Western Wedding & Adventure Session in Glacier National Park
As Montana wedding planners who feel lucky to call this great state home, we’ll always have a soft spot for a Western wedding! It feels like such a natural fit for Montana’s sweeping landscapes and rugged beauty. As with any wedding motif though, you can choose how much you want to lean into it. Some AEE couples prefer to let the colors and general imagery of the motif, like a Western wedding, guide them, and others decide to go all in, theming every detail.
Brodina and Michael drew inspiration from a Western wedding vibe for their Glacier National Park wedding, letting the aesthetic guide their choices. That meant cowboy inspired wedding attire, a boho bridal bouquet, and of course, a pair of matching cowboy hats!
We were honored to plan their elopement at Ryan Beach, from their first look to the lakeside ceremony to their epic adventure session. The day was simple and sweet, demonstrating that a wedding doesn’t have to be elaborate to be special.
And if it's any indication that their wedding turned out exactly as they dreamed, here's what Brodina told us after the day was over: "I absolutely loved everything about the day... We wouldn't change a thing!"
Planning a Western Wedding in Montana
Before we dive into the details of the day-of, let’s walk through how we approached planning this Western wedding. When we first start planning with any of our couples, our owner and lead planner, Katie, asks what their overall vision of the day is. Questions like these help us create a solid jumping off point for the rest of our plans:
What do you want the overall vibe to be aka how do you want the day to feel?
Do you have any specific locations in mind already?
What colors do you love (and hate)?
When you picture your wedding ceremony, are you surrounded by all your friends and family, or are you by yourselves?
Brodina and Michael both loved a Western wedding vibe already, so it was a perfect fit for them to run with this for their Montana elopement. After making this decision, Katie worked with this sweet couple to book their ceremony location within Glacier National Park and develop the rest of their wedding plans. She guided them on what to wear and bring, sourced the rest of their wedding vendors, and pulled together all the logistics of the day, including timing, permitting, and communication with both the couple and vendor team.
There’s a common misconception that if you have an elopement or intimate wedding, the details are so simple that you don’t need a planner. But the planning process for any type of wedding is complex with many moving parts at once. Our couples often tell us that they’re so grateful to have us spearheading the process because they don’t have time to research and plan everything on their own. We save them so much time and mental energy and turn what could be a very stressful process into an enjoyable one!
To learn more about what we do for our couples, check out our Services page here:
First Look in Glacier National Park
Brodina and Michael started their Western wedding day with a beautiful first look. When they arrived to Ryan Beach, Katie escorted Brodina to a spot in the woods for this private moment, where Michael was waiting for her.
The blushing bride looked stunning in her long-sleeved, boho wedding gown with all-over lace. Her auburn hair flowed down her back and she complimented the entire look with a turquoise necklace for the perfect pop of color. Her bridal bouquet also fit the Western wedding motif with its organic feel and contrasting tones. That day, her groom donned a tan checkered suit jacket paired with jeans, a bolo tie, and cowboy hat. A true cowboy ready to marry the love of his life!
Following their first look, Brodina and Michael exchanged private vows, laughing and crying together over the shared memories and blessings. Only the forest surrounded them and it was truly like they were the only two people on the planet!
That’s exactly what we want for your wedding day: for you to be so wrapped up in each other that everything else fades into the background!
Wedding Ceremony at Ryan Beach
Then, it was time to officially get married! Brodina and Michael’s Western wedding ceremony took place at Ryan Beach by the lake’s shore. The clouds were soft and hazy overhead, creating the most beautiful evening light that showcased the mountains in the background perfectly. Between the lake, mountains, and endless sky, getting married in Glacier is probably the closest you can get to getting married in Heaven!
Post-Ceremony Adventure Session
After the newlyweds sealed the deal with a kiss, they had the chance to simply relax and revel in each other! They signed their marriage license as well as our famous “We Eloped!” wooden sign, and then captured bride and groom photos around the park with their photographer.
It was an evening in June, so the sun didn’t set until past 9:30pm, giving them ample time to explore West Glacier. For photos, they wandered by the lake, through fields, over to Belton Bridge, and down to the main Glacier National Park entrance sign. Along the way, Brodina pulled out a cowgirl hat of her own to capture some truly iconic shots!
We always appreciate when a couple chooses to leave breathing room in their wedding day. Don’t get us wrong, we love weddings with all the pomp and circumstance as well, but there’s something sweet about just getting to enjoy each other’s company and savor the fact that you just got married! Brodina and Michael’s Western wedding is the perfect example of how a wedding day can be simple and relaxed while still being so special and meaningful.
A Word from Katie:
Congratulations Brodina and Michael! You did it! I loved everything about your Western wedding day, from seeing your expressions during the first look to witnessing your romantic ceremony. Your wedding photos turned out SO stunning and I hope every time you look at them, you remember all the magic of the day! Wishing you both all the best!
-Katie
Vendor Team
Wedding Planner: An Epic Elopement
Venue: Glacier National Park
Photography: Thewmatt Photography
Floral: Rose Mountain Floral
Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss
Officiant: Best Day Officiants
Let’s Plan Your Western 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 vision and let’s make it happen!
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