What if we told you that you could marry your best friend on a mountaintop with a glistening lake right behind you?
How would you feel if we told you that you could have the emerald wedding of your dreams that just so happens to also be an elopement?
Would you want to celebrate your new marriage by exploring the mountainside and capturing adventure photos?
If all of this is sparking excitement in you, we have good news! You can absolutely have it all!
Natalie and Max certainly did when they had their emerald wedding this summer at Sun Point in Glacier National Park. They eloped with just a handful of family and had a romantic ceremony right by the water’s edge. After they tied the knot, they got to enjoy a sweetheart cake together before trekking around Glacier National Park for an adventure session.
The best part is that they had this emerald wedding on their own terms! They chose to elope because it was the right fit for them, and they didn’t have to sacrifice anything. They flawlessly incorporated both modern and glam details into their emerald wedding and successfully pulled off their dream day!
Of course, they had some help from a talented vendor team. In this post, you’ll discover the steps we took to plan and execute this beautiful emerald wedding. Make sure to read to the end to check out all their gorgeous photos!
Sun Point at Glacier National Park:
The Sun Point nature trail within Glacier National Park is definitely one of our favorites! The great thing about this trail is that you get to see all the best that Glacier has to offer along the way. There are of course mountain views, but you also get a lake, forestry, and even a waterfall!
You do need a permit to get married within Glacier, but when you work with us, we assist you with applying for and obtaining it. We advise you on exactly what to expect with the application process, which means peace of mind for you!
For Natalie and Max’s emerald wedding ceremony site, we chose the edge of Saint Mary Lake. This spot is so picturesque with the mountains and lake as the backdrop. Even on a cloudy or windy day, it is still breathtaking!
Emerald Wedding Details:
Natalie and Max wanted their emerald wedding to match their personal styles. This meant modern meets glam! Max wore a neutral suit with an emerald green tie and white boutonniere. Natalie selected a white A-line wedding dress with a blush underlay and floral details trailing down from the bodice. The skirt on the gown was light and flowy, giving her bridal look an ethereal vibe!
Natalie paired her dress with a sparkly floral hair piece, a matte lipstick, and a simple pearl necklace. All together, these created both a modern and glam vibe, and she looked simply gorgeous!
Natalie finished off her look with a spectacular bridal bouquet from Rose Mountain Floral. It consisted of white blooms, from roses to anemones, and different types of greenery, from silver dollar eucalyptus to even palm fronds! The bouquet had the perfect balance between wild and structured, and it couldn’t have fit this emerald wedding any better!
Last but not least, Natalie and Max’s sweetheart wedding cake was the picture of perfection! It was a one-tier white naked cake with the same blooms as in Natalie’s bouquet. We set it atop a sleek black wedding cake stand, which played off the black from the anemone’s center. It was also delicious! Natalie and Max chose a lemon cake with lemon curd and raspberry champagne buttercream. YUM!
Finalizing the Vendor Team:
With the ceremony location, attire, hair & makeup, floral, and cake complete, the only things left were a killer photographer and a place to stay! Natalie and Max chose Dina Remi to capture their emerald wedding day. We always love working with Dina because she’s truly a pro and knows all the best spots in Glacier!
For their accommodations, this sweet couple found the MT Social House through AirBnB. They stayed in this beautiful house on 22 acres of land with their family, and it was situated close to the entrance of Glacier National Park, which made getting to the ceremony easier!
The Emerald Wedding Day:
On the morning of Natalie and Max’s emerald wedding day, we picked up the floral and cake from the vendors before heading up to Sun Point. We met Dina, Natalie, Max, and their closest family members in the Sun Point parking area, and we walked over to the ceremony site together.
When everyone was ready, we positioned Max and their officiant by the lake. Their guests assembled around them, buzzing with anticipation. To kick off the ceremony, Natalie emerged from the forest trees with her mom, who wore the perfect emerald dress. Max couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear when he saw his bride walking towards him. When she made it to his side, she gave her mom a huge hug before joining hands with Max.
It honestly could not have been a more beautiful day for their emerald wedding! It was sunny, but not too hot, and the sky was so clear that we could see even the most distant mountains. Not to mention that the lake sparkled and caught the sunlight in all the right ways.
Natalie and Max tied the knot in the middle of this amazing landscape. Their family emanated love and joy for them, as they shared their first married kiss and then threw their arms up in the air as if to say, “We did it!”
Cake Celebration & Adventure Session:
After signing their marriage license and taking family photos, the newlyweds cut their wedding cake. They fed each other the first bite of cake as per tradition, and they laughed together the whole time! They had fun with it and the bliss they felt radiated throughout the entire area.
Everyone then enjoyed the delicious lemon cake and each other’s company. When it was time, Natalie and Max headed off with Dina on their adventure photo session around Glacier National Park. When we first viewed their final gallery, we were blown away by how many incredible photos they got! Natalie and Max are basically models in our book, and it’s plain to see from the pictures that they enjoyed every minute of their photo shoot! We can’t think of a better way to round out their emerald wedding day!
This is why we 11/10 always recommend doing an adventure session in Glacier!
A Word from Katie:
Congratulations Natalie and Max! Your emerald wedding with modern and glam touches was beautiful and I was honored to walk through this journey with you both. Your elopement could not have been more gorgeous, joyous, and downright fun! Cheers to you!
-Katie
Venue // Glacier National Park - Sun Point
Planner // An Epic Elopement
Photographer // Dina Remi Photography
Florist // Rose Mountain Floral
Baker // Montana Wildflour
Hair & Makeup // Melanie Hobus
Lodging // MT Social House
Let's Plan Your Emerald Wedding!
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!
Are you ready to start your elopement journey? Send me a note describing your elopement vision and let’s make it happen!