An Evening at the Ranch hosted by Liv Longin
A private dinner beneath the Montana sky, where handwritten place cards welcomed each guest, dinner was prepared over an open fire, caviar-topped hot dogs made a memorable appearance, and keepsakes inspired by home awaited each place setting.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
It had been sunny all day. Then, about an hour before guests were set to arrive, a storm rolled through and we officially called the rain plan. As quickly as it came, it passed. By seven o'clock, the clouds had cleared and Big Vista Ranch looked even more beautiful than we could have planned. The evening light stretched across the grass, the air had cooled just enough, and forty guests made their way up the gravel drive toward a Defender overflowing with dahlias. Before long, everyone had a drink in hand. Under the pergola, six long tables were set end to end, each place marked with a river stone resting on top of the menu. Hats were coming off, conversations were already starting, and within minutes it felt less like an event and more like a dinner party.
As a sixth-generation Montanan, hospitality has always meant something deeper to me. It isn't about perfection. It's about making people feel welcomed, cared for, and connected. Looking back, I realize that's what shaped nearly every decision we made for the evening, from the local partners we invited to the food that was served and the gifts guests took home. The dinner also happened to fall almost exactly five years after I moved back to Montana. When I returned, I had no idea what my business would become or who would become part of my life. Somewhere along the way, my clients became much more than clients. They became friends.
In our line of work, we're there through the biggest moments in someone's business. We help navigate launches, rebrands, growth, challenges, and all the things that happen in between. After years of walking alongside people through those seasons, the relationship becomes much more personal than simply providing a service. I've wanted to find a meaningful way to thank them for a long time.
What finally clicked was something I realized our clients couldn't necessarily see themselves. Individually, they all know us. Together, they make up an incredible community of founders, business owners, creatives, and operators who are building remarkable things across Montana. Many of them had never met one another, despite sharing similar values and often working just miles apart. All they really needed was a table.
At its heart, An Evening at the Ranch was simply that: a thank you. A celebration of community. An opportunity to slow down, share a meal, and create connections that otherwise may never have happened.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Setting
Big Vista Ranch is one of those places that reminds you why people fall in love with Montana. Just a short drive from Bozeman, it somehow feels worlds away. Weathered log buildings, a spring-fed pond, wide-open hay fields, and panoramic views that stretch from the Bridger Mountains all the way to Lone Peak. It's beautiful in every direction you look. I actually had never heard of this venue, and when I came across her on Instagram as this idea was circling, I knew she could be perfect.
For weeks, we had planned for dinner to take place out on the lawn. Every detail had been mapped out, from the placement of the six long tables to exactly where guests would watch the sun set behind the mountains.
Then, about an hour before guests arrived, a storm rolled through. My team made the call to move everything under the pergola. At the time, it felt like a contingency plan. Looking back, I think it made the evening even better.
By the time guests arrived, the storm had passed, leaving behind one of the most beautiful evenings I can remember. The rain settled the dust, the temperature cooled just enough, and the light that poured through the pergola was even better than what we had imagined for the lawn. The string lights came alive earlier, the mountains framed the dinner perfectly, and everything felt a little more intimate.
One thing I've learned is that you can plan every detail, but you also have to leave room for Montana to do what Montana does. This isn’t something I’m particularly skilled in with hospitality, but on shoots this happens for our team frequently. Sometimes the things you can't control end up becoming your favorite part of the evening— and make the vision come to life in a way more beautiful than you could have imagined.
Looking back, I'm so grateful my team trusted their instincts and made the decision they did. I truly don't think I would have changed a thing.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
Before Anyone Arrived
A few weeks before the event, every guest received an email from me. They had already received their invitation, but this one was different. It included an inspiration board for what to wear and a link to a playlist I had created for the evening.
I called it An Evening at the Ranch. Every song on it is one I genuinely love and listen to myself. George Strait, Van Morrison, James Taylor, and so many others. I wanted guests to start experiencing the evening before they ever arrived. Maybe they listened on the drive to work or while making dinner, but by the time they turned down the ranch road, I hoped the night already felt familiar.
The style inspiration served the same purpose. "Elevated Western" can mean something different to everyone, so rather than leaving it open to interpretation, I wanted to show people what I envisioned. Beautiful dresses, worn-in boots, rich leather, lace, silk, timeless pieces that feel authentically Montana without looking like a costume. I think people are more comfortable when they know what to expect, and the mood board helped everyone arrive feeling confident and excited.
Then came the part most people never see.
In the days leading up to the event, my team was steaming linens, picking up last-minute details, organizing rentals, styling tables, solving problems, and making countless small decisions that most guests would never notice. By the time everyone arrived, it all looked effortless, and that's exactly the point.
One of the things I'm most proud of at Bozeman Media Design is the way our team shows up. We care deeply about every detail because we know the little things are what create an experience people remember. That evening was no different. Everyone stepped in wherever they were needed, and because of that, I was able to spend the night doing what I had hoped all along: welcoming our guests, enjoying meaningful conversations, and simply being present.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Emblem
Before any of the details came together, we knew we wanted the evening to have a symbol. Something that felt timeless. Something guests would immediately recognize throughout the experience and remember long after the night was over.
