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Have a look at this winter elopement and tell me if you can tell how cold it was?!?

I bet you can’t! That’s because Kara + Chris are freakin’ CHAMPS! They had a private ceremony outside of Glacier National Park, but wanted to go find some mountain views for their portraits. While most of the park is closed in the wintertime, you can still access the road along Lake Mcdonald, so that’s where we went! 

Not only was their date 2/2/2022, but it was a high of -22 degrees fahrenheit! 

Yes, you read that correctly. NEGATIVE TWENTY-TWO!!! Damn, it was freakin’ cold. 

But you know I’m not scared of a little winter weather in Montana!!! So we started with their winter elopement photos at the head of the lake where we could get some killer shots of the mountains up closer and the lake in all of its snowy glory, but the wind was insane! We were moving around and actually concerned about frostbite ahhhh, so we moved on after about five minutes! 

Searching for some trees to hide in, we made our way around the lake and found some spots where the wind wasn’t whipping quite as badly. Determined to get those sweeping mountain views, we rotated between shooting and warming up in the car. We ended up with some really stunning photos on the shoreline with those classic Glacier National Park views, some sunsoaked images on a path near the forest, and whimsical snow covered pines by the end of their session! Success! 

Isn’t it crazy how natural these babes look in their images??? You never would have guessed that we were battling those harsh conditions. All you see is some sweet love and sunshine on the snow from a stunning winter elopement in Montana. I guess those snow pants and moon boots that Kara wore under her wedding dress did the trick! 

Please tell me you as obsessed as I am?! Well then you’d probably like some more winter elopement and wedding inspiration!!! Have a look at Trina + Shane’s dreamy winter wedding and tell me that winter in Montana isn’t the freakin’ prettiest thing you’ve seen!!!  

Xx, J

This elopement in the mountains couldn’t have been sweeter. From start to finish, Leoni + Jacob were just so in love with each other and their journey together. Add in a me who lives for this kind of elopement day, and a videographer who literally captures pure freakin’ magic with his camera, some wildly stunning landscape, a few shots of tequila, and you’ve got quite a wedding day. 

That’s how Leoni + Jacob’s elopement in the mountains went down. When they first reached out to me, they told me they were national park people, but they had never been to Glacier National Park. They also told me that they had planned to cruise out to Montana together and secretly elope. And sent me a photo of them with J wearing a matching flamingo print button up and shorts. By this point, I was already 100% invested in their story and ready to capture every moment. 

They were staying at Clear Sky resorts, so I headed there to meet up with Leoni + Jacob, as well as their videographer they had hired, Films by Stanton. After a quick creep on Instagram, I knew Stanton was freakin’ talented. So I was stoked to work with someone to capture the details of this elopement day. 

We all cruised into Glacier, just chasing the light, soaking in the truest fall weather you can get in GNP! Autumn doesn’t last long, so the timing was perfect. We started at Avalanche Creek before cruising up to Logan’s Pass to exchange personal vows before the actual ceremony. Sitting right there on the side of a mountain, snuggled up in the grass together, they looked at each other, eye-to-eye, and shared the sweetest words. They sealed it with a kiss and a shot of tequila. And then another shot with Stanton + I because it was freezing and we needed a bit of a booze blanket to keep warm haha. 

It was time to head toward Big Bend to have the official ceremony. Raul of Best Day Officiants performed a stunning wedding ceremony and just like that, Leoni + Jacob started forever together! We chilled for a minute of post-ceremony cuddles to just bask in that euphoric I just married the love of my life feeling as the sun set. 

We headed back toward Avalanche to hang out at the boardwalk after dark. The cold creeped in, so more tequila was needed. We all snacked on some sandwiches and m&ms while they cuddled by lantern light. The perfect ending to a day full of love. Even I was on a high from how sweet and intimate their day was! It wasn’t just another elopement in the mountains, it was truly their day. 

Way back when they first inquired, I knew Jacob was in a wheelchair and that he regularly visited national parks, but the more I talked to Leoni + Jacob, the bigger their story became. I learned that they had come across several other couples who were in similar situations, with one partner who was physically unable to walk, who didn’t think an epic, adventurous elopement in the mountains would be possible for them. Leoni + Jacob wanted to inspire others by showing them an adventure elopement was accessible to them. That yeah, there may be limitations or difficulties when planning your day, but that it was 1000% possible. They were really excited to share their story with others and hopefully spark others to go for the day they truly want! I wanted to share their story, too.

