How to Elope in Glacier National Park Montana - Elopement & Wedding Planning Guide Updated 2023
How to Elope in Glacier National Park in 6 easy steps - Ultimate Montana Elopement Guide
FIRST A FEW BONUS TIPS-
First of all, there are soooo many blogs on this subject that have inaccurate information written by outside of the area photographers or vendors. Please know that we photograph the majority of the weddings within Glacier Park each season and up to 150 elopements between the two of us each year. We do work directly with the park each year to pass along to you the most accurate and up to date information.
Want to get in touch ASAP & chat about your big day!? You can get in touch with me HERE!
GNP is the ideal place to elope with just the two of you or with closest friends and family. Most ceremony locations allow for up to 15 people total (including guests, the two of you, photographer, officiant, and videographer) Groups larger than 15 are limited to a few ceremony locations or the campground amphitheaters. We do help our clients with choosing the best location to fit their needs. We HIGHLY recommend booking a venue outside the park if your total number in your group exceeds 30 people. There is only one location that allows for up to 30 people that is not an amphitheater. We are happy to refer you to a venue outside the park and make arrangements to take you into the park later that evening or on another day for post wedding adventure session photos if your group is larger than 30.
GNP is bear country, keep this in mind and come prepared (We always carry bear spray and we are both back country safety trained)!!
Dogs are only allowed in a few areas in the park for ceremonies and photos, they are not permitted on the trails even with a leash. We LOVE our fur babies and understand the desire to have them be a part of your day. We are always happy to help you choose locations based around their participation.
GNP does not allow for chair set up (a few locations allow for up to 4 chairs), arch set up, flower petals, bird seed, or any other items nonnative to the park to be used for weddings. Please keep in mind it’s an organic elopement style set up for any wedding within the park no matter the size of your group.
Due to our late evenings in the park we highly recommend any formal dinner or catering be done on an adjacent night as you will be in the park very late for photos. You will see some recommend a sunrise ceremony however we greatly prefer sunset as it’s much quieter in the park, the length of good photo lighting is much longer, and our sunsets just typically overall rival our sunrises here. Mornings are the busiest time in the park which can limit your photo opportunities.
Road closures can be at any time due to road construction. Most road construction is planned a season in advance within the park but it’s always good to regularly check. Check road construction HERE.
And finally, PLEASE respect all of the park’s rules and regulations regarding weddings and just in general. National Park’s are a treasure and a gift to us all and the more we can appreciate that the better our chances are for weddings to continue to be allowed. One new update for the 2023 season is that ALL ceremonies or stating of vows whether you are previously married or not DO REQUIRE a ceremony special use permit. In the past personal vows did not require one however they do now. Here is the direct information from the park’s permit office. “A permit will be required for any vows, including for couples already married since it is more about impact on other park visitors and how it could easily be interpreted as a ceremony.” Many photographers may tell you that a permit is not needed if you are just stating vows or already married and this is no longer the case. While it may sound fun to do your personal vows along a hike and have your ordained photographer sign on on the marriage certificate…this is breaking the special permit use rules within the park and can carry a hefty fine if caught. We are both also ordained however allowing for vows in any other location outside of the park’s designated ceremony sites is not allowed and a permit must be obtained to do so. We also encourage couples to have a customized and officiated ceremony whether it be by a family member, friend, or hired officiant. In our experience it makes for a MUCH more meaningful day for our couples.
STEP #1- BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Heyy!! It's Carrie Ann (: I am a photographer specializing in elopements based in Glacier National Park, I am headed into my 17th season & absolutely love my job!! (Can I even call it that?!) I typically book a year to 2 years in advance so if you would like to get in touch with me for your upcoming elopement/intimate wedding, you can do so by clicking HERE! We are a mother/daughter photography team and both me and Stella book fully each season with elopements in the park (on average up to 150 elopements each season). Connecting with our couples & making sure their day is everything they could dream of is something that is super important to us! Let's talk about what you should look for in a photographer.
-You want to make sure your photographer is someone you're comfortable with! Spend time getting in touch with them via email, text or over the phone/facetime to make sure they will be a great fit for you & your fiancé!
-Your photographer should be there to help you throughout your planning process & give you a lot of good information that will make decision making easier for you. Make sure your photographer is going to be reliable. Years of experience photographing in the park is a must in our opinion.
