Hope and Ryan planned the most beautiful wedding at Camelot Ranch in Billings Montana. Their warm fall color palette paired well with the rustic yet elegant venue.

From our first conversation, I could tell Hope was invested in creating the most beautiful wedding day for her and Ryan. What was more important is the love that these two have for each other. There had been a spark when they met many years ago, but Ryan was Hope’s brother’s best friend and they were concerned about a romance that could make things awkward. They moved on in life but never stopped thinking about each other.

Years later they reconnected. The time was right and after just a few months of dating, they decided to make it official! They knew what they knew so many years ago and they decided not to waste any more time!

There were so many signs that pointed to the fact that Hope and Ryan were meant to be! One very specific thing that stood out to me was the brand that Ryan purchased years before reconnecting with Hope again. It was the reverse R Bar H. Having a brand with both initials I believe was a sure sign from God telling Ryan, “Hey, your forever love is on her way, just have faith. And you will know it’s right when you see the signs I laid out for you.”

Seeing Ryan with Hope’s little boy was another sign to me that they were so right. Ryan was gentle and sweet and treated him as his own. You could tell Ryan loved Rowen as much as he loved Hope. You could see the trust and communication between Hope and Ryan very clearly. 

It was nearly minutes before the ceremony was about to start when out of nowhere a storm blew in. It was a complete downpour! I was fully expecting Hope to be devastated. On the contrary, Hope said to me that she and Ryan discussed the possibility of rain. She confidently told me, “Ryan is a farmer and we will never be ungrateful for rain. The rain will stop soon and we will carry on as we planned.” I knew then that she was so confident in her love for Ryan that nothing could waver that. And she was right. The rain stopped within 15 minutes and revealed a gorgeous afternoon with the blessing of moisture. They carried on as planned. 

It was a gorgeous ceremony under the beautiful “Tree of Life” Camalot Ranch is so well known for. Hope and Ryan’s vows did not leave a dry eye amongst their guests and I even had to pause because my tears were flowing freely and my view through the camera was getting blurry!

After the ceremony, family and wedding party pictures went smoothly. The best moment was when we were able to take a little golf cart drive to the north end of the ranch to a location I scoped out earlier in the day. Because of the rain we were running a little behind. But we made up for it with this location. It had a stunning view of the rims that Billings Montana boasts and the beautiful brown grasses made for a gorgeous rustic fall backdrop. 

When we arrived back at the reception hall, the rich fall tones of burnt orange, gold, and warm browns danced everywhere. I could talk all day about the beauty of the reception and the warm cozy rustic yet elegant feel of the venue. It was truly a dream. To top it off, the flowers Hope chose made an impressive compliment as centerpieces. Not to mention Hope and the bridesmaids’ bouquets made by Mac’s Floral were stunning!

The reception was quite the party and the excitement of the celebration was palpable, and I was hard-pressed not to dance for the sake of keeping the pictures sharp!  

With a passion for cake decorating which won her an award in high school, Hope made her own cake and decorated it with love. They also served Krispy Cream Doughnuts and pizza for dinner. At the end of the evening, Hope and Ryan requested that all their guests come together for a group picture in the middle of Camelot Ranch’s beautiful reception area.

When two people know, they know! It’s out of your hands when love finds you, you can’t ignore it. For Hope and Ryan, they chose love. They chose it forever and will always be an example to me of following your heart. 

Venue | Camelot Ranch

Even Coordinator |  Better to Gather

Flowers |  Mac’s Floral

Rings | Goldsmith Gallery Clark Avenue Jewelers

Dress Store | Step’n Out Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses | Azazie

Hair | Sarah Smith Salon Avalon

Makeup | Kira Brown

Groomsmen Attire | Country Outfitters

DJ | Magic City Productions

Pizza | Various Places

Cake | The Bride, Hope Goodburn

Doughnuts | Krispy Kream

Invitations | Etsy

All about Camelot Ranch

Rustic yet elegant is how I would describe Camelot Ranch. Set off to the west just 13 miles from Billings MT, Camelot Ranch is a private yet accessible venue boasting beautiful views of the rims and mature landscaping that give it absolute charm and functionality perfect for weddings of up to 300 guests. 

Being a wedding photographer in Montana for nearly a decade I have come to know what works and what doesn’t in a venue. Having everything in one location not only makes the wedding flow smoothly but also helps me give my couples the most shooting time possible. Camelot Ranch offers four different ceremony sites, a gorgeous heated and cooled reception area, and a lavish location with so many options for pictures. When a couple and their guests can use their venue for every aspect of their day it not only reduces stress but creates an atmosphere of togetherness and connection throughout the day.

The four different ceremony locations are stunning, each offering a different feel that creates a more custom experience for the wedding day. The reception barn is upscale and modern with a large Great Room, a full-service catering kitchen, a bar, a large public restroom, a fireplace, and a covered patio for guests to mingle outdoors. It can also double as the fourth ceremony area in case there is inclement weather. 

Upstairs is the bridal suite with three hair and two makeup stations and lots of mirror space for all the girls to get ready. A large bridal room with an oversized mirror is set aside for the bride to dress in. This room is a photographer’s dream as it was clean and clutter-free for getting in the dress photos.

One thing that I do stress for a venue is parking. Make sure it’s close to the venue but also out of sight so that vehicles are not a part of the photos or block views for the couple and guests. Camelot Ranch definitely has this covered with a large parking area blocked by trees very near the reception barn. 

Camelot Ranch is an excellent venue not only for anyone that is local but also if you are flying in from out of state. Billing is the largest city in Montana with an international airport just 13 miles from the venue. There are plenty of very nice hotel accommodations and loads of things to do in Billings. Fish the Yellowstone River, visit the ZooMontana, or hike the Rims, just to name a few ideas. Also, check out the Travel Guide for Billings to find other area attractions!

Love this ranch wedding? To see more, visit James & Maria’s Ranch Wedding In Lewistown Montana.

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