If you’re dreaming of an elopement in the mountains, GO FOR IT! And when you do, I’m your freakin’ girl. Glacier has been my playground for a while now, but no mountain range is off limits. Wanna have a Grand Teton National Park elopement? Or maybe head to another spot in the Rockies like this Colorado mountain wedding? It is possible for you, no matter what! And I’ll help ya make it happen.

Xx, J

Lone Mountain Ranch is a dream for a wedding or Big Sky, MT elopement and damn was Alicia and Shawn’s elopement a sweet one! So many aspects of their day were thought out and intentional which made every part of their wedding meaningful to them. So I’m a little bit obsessed!!! 

Alicia + Shawn originally wanted to elope just the two of them, but couldn’t imagine leaving their parents out of their day. That’s the great thing about elopements, there are no rules! You get to do exactly what you want and not worry about the rest. So they invited just their parents along and we all had the best time together. 

When I showed up at Lone Mountain Ranch, Alicia was getting ready in their cabin. She was the most chill, laid-back bride getting ready that morning! She wore a custom flannel she brought with her. It had the lyrics of their first dance song stitched into the shirt – how freakin’ perfect?! 

While we finished getting Alicia ready, Shawn headed to the ridge first. Alicia hopped into a horse carriage for her entrance and she took her dad’s arm when we arrived and walked down the grassy aisle to her soon-to-be husband. Right there under that wooden altar, those two lovers exchanged some of the most heart-felt, intentional vows. The ceremony wasn’t long, but it was so sweet and so meaningful to them. After, they toasted with their families and I stole them away for some golden hour portraits.  

Golden hour turned out to be a little smokey for this elopement, which can be a possible reality when getting married in Montana in late summer or early fall. But a little smoke didn’t put a damper on our day and Alicia + Shawn rocked their portraits! In fact it created a beautiful dreamy haze. They were running all over the field, jumping up on rocks, and having a damn good time! We turned up the cuteness level up with the addition of some furry friends, a ranch pup and even some horse friends too! We ended with their first dance under a golden haze and these two babes rode off together in the carriage! And, then they ended their laid-back day in Montana the right way, with some bbq + beer!!! 

If you loved A+S’s gallery at Lone Mountain Ranch, you are going to want to watch out for Leah + Aaron’s too! I somehow got lucky enough to shoot not one, but two weddings on the ranch last year. Who’s trying to snag my third wedding at Lone Mountain?!!? ‘Cause I am in! Contact me here and let’s get to planning the most perfect day EVER, yeah?!

Xx, J.

Okay who wants a Grand Teton National Park elopement? Because I know I spend alot of time in Glacier but the truth is…. Tetons are my favorite park! There is something about those mountain peaks, the town of Jackson Hole, the color of, what seems like billions, of wildflowers in the summer and the crisp,warm colors in the fall. Man, this place is just unreal. Add in a couple so wildly in love with each other and it’s an absolute freaking dream. Which brings us to Ally + Erik and their day eloping in the Tetons. 

A+E laugh when they look back on the way they met. Their paths had been connected even before ever meeting in person. Erik was best friends with Jared, who was dating Becca, whose sister is Ally. Did you follow me with that one?! They had heard countless stories about the other. There were many instances where they could have been in the same place at the same time, but it never happened. That was until a winter day in January of 2018. Their paths finally crossed and they knew it was it. They said there was never any question of whether this was forever. Gives me freakin’ goosebumps. The magic they felt between each other radiated in every part of their Grand Teton National Park elopement. 

I’ve photographed in Jackson Hole a few times, from weddings to engagements. Like I said, I am obsessed with the place. So I was so stoked to be back in Wyoming for their elopement! The drive to the mountainside townhouse was incredible. As I pulled in, I noticed something in the middle of the driveway. I had to chuckle a little when I realized it was a pair of underwear. Yes, underwear!!! Hahaha! The funniest part is that it didn’t belong to anyone and they had no clue where it came from. BUT ANYWAY! I walked into the house (which was renovated by the guys from https://www.myhousepainter.com/painters/georgia/ site) and there wasn’t a soul in sight. Finally, after a brief scavenger hunt, I found Ally + the girls getting ready upstairs. 

A+E invited their siblings + their siblings partners, one friend who officiated the ceremony and his partner. There might have been a couple friends who crashed from the parking lot that weren’t supposed to be there. But it was all a good laugh and we joked about the elopement crashers all day. 

Ally brought along her grandma’s wedding dress from 1934, but opted to not to wear it for the elopement. It was so delicate + fragile that we were worried about how it’d hold up as we roamed around the park. So instead she wore a gown from Lulu’s, which was stunning. During the ceremony, Ally’s sister performed a celtic handfasting ceremony by reciting a poem + wrapping their hands in cloth. It was SO beautiful. If you’ve never heard of this, you can read more about it here! Becca, Ally’s sister, read from a poem and I had to share it with you! 