Growing up in Great Falls, Charles M. Russell's work was always part of my life. My parents still live just down the street from the C.M. Russell Museum, and his paintings have always felt like home to me. They capture Montana in a way that's authentic, understated, and deeply rooted in place. It felt like the perfect inspiration for an evening centered around community and the West.
Our lead designer at Bozeman Media Design, Kamryn Scott, hand-illustrated an emblem inspired by Russell's style: a roper and a running steer captured in motion with just a few simple lines. It wasn't meant to be a logo. It was meant to become the visual thread that tied the entire evening together.
Once we had it, it found its way everywhere. Guests first saw it on the invitation, then again on the welcome sign as they arrived at the ranch. It appeared on the menus, the frosted cocktail cups, the gift tags, and throughout the details of the evening. It quietly connected every piece of the experience without ever needing to call attention to itself.
Looking back, I love that one simple illustration came to represent the entire evening. It wasn't just artwork. It became a symbol of the community, craftsmanship, and Montana heritage we hoped guests would feel from the moment they arrived.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Arrival
My team and I talked early on about first impressions. We wanted the first sixty seconds to tell guests everything they needed to know about the evening before they ever sat down for dinner.
As guests made their way up the gravel drive, they were welcomed by a MYL Defender parked with its back doors open, overflowing with dahlias and copper roses. Beside it sat a custom bar, galvanized tubs keeping drinks chilled, and bartenders wearing handcrafted hats from The Montana Territory Hat Company.
Before guests had even made it to the tables, they had a ranch water in hand made with 406 Agave, served in a frosted cup featuring the event's custom illustration. Conversations started almost immediately, and people naturally gathered around the bar as they arrived.
Every element of that welcome was intentional.
The Defender belonged on a Montana ranch. The hats were handcrafted just a few miles away in Bozeman. The cocktail featured a Montana brand we were proud to partner with. Nothing was there simply because it looked beautiful. Every partner represented the people, craftsmanship, and businesses that make this place special.
That was always the goal. We didn't want guests to simply attend an event in Montana. We wanted every detail to feel undeniably of Montana for as many moments as we could.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Table
The tables were always meant to encourage conversation.
We set six long tables with eight guests at each, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a dinner party than a formal event. Soft blush linens, woven chargers, cut-glass goblets, warm candlelight, and simple place settings created a palette that complemented the ranch rather than competed with it. Montana Party Rentals helped bring the vision to life, while my team carefully styled every detail, from steaming linens to placing every menu and river stone by hand.
One of my favorite details was the place cards. The morning of the dinner, I hand-lettered every guest's name myself. It felt personal, and I wanted each person to know they had been intentionally invited and thoughtfully welcomed. I originally wanted to order embossed leather name cards. Our coordinator, STEPHANIE BRADSHAW, was persistent on having me hand write these. She was right! It was the perfect touch. The river rocks were a last minute decision she also made in response to the wind— I loved hearing guests say “I love the rocks!” It was a sweet last-minute addition.
Then came what was probably the most important part of the entire evening: the seating chart. I sat at the ranch with every guest's name spread out in front of me and worked through it one by one. Who had been meaning to meet? Which business owners would have something valuable to learn from one another? Which friendships felt like they were waiting to happen? I wasn't simply assigning seats. I was creating conversations. That part couldn't be delegated because it required knowing every person around those tables. Looking back, I probably spent more time on the seating chart than almost any other detail, and I would do it exactly the same way again.
LaBellum Flowers designed arrangements that looked as though they belonged at the ranch. Dahlias, roses, wild textures, and soft grasses echoed the landscape rather than distracting from it. The centerpieces stayed low enough that guests could easily see one another across the table because, at the end of the day, the flowers were never meant to be the focus. The conversations were.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Food
When we started talking about the menu, I told Chef Allison Fasano that I wanted it to feel like Montana: familiar, approachable, and just a little elevated. Think backyard barbecue meets luxury. She immediately understood the vision and brought it to life in a way that felt effortless.
The menu centered around one thing: the hot dog.
If you know me, you know one of my favorite guilty pleasures is grabbing a Town Pump hot dog, adding a little caviar, and pairing it with a Diet Coke. It sounds funny, but it's become a bit of a signature for me over the the last six months. I wanted to share that with our guests, so together we created what we called The Montana Dog: Wickens Ranch beef topped with California Caviar. It perfectly captured the spirit of the evening, taking something simple and making it feel special. California Caviar is an incredible company we were excited to partner with for this event. They are the first company to explore non-kill caviar, which is interesting with the layer that Montana is a catch and release state. Their team was able to bring this vision to life— and the caviar was divine.
The rest of the menu followed that same philosophy. A grilled watermelon starter with yellowfin tuna, a fresh take on a Caesar salad featuring local produce from Chance Farm, and fire-roasted potatoes served family style. It was thoughtful without feeling formal and elegant without ever being fussy.
