Montana Elopement Packages

Have you thought about eloping somewhere in Montana? Montana has gorgeous places to elope ranging from rocky mountains, great plains, and whimsical forests. Picturesque snow-capped peaks, sparkling lakes, and alpine hiking trails are all waiting for you here. Our comprehensive Montana elopement package covers everything from locations, vendors, and tips for your Montana elopement.

Montana Elopement Packages

Montana is one of the most breathtaking places in the U.S. to elope, with its rugged mountain ranges, open plains, and serene alpine lakes, the options for planning an intimate ceremony here are as vast as the landscape itself. From the dramatic peaks of Glacier National Park to quiet valleys bursting with wildflowers, Montana invites adventurous couples to exchange vows surrounded by wild beauty. Whether you’re envisioning an intimate ceremony with just the two of you or an intimate wedding with your closest family and friends, Montana offers the perfect backdrop for a stress free, unforgettable adventure.

Your Guide to Montana Elopement Packages

Photo by: Alex Gale Photography

A Montana elopement package is more than just photography it’s a full experience designed to reflect your relationship, your dream location, and the type of day you want to create. Whether you’re envisioning a micro wedding with a few loved ones or a day-long hiking adventure just for two, our Wandering Weddings vendors offer customizable options to fit your plans and priorities.

Here’s what’s commonly included:

• 📸 Photography coverage (anywhere from a few hours to a full-day or multi-day adventure)
• 📍 Location guidance — including Glacier National Park, Flathead Valley, or hidden ceremony sites near lakes and forests
• 🗓️ Timeline planning and permit support
• 🥾 Adventure recommendations like horseback rides, hiking trails, or scenic boat rides
• ✨ Vendor add-ons like officiants, florals, hair and makeup, or even dinner and cake

Elopement packages vary by photographer and group size, but they are all designed to minimize stress and help you create lasting memories in a location that speaks to your love story. While each Montana wedding experience looks different, our packages are ideal for couples who want to avoid the pressure of a large destination wedding and instead focus on what truly matters.

Where to Elope in Montana

Photo by Destinie Fouche Photography

Montana’s sweeping landscapes make it one of the most diverse and awe-inspiring states to plan an elopement. Whether you’re envisioning an adventurous hike-to-your-ceremony kind of day or something more relaxed and intimate with loved ones nearby, Montana has options for every couple and every season.

Below, you’ll find a deeper look at some of the most popular (and often overlooked) places to elope in Montana. It’s complete with planning tips, seasonal insights, and real considerations based on guest count, accessibility, and vibe. Once you know what areas you two are loving, then connect with our members to start planning your adventure! Looking for everything in one place? Our Montana elopement packages break down everything from locations to vendors and what to expect.

Check out some of our favorite areas for your ceremony or elopement portraits:

Glacier National Park

Epic mountain views, crystal-clear lakes, and a true sense of adventure

Photo by Sam Starns

Location Map

It’s no surprise Glacier is one of the most popular elopement destinations in Montana. With over 700 miles of hiking trails and views that genuinely stop you in your tracks, this is the place to go if you want a jaw-dropping backdrop and a bit of wilderness woven into your day. Many couples use this area as a base for their entire Montana wedding weekend by combining their ceremony, lodging, and post-elopement celebration into one easy, scenic destination. Want to see how peaceful and magical a lakeside ceremony can be? This lake elopement in Montana captures the essence of slow mornings and glassy reflections.

