Hardscrabble Ranch

I am a photographer in Bozeman, Montana, and have been photographing weddings for almost ten years. Hardscrabble is one of my favorite venues to photograph! Hardscrabble was profoundly thinking about wedding guests when they made this property. My all-time favorite thing about this venue is that you can have both partners getting ready on the property in well-designed spaces, with tons of storage and room for your whole wedding party to sprawl out and have some privacy. There are kitchens on both sides to ensure everyone is well-fed for the day. Another reason I'm drawn to Hardscrabble is the comfort it provides to all guests. The venue's unique feature of picking guests up from the parking lot and shuttling them up the hill, or using a golf cart for those in need, ensures everyone can easily access the ceremony space. Plus, with everything on one floor and no steps, the venue's design promotes a relaxed and enjoyable wedding day for all.
Leanna Joy

We knew from the moment we visited Hardscrabble Ranch that it would be the location of our Montana destination wedding. We couldn’t imagine a more beautiful site for our event, with the rolling green hills, wildflowers, and of course the magical view of Ross Peak from the ceremony site. Our wedding and reception were entirely outside so that we could keep those views in sight the whole time, but the barn is an impressive option for a reception, too. We also had several guests stay at the lodge and in the glamping tents, and everyone raved about the accommodations. The lodge was comfortable and so convenient with two commercial kitchens and plenty of room to spread out to build our floral arrangements and have hair and makeup done for the wedding. The glamping tents near the creek are cozy and beautifully appointed. There was so much for our guests to do – play yard games, walk the trails behind the barn (the wildflowers were stunning in early July) or walk down to visit the animals (including a baby yak!). Some guests fished in the creek, or played games in Brackett Lodge (really fun - despite my husband’s devastating loss at ping pong to his new father-in-law.) The entire staff at Hardscrabble was friendly and helpful during our stay, and the amazing Chris Heinle was absolutely a life-saver. She was communicative and helpful from the jump, answering all of our questions, and providing us with great vendor lists and a helpful planning schedule. We also hired Chris as our day-of coordinator, a service that was truly priceless. We did not have to worry about a thing from the rehearsal through the moment we made our departure on our wedding night. Chris was everywhere doing everything, making sure the that the wedding and reception looked beautiful and ran smoothly. We could NOT have asked for a more perfect day (days, really) at a more perfect venue. We highly recommend Hardscrabble and Chris to anyone considering a wedding in western Montana!
Kindle Rising

My son’s high school ski team had the pleasure of staying at Hardscrabble Ranch while training at Bridger Bowl Ski Mountain the first week of January. The parents had the pleasure of delicious home cooked meals in the evening with the boys. The owner Peter and his staff are fantastic, genuinely nice people who are first class hosts. The common spaces and dining areas are clean, modern and perfect for big groups to spend time and socialize. The ranch is on a gorgeous piece of property with easy access to Bridger Bowl and a surprisingly easy drive to Bozeman.
Crystal Comeaux

We rented the Hardscrabble Ranch in early October to host a small wedding event (33 people) for our daughter. Leading up to the trip, we kept in close contact with "Chris" who helped us coordinate our stay and provided recommendations for wedding vendors. When the group arrived, Chris was there to greet us and make sure that everything was as expected! The Ranch is in a very quiet and dark area north of Bozeman, has amazing views, and has everything you need to house any size group and hold a wedding. The entire party was very comfortable with their rooms and accommodations and enjoyed the outdoor activities (hiking, cornhole, BBQ) the Ranch provided. The wedding went off fairly smoothly (mostly because of Chris' help) and everyone enjoyed their stay at the Hardscrabble! We look forward to staying here again during a future trip to Montana!
Greg Fiol

We could not have hoped for a better experience at Hardscrabble Ranch. The venue is just far enough out of town to where guests can stay in Bozeman, but the venue itself is quiet and full of beautiful scenery. I think our favorite part of our experience was the lodge where our families stayed for the weekend to minimize travel and spend some quality time together. This also allowed for low stress set up and tear down, and so many fun memories with family and friends. Their staff is extremely helpful and attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure our whole weekend went smoothly. We would highly recommend working with this amazing team and enjoying their beautiful space!
Joselyn Gregston