hey hey

You can’t go wrong when you’re eloping in Glacier National Park, but choosing an exact elopement location can feel like throwing a dart at the map! Dakota + Zach had only been to Glacier National Park once, and knew it was their spot, so we chatted through their options and landed in the land of lakes with mountain views and look out points for days – East Glacier.

If you would have told Dakota + Zach that they’d be eloping in Montana in East Glacier last year, they would have laughed right in your face. Actually, someone *did* tell them they’d be getting married in the park this year and they did… well laugh in their face. Their families are long time pals back in Georgia and planning a group trip to Montana, which quickly turned into a let’s find love reality show. But guess what? IT WORKED. And these babes ended up right back where that first crush started less than a year later, with me photographing their vows and a pretty epic adventure for their Glacier National Park elopement. 

From their very first inquiry, I knew I was in for a treat. If you’ve read anything about me, you know I’m a sailor-mouthed elopement photographer who’s obsessed with my frenchie pup, and wants my couples to show their love in whatever way comes naturally to them! But the more ass grabs, the better in my opinion. Dakota + Zach immediately sent photos of their Boston Terriers and were quick to admit they’re handsy and lovey and all of the things, no matter where they are. (A match made in heaven?!?!) It took maybe two minutes for us to feel comfortable enough to be our true selves and the rest was history. They were making out, smacking booties, touching bodies, and loving on each other at their (very public) ceremony spot and every stop along the way. 

Armed and ready with my camera (and my dog, Bill), their elopement in East Glacier started at Sun Point, a designated ceremony site with crazy good views overlooking St. Mary Lake! After a quick ceremony with personal vows we scurried off from the crowds to find some more fun! Next stop was Wild Goose Island, with the sun dancing around fast-moving  clouds creating all kinds of lighting scenarios and variety (a wedding photographer’s dream tbh), we captured some sweet magic in their photos! 

Dakota pulled out a Pendleton blanket and shared a sentimental story about her family. Her grandfather was native and she always associated these wool tribal blankets with her grandparents’ house. Right before her grandmother died, she called up the family and said she was going to donate all of the blankets unless someone wanted them. Dakota and her brother snatched them up, of course! Flash forward to her wedding day and she’s wrapped up in a Pendleton blanket on native lands, a love-filled nod to her grandparents who were definitely there in spirit! *CRYING*

We ended their day with a wildly good view overlooking the Two Medicine Valley! For a summer elopement, the lake is full and this point gives the most picturesque views of the mountains against the water. It’s definitely up there in my favorite spots! As the air cooled and we prepped for our long car rides home, At Zach’s request swapped their wedding attire for some matching loungewear and AirForce 1’s, each pair inspired by their favorite rivaling college football teams back home in the south. A cute cap on a freakin’ gorgeous day in Glacier National Park! 

Looking to explore East Glacier for your own Montana elopement? This sunrise elopement might give you what you need or even check out this intimate wedding on the lakeshore!

Never has there ever been a more intentional national park microwedding than this! These photos are your typical shots but with true documentary style coverage of their personal twists on first looks, thoughtful ceremony traditions, and karaoke-filled reception. If you’re looking for inspiration for a personality-infused intimate wedding, you’ll wanna see this one! 

It’s no secret national park micro weddings are getting more popular each year. They account for around half of what I photograph, so it’s safe to say I’ve experienced so many different vibes, traditions, etc. You name it, I’ve seen it. So when I say Rachel + Will’s wedding was one of the most thoughtful days I’ve been a part of, you know it’s something special. 

These babes flirted with the line of a traditional wedding and a microwedding. Wanting a super intimate ceremony and a big ol’ party, they simply made it the best of both worlds ‘cause why not?? 

Rachel asked me when we were planning, “is it weird that we want to get dressed together?” I can’t even express how much I love when couples do this. While I am all for a classic first look, there’s something extra special about helping each other get ready, hyping each other up when you look good, and having an intimate experience rather than one big moment of excitement. 

So that’s exactly what they did. We picked a little trail on our way to the ceremony site, pulled off into the spot, and hung their clothes from the trees. Rachel put a blanket down and they set up a mirror, and together, they got dressed right there in the forest. Will sat down and immediately put his socks on, which quickly became the funniest inside joke when Rachel noted how freakin’ strange it was he went straight for the socks first HAHA! 

