Planning an Elopement in a National Park can be an incredible experience, offering stunning natural backdrops, a relaxed atmosphere, and a unique way to celebrate your love. However, there are specific considerations to make the process smooth and ensure you have the wedding of your dreams. Here’s a step-step guide to planning your national park wedding.
Now that you know a bit more about me, it’s time for How to Plan Your National Park Elopement…
- Hire me!: This might seem like a biased opinion, but it’s not. A lot goes into planning an elopement, and the whole point of eloping is to be less stressed. I can help with that!
I have traveled and shot weddings all over the state of Montana. I have connections and (even more) advice for each location on the list above. Not only will you have the best photograph package, but you’ll receive help with your planning every step along the way.
- Get a permit (includes Park pass): Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park require a permit. Some of the other locations on the list above do as well. Although I’d love to be able to help with this step, both of those places (and most others) require that the couple procure the permits themselves. I’m happy to point you in the right direction and will include websites for both locations below. Please ask if you have questions about which other locations require a permit! Glacier website: Getting Married in the Park – Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)Yellowstone website: Weddings and Other Ceremonies – Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Hire an officiant (or don’t): In Montana, a licensed officiant is not required to perform your wedding. Many people ask friends to accompany them and fill that job. There are companies that exist that will provide officiants for a fee. Do you know that Montana is a self-solemnizing state?
- Procure a marriage license: Very similar to the permits for the parks (and other locations), you must procure your marriage license as a couple. And again, I’m more than happy to help with the process and point you in the right direction, but I cannot procure and sign the license for you. I can sign the license as your witness if you wish to include no guests!
- Familiarize yourself with the legality of eloping in a National Park: There are laws, rules, and regulations that dictate what you can and can’t do when you are eloping in any National Park. For example, no music via amplified speakers is allowed, and food cannot be catered or left unattended. The two websites above will help you familiarize yourself with the laws, rules, and regulations around eloping, but if you don’t see what you are looking for and have questions, I’m always happy to help as well.
- Leave No Trace: Like any other visit to a National Park or State Park, we want to ensure that when the ceremony is over, we “leave no trace.” In other words, what we pack in, we want to make sure we pack out.
- Make sure to pack lightly for the actual ceremony, but you should also be prepared with a garbage bag or something to pick up trash and recycling that you may have after the ceremony is done.
- Consider the Landscape: National parks offer a wide variety of landscapes-forests, deserts, mountains, lakes, beaches. Choose one that resonates with your personal style and the type of atmosphere you want for your wedding.
- Accessibility: Think about how easy it is for you and any guests to get to the park. Some parks are more remote and require longer travel or hiking, while others are more accessible with paved roads. For instance Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road is only open from July-October which means depending on what location you want, the road might be closed.
- Decide on Wedding size and guests. National Park weddings are perfect for smaller, more intimate gatherings. Most locations in National Parks have a cap on guests at certain locations.
While this all might seem a bit daunting, especially having some of the things on this list that you must accomplish yourselves, rest assured that I have been through all the steps and can give you tips and advice along the way. You hired me to take incredible photographs, but I’ll do my best to ensure the whole experience is as easy and stress-free as possible. We will make this the best (and hopefully only) Montana elopement you’ve ever had!
