As someone who will always celebrate love of every kind, I know how important it is to offer up some seriously stunning LGBTQ+ wedding inspiration in an industry that feels dominated by offers for the “bride and groom.”
Who better to help with that than Talon and Jason, the sweetest local couple who wanted to elope in one of their favorite places of all time—Glacier National Park!
Come along for their entire elopement, from their wedding suit recommendations to their two-day elopement itinerary!
Is Montana a Good Place for a LGBTQ+ Wedding?
In my experience, yes!
Montana may surprise people. Yes, it’s rural and rugged, but the wedding community in the Glacier National Park and Flathead Valley area includes a strong, supportive network of LGBTQ+ affirming vendors whose main priority is giving you the best day ever…period.
Here’s why my couples love getting married in Montana:
A welcoming local vendor community for all people
There are officiants, planners, photographers (hi!), florists, and venues here who are active allies and prioritize creating a safe space of celebration and love for any couple. I actually know plenty personally and professionally, and absolutely give referrals to my couples based on who I think would be best for the job!
Here, we believe nature is for everyone
As locals, we know how incredibly privileged we are to live in such a beautiful place!! Sharing the magic of what makes it so special is something we take very seriously. Our only worry is treating the land with respect (like following Leave No Trace principles). Other than that? We just want you to enjoy your time here. Whoever you are, wherever you come from!
You get to choose who surrounds you
Montana’s landscapes are vast and peaceful (most of the time haha). The ability to choose quiet spaces away from crowds gives you the chance to feel fully relaxed and fully yourself! Whether it’s just the two of you, your chosen family, or a small group of loved ones, Montana is a place where you can curate the exact wedding environment you want. No pressure, no expectations!
Why Two-Day Itineraries are Great for Montana Elopements with Family
You get BOTH adventure and family time.
- One day for private time, just the two of you. This could be a hiking adventure session in Glacier National Park with your photographer, a picnic and beers by the lakeshore, or watching sunset at a quiet overlook. This gives you that quintessential elopement experience, guilt-free, knowing you’ll be spending plenty of time with guests, too.
- Another day for family and celebrating together. This could be your ceremony, a private dinner celebration, or a more traditional reception with drinks and dancing! Plus, plenty of family wedding photos, of course.
This way, there’s no rushing between locations or squeezing everything into a tight timeline! You actually get to enjoy both experiences fully.
No stress about photography timing.
In the summer months, sunset is often around 9:30-10 pm. That can be really tricky when you want golden hour photos, but your family with kids or tight travel schedules isn’t super excited about hanging around until midnight for your return!
To top it all off, photography timing varies because of the mountains. It’s important to talk to your elopement photographer about what you envision (for example, if you really want golden hour light), so that they can give you location-specific details about timing!
More flexibility for weather and environmental factors.
Eloping in Montana is beautiful, but a little unpredictable! Between wind, rain, fast-moving clouds, snowsqualls, socked in valleys, and the yearly risk of wildfire smoke—let’s just say a little extra flexibility in your plans is always a good idea.
With two-day wedding celebrations, we are able to make last-minute switches if needed, which might just save you and your guests from blowing out of your chairs or getting soaked to the bone. And when it comes to photography, it gives us more time to play with locations and light!
- Jason and Talon eloped in June, a month known for throwing curveballs in the mountains. For a more in-depth look at planning for the weather, read this June in Glacier National Park blog!
- If you’re planning an elopement in Northwestern Montana between June and October, here’s everything you need to know about navigating wildfire season.
More variety in your elopement photos
Two days means different outfits, locations, lighting, and experiences. For an example of what I mean, just take a look at Jason and Talon’s photos! We explored different landscapes in Glacier National Park on their adventure session day, hanging out for very laid-back portrait photos in nature.
Then on their ceremony day in a different location, followed by plenty of family photos, details of getting ready, and their reception back on the cabin property. They have so much variety that we could never have squeezed it into one day (without running around like headless chickens).
Jason and Talon’s Two-Day Montana Elopement
Adventure Elopement Portraits in East Glacier National Park
We spent the evening exploring:
- Mariah’s Pass
- The Blackfeet Reservation
- St. Mary’s
- Sun Point
It was warm, hazy from Canadian wildfires happening up north, but the soft lighting made the greenery deep and rich (a dream for an elopement photographer)! Jason and Talon are so fun and easy-going, so we spent our time exploring as many locations as we could. From a field of early-blooming wildflowers to glacial lakes to overlooks with big views—their photos really are a highlight reel of the “best of East Glacier!”
