4-R Ranch and Cattle Company

Nestled in a high mountain meadow in the Elkhorn Mountains southeast of Helena, Montana, the 4-R Ranch & Cattle Co. is a 900-acre working cattle ranch that has welcomed guests since the property was first established in 1917 as the Gustafson Ranch. The current owners, Tom and Patti Russ, transformed parts of the cattle operation into a wedding destination after Cassidy Russ and Chase Cunningham became the first couple married at the ranch in 2011. Outdoor weddings and events are hosted from the last weekend of June through the first weekend of September. Ceremonies take place in the Grove — an outdoor sanctuary with a redwood pergola set among the evergreens — while receptions and gatherings can be staged in the Hay Field. Couples receive exclusive use of the ranch from Friday afternoon through Sunday at noon, with support from an on-site wedding coordinator. The restored Ranch House is available as a gathering place for the bridal party or as a mountain retreat for guests.