Ceremony spots we love:

• Many Glacier — tucked among towering peaks, perfect at sunrise
• Two Medicine Lake — more secluded and deeply peaceful
• Lake McDonald — colorful shoreline, easy to access, and stunning in golden hour

Permits & Planning Tips:

• You’ll need a special use permit ($125 application fee) for your ceremony here, and certain spots have group size limits and seasonal access windows.
• Timeline: Apply at least 20 business days (about 1 month) before your ceremony date. Applications are accepted up to one year in advance, but not earlier. It’s first-come, first-served – permits are processed in order received, so popular dates can fill up.
• Locations & Group Size: Glacier only allows ceremonies at certain designated sites in the park (around 30 beautiful spots are pre-approved). Each location has a maximum guest count and vehicle limit.
• Ceremony Duration: Permits allot up to 2 hours for your ceremony event. That includes arriving, a simple setup, the vow exchange, and wrapping up.
• Decor and Equipment: Glacier National Park has strict rules to protect the scenery and wildlife. No structures or elaborate décor are allowed – meaning no arches, arbor, tables, or signs. In most locations, no chairs either, except possibly a couple for those who truly need them (and on some sites up to 4 chairs on a durable surface are allowed). No generators, sound systems, or amplification – you’ll be embracing the natural ambiance. Importantly, do not scatter or release anything: rice, birdseed, flower petals (even biodegradable), confetti, balloons, bubbles – all of those are prohibited. This leave-no-trace rule ensures nothing harmful is left behind for wildlife or park cleanliness.
• Photography in Glacier: Good news! No separate permit is required for photography in Glacier as long as it’s just normal wedding/engagement photos and not a commercial film production. If you have a photographer with you (even a professional you hired), you can take photos anywhere in the park that visitors are allowed, before or after your ceremony, without needing an additional photography permit.
• Summer (mid-July through early September) is your best bet for full access, though weather is always a factor.
• Entrance fees are $35 per vehicle for 7 days.
• Expect elevation gain and weather variability. Hiking boots and layered clothing are musts.

This is the place for adventurous couples who want to hike, paddle, or even just sit in silence surrounded by the magic of Montana’s wild beauty.

Why couples choose it

Glacier National Park is arguably the most breathtaking elopement location in Montana and the most popular. Glacier’s dramatic landscapes invite couples to slow down, soak it all in, and celebrate their love in a place that feels both sacred and expansive. From the shimmering glacial lakes to the rugged ridgelines that catch the last light of day, Glacier offers some of the most cinematic ceremony backdrops in the country. Curious what an intimate ceremony near Glacier can actually look like? Glacier isn’t just for clear blue skies — Evan and Trey’s misty and magical Glacier elopement shows how unforgettable your day can be even in the clouds.

Best for: Adventure elopements, sunrise/sunset ceremonies, day-long hiking elopements, intimate ceremonies in nature.

📸 Need inspiration? See this Rainy Adventure Elopement at Olympic National Park to get a sense of how “moody” weather can actually enhance your photos in similar mountain environments.

For more details, check out our Glacier National Park Guide.

Flathead National Forest

Laid-back charm, lake views, and guest-friendly options

Photo by Jessica Puckette Photography

Location Map

Just outside Glacier National Park, Flathead Valley is perfect if you love the idea of mountain views but want more flexibility. It’s quieter, easier to access, and offers a mix of lakeside serenity and cozy towns.

Perfect for:

• Micro weddings with a few guests
• Couples who want lakeside or forest ceremony spots without a long hike
• Anyone planning a wedding outside of summer — this area is more accessible year-round

Locations to explore:

• Wayfarers State Park — rocky lakefront cliffs and west-facing sunsets
• Yellow Bay State Park — quiet, cherry orchard-lined beaches

Permit notes:

• State park permits range from $100–$200 depending on group size, with a $25 reservation fee. Montana residents often have free access; non-residents can grab a 7-day pass for $35.

Flathead Valley gives you space to breathe. It’s beautiful, calming, and full of ceremony sites that feel both intimate and accessible. It’s ideal for couples who want to feel grounded on their wedding day.

Why couples choose it: Just outside Glacier National Park, Flathead Valley offers more flexibility without sacrificing natural beauty. You’ll find open views of the Swan Mountains, peaceful lakes, charming towns, and cozy Airbnbs that double as venue spaces.

Best for: Elopements with a small guest list, couples wanting mix of comfort + outdoors, winter elopements, flexibility with locations.