After that, we headed to the Fish Creek picnic area for family photos and then came my favorite part of the whole day. With microweddings, ceremonies tend to be short ‘n sweet, but not Rachel + Will’s. Their ceremony was packed with one personalized moment after another. Their aunt + uncle officiated the wedding. The did a ring warming, where they pass around the rings to let guests bless them with good energy and thoughts for the couple. Her uncle sang a song for them, them pulling out a flask for a funny moment. Their vows weren’t grand speeches, but flowing conversations, with impromptu banter back and forth. It was intentional and emotional. Absolutely perfec!. 

We ventured off for portraits before their Airbnb backyard reception with friends and family outside of the park. Rachel + Will had mentioned they had done shoots before that were absolutely beautiful, but didn’t feel like them with most of them posing + smiling at the camera. So for the rest of the day, I threw all of my direction skills out of the window and just let them be. And man was that freakin’ beautiful. They were skipping rocks and running around without shoes, making out in the lake. They aren’t your typical wedding portraits, but I’m all for the unconventional.

Even their rather traditional wedding reception was packed with bits of personality + customization that made it feel more like them. Custom koozies, super emotional toasts, a mobile bar to keep the drinks flowin’ as they sang karaoke all night. Yes, you read that right! Karaoke at a reception?? I was a little unsure of how that would be but turns out their friends + fam are karaoke pros and it was just the cherry on top of their love-filled day. 

Rachel + Will are the perfect example of how to have a sweet intimate ceremony for your microwedding in a national park with epic views, but still invite people you care about to celebrate. If that is your vibe, let’s talk babe! Where are we headed? Olympic National Park? Mount Rainier? Yosemite? SIGN ME UP!

Eloping in Montana was an easy decision for Angie and Ryan to make. They pictured a mountain wedding ceremony and a getaway for just the two of them and we all know big sky country checks those boxes. Welcome all fans of the show Yellowstone loL!  But rather than head to the go-to elopement locations in the north like Glacier National Park, they chose a sweet little cabin in underrated Paradise Valley to the south. 

When you’re eloping in Montana, you never know what kind of weather you’ll get. Rain clouds rolled in and out of the valley all day, but as your friendly neighborhood elopement photographer, it’s my job to remind you that isn’t always a bad thing. The moody skies gave us different views all day, adding fun texture to every photo. 

I showed up to the cabin to have a laid-back morning in progress. Angie already had her hair and make-up done when I got there, with her details laid out ready to be documented. The videographers there doing their thing. We took some getting ready photos, sweet little moments as Angie pulled up her bridal cowboy boots and Ryan slipped on his tan suit jacket perfectly paired with blue jeans. Ryan waited just off the front steps of the cabin for a first look with Angie before heading off on their wedding ceremony adventure. 

There are first-looks in my wedding photography portfolio, all different and special in their own way. But Ryan moved right up to the top of my list of emotion-filled memories from grooms. From the moment Angie stepped out of the cabin, tears were flowwwwin! And they didn’t stop (all day really). There’s nothing I love more than when my couples are just over-the-moon happy, drunk in love all day long and these two were absolutely that. After a quick Facetime to their baby at home, we set off for their Montana elopement in the mountains. 

The first stop was a little white church. No, really. A teeny tiny white church off of the side of the highway. Angie + Ryan had never seen the church until that day, a ceremony location suggestion by their officiant. When we opened the doors, we were immediately transported to the 70s, complete with wood paneling and green shag carpet and the fakest flowers I’ve seen. It was truly eclectic, one-of-a-kind, and absolutely freakin’ perfect for their day. 

Chasing mountain views and epic lighting for some more portraits, we took off down the road with no real plan. We stopped in a field, they sipped some beers, and turned on some music for a bit of time to just take it alllll in. The video team had an idea to move the party to a saloon back closer to the cabins so we packed up and headed back to town. Not thinking that it was a Friday night, we showed up to a packed bar. And here’s where another important lesson from your neighborhood elopement photographer comes in.. 

As wedding vendors and creatives, sometimes we’ll have cool ideas or fun visions for what is possible for your day or how we capture it. But none of it matters more than doing what YOU want. Here’s why.. 

