Table of Contents:
- FAQ’s About Glacier Weddings + Elopements
- 8 Best Places to Elope in Glacier National Park
- What is the Best Time of Year to Elope at Glacier National Park
- Glacier National Park Wedding & Elopement Permits
- Glacier National Park Elopement Packages
- Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer
Eloping in Glacier National Park is THE move in 2025–just trust me on this one. Alpine lakes, grassy meadows, lush rainforests, towering mountains, wildflowers, wildlife. . . just to name a few of the drool-worthy perks that come with tying the knot in this gorgeous park. Ready to learn everything there is to know about Glacier NP weddings? Cause I’m ready to tell ya!
UPDATE FOR 2025 WEDDINGS: As of early 2025, there’s a lot of construction going on in the Swiftcurrent area of Glacier National Park—and because of the limited parking available, no personal vehicles will be allowed into Many Glacier from July 1-September 21, 2025. No hiking or biking will be permitted on the Many Glacier Road during this time.
Don’t worry, though, there’ll still be a temporary shuttle service you can use if you want to hike in the area! Tickets for these shuttles will be available 7 days in advance every morning starting June 24, and the night before entry starting June 30. You can find all the info here!
FAQ’s About Glacier Weddings + Elopements
Let’s start with some general FAQ’s about getting married in Glacier National Park!
Can you have a wedding in Glacier National Park?
Yes! You can have a wedding in Glacier National Park as long as you get a Special Use Permit. More on that later in this guide, don’t worry!
Where can I get married at Glacier National Park?
You can get married at any of the permitted ceremony locations listed on the National Park Service website.
How many guests can we have for our Glacier National Park wedding ceremony?
It depends on where you have your ceremony. Most of the permitted ceremony spots have maximum capacities between 10-30 people, but a few even allow 100+!
How much does it cost to get married in Glacier National Park?
Here are the fees you need to pay to get married in Glacier National Park:
- Entrance fee: $30-80
- Special Use Permit: $150 application fee + applicable monitoring fees
- Timed vehicle entry reservation (only required for visits to Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork from June 13–September 28, 2025): Varies by date
8 Best Places to Elope in Glacier National Park
There’s a HUGE list of locations in Glacier that are permitted for wedding ceremonies, but for the sake of time and hopefully not being too overwhelming, I’m going to give you 8 of the best options!
The park is divided into a few different districts: Lake McDonald, North Fork, Two Medicine/Walton, St. Mary, and Many Glacier. Every district has its own selection of gorg spots available for ceremonies, so you def won’t be short on options. When you’re looking at the full list, make sure to pay attention to the details of each location, because they all have different group size limits, vehicle access, parking, and accessibility restrictions!
1. Big Bend
Big Bend is one of the most popular spots in Glacier for sure, located along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road about halfway between a trail called The Loop and Logan Pass. It’s literally just a pullout off the side of the road, so it’s super easy to access for a group of any size! Ceremonies can take place at Big Bend from early June–mid September.
From the curved road (or the “big bend” lol), you get incredible views of Clements Mountain, Heavens Peak, Mount Oberlin, and Cannon Mountain literally right in front of you, as well as the lush mountain valleys beneath you. There’s quite a bit of parking space, and the ceremony spot is wheelchair-accessible—making it a great option for any elopement. Just be sure to stay on the gravel near the parking area, as this is the only place where ceremonies are allowed!
Max group size: 10
Open to vehicles: Early July–mid September
Wheelchair-accessible? Yes
Pets allowed? No
2. Lake McDonald Lodge Beach
Lake McDonald is an obvious choice when it comes to eloping in Glacier National Park, but did you know that ceremonies are actually only permitted on the beach of Lake McDonald Lodge, on the north shore of the lake? You can take portraits around the lake itself, but your actual vow exchange has to happen at the permitted area of the beach.
The views at this beach are OUT OF THIS WORLD. It’s not like a beach you’d find on the coast. . . instead, you get crazy mountain scenery and glistening reflections in the water behind you as you say your vows. The rocky shores and snow-capped peaks in the distance make it such a dreamy spot to tie the knot, surrounded by your loved ones (or by yourselves). Make sure you notify the lodge of your ceremony date once you’ve gotten your permit approved!
Max group size: 15 peak season, 30 non-peak season
Open to vehicles: Year-round
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? Yes
3. Bowman Lake
Thank goodness wedding ceremonies are allowed at the Bowman Lake Day Use Area, it’s only one of the most STUNNING lakes in the park (and that says a lot—there are so many!). The way you’re framed by the mountains in the background is epic, standing in the foreground in the center of where they slope down closer to the water. Who needs a ceremony arch when you have a literal natural frame provided by the glorious mountains?! (Arches aren’t allowed btw, 4 chairs are permitted but that’s it.)
