Montana LGBTQIA+ Wedding and Elopement Photographer and Videographer
How to Plan Your Montana LGBTQIA+ Wedding or Elopement
Montana is one of the most beautiful places in the country and it's a place that I am so grateful that I get to capture all my couples' unique love stories! Love is love and capturing all types of love truly fills my cup. So as a Montana wedding and elopement photographer, I wanted to write this guide for the LGBTQIA+ community in Montana to help them plan their dream wedding or elopement! In this guide, I include where to elope in Montana, LGBTQIA+-friendly vendors, getting your Montana marriage license, & more so keep reading!!
FAQs About Planning Your LGBTQIA+ Wedding in Montana
Are there any special requirements for LGBTQIA+ when it comes to getting our Montana marriage license?
No, thanks to the 2015 Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage, there are no extra hoops you need to jump through to obtain your marriage license.
Are there LGBTQIA-friendly wedding venues in Montana?
Yes, yes, yes, we have so many amazing wedding venues here that are super inclusive to everyone! I will share some great venues later in this blog!
Is it hard to plan an LGBTQIA wedding or elopement in Montana?
While you do have to be a bit more cautious when selecting vendors, with the right resources, planning your LGBTQIA wedding or elopement in Montana shouldn’t be any harder. This guide is the perfect resource to help you make the process even easier.
Where to Elope in Montana
Wow, where do I even begin?? Montana seriously has sooo many epic places to get married or elope! From Glacier National Park to small-town vibes, there are so many options. So, below I am sharing a few of my favorite elopement locations as well as some LGBTQIA+ friendly wedding venues!
Adventurous Elopement Locations
Glacier National Park
If you’re imagining eloping in front of a turquoise-blue glacier lake with snow-capped mountains in the background during golden hour, then this is the place to do it! With miles and miles of hiking trails, there are endless locations here to explore on your elopement day. For more information on eloping in Glacier National Park, check out my guide here!
NW Montana
NW Montana is my home and I couldn’t love it anymore! There are beautiful mountains, epic hiking, and the most picturesque views but in a much less crowded area. If you love the idea of eloping in Glacier National Park but aren’t a fan of the big crowds, NW Montana is a great option! Some of my favorite locations in NW Montana include:
Missoula Area
For a more trendy and artsy type of elopement, downtown Missoula is a great option. It offers small-town vibes with rich history and historical charm surrounded by the most beautiful scenery. In Missoula, my personal recommendation for an elopement here would be to explore the nature and beautiful views in the day for your ceremony and then in the evening head to the city for some fun activities. You can go bar-hopping, dancing, eat great food, and maybe even get matching tattoos if you’re feeling spontaneous.
For more information on planning a Missoula elopement, check out my Missoula Elopement Guide where I take a deep dive into locations and so much more!
Helena
If you and your partner want breathtaking scenery, historical charm, and some great fishing, Helena is the perfect place to elope! Here are some of my favorite elopement locations in Helena for you to consider.
Missouri River: Best place for fly fishing.
Bozeman Area
Bozeman is a beautiful city with a lot to offer from killer city vibes to idyllic nature views in every direction. This is the perfect place to have the best of both worlds on your elopement day. Have your adventurous hiking elopement during the day and then head into the city to celebrate with some bar-hopping and dancing. Then you can end your night staying at a trendy Airbnb or boutique hotel!
For more information on planning a Bozeman elopement, check out my Bozeman elopement guide where I take a deep dive into locations and so much more!
Montana LGBTQIA+ Friendly Wedding Venues
When planning your LGBTQIA + wedding one of the most important tasks is finding a wedding venue that is all-inclusive. And I get it, this can be a super daunting task. If you’re getting married in Montana, I want to help you make this process a little easier. Below is a list of some amazing LGBTQIA+-friendly wedding venues in Montana:
Gallatin River Hideaway
The Gallatin River Hideaway is an amazing LGBTQIA-friendly wedding venue in Bozeman that offers packages for weddings, elopements, and micro weddings. This venue offers two choices of venues, "Creekside" or "Bridal Veil". Each venue is approximately 6 acres and is surrounded by the most beautiful cottonwood and aspen trees. They both have indoor and outdoor spaces available.
The Ranch at Rock Creek
The Ranch at Rock Creek is a remote and luxurious Montana wedding venue surrounded by the most beautiful forested area in Philipsburg. This venue offers a super luxurious and all-inclusive experience on a ranch with ten square miles of river, forest, valley, and vista in all directions. It offers several beautiful event spaces that can fit up to 125 people. If you’re looking for an LGBTQIA wedding venue in Montana that is remote and romantic, then I highly recommend checking it out!
Lone Mountain Ranch
Lone Mountain Ranch is a stunning country wedding venue located in Big Sky. The ranch has the most beautiful views with the ceremony and reception spaces set against the backdrop of stunning foliage. Because this is also a resort, you and your guests can choose to stay in their Western-style cabins and enjoy all of the amazing amenities. If you imagine yourself having a rustic outdoor wedding in a super private environment, then this might be the venue for you!
The Resort at Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up is another LGBTQIA-friendly luxury wedding venue in Montana located on 37,000 acres of untouched land. If you imagine yourself marrying your best surrounded by nothing but beautiful wilderness and miles of breathtaking views, this is a great option. No matter what you imagine your wedding day to look like, you can customize every detail from the flowers to the decor truly making the space your own. They also offer luxury homes and camping if you and your guests choose to stay on the property.
The Nest on Swan River
The Nest on Swam River is the dreamiest Montana riverfront wedding venue nestled near the Swan Mountains. Their ceremony site is located right on the river and is the most serene and tranquil setting perfect for a romantic and intimate wedding. This property also provides lodging for the bridal party, family, and friends.
At an Airbnb
Another option that is possible is to get married at an Airbnb. This would be best for a couple wanting to elope or that is having a small ceremony with just their closest friends and family. There are tons of Airbnb’s in Montana that are so unique and have so much charm that would provide the perfect setting for a wedding or elopement. When looking for an Airbnb, just make sure to check with the host to make sure they are okay with you hosting a small wedding or elopement on the property.
Getting Your Montana Marriage License
Getting your Montana marriage license as an LGBTQIA couple is the exact same process. Because same-sex marriage was federally legalized in 2015, you will have no issues and can follow the general steps to obtain it. Here are the steps below to obtain your Montana marriage license:
Apply for your marriage license online.
Visit a County clerk’s office in person (both of you) to sign the application & provide a valid photo ID.
Once you sign your license, you will need to pay the $53 fee. Cash or card is accepted but there will be an additional feel for credit card.
Montana Marriage Laws
Is Montana residency required? No
Witnesses required? Yes, 2
Officiant required? Yes
How long is the license valid? It will expire after 180 days.
Waiting period? No, you can get married the same day you obtain your marriage license.
Montana LGBTQIA+ Friendly Wedding Vendors
Hair/Makeup
Florists
Caterers
Videographers
Montana Diaries: We’re a full coverage photography + videography team!
Officiants
Planning
Dessert
Other
Meet Your Montana LGBTQIA+ Wedding and Elopement Photographer and Videographer
Hi, I’m Shayna Lloyd, but everyone calls me Shay — I’m the owner of Montana Diaries, and I curate the most badass teams imaginable to help me tell wild, messy, beautiful stories through video & photo. I’m in love with capturing all types of love! I crave freedom and authenticity, and I KNOW that you do too; the most important part of my job is being the permission slip my couples need to let go of everything that doesn’t feel true to them.