1. It’s your wedding day. It’s about so much more than the photos or video or decor. The last thing you should do is something that makes you uncomfortable or takes away joy from your day. 
2. If you’re uncomfortable, you’ll be able to tell in the photos and video. Just trust me on this one! No need to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do because it shows. 

After sneaking a peek at the packed saloon, Ryan shut down. And I don’t blame him! I could see Angie unsure herself. I pride myself as an observer. I immediately knew this wasn’t for him + it wouldn’t turn into the vision in our minds if they weren’t into it.

Hungry and fading from the action-packed day we already had (eloping in Montana and the mountains is fun, but tiring bb!!), Angie + Ryan decided to take out food and getting cozy back at the cabin was at the top of their priorities. So we snagged some BBQ from a food truck down the road and returned to their magical little cabin to wrap up their day in the same spot it started. 

We originally planned for a fire and some fun after-dark photos to end their mountain elopement, but after one last FaceTime with their baby, the wedding dress turned into pajamas, the lashes came off, and the feet were propped up – a sure sign that these lovers were ready to call it a day. 

So that’s what we did! But before I made my exit, I snapped one last photo of Angie in comfy mode. (Make sure to scroll to the end to see this shot!) A candid reminder that your day doesn’t have to end in fireworks and a dance floor for it to be absolutely freakin’ perfect. And that’s why planning an elopement is the best! 

Wanna see more photos of couples doing weddings their own way? Take a peek at this early morning, coffee sippin’ couple and their national park elopement! Or this Yellowstone National Park elopement that had some wildlife wedding crashers! 

There’s a million ways to have a wedding day. Let’s plan an elopement around you + your partner + this crazy stupid love you share! Head on over to my contact form and let’s dream up your day.

These two babes dreamt of a snowy paradise for the winter mountain wedding in Big Sky and Montana did not disappoint! In fact, we started to worry a little bit about having tooooo much of a winter wonderland come our way. But everything worked out, just like it always does, and Morgan + Mason had the sweetest laid back wedding day in the mountains. 

Winter mountain weddings aren’t for everyone, these two fully embody that literally chill mountain vibe and infused that into their entire day. When I arrived at the cabin, they were just hanging out and drinking mimosas. Morgan was helping Mason get ready, which definitely isn’t the traditional way of doing things but I was obsessed. Don’t you think there is something so intimate about helping your partner get ready to promise forever together???!! 

Eventually Mason did head off to the saloon while Morgan put the finishing touches on getting ready + stepped into her dress. As we walked out of the cabin, I noticed hats hanging on the wall. Mason had grabbed his as he left and Morgan said the other was hers. I asked her if she’d be open to letting her hair down and sporting the hat after the ceremony (I’m a sucker for a good accessory) and she said ya why not!!! 

We left the cabin and headed for a sweet moment of alone time for the two of them on this little bridge and it was exactly the winter wonderland they wanted. They opted to read letters to one another there and I love some personalization when it comes to vows on your wedding day. It was the perfect moment to spend together before the actual ceremony. 

In true winter wedding fashion, we hopped into a sleigh to head up to the ridge at Lone Mountain where they would say I do. It was SO cold so I offered Morgan a shot of whiskey to warm up because ya know, why not?! It was perfect because they actually did a whisky blending ritual during the ceremony and right as we were finishing, the sun peeked out and gave us all a little warmth and energy to keep on celebrating! 

Their portraits are stunning, but most importantly, they’re so them. They feel so true to who they are as a couple and tell the story of their day. A day which they ended with some more whiskey, burgers and fries at the saloon. The best way to end your wedding day, in my personal opinion. 
 
Lone Mountain was the perfect spot in Big Sky for their winter mountain wedding. But honestly it’s gorgeous any time of year!! Don’t believe me? Check out Leah + Aaron’s wedding weekend extravaganza at Lone Mountain during summer! Perfect place to stay, explore, and get married!

A fall mountain wedding was all these two outdoorsy lovers truly wanted. Somewhere close to home where they could bring along the people they love most, no venue or elaborate decor, just a cool spot off the beaten path that could be their special place. So that’s what they did! 

