The Ultimate Mountain Elopement Guide: Best Locations and Top Tips
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 a planner. 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 that 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!
From the picture-perfect mountain valley, Hyalite Reservoir to colorful mountainside cabins, there are countless beautiful sites in Bozeman. It’s also the perfect destination to stick around and enjoy an adventurous honeymoon.
The Bozeman elopement photos are some of my favorites –
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.
Check out these breathtaking Boulder elopement photos –
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 recreation 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.
The Grand Tetons made for a storybook backdrop at these mountain elopements –
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. Check out some of their photos –
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!
CHLOE + CONNER
Brooke is professional, prepared, and provides all the peace of mind that a bride needs on her wedding day. Because of our conversations leading up to the day, I had no doubt that she would capture every important moment and more. Throughout the day, she was present and helpful, but never overbearing or controlling. She beautifully captured the moments that happened naturally & her experience allowed for insight and ideas that I wouldn't have thought to ask for but that I'll now cherish forever! She is flexible, understanding, and patient, and looking back, we can't imagine our day without her. If you are looking for someone to capture your wedding day, or just any day, Brooke is your girl. She goes above and beyond to serve her clients, and she is absolutely gifted at what she does.
"SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE HER CLIENTS, and she is absolutely gifted at what she does."
Linden + Brent
In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo. Brooke made both of us feel so at ease, from our individual sessions before we had our first look, to strolling through downtown Ouray, to our ceremony and in the scenic spots we visited afterwards. Her talent is beyond compare and we are absolutely thrilled with our gallery of photos we will treasure forever. We give Brooke our highest recommendation and can’t wait to work with her again!
"Throughout the entire planning process, Brooke was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy."
Emily + Nick
Brooke is hands down the most talented photographer I have ever met in my entire life. I gave her my inspiration and she took it and made it into something entirely unique and beautiful. Brooke was able to work with my budget and offer me options. Along with all of this, she was always there to communicate with me from ideas to concerns. The day of never goes as planned, she was thrown curveball after curveball and dodged them all with ease. The photos we received memorialized the best day of our lives and we are forever grateful for the beautiful artwork she created.
"we are forever grateful for the beautiful artwork she created."
ERICA & ZACH
Brooke was booked to do our wedding June 6th. However, the virus hit and we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to have our wedding in June so we decided to go ahead and get married with just our parents there. I called Brooke and told her our plans and literally we were getting married in a week and she was so quick to say yes and capture our day for us. She helped make our day very special. She was super fun and made Zach and I feel very comfortable. I got my pictures back and I felt so overjoyed to see the happiness and love I felt on that day. Even though we didn’t have our wedding like we planned, it was still very special and Brooke was a big hand in that. She truly captured some very special memories that I will have for the rest of my life.
"SHE TRULY CAPTURED SOME VERY SPECIAL MEMORIES THAT I WILL HAVE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."
Our wedding was in Kentucky in September. Brooke not only traveled for us but made a custom package for us because we had a unique situation. She took pictures the day before, and just seemed to be in the right place at the right time. She met with me before the wedding and we communicated a few times up to the wedding about my specific requests, and she hit the nail on the head. I am so very thankful for Brooke's story-telling, organic nature. She captured our wedding for exactly what it was and what I will remember it to be...full of joy, laughter, love and hope for the future!
"I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR BROOKE'S storytelling, organic nature."
JENNA + JOSH
KRYSTAL & BRANDON
She’s professional, creative, organized, kind, and just a blast to be around. She made my husband comfortable instantly in front of a camera so she’s a miracle worker too. We can’t stop staring at our photos! So many people keep telling us how amazing they are!
"YOU WON'T FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER BETTER rounded than brooke!"
Jessica & Robby
Brooke has a true talent. She is able to tap into and capture moments you didn’t even realize were happening. Absolutely 100% recommend Brooke and her beautiful pictures. We booked her services for our engagement pictures and then immediately realized we needed to have her for our wedding also. I’m already preemptively dreaming of the anniversary shoot I want!
"Brooke will make you feel comfortable and like a friend - she will take your ideas and inspiration and produce something better than you thought."
Rori + Eli
Brooke truly listened to what we wanted as a couple, our hopes, and took time to understand our "vibe," which came through in her work she delivered.
I can't thank Brooke enough for her amazing work - seriously the BEST decision we made and brings me to tears each time I look at these beautiful, photographic memories we'll have forever.
ALYSSA & HUNTER
Not only is Brooke an amazing photographer, but she is so fun and easy to work with! She made the whole process feel natural and comfortable for someone who typically feels awkward and weird while getting pictures taken! I love all of the pictures and I highly recommend Brooke as a photographer!
"SHE MADE THE WHOLE PROCESS FEEL natural & Comfortable."
ALI & KYLE
That's exactly what Brooke does, she captures a story. No words needed. You can see it and feel it. You can remember the exact moment and how you feel for that person and see how they feel about you. Her intuitive eye has only gotten sharper. I can’t wait to see what other adventures await for her to capture.
"SHE CAPTURES A STORY, NO WORDS NEEDED. you can see it and feel it."
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. Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos!
