We will forever believe that there is something magical about Glacier National Park—which is why we think that a Glacier National Park Elopement is the perfect fit for an adventurous couple wanting to experience an epic mountain escape on their wedding day. If you are considering a Glacier National Park Elopement, then keep reading this blog as it will help you with all you need to know.
Glacier National Park in Montana was established as a National Park in 1910. It houses 1 million acres of land filled with mountains, glaciers, incredible wildlife, and beauty in every corner.
In our humble opinions, Glacier is one of the prettiest parks in the U.S. It is filled with epic views that would make an incredible backdrop for an intimate elopement.
Not to mention, it has 700+ miles of hiking trails that vary in difficulty and extraordinary views. So far, Glacier’s backcountry is one of the best we’ve experienced in our hiking adventures as well. (If you want to know more about planning a backpacking adventure, you can check out this blog here.)
I know we are talking it up, but we have visited Glacier twice and can’t get enough. We have hopes to go back again to hike some trails we are eager to explore.
Basically, what we are saying is that Glacier National Park never ceases to amaze us. If you and your person love mountain views, then a Glacier National Park elopement might be the answer.
Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer
In 2020, Jonathan and I were planning a second Glacier National Park backpacking trip. We had visited the park in September of 2019 and fell in love. For round two, we invited some friends to join. Needless to say, our trip for 2020 got cancelled. We waited (impatiently) for two years until the park was fully open and we could adventure in August of 2022. It was worth the wait.
When we were sure the trip was finally happening, we wanted to find a couple to photograph at Glacier. We connected with a fellow photographer and her husband who would in their van with their dog the same dates we were going to be in Glacier. This was close to their anniversary so they could use the photos to celebrate their anniversary! It was perfect and we were so excited that they were up for the adventure!
Eloping in Glacier National Park
An evening in the mountains is incredible and hanging out with Leah, Luke, and their dog, Aspen, made it memorable. It was a beautifully sunny evening complete around 75 degrees. The mountains stood strong all around us as the lake water rippled softly and a light breeze brushed our faces. The trees towered over us as we hiked and the cool water from the waterfall sprinkled us as we approached.
Leah and Luke were natural in front of the camera and they knew how to have fun. They ran around in their hiking boots and explored hand-in-hand. Aspen was loved on with lots of pets! Lake water was waded into and played in. They even read love letters to one another in front of a waterfall. Watching couples in moments like these leaves us humbly speechless because of the beauty we get to capture.
“We had the best time with you two and these photos are everything!!! Thank you!!!”
-Leah B.
Leave No Trace + Safety
Whenever we explore, we do our best to make sure we Leave No Trace. This adventure in Glacier was no different. We stuck to the trails while being mindful of plants and wildlife. At one point we decided to do a sparkling water pop. We chose water over champagne so that it wouldn’t affect the ecosystem when we sprayed it. (Plus who wants to waste perfectly good champagne?!) When we finished taking photos, we packed everything out and made sure we didn’t leave anything behind.
It’s worth noting that we practice basic safety measures any time we are in nature, and you should too. Keep a safe distance from the edges of any cliffs/dangerous trails as well as wildlife. When in Glacier, carry bear spray with you and make noises on the trail to avoid sneaking up on wildlife.
If the pine trees, mountains, waterfalls, and glacial lakes speak to you, then explore the idea of an Glacier National Park elopement! If you still have a lot of questions, don’t worry, we got you—keep reading!
How to Elope in Glacier National Park
What do we need for a Glacier National Park elopement?
PRO TIP: If you’re thinking about getting legally married at Glacier, but you don’t live close by, legally get married where you live before your elopement. You don’t have to do this, but it does help to alleviate some stress and extra planning on your end. At your elopement, you can still share your vows and enjoy a ceremony or epic adventure without having to worry about legal logistics.