Ceremony Day at an Airbnb Wedding Venue in Coram, MT
The next afternoon, their family gathered at a beautiful private Airbnb wedding venue! Glacier River Ranch is a guest house located right alongside the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This 40-acre ranch has five bedrooms (for up to 12 guests) and a private river access just 10 minutes from Glacier National Park! Let me tell ya, it’s perfect for an intimate wedding celebration.
Jason’s sister officiated their ceremony down by the river, we headed down to a private pasture for family photos, and they used the covered cabin porch as their reception space.
Toasts were made, they cut a gorgeous wedding cake from Bernice’s Bakery MT, and then the whole group chowed down on a buffet-style dinner from Bonnellis Bistro (it was delicious, I can confirm). It was the best mix of the traditional wedding events they cared about—nothing more, nothing less!
Wedding Suit Ideas Courtesy of Jason and Talon
If you’re looking for inspiration for your wedding suit colors and styles, Jason and Talon knocked this one out of the park. They complemented the landscape perfectly and kept them comfortable in the weather all day long.
Here are a few tips I can give based on their experience:
Rich, earthy tones are perfect for summer in Glacier
Glacier National Park is full of greens and blues all summer long! Because of that, rich earthy tones photograph beautifully here.
I love when couples choose:
- Browns or warm tans
- Deep greens
- Soft sage or dusty neutrals
- Deep jewel tones like greens, burgundy, or navy
Navy blue is super popular (and always a safe, classic choice), but I always do a little happy dance when someone shows up in a brown or green suit.
Contrasting colors look amazing in photos
Jason’s light, neutral-toned suit paired so well with Talon’s deeper green tone. Alone, they looked incredible, but paired with the rich colors of an early-summer Glacier National Park? Holy smokes, I couldn’t have picked out better options myself.
Tip for Choosing Your Suits: If you and your partner are both wearing suits, choosing different colors that complement each other is a great idea! It can be tempting to think, “let’s both just wear black,” because it’s safe and common. But if you’re eloping in nature, softer colors might be better! But, ultimately, the main goal is to feel comfortable and yourself, so wear what makes you feel your best!
Order early and consider custom tailoring
With one quick look, you can tell Jason and Talon’s suits fit them so well. If choosing a wedding suit stresses you out a bit, consider trying on a few different styles to figure out what suits your body best!
Here are a few gender-inclusive, size-inclusive shops I love:
Sharpe Suiting - LGBTQ+ owned, gender-inclusive custom-made suits
Bindle & Keep - suits made for everyone with gender-inclusive tailoring
SuitShop - a great, affordable brand with inclusive sizing
Wildfang - gender neutral suits with bolder styles and fabrics
And, in case you’re curious, Jason and Talon order their suits from Sartoro and had them tailored locally in Missoula!
Don’t be afraid to accessorize for your personality!
Details like pocket squares, fun ties, pins, watches, hats, and boots can really pull your look together and make each partner feel completely themselves.
For the ceremony day, Talon wore a bolo tie with a light cream pocket square, and Jason rocked a floral tie with a pink pocket square to match. Just because you’re not throwing a huge celebration with table numbers and decor galore, doesn’t mean you can’t include little details that make the day feel more you.
Want more inspo for planning your elopement or wedding in Montana?
What to Wear: Jason and Talon opted to wear their suits for their adventure session, but you don’t have to! If you want more variety in your photos and to slip into something a bit more comfy while exploring, take some inspiration from Loren and Ben’s adventure session in GNP!
Locations & Venues: Glacier is vast, and there are endless options for your multiple-day elopement. Check out these different Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations and venues!
Timelines: If you want to fit a bit of exploring and family time into the same day, you could opt for a more condensed 3-hour elopement day like Kim and Brittany!
Looking for an ally photographer for your LGBTQ+ wedding?
Whether you’re imagining a two-day celebration like Jason and Talon’s or something entirely your own, I’d LOVE to be your elopement photographer!
Not only am I always helping with photography timelines, location ideas, local vendor and venue recommendations, but I’m also here to make it the best dang time possible for you! Here’s what Jason and Talon shared about their experience working together:
“We truly couldn’t have been luckier to find Jennifer. She was not only fun and enthusiastic, but also incredibly flexible and open to all of our ideas. From helping shape the timeline of the day to offering input on details like last minute cake decorations, she went above and beyond. Her creative eye captured everything from beautiful portraits and sweeping vistas to the little candid moments we didn’t even know were happening. Her vision, energy, and knowledge of locations brought everything together seamlessly, and we’re so grateful to have had her as part of our day.”
So, what ideas do you have for your day? I think it’s time you tell me everything!! For more information on pricing, availability, and working together, fill out this form, and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours!
In the meantime, keep scrolling through the rest of Jason and Talon’s two-day elopement in Glacier National Park for more inspiration!
