I’m a mountain girl at heart. I grew up in the Midwest and was surrounded by corn my entire life, so the mountains have always blown me away. I love exploring all the views in Colorado, but I don’t only photograph elopements in Colorado. If you and bae want to elope in a different state but still want me as your photographer, I will hop on a Southwest flight with a bag of snacks and be there!
Memory and Thomas are from Texas and wanted me to shoot their Glacier National Park (GNP) elopement in Montana. None of us had ever been before, so obviously I said yes before they could fully ask the question. Since it was a brand new place for them, they relied heavily on me to plan and navigate the process. I loved the challenge of planning from states away, and they couldn’t have been happier with how their day went.
GNP is actually heaven on earth. They have mountains, greenery, water – literally anything you could want for an epic elopement. Memory and Thomas found a beautiful spot in the woods for their friends and family to join the ceremony, and then broke away with me for a little pizza picnic by the lake. Yep, I said pizza. Light sabers may have also been involved. Don’t believe me? Keep scrolling.
The Details
- These cuties are high school sweethearts!
- Memory and Thomas knew they wanted an intimate day, but they also knew how important their friends had been throughout their relationship. Their closest friends stood by their side, just like a traditional wedding (no rules, remember?)
- To avoid the permit process at Glacier National Park, their ceremony was held at the Airbnb they rented for everyone
- It rained on us, but everyone was relaxed and just went with the flow, which is so important when eloping!
- Memory & Thomas chose to share vows in front of their family, but they wrote private vows to read to each other privately. This allowed them to have the best of both worlds.
Must Knows for a Glacier National Park Elopement
- Like a lot of national parks, you need a special use permit to elope here. The earlier you start the process, the better! The permit price varies depending on the park, but it’s typically around $200.
- There are a ton of gorgeous spots to elope here. If it’s overwhelming, ask your photographer for suggestions! Regardless of where you choose, if you want to avoid crowds and have some alone time, late September and October tend to be a little quieter.
- Bears are super common! It’s nothing to freak out about, but make sure you pack bear spray (and know how it works). Food also shouldn’t be left unattended, but that’s a given any time you’re out in nature.
- There is NO self-solemnization here (Colorado: 1 Montana: 0). You’ll need to find an officiant, along with two witnesses. And don’t forget your Montana marriage license!
