I built this guide because I kept getting the same questions from couples flying in from across the country — where do we actually get a permit? Which trails are worth it? Who does flowers out here? — and I wanted to put every answer in one place.
I've been photographing elopements and weddings across Glacier National Park and Northwest Montana for years now. I've watched couples say their vows at dawn on frozen lakeshores and in wildflower meadows buzzing with summer. I've hiked in dress shoes and hauled gear up ridgelines at 5 AM. Every single time, this place delivers something you couldn't have planned — and that's what makes it worth it.
This guide covers the practical stuff: permits, budgets, timelines, vendor recommendations, packing lists. But it's also here to help you dream. The best elopements I've documented aren't the most expensive ones — they're the ones where the couple was fully, unapologetically themselves.
Use what's useful. Skip what you've figured out. And if you have questions, my inbox is always open.