Montana wedding photography blog by Kent Meireis Photography

Montana Interracial Elopement

Sami & Brycen‘s styled Montana Interracial Elopement was inspired by Sami’s experience during a Black Lives Matters protest in Whitefish, Montana, earlier this summer. Still photos and video of Sami standing up to a fist clenched racist went viral and she became the poster woman for the local and beyond movement, on how to peacefully protest in the face of danger. Sami continues to give interviews both locally and nationally as the Black Lives Matters Movement continues across the United States.

After reading that the My Montana Wedding group wanted to see more weddings with couples of different races, as well as different sexual orientations to post on their website and social media, the idea was born. I asked Sami if she would be interested in doing a styled Montana Interracial Elopement photo session. And of course she said “yes”.

As with most styled photo sessions, it’s a team effort between photographers, officiates, florists, venues, and other wedding vendors. Lindsey Jane of Elope Montana agreed to help me plan and document the session. She invited Farm Blooms Montana to create a bouquet, corsages and a flowered headband for Sami to wear. Lindsey also invited Sarah Harding to join us as the officiate. Sarah did a wonderful job writing a fun ceremony, including the vows.

One other important element was that we needed a groom! That’s when I approached my friend Brycen, a local farmer in Lower Valley.

Geri and I met him at the Flathead Valley Community College farmers market two years ago, when we moved to Montana.

Originally, we wanted to stage the event on Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, but the park has been too crowded, and with COVID-19 numbers climbing in Montana, we decided it would be better to use another location, Whitefish Mountain Resort, or Big Mountain as the locals call it.

Thank you to everyone involved for helping northwest Montana become an even more open and culturally diverse community.

Cheers, Kent

1 comment

lindsey - July 21, 2020 - 8:11 PM

SO great Kent! You are amazing!!! Thanks for asking me to help out with this project. It was so much fun!!! XOXO, Lindsey

Cancer Kids

Cancer Kids. This week I volunteered for Flashes of Hope photographing Cancer Kids at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Another photographer who was scheduled for the sessions was ill. Even a runny nose prevents photographers from photographing these kids, many of whom can’t leave their hospital rooms. We must wear clean gloves, masks and gowns into each different room, after carefully scrubbing our hands. Then while in a patient’s room, we must be careful to not touch anything.

Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

One of the hardest parts of photographing Cancer Kids for Flashes of Hope is that there is no follow up with these families. I turn in my files and prints are sent to the families. The kids and their families each with their own set of circumstances, welcomes me in to see a tiny glimpse of their world. These sessions often take me in directions that I don’t expect.

This morning a story came across my Facebook news feed about a photojournalist, Leslye Davis, who covered the story of a Cancer Kid, Andrew Holland for three years. It’s a powerful story that explains how hard it is to document stories that pull on your heart strings over and over.

Special thanks to Jenna Blongiewicz who assisted me with this session at Children’s Hospital. Jenna hired me to photograph her wedding eight years ago and we’ve been good friends ever since. Now she has two children and is learning to be both a portrait and documentary family photographer.

Peace, Kent

2 comments

Kay Beaton - January 22, 2018 - 12:56 PM

Amazing work as always Kent!
Lee - January 23, 2018 - 11:08 AM

Nice work Kent!

Colorado Mountain Ranch Wedding

Devin and Pat had a Colorado Mountain Ranch Wedding in Gold Hill, Colorado, on September 2, 2017.

It was the ultimate Do It Yourself wedding and reception, and in a great way. Devin and Pat chose to incorporate personal details and items that had played a part in their lives leading up to their wedding day.

Starting with Colorado Mountain Ranch, where Devin has worked summers as a camp instructor leading horseback trail rides for several years.

The feathers in Devin’s bouquet and at the reception are wild turkey feathers from her childhood home in Vermont.

The feather in Pat’s boutonniere is from a Great Horned Owl found at the couple’s previous home in Lafayette, Colorado.

Flower confetti tossed on the couple during their ceremony recessional, was made by Devin’s mother from the family gardens as well as friend’s gardens in New England.

Pickles and pickled eggs for cocktail hour were made by Pat. Pat’s father made pickled eggs for their hunting trips in Vermont.

The horseshoe table numbers were constructed by Devin’s father.

Pat and Devin’s custom western brand as well as the guest book art were designed and created by Pat’s mother.

Devin’s Haiku art was on display at the reception, and are illustrations from the couples journal of Haiku poetry written during their many adventures.

Desserts were baked by Sundee Pietsch, Devin’s mentor and friend.

“Everett’s IPA” was brewed by groomsman Brad Johnson.

Long’s Peak, the 14,000 foot peak visible in the distance at the ceremony site, is one of the mountains etched on Pat’s wedding band.

Jasper arrowhead and fool’s gold favors were a tribute to the Native American Indian legacy and mining history of Gold Hill.

Another interesting detail was the Navajo rug used for Bella, the couple’s dog to sit on during their wedding ceremony. Each of the bridesmaids picked a color from the rug to be the color of her dress.

Devin and Pat’s Colorado Mountain Ranch wedding included their dog Bella as a bridesmaid, a ranch cat, and the couple’s favorite horses. Plus, a local fox made an appearance during the reception.

The band Woodshed Red played during the wedding ceremony, during the cocktail hour, and for the dance party that lasted until the midnight exit that found family and friends blowing bubbles.

Special thanks to Devin and Pat for choosing me to document their DIY wedding day.

And thanks to Lance Murphey for covering my back as a guest photographer.

Cheers to a happy life, Kent

Photo above by Lance Murphey

Photo above by Lance Murphy

Photo above by Lance Murphey

1 comment