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever….And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.”

Make sure to find + read the whole poem in the images below!! 

The elopement ceremony along a river was short + sweet. So we spent the rest of the evening roaming through the park, running through fields and down roads, soaking in the beauty of the Tetons. At sunset, we stopped in a golden field with panoramic mountain views where they had their first dance. Remember what I said about radiating magic throughout the whole day??? This moment…the purest, most breathtaking moment of magic!!! They ended their day with shots of Wyoming whiskey, toasting to the beginning of a beautiful forever. So you ready to start planning your Grand Teton National Park elopement? Let’s start planning, babe! 

I’m obsessed with Jackson Hole, the state of Wyoming, the Tetons – all of it!!

Eloping in the mountains can look however you want it to look. For some, it’s throwing your wedding attire in your backpack and hiking to a beautiful spot. For others, it’s an adventure somewhere you’ve always dreamt of going. It can be boho-chic, western vibes, or feminine with lots of florals. You can elope with just your partner or you can bring the whole fam. The point…. it can be ANYTHING you want it to be. Cassie + Charles embraced that mentality so beautifully. 

They showed up in the most stunning wedding attire before the sun had even come up. Charles looked dapper, sporting a full suit and tie. Meanwhile, I was drooling over Cassie’s big full gown and lengthy veil. The juxtaposition of formal wedding attire against the rugged mountain range just works so perfectly I think! So often couples think they need to wear something less formal for an elopement. But some of my favorite images have showcased the contrast between formal, over-the-top wedding gowns and the natural landscape of a mountainside or forest. You can check out these options to know about the other choices that were given to them. Cassie + Charles are great examples of how it just works. 

They simply wanted to get married somewhere beautiful. A sunrise elopement in Glacier National Park, just the two of them, felt right. And DAMN, I’m sure glad they chose the mountains of Montana. They opted to get up before the sun and it was 100% worth that early alarm and gas station coffee! The sun rose and kissed the top of the mountain like it knew it was being photographed right as they exchanged private promises. Their ceremony was intimate + sweet. They exchanged their vows perched on a rock in a meadow at Big Ben, just off of the Going to the Sun Road. After the rings were exchanged and a brief pause for first kisses as mr and mrs, we cruised over to Wild Goose Island for more portraits. 

A little bit of wind came along to give us some of the best photos of the day along St. Mary Lake. Cassie’s veil had a life of its own and stole the show in some of my favorite photos. Moral of the story? Wear the big gown + veil if you want it.

Mara + Marco’s Montana elopement was…WHEW stunning! You’d never guess that I had never spoken to either one of them until the day of their wedding. Other than the initial inquiry that Mara filled out, there were no emails, no calls, and no chats with the bride and groom-to-be!! 

Wild right!? Honestly this is kinda my nightmare lol but Mara + Marco live busy lives in the medical fields in the middle of a pandemic and just happen to have a best friend who is a wedding planner. So Mara left Michelle’s email and Michelle took it from there. 

It truly left me a little worried. I typically only work with couples who I feel are a good fit. You know, my kind of people. So never even chatting with Mara + Marco left me with a weird feeling. I just didn’t know what to expect. 

Of course, they show up and are literally the coolest people. One brief conversation with these two lovers made all of my worries melt away. We met at their AirBnb to head off to do their first look in a nearby park in Kalispell. They wanted some photos with their pups (totally necessary, duh) and you can’t take dogs to their ceremony spot, so this was the perfect compromise. 

After that, we headed into Glacier National Park. They decided to do portrait photos first and to do the ceremony last. So there we were, heading off into the mountains for their Montana elopement. We drove up to Logan’s Pass, taking photos out in the blooming sea of wildflowers. Then we cruised over to Sun Point for more, laughing and having a blast the whole time. I swear the most fun we had of the whole day was in the car. Mara + Marco are freakin’ hilarious and I loved every second of just hanging out, driving around with them. Finally, we headed over to Wild Goose Island where they exchanged the sweetest vows for just the two of them, me and the mountains to hear. I don’t ever get sick of moments like that. 

I loved them so much that I just had to get them a wedding gift. So I headed over to a spot where I heard there was a grizzly bear. We showed up and there he was! Surprise!

From the bear sighting, we headed out of the park. On a high from the most perfect day, Mara + Marco kept joking about hopping into a waterfall. Mind you, the temperature had dropped to something like 50 degrees in the park. But how can you deny the wish of two adorable newlyweds?! So we drove over to a waterfall right off the road and in they went. A magical little unplanned moment, just making out in the waterfall. I’m here for it!! 