However, if you want to legally get hitched in Glacier National Park, this is what you need to do:
- obtain a Montana marriage license
- get a special use permit from the park
- find a licensed officiant
- no witnesses are required
Montana Marriage License
In order to obtain a Montana marriage license the same day, the process is pretty simple. Go to the Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell and complete the marriage license application form. You’ll need $53 cash or if you pay by card, know that there’s a processing fee. Have a valid photo ID, your birth info and SSN ready. The license must be used within 180 days from when it was issued and is valid in any county in Montana. Once you’re married, the license needs to be returned to the county clerk’s office so it can be recorded and made official. As this can change, visit the Flathead County Courthouse website to see what is required here or call to ask.
Special Use Permit
For your wedding, fill out a special use permit application and share as many details as you can. Then send in your application with $125 payment—you can do this by mail or digitally. The details for this can be found here. Fill this out as soon as possible because national parks are understaffed and get a lot of permit applications. Your permit must be received by GNP a minimum of 20 business days before your wedding/elopement date.
As you think about where in the park you may want to celebrate your love, there are specific locations that Glacier has for weddings. You can check them out here. Note the limit of people who can be present including you and your partner, guests, photographers, officiants, etc. Each location is different.
If the permit process feels overwhelming or you feel a limited by the restrictions, there is another option. You can get married somewhere outside of the park! Look and point because the areas of Whitefish, Kalispell, and Columbia Falls are stunning. You could also book a small venue if you want an indoor option with some guests. Then you can head into the park to take photos! As of October of 2022, GNP says, “If you are entering the park with a photographer only to take photographs and there will not be any exchanging of vows of any sort, signing of documents, witnessing of a union, etc. then no permit would be required.”
Vehicle Permit
For locations on Going to the Sun Road or North Fork, you need a vehicle permit depending on the time. These cost $2 and can be reserve 120 days or 24 hours before the date you’re looking for. And they sell quickly…we know from personal experience. We woke up early before needing a pass and enjoyed an incredible sunrise in the park.
In cases like these, you can arrive at the park before 6 am or after 4 pm. This means you could arrive early to do a sunrise session and avoid the vehicle permit. Whatever you decide, there will probably be a line you have to wait in. Here’s a video that shares the information about this as well as Glacier’s official webpage that’s kept up to date. No matter what permits you have, you still need to pay the entrance fee which is $35/car for 1 week.
Read this page on the National Park Service’s website for wedding/elopement requirements in Glacier as this information is always changing. Please respect the rules of our national parks to allow these areas to remain open, safe, and accessible for years to come.
Where are some locations you’d recommend for a Glacier National Park Elopement?
As mentioned above, if you are exchanging vows or have guests, there are specific locations within the park you must use. You can view that extensive list here.
If you want to photos taken after getting married outside of the park, you have a variety of options at Glacier. It really just depends on what kind of accessibility and views you are wanting.
Some spots in the park that we have loved are:
Two Medicine Lake
Running Eagle Falls
Lake MacDonald
For a challenging, beautiful day hike:
Two Medicine to No Name Lake
An epic day hike that will leave you breathless in more ways than one:
Iceberg Ptarmigan Trailhead to Ptarmigan Tunnel
For an overnight hike in the backcountry:
North Shore Trailhead via Continental Divide Trail/Pitamakan Pass Trail to camp at Old Man Lake
Another overnight hiking option in the backcountry:
Apikuni Fall Trailhead via Redgap Pass Trail to camp at Poia Lake
How much does it cost to elope in Glacier National Park?
This is up to you as it depends on what you and your partner value.
Glacier National Park Elopement Checklist:
- Marriage License ($53-$60 depending on how you pay)*
- Wedding Day Special Use Permit ($125)*
- 7-Day Park Entrance Fee ($35/car)
- Officiant (This can range from $50-$200 depending on who you choose and how long they will be there.)*
- Photographer ($2,500-$8,500 depending on if you hire a local photographer or not.)
- Outfits/Rings (This depends on if you embrace secondhand/antiques or buy designer—you do you. )
- Food (Whether you want a small cake or a picnic, this price varies on if you hire a caterer.)
- Bouquet + Décor ($50-$500 depending on how elaborate you want. Don’t leave ANYTHING behind. Some locations will limit how much décor you have due to Leave No Trace principles protecting the area. We encourage you to embrace nature as your décor and the “less is more” principle. )
- Activities (Ex: picnic, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, etc.)
- Bringing guests will affect the cost so think about if you want others to join or not.