What to know:

• Flathead Lake and Whitefish Lake both have beautiful spots for lakeside ceremonies.
• Local vendors often include venue-style setups (arches, floral installations) and provide full elopement planning assistance.
• The valley is accessible year-round, making it a great alternative if Glacier is closed due to snow or fire restrictions.

Related: Boho Vow Renewal at Flathead National Forest 

Yellowstone National Park

Photo by Heather Woolery Photography

Location Map

Although the park is mostly in Wyoming, some of the park spreads into Montana as well. This is the place if you’re looking for dramatic canyons, lush forests, hot springs, and gushing geysers. Yellowstone is also a great place to plan a multi-day elopement adventure. A special use permit is required (typically $75 or more) for your ceremony anywhere in the park, and travel fees may apply depending on the vendors you bring into the area. For couples seeking a more traditional touch to their adventurous elopement, venues like Mammoth Chapel offer a unique mix of rustic charm and accessibility for a small wedding party.

Beyond the iconic landmarks, Yellowstone invites couples to slow down and truly connect with nature, with each other, and with the intention behind their day. Whether you’re wandering through a quiet pine forest, sharing vows beside a hidden stream, or spotting wildlife in the early morning mist, there’s something sacred about the stillness this place offers. It’s not just a national park it’s a place to begin your marriage with meaning, surrounded by ancient earth and endless sky.

Why Choose Yellowstone?

Imagine exchanging vows with the distant rumble of a geyser or the tranquil flow of a river as your soundtrack. Yellowstone’s diverse terrains provide a plethora of breathtaking backdrops, from the iconic Mammoth Hot Springs to the secluded Lamar Valley.​

Planning Your Ceremony

To host your ceremony within the park:

• Special Use Permit: A permit is required for any wedding ceremony in Yellowstone. As of October 1, 2021, the application fee is $250. It’s advisable to submit your application at least a month in advance to ensure availability. One exception: if you were to use the historic Mammoth Chapel in the park, that particular site’s permit fee is $300, as it involves additional staffing.
• Mammoth Chapel: For a more traditional setting, consider the historic Mammoth Chapel. Beyond the special use permit, a reservation and an additional fee are necessary.
• How to Apply & Timeline: Yellowstone accepts wedding permit applications up to 12 months in advance. You must apply no later than 2 weeks before your ceremony date at the very latest – and earlier is better. In fact, the park notes that due to changing conditions, they typically do not finalize/issue the permit until just a few weeks before the wedding.
• Photography: You’ll be happy to know that, similar to Glacier, no separate permit is needed for purely personal photography associated with your wedding. Your photographer can take your portraits around the park outside the ceremony time without an extra permit, as long as the photos are not for a commercial advertisement.

Considerations

Yellowstone’s popularity means certain areas can be bustling, especially during peak seasons. Opting for a sunrise or weekday ceremony can offer a more secluded experience. Additionally, while the park provides unparalleled beauty, it’s essential to be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and to respect wildlife habitats.

Learn more about eloping at Yellowstone.

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Location Map

For couples yearning for rugged beauty and solitude, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness presents an unparalleled setting. Spanning over 943,000 acres across Montana and Wyoming, this wilderness is a convergence of towering peaks, alpine lakes, and deep, glacier-carved valleys. ​

Why Choose Absaroka-Beartooth?

Envision standing hand-in-hand atop a windswept plateau, the vast expanse of untouched wilderness stretching endlessly before you. The Beartooth Mountains, with their distinctive spiked granite formations resembling a bear’s tooth, offer a dramatic and symbolic backdrop for your vows.​

Planning Your Ceremony

• Permits: While many areas within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness are accessible without permits for small gatherings, it’s prudent to consult with local forest service offices regarding group size limitations and any necessary permissions.​
• Accessibility: Some locations may require a hike or off-road vehicle access. Consider the comfort and abilities of your party when selecting a site.​

Considerations

This wilderness is exactly that—wild. Cell service is limited, and amenities are sparse. It’s essential to be self-sufficient, prepared for sudden weather changes, and committed to Leave No Trace principles to preserve the area’s pristine beauty.