Sam + Tim met through mutual friends while living in Seattle and fell in love on a ski trip in Japan. After plenty of adventures and time spent traveling the globe, they knew that they wanted to get married in the mountains, a place that had so much significance, memories, and a whole lotta love. When they reached out to me, they were quick to say they weren’t into those “normal wedding photos” and instead just wanted their goofy, fun, quirky personalities captured in a beautiful place. Luckily that is what I do best so sign me up, where are we headed?!?!

They do a lot of hiking in the area and one day they stumbled upon a little hill and said, “yep this is it!!” A quiet retreat from other busy areas of western Montana, they booked themselves a cabin from the forest service and a couple of camping spots in this calm corner of Hyalite Canyon, just outside of Bozeman MT. 

It was mid-September, the temperature was freakin’ frigid with cold rain drizzling on them already when I got there. A classic fall mountain wedding vibe! Tim headed out to the field for the first look, but neither Tim or Sam seemed fazed by the moody Montana weather. In fact, they were just so damn happy to be getting married that they both were beaming despite it. (They said they loved moody wedding photos anyway, so it was meant to be!) 

Their family came out to meet them as they did their ceremony on that little hill they found months before and as they shared their vows, the clouds started to lift. And like something out of an elopement storybook, by the time they shared their first kiss, the sun glowed on their skin and gave us the most insane light as we did their wedding portraits in the field, on the lakeshore, and along the trails, just exploring the land they love so much. Their family went back to the campsites for food and chill time with plans to do s’mores and hang with the newlyweds, but the light was so good we couldn’t stop! We added in their adorable pup LaRue (named after festivals they stumbled upon in their travels in France, how cute?!?) and had the BEST time capturing that just married bliss. 

They didn’t leave their family hanging though as they had some celebrating to do! We made it back in time for some toasts and off they went to dinner reservations to wrap up their intimate wedding day. 

Love the moody feel of Sam + Tim’s fall mountain wedding?? Here’s some more fall in MT inspiration for you! Take a look at these outdoor wedding ideas – Leoni + Jacob’s October elopement or Leah + Aarron’s destination wedding weekend retreat! 

But if you’re sweet on another season, I thought I’d make sure you have some Montana intimate wedding ideas that feel more like what you’re envisioning. Check out this winter mountain elopement in Glacier National Park, a sun-filled summertime elopement in the mountains of Grand Teton National Park, or this moody spring East glacier elopement! 

No matter the season, no matter the view, there’s the perfect spot for your intimate wedding or elopement ceremony!

There are many magical spots for a hiking elopement in the US and abroad, but as a Montana elopement photographer, it’s easy to say Glacier National Park is a local favorite. Every year millions of tourists flock to bask in the beauty of the park, spot native wildlife, and explore the many valley meadows, peaks, and lakeshores that call Glacier home. And every year, adventure lovin’ couples come from far and wide to say I Do in the middle of it all.

Haley + Maverick met at the gym in Alabama, a little river city in the south, where they’re both from. They quickly became best friends before dating for three years. Finally an engagement sealed the deal, but they knew they wanted to steer clear of tradition and plan a day that was laid-back and full of adventure – just like them and their relationship. 

That idea brought them to planning a destination elopement in the mountains. Far from the flat fields of Alabama, they ventured to Glacier National Park to get married with views of snow-dusted peaks and soak in the stunning scenery with their closest loved ones in an intimate hiking elopement. 

Mav hiked in before meeting Hale for their first look in front of some falls. Rather than getting ready back at their accommodation, she brought along her dress, a lacey and textured long-sleeved beauty, and hung it from a tree, then dressed right there on the trail before walking down to meet Mav.

It was a stunning ceremony at Sun Point, where the Glacier winds blew in some extra magic for them and their guests. Afterwards, they chased the sunset through the park, exploring trails through the pines, and taking in the views as the smoke turned the skies hazy in the best way. 

It was the day they dreamed of – stress-free, scenic, stunning, and full of so much love. Take a scroll through their photos that tell the story of their day. From dressing in the trees to a first look as flowing water set a magical scene to hair blowing in the wind as they kissed for the first time as a married couple! A hiking elopement day for the books for sure!

