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How to Elope in Glacier National Park
Holy cow!! I am so excited that you are thinking of getting married in Glacier National Park!!! I’ve spent my whole life near Glacier, and it still blows my mind every time I get to visit. The grand mountains, crystal clear lakes, and winding rivers are absolutely breathtaking– the perfect backdrop for your special day. I’m going to provide as much information I can, so as you are planning you can have this blog to refer back to!
Step One
The first step to planning your wedding in Glacier National Park is picking the right photographer. I say this because, if you pick a photographer that is familiar with the park, they can help you find the perfect location and act as your personal tour guide. I also think picking the right photographer is key to enjoying your day and ending up with a gallery you love. Please remember that your wedding photos are something you will cherish forever so consider them an investment. Do your research and take your time deciding. Vibing with your photographer helps create beautiful, candid photos that truly capture your love.
Step Two
Pick your date! As you may know, Montana doesn’t have the most predictable weather, so choosing the right time of year and time of day for your wedding in Glacier is super important. I recommend choosing sunrise or sunset on a weekday, especially in the summer! There are usually fewer tourists and the light during dawn/dusk makes for the best photos. I also recommend bringing a pair of comfortable, waterproof boots to hike in, a jacket that can handle rain or snow, a pair of gloves, hand warmers, a warm drink, and an umbrella. While you may not need any of that, and I hope you don’t, it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! Below, I’ve linked Glacier National Park’s hours of operation and seasonal information to help you prepare!
National Park Service- Glacier Operating Hours & Seasons
Step Three
Location, location, location! Once your date is set, it’s time to nail down a location for your ceremony and reception (if you plan on having one). I‘ve written a blog you should check out on all the tops spots to getting married in Glacier National Park! You’ll also want to consider how far you’d like to travel to get to your destination from where you are staying, where you want to get ready, and post ceremony dinner. Here is a link that has rough estimates on travel times between locations.
Step Four
Find someone to perform your ceremony. The State of Montana allows for any ordained person to officiate your wedding, so you can even have a friend or family member do it if you’d like! I’ll list a couple local officiants below and I’ll also link the website you can use to get ordained!
Raul Rodriguez “Best Day Officiants”
Step Five
Apply for your permit and marriage license! If you want to get married in the park, you will have to apply for a special use permit. The sooner you complete the application the better, but make sure to get it done at least 30 days before the big day. Call the park office at 406-888-7832 or email glac_sup@nps.gov to make sure your date and location is available before submitting your application. The cost of a special use permit is $100. Your permit will lay out all the rules the park has and their terms of use. The park will notify you when your application has been approved. You will need to sign and return the permit at least 10 business days before the ceremony. I’ve linked the park’s website below so you can read more about getting married in Glacier National Park. The link to apply for your permit is on that page as well as the park’s current COVID restrictions. Getting your marriage license will depend on which county you’re in, nothing a quick google search can’t solve. I’ve linked the website to Flathead County’s application below. Flathead County is in Kalispell which is the closest place to Glacier that you can apply for your license. It will cost $53 and you can apply for your wedding license as early as 180 days before the ceremony.
Just a heads up- the park is cracking down on weddings and there are more restrictions to be aware of. You and your guests are allowed only 5 vehicles into the park. You will need to pay for park entry and parking is not reserved for you. There are shuttle options such as Arrow Shuttle or Big Red Bus.
Depending on how large your party is, there may be a park ranger assigned to make sure your guests are respecting the rules of the park. You will also have to pay for the park ranger to be there, so keep that in mind if you are planning on having a lot of people join you during your ceremony. Some of the rules that apply to weddings and elopements include:
- No Decorations
- No Playing of Instruments or Amplified Sound
- No Tossing Anything (throwing rice/birdseed/other non-native seeds aren’t permitted, among others) for your processional.
- The only flowers allowed are your bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages.
- No more champagne popping in the park!
In addition to these new restrictions, there is also a ticketed entry system that has been implemented to help keep the occupancy of the park under control. This basically means that you will need to purchase a ticket to reserve a time in the park in addition to your park pass that grants you general entry. This system is in effect from 6 am- 5pm at the West Glacier and St Mary entrances. I’ll link the park’s fees & passes website page below as well as a link for purchasing your tickets.
Marriage License Application for Flathead County Montana
Step Six
Now that you’ve figured out where and when you want to have your ceremony, you’ll need to find a place to stay! If you’re planning on spending your day in West Glacier I would recommend staying in Kalispell, Whitefish, or Columbia Falls. Especially during the winter. Those 3 towns will be as close to the park as you can get without staying in the park. If you are wanting to stay within the park, several of the venues available for receptions also offer lodging. I’ll link a few places to stay below & of course you can always find great options on AirBnb or VRBO.
Wonderstone USA- Columbia Falls
Meadow Lake Resort & Condos- Columbia Falls
Grouse Mountain Lodge- Whitefish
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake- Whitefish
The Firebrand Hotel- Whitefish
The Kalispell Grand Hotel- Kalispell
Summit Mountain Lodge- East Glacier
Travelers Rest Lodge – East Glacier
Step Seven
Find your vendors! Picking the right vendors is extremely important to make sure your day goes smoothly. It’s all in the details! Here’s a few that I recommend:
Hair & Makeup: Boundless Beauty Studio- Kalispell
Flowers: Wilde Floral – Instagram
Forage & Floral – Columbia Falls
Videographer: Media by Molly
Bakery: Montana Wild Flour- Whitefish
Caterer: Forage 406
Planner: Huckleberry Wedding Planning
Step Eight
Post ceremony celebratory dinner and drinks!
Northern Lights Saloon- Polebridge
Eddie’s Cafe and Mercantile- Apgar
Serrano’s- East Glacier
Park Cafe- St. Mary
Russel’s Fireside Dining Room, Lucke’s Lodge, or Joe’s Grill and Pizzeria- Lake McDonald
Ptarmigan Dining Room- Many Glacier Hotel
Swiss Lounge- Many Glacier
Two Dogs Flats Grill- Rising Sun Motor Inn & Cabins
Step Nine
Pack your bags! Here’s a few essentials I recommend bringing just so you’re prepared for anything:
- Hiking boots! You can always change shoes for pictures, but it’s important to have the appropriate footwear so you can get to your perfect elopement location!
- Warm clothes! Even in the summer, it can get chilly up in the mountains, so I suggest bringing a coat, hat, scarf, and gloves.
- Water and snacks! It would just be a shame if you were hangry on your wedding day.
- Headlamp or flashlight! You wouldn’t believe how quickly it gets dark some days. This will especially be necessary for my couples that are planning a sunrise/sunset ceremony.
- An Umbrella! You just never know what Montana weather is going to throw at you.
- Sunscreen! Yes, even in the winter. The sun still reflects off the snow and can give you a lovely burn.
- Bug & Bear Spray! You’ll need the bug spray for those pesky mosquitoes, and let’s hope we won’t need the bear spray but it’s always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it, am I right?
Thank You!
Thank you so much for considering me as your elopement photographer. I’d love to chat with you more so please fill out my inquiry form on my website- https://presleygrayphoto.com/contact. You can also check out some more of my work on Facebook or Instagram. Congratulations on your engagement! I hope to hear from you soon (:
