Skyridge Ranch Wedding: Amanda and Ryan
Amanda and Ryan. I don’t know where to start. Literally. Their Skyridge Ranch wedding was one of the most incredible weekends I’ve ever had!
I arrived in Montana late Wednesday night and Amanda’s amazing maid of honor (and one of my bestest friends) Jackie picked me up from the airport and immediately launched into wedding itineraries and to do lists! Thursday morning we launched into wedding planning and I was in heaven! I love running errands as long as I don’t have to drive, especially when they’re wedding related errands! It’s been 8 years since I got married, I loved getting to live vicariously through Amanda’s wedding for a few days!
Powered by a 5lb case of Red Vine licorice, we picked up food for the dinner, I cheered Jackie on as she made every single one of the bouquets and boutonniere’s until 2am, and we picked up rentals with music blaring!
For me and most the wedding party this was a destination wedding! I LOVED the atmosphere, everyone’s on “vacation” time and takes the time to slow down and celebrate! After the rehearsal dinner it was the best getting to know them all better over drinks at a local bar! Amanda and Ryan have the most amazing group of friends! Hearing their stories and how they all met and became such good friends made me feel instantly like one of the group!
They day of the wedding was a little dodgy weather wise. It was so stormy looking and raining on and off. Jackie and I and a few of the bridesmaids set up the reception hall and listened to the rain start and stop over and over. Not gonna lie as Amanda got ready in the bridal room and asked how the weather was, my “it looks great!!!!” actually meant “ummm not great” on the inside. The clouds were rolling through so fast I had no idea what it was gonna do!
Right before Amanda walked down the aisle, literally the MOMENT they started walking, the sun came out, and stayed out. It was BEAUTIFUL! The dramatic clouds and the sun streaming through, it was perfect! And there was not a dry eye around when Ryan got down on his knees to say his vows to Amanda’s daughters.
“Although I didn’t give you the gift of life….life has given me the gift of you.”
Their wedding party kept me on my toes and constantly laughing with their goofy faces and playful personalities. I love them all so much!! The rest of the evening went by in the a blur! The speeches had me laughing and crying, the food was AMAZING, and after all the first dances were finished, Amanda and Ryan did a wedding tradition where every couple hits the dance floor and the DJ asks everyone who’s been married for a day to leave the floor, followed by 1 year, 5 years etc, until the couple who has been married the longest is left. They then give the newlyweds advice.
“She’s always right.”
“If you ever get to the point in your marriage where you want to walk away. Wait it out. It will pass.”
During this dance the skies opened and it started raining. I fully expected everyone to rush off the dance floor but no one blinked an eye….atleast not until the most epic double rainbow arched right across the sky in line with the dance floor! It was GORGEOUS!!! The rain stopped moments later and bridesmaids tied up the bottoms of their dresses and just kept on dancing!
Amanda was then surprised with an Anderson wedding tradition. A tradition that involved the men putting their shirts up on their heads and singing a very manly, chest thumping song involving many hilarious lyrics I can’t rememeber, but ended with a big huddle around Amanda!
And then the dance floor opened to epic dancing. This group can party and I LOVED IT. I joined them after I was repeatedly told to “just put your camera away and drink and dance already!” which I happily did and drank many glasses of Montana beer. Seriously Big Sky Brewery :)
The camera got dragged out one last time though at the end of the night. All that remained was Amanda, Ryan and their closest friends. Ryan’s one groomsman Taz, had gotten married the year before and when they got ready for his wedding they listened to “The Lion King” soundtrack (told you these were my kinda people!), and when Taz returned his RSVP, he submitted a song request from The Lion King. Well the DJ pulled through, and ended the night with “Can you Feel the Love Tonight” and the most passionate group dance ever.
Amanda and Ryan. I am so sad it’s over. Amanda I knew I loved you already and was so happy to get to call you a friend, but I fell in love with you even more! And I also fell in love with your new and oh so handsome husband and those two girls of yours! Seriously, those girls stole a piece of my heart and I already wish I could come hang out with you all again! I am so sad I live so far!! I hated leaving! COME VISIT! (Our dollar makes shopping so great!)
THANK YOU so much for bringing me down for your day! It meant SO SO much to me and I am so beyond grateful I get to call you all close friends now! LOVE YOU GUYS!