Throw on your cowboy hat and grab your cowgirl boots, that’s the only way to view Haley + Aaron’s western wedding in the Rocky Mountains! Originally inspired by dude ranches, horseback trail riding, mountain passes, and unconventional laid-back wedding ceremonies, they decided on an elopement in Glacier National Park in Montana. 

But their western wedding wasn’t only about the flowers, the attire, the photos – it was an entire experience for them. They didn’t care about having the perfect day, only a day true to them. Real, spontaneous, a little spontaneous, natural, wild, carefree. And boy did they get just that! 

They showed up in a more western casual attire, Haley in a cute denim jacket with fringe and Aaron sporting the best cowboy hat around. We drove across the park with no true plans, just stopping for anything and everything they wanted along the way. A stop here to gawk at a grizzly bear, a few moments there to appreciate the roaming mountain goats, all the while having an absolute blast just soaking in the incredible landscape they flew across the country for! 

Just before their ceremony on the shoreline at St. Mary Lake, we stopped so Haley could change into her dress in a campground bathroom. Aaron and I walked out to the lake first, so Haley could have her grand entrance and a first look at her soon-to-be husband. 

The vows were so sweet, so simple, so loving, just like these two. Their ceremony only lasted a few minutes, as it wasn’t really what the day was centered around for them. It was important, of course, but their day was more about the experience than anything else and these two had more exploring to do! 

We went right back to it, meandering along Logan’s Pass, the two east coast babes just taking in all that a Glacier National Park wedding has to offer. The sweeping mountain views, stunning valley fields, the random wildlife surely to cross your path. 

Our adventures landed us in front of Lake Mcdonald, Aaron telling me Haley is a true water lover. The surface of the lake was so calm and the reflection of the mountains glistened like it was on glass. Before I knew it, Haley + Aaron slid right into the lake, wedding attire and all. 

After a make out session and some picture-perfect photos of that reflection on the water, they went off for dinner in their wet clothes, without a care in the world. It was truly such a fun day and their photos will prove it to you. 

Don’t worry, Aaron + Haley’s western wedding adventure didn’t end there. The following day they lived out their wild west dreams on a dude ranch, riding horses, and celebrating the fact that they just got freakin’ married!!!! 

If you love their Glacier national park elopement photos, don’t miss more inspiration over on the blog. I’ve got plenty of Montana elopement photos for you here!

Want your Glacier National Park micro wedding to feel like more like an elopement? Let’s make it happen! That was Devin + Blake’s request for their intimate national park wedding. Family and friends were in attendance for the ceremony, but we set off on our own adventure in the park afterwards for some elopement-inspired fun! 

Back during D+B’s fall engagement session in Glacier, we had soooo much fun together! So I knew I was in for a treat on their wedding day. They had visited different parts of the park during their visit and knew they wanted a wedding ceremony in Two Medicine Valley! The area is stunning and has a ceremony location that permits the amount of guests they have, so it was the perfect choice! 

They chose to keep it small and make it all about them, but felt that there were a few very important people that should be there on their day. It’s not uncommon for couples to feel this way! An intimate wedding in the park is the best of both worlds. 

D+B had their ceremony at Pray Lake, with gorgeous mountain views and the sunlight sparkling off of the water. Toasts were made, champagne was sipped, and her father gave such a sweet speech. They had first dance by the creek as the sun filtered through the trees all dreamy. The wedding portion of their day was wrapped up with some sentimental dances and a few family photos. 

Then we were off for their portrait photos! Two Medicine and Pray Lake are connected, so we ventured off for a little walk to Paradise Point for some different scenery. This is always my favorite part of the day, where the couple gets the chance to bask in the excitement of being married and just be together. The skies turned a little hazy from forest fires that started in the park that night. As awful as it is, it created a hazy glowy filter for the evening, and the photos luckily did not suffer one bit. In fact, that golden hour glow was just amplified! 

Based on their adventurous engagement photos where they were literally hanging over a cliffside at one point, I knew these two were up for anything! We headed for Running Eagle Falls as the newlyweds snaked through forests down trails, scampering out onto rocks, until we landed at an epic overlook for their final photos at sunset. 

To end their wedding day, Devin gave Blake one of the most heartfelt gifts I’ve ever seen (and that is saying something, my couples are freaking cuuuuute!) She had written him a letter every day for the past year in a journal, talking about different ways she loved him – including an entry from earlier in the day – their wedding day. It was the perfect ending to an absolutely magical Glacier National Park wedding day. 

