ah, wilderness! From the moment they were engaged, Elissa Metcalf and Ben Zavora knew they wanted
a wedding that was true to Montana - the place where they met and plan to spend their lives together. So,
they showcased the state's beauty with an outdoor ceremony followed by a reception at Chico Hot Springs -
a resort with spectacular views of the countryside.
shades of fall... Elissa, a landscape designer, wanted their September 3, 2000, wedding to be filled
with autumn colors. She grew most of the flowers herself, and - when she couldn't find the right hue for
her bridesmaids' dresses - used a red dye to tint too-orange skirts the perfect shade.
crafty trinkets... Friends and family helped make the favors and programs handed out at the wedding.
The programs, fashioned into fan shapes, were attached to sticks, folded over and tied closed with an
orange ribbon. Bundles of birdseed were placed on each chair at the ceremony for guests to throw after
the recessional. Friends also helped make magnets that showcased a photo of the reception lodge, and the
bride and groom's names and wedding date.
family tree... When Elissa and Ben mailed their wedding invitations, they requested that each guest
send back pictures of themselves posed with the couple. These photos were then attached to the branches
of a tree displayed at the reception. "There were baby pictures of each of us with our families, pictures
of us as teens with high-school friends, and recent ones with our friends now," Elissa says.
puppy love... Elissa and Ben didn't want the two pooches they share to miss out on the event. So
Aristotle, a golden retriever, and T, a black lab, were on hand to witness the vows.
just desserts... The two-tier wedding cake, one of which was chocolate and the other carrot, would
have been enough to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. But just to be sure, the couple served an array of
goodies including tiramisu, chocolate torte, and key lime pie (the bride's favorite).
silly chili... Instead of the usual "Just Married" sign, Ben's sister decorated her brother's car with chilies - the couple was heading to South America for their honeymoon (making a stop in Chile, of course).
on the road... Elissa's favorite moment was right after the ceremony. "While everyone was heading over to the reception, Ben and I took a drive up and down the valley together. That time alone was wonderful."
Photos by Nashan Photographers