The road to the Bowman Lake Day Use Area is usually open through around mid-October, but sometimes snow falls earlier than planned. If the road is closed because of snow, you can still get married at Bowman Lake—you’ll just need to park at the Polebridge Ranger Station and hike or ski the 6ish miles each way. You know I’m always down for a hike like this, so you won’t catch me complaining!
Max group size: 15 peak season, 24 non-peak season
Open to vehicles: Mid May–midOctober
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? No
4. Two Medicine Lake
UPDATE FOR 2025 WEDDINGS: Both of the permitted wedding locations at Two Medicine Lake will be closed after Labor Day 2025 due to construction. Re-opening date is TBD!
Fittingly, there are two different spots where you can get married on Two Medicine Lake: the Two Medicine Amphitheater, or the Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline.
The Two Medicine Amphitheater is a super pretty spot in the forest, with views of the lake peeking through the trees, and has space for a larger wedding ceremony. For smaller ceremonies, I’d recommend the Picnic Area Shoreline instead because of the wide-open views you get of Two Medicine Lake! There’s plenty of space to explore the rocky shoreline, and you get majestic mountain views literally anywhere you turn. I’d say this is probably one of the best places to elope in Glacier National Park simply because of the incredible scenery you get with such little effort.
Amphitheater—
Max group size: 50 peak season, 75 non-peak season
Open to vehicles: Last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? Yes
Pets allowed? Yes
Picnic Area Shoreline—
Max group size: 15 peak season, 20 non-peak season
Open to vehicles: Last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? Yes
5. Pray Lake
UPDATE FOR 2025 WEDDINGS: Pray Lake Shoreline won’t be available for weddings after Labor Day 2025 due to construction. Re-opening date is TBD!
No need to send up any prayers here, this lake is already as BEAUTIFUL as could be. You’ll be on the floorrrr when you see how the mountains reflect so dramatically in the clear blue lake, bordered by the most lush forests and grassy shores. The shoreline ceremony spot can actually fit up to 30 people, so you can have a decent sized group here if you’re inviting guests! Pray Lake is pretty close to Two Medicine Lake (just 100 yards northeast), so it would be amazing to have your ceremony here and then head over to Two Medicine for some sunset portraits.
Remember that your ceremony has to take place directly on the shoreline surface rather than the fragile meadow—always remember the Leave No Trace principles!
Max group size: 30
Open to vehicles: Last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? No
6. St. Mary Amphitheater
While you’re not allowed to have a ceremony on the shores of St. Mary Lake, you ARE able to tie the knot at the amphitheater nearby! St. Mary Amphitheater is another amazing location for couples looking for a larger ceremony space, accommodating up to 75 people during non-peak season with multiple rows of benches and PLENTY of room to mingle + enjoy the views.
I recommend tying the knot at the amphitheater, then popping over to a scenic overlook for killer portraits in your elopement attire, with the mountains + lake glowing behind you—see some examples below from one of my visits to Glacier! For reference, this is the second-largest lake in Glacier National Park after Lake McDonald, and is located parallel to Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Max group size: 50 peak season, 75 non-peak season
Open to vehicles: Year-round
Wheelchair-accessible? Yes
Pets allowed? Yes
7. Lake Josephine
Lake Josephine has some of the prettiest views of any of the lakes in the park, offering otherworldly blue waters and all-encompassing alpine landscapes—you can even see glaciers if you take a boat tour of the lake! To get to the dock area where you can have your wedding ceremony, you’ll follow the Grinnell Glacier Trail for one mile along the west shoreline of the lake. This trail isn’t wheelchair-accessible, and adds up to two miles round trip, so make sure any guests you invite are able to complete the hike!
Max group size: 15
Open to vehicles: None—access to the nearest trailhead is from the last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? No
8. Many Glacier
Many Glacier is an area located just north of Going-to-the-Sun Road, on the east side of Glacier National Park. Full of gorgeous remote areas, turquoise lakes, epic hikes, and tons of wildlife, it’s one of the most popular places to visit in the park.
Funny that Many Glacier has MANY ceremony sites available, lol—four, in fact! Here’s where you can get married at Many Glacier:
- Many Glacier Hotel Green: A grassy area on the Swiftcurrent shoreline
- Many Glacier Hotel SW Beach: A little spot hidden away on the shoreline behind the main lodge, framed by beautiful trees
- Many Glacier Hotel Beach: You guessed it, a beautiful beachfront area of the hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake!
- Many Glacier Amphitheater: A secluded ceremony spot in the trees
If the road to Many Glacier is closed, you’ll need to hike, snowshoe, or ski to access your ceremony location.
