If you’ve been dreaming of escaping to the mountains to exchange your vows, you’re in luck! I’ve been photographing weddings for 5 years and have captured some of the most drool-worthy mountain ceremonies. In this guide, I’m going to give you the inside scoop on everything you need to know about having the best mountain elopement ever.
I’ve got something for everyone, from popular spots to lesser-known destinations. Below, I’ll share elopement locations in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, and Washington.
Mountain Elopement Checklist
Before diving into amazing elopement locations in the mountains, let’s take a look at this quick elopement checklist to help you get started.
- Choose a location. Close your eyes and envision what you want your day to look like. Now keep reading for some of my favorite places in the mountains!
- Book your elopement photographer. Make sure you capture your big day so you can remember how amazing it was and share it with your loved one. Best of all, many elopement photographers double as planners. Learn more about investing in an elopement photographer here.
- Pick a date. Mountain weddings can be amazing any time of the year. Consider your ideal weather to help you pick a date.
- Apply for permits. Various elopement locations require different permits, especially national and state parks. Once you pick your location, you can get the details for this to ensure you have proper licenses. Prices vary from about $50 to a few hundred bucks.
- Book your trip. Once you pick your date, it’s time to book your trip!
- Get your marriage license. To make things easy, your planner can help you out with this.
- Enjoy your wedding day! Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your special day.
If you want help with all aspects of planning your elopement, Among the Pines (that’s me!) is an adventure elopement photographer who can help you do it all. I help with finding the perfect ceremony spot, figuring out the legal stuff, carrying the train of your dress, and taking gorgeous photos.
The Best Mountain Elopement Locations
Let’s get to it and check out these fabulous locations!
Montana
Montana, also known as the Big Sky Country, is a slice of natural paradise. Whether you’re planning a relaxed or an adventure elopement, there’s something for all kinds of couples!
Glacier National Park
a national park with glacier-carved peaks and valleys
Glacier National Park boasts endless mountain ranges, 25 active glaciers, hundreds of sparkling lakes, and cascading waterfalls. Talk about an epic elopement location!
Spanning over 1 million acres, there are endless places to have your ceremony. Lake Mcdonald, Logan Mountain Pass, and East Glacier are just a few unforgettable options.
Bozeman
an underrated adventurous city in the mountains
I love Bozeman for a mountain elopement off the beaten path. While it’s such a unique and captivating mountain town, you don’t often hear about it. It’s perfect for couples who want a low-key wedding!
With a picture-perfect mountain valley, Hyalite Reservoir, and colorful mountainside cabins, Bozeman has countless beautiful sites. It’s also the perfect destination to stick around and enjoy an adventurous honeymoon.
Colorado
One of my favorite places to photograph an elopement is Colorado! Not only is it one of the only states where you don’t have to have witnesses or an officiant to legally marry, but it’s absolutely gorgeous.
You might also be interested in reading: Colorado Elopement: When & Where to Elope
Rocky Mountains
North America’s most extensive mountain system
The Rocky Mountains, or the Rockies, is the largest mountain system in North America. It stretches for 3,000 miles, so you can only imagine how many spots there are to choose from for your elopement.
With 9 national parks showcasing glistening lakes, cascading waterfalls, and massive mountain peaks, there are tons of places to say “I do” like this stunning spot:
Boulder
an urban area surrounded by mountains
If you enjoy city life and nature, Boulder might be the best place for you to elope! This fun city is nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the Flatirons, offering unmatched scenery.
Idaho
Idaho is an untouched area for elopements and is a dream destination for couples hoping to do something different yet amazing.
Sandpoint
a charming, laid-back city situated between 3 mountain ranges
Nestled between 3 mountain ranges, Sandpoint’s views are unbelievable. You can’t go wrong with breathtaking locations like Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
Couples enjoy extending their Sandpoint trip to meet friendly locals, experience recreational adventures, and attend local events.
