Glacier Wedding & Elopement photography Packages for Every Love Story

Bride and groom stand at sunset point in Glacier national park.

Glacier National Park, The crown of the Continent

As wild as it is beautiful, Glacier National Park is the ideal destination for adventurous weddings and elopements in Montana. Romantic wanderers looking to tie the knot off the beaten path will find no shortage of incredible backdrops for this next great chapter of their love story. From the jagged, snow capped peaks of Many Glacier, the crystal clear waters of Lake McDonald, or the old growth forest along the Trail of Cedars each location is more beautiful than the next. While easily accessible from the Kalispell airport it’s one of the wilder feeling parks out there. Especially if you get off the Road and hit the trails. It’s easy to see why its one of the most popular places to elope in Montana. Come, let's be adventurous.

How hard is it to elope in Glacier?

Not hard at all! Planning an elopement or micro wedding in Glacier National Park is a straightforward process. All you need is a permit from the national parks service, a marriage license and someone to officiate. For the details my first tip I have is to find is an amazing elopement photographer to travel the park with you and help you plan the perfect adventure. Even if you’re a frequent visitor to the park eloping has its own set of things to plan for and think about. To that end I offer resources to help every couple pick the perfect spot for their ceremony, get a permit, find an officiant and overall have an amazing time in the park. All of which you will find more on below! For couples who want to adventure through the park with me I offer wedding and elopement packages ranging from three hours to all day coverage. No matter what kind of spectacular wedding day in Glacier you want to plan, I have an elopement package ready to go.

Newlyweds hold each other tight in Glacier's fields of wildflowers.

Meet your Glacier elopement Photographer

  • I'm Norm Roberts the Fifth, an artist and outdoorsmen who for more than a decade has spent his life perfecting the art of light. Glacier National Park is easily one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth. I could spend an eternity exploring this wilderness and never grow old of its' majestic views. It's truly ideal landscape that makes for absolutely wild, and romantic wedding images. Creating here is a dream come true.

  • You'll find me happily driving the winding Going to the Sun road, wading through Lake McDonald, trekking up to Iceberg Lake, or climbing the mossy boulders to find the perfect angle for the shots we envisioned. This is your grand adventure in love, it deserves nothing less.

  • Simply put, folks who are looking to have an incredible adventure exploring an amazing place. Couples who are madly in love and want to run off into the mountains, get a little dirty, brave the wind or a little rain and create memories I can capture for them to cherish for a lifetime. Glacier National Park is a wonderland of incredible trails and majestic vistas, a real photographers playground. But I need your help to create spectacular images. I’m not looking for models, but real people willing to relax and have fun, focusing on their love for each other and not the camera pointed at them. That’s how we’ll create wedding photos you’ll never forget.

    You'll find me happily driving winding mountain roads, wading through the Merced River, trekking up Half Dome, or climbing granite boulders to find the shots we envisioned. Are we doing a quick sunrise ceremony with friends and family or an all day excursion into the backcountry? No matter your vision for the day, my knowledge and experience in the park will make sure you have the best experience possible. I offer a range of elopement photography packages to fit any adventure in Yosemite.

Windy wedding photos a top logans pass in Glacier national park.

2024 & 2025 Glacier National Park Elopement Photography Packages

My elopement packages in Glacier National Park offer a range of options to choose from, including different ceremony locations, photography packages, and add-ons like videography and floral arrangements. We understand that every couple is unique, and we want to make sure your elopement reflects your individual style and preferences. Whether you want a romantic mountaintop ceremony or a cozy lakeside exchange of vows, we can help you make it happen. I will work closely with you to ensure that every detail is taken care of, so you can relax and enjoy your special day. Contact me today to start planning your dream elopement in Glacier National Park!

Eloping couple kiss in front of the Iconic Glacier red tour cars

All Elopement Packages include:

Glacier elopement photography package content.
Three hour glacier elopement photography package
Six hour glacier elopement package
All day glacier elopement package
Two day adventure elopement package in Glacier NP

Wedding Planning Guide and Resources for Glacier National Park

Bride and groom enjoy a quiet moment of bliss at the end of a hike to Hidden Lake in the wilderness of Montana.

These stunning photos of real weddings in Glacier National Park will take your breath away. From intimate elopements to grand celebrations, each wedding captures the natural beauty and romance of this stunning location. Whether you're dreaming of saying "I do" on a mountaintop or by a tranquil lake, these photos will inspire you to plan your own unforgettable wedding in Glacier National Park.

Couple sits in an alpine meadow below Logans pass.
Groom whispers in wife's ear as they sit by waterfall.

What is required for a Glacier elopement?

A Special Use Permit from the national park is required for all wedding ceremonies taking place inside the park. Even a mock ceremony just for photos still requires a permit. The costs about $100 and is a relatively straight forward process. If you are just going into the park for photos, then no permit is required. Lean more on the NPS site.

Marriage licenses can be obtained from the Kalispell court house a short drive outside the west entrance of the park. No appointment is required but it can be busy later in the day so get in there early. And make sure both of you bring your drivers license or birth certificate.

A Wedding Officiant will be the last requirement for your wedding. There are some great professionals you can hire locally, or if you want something a little more personable. Have a close friend or family member get ordained online in just a few minutes.

When can you

Elope to glacier?

Spring bride walks with new husband on Lake St Mary shore.

Spring

Springtime in Glacier is still heavily impacted by the snowpack. Being so far north and at high altitude much of the park is still closed from snowpack. The lower elevations can still be accessible, especially in late spring. Iconic spots like Lake McDonald and Lake Saint Marry can be great destinations and you’ll have snowy mountains filling the backdrop of every shot. Late may through June is your best bet for spring weddings.