Hotel green + beaches—
Max group size: 15
Open to vehicles: Last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? No
Pets allowed? No
Amphitheater—
Max group size: 100
Open to vehicles: Last week of May–mid October
Wheelchair-accessible? Yes
Pets allowed? Yes
BONUS: Wedding Venues Near Glacier National Park
Before we move on, I wanted to give you a few actual wedding venues near Glacier National Park in case you’re having a microwedding, or simply want more dedicated space to celebrate your elopement!
- Under Canvas Glacier
- Glacier Park Lodge
- Many Glacier Hotel
- LOGE Glacier
- Ashley Lake Estates
- Grouse Mountain Lodge
What is the Best Time of Year to Elope at Glacier National Park?
As you can see, most of the permitted ceremony locations listed above are open from around May through October, with the exception of a couple that are available year-round. This is why summer and fall are the best times of year to get married in Glacier National Park!
Aside from the large variety of options you have to choose from when it comes to ceremony locations, this is also when you’ll get the best weather + outdoor experiences at Glacier. The summer months offer the most reliable weather conditions of the year, as well as the most opportunities to explore the park without snow on the roads/trails. Late June through mid September gives you sooo many amazing chances to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, and to go rafting, hiking, biking, fishing, boating. . . the world (or the park) is your oyster.
One thing to keep in mind about summer elopements in Glacier, though, is the potential for wildfires and smoke. It sucks to even have to think about this when planning your elopement, but it’s the unfortunate reality these past few years.
The only thing we can really do is monitor weather conditions in the weeks & months leading up to your elopement, watching for road or trail closures on the NPS website to determine if we’ll need to adjust our plans. This website is also generally great for keeping up on park conditions and trail status reports not only related to weather, but construction, planned closures, etc.!
You can also check in on park conditions via these webcams from Glacier Guides.
Glacier National Park Wedding & Elopement Permits
Entrance Fee
All visitors to Glacier National Park will need to have an entrance pass. I recommend carpooling if you can, because one private vehicle pass will cover all the passengers in one car!
A private vehicle entrance pass for Glacier costs $35 from May 1–October 31, and $25 from November 1–April 30. This pass is good for seven straight days once you get it, so you’ll be all set for your elopement.
If you plan to visit the park again in the same year, though, you might want to opt for the $70 Annual Pass instead (it’ll save you some cash depending on how often you’ll be visiting)! You can also enter the park with an America the Beautiful Pass, which grants you entry into all US national parks as well as land managed by the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, BLM, and more.
Special Use Permit
In addition to your park entrance pass, you will also need to get a Special Use Permit to have your wedding ceremony in Glacier National Park. This is a requirement no matter how big of an event you’re having, from something as small as an un-officiated vow exchange to a larger celebration like a microwedding.
A Glacier National Park Special Use Permit costs $125, and must be received at LEAST 20 business days before your requested date—though you should def apply as early as you can, no earlier than one year in advance.
Here’s how to get a permit for your wedding ceremony in Glacier National Park:
- Fill out this application, making sure to specify the exact location you’re requesting + at least one backup location, date, and time
- Email your completed application to glac_sup@nps.gov in the form of a Word or PDF file
- Pay the non-refundable $125 application fee online via Pay.gov
- Wait to hear back from the park office and get your preliminary permit
- Review + sign your preliminary permit, and send it back to the park office
- Bring a printed copy of your final permit on the day of your elopement!
Vehicle Reservations
As of March 2025, a timed entry vehicle reservation is required for entrance to the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road and North Fork, from 7am-3pm June 13 through September 28. Note that this reservation is SEPARATE from the regular park entrance fee and has to be booked on its own through Recreation.gov!
If you’ve already booked a reservation for an activity such as camping, boat tours, or horseback riding, OR you have accommodations booked in the park, you won’t need to get this timed entry vehicle reservation.
This could all be different by the time you’re reading this blog post, so please check this website for up-to-date info!
Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer
Hi, I’m Bree! A Glacier National Park elopement photographer who is literally alwayssss traveling around the country but loves nothing more than being in front of an epic mountain view🏔️
If your dream wedding day looks like saying “I do” on a dreamy mountain trail, or on the shores of a sparkling turquoise lake, rather than inside of a stuffy venue, then you’re my kinda people.
Glacier National Park, Montana Elopement Packages
My Glacier elopement packages start at $5500 and include allll my expertise, knowledge, and top secret elopement planning tips to make your day as unforgettable as possible. We can get on as many phone calls or Facetimes as it takes to figure out all the deets + make your Glacier adventure perfection! Whenever you’re ready to say your vows in this gorgeous park, hit me up and I’ll be on my way to join ya!
Don’t know where you wanna elope yet? Check out these other epic national parks that I’m obsessed with!
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