*NOTE: You can lower costs by getting legally married before your elopement or by getting married outside the park.
What time of the year is best for eloping in Glacier National Park?
The best times to visit Glacier are from June through September. Early or late in the season, there could be snow and some places might closed. Usually in June, July, and August though, temps will be between 60-80 degrees and very comfortable. These are also the seasons that bring the most tourists.
Aiming for early June or late August, might help you miss the crowds but still enjoy the summer season. Realistically though, it depends on what temps you like and what you enjoy doing as each season has its perks. Glacier National Park is on the continental divide so weather changes quickly here. We recommend dressing in layers because we’ve experienced that more than once and were thankful we came prepared!
This article by Glacier Guides suggests late June through mid-September is ideal for weather and park conditions. Keep in mind that this will bring crowds. If you like biking or whitewater rafting, aim for spring. If you want to enjoy some peace and quiet, then fall might be the best time for you. Obviously if you enjoy skiing and snow, then visit in winter. Just know that there will be limits due to seasonal road closures.
When We Went to Glacier
In 2019, we visited in mid-September. The weather was chilly (bring your puffy jacket for hiking in the mountains). The leaves were beginning to change to a stunning yellow and fall was in the air. We did experience some snow flurries while on top of Pitamakan Pass which surprised us a little. Fun fact: the next weekend there was 4 feet of snow in Glacier! There were many big horned sheep, a few mountain goats, and a moose as well as chipmunks.
In 2022, we visited in early to mid-August and it was perfect. Just a little bit of chill in the mountains, but sunny and lovely. If you choose to visit in July or August, you will get to experience wildflower season and it stunning. We got to see moose, big horned sheep, and mountain goats along with hare and ptarmigan. Although we didn’t see bears, each day we hiked, other hikers gave us bear warnings up ahead.
What activities could we incorporate into our Glacier National Park elopement?
- Hiking
- Picnic
- Guided Tours
- Biking
- Camping
- Stargazing
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Horseback Riding
- Biking
- Whitewater Rafting
- Boating/Kayaking/Paddle-Boarding/Canoeing
- Rock Climbing (allowed only in designated safe areas)
- Hot Air Balloon Ride around the Glacier Area
- Helicopter Ride around the Glacier Area
Glacier has tons of fun outdoor activities that you can incorporate into your elopement! This might even help you decide on your location for your ceremony or what you want photographed.
Are there any Airbnbs or lodging you recommend near Glacier National Park?
We have camped in the backcountry and outside the park, but we’ve booked a few Airbnbs as well. This helps when we need to do laundry and enjoy civilization after our backcountry trips. We’ve stayed in Columbia Falls and Coram with options in for lodging in West Glacier, Whitefish, and Kalispell.
We stayed in Columbia Falls in this STUNNING little spot and would go there again in a heartbeat. We enjoyed a breakfast of farm-fresh eggs and an incredible view of the mountains. Not to mention, our hosts were the kindest!
This Airbnb is perfect for larger groups staying in Columbia Falls. Our stay here was great for 5 people and we could walk to restaurants with live music and coffee shops.
Our stay in Coram was at a cute little cabin here. It was quaint and quiet and our host gave us some huckleberry jam to take home to enjoy.
We have stayed at MyPlace hotel in Kalispell multiple times when we first arrive. It is conveniently located near REI, Cabella’s, Walmart, and lovely restaurants. One of our favorites is MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill + Pub.
Do you offer packages for a Glacier National Park Elopement?
Yes, we do! You can view our U.S. elopement packages here.
Our costs range from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on a couple factors:
- the hours of coverage
- type of service (photography, videography, or combo)
- 1 or 2 photographers/videographers or 1 of each
We will be there to answer questions and share helpful recommendations so your day is what you want it to be.
For more elopement info, reach out here.
Don’t forget that this is you and your partner’s day. If an adventure elopement in Glacier National Park is what you’re dreaming of, then that’s what you should do. No matter what kind of wedding you choose, it should make you and your partner happy.
For questions about eloping in Glacier National Park or somewhere else, please reach out to us! We would love to help you figure out what best fits you and your partner.
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