Soaking wet with no clothes or towels (in all fairness I told them I had a huge towel in the back of the car… that turned out to be a lie! Oops!), we finally headed out of the park. Mara + Marco were probably freezing to death and definitely uncomfortable, but you never would have known. They were living for every second of that day. That’s exactly how it should be. 

I hope you are as obsessed with Mara + Marco’s Montana elopement as I am! ‘Cause damn, they’re hot! And their photos are out of this world. Scroll down to see what I mean!! 
If you’re ready to book your own elopement in Montana, or anywhere in this big ol’ world, let’s do it! Head over to my contact page and fill out my inquiry form. I ALREADY CANNOT WAIT!

We weren’t sure what the weather would bring for this mountain elopement, but Teyanna + David just rolled with whatever came our way! The results? A moody, foggy backdrop for some gorgeous couples portraits in the mountains and the occasional downpour of rain that kept it interesting. 

Teyanna + David got legally married before their mountain elopement, but came to do vows and photos in a picturesque location. I love doing after-wedding portrait sessions with couples because it’s always a little more carefree. No worries about getting dresses dirty or being away from guests too long. It’s just a lot of soaking in all the love and bliss from being newlyweds, often in an incredibly scenic location. For Teyanna + David, that was Glacier National Park. With sweeping mountain views and rushing waterfalls and an ever-present mystical fog. 

I picked them up in West Glacier, ready to go explore! They brought along pillows and blankets and decor from the AirBnb for a little picnic. We headed over to the east side of the park where we found fields of flowers and pretty grasses, so of course we stopped to run around for a bit. As time passed, big storm clouds rolled in behind us. Quite literally, we tried to outrun the rain, so we hopped over to Big Bend to try to share their personalized vows. The meadow was so socked in with clouds and fog that we decided to stop and just hang out for a bit. Snacks and all, we just sat in my car, chatting away, waiting for more visibility. But it never came. So instead, they just embraced the heck out of it and exchanged their vows right there in the meadow, fog all around us. Rain pouring from the grey skies. It gave the moment this larger than life mystical feel. It was a completely unplanned feel for the day, but somehow was so fitting. The images show that no matter the weather or the changed plans, the photos are really about the love. 

On the way out of the park, we stopped at a waterfall for one final play in the rain. In the car, we joked about all of the pillows and decor they packed in just for it to pour rain and never use them. You know Murphy’s Law, always reminding you that plans will always change. But Teyanna + David rocked it! Just going with the flow and embracing whatever came. It was their adventure, no matter what challenges the day brought. 

Are you as obsessed with this moody mountain elopement as I am?! There’s something about wild weather and adventure elopements, I adore them! For more moody, foggy mountain elopement inspiration, check out this moody elopement gallery!

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with this quirky adventure elopement in Glacier National Park! 

It’s common to only chat with my couples over email or text or see each other on insta so it’s always so fun meeting the couples behind the emails + text in real life. Of course I pick up little bits of their personalities through our online chats + the good ol’ social media. I knew Brittany + Cory were from Virginia, but both were dying to get to experience the beauty of Montana. She’s a photographer + he loves to fly fish, they have a blue heeler and a couple of kitty cats at home. I knew that they were very big into exploring the outdoors and that photographs from their elopement were the most important things to them. I knew they’d be a rad pair I just didn’t realize how much so. 

Jamming to Grateful Dead, stopping for a ceremony at Avalanche Creek, a spot with big sweeping mountain views. Their vows were so sweet, so thoughtful and of course, brought plenty of tears!! Cory had a sick green suit jacket with a Dead Drift fly fishing trucker hat, paired perfectly with a pair of black + white vans. He was so chill, so cool. Trucker hat + a suit jacket like come ooooonnn. Brittany wore a long sleeved lace wedding dress, her long brown hair curled with a bright red lip shade. She was stunning!! And as the day went on I watched her kick off her heels, swapping them for vans and eventually just going barefoot. My kinda lady. At one point she lifted her dress to show off her tattoos. They brought along their dog (that recently went under training to H.K. Dog Training program), Chance! He meant so much to Brittany + Cory and you know I’m a crazy dog lady so I was crushing hard on this shoot!! It was everything I love about photographing elopements. Staying true to themselves as a couple, soaking up all of the magic of Glacier and spending their day exactly how they wanted to!! 

