Maya and Nate Get Hitched at Rugged Horizon

Where should you get married if you love the view of the snow-capped Mission Mountains set against fields of wildflowers?

Well if you’re Maya and Nate, you’ve found the perfect location at Rugged Horizon.

Just like it’s name, you’ll get 360-degree views of jagged mountains against a cerulean sky at this wedding venue, which features a long walking path to the wedding sight from the barn, which doubles as a reception area.

Maya hails from the Austin area and Nate is from Kansas. The couple met while at school at the University of Montana and made a life in Missoula they adore. Their dog is along for the ride.

The couple decided to see each other for the first time walking down the aisle and their bridesmaids and groomsmen worked hard to conceal them from each other in the shared rooms above the reception area at the venue.

Once they did see each other, Nate beamed with pride at his new wife, who was wearing a fitted dress with a long train made of lace and an even longer veil. It billowed softly in the wind. Moxie Makeup and Lash Studio did a fantastic job with Maya’s style.

The wedding was officiated by a priest from the nearby St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. One of the highlights was theMexican tradition of Las arras matrimoniales, or sharing coins after the exchange of rings as a symbol of commitment and care for the home. I had never seen this tradition before and it was a beautiful way to bring Maya’s Mexican culture into the wedding. After the ceremony, we stayed at the ceremony site for family formals and bridesmaid and groomsmen photos.

At the reception, Bustle and Bloom Events poured drinks and popped bubbly for toasts. Biga Pizza in downtown Missoula provided the eats: Pasta and Salad and Pasta Salad. Then dancing kicked off but the floor emptied of all the young people, who had to do the ceremonial shotgunning of beers.