Smiles With Eyes Closed In A Pine Forest.

They met because Kieran “kept coming to my yoga class and talking to me for 25 mins after class about sports and stuff.” The proposal took some patience. They ordered a ring in Bozeman in March 2024, and when it arrived a couple of months later, Laura waited a very impatient week. One night she decided it clearly wasn’t happening, ate a lot and sat down to watch TV. Kieran kept bugging her to go to a bar, and she kept saying no, until he told her to put something nice on. They walked over to the bars, and he proposed near the spot where they had their first kiss.

Their nickname for each other is “baeb.” Years ago Laura got tired of hearing everyone say “bae,” so she added a b on the end.

Made by hand

Laura spent a lot of time on the creative side of this wedding, and it showed from the very first piece of mail. For the save-the-dates, almost every guest got a different card, and the sticker inside was Kieran’s idea. On the day, she had made the chairlift place cards, the chairlift table numbers and the kandi bracelets wrapped around every ceremony program. She pretty much did it all herself.

A Small Green Plush Toy Dressed In A Sequined Wedding Gown And Veil.
A Pair Of Hands Pulls On A Lavender Suede Cowboy Boot Beneath A Lace Wedding Dress.
Two Guests Clink Wine Glasses At A Reception Table Decorated With Wildflowers.
Two Women Talk At A Reception Table Decorated With Flowers And A Green Plush Toy.

When I asked what mattered most in the photos, the details were at the top of the list: “the kandi, rings, homemade items.” Kieran’s request was simpler. He wanted the photos “to have me looking good.”

Getting ready at the Summit

Everyone got ready at the Summit Hotel at the base area, Laura with her bridesmaids and Kieran with his groomsmen. Destini of Cultured Roots did hair and makeup for Laura and her bridesmaids. Before any of that, the day started with the two of them in the hotel lobby, practicing their first dance.

Black And White Photo Of The Couple Practicing Their First Dance In The Hotel Lobby.
The Bride Sits With Her Eyes Closed In A White Robe While Someone Touches Her Shoulder.
A Bridesmaid With Braided Hair Laughs While Standing Over The Bride, Who Wears Under-Eye Patches And A Robe.
A Hairstylist With Long Braids Smiles While Styling A Client's Hair By A Window.
The Bride Smiles Up While A Bridesmaid Styles Her Hair, Reflected In A Tall Mirror.
A Group Of Women In Robes And Casual Clothes Laugh Together While Getting Ready In A Hotel Room.
The Bride Smiles With Her Eyes Closed As Someone Braids A Small Section Of Her Curly Hair.
The Bride, Seen From Behind In Her Lace Gown And Shoulder Tattoo, Applies Finishing Touches At A Bathroom Mirror.
Three Men In Silhouette Stand And Sit Near A Window While Getting Ready In A Hotel Room.
The Groom, Shirtless With Wet Curly Hair, Dries His Face With A White Towel In A Bathroom Mirror.
The Groom Looks Down While Buttoning His White Dress Shirt Before The Ceremony.
The Groom Adjusts His Bolo Tie In A Bathroom Mirror Next To A Framed Rabbit Picture.

A first look halfway up the mountain

Laura had one goal for the first look: make it “weird and funny.” We took it up the gondola. I rode up first with Kieran, and Laura followed behind us; they saw each other at the mid-station, with mountain bikers cheering them on! After that, the wedding party got together for a shot ski.

The Groom Looks Off To The Side Outdoors, Wearing A Black Suit With A Pink And Purple Flower Boutonniere.
The Groom Stands Out Of Focus In The Foreground While A Mountain Gondola Station Is Visible Behind Him.
The Groom Looks Off Camera Near A Mountain Gondola Station While The Bride Waits Blurred In The Background.
Film Photo: The Groom In A Black Suit With A Pink And Purple Boutonniere Stands Under A Gondola Station Roof, Looking To The Side.
The Bride And Groom Kiss In Front Of Parked Gondola Cabins At Big Sky Resort, Her Colorful Bouquet Between Them.
The Bride And Groom Hold Hands On A Mountain Trail With Wildflowers In The Foreground And A Peak Behind Them.
The Bride And Groom Walk Hand In Hand Down A Mountain Path With A Peak And Gondola Station Behind Them.
The Bride Rests Her Head On The Groom's Shoulder Inside A Gondola Cabin Overlooking Forested Mountains.
The Bride And Three Bridesmaids In Lavender Dresses Take A Shot Ski Together.
The Bride Laughs As A Bridesmaid Covers Her Mouth Right After A Shot Ski.
The Bride, Seen From Behind, Walks Under A Black Umbrella Near A Mountain Gondola Station In Hazy Air.
The Bride And Bridesmaids, One Carrying A Young Flower Girl, Board A Mountain Gondola From Behind.
Two Flower Girls In Tulle Dresses Lie On A Carpeted Floor Watching A Tablet Together.
The Bride Laughs While Showing Her Phone To The Groom As They Sit Close Together Indoors.

