For this couple’s wedding, they got the best of both worlds. They had the unique opportunity of having a traditional wedding followed by an elopement adventure! Their dream had always been to elope in the mountains, so four years after their wedding, we did it! I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to capture adventures like this couple’s Glacier National Park wedding story.

Plans Falling Through Turn into Dreams Come True

Jackie and Justin just wanted to get married. These two met in May and by December of the same year they were married. Jackie shared that they originally “wanted to elope in the mountains of Colorado, with nobody but our immediate families with us.” Even though they have no regrets about how fast they got married, they felt that the opinions of others overly influenced the majority of their wedding decisions.

That plus the speed of their wedding plans landed them with a traditional church wedding and having a friend photograph the day. It wasn’t a bad day, as they were overjoyed to become husband and wife! But, in looking back at their photos all that Jackie felt was “This isn’t us.” She said she would have changed everything but “my dress, my man, and the fact that my brother got to walk me down the aisle.” As this bride summarized, the wedding “was not the one of dreams.”

But, in looking back at their photos all that Jackie felt was “This isn’t us.” She said she would have changed everything but “my dress, my man, and the fact that my brother got to walk me down the aisle.”

It was after these reflections that they started considering a Glacier National Park wedding as a solution to getting photos that felt like them. Jackie and Justin wanted to go somewhere to create new memories and have beautiful photos to remember it all. It was their first tour to Glacier National Park so their second wedding was a totally new adventure! I was so excited to be their Glacier National Park guide!

Envisioning a Glacier National Park Wedding

This place and this day was just so special. Jackie is definitely the one more inclined to adventure while hiking through big mountains isn’t necessarily Justin’s thing. But, he loves his wife so much and displayed that in how sweet and supportive he was through the entire trip. The two of them are so different but they complement each other incredibly well and it was so fun being with them all day!

From sunrise to sunset I ran around with this couple and captured their sweet love. I did a lot of scouting prior to the day to make sure I understood the hiking conditions. One of these hikes happened to be a bucket-list hike of mine that still had snow on the path. I was stoked to do it with them!

There’s a good amount of snow because some areas never get sunlight due to how tall the mountains are. This is important to keep in mind when planning a Glacier National Park wedding, adventurous engagement, or elopement.

How to Enjoy Your Wedding Day Twice

I often encounter couples like Jackie and Justin who, due to unforeseen circumstances, end up planning a wedding day that doesn’t turn out how they imagined. The photos from the day will often remind them of this disappointment even though they are so happy to be married!

I love offering a variety of options for a wedding day photography redo! We can do a day-before or after session, vow renewal, or I can even join you on your honeymoon! Like Jackie and Justin, you can go with a traditional wedding followed by an adventurous elopement on your anniversary. My favorites are elopements in national parks like this one in Zion National Park!

Jackie commented that she was “desperately wanting to put back on my dress and go on a hike to a beautiful spot with a fantastic photographer!” These two used original wedding details including their dress and suit for their Glacier National Park wedding! They also read vows to each other again which was super sweet!

How to Make a Glacier National Park Wedding About You

Working with an adventurous couple like this one reminded me how important it is to fight for what you really want on your wedding day. Outside pressures from current trends and from within your own family can be high when you start the wedding planning process.

I always remind my couples that at the end of the day, what matters most is that you are happy with your wedding choices. It’s always good to make a note of what the important things are to you and then plan from there. Is it a priority to have your friends and family present or to travel to the location of your dreams? Do you want a beautiful backdrop that is unique to your love story? Or to explore somewhere entirely new like a Glacier National Park wedding?

I always remind my couples that at the end of the day, what matters is that they are happy with their wedding choices.

Whatever is most important to you–let’s do that. The pressures of other people will wear away if you choose to remember that this is your wedding, not theirs. Or as Jackie summarized, “At the time, I didn’t really understand how important finding a good photographer was. But, now I do, and we wanted to redo our dream!” It’s my pleasure to capture your story in any way that makes your wedding dreams come true!

I love capturing weddings in Montana. Who’s trying to go back with me ASAP?!