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to end the evening around the campfire with s'mores. It's one of those experiences that instantly feels like summer in Montana. Allison then suggested adding a toasted marshmallow ice cream for dessert, and it was the perfect complement. Guests enjoyed one dessert at the table and another gathered around the fire, exactly as we had imagined the evening ending. By then, the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, conversations had slowed, and no one seemed ready to leave. That's exactly what we had hoped for.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
What I Wore
When I first saw Victoria Chapman's summer western print, I immediately knew it was the dress for the evening. I reached out to her team because it felt like everything we were trying to create in one piece.
The corset bodice and delicate lace details gave a subtle nod to the Old West, while the soft floral print and vintage-inspired stripes felt timeless and feminine. It struck the balance I was looking for: classic, romantic, and distinctly Western without feeling overdone.
When I shared the dress with the team at Lucchese, they immediately suggested the cream Tilly boots. They couldn't have been a better pairing. The stitching picked up the soft tones of our event palette, and in the evening light, the creams blended together beautifully.
For me, that combination represented exactly what the night was about. Elegant enough for a beautifully designed dinner, practical enough to walk through a ranch, and rooted in the heritage that inspired the entire evening. That's what I love most about Western style when it's done well. You never have to choose between beauty and authenticity.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Toast
As the sun began to set, I stood to welcome everyone.
I shared that the evening marked almost exactly five years since I moved back to Montana. When I returned, I had no idea what my life or business would become. I simply knew I needed a fresh start. Over those five years, this place became home more than it ever has been. Not just because of its landscapes, but because of the people who welcomed me, challenged me, and became part of my story.
Looking around the tables, I realized I wasn't surrounded by clients. I was surrounded by people I deeply admire— business owners, creatives, founders, my team and friends who have trusted our team with their brands and their businesses. That trust is something I never take for granted.
More than anything, I hoped the evening would create new relationships. That someone would leave having met a future collaborator, a new friend, or simply someone who understood what it's like to build something from the ground up. Entrepreneurship can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be lonely. My hope was that for one evening, no one would feel like they were building alone.
Then we raised a glass, dinner stretched well into the evening, and conversations lingered long after the last course had been served.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The Best Part
One of my favorite parts of the evening wasn't something we planned. Throughout the night, people kept finding me to say some version of the same thing: "I'm so grateful to be here." Or, "I had no idea this community existed."
As I looked around the tables, I watched conversations unfold between people I had intentionally seated together, but I also watched countless new introductions happen completely on their own. Business owners who had spent years building incredible companies just miles apart were finally meeting for the first time. That was the heart behind the evening all along.
For years, I've wanted our clients to feel like becoming part of Bozeman Media Design meant joining a community, not simply hiring a marketing agency. Seeing those relationships begin right in front of me was incredibly rewarding, and it made me realize that this event had become something even bigger than I originally imagined. If guests left with a new friendship, a future collaboration, or simply the feeling that they're part of something bigger than themselves, then I think we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
What They Took Home
As guests left for the evening, we wanted them to take home something meaningful.
Each guest received a framed Charles M. Russell print, a small nod to the place that shaped so much of my life. Growing up in Great Falls, Russell's work was always part of my world, and sharing that with our guests felt like sharing a small piece of home.
They also took home a Montana Territory bandana. It's something I genuinely wear and keep with me, whether it's tied around my neck, tucked in a bag, or packed for a trip. It felt like the perfect keepsake from an evening that celebrated Montana craftsmanship and community. Like everything else that night, we wanted the gifts to be thoughtful, useful, and connected to the story we were telling together.
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
The People Who Built It
Partners:
California Caviar Company - https://californiacaviar.com
406 Agave - https://www.406agave.com
The Montana Territory Hat Company - https://montanaterritory.com
MYL Defenders - https://www.mylcollection.com
Venue: Big Vista Ranch - https://bigvistaranch.com
Food: Chef Allison Fasano
Florals: LaBellum Florals - https://www.labellumflowers.com
Photography: Kelsey Thrush of Legacie Studios - https://www.legaciestudios.com
Rentals: Montana Party Rentals - https://montanapartyrentals.com
Production & Creative Direction: Bozeman Media Design - https://bozemanmediadesign.com
Coordination: Stephanie Bradshaw https://stephanie-bradshaw.com
(Photo by Legacie Studios)
It was a beautiful evening, and my heart is never felt so full. xx
Listen to my playlist “An Evening at The Ranch” here.
#wherethewestgathers
What I Wore
I reached out to Victoria Chapman myself. She had just launched a western print for the summer, and the moment I saw it I knew it was the dress for this night.
The bodice is a proper corset, boned through the front with a sweetheart neckline, which is the piece that nods to the old West. Everything else is dainty: a faded vintage stripe on an ivory ground, a rose print running in soft diagonal bands, a bias-cut skirt so the stripes fall on the angle, a long slit at the front, and a narrow scalloped lace at the hem that catches when you walk. Tough and delicate in the same garment, which is more or less the assignment out here.
When I sent the team at Lucchese a photo of what I was wearing, they sent back the cream Tilly boot and said it would match perfectly. It did. The creams read as one color in that light.
The slit was made for a boot, and I never once had to choose between how I wanted to look and where I was standing. That is the entire argument for western wear done properly.
