Summer Elopement at Going to the Sun Road

Summer Elopement Along Going to the Sun Road

Matt + Taylor’s Montana adventure fly fishing, reading love letters in West Glacier, and driving Going to the Sun Road

Photography and Videography by Montana Diaries

Matt + Taylor’s Montana Elopement

This elopement included a Montana lifestyle session inside a quaint cottage in Columbia Falls, fly fishing on the Middle Fork of the Flathead, and an elopement at Going to the Sun Road. Matt and Taylor are two of the loveliest people I’ve ever met — they got engaged in South Carolina and knew they wanted to get hitched in Montana after vacationing here! Here’s what Taylor said when she first reached out:

“We vacationed in Montana last June (2020) for the first time and absolutely fell in love with atmosphere! Everything about Montana spoke to us!  I want the day to be filled with laughter, joy, happy tears, and LOVE! We are game to hike to the best spots Montana has to offer. We want to spend our day "off the beaten path." We want to be one with the nature and God's beautiful creation. I want epic film and pictures of our true love. If you have a cool idea... we are down for the adventure! Just being together as man and wife on that day is all that is important to us! Yes, we will hang pictures all around the house of OUR DAY, but ultimately the love we share is what is important to us! We are planning on having a reception next Spring and would love to have our film playing for our guests to see and a slideshow of OUR PERFECT DAY!! :) Oh, we can't wait!!”

If you know anything about me…you know that’s a dream inquiry, haha!! 

They both love to hunt, bass and fly fish, hike, garden, workout together, and boat year-round, so we knew an elopement honoring their outdoor interests was in order. Read all about how we embraced the outdoors on their wedding day below!

Matt + Taylor’s Montana Adventure Elopement Timeline

Often, when a couple is having trouble figuring out what they want to do for their elopement, I ask them to just brain dump everything that sounds fun as well as what their dream photos/video would look like terrain-wise and then I come back with some ideas on how to make it happen logistically. Matt and Taylor loved the idea of an in-home session, fly-fishing, and finding epic mountain views, so I suggested a two-day extravaganza to fit it all in. 

Columbia Falls, Montana In-Home Lifestyle Engagement Photos

Matt + Taylor stayed in the cutest little Airbnb outside Columbia Falls, MT — we began their lifestyle session there, taking advantage of the natural light and neutral decor. They cuddled on the couch while telling me their proposal story, and they even practiced their first dance in the living room. It was such a sweet moment! 

Montana Fly Fishing Adventure Session at the Flathead River

After their in-home session, we headed to the Flathead River for some fly fishing. It was an overcast, cool day so they wore their waders — I love when couples incorporate activities they love into their sessions! 

Getting ready before sunrise

Matt and Taylor got ready together at their Airbnb before we headed into the park — they chose to wait to change their clothes until we were actually in the park because they wanted to do a first look, but also have the convenience of all of us riding together in one vehicle. They were so fun, we listened to cheesy 90s hiphop the whole drive while they both scribbled the last of their love letters into their vow books in the back seat. Ha!! 

First Look at McDonald Creek

We did Matt and Taylor’s first look by McDonald Creek in West Glacier because we wanted to stop as much as possible along Going to the Sun Road, and they wanted to have their wedding clothes on for the adventure session! It was super chilly — the sun hadn’t quite risen yet over the mountain peaks, and they were *shaking* while reading their love letters to one another. I seriously teared up at how sweet they were during their first look and letter reading, I couldn’t believe how gentle they were with one another and how they both expressed their love so eloquently — and their letters matched up in so many places, it was crazy! 

Adventure Session at Going to the Sun Road

Matt + Taylor had a blast exploring Glacier National Park together on their wedding day — we leisurely made our way through Going to the Sun Road, and stopped at multiple iconic locations along the way. Our stops at the tunnel, Big Bend, and Logan’s Pass were technically photo-ops, but we always bring an attitude of exploration and prioritizing experience to our adventure sessions. We encouraged Matt and Taylor to enjoy themselves and take everything in together, and minimized posing. It was seriously the best time! 

A Picnic at Sun Point 

We ended the day at the iconic Sun Point overlooking Saint Mary Lake — Matt and Taylor enjoyed a picnic of charcuterie before cutting into their delicious cake from Fleur while taking in the amazing view. After we ate, visited, and packed up their picnic, they played their song on a portable speaker and shared their first dance as a married couple. 

Going to the Sun Road elopement photographer and videographer

I’m Shay, your NW Montana + Glacier National Park photographer and videographer for the adventurous and laid-back — I love, love, love when couples are open to making their elopement a true adventure without a set plan like Matt and Taylor did. We literally just drove Going to the Sun Road and stopped in locations along the way that they found extraordinary. If you’re wanting to plan your own elopement experience w/ a story-driven photographer and videographer, then click here to learn all about our process and pricing.