The Yellowstone Club Wedding in Big Sky, Montana
Every once in a while, a wedding comes along that becomes part of East Coast Soul history. Jacqueline & Matt’s celebration at The Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana was one of those events—a truly unforgettable destination wedding at one of the most exclusive private resorts in the world. Nestled high in the Rockies, the club is known for its celebrity residents, dramatic views, and completely surreal level of privacy and luxury. In this case, the celebration even took place on Tom Brady’s personal practice field—a detail that perfectly captured the scale and uniqueness of the day.
Originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed to 2021, this wedding became ECS’s first major fly-out destination event. The entire ten-piece ensemble traveled across the country to bring a full night of soul, Motown, blues, dance-floor classics, and modern R&B throwbacks to Montana. From a helipad ceremony to a cocktail hour on a mountaintop lawn, to one of the most joyful dance parties we’ve ever been part of, the whole weekend felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Arriving at The Yellowstone Club
Logistically, the day began early. After multiple flights, gear coordination, and a full vendor support team provided by Jereco Studios, the ECS crew made their way through the gated entrance of the Yellowstone Club—IDs checked at the front gate, as required for all guests and vendors. Surrounded by dense alpine forest and sweeping mountain views, it’s instantly obvious why this location has become a legendary setting for private celebrations.
Our team met the bride’s brother and cousin at 11:00 a.m. for rehearsal of the custom “formal dances medley,” a key component of the evening. With Jereco Studios handling the full production rig—including a massive 18’ x 20’ outdoor stage—soundcheck ran from 2:30 to just after 3:30 p.m. This included coordination with the family’s guest performers, ensuring their guitar and vocal features blended seamlessly with the full ten-piece ensemble.
Once everything was dialed in, the crew had a moment to take in the setting: rolling hills, snow-capped mountain peaks, and a private stretch of Montana sky that felt endless. Not a bad office for the night.
Ceremony at the Helipad
The wedding ceremony took place at the property’s mountaintop helipad—a dramatic open-air spot overlooking the valley. While East Coast Soul wasn’t involved musically in this portion of the day, the scene was unforgettable: panoramic views, crisp mountain air, and a setting that could only belong to the Yellowstone Club.
Guests were shuttled up to the ceremony site, and with clear skies and perfect early-summer temperatures, the entire experience felt cinematic.
Cocktail Hour on the Field
After the ceremony, cocktail hour kicked off on the same private field where the reception would later take place—a field that, fun fact, doubles as Tom Brady’s personal practice field during his stays at the club. It’s not every day that we set up next to custom football goalposts on a mountaintop, but this wedding delivered a long list of surreal moments.
For cocktail hour, ECS provided an upbeat guitar/sax duo, supported by Jereco’s sound team. The couple’s vibe leaned soulful, rootsy, and joyful—artists like Lake Street Dive, The California Honeydrops, Leon Bridges, Marcus King, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and James Taylor were perfect in the warm late-afternoon light.
Guests mingled, sipped cocktails, and soaked in the scenery while the music kept everything feeling relaxed, happy, and distinctly Montana.
Reception Under the Montana Sky
The reception tent overlooked the valley and was beautifully designed—warm string lights, long communal tables, custom florals, and large openings that kept the space connected to the landscape outside. Dinner kicked off shortly after introductions, led by an ensemble-driven instrumental set featuring guitar, keys, sax, bass, and drums.
The couple requested a jazzy, soulful dinner atmosphere—something elevated but still fun enough to keep guests energized after a long day. The band leaned into artists like Al Green, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Etta James, and The Band, weaving in crowd favorites and textured instrumentals.
Toasts took place around 8:00 p.m., featuring heartfelt words from the Father of the Bride and the Brother of the Groom. With the mountains glowing in the golden hour, the atmosphere was both intimate and grand—a combination that made this location unforgettable.
The Formal Dances & Family Performances
The formal dances were one of the most meaningful parts of the night. The bride’s brother and cousin joined the band onstage—one on guitar, one on lead vocals—for a custom medley of:
- “Some Kind of Wonderful” – Carole King (First Dance)
- “Tupelo Honey” – Van Morrison (Mother/Son Dance)
- “My Girl” – The Temptations (Father/Daughter Dance)
Each tune was shortened and woven together into a seamless medley, created specifically per the family’s vision. The collaboration between ECS and the family musicians was one of the highlights of the night—personal, emotional, and musically gorgeous.
The Dance Party: A Soul & Motown Mountain Takeover
With the formalities complete, the ten-piece ensemble launched into a full night of high-energy dance music. The couple’s must-plays set the tone right away:
- Natalie Cole – This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (First song of the dance set)
- Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly/Murphy Lee/Diddy
- Kane Brown – Good As You
- No Diggity – Blackstreet
- Best of My Love – The Emotions
- You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
But the overarching request was simple: “Focus on older soul and Motown—Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Aretha.” ECS delivered exactly that. From classic Motown stompers to 70s funk to retro R&B throwbacks, the dance floor stayed full from start to finish.
The bride and groom also asked for a brief mid-party thank-you announcement, pausing the band for a moment to express their gratitude. It was heartfelt and perfectly timed, and the band dove immediately back into the set with even more energy.
As midnight approached, the mountains faded into silhouette, the tent glowed under the lights, and the dance floor remained completely packed. The Yellowstone Club was generous with end-time flexibility, allowing an extra few minutes to give the night the perfect final landing.
A Landmark Destination Wedding for East Coast Soul
This wedding marked a major milestone in East Coast Soul’s history—our very first large-scale destination event and one of the most extraordinary backdrops we’ve ever performed in. From navigating the private roads of the Yellowstone Club to collaborating with incredibly talented local vendors, to watching the sun set over the Rockies while the horn section warmed up backstage, every moment felt special.
Most importantly, Jacqueline and Matt’s joy set the tone for the entire day. Their warmth, their musical vision, and their trust in the band made the experience unforgettable.
We’re endlessly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a spectacular celebration. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and thank you for bringing East Coast Soul all the way to Big Sky, Montana for a night we’ll never forget.
