1. We are Family Owned & Operated Here’s some history. . . The property has been owned by the Powers family since 1949, Lincoln actually grew up in the original farmhouse which no longer stands and before it became a wedding venue (like no other) it was a working ranch. Construction of the lodge began in 1997 by Lincoln himself, and he and his family moved into it on New Year’s Day in 2000. The logs actually came from here in Montana after a fire up by Hell Creek. Judi and Lincoln fell in love and married in 2014. Since then, they’re blended family consisting of 7 kids use the ranch as a ‘home away from home’ to spend time together. They love sharing their oasis with others because they know first hand how relaxing, fun and memorable it is to spend time with family and friends at the ranch. Everybody helping put your big day/weekend together and making it happen are family and friends of the Powers, including myself. We don’t see this as “work” we see it as a hobby. We get to create and organize a once-in-a-lifetime event for people who are choosing a forever love. We love meeting new people and getting to know who you are and where you come from while we share the same with you; who we are and Montana: where we come from. 2. Make your Wedding Day a Wedding Weekend.At The Ranch, you can make your special day an entire weekend event. This is a great way to bring both families together before the big day and allow them to get to know one another while enjoying some of the great outdoors that Montana has to offer. There’s a variety of activities to take part in nearby including: hiking, fishing, mountain biking, white water rafting and horseback riding. For more information on our weekend wedding packages see our page here. 3. Lodging for the Wedding Party.The property has a 3-level 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom log lodge for the wedding party and/or family to stay in. So after a long night of celebration and dancing the wedding party is just steps away from a peaceful night of sleep. The lodge can sleep up to 22 people in beds and there are cots and couches for extras. The master suite is on the main level with a king size bed, double shower, jet tub, large walk in closet and private balcony for the soon-to-be wedded couple. It is the perfect space for getting ready on the big day, with a large bathroom, closet and full-sized mirror. At the lodge, breakfast options are offered each morning for guests including: muffins, breads, yogurt, fruit, coffee and juice. With the option of upgrades to each package, hot meals can be served. Check out our gallery for an inside look at the lodge. 4. We do the Catering.Looking for a home-cooked meal, don’t want the hassle of hiring a caterer? All meals served at the ranch are made fresh right in the kitchen at the log lodge by Judi, the QAR owner. Both the rehearsal dinner and the reception dinner are catered and the menus are customizable and accommodating to dietary restrictions and allergies. If you have something specific in mind that you want served on your wedding day, we do our best to make that happen (Even kids meals!). Popular choices for main courses are smoked ribs, beef brisket, salmon and pasta bars, but tacos, prime rib, Mediterranean chicken and many other options are available too. Appetizers, dessert and late night snack options are also available for the rehearsal dinner and reception. A full list of options can be found here.  5. We do the Decorating. Not only are the meals cooked at QAR so you don’t have to worry about booking a separate caterer, the decorating can also be done for you. Couples will give their vision of what they want their decor to look like on the big day and the team at QAR works to make their vision come to life. There is already a stockpile of decorations at the ranch that are available for use, which could help your wedding budget. However, even if you choose to use other decor, the decorating can still be done for you and if you’re traveling from afar, the wedding coordinator can help you make arrangements to have items shipped and stored before the wedding. 6. You get a Wedding Coordinator.Wait, there’s a wedding planner?! Well not quite, but pretty close. When you book with the Ranch, Judi will be your event coordinator. She will communicate with you from the day you book up until the wedding making sure all the items on your wish list get checked off. Apart from designing the menu, cooking, and overseeing the decorating she will also help you book other services including the florist, the cake/dessert baker and even help arrange other lodging for wedding guests. 