Skylar & Erik’s Bozeman Welcome Party & Rehearsal Dinner Portraits
Skylar & Erik call Bozeman home, where they live with their sweet dog, Scout, and recently tied the knot at Sage Lodge in Paradise Valley. As a friend of Skylar, I was incredibly honored when she asked me to photograph the start of their wedding celebrations. On Thursday evening, friends and family gathered at their home for a warm, joy-filled welcome party, and I slipped into the background to capture the candid, in-between moments that made the night so special.
The next day, before their rehearsal dinner, Skylar, looking stunning in a thoughtfully chosen dress and accessories, asked me to capture a few quick portraits of her and Erik together. These quiet pauses between events became some of my favorite images, a beautiful balance to the big celebrations that followed.
PLANNING AHEAD
When Skylar reached out about the rehearsal dinner portraits, we also chatted about her Welcome Party the evening before. We knew it would be a special night of inviting their friends and family into their gorgeous home for the first time, so they shared the moments and details they especially wanted documented. We also talked through the rough timeline for each event, which helped me be in the right place at the right time. I arrived a little early at their home to capture some detail shots and a few sweet moments of Skylar getting ready with her mom; quiet, meaningful memories that set the tone before guests began to arrive.
THE WELCOME PARTY
Before guests arrived, I pulled Skylar & Erik into the field behind their home for a few portraits—just the two of them, their pup Scout, and all the excitement for the weekend ahead.
Once the party began, my approach was all about fading into the background—capturing candid hugs, conversations, and laughter—while still being friendly and approachable. I also made time for a handful of group shots, especially as Skylar’s bridesmaids arrived from across the country to celebrate.
REHEARSAL DINNER PORTRAITS
With just 20 minutes between the rehearsal and dinner, we carved out a quick but meaningful time for portraits. The original plan was to meet in a park near downtown Bozeman, but when I arrived early, I quickly realized a small festival had popped up, making it too crowded for Skylar & Erik to feel comfortable or for us to create the calm, intimate images we wanted. No panic, just a pivot.
We shifted to a nearby neighborhood trail that rises above Bozeman, offering sweeping 360’ views of the Bridger Mountains and the town below. It turned out to be the perfect backdrop. In those quiet moments, Skylar & Erik shared their excitement for the wedding day and the life ahead of them. Even with only 20 minutes, we captured portraits full of joy, intimacy, and anticipation—before they headed off to celebrate with their loved ones.
Skylar & Erik’s welcome party and rehearsal portraits were such a joy to capture, filled with love, laughter, and the kind of in between moments that make wedding weekends unforgettable. Documenting these gatherings reminded me just how meaningful it is to preserve not only the wedding day itself, but the celebrations and connections surrounding it.
If you’re planning a wedding or event in Bozeman (or beyond) and want candid, heartfelt photography to tell your story, I’d love to be a part of it. Reach out to start planning your own unforgettable collection of memories.