Eloping in Montana at Ryan Meadows

Eloping isn’t just done at the courthouse or in Vegas anymore! Especially with the onset of the pandemic, more and more couples are choosing to have a destination elopement in the mountains, on the beach, or even at an AirBnB. In our totally unbiased opinion, the benefits of eloping in Montana are parallel to none!

We have Glacier National Park in our backyard, creating sweeping mountainous landscapes for our couples’ ceremony backdrops. There are lush pine trees dotting every slope and the glassy lakes contribute to the sense of serenity that falls over the entire park. Many of our couples choose to stay at a nearby mountain resort or AirBnB when they are eloping in Montana. When the big day comes, they then drive up to Glacier for the most epic of wedding backdrops.

Laura and Jesse chose to elope at Ryan Meadows in Glacier National Park on a beautiful late summer day. Their big day was complete with a non-traditional wedding dress, rich floral hues, and a sweetheart cake!

Their wedding story about eloping in Montana will certainly inspire you, so keep on reading to learn more about how you can pull off an epic elopement too!

Deciding on Eloping in Montana:

When Laura and Jesse were dreaming up their wedding vision, they knew that they wanted their wedding to be intimate, personal, and outdoors. They are naturally adventurous people and activities like hiking and exploring new places played a pivotal role in their relationship. Laura also knew she wanted to incorporate wildflowers and creamy, neutral colors. It simply followed then that eloping in Montana, especially in Glacier National Park, would create the perfect setting for their adventurous destination wedding!

Before the “I Dos:”

Laura and Jesse’s wedding day took place on a gorgeous and sunny day in late summer and early fall. The weather was still warm from the summertime, but you could start to feel a certain crispness to the air with the approach of fall. The ceremony was held at Ryan Meadows within Glacier National Park. Located on Lake McDonald, this site boasts a peaceful lake surrounded by various mountains. It’s one of our favorite locales for eloping in Montana because you get the lake, mountains, and forest all in one spot!

On the afternoon of the big day, Laura got all dolled up by the talented Melanie Hobus, one of our go-to hair & makeup artists! She then slipped into her champagne-colored wedding dress that had a cascading leaf print from top to bottom. It also had the slightest bit of shimmer to give Laura an extra sparkle on her special day.

Jesse looked just as dapper! He donned more of a rustic look with his bolo tie, matching belt buckle, and Western boots. Together, this sweet couple made the perfect combination of rustic glam!

Once they were both ready to go, they started the journey up to Ryan Meadows!

The Ceremony:

We met Laura, Jesse, their photographer and their officiant at Ryan Meadows. On our way to the site, we picked up the floral and cake that we would need for the day. Laura’s bridal bouquet was a definite showstopper! It was lush and full-bodied, flaunting big, beautiful blooms in various peach, purple, and orange hues. Jesse’s groom’s boutonniere matched the bouquet perfectly with its yellow and purple tones.

Before the ceremony began, we turned Jesse around to face the lake so he couldn’t see Laura until it was time for her to walk down the aisle. The ceremony was held on the banks of the lake with smooth gray stones underfoot and fluffy white clouds overhead.

When Laura walked out of the trees and onto the shoreline, everyone was all smiles! Jesse took her hand as soon as she made it up to the altar, and then the ceremony began.

It was filled with laughs, the story of Laura and Jesse’s relationship, and tons of heartwarming moments. It was an ideal blend of emotional and fun. On the lake, there were a few kayakers and paddle boarders passing by, and they were so sweet to applaud and congratulate Laura and Jesse! One paddle boarder even flipped over and still managed to applaud and cheer on the newlyweds!

About 20 minutes later, Laura and Jesse were husband and wife!

Eloping in Montana Means Adventure!

After the newlyweds shared their first married kiss, we made sure to have them sign the marriage license. Then, we were ready for cake! Eloping in Montana with just the two of you means that you can have the most adorable one-tiered cake! When working with us, we will pick up the cake, bring it to the ceremony site, and set up the cake display table, like we did for Laura and Jesse. We always bring the silverware and even a cake stand for you too!

Laura and Jesse’s sweetheart cake had a creamy ivory exterior with the buttercream smudged on the outside to look like mountains. We adorned it with little yellow flowers along the edge and a bunch of purple, yellow, and white blooms as a cake topper. Lastly, we placed the cake on our rustic wooden cake stand and set it up on a nearby tree stump. This ended up acting as a natural cake table, perfect for cutting into their wedding cake!

Eloping in Montana also means having the opportunity for an adventure photo session! This is a popular option for couples because it entails exploring Glacier National Park, capturing the first moments after you tie the knot. Plus, it gives you precious quality time with your new hubby or wifey on the most important day of your relationship!

After Laura and Jesse dug into their wedding cake, they set off to enjoy all that Glacier has to offer for their adventure photos. They got to explore Lake McDonald further as well as the emerald forest of the national park. What a way to end their big day!

Final Word from Katie:

“Congratulations Laura and Jesse! Mari and I loved getting to know you and help you two have your perfect wedding day, eloping in Montana. We wish you much joy and love in your future together! Cheers!

-Katie

Vendor Team:

Venue: Glacier National Park- Ryan Meadows

Coordinator: Big Day Celebrations

Photographer: Kelly Kirksey Photography

Officiant: Elope Montana

Florist: Farm Blooms MT

Baker: Montana Wildflour

Hair & Makeup: Melanie Hobus

Thinking About Eloping in Montana?

Big Day Celebrations offers full-service wedding planning, coordination & design services, and micro-wedding packages, so no matter how you envision your wedding, we will make it happen and have a whole lot of fun along the way!

For more elopement inspiration, check out our sister company, An Epic Elopement! Based in Kalispell, Montana, An Epic Elopement specializes in all-inclusive elopements, micro-weddings, and intimate weddings. Here, you get the full experience of having a traditional wedding, but with a little more adventure included!

Ready to get started? Drop me a note below and let’s do this!