How to elope in Glacier National Park Montana - 2025 Guide
The most accurate and up to date Glacier National Park elopement or intimate wedding guide - Plan your intimate wedding in 7 easy steps
glacier park weddings & elopements
Glacier National Park Elopement Checklist
Contact a local photographer (they will be your best all-around source for planning your wedding easily)
Choose the season and date of your wedding
Choose your ceremony location
Apply for your special use ceremony permit
Book your lodging (and other vendors)
Apply for your Montana state marriage license
Plan the rest of your trip
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 Glacier National Park each year to pass along to you the most accurate and up to date information. We hope to be your local source for Montana elopement photographers to give you all you need for a stress-free wedding day.
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. Check out this gorgeous chapel venue with amazing views, onsite lodging and fuzzy highland cows! Highland Hill Farms is the perfect place for your ceremony located just minutes to Glacier Park and then make arrangements to go 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)!! We care about your safety so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day
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. The park lists which ceremony locations allow furry friends here
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. View the park’s wedding frequently asked questions here to see questions about rules and regulations
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 photographers 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. If it is just the two of you and you love a good peaceful sunrise, please contact us for the very best sunrise ceremony locations within the park.
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 2025 season is that ALL ceremonies or stating of vows whether you are previously married or not may require a special use permit. The permit office determines if a permit is needed on a case by case scenario. Reach out to them here glac_sup@nps.gov to find out if you will need a permit to say personal vows. In the past personal vows did not require one however they might now if the park office deems so. 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 could be inaccurate information. While it may sound fun to do your personal vows along a hike and have your ordained photographer sign 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. We highly recommend Best Day Officiants for the most personalized and beautiful ceremonies. A special use permit is not needed for wedding photos in the park outside of the ceremony time so have a blast exploring the park on your wedding day for the most amazing photographs with yours truly…because locals know ALL the best and secret spots!
STEP #1- BOOK YOUR LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Heyy!! It's Carrie Ann (: I am a photographer specializing in elopements based in Glacier National Park, I am headed into my 19th season & absolutely love my job!! (Can I even call it that?!) We are located just 20 minutes to the West entrance of Glacier National Park so know the park like the back of our hand and feel so blessed to call it home. I typically book 1- 2 years in advance for those most popular dates 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 separate weddings fully each season with elopements in the park (on average up to 150 elopements each season between the two of us). We also have 3 full time associate photographers that work with us that 2nd shoot for our all-inclusive packages that come complete with 2 photographers. Connecting with our couples & making sure their day is everything they could dream of is something that is absolute priority to us and definitely sets us apart! 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! If you feel it’s necessary, 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! Most of our couples book us without scheduling a phone/video call as they are confident in our services however we are always happy to schedule that if you would like to.
-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. Beware of numerous blogs online from out of state photographers marketing as if they are local. This is a current marketing trend for travel however we have witnessed numerous stories of couples who hire outside the area either unknown to them by sneaky marketing or to try to cut costs where the photographer either cancels on them last minute or knows nothing about the area, rules of the park, timing of great photos, or best locations to take you to. I would even be as bold to say I recommend asking them if they live here year-round and how many real weddings they have photographed in the park (not freebies for friends or styled shoots in the form of fake weddings for portfolio content).
-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!
-Your local photographer should be able to help you apply for your park ceremony permit in a step-by-step way, walk you through the Montana state marriage license process, help you with the timeline of your day, provide you with access to the area’s most trusted vendors, guide you on which season works best for your wedding day vision, and assist you with the best place for lodging.
-Make sure to ask if your hourly coverage includes travel time. Travel time in the park is lengthy and could eat up a lot of your booked time if you are unaware if it is or isn’t included. We do not include travel time to the ceremony location against your base coverage of 4 hours. Most travel to popular ceremony locations will be 1-1.5 hours of driving. It’s important to be sure you are not paying for that or that it’s not eating up time for photos of the two of you together. Our packages start at 4 hours of actual shooting time (our overall time on average with a couple including driving times is closer to 7-8 hours).
-You want your special day to be a one-of-a-kind experience, stress free, and just as special as you ever dreamed it would be. Hiring a trusted and true local to the area photographer who specializes in Glacier Park Weddings & Elopements is exactly what we can give you. We pride ourselves on absolute professionalism, upmost care for our couples, and being as helpful as possible so your overall wedding day experience is stress free and super enjoyable.
