Wedding Blog

Today I’ll be sharing more great portraiture from our fabulous wedding photographer, Nicole of Piknik Studios. In my last post, I showed you our individual portraits. This post will showcase the portraits Nicole took of our friends and family, which make excellent, frame-able keepsakes for us and for them.

With full-resolution digital files at our disposal, we were free to dispense copies to our guests in print or email as additional “wedding favors” after the fact. So far, everyone has been very pleased with the down-to-earth, candid photos that were taken of them. And who doesn’t love receiving free, professional portraits as a result of attending a wedding!

Keep this in mind when considering your photographer’s talents, or in giving them a list of shots. Portraiture doesn’t have to be done as a part of a formal sitting or a photo booth. A talented photographer can capture good pictures of your guests as they enjoy your celebration or employ a second shooter to take photos of your friends and family while the main photographer focuses on you. It’s worth it! You will love having portraits of your loved ones, and they’ll be happy to have nice pictures of themselves too.

This random, “outtake” portrait is of one of our event coordinators from Katalin Green Design during setup the day before our wedding. I think it really captures the spirit of the event:

Nicole shot a few pics of my sisters peeking out of the bathroom while putting on their makeup the morning of the wedding:

Sister Allie is surprised and delighted to see our grandma in the room - it’s the first time any of us have seen her in over a year:

A portrait of our Oma after she delivered her gifts to the “bridal suite”:

My youngest sister, Eleanor with emo hair and eyeliner, before changing into her bridesmaids dress:

Sister Liz on her way out of the Lake McDonald Lodge wearing a comfortable sheepskin/corduroy jacket over her dress:

Before the ceremony, Mr. CP’s Uncle Alex takes a photo of me with his new digicam, leather hat on head and bolo tie firmly in place:

This is a special portrait for both of us. It was taken right before the ceremony, and is the only photo from the day of Mr. CP’s dad and mom together. They’re both with other people now, and we have lots of pictures of them with their respective partners. But look how happy they are to see their son married:

Our ring bearer, Rio, after the ceremony, looking very suave (for a 13-year-old):

Groomsman Mark during the informal receiving line:

Mr. CP’s Aunt Cheryl, part of our West Coast family:

A portrait of one of the Montana branch of Mr. CP’s extended family– some folks that many of his closer relatives hadn’t seen for years until our wedding. I’m diggin’ his eyebrows:

Here are two fabulous and timeless photos of Mr. CP’s granddad ambling from our ceremony site to the cocktail hour and from cocktail hour to the reception tent. I love how Nicole captured his face in this first shot:

And this picture just characterizes him so well:

And here is a just-as-great but more blurred (not sure if it’s artistic or unintentional) portrait of Mr. CP’s step dad:

A beautiful shot of Cathy, our officiant and my FIL’s sweetheart, holding the booklet she made to contain our ceremony text:

My coworker from Seattle, who drove all the way out to North Dakota to visit his family and then back to Montana for our wedding:

These are some of the close-up portraits that Nicole took of our guests enjoying toasts…

Here’s Mr. CP’s aunt watching the speeches:

Mr. CP’s cousin, framed with her father in the background:

Nicole also took some lovely portraits of couples together.

Here are Micah and Rachel, our Best Man and Maid of Honor:

… and Tom & Amy, whom we met in Glacier after our engagement:

Groomsman Mark and his wife enjoy the live music:

Here are a few more photos few of my family to finish up the portraits posts…

My mom, looking gorgeous:

My dad, busting out a pimpin’ pose to show off his duds. Love this pic:

My Opa and Oma from Michigan:

And my Aunt Laurie, who came with them on the train:

Finally, all three of them together, looking Norman Rockwell-esque, with a hint of the summer sunset behind:

Oh! And don’t forget all the great portraits Nicole took of the Polebridge pups. Portraiture can be a great way to capture the animal pals involved in your wedding day…

Here’s Django:

…and Madonna the pug in the Merc:

I hope you enjoyed these portraits of us, our family, and our friends. Let me know if you’ve been inspired to add portraiture to your list of must-have wedding photos.

Next, Good Wood starts the Montana bluegrass, and we have our first dance!

[Credits: All original images and post-processing courtesy of Piknik Studios.]

Previously:
Married in Montana: The Rehearsal
Married in Montana: The Girls Get Ready
Married in Montana: The Guys Get Ready
Married in Montana: The Bus Ride to Polebridge
Married in Montana: Pre-Ceremony Preparations
Married in Montana: Staging the Ceremony
Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 1 of 2)
Married in Montana: Our Wedding Ceremony (Part 2 of 2)
Married in Montana: Receiving Line & Refreshments
Married in Montana: Cocktail Hour
Married in Montana: Bride & Groom Portraits
Married in Montana: Family Photos
Married in Montana: Wedding Party Portraits
Married in Montana: Our Rustic Reception
Married in Montana: Toasting
Married in Montana: Just Desserts
Married in Montana: Making it Official
Married in Montana: Glamour Shots!