Are you dreaming of an epic Montana elopement surrounded by stunning natural beauty? Montana is the place to go! I recently shot an elopement in Montana and was blown away at how magical it was. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about where, when, and how to elope in Montana.
Why Elope in Montana
A Montana elopement is incredible for many reasons. Here’s why I love helping and joining couples eloping in Montana:
- Its natural beauty is jaw-dropping, with over a hundred mountain ranges, glacial lakes, rushing rivers, and more.
- There are countless picture-perfect Montana elopement locations, with something for almost every couple.
- Montana has 2 national parks and 9 national forests, which are ideal for outdoor adventurists.
- The marriage application process is relatively simple, and anyone ordained (including me!) can officiate the ceremony.
- There are tons of activities to enjoy after the elopement for an epic honeymoon experience.
When to Have a Montana Elopement
Montana is gorgeous all year long, so you can’t go wrong any time of year. With that said, each season offers a unique experience.
A Winter Elopement
While winters in Montana look like a wonderland, it’s very cold and isn’t for the faint of heart. If you and your love enjoy the snow and want backdrops that look like a storybook, you’ll love having your ceremony in winter. Elope at Glacier National Park, and you’ll be surrounded by snow-capped mountain views.
A Spring Elopement
A Montana elopement in spring can bring various experiences – all amazing! Early spring will likely still have some snow for beautiful surroundings without being as frigid as winter. Late spring gets a little warmer, flowers start to bloom, and the wildlife is abundant. The weather’s also great for an outdoor adventure elopement during spring.
A Summer Elopement
If warm, sunny days are what you’re looking for for your dream elopement, summer in Montana is perfect. It’s warm during the day with cooler evenings. The days are also longer, and there are so many gorgeous places to say “I do.”
A Fall Elopement
Montana offers a breathtaking colorful outdoor elopement during fall. Fall foliage and outdoor activities make this time of year incredibly special. There are also fun fall festivals for couples who enjoy local activities.
Let’s check out Montana’s weather by month:
| Month | Average Low | Average High | Average Precipitation |
| January | 15.1°F | 32.8°F | 0.81 in. |
| February | 20.1°F | 39.5°F | 0.57 in. |
| March | 26.4°F | 47.6°F | 1.12 in. |
| April | 34.7°F | 57.5°F | 1.74 in. |
| May | 44.0°F | 67.4°F | 2.48 in. |
| June | 52.5°F | 78.0°F | 1.89 in. |
| July | 58.3°F | 85.8°F | 1.28 in. |
| August | 57.3°F | 84.5°F | 0.85 in. |
| September | 47.1°F | 71.8°F | 1.34 in. |
| October | 37.2°F | 58.9°F | 1.26 in. |
| November | 25.6°F | 42.7°F | 0.75 in. |
| December | 17.7°F | 34.5°F | 0.67 in. |
For other adventure elopement locations, you might be interested in reading this article about a Colorado elopement.
How to Elope in Montana
If you’re interested in legally getting married in Montana, the steps are pretty simple:
- Apply for your marriage license online with the county clerk for the destination you want to elope. Some counties require you to print out a form and bring it in person when you arrive.
- Pick up your marriage license when you get to your elopement destination. If you’ve filled out your application online, you should be set with that. However, both parties will need to have additional documents in hand: driver’s license, birth certificate, and proof of divorce (if applicable).
- You’ll also need to check to see if your venue requires any permits to hold your ceremony. This is necessary whether you elope in Montana or not.
If you’d rather keep things all fun and skip the legal stuff in Montana, you can always just do the elopement ceremony and get married on paper in your home state.
To learn more about how to elope, check out this ultimate elopement checklist.
Montana Elopement Locations
One thing these elopement locations in Montana have in common is that they’re surrounded by natural beauty. From mountain ranges and glistening lakes to green grasslands and abundant wildlife, every location is special. Whether you’re looking for a simple ceremony or an adventurous experience, there’s something for everyone!
Some of the top spots to elope in Montana are Glacier National Park, Kootenai National Forest, Bozeman, Lolo National Forest, and Lone Mountain Ranch.
Glacier National Park
One of Montana’s most iconic sites, Glacier National Park, is an incredible elopement destination. This 1,583-square-mile wilderness area boasts glacier-carved peaks and valleys and more than 700 miles of hiking trails. There are countless gorgeous backdrops for an elopement in Glacier National Park, including Lake McDonald, the Logan Pass, West Glacier, and East Glacier.
Kootenai National Forest
Kootenai National Forest offers an exciting elopement experience in Northern Montana. With many outdoor activities and unique rugged beauty, this is the perfect spot for an adventurous couple looking for picturesque views. There are so many places to tie the knot around the forest that it’s easy to find secluded spaces for an intimate ceremony.
Bozeman
For more outdoor adventures and beauty, Bozeman is incredible for a Montana elopement. This vibrant mountain town is filled with dramatic mountain hikes, rock climbing opportunities, and gorgeous parks. I recently shot an elopement at Hyalite Canyon Reservoir, which was breathtaking! There are also tons of unique hiking trails popular for saying “I do” and hidden gem destinations.
Lolo National Forest
For a national forest elopement off the beaten path, Lolo is perfect. Lolo National Forest is situated in west-central Montana and covers two million acres. It’s an ideal destination for couples who enjoy hiking and camping. During the winter, there are also tons of fun winter sports.
Lone Mountain Ranch
For a convenient, romantic ceremony, Lone Mountain Ranch is an amazing place to tie the knot. Lone Mountain Ranch is in Big Sky, nestled between the Montana Rockies, rivers, and grasslands. Explore, say “I do,” and stay in a historic private cabin on-site.
Montana Elopement FAQ
Let’s take a look at answers to common questions to help you prepare for your elopement!
When’s the best time to elope in Montana?
Montana is beautiful all year long! Summer and fall offer the nicest weather and stunning scenery, while winter and spring are chilly but beautiful.
Do I need a permit to elope in Montana?
Some locations for eloping in Montana do require a permit. You can do a quick search for a specific location to find out, or you can work with a photographer/planner (like myself!) who can help figure out these logistics. If you do need a permit, the cost is usually between $50 and a few hundred.
How much does it cost to elope in Montana?
Your Montana elopement can be as affordable or pricy as you’d like! Since there are so many incredible locations to choose from, it’s easy to work with just about any budget. Your elopement cost will depend on many factors, including your location, vendors, activities, and time of year.
Ready to plan your Montana elopement?
Montana is gorgeous and offers some of the most incredible backdrops in the country! If you’re ready to make the wedding of your dreams a reality, Among the Pines would love to help.
I’m an adventure elopement photographer who can help you execute the perfect wedding day. Not only do I take photos to help you to remember your big day and share it with loved ones, but I also help assist with the entire planning process, including picking your location, sorting out the logistics, booking vendors, and more.
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."