We headed over to the waterfall after the ceremony for some more portraits! They cracked open some Highlander Strawberry Wheat brews and just hung out together snapping polaroids. Then we headed over to Lake McDonald and it was like they were in their own little world. So overwhelmed with the happiness + love + intimacy of their day. I caught Brittany letting some happy tears flow as they simply enjoyed being together taking in the moment. It was so beautiful + raw + powerful. 

I honestly can’t get over how much I freaking loved this session. It was so laid back and Brittany + Cory had the best vibes. The juxtaposition of their laid back, casual attire with the big, bold magical views of Glacier was pure awesomeness. So so so grateful to call this life!!

Xx, J

So what the heck even is an after wedding photoshoot lol? Well it’s a wedding photo sesh after the photoshoot. Probably could have a cooler name but I dunno. Megan + Dan had a private ceremony together by the river in the beautiful Hyalite Canyon outside Bozeman, MT. They exchanged vows with just their closest family members as witnesses and chose to keep that part of their day just for those present. No photos were snapped until afterward, when we met for an adventure photo session as their wedding portraits. I will do what my babes like + it was so fun! “An after wedding photoshoot.” I’m actually a sucker for doing anything outside the ordinary. Just do you love.

I opened up my car door in the parking lot + heard, “HEY BUDDY!” And that’s pretty much how the rest of the evening went. BUDDIES.

These two are the kindest, friendliest people. We spent our evening wandering around trails, just chatting about their lives, all of the events that led them to that evening in the woods, and even what they had planned for the future. We talked about growing up in Texas, a mutual agreement to never live more than 45 minutes away from a Target, a black bear sighting at their rental and their trip to Montana. Their trip was special to Dan because he wants to show Megan some of his favorite places his travels have taken him. He had visited Montana before and knew she would love it as much as he did. These little conversations I have with my couples as we wind up + down trails, in and out of fields + forests, they always reveal so much. Love for one another, little tidbits of personality, quirks in their relationship, dreams for the future. Before I know it, I feel like I know them, even though most of the time I’ve only just met them. 

At this point, Megan, Dan + I have ventured into a forested wonderland full of magical waterfalls + gorgeous exposed rock faces. After spending all of ten seconds being worried about getting her dress dirty, Megan went into full adventure mode, gracefully + effortless climbing up a mud hill to an exposed rock face, bouquet in hand, like it was nothing. Not more than a speck of dirt on her. Meanwhile, I slid down the entire hillside + bruised my ass, LITERALLY. Also like it was nothing…HAHA! I wish I could say I wasn’t used to that kind of event, but I’ve been known to have a clumsy moment or two. 

We ended the after wedding photoshoot in true Texan fashion, Dan sporting his cowboy hat + Megan threw on her boots. We found a blanket that had been thrown into the back of their car and threw it in the most magical little spot. The two newlyweds sat snuggled up in a clearing, blooming with soft yellow wildflowers, surrounded by the forests outside of Bozeman. Melting into each other, radiating so much freaking love in all directions.

I’m crushing so hard on day after adventure wedding sessions? Allllllll of the honeymoon couples sessions and day-after wedding shoots, I absolutely adore them!! It’s a chance for you + your partner to step out of all of the stress of wedding planning, the hustle + bustle of your wedding day, that’s done + over with. You can go wherever YOU want to go, do whatever YOU want to do + celebrate the fact that you are so wildly in love. It’s a beautiful thing. Wedding attire or casual. I am freakin’ IN!

For Mycah + Myles, all they wanted for their post-wedding plans was some mountain adventures! They got married at home in Minnesota, but then took to the road + planned a trip going to places like Glacier National Park + Grand Teton National Park! They had the idea to get wedding photos in a place that felt more true to themselves, yet be married at home with those they love the most. They really enjoy rock climbing + hiking + spending time in the mountains, so why not do wedding photos with insanely scenic views while on your honeymoon?! 

So we did just that!! They promised that they were down for any weather conditions, so we headed to St. Mary’s on the east side of Glacier National Park, where we knew we might encounter some crazy wind! And damn, was there wind!! The kind of wind you need to have a wedding dress + veil whip around in the air like crazy (30 miles per hour type of crazy). Photos always make those types of photos look like it’s a breeze flowing through when really borderline headed to a hurricane weather lol. We got some rain here + there, but still spent the whole time running across fields + chasing the sun wherever we could possibly find it trying to peek through. By the end Glacier went + gave us a touch more magic for the day with a bear sighting. The coolest, it’s always exciting!! 

It got a little wild out there, but M + M fully embraced what Mother Nature was giving us that day. In return, we got some crazy beautiful images. Images that truly reflect their wild + adventurous love for one another. Loving these!!

Xx, J