Glacier National Park Elopement Guide 2023
Let’s be real.. planning a wedding is a lot to take on. There are so many different things that go into the planning process. From the food to the colors to the dress to the decorations to the location and everything in between. Now add in all the extra voices and opinions from family and friends.. and now you’re doing your best to make everyone happy and it all just gets a little (or a lot) stressful. All of a sudden, instead of being excited to plan what’s supposed to be the best day of your life, you secretly just want it to be over. That’s not what your wedding day is supposed to feel like and there’s two ways to fix that.
- Ignore everybody else (except your fiance)! Your wedding is all about you and your soon to be husband or wife and you’re happiness is all you need to worry about!
- Ditch the big white wedding and plan the perfect, intimate and unforgettable Glacier National Park Elopement!
Why Elope in Glacier National Park?
First of all, I have nothing against a traditional wedding! If that is your dream and that’s what’s going to make your day perfect, then ABSOLUTELY plan the big white wedding! However, if you’re not whole heartedly set on a big wedding, think about an elopement in Glacier National Park!
Second, elopements are generally a lot cheaper. I say generally because it does depend on how you plan it but if you are working with a budget, it’s a lot easier to stay within that budget when planning an elopement.
Third, there are fewer details and fewer people involved in planning an elopement. Which means a lot less stress! You can still get the cake and bouquet you’ve always dreamed of but you don’t necessarily have to worry about booking a wedding caterer or deciding who’s gonna sit where at the reception. AND there’s very little to no decorating to worry about!
Finally, Glacier National Park is insanely gorgeous and the perfect location for an elopement! It provides such a large variety of scenery and really gives you the whole “Montana vibe” on your wedding day!
Check out my blogs What is Eloping and 10 Reasons to Elope in Montana for more info on eloping!
How do I plan an Elopement in Glacier National Park?
Step 1 – pick the right Montana Elopement Photographer! I’m only exaggerating a little when I say that choosing the right Elopement Photographer can make or break your wedding day. Choosing the right photographer, like MEWAHHH!!, is going to make your day a million times better and a million times less stressful! Local Montana photographers, ME , who grew up in Montana and photograph sessions in Glacier National Park constantly are going to know all of the rights spots to hit in the park, what time of year, day of the week, and time of the day will be best for your elopement in the park, and which wedding vendors to reach out to for things like your cake and florals!
Step 2 – Choose your location
Step 3 – Book an officiant
Step 4 – Find a florist
Step 5 – Order your cake
Step 6- Or skip steps 4 & 5 and book my all inclusive package
Step 7- Invite the people that you absolutely can’t say “I Do!” without!!
Step 8 – The logistics of planning an elopement in Glacier National Park
What locations through Glacier National Park are the best spots for an elopement?
There are 5 spots throughout Glacier National Park that I highly recommend for your elopement.
- West Glacier
- Two Medicine
- Saint Mary
- Many Glacier
- Pole Bridge & Bowman Lake
If you want more details on these locations, I go into depth in my blog Top Spots to Get Married in Glacier National Park!
West Glacier/Lake McDonald District
Max Participants:
Peak Season // Big Bend (10) / Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline (15) / Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline (15) / Sandy Point (15) / Jackson Bay (15) / Sprague Picnic Area (15) / Lake McDonald Lodge Beach (15) / Ryan Beach (15)
Non-Peak Season // Big Bend (10) / Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline (25) / Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Sandy Point (20) / Jackson Bay (20) / Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Lake McDonald Lodge Beach (30) / Ryan Beach (20)
2023 Restrictions and Regulations:
- Check the Glacier National Park website for possible event and construction closures
- Big Bend – accessible by vehicle from early July – mid September, wheelchair accessible, no tables, no chairs, no decorations, snacks are okay. Events can only be held on the developed gravel area.
- Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline – accessible by vehicle year round, pets are allowed, no tables, no chairs, no decorations, snacks are okay.
- Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline – accessible by vehicle from late April – late December, pets allowed, no tables, no chairs, no decorations, snacks are okay.
- Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline – accessible by vehicle from early May – mid October, pets allowed, no tables, no chairs, no decor, snacks are okay.
- Sandy point and Jackson Bay – accessible by vehicle year-round, no tables, no decorations, up to 4 chairs allowed, snacks are okay.
- Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline – accessible by vehicle mid May – early September, pets are allowed, no tables, no chairs, no decorations, snacks are okay.
- Lake McDonald Lodge Beach – accessible by vehicle year-round, pets are allowed, no tables, no decorations, up to 4 chairs are allowed, snacks are okay.
- Ryan Beach – accessible by vehicle year-round, no facilities, no tables, no decorations, up to 4 chairs are allowed, snacks are okay.