So if you are dreaming of an elopement, but know you want to bring some of your closest loved ones along, let D+B be proof that you can definitely have it all. 

Xx, J

It’d be a lie if I told you that I wasn’t crushing hard on this national park elopement. Emme + Colton’s day was everything I love about elopements – carefree, simple, unique. It’s always so refreshing to walk into a wedding day without an ounce of stress in the air. Their energy was so calm, yet so excited for the adventure.

Obsessing over the mountains and the wildlife within them, Colton always dreamed of backpacking through Glacier National Park. So it’s no surprise that when it came time to marry the love of his life and fellow nature lover, Emme, they ditched a traditional wedding ceremony and planned an intimate elopement in Glacier instead. 

When Colton’s twin sister introduced him to her friend Emme, and to snatch her up while she was still single lol, no one could have predicted the life of love and adventure that would unfold. It took just weeks of dating each other for them to start planning a month-long road trip through the western US. Their admiration for each other grew as they explored the mountains of Montana and watched the bison of Yellowstone in awe. 

On the morning of their wedding day, there were no frills or set plans. No make-up artists or tables filled with the names of wedding guests. They arranged her own dried flowers in a bouquet and boutonniere in the cabin they booked 2 days before their ceremony. Emme didn’t even know which of the wedding dresses she’d wear, she had several, all purchased at the last minute. 

But there was morning coffee, sipped slowly by the creek. And there were hand-written vows spoken with incredible mountain views. They followed each other down trails to waterfalls and soaked in the beauty of the day. No set plan or places to hit + see just whatever felt right in the moment. Soaking up every minute together and Colten’s twin sister + her boyfriend along to celebrate them + officiate their ceremony. It was perfect.

It was so simple, so free-flowing, and stunningly true to them. 

Make sure to scroll through their national park elopement photo gallery below! It’s full of inspiration for Glacier elopement. And if you love E+C’s day, here’s a blog on exactly how to elope in Glacier National Park! There’s plenty of helpful tips and tricks to get your planning started! 

Xx, J

Who needs an actual lakeside wedding venue when you can just run around the Many Glacier Valley in Glacier National Park?! Haley + Jake’s elopement was a true outdoor adventure spent driving through the park, picnicking with views, splashing around in the shallows, and walking through the trees. 

Rather than a traditional wedding with all of the bells and whistles as people say, these two babes opted for something that felt more true to who they are. It started at a little Airbnb in the forest just a bit outside of West Glacier (you can check out all of the specifics or book it yourself right here). They had a first look while hanging out at the cabin, Haley looking stunning in her simple white gown + veil, Jake added a nice touch with his monogrammed tie with a topographic map the location of their ceremony design. These two were so laid-back and down to explore in whatever direction they day brought – the absolute correct attitude for an elopement day in the park! 

We started their adventure by driving through Glacier together, them taking in the sights and stopping for any view that caught their eye. Eventually we landed in Many Glacier, where they said their vows on a little hill by the lake with the classic Many Glacier landscape in view. Everywhere was so green and the sun was shining bright and it was such a pretty spot for a special lakeside wedding ceremony. 

In the spirit of having a slow day, just spent loving each other, they planned a picnic for themselves and brought it along for some post-wedding snacking! They sat right down by the lake with their cheeses and Triscuits and bubbly looking out on one of the most epic landscapes in the park. Then they danced on a rocky hillside. It was simple and stunning. A moment of pure freakin’ joy as they both beamed with happiness. 

The adrenaline of the day running fresh through her veins, Haley said she had to get in + dipped her feet into the cold waters of the lake. She yelled, in a joking tone, “what if I kept going?!” and then she did! Jake kicked off of his shoes and followed her in. They held each other as the sun set and it was just cherry on top for their perfectly chill lakeside wedding day in the park! 

It’s always an honor when my couples allow me to just hang out with them. When they aren’t focused on the photos or the fact that a stranger they have never met in person before is witnessing their incredibly intimate moments. That’s when the wedding photography magic really happens! Haley + Jake, you both were an absolutely precious couple to hang with! I can’t get over how much fun you all had that day in the park! Xx