The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Personalized Glacier National Park Elopement
Hi, I'm Aundrea! Owner and photographer of Aundrea Marie Photography. I will share my professional guidance on getting married in Glacier National Park from a 6th generation local photographer. This guide will cover several topics, including seasons, permitted ceremony locations, road status, guest information, sunset weddings, choosing a date - and much more! Be sure to follow this step-by-step guide in the order it's written for the best results. However, you can use the table below for a better experience if you want specific information.
Before beginning, bookmark this page on your browser. The guide is filled with links to credible sources and additional information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Glacier National Park Seasons: How to choose a season to get married in Glacier Park
Glacier National Park Permitted Wedding Ceremony Locations
Road Status, Road Construction and Drive Times in Glacier National Park
Vehicle and Guest information: How to have guests for a Glacier National Park Wedding
Famous Sunset Weddings in Glacier National Park
How to choose a date for your Glacier Wedding
How and when to get your Glacier National Park wedding permit
Information and guide to getting your Montana Marriage License
Top wedding vendor reccomendations
STEP #1
BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
I'm not just saying this because I'm a photographer—it's an essential next step for the planning. When applying for a Glacier wedding permit, you need the exact location, ceremony time, and your photographer's contact information. Your photographer should document your day and guide you to accurate information, the best places, superb lighting, and secret treasures within Glacier National Park.
STEP #2
CHOOSE THE SEASON
Now that you’ve hired your photographer, it’s time to choose which season you’d like to visit and the date of your wedding!
SPRING IN GLACIER PARK
Greens, Blues, and Pinks are the colors of Springtime in Glacier National Park. This time of year is a serene period with its perfect lighting and mild temperatures. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. The best time to explore spring in Glacier Park is mid-May and June. During this time, wildflowers are in full bloom, and the days start to get longer, with daylight lasting as late as 9:30 pm. Everything is re-energized, and the water is at its highest; cascades are flowing, there is minimal traffic, and temps are around ’ the 60s-’70s during the day and 40-50s in the evenings. It’s a very tranquil time of the year in the park.
May in Glacier National Park is a unique chance to witness the beauty of snowcapped mountains without the need to voyage through the snow. Despite the Going To The Sun Road being closed, you can still access 3/4 of the park, including favored spots like Lake McDonald, Trail of The Cedars, Avalanche, St. Marys Lake, Swift Current Lake, and Two Medicine. This increased accessibility makes the end of May a superior time to plan your visit.
SUMMER IN GLACIER PARK
Glacier National Park is a sight to behold during its peak tourist season in July and August. This is a time when you can marvel at the park's beauty, with the possibility of clear views or a touch of mystery with the hot and hazy atmosphere from yearly wildfires. It's a time of opportunity, with the entire park open for exploration, including the historical Going to The Sun Road. These months are the busiest for Glacier, creating a bustling atmosphere, and offer the warmest temperatures of the year. The snow has melted, and all roads inside and outside of the park are open, with daylight extending as late as 10:30 p.m.
FALL IN GLACIER PARK
Mid-September through the end of October is the best time for a fall wedding in Glacier National Park. Everything becomes quiet this time of year as tourist season slows down. The weather begins to cool down, similar temps to spring, and the colors are stunning! Copper, Browns, Orange, & Yellow are the colors of Fall in Glacier.
It’s not uncommon to get snow above 5,000ft elevation at this time of year, and the Going To The Sun Road will typically be closed by mid-October. Like May, most Glacier National Park roads will still be accessible until late October.
For couples planning a fall wedding in Glacier National Park, mid-September is the ideal time to visit. This period not only offers the best weather conditions but also ensures access to the full Going to the Sun Road, a key feature of the park.
PRO TIP:
If you want to see everything Glacier offers, including the entire Going to the Sun Road, plan for July - September.
WINTER IN GLACIER PARK
Suppose you want a winter wedding with more locations and snow-capped mountains with purple and pink sunsets. If you don’t mind the cold and want privacy, November through April are the perfect months to visit Glacier National Park. Typically, you can drive to the Trail of Cedars for the first two weeks of November.