When to Elope in Montana

Photo by Ash Bilo Photography

Montana is at its best when experienced during a quieter time of the week, we recommend planning your elopement during a weekday for that reason. Weekday elopements are especially ideal if you’re dreaming of a ceremony in popular areas like Glacier National Park or Flathead Valley. Planning for a Monday through Thursday date often means more privacy on the trails, better vendor availability, and a more peaceful atmosphere that allows you to stay fully present. If you’re still deciding what kind of celebration feels right, exploring why you should elope might help you feel more confident in choosing a day that’s truly your own.

As for the time of year, it all depends on the kind of experience you’re both envisioning. If you love the idea of a snowy landscape and cozy cabin vibes, winter is the perfect time for an intimate celebration. Winters last from November to April, depending on how high up you’re eloping. September and October bring gorgeous fall foliage. Spring and fall offer beautiful transitions with wildflowers, changing leaves, and fewer tourists. Summer remains the most popular season thanks to warmer temperatures and wider trail access, especially in alpine areas like Glacier.

If you are eloping in a busier season, consider planning your ceremony at sunrise or sunset. Not only will you enjoy softer light and quieter surroundings, but your photographer will also have the perfect natural conditions to capture the emotion and beauty of your day. This sunrise lake elopement in Montana is a perfect example of how magical those early morning hours can be.

Best Times to Elope in Montana by Season

🌷 Spring (April – June)

• Average Highs: 56°F to 72°F (13°C to 22°C)
• Average Lows: 26°F to 40°F (-3°C to 4°C)
• Pros: Blooming wildflowers, fresh greenery, and quieter trails
• Cons: Unpredictable weather and snow still possible in higher elevations

☀️ Summer (July – August)

• Average Highs: 78°F to 85°F (26°C to 29°C)
• Average Lows: 45°F to 50°F (7°C to 10°C)
• Pros: Warm weather, long daylight hours, and full access to high-elevation trails
• Cons: Peak tourist season and higher accommodation prices

🍂 Fall (September – October)

• Average Highs: 58°F to 70°F (14°C to 21°C)
• Average Lows: 26°F to 38°F (-3°C to 3°C)
• Pros: Stunning fall colors and fewer crowds
• Cons: Cooler temps and early snowfall possible in the mountains

❄️ Winter (November – March)

• Average Highs: 28°F to 43°F (-2°C to 6°C)
• Average Lows: 9°F to 17°F (-13°C to -8°C)
• Pros: Snowy backdrops, cozy cabin vibes, and magical winter light
• Cons: Cold temps and limited trail access in remote areas

Note: These seasonal temperatures are based on historical climate averages from reputable sources like NOAA and Climate-Data.org. They’re intended to give a general sense of what to expect across Montana. Keep in mind that weather conditions can vary significantly depending on elevation, region, and yearly patterns. For the most accurate and up-to-date forecast, it’s always best to check with local meteorological services before your elopement.

Permits and Marriage Licenses in Montana

Photo by Sam Starns

When it comes to planning a Montana elopement in places like gorgeous Glacier National Park or anywhere else, you want to make sure you have the permits you need. Some places don’t require any permits to elope, but other places do. It’s important to always double-check with the location before or ask your elopement vendors for advice. Another important thing to remember is to also follow the rules and regulations set in place at your elopement destination. It’s our duty to leave no trace (LNT) when we visit public lands. Let’s all do our part and stay on the trail and respect the lands we are visiting.

Getting a marriage license in Montana is pretty simple. Marriage licenses in Montana are about $53, and there’s no waiting period to get married. If you’re obtaining your marriage license ahead of time, then remember your license will be valid for 180 days from the date issued.

Photo by Destinie Fouche Photography

Are you still looking for the best place to elope and not set on eloping in Montana? Look into elopement packages in some of our favorite locations:

Washington – New England – Oregon – North Carolina – Colorado – Texas