Montana Elopement Packages

Have you thought about eloping somewhere in Montana? Montana has gorgeous spots 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.

*While we don’t offer bundled elopement packages in Montana, we do provide you with all of the information and resources you will need to create your perfect elopement package. Our Wandering Weddings members are also amazing vendors to ask questions. These members have plenty of experience curating awesome elopement experiences for couples.

How to Elope in Montana

This is a long resource packed with awesome tips and inspiration. Use the links below to jump right to the section you’d like to check out.

• Vendors For Your Montana Elopement Package
• Places to Elope in Montana
• When to Elope in Montana
• Permits and Marriage License in Montana
• Places to Stay in Montana

Vendors For Your Montana Elopement Package

When putting together your Montana elopement package, you want to consider your overall elopement budget. Whether you’re planning a desert elopement in Glacier National Park or planning a micro wedding near Flathead National Forest, your budget is everything when planning! Elopements have a pretty big range when it comes to an average price because it all depends on what vendors you decide to include on your wedding day. Please note that you are not required to include every vendor type in your package.

Are you ready to start planning your Montana elopement?

Check out our vendor categories to consider when thinking about your elopement package:

Photographers

These vendors are where most of your elopement budget will be going towards, but for good reason. On average, our photographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. This depends on how many hours of coverage (half-day versus full-day) a couple is looking for their Montana elopement package.

Videographers

Like elopement photographers, videographers are going to be a great investment for your elopement day to document your adventures together. On average, our videographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. Keep in mind, this depends on how long you want your elopement footage to be. For example, a full-day video coverage would cost more versus covering just your elopement ceremony.

Officiants

On average, our officiant members will charge $500-$800 per elopement. Officiants are great to orchestrate your favorite traditions and wedding vows. It’s also important to note that some other vendors are also officiants, so we recommend always asking.

Elopement Planners

You don’t necessarily always need a wedding planner for your elopement adventure, but having a planner does help if couples have a very clear elopement vision. The average price for our planner members is $1,000-$3,000. Planners are also great for couples who don’t want to DIY or worry about anything, or couples who live far from their elopement destination.

Florists

Since you’re planning an elopement, you’ll need less floral arrangement than your average traditional wedding in Montana. If you aren’t down to DIY your own bridal bouquet, then a florist in Montana can average $300 to $600.

Venues

Are you looking to elope in Big Sky, Belgrade, Great Falls, or Billings? Even though there are plenty of public land options to consider eloping to in Montana, there are also some pretty neat private venues in Montana too to include in your elopement package. Our team loves private venues because they do offer you more privacy and flexibility when you two are going to elope. Private venues, on average, will charge $300 to $4,000, depending on the location.

Places to Elope in Montana

Montana has a bunch of places to explore. But where are the best places to elope? Do all places in Montana require a permit? Will any of these places be remote and off the beaten path?

While we are going to mention some of our favorite places to elope in Montana below, it’s important to note that connecting with one of our members who specialize in Montana elopements will allow you to have your elopement at secret locations and trails not many people know about.

As professionals in the elopement industry, it’s our goal to provide you with all the tools and information you need to plan an epic elopement, but it’s also our goal to keep these areas protected. Our list of elopement locations in Montana should give you a good idea of where you would love to have your ceremony together. Once you know what areas you two are loving, then connect with our members to start planning your adventure!

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

Glacier National Park

If there’s an area that defines Montana, it’s probably Glacier National Park. This park has landed a spot on our best places to elope list, and it’s one of our members’ favorite elopement destinations. With over 700 miles of hiking trails, couples can enjoy backpacking, camping, and exploring together. A special use permit is required for wedding ceremonies here, and many locations are limited to 15-30 people, perfect for elopements and micro weddings.

If you’re thinking about planning your elopement here, then preparing in advance is key. Besides hiring your vendors and obtaining your permit, you’ll also want to secure your lodging asap. Lodging inside the park and Airbnbs nearby fill up quickly because of the park’s popularity with tourists.

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

Flathead National Forest

Are you looking for an elopement destination that screams whimsical wonderland? Flathead National Forest covers about 1 million acres and has plenty of remote locations for your elopement ceremony. You can rent a nearby cabin, or just plan a full day adventure o admire the trails and lakes nearby.

Related: Boho Vow Renewal at Flathead National Forest 

Yellowstone National Park

Although the park is mostly in Wyoming, some of the park spreads into Montana as well. If you’re looking for dramatic canyons, lush forests, hot springs, and gushing geysers, then add this spot to your elopement package. Yellowstone is also a great place to plan a multi-day elopement adventure. A special use permit is required ($75) for your ceremony anywhere in the park, and you should submit the application at least a month in advance.

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Another gorgeous area to explore during your elopement is Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. This area is rugged and pretty epic for your elopement. Here you’ll find a spiked granite rock resembling a bear’s tooth, hence the name of this area. There are also hundreds of lakes and deep, glacier-carved valleys, forests, and waterfalls to appreciate here.

When to Elope in Montana

Like many other places we feature, we recommend planning your Montana elopement during a weekday instead of the weekends. This is especially true if you want to elope in popular locations like Glacier National Park. Since more and more couples are realizing why they should elope, this makes planning a weekend elopement a little more stressful. To avoid stress, get together with one of our featured elopement vendors to see what time and day is the best for your elopement destination.

As far as what time of year to elope in Montana, you want to consider what type of elopement you both are imagining. If you’re interested in a winter wonderland elopement, then Montana is the perfect place to plan your wedding day. Winters last from November to April, depending on how high up you’re eloping. September and October bring gorgeous fall foliage, and summers are probably the most popular to elope in Montana because of the gorgeous greenery and ideal weather.

If you’re thinking about eloping during a more popular season in Montana, then aim to elope during sunset or sunrise. This will ensure you more privacy during your elopement adventure, and your photographer will also get beautiful lighting for your photos.

Permits and Marriage License in Montana

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. One thing to note is Montana is the only state that still requires a blood test to obtain a marriage license. You can complete a form to be exempt or use a previous blood test to submit.

Places to Stay in Montana

Check out our favorite places to stay in Montana during your elopement.

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