SUNRISE LAKE MCDONALD ELOPEMENT IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Are you willing to get up before the sun to get married? This couple planned their sunrise Lake McDonald elopement with me in one of the most beautiful national parks in the country: Glacier National Park in Montana. Mid-September is a great time to elope in this national park, as schools start back up again, and the crowds fade a bit. The creep of crisp air and fall color shows up throughout Going to the Sun Road. A shoulder season is excellent for planning an elopement in Glacier National Park.
LAKE MCDONALD GlACIER NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT
Sara wore a dress that her mother made! The beautiful blue tulle looked gorgeous with the many similar cool hues throughout the park’s gorgeous landscapes. We secured a permit for sunrise at Lake McDonald months prior. These are the things I help guide you through as your elopement photographer. After the emotion-filled and serene elopement ceremony on the shores of Lake McDonald, we met back up at their gorgeous mountain cabin later in the day. I photographed some details while the group put together homemade pizzas. They also got tattoos! How unique of an idea is that for an elopement “activity”? They enjoyed the company of their family and friends, cake, and signed the marriage license.
GRIZZLY BEAR ENCOUNTER AT SUN POINT
Later in the evening, we met up for a Going to the Sun Road adventure. We stopped at beautiful Sun Point and hiked in. After a few minutes a grizzly bear decided to show up as well. We moved away and I prepared to use my bear spray, but luckily I did not need it. We got out of there safely and moved on to another iconic spot. The sun was getting all golden and glowy while we enjoyed the colorful meadow with expansive views.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
The sun set and the moon came out over the mountain’s ridgeline. It was a stunning day in Glacier National Park. If you’re looking to elope in a national park, then please reach out to get on my radar. We’ll craft a day that is true to you. I have traveled here for work and play, and am familiar with the park, permit system, and best photo locations.
“Emily is truly one of a kind and was absolutely the best decision we made about our elopement (other than choosing one another!). We reached out to Emily knowing we wanted to have a micro wedding with only our immediate families, but other than that had no concrete plans.
Emily walked us through the entire process from selecting a location, finding dresses, flower recommendations, choosing a ceremony site, and helped us secure the permit for the big day. She made everything as easy and seamless as possible.
She is so much more than a photographer, she was a wedding planner at times, a researcher, advocate for our vision and desires, and literally was ready to protect us from a massive bear! My now husband and I were not super comfortable around the camera and I was so worried that our photos may feel staged or awkward… Emily blew me away. She made us feel comfortable and the photos are truly spectacular.
I am immensely thankful for Emily’s expertise, patience, kindness, and her incredible talent. Our day surely would not have been nearly as perfect if it weren’t for Emily. I highly recommend working with Emily if you are looking to elope or get married and ready for an adventure but don’t know where to start! Thank you for making our dreams a reality, Emily!”
– Sara & Jarrett eloped in Glacier National Park
Emily Hary is an adventure elopement photographer based in Michigan. She serves Alaska, Oregon, our beautiful national parks, and beyond.