Sawtooth Mountains, Stanley
a mountain range of the rocky mountains
If you and your love enjoy hiking and rock climbing, the Sawtooth Mountains might be the mountain elopement location of your dreams! Located in central Idaho, Stanley boasts 1,000 miles of untouched wilderness.
The Sawtooth Mountain range makes for a magical wedding backdrop. After your vows, make new memories while exploring Stanley’s natural beauty.
Grand Targhee, Driggs
a mountain resort on the other side of the Tetons
We know about the iconic Grand Tetons in Wyoming, but did you know the other side is in Idaho? Grand Targhee is a mountain resort with flawless scenery of the Tetons.
Tie the knot in Grand Targhee, Driggs for an unforgettable experience – especially if you want to have a winter wonderland elopement.
Wyoming
While Wyoming is a popular mountain elopement destination, there are also secluded locations for couples who want a peaceful, intimate ceremony.
Grand Teton National Park
a stunning national park with mountains, lakes, and wildlife
If you prefer to say your vows on the Wyoming side of the Tetons, Grand Teton National Park is one of the most iconic elopement locations. You’ve got endless landscapes, including mountains, lakes, valleys, and rivers.
Have a stunning sunrise elopement at Schwabacher’s Landing, or exchange your vows at sunset at the historic Mormon Row. There are also waterfall spots and hiking areas for an intimate ceremony.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
a nature enthusiast’s paradise with various elopement locations
This national forest spans into both Wyoming and Colorado and is a great area for nature lovers. Medicine Bow-Routt is off the beaten path but offers many captivating places for a romantic elopement in the mountains.
Lake Marie is one of my favorite spots during summer, with wildflowers galore, while St. Alban’s Chapel is a quiet, remote location that sits at about a 10,000-foot elevation.
Alaska
As the largest state in the US, Alaska offers endless elopement locations. Many of these places are in the mountains with backdrops that look like a storybook!
You might also be interested in reading: How to Elope in Alaska: A Complete Guide for an Epic Elopement
Skagway
a historic city with a picture-perfect panorama
Skagway is a popular Alaskan city, and for great reason! It’s filled with endless things to see and do, from an unmatched panorama and epic train rides through the mountains to a charming downtown area and water activities.
So, what about a mountain elopement in Alaska? There are so many incredible locations, including the gorgeous Haines State Forest. This is one of the best places to marry the love of your life if you’re looking for a secluded spot next to rugged mountains.
Girdwood
a quaint mountain town surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range
Just south of Anchorage is a fantastic mountain town known as Girdwood, which sits in the Chugach Mountains. It’s surrounded by rainforest and glaciers, offering endless views for a jaw-dropping elopement.
This beautiful newlywed couple I recently photographed in Girdwood loved exploring this exciting mountain town…
Washington
Washington State is one of the most fun, unique, and gorgeous places to run off and get married. There are many options for popular destinations, hidden gems, laid-back towns, or vibrant cities. Let’s check out a couple of my favorites.
Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
a somewhat secluded national forest with mountains, lakes, and forests
National forests are ideal elopement locations for outdoorsy couples. If you’re interested in a more remote national forest wedding, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest is the place for it!
Tie the knot next to a lake with a mountain backdrop or nestled in the forest. Best of all, there is a lot of public land here, so getting married here can be relatively easy as permits aren’t necessarily required.
Leavenworth
a unique Bavarian-style city in the Cascade Mountains
Interested in doing something a little different? Head to Leavenworth for your elopement. This Bavarian-style town is tucked in the Cascade Mountains and offers an experience unlike any other –think fun breweries, gorgeous lakes, and vast mountain peaks.
Mountain Elopement Packages
I eloped to the mountains myself, so helping adventurous couples like you do the same is a dream!
With my mountain elopement packages, I can help you plan the special day you’ve always hoped for. Among the Pines offers inclusive elopement packages and helps with the entire planning process, and I even have a 100-page elopement guide to share with you.
Let’s get to it and plan your epic elopement in the mountains!
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