-We don’t want to toot our horn…but will just this once to tell you that we do photograph the majority of the weddings and elopements in the park because of our expertise and knowledge. Couples also describe us as extremely helpful, super friendly, a lot of fun, a calming/caring presence, and many call us friends by the end of the day too which we LOVE.
To see more details about what we include in our packages, check out our pricing page here starting at $3,900
4+ hours of elopement coverage (19 years of experience has proven this is the perfect amount of time in each main location within the park for a wedding to get a good variety of backdrops)
A personalized planning experience tailored just to you with unlimited assistance
Our black-tie vendor assistance so you get the best of the best the area has to offer
Step by step guided help with all of the permits, licenses, and Glacier Park entry information (it’s super easy so don’t let anything you read scare you off) (most of our couples DO NOT need to worry about vehicles reservations on their wedding day so PLEASE PLEASE don’t let anything you read on this intimidate you at all. Most information out there surrounding the need for these on your wedding day is misleading or inaccurate.
Our curated welcome email providing you all the tips and tricks on getting married in the park, area information, and recommendations
Online gallery with high resolution image downloads and printing rights
24-48 hour sneak peeks
Travel fees included
6-8 week full edited gallery turn around time
Take it a step further and book our all-inclusive package that includes: starting at $5,500
2 photographers (yes this is SUPER worth it. Imagine getting all those close-up intimate moments as well as the grand landscape shots without ever skipping a beat to make your day truly authentic and not so posed and staged. We definitely pose our couples and lead them into poses but having 2 photographers allows us to keep your day flowing easily and the two of you having just a fun and great time together all day without stopping to recreate a moment potentially missed by only having one photographer).
Customized ceremony catered just to you, your story, and your personalities by the amazing Best Day Officiants (We take care of all of the booking details and set up consultations and communication)
A beautiful bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere from the area’s top florist Mums Floral in Whitefish
A toast of your choice of champagne or local micro brews from O’briens liquor (if whiskey is your jam or spiked cocoa for those cold days is more your jam just say the word)
Customize your all-inclusive package further to include the following items to make your day much more easy and personalizedlodging at one of our historic honeymoon cabins complete with views & hot tubs Highland Hill Farms Homestead Cabin or Highland Hill Farms Trapline Cabin
lodging in our newly rented farmhouse that sleeps up to 20 guests complete with views and hot tub Highland Hill Farms Farmhouse
Book the entire property (lodging for up to 30 guests) along with our newly launched stunning white chapel micro venue (allows for 60 people at your event) at Highland Hill Farms
Add video services to your package with one of our top two recommended video teams Lovelife Creative Media and Joel Jost Films (both are amazing)
Add a beautiful elopement cake from Mountain Mamas Cupcakery
STEP #2 - CHOOSE YOUR elopement DATE , SEASON, & time
I recommend you choose an evening ceremony 4.5 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). View maps & driving times between locations in the park here. 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 4.5 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 SO 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 those 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. Don’t worry about it being too busy as the park is a million acres and plenty to share (if you book with us we will guide you on how to have the most private and intimate wedding experience).
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 (Lake McDonald District)
LOGAN PASS (St. Mary District)
TWO MEDICINE (Two Medicine District)
MANY GLACIER (Many Glacier District)
POLEBRIDGE (North Fork District)
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 and located within the campground areas of the park. 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. For groups between the numbers of 30-60 guests we highly recommend the area’s top micro venue Highland Hill Farms
I recommend you check out the park’s most recent ceremony location regulations before planning your guest list HERE
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 1 alternate location.
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, planning in advance, and flexible to your 2nd choice location.
The park issues ceremony permits in 2-hour time blocks. You do not need to stay at that location for the full 2 hours and you do not need a separate photography permit to take photos the remainder of your booked photography time in other locations that are open to the public
Your photographer should be your source on how to best fill this in, what location to request, and what time to request
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 local 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 officiated ceremony whether it is a hired officiant or a family/friend. In my experience this makes for a much more meaningful and personalizedceremony 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 on a separate date.
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 boutonniere from the area’s top florist, help in planning, and a toast of your choice (champagne or local craft beer) by clicking HERE. We also now have lodging available in one of our honeymoon historic cabins (Trapline or Homestead), our farmhouse that sleeps 20 guests, or the full property with stunning white chapel venue at Highland Hill Farms complete with mountain views/horses/highland cows to make an unforgettable Montana intimate wedding or elopement day experience for you and your guests.
