Jessica and Will had the epitome of a dream Montana elopement! We absolutely love any chance we get to go into Glacier National Park, especially during the summer, so planning a Montana elopement for this amazing couple was a perfect match! They chose to have their ceremony at Bowman Lake inside the park with just a handful of their closest family members. It was a beautiful June day with the sun sparkling off the lake, making the entire landscape look like a scene straight out of a painting.
We invite you to read through Jessica and Will’s perfect day in this post, particularly if you are looking for Montana elopement inspiration, tips and tricks, or ways to add your own personal flair to your microwedding. We worked with this gorgeous couple to include little details that showed off their personalities throughout the wedding day and we truly think these accentuated their love story even more! Keep on reading to find out how you can do the same!
Before the Ceremony:
One of the things we love most about elopements is that since it is just the two of you, or a handful of people at most, the wedding day isn’t rushed or stressful. You have ample time to leisurely get your hair and makeup done, hang out with any guests you may have, and even sleep in! You typically don’t get to do any of that with larger, more traditional weddings. What’s more is that it was June, so the sun didn’t set until about 9:45pm, giving them even more time to enjoy the celebration!
Jessica and Will took full advantage of the time on their big day by first having brunch at The Boat Club at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, where they were staying. Then, they took their time getting all dolled up before heading up the mountainside with their family.
It’s worth noting here that it is about two hours from Whitefish Lake to Bowman Lake. When working with An Epic Elopement, we create a full wedding day timeline for you and assist in booking transportation, so you won’t have to worry about how to get up the mountain or what time you need to leave. We got you covered!
Color Palette & Personalized Details:
For this Montana elopement, we were inspired by the summer season, natural beauty of Glacier National Park, and Jessica and Will’s personal taste. We decided to utilize bright, vivid colors, including fuchsia, purple, and yellow with the faintest periwinkle blue to add some dimension. It can be tough to play with such vibrant hues, but we adore doing so and are always SO excited when we get to!
Jessica’s bridal bouquet incorporated all these colors and Rose Mountain Floral absolutely nailed the aesthetic! The bouquet was hand-tied and looked so organic, like it was picked directly out of a meadow on the mountain. It was the perfect balance of blooms and greenery, and complemented Jessica’s dress to a T! Her gown’s bodice was completely covered in lace that tapered off at her waist and flowed down into a light skirt with a nude underlay. It gave the skirt an almost blush-like tone, which was just so beautiful with Jessica’s peaches and cream complexion. Talk about a stunning bride!
As if Jessica and Will weren’t already glowing, they upped the ante by wearing the most adorable, matching striped socks! We were so smitten by this personalized detail that was almost like a secret the couple shared on their big day. It also helped since Jessica wore comfy shoes to hike up and down the mountain that day!
Another personal detail that we loved is the playful handkerchief the couple had. Reminiscent of a sassy needlepoint, the handkerchief reminded Jessica and Will to, “Keep your shit together!”
The Ceremony:
When it was time for Jessica and Will to officially tie the knot, everyone gathered lakeside, just inches from the water. Since they opted out of doing a first look, we had Will face the lake until it was time for him to turn around and see his blushing bride. Jessica emerged from the mountain trees on her father’s arm and it really was surreal with just the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees, birds chirping, and the gentle ebb and flow of the lake.
The ceremony was sweet and intimate, filled with emotion and love, just as an elopement should be. By the time they said, “I do,” there was more than one person tearing up, myself included! Jessica and Will’s love and joy were so evident that even a passing group of hikers stopped to cheer them on and celebrate! Such a fun, serendipitous moment!
Cake & Champagne Celebration:
After every ceremony, we always make sure that the couple doesn’t forget to sign the marriage license. It’s something that often gets overlooked or forgotten in all the festivities, but that’s why we’re here: to ensure that you can fully enjoy your day and not worry about a thing!
After that was taken care of and family photos were captured, it was time for cake and champagne! What better place than the middle of the woods to set up a cutie patootie wedding cake display? We found a rustic wood bench, draped a light purple gauze linen over one side, and added our signature “We Eloped” sign to help accent the cake. We also brought our silver cake knife set and white cake stand for this display table. These are all items from our free wedding décor inventory that all AEE couples get access to when they book. Not only do you get to use our décor, but we also bring it along with us and set it up for you, which is a huge perk, especially when you are getting married on a mountain!
Jessica and Will’s wedding cake was almost too cute to eat! We say “almost” because it was also too delicious NOT to eat! We simply dotted the one-tier cake with little flowers to match the bridal bouquet and boutonniere, and that’s all we needed! After the newlyweds dug in, they popped some champagne and toasted to their new marriage with their loved ones.
Adventure Photos:
It wouldn’t be a Montana elopement without some incredible couples’ photos! The area surrounding Bowman Lake offered a variety of backdrops, from the waterfront to the spruce and fir trees to the open, grassy meadow. There was plenty of time to capture it all and ALL the images turned out amazing! I bet Jessica and Will had a hard time choosing some to hang on the walls of their home!
Check out their full photo gallery below and make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to see that magical, golden light that we are in love with!
A Word to the Bride & Groom:
Jessica and Will, thank you so so much for letting me into your lives to help plan your very special day! It was so much fun working with you both in the most beautiful of places. Nothing made me happier than seeing your smiles throughout that day and I am so lucky to have been a part of it all. Cheers to you and your family!
-Katie
For More Information on a Montana 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!
Are you ready to start your elopement journey? Send me a note describing your elopement vision and let’s make it happen!
Venue // Glacier National Park – Bowman Lake
Photographer // Kelly Kirksey Photography
Floral // Rose Mountain Floral
Baker // Montana Wildflour
Lodging // The Lodge at Whitefish Lake