-Your photographs are something you will cherish forever!! They will re-tell your love story over and over for generations to come. There is truly nothing more important to relive this special day. Having a photographer who is familiar with the area you are getting married at is a huge bonus so you can go to all the best and secret locations. Not all local photographers are created equal. Be sure your photographer lives in the area year-round, specializes in weddings in the park, and can share with you at least 20 full galleries from the park so you can view their work in all lighting situations.
-If your photographer is from this area and specializes in weddings within the park, they will book up fast, if there is a certain date/season you are wanting, be sure to reach out as soon as possible to ensure you can lock in your date! This goes for videographers as well if you would like to include them in your day. So don't ever think it's too early to book, the earlier the better!
STEP #2 - CHOOSE YOUR DATE & SEASON
I recommend you choose an evening ceremony 4 hours prior to sunset. (Check sunset times here) Our sunsets here are very late and can be as late as 10pm early in the summer season. This can get in the way of any sort of traditional dinner/reception with family & friends on the same day as your wedding. We highly recommend planning a dinner on an adjoining night otherwise you will have to forego that beautiful evening light and our amazing sunsets. You would also be contending with the busiest time in the park and photo locations can get limited due to crowds and limited parking by doing a ceremony earlier in the day. You are choosing a non-traditional and adventurous wedding anyhow and in our experience your family and friends will love to share in multiple days’ worth of celebrating with you. You can even plan for group hikes, whitewater rafting, fishing trips, and many more adventures with your group while here. Always keep in mind drive times from your photo location back to any place you could have a formal dinner (Logan Pass is my most popular package and is about 1.5 hours from the town of Whitefish where most formal restaurants are). It’s an adventure wedding so keep the adventure going!!
Things to think about when choosing your date & season:
Daylight in June-early August lasts until 9pm or as late as 10pm, so booking 4 hours prior to sunset gives us so much time to work with!! These months are also the best time to capture the wildflowers!
May & June can still be chilly in the park but offer the best time to capture the snowcapped mountains! About 3/4 of the park is open this time of year. Getting to those bigger views does require a bit more driving but it is worth it.
Glacier National Park is in peak tourist season during July & August and the busiest time is between 6am and 5pm.
Spring, Summer and early Fall book up so fast for vendors, do not wait to contact your dream team!! This is a prime destination wedding location.
September & October can be a bit chillier, but sooo stunning with those bold fall colors and the beginning of the snowcapped mountains. Tourist season begins to slow down during this time & most of the park remains open September-mid October. Bonus if you want to increase your chances of seeing wildlife as they are moving around much more this time of year.
November-April is a winter wonderland! The park is still as gorgeous as ever, however most of the park is closed with the exception of Lake Mcdonald/West Glacier. If you are brave enough the Winter photos are jaw dropping.
Going to the sun road through the center of the park does not fully open until late June or early July. It is full dependent on weather and the plowing of snow. To be here when the full park is open you are best to plan your visit July-September.
The next best time to have your ceremony is sunrise.
Sunrise is the second-best option for lighting besides leading up to sunset (sunrise times range from 5:30am-8:30am June-mid October).
Due to our early sunrises, you will want to figure in drive times as well, so you are at your ceremony location just prior to sunrise on your day.
Our sunrises are beautiful but much shorter than our sunsets so that pretty light goes fast. We recommend a shorter session of 2 hours as opposed to our 4-hour packages we offer for sunset weddings.
A sunrise ceremony is a good option if you are wanting to book our all-day package and include a hike in your wedding day.
Be prepared for more visitors in the park in those morning/afternoon times.
STEP #3 - CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY LOCATION
5 Main locations in the park:
LAKE MCDONALD/WEST GLACIER
LOGAN PASS (What the park calls the Triple Divide District)
TWO MEDICINE
MANY GLACIER
POLEBRIDGE (Bowman Lake area)
Each of these locations offers mountains, lakes, waterfalls, wooded areas and rivers to choose from. When choosing a location, I recommend looking at several wedding galleries in each location and choosing what strikes you most. From there you can plan out your ceremony location, lodging that works best, dining (I do recommend dining with family on another night unless you want to plan a picnic in the park), and driving schedules if need be.