We provide all of our booked couples with our exclusive and extensive premiere vendors list. The very best of the best our area has to offer. Here is a sample of some of those recommended vendors in each category…
Florists:
Mums Floral (easy-to-use online ala carte ordering), Forage & Floral , and Wilde Floral
Officiants:
Best Day Officiants, 406 Officiant, and Celebrant Sara
Videographers:
Lovelife Creative Media, Joel Jost Films
Cakes & Sweets:
Mountain Mamas Cupcakery, Miss Patticakes, Montana Wildflour
Catering & Picnic Meals:
The Kopper Kitchen, Great Northwest Catering, The Chef Guys
Planners for Micro Weddings: (elopements in the park do not typically require a planner unless you are planning a reception on a different night)
Empress Party & Events, Big Day Celebrations, SG Wedding & Events, Flawless Events by Chels
Hair & Makeup Melanie Hobus, Honey Beauty, Glacier Beauty, Rachel Ness, Majestic Mountain Beauty, Covet Beauty, Bridal Bliss
Here's a tip about wedding dresses: You can absolutely have the dress of your dreams. Eloping doesn't mean you have to forgo that statement dress!! Whether you opt for grandeur or simplicity, your wedding dress can be a stunning statement against a beautiful backdrop.
Some favored Wedding Dress Designers include:
Rue De Seine Bridal, Galia Lahav, Dreamers and Lovers, BHLDN, Pronovias, Rime Arodaky, Teuta Matoshi, Sarah Seven, Grace Loves Lace, and The Dress Theory
Opting for a wedding dress that offers plenty of movement is always a fantastic choice, especially when the wind catches it!
As a bonus!!! If you book with us and wear one of the most current designs from one of these designers (must be current on their home website and not a previous season sales item) we will give you 5% off your wedding package with us!
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.
Step #7 - Plan the rest of your trip to Montana
Now for the fun stuff!! Make those travel plans and start dreaming of your perfect Glacier Park & Flathead Valley wedding day!!!
Travel & Lodging
When making your travel plans, consider flying into Glacier International Airport, conveniently situated in Kalispell, MT, approximately 40 minutes from the west entrance of Glacier National Park (GNP).
For optimal access to dining, breweries, and shopping, look into accommodations in Whitefish, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls. To be a little off the beaten path look for lodging in Coram, Martin City, Hungry Horse, & West Glacier
Some Favorites for lodging:
Highland Hill Farms Trapline honeymoon cabin
Highland Hill Farms Homestead honeymoon cabin
Highland Hill Farms Farmhouse
Firebrand Hotel
Whitefish Lake Lodge
Best Dining & Drink
WHITEFISH:
Whitefish Lake Golf Course
Herb & Omni
Tupelo Grille
Buffalo Cafe
Wasabi
COLUMBIA FALLS:
Three Forks Grille
Backlsope Brewing
Montana Coffee Traders
Gunsight Saloon
KALISPELL:
Sunrift Brewing Company
Jagz
Mercantile Steakhouse
BIGFORK:
Echo Lake Cafe
Flathead Lake Brewing Company
Showtyme
LAKESIDE:
Tamarack Brewing Company (a fav of ours)
West Glacier:
Exciting Activities to Schedule During Your Visit
There are numerous enjoyable activities outside the park that should be on your to-do list when traveling to Glacier National Park. The area is renowned for its huckleberries, so don't miss out on trying a huckleberry shake or a slice of pie—to die for!
best hikes in Glacier
Whitewater Rafting- Glacier Raft Company
Horseback Riding
Red Bus Tours
Boat Tours
Glacier Ziplines
Glacier Highline
Hungry Horse Reservoir
Boat tours on Flathead Lake
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Music Festivals
Items You May Want to Consider Bringing Along!
1. Hiking shoes
2. Something warm, jacket, sweater, blanket because it can get cold Oct-June
3. An extra umbrella! You never know when it can rain!
4. Water and snacks or a picnic for two
5. Your special use permit AND your marriage license
6. Personal vows if you are having them
7. An announcement sign with your names/date for a photo to announce your elopement
Map of all of Glacier National Park permitted wedding & elopement ceremony locations
including number of people allowed at each location
Want to keep all this info? Pin one of these images to Pinterest! Follow me for lots of elopement and wedding Inspiration www.pinterest.com/carrieannphotography
