Wedding & Reception: 2905 Photography: Miranda Murdock Photography Cake: Dancing Oven Bakery Dress: Eskay Bridal Beauty: Sarah Smith, Beauty Frenzy Montana Caterer: Abby’s Catering Company Wedding Planner: Patricia Clark Weddings
Common friends and disinterests brought Mallory Hatfield and Wayne Hexum together. Though they both went to high school at Billings Senior, Wayne hung out in the dark hallways and flew under Mallory’s radar. She jokes maybe they would’ve dated sooner if he hadn’t. It took their friends becoming friends to connect them years later. Their first date was their last time at the fair. They aren’t fans of the funnel cake-filled city carnival, but that didn’t stop them from seeing each other a few more times before Mallory returned to Bozeman for her last year of college. The couple traveled back and forth until Mallory came back to Billings to student teach. Road trips had become their thing – so they drove to Libby to see friends Heather and Mike. On the way, Mallory told Wayne about a “cool bridge” she wanted to visit. He didn’t say anything. Then, she mentioned it to Heather; same response. Heather changed her tune the next morning when she suggested going to the Kootenai Falls Bridge. She suggested Mallory wear something cute but comfortable. “Wayne didn’t speak and kept his hand in his pocket the whole time,” Mallory said. “And Mike tried to cover up the silence with extensive silliness.” Mallory had a feeling “it was coming” and when it did, she worried Wayne would drop the ring in the river because he was so nervous. With one resounding “Yes,” Mallory and Wayne chose 2905 (a multi-purpose space named after its address on Montana Avenue in Billings) as their wedding and reception venue. “We loved the character of the building,” Mallory explained. “As a bride, I loved having a space so beautiful it did not need any decorations.” Simplicity made way for a small, intimate wedding. And while the venue transitioned from “I Do” to dancing, guests sipped on cocktails at The Northern. Mallory says people still talk about Mallory’s father’s welcome speech and the amazing food from Abby’s Catering Company. As husband and wife, Wayne and Mallory spent a few nights at Chico Hot Springs, but are looking forward to attending a wedding in Jamaica next spring. “It’s a great excuse for a Caribbean vacation after a year of marriage.”