A ceremony run by their people

Guests rode Ramcharger up to Everett’s 8800 for the ceremony, and Kieran’s dad played guitar as they walked down the aisle. There was no officiant. Their friends married them. Laura and Kieran traded kandi bracelets as part of the ceremony, and they finished it the traditional way, with the breaking of the glass.

The Groom Walks Forward Past Seated Guests At The Start Of The Mountaintop Ceremony.
A Bridesmaid In A Lavender Dress Walks Arm In Arm With An Older Man Past Seated Ceremony Guests.
The Groom Smiles Softly While Standing Under The Lace Ceremony Canopy.
The Bride Stands Facing Forward Holding A Colorful Bouquet During The Mountaintop Ceremony.
Groomsmen Stand Under A Lace-Draped Arbor At The Mountaintop Ceremony As The Bride Waits In The Background.
A Musician In A Suit Plays An Acoustic Guitar Outdoors With A Ski Lift Visible Behind Him.
The Bride And Groom Exchange Vows On The Deck Of Everett's 8800 At Big Sky Resort, With The Ramcharger Chairlift Behind Them.
The Bride And Groom Smile At Each Other Under The Lace Canopy Beside A Microphone During Their Vows.
The Bride And Groom Hold Raised Hands During Their Ceremony As A Bridesmaid Holds Handwritten Vows Nearby Under A Lace Canopy.
The Groom In A Black Suit Checks His Vows At The Microphone Under A Lace Ceremony Canopy.
Film Photo: A Person In A Suit Reads From A Folded Paper Into A Microphone Between The Bride And Groom Under A Lace Canopy.
An Older Woman Laughs While An Older Man And Other Guests Smile Beside Her At The Ceremony.
The Bride Stands Under A Lace Canopy At The Ceremony With Bridesmaids Holding Bouquets Lined Up Beside Her.
A Wedding Party Stands At A Mountaintop Ceremony Deck With A Chairlift And Peak In The Background.
An Older Man Wipes A Tear While A Woman Beside Him Smiles During The Ceremony.
Guests Watch The Ceremony While A Sleeping Child Rests On A Man's Shoulder In The Foreground.
The Groom Smiles Down At The Bride, Whose Back And Shoulder Tattoo Are Visible, Under The Ceremony Arbor.
A Newly Married Couple Walks Down The Aisle Past Reserved Chair Signs And Cowboy Boots Left By The Altar.
The Bride And Groom Walk Hand In Hand Down The Aisle As Guests Clap On A Mountaintop Deck.

Portraits with Lone Peak

Laura had exactly one location request: “definitely need Lone Peak in some photos.” While guests rode the chairlift down to the Peaks Terrace for cocktail hour, we stayed up top around Ramcharger for family photos and then portraits of the two of them with Lone Peak. It was a smoky day, with limited visibility, and the smoke changed the light completely. It gave these portraits a soft, hazy look you don’t get on a clear mountain afternoon. What they hoped for from those photos: “That they look really good and we are happy.”

The Bride And Groom Embrace In An Open Meadow Overlooking The Ski Slopes Of Big Sky Resort.
The Bride Holding An Umbrella And Groom Walk Down A Gravel Road Beneath A Ski Chairlift.
The Groom Rests His Forehead Against The Bride's, Both Smiling With Closed Eyes In Front Of Misty Mountains.
The Groom Kisses The Bride's Cheek As She Laughs, Holding A Colorful Bouquet In A Mountain Meadow.
The Bride And Groom Kiss In A Mountain Meadow Framed By Out-Of-Focus Pink Wildflowers.

Sandstorm, challah and an EDM dance floor

They walked into Peaks to “Sandstorm.” Before dinner, Laura’s dad gave the blessing over the challah. Cake came from Mountain Sweets 406, and Nick from Above & Beyond Entertainment ran a dance party that was almost all EDM. Mona, the little green plush from Nanalan’, made it onto the dance floor too.