Yes, it can get quite chilly in Glacier during the peak of winter, with daytime lows averaging 10 degrees and the occasional cold snap as low as -25 in January. But suppose you’re dreaming of a truly exquisite winter wedding, with frozen lakes and a blanket of snow covering every inch of the ground. In that case, Glacier Park in January & February is the perfect time to make your dream a reality.
STEP #3
CHOOSE YOUR CEREMONY LOCATION!
Prior to picking the exact location you’d like to say your vows, you’ll need to choose a main location for the day.
There are 6 Main Locations within Glacier National Park.
PERMITTED WEDDING LOCATIONS
ST MARY’S
Rising Sun Picnic Area Shoreline
Sun Point
Red Eagle Trailhead
Cutbank Field
1913 Ranger Station
MANY GLACIER
Lake Josephine Shoreline
Many Glacier Hotel Green
(behind main Lodge)Many Glacier Hotel–SW Beach
Many Glacier Hotel Beach
WEST GLACIER
Ryans Beach
Lake McDonald Lodge Beach
Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline
10-Mile Pullout (Jackson Bay)
7-Mile Pullout (Sandy Point)
Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline
Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline
Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline
Big Bend (Near Logan Pass)
NORTH FORK
Juniper River Access
Bowman Lake Day Use Area
TWO MEDICINE
Running Eagle Falls
Pray Lake Shoreline
Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
DRIVE TIMES
Glacier National Park is enormous, and depending on where your lodging and ceremony are located, certain parts of it can take 3 hours of driving one way. Your entire day revolves around planning the ceremony location and calculating the travel time.
ROAD STATUS
ROADS INSIDE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK: Many roads within Glacier National Park are seasonal. Check the road status before planning your wedding day route.
CHECK ROAD STATUS HERE
ROADS OUTSIDE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK: If you're considering a wedding during the off-season, it's important to be aware of alternative routes to access different parts of the park while the full Going to the Sun Road is closed. Remember, some roads outside the park are also seasonal (parts of U.S. Hwy 89). For detailed information, it's advisable to check the Montana Department of Transportation's road map.
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MAP
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Glacier Park has many road construction projects that might extend travel to different locations for your wedding. Construction projects also affect which ceremony locations and areas will be available.
VIEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS HERE
GETTING MARRIED IN GLACIER PARK AND HAVING GUESTS ATTEND?
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK’S VEHICLE AND GUEST INFORMATION
Glacier Park has a set number of vehicles and guests for each location. It's crucial to plan your ceremony location based on the number of guests and vehicles you have.
In most locations, the maximum number of guests (including yourselves and vendors) is 15. If you decide to have family and friends accompany you, it's best to have a limited number when getting married in the park.
Permitted number of vehicles per number of participants are as follows:
Up to 20 participants: 4 vehicles
21–60 participants: 6 vehicles
61–100 participants: 10 vehicles
100–250 participants: 15 vehicles
If you have more than 30 people, you will be limited to the park's less scenic amphitheaters.
PRO TIPS
Keeping your guest count of 15 people or fewer for flexibility and variety will provide you with the most authentic Glacier Park wedding.
Check the guest counts for each location during off season. Several places offer additional guests when the park slows down.
HAVING MORE THAN 30 GUESTS?
RENT A WEDDING VENUE
If you have more than 30 guests, I recommend skipping a Glacier Park ceremony and renting a venue just outside the Glacier entrance.
PERKS WHEN RENTING A WEDDING VENUE NEAR GLACIER PARK
Attendees and vehicles will not be restricted.
The venues have better scenic views than Glacier Park amphitheaters.
You can skip the Glacier Park wedding permit.
You can go to Glacier after your ceremony for the photographs.
SUNSET ELOPEMENTS IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
June and July sunsets are between 9:15- 9:30 pm, and daylight lasts until 10:30 pm. If you’re interested in sunset for your wedding, expect to be in the park until 11:00 pm. The sunset plays a significant part in your day, along with planning, driving times, and celebrating with guests.
THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR SUNSET
To capture a stunning sunset in Glacier National Park, plan to stay in the park until around 11:00 pm during the summer. It's best to schedule your dinner and celebration with guests for a different evening.
Now That You’ve Picked The Season
STEP #4
IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE THE DATE!
The Best Days To Get Married In Glacier National Park
Monday-Thursday
Due to the high number of tourists, I recommend picking a weekday for an evening wedding ceremony in Glacier National Park. Saturdays can be incredibly hectic in the park, and even with a permit, you may be unable to access certain parts of the park during the day. For example, Many Glacier is a popular destination during the busy season. If you don’t get there early enough, the parking lot gets full, and you must turn around. Doing this will only problematize your day. You’ll be a lot happier, and your ceremony will be more intimate with minimal chance of disruption.
OTHER GREAT REASONS TO GET MARRIED IN GLACIER PARK ON A WEEKDAY..
Availability is better! Most vendors in the area reserve weekends for bigger events or avoid working on weekends altogether.
Another factor to consider when scheduling elopements is the convenience of business hours. It can be quite challenging to arrange the necessary items from vendors when most are closed on weekends. You can avoid this by considering weekday scheduling, which offers more flexibility regarding vendor accessibility. Having your wedding on the weekend will also cause you to work around the courthouse'scourthouse's hours of operation. If you have your wedding on the weekend, you must pick up the license two days before the ceremony and/or return it to the courthouse two days later. This has been shown to cause itinerary complications. Getting married on a weekday, you can pick up and drop off anytime (I will talk more about the license later).
WHAT ABOUT HOLIDAYS?
In addition to a Monday - Thursday, I would stay away from significant vacation holidays (Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July) in Glacier National Park. These dates are busy times of the year. If you'll be traveling to the area around those dates, I recommend having your ceremony at least three days before or a few days after. This advice may not apply if you are okay with crowds and waiting.
UNSURE OF WHICH DATE YOU WANT?
If you do not know your date and want to check availability before making things official, please contact me with your top three date choices, and I'll let you know which ones are available.
STEP #5
APPLY FOR YOUR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
WEDDING PERMIT
A QUESTION BEFORE WE GET STARTED…
DO YOU EVEN NEED A PERMIT?
Two frequently asked questions regarding permits you’ll want the answers to before continuing.
DO WE NEED A PERMIT IF IT’S JUST THE TWO OF US?
Yes. As of October 2023, all vow exchanges, elopements, ceremonies, weddings, or special events require a Special Use Permit through Glacier National Park. Individuals must acquire a permit, regardless of the size of the group, whether it is "officiated," or if papers are signed.
DO WE NEED A PERMIT TO JUST TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS?
No. As of October 2023, current regulations are such that you do not need a permit to take pictures in the park. If you have a permit to hold your wedding inside the park, you may take as much time as you want for pictures before and after your permitted time, and you may go anywhere in the park open to the public.
IF YOU STILL NEED A PERMIT, I’VE PROVIDED THE INFORMATION BELOW.
BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR YOUR GLACIER PARK WEDDING PERMIT…
You’ll need to discuss things with your photographer before applying for your permit. You’ll want to plan your day, narrow down the location and choose the best time for the ceremony with your plans and the lighting in mind. This will be the first thing we do after booking your date!
YOU CANNOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR WEDDING PLANS ONCE YOU SUBMIT THE APPLICATION!
THINGS TO HAVE CONFIRMED BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION FOR YOUR PERMIT:
Know your exact ceremony location.
Make sure the location you’ve chosen is from the list of pre approved spots.
Know the date and exact time you want to conduct your ceremony.
Some locations are not accessible during certain times of the year. Make sure the date and time you’ve picked aligns with your location and your other vendors.
Step-by-step instructions for filling out and submitting your
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK WEDDING PERMIT
STEP #1
Download the Special Use Permit application and fill it out.
STEP #2
Email your completed application (word or pdf format preferred) to glac_sup@nps.gov
STEP #3
Pay the $125 non-refundable application fee online by visiting the GNP Permit Payment Site.