  • In spring, the average temperatures in the park range form a high of H65°F to a low of L31°F though it can be up to 15° cooler at high elevations

    The average rainfall in the park ranges from 1.9in in March to 3.2in in June.

    Snowpack usually keeps the Going to the Sun road closed to mid June.

Summer wedding in Glacier's Many Glacier valley.

Summer

The Summer is peak visitor season in Glacier National Park. Expect there to be massive crowds and limited accommodations. Definitely book early as this is one of the few parks I’ve actually struggled to get rental cars and hotels at. In late June most of the districts of the park should be fully open but there still may be specific trails, especially in the backcountry that remain snowed in. For those elope later in the summer. Plan your day around avoid the summer tourists and you’ll have a much better time. Sunset can be as late as 9:42pm in the summer!

  • In summer, the average temperatures in the park range form a high of H77°F to a low of L45°F though it can be up to 15° cooler at high elevations

    The average rainfall in the park ranges from 3.2in in June to 2.0in in September.

    Crowds are the biggest hurdle to overcome in Glacier. Popular locations fill up as early as sunrise.

Fall wedding in East Glacier with trees changing colors.

Fall

The changing of the leaves brings some incredible color into Glacier National park. Early fall can be an incredible time to get married in the park. The summer crowds are gone and the crisp Autumn air really suits the mountain landscape. Most locations will still be open in early fall but storms can close things down in a flash. Fall elopements need to have a certain degree of flexibility built into them to deal with the potential for inclement weather.

  • In Fall, the average temperatures in the park range form a high of H50°F to a low of L30°F though it can be up to 15° cooler at high elevations

    The average rainfall in the park ranges from 2.3in in October to 3.3in in December.

    Elope early in the season and have a plan B!

Snowy winter mountain in Glacier National Park.

Winter

Winter can be a challenging time to visit Glacier National Park, and even more challenging to elope. Most of the park is closed for the season. The only roads plowed of snow at this time of year is from the west entrance to Apgar village on Lake McDonald, and the road from Lake Saint Marry to the campground there. That being said, the park is almost empty and the blanket of white snow makes everything even more magical. Adventurous couples who don’t mind a little snowshoeing can get some incredible shots here.

  • In Winter, the average temperatures in the park range form a high of H30°F to a low of L15°F though it can be up to 15° cooler at high elevations

    The average rainfall in the park ranges from 3.3in in December to 2.3in in March.

    Bring your parka and your snowshoes!

Where should you have your Ceremony?

Glacier National park truly is a wonderland for adventurous elopements. With glacial carved mountains jutting up from the lush valleys filled with wildlife it’s easy to see why people from around the world travel to have their wedding’s here. The park is roughly divided into four distinct districts and each has specific sites set aside for wedding ceremonies. This is done in an effort to preserve the wild beauty of the natural landscape. While I wouldn’t recommend every location on the list, each district has a few sites that would make for an incredible backdrop for your intimate wedding. Check out my Glacier ceremony location guide below for more information on each available location.

couple rows a canoe on Swiftcurrent lake in Many Glacier

Where is the best lodging in Glacier?

When planning your elopement to Glacier National Park you’ll want to choose lodging that is located near your either your ceremony location or the last photo stop on the big day. It can be more than a two hour drive from the east side of the park to the western side.

Couple stands in the woods at sunrise in West Glacier.

West Glacier

Bride leans on husbands shoulder by the lake in East Glacier.

Lake McDonald Lodge

Great Northern Resort

Apgar Village Lodge and Cabins

Glacier Guides Lodge

Village inn at Apgar

West Glacier Village

East GLacier

Glacier Park Lodge

St Mary Village

Travelers rest lodge

Rising Sun Motor Inn

divide creek campground

Newlyweds pose for photos at sunset in Many Glacier.

Many GLacier

Many Glacier Hotel

swift current motor inn

Bride and groom on the shore of Lake McDonald.

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  • Late spring to early summer is typically the best time for weddings in Glacier national Park. Most of the park should be fully open by this time so you can take full advantage of the gorgeous scenery along the going to the sun road. Early Fall can also be an excellent time to visit the park as the summer crowds have gone and snow hasn’t yet closed sections of the park.

  • While there are 31 designated wedding ceremony sites, you can take wedding photos throughout the park. Please practice leaving no trace principles when venturing into the park. Preserve the park's natural beauty for eloping couples generations from now!

  • The special use permit for your wedding costs $100 from the national park services. Considering how incredible of a wedding backdrop the park is, this is a very good deal.

  • The simplest way to elope in a Glacier is to pick up a $100 ceremony permit from the park, have a friend or family member get ordained online for free, and then adventure into the park together.

  • Kalispell is the closest county courthouse where you can obtain a marriage license. It is about 45 minutes from the west entrance to Glacier national park. You do non need an appointment to get a license but I’d recommend getting there early to avoid the lines. Make sure you both bring your drivers license or birth certificate as they are required. The address for the courthouse is 920 S Main, Kalispell, MT 59901.

  • Yes. I wouldn’t recommend hiking anywhere in Glacier national park without bringing bear spray with me. So far I have only had one grizzly encounter during a wedding but it is always a possibility. Glacier National Park is a wild place.

  • The national park services have designated 31 areas among the park's four districts for wedding ceremonies. Many are campground amphitheaters and picnic areas but a few are incredible lakeside locations perfect for an intimate wedding.

  • A wedding in Glacier National can cost as little as $100. But you will also likely want to hire a photographer to document your stunning wedding and they can run from $2,000 to $6,000. Hair and makeup artists, florists, videographers, etc. can all also add additional costs.

Frequently asked questions