A Bride, Groom, And A Friend Ride A Ski Chairlift At Dusk As Mountain Bikers Pass On The Opposite Lift.
The Bride And Groom Walk Into Their Reception At Peaks At Big Sky Resort As Guests Raise Their Arms And Cheer.
The Bride Hugs An Older Man While Holding A Glass Of Wine On A Wooden Bench.
The Bride Hugs An Older Woman Tightly, Her Tattooed Arm Wrapped Around Her Shoulders.
A Man Gives A Toast Into A Microphone As The Bride, Groom, And Seated Guests Listen At The Reception.
An Older Woman Speaks Into A Microphone, Emotional, During A Wedding Toast.
An Older Woman Gives A Toast While A Man Beside Her Wipes His Eye.
The Groom Laughs While Giving A Speech Into A Microphone Next To The Smiling Bride.
The Bride And Groom Slow Dance In A Dimly Lit Reception Room As Guests Look On.
The Bride And Groom Dance Together, Her Tattooed Arm Around His Shoulder, Guests Watching In The Background.
The Groom Dips The Bride Dramatically On The Dance Floor During Their First Dance.
A Guest In A Bolo Tie Dances With A Drink In Hand On The Reception Dance Floor.
Two Bridesmaids In Lavender Dresses Dance Around A Young Girl In Glittery Cowboy Boots.
A Woman Sings And Dances With Her Eyes Closed As Guests Celebrate Around Her.
A Man And Woman Smile At Each Other While Dancing Together At The Reception.
A Guest Performs A Breakdancing Move On The Dance Floor Under Purple Lighting.
A Guest Bends Over The Dance Floor Holding A Green Plush Toy In A Pink Gown.
Two Men Dance Together, One Holding Up A Green Plush Toy In A Pink Dress.
A Woman's Hair Flies As She Dances Holding A Green Plush Toy On The Dance Floor.
A Woman Sings Into The Camera While Holding A Green Plush Toy On The Dance Floor.
The Bride Dances Near The Bar As The Groom Smiles Behind Her Holding A Drink.
The Bride Laughs While Dancing Near The Bar As The Groom Smiles Behind Her.
Guests Raise Their Arms In An Arch As The Bride Dances Underneath Holding A Green Plush Toy.
The Bride Dances Under An Arch Of Raised Arms In Colorful Lighting, Holding A Green Plush Toy.
A Guest Holds Another Guest Upside Down In A Handstand On The Dance Floor As Onlookers Laugh And Clap.
The Bride Dances With A Drink In Hand Under Red, Green, And Blue Disco Lights Next To Two Guests.
The Bride Laughs With A Man And A Woman Beside Her Near The Bar At The Reception.
The Bride Dances Between Two Women Who Clap And Raise Their Hands Beside Her.
The Bride Dances With Her Eyes Closed And Arms Raised, Holding A Green Plush Toy Dressed As A Bride.
The Bride And Groom Kiss Under Purple Lighting While She Holds A Green Plush Toy In A Tiny Wedding Dress.
The Bride And Groom Hold Hands And Spin Together On The Dance Floor As Guests Watch.
The Groom Dips The Bride Close During A Dance Move Under Warm Purple Lighting.
The Bride And Groom Raise Their Arms In The Center Of A Circle While Guests Clap Around Them.
The Bride And Groom Nearly Kiss, Nose To Nose, At Dusk With The Big Sky Mountains Behind Them.

Shot on film, too

Laura added film to their coverage: two rolls of 35mm and one roll of 120. A few of those frames are below.

Film Photo: The Bride And Groom Kiss On A Rocky Mountain Trail Beneath Hazy Peaks, With Purple Wildflowers In The Foreground.
Film Photo: The Groom Kisses The Forehead Of A Smiling Woman With Long Curly Hair, Outdoors Near Green Hills.
Film Photo: The Bride And Groom Stand Together Beneath Ski Trail Direction Signs In A Forest At A Mountain Resort.
Film Photo: The Groom Kisses The Forehead Of A Woman With Braided Curly Hair As He Leans Against A Wooden Post In A Forest.
Film Photo: The Bride Holding A Colorful Bouquet Laughs With The Groom In A Mountain Meadow, Hazy Peaks Rising Behind Them.
Film Photo: A Man And A Woman In A Formal Dress Dance Indoors Under A Magenta-Tinted Light With Other Guests Nearby.
Film Photo: Blurred Guests Dance Indoors Under Dim Lighting, With Small Light Flecks Scattered Across The Frame.

The vendor team

More from Big Sky

Another couple got married at the top of Ramcharger too: Jeff & Siobhan’s mountaintop Big Sky wedding. If you’re still choosing a venue, here are more Big Sky wedding venues.

Planning a Big Sky wedding?

If you’re planning something non-traditional in Big Sky and want photos that feel like you, I’d love to hear about it.

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