Two Medicine Lake
Max Participants:
Peak Season // Running Eagle Falls (15) / Pray Lake Shoreline (30) / Two Medicine Amphitheater (15) / Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline (15) / Walton Picnic Area (15)
Non-Peak Season // Running Eagle Falls (15) / Pray Lake Shoreline (30) / Two Medicine Amphitheater (20) / Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Walton Picnic Area (15)
2023 Restrictions and Regulations:
- Running Eagle Falls, Pray Lake Shoreline, Two Medicine Amphitheater and Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline are accessible by vehicle from the last week of May to mid October
- Walton Picnic Area is accessible by vehicle year-round
- Running Eagle Falls are wheelchair accessible and snacks are okay but tables, chairs and decorations are not allowed
- Pray Lake Shoreline does not allow tables or decorations but up to 4 chairs and snacks are okay
- Two Medicine Amphitheater is wheelchair accessible, allows pets and snacks but does not allow tables, chairs or decorations
- Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline allows pets and snacks but does not allow tables, chairs or decorations
- Walton Picnic Area does not allow tables, chairs or decorations and food and beverages are only allowed in designated picnic areas
Saint Mary District
Max Participants:
Peak Season // St Marys Amphitheater (50) / Rising Sun Amphitheater (30) / Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline (15) / Sun Point (20) / 1913 Ranger Station (20)
Non-Peak Season // St Marys Amphitheater (75) / Rising Sun Amphitheater (30) / Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline (20) / Sun Point (20) / 1913 Ranger Station (20)
2023 Restrictions and Regulations:
- Vehicle Access: St Marys Amphitheater (year-round) / Rising Sun Amphitheater (early may-late october) / Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline (early may-late october) / Sun Point (last week of may-mid october) / 1913 Ranger Station (year-round)
- St Marys Amphitheater and Rising Sun Amphitheater are wheelchair accessible, allows pets and snacks but does not allow tables, chairs or decorations
- Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline does not allow tables or decorations. Up to 4 chairs and snacks are allowed
- Sun Point and 1913 Ranger Station do not allow tables, chairs or decorations. Snacks are allowed
- Road closures will affect access to these areas
Many Glacier District
Max Participants:
15 Peak Season
15 Non-Peak Season
2023 Restrictions and Regulations:
- vehicle access to the locations within this district is limited to Mid May through Mid October
- no tables or decorations are allowed
- Many Glacier Hotel Green (behind the main lodge) and Lake Josephine Shorline do not allow chairs.
- Many Glacier Hotel – SW Beach allows 4 chairs
- snacks are allowed at all locations
- weather may cause road closures so check park conditions frequently
Polebridge & Bowman Lake
Max Participants:
15 Peak Season
24 Non-Peak Season
2023 Restriction and Regulations:
- this location will not be available from September 1st through November 30th due to construction
- it can only be accessed by vehicle between Mid May and Mid October
- no tables or decorations are allowed
- you can have up to 4 chairs and you can bring snacks
- in the event the road is closed due to snow, you can park at the Polebridge ranger station and hike or ski the 6 miles to the Bowman lake day use area
Who should officiate your Glacier National Park Elopement?
Tom Paris with I do
Raul Rodriguez with Best Day Officiants
https://www.bestdayofficiants.com/
Who should you invite to your Glacier National Park Elopement?
You know those people you want to tell everything to? The first people you told when you got engaged? The ones that have been there for you no matter what? The people that you want to share all the good things and all the bad things with? Those people that you actually don’t think you could live without? Those are the people that you invite to your elopement! And it might be 10 people or 5 people or maybe even just 1 person and that’s absolutely okay!
The logistics of planning an Elopement in Glacier National Park.
You’ve done the fun parts.. you’ve found the dress, picked out a florist and officiant, decided on a cake and a location, now all you have to do is show up, right? Unfortunately, no. Glacier National Park has some rules and regulations that you need to follow for a GNP Elopement or Wedding. Don’t worry though, it’s really not that hard and I can absolutely help you with all of it! In order to elope in the park, you have to jump through a few hoops including acquiring the correct permits and completing any applicable reservations. I recommend doing this as soon as possible to make sure you can get the date and location you’re hoping for!
For more information you can go to the Glacier National Park website but i’m going to break it down for you here!
In order to use the park for your wedding, you need to fill out a special use permit application which can be found on the “Getting Married in the Park” page of the Glacier National Park website. On the application, you will need to include:
- specific details including the exact location and time of your elopement
- contact information for your photographer and/or videographer
- a list of anything you will be bringing into the park for your elopement that you will not be wearing (table, cake, etc.)
- the number of people that will be attending (including officiant, photographer/videographer, any guests, you and your fiance, and anyone else that will be attending)
- the number of vehicles (there are rules for how many vehicles you can have based on your guest count)
Before setting your heart on a location, make sure it is on the approved list of wedding locations.
If you are hiring a videographer and/or photographer, they may need to fill out a special use permit for filming and/or still photography.
If you plan on camping or staying in a lodge at the park, you need to make those reservations early on.
The good news is.. if you book a Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, like ME!, they will have plenty of experience with this whole process and can help you get through it!
DID YOU KNOW I OFFER ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES??
YES! Let me narrow it down for you and make your day less stressful and take 2 more things off your plate! This package includes a big beautiful bouquet handmade by a local florist. It also includes a pocket square or boutonniere for your Fiancé. And a locally made tasty little cake with the flavor of your choosing! You pay me and I do the rest of the work and I show up on your day with your cake and florals. Does this sound like a done deal?!
