FULL guide to having your wedding at Glacier Outdoor Weddings & Events outside West Glacier National Park!

As a NW Montana + Glacier National Park photographer and videographer that captures both traditional weddings AND adventure elopements, I oftennnnn get asked how couples can combine the two styles of wedding to start off their marriages in a way that feels completely true to them. I get it! You’re adventurous, you love nature, you feel most like yourselves when you’re exploring together, you LOVE the stunning elopement photos + videos you see on social media…buttttt, you just can’t imagine getting hitched without your friends and family there to celebrate with you. TOTALLY understandable — soooo let me tell you about the perfect venue that will give you the best of both worlds: Glacier Outdoor Weddings & Events by Glacier Raft Company, which is a beautiful venue located RIGHT outside of West Glacier National Park. This venue has freaking everything you could want — a park-view pavilion with stunning mountain views for your ceremony, a covered area for your reception, rooms for getting ready, on-site lodging, multiple package options to suit your needs, and a location that can’t be beat. In this blog post, I’ll break it alllll down for you.

Torin & April’s Greece Elopement: Adventurous Destination Wedding on Santorini and Ios | Sunrise engagement photos on Santorini + Intimate Destination Wedding on Ios | Videography + Photography by Montana Diaries

Helena, MT Vow Renewal and Adventure Elopement Session on the Continental Divide Trail

Taylor + Lex’s Intimate Vow Renewal

Videography and Photography by Montana Diaries

Bus Lifers Elope on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Jordan + Hollie’s Montana Elopement Adventure on Going to the Sun Road

Videography and Photography by Montana Diaries

Virgin River Inspired Vow Renewal Outside Missoula, MT

Adventurous Elopement in Polebridge, Montana and Glacier National Park | Alex + Emily’s Montana Elopement to Polebridge + Bowman Lake | Videography + Photography by Montana Diaries

Hiking Elopement at Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park | Andrew + Tatiana’s Adventurous Elopement | Videography + Photography by Montana Diaries

a treehouse, a freehouse for s + j

Jenny and Sean said a big “no thanks” to plans and timelines for their elopement and it was the best. decision. ever.

We met at Montana Treehouse Retreat for pancakes and coffee before Sean headed out to shoot guns at Northwest Shooter and Jenny got pampered by the amazingggg hair and makeup team, Honey Beauty— I always encourage our couples to think about how they want their days to *feel* and to plan for their experience, not for a cold photo shoot. It always, always, always pays off.

Sean and Jenny had their first look at the base of the treehouse — you freaking guys. You should have seen the look on Sean’s face when Jenny descended the staircase. He said that Jenny is going to end up in every single wedding magazine and Pinterest board and blog and uhmmmm — he’s correct. Ha!!

We got in the car and headed to the park where they laid eyes on Glacier National Park for the first time together. They wanted to save their vows for when it felt right, and so it was a spontaneous, intimate moment complete with rushing water and a bighorn sheep that tried to get in on the action too, the craziest sunset, ~spooky flash photography~ and twilight vibes after dark, and a picnic for two back at the treehouse will have to wait because there was way too much goodness for one blog post. Sean and Jenny wanted a free flowing day that felt like them and I’d say we crushed it.

Here’s to the Kummers!

ROHAN & TEENA’S FORMAL ENGAGEMENTS: Winter in Glacier National Park: Formal Engagement Inspo at Lake McDonald

We rang in the new year with this elopement-style session at Oi! Yoi! in Missoula, Montana and it was the sweetest day with Meghan and Donovan! They both laughed and teared up during their first look, had a blast playing with confetti and disco balls, and cut into a delicious cake from Posy Cake Studio.