Please review the next steps on the Glacier National Park website regarding what to expect after you’ve turned in the application and made your payment.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION!
Ensure you provide GNP with the exact ceremony location and time you want. Responses like “various” or “West Glacier” will not be approved, and “morning” or “afternoon” will not be approved.
Include contact information for your photographer.
Under “Equipment,” list anything that is not on your person and that you want to bring with you.
Be sure to include the full guest and vehicle counts.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
To avoid having your permit request denied, send your permit application and non-refundable application fee to the park at least 20 business days before the requested permit date.
You can submit applications up to one year before your event.
YOU’VE SENT IN YOUR PERMIT APPLICATION, PAYED THE APPLICATION FEE
WHAT NEXT?
Step 5: Your active participation is crucial. Once you've submitted your application and your payment has been received, a Glacier employee will contact you by phone or email. They'll then send you a preliminary permit to review and sign. Remember, your permit is only valid once you and an NPS official sign it.
Step 6: You will have fourteen (14) calendar days to review, sign, and return your preliminary permit (PDF preferred) via email to GLAC_SUP@nps.gov for final processing. Please note that failure to return your permit within that timeframe may result in a cancellation of your application. Once the permit is finalized, changes are only permissible for those necessary due to an unexpected park closure.
Step 7: You will receive an email with a copy of the fully executed permit, which means a permit that has been reviewed, signed, and authorized by the appropriate NPS official.
Step 8: It's essential to be prepared. You must have a printed copy of the permit on-site during the event. This is a requirement and you are expected to provide the permit to any service provider, including your photographer, videographer, officiant, or event planner.
You can confirm these steps on the Glacier National Park Website HERE.
AFTER YOU’VE SECURED YOUR PERMIT FOR YOUR CEREMONY
STEP #6
APPLY FOR YOUR MONTANA MARRIAGE LICENSE
The courthouse in Kalispell (Flathead County) is the nearest county to Glacier for getting a marriage license. If you like to pre-plan, visit the link below to fill out the application before your arrival.
Click Here To Access The Montana Marriage License Application
THINGS YOU’LL NEED TO PICK UP YOUR LICENSE:
Birth certificate or driver’s license for proof of age.
The fee for the license is $53.00
Both of you are present.
Make sure you’ve completed the application before going into the courthouse to retrieve the license.
You can pick up your license anytime after you’ve filled out the application. You’ll have to pick it up together, and can pick it up on the 3rd floor of the courthouse.
Once you’re married, you will have to return your signed marriage license to the courthouse. You cannot mail it, you will need to deliver it in person.
FLATHEAD COUNTY COURTHOUSE 920 S Main, Kalispell, MT 59901. Monday-Friday, 8:00 am -4:30 pm (406) 758-5660
STEP #7
BOOK YOUR OFFICIANT AND OTHER VENDORS!
TRADITIONAL WEDDING ADDITIONS THAT YOU WON’T REGRET HAVING FOR YOUR DAY!
HERE ARE A FEW VENDOR IDEAS TO CONSIDER THAT WILL ENHANCE YOUR ELOPEMENT!
THE OFFICIANT
As you’ve previously read, having an officiant or someone ordained in the State of Montana is not required. However, hiring an officiant will provide structure and etiquette to your ceremony.
THE FLORALS
Having bouquets and boutonnières are never a bad idea. Such a little thing will add so much to your wedding attire and photographs. Having florals completes the wedding look and your wedding photos will reflect that!
ELOPEMENT CAKE
HAIR & MAKEUP
CATERING
Having a caterer for a late night dinner or picnic meal in Glacier is always a huge plus. Keep in mind if you are in the park for an evening elopement, this can interfere with dinner plans and this is a great option to eat dinner in the park! You can always order boxed meals or a charcuterie board and plan a picnic! I talk more about this in my planning guide for couples.
VIDEOGRAPHER
WEDDING PLANNER
Your photographer should be able to help you with the main details, however, hiring a wedding coordinator/planner is great to have if your group is more than 15 guests and you’d like to have all the pretty details of a big wedding for your elopement.