7. Did someone say CAMPING?We did! Quaking Aspen Ranch is actually 272 acres of beautiful Montana land and when you book your weekend wedding, your guests can stay right at the ranch. We offer campsites for camper trailers, RVs and tents; a few with water and electricity hook ups. We are about an hour drive from Billings, MT and a half hour from Red Lodge, so this is a great option for guests who want to stay close and enjoy the great outdoors here in Absarokee, Montana. There’s plenty for guests who stay to do during the day before the wedding festivities start; they can go fish on the river, go hiking, bring their bikes and go for a ride or play games out in the yard. 8. Customize the BarWhether its open or cash we will serve whatever you prefer. We have a bar space with a rustic one-of-a-kind wooden bar and a glass top. There is a wide selection of liquor and mixers but we will also stock any beer or wine that you or your guests prefer. Many couples in the past have chose to offer signature drinks or special punches for guests to sip on and of course we'd love to make that happen for you too! Old fashioneds, moscow mules, margaritas? We’ve got you covered, our mixologist (unofficially), Kendall, loves coming up with fun twists on drinks for everyone to enjoy, and they’re never just ordinary!  9. We do the clean upYep, you read that right. You don’t have to worry about the clean up after a late night of celebration because our crew does all that for you. Many other venues have a so-called “curfew”, but not us. You can stay up as late as you want celebrating and dancing the night away and when you’re all done you just have to make your way back up to the lodge and we’ll take care of the rest! And that “no curfew” thing also means we don’t close the bar down at a specific time either. So plan to celebrate your big day as long and late as you want when you book at Quaking Aspen Ranch. 10. Dinner over the river There aren’t many places you can enjoy a gourmet meal with friends and family atop a bridge, but here you can. The rehearsal dinner takes place on our historic bridge over the East Rosebud River with a bar for your guests to enjoy cocktails. You can decide how many people attend and you also get to choose what meal will be served. Dinner takes places after a brief run-through of the ceremony, where all your guests will gather under the strung lights and enjoy a romantic evening with an incredible meal. Truly, an unforgettable experience. 11. Dance lessons and Beer...In need of some dance lessons to stun your guests during the first dance? Or maybe you want your wedding party to have some moves to show off during the reception? Well, after the rehearsal dinner you and your guests can learn a few jigs down in the barn. We know a dance instructor, a pretty good one too, his name is Steve and he’ll be sure to teach you how to dance. You can request what type of dances you’d like to learn or he’ll choose a few that gets all your guests moving. And why not enjoy some unique brews while you’re picking up on the jitterbug or two-step? There are many local microbreweries near QAR so we will host a “brewery tour” in the barn that same night. We’ll grab a few popular brews or ciders from each nearby brewery (of course catering to your taste) and you and your guests can indulge in a tasting, trying the different beers made right here in Montana. 12. How about a whiskey and/or wine tasting? I bet you've never even thought about having a tasting at your wedding... Well this is a great way to get guests engaged in a fun event at your reception! Before the dancing starts, or for those who don't feel like dancin' can head right up to the loft above the barn for a Montana whiskey or wine tasting. Our whiskey and wine guru, Lincoln, will be your host. 13. Can you say “Rustic”?We’ll let you decide for yourself. Just look at the pictures. 14. 'Destinationers'? No problem.We’ve been the venue for many destination weddings! Since Judi is your coordinator, we do the decorating and catering, and we have lodging, many to do list items can be checked off. This makes your wedding planning process much easier and we want to be there to make it as seamless and simple as possible. A big destination point for many people is Yellowstone National Park, so you and your guests can use your wedding as an opportunity to explore one of the world’s first national parks because we are just a stone’s throw away. For more info on Yellowstone and all it offers check out NationalParks.org. 15. We’re in MONTANA Yes, Montana. This is definitely not your typical destination wedding location, you won't be in humid weather on a beach, rather you'll be in the mountains, submerged in nature with fresh mountain air, beautiful big skies and trees everywhere you look. Some people don’t even know where Montana is, others think its in the middle of nowhere, but we like to say we’re the luckiest people to get to call this place home. Quaking Aspen Ranch is a little slice of heaven and we want to share that with you! The scenery at the ranch is truly unlike anywhere else.
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AuthorHey readers! Kendall here, I am a close friend of Judi, Lincoln and the family. I've worked weddings at the ranch the past 3 summers and my favorite part is seeing the day come to life and meeting so many people from all over the world. Most of the time I am the bartender for the weekend (some call me a mixologist haha) but I also do the decorating for the rehearsal dinner and reception. Archives |
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