The Engagement
Julianna and Luke went to Ole Miss together and grew up about 2.5 hours apart in Mississippi. She studied chemical engineering, and Luke was studying electrical engineering. The pair met during the spring semester of their sophomore year while they were in the same differential equations class and caught each other’s eyes. “The day after Valentine’s Day we were both on the Square and we ended up at the same place and the rest was history,” Julianna explains. “I walked up and started talking to him saying ‘You’re in my class!’ And then we started dating a few months after that.”
Luke proposed while on a trip to visit a college friend in Phoenix, Arizona. On July 3rd , true to their adventurous spirits, Luke and Julianna took a sunset hike in the mountains. “We had the desert terrain surrounding us, and we went up to the top of the mountain. Luke got down on one knee and popped that question. It was beautiful,” Julianna says, describing their proposal.
The Plan
The duo has travelled the United States and National Parks together conquering trails and they wanted something different than a large southern wedding. A smaller, more intimate wedding in Whitefish at The Lodge was the perfect way for this adventurous duo to say, ‘I do.’ In exploring venue options Julianna and Luke went back and forth between the country and Canada. “Luke wanted the mountains, and I wanted a lake, so Whitefish ended up being the best of both worlds,” says Julianna.
The Big Day
A classy black and white wedding adorned with pearls and white roses created a stunning timeless contrast to the shimmering lake and mountainous terrain of Spearfish. Guests, of whom none were from Montana, enjoyed signature cocktails including Julianna’s favorite margarita and a Luke approved, local specialty, huckleberry mojito.
Personal touches that made the wedding unique to Julianna and Luke included a dress change for Julianna, as well as wearing her mother’s wedding dress at their rehearsal dinner. Julianna’s father passed away a couple of years ago and instead of a dedicated photo of her father, Julianna included little touches throughout the day that celebrated and honored him including using her parent’s wedding cake topper on their cake.
In another personal touch, and a call back to their dating days, was an ice cream bar. Julianna and Luke went on ice cream dates when they were first dating so instead of a groom’s cake they had an ice cream bar. One of their favorite desserts is Bananas Foster, so they did a Bananas Foster topping as one of the ice cream toppers.
Words of Wisdom
Julianna’s words of wisdom for newly engaged couples are to “start planning as soon as possible and get a wedding planner. They are worth their weight in gold! And most importantly, be in the moment.”
Vendors
Photographer: Shea Gibson @sheagibsonphotography
Videographer: Matt Dewar @hyline_media
Planner: Jennifer Mullens @jmeventsanddesigns
Florist: Willow Blu @thewillowblu
Venue: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake @lodgeatwhitefishlake
Dress: Iconic Bride @iconicbride dallas, @verdinbridal, @nicolefeliciacouture
Hair and Makeup: Devan Ellington @devdoes.hair
DJ: Peak Audio @peakaudiomontana
Wedding Cake: Miss Patti Cakes @misspatticakes1976