Click HERE for drive times between locations.
Keep in mind that the number of guests you will have as well as vehicles can determine your ceremony location as the park has set numbers for each area that they will allow. The max number of guests in most locations is 15 (including everyone present bride/groom, guest, and vendors). Vehicles are limited as well for each area so groups will need to carpool in some locations. If you will have more than 30 people total, you will be limited to the amphitheaters which are not as scenic. If you will have between 16-20 people total you will have the option of Fish Creek picnic area, Pray Lake, 1913 Ranger Station, or Sun Point (very busy location). For groups between 21-30 people total you will have the option of Pray Lake or one of the amphitheaters.
I recommend you check out the park’s most recent ceremony location regulations before planning your guest list HERE (PLEASE NOTE: the park has not yet updated their website with restrictions & regulations for the 2023 season and many of these locations are not accurate to the 2023 season. I do have the most current updates provided to me from the park and will be sharing those with my booked couples until the park updates their website at which time this link will be updated as well).
You can also view my suggested ceremony sites HERE
STEP #4 - APPLY FOR YOUR SPECIAL USE WEDDING PERMIT
To be married or state personal vows within Glacier National Park a Special Use Permit is REQUIRED. To view all the information you will need and download the application please click HERE.
The permit office is VERY busy, I recommend applying for this permit as soon as you decide on general location and ceremony options for that location.
You will be asked your first choice of ceremony location as well as 2 alternates.
It will also ask you the time and alternate times so be sure to discuss this ahead of time with your photographer as well.
This is also helpful when we get to step #5 of hiring your officiant, so they know exactly what location you are wanting for your ceremony.
Your chances of being approved for a permit at one of our recommended locations is much better if you are planning an evening ceremony.
STEP #5 - BOOK YOUR OFFICIANT AND OTHER VENDORS
Moving to this step as soon as possible is key as vendors in this area book up quickly and the most popular officiants, hair/makeup artists, videographers, and florists can book up to a year out as well. You will want to have help with arranging all of this and getting the very best for your day so rely on your photographer’s recommendations to help you.
There are a few vendor types I most recommend for Glacier Park elopements to really enhance your day and make it as special as possible.
The Officiant- this is not required in the State of Montana and you may also have a close friend or family member marry you by getting ordained online HERE. I do highly recommend having an officiate ceremony whether it is a hired officiant or a family/friend. In my experience this makes for a much more meaningful ceremony between the two of you.
Flowers are always gorgeous no matter where you get married, and I recommend at the very least a smaller bouquet and matching boutonniere.
A Videographer to tell your wedding day story in a cinematic way is a beautiful addition to share with friends and family who were not there with you. Not only will it capture your vows but will provide an in depth view of the surroundings so others can really get a feel of why you chose Glacier and feel as if they were there with you.
Catering is a nice touch for a sunset picnic for just the two of you or an intimate meal for you and your guests at a location just outside the park.
Cake or cupcakes is always fun even if it’s just the two of you. Keeping some traditional elements in your day is always a great idea.
Keep in mind if you are in the park for an evening elopement this can interfere with dinner plans and this is a great option to eat dinner in the park! You can always order boxed meals and plan a picnic!! Although your photographer should be able to help you with the main details and planning a wedding coordinator/planner is nice to have if you have a group of 15 or more and want all the pretty details of a big wedding in a smaller more intimate package. Please inquire with me about our all inclusive package that includes 2 photographers, an officiant with a customized and personalized ceremony, bridal bouquet and matching bouttoniere from the area’s top florist, help in planning, and a toast of your choice (champagne or local craft beer) by clicking HERE. Check out details for this package HERE. We also now have lodging available in one of our honeymoon historic cabins. Check those out HERE and HERE
We provide all of our booked couples with our exclusive premiere vendors list. The very best of the best our area has to offer. We can’t wait to hear from you about sharing in your special day!!!
STEP #6 - APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE
To obtain your Montana Marriage License you will get to visit the courthouse in historic downtown Kalispell.
The address is:
920 S Main, Kalispell, MT 59901, hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
You don’t need an appointment but if you would like to save a little time you may fill out your application ahead of time HERE.
You will need your birth certificate, passport OR driver’s license when you pick up your license in person while here and the fee is $53.
NOVEMBER 29, 2022
