Welcome to Montana! If you’re looking for where to get married in Montana and have an adventurous elopement, you’re in the right place. Can you elope in Montana? Absolutely. We did it, and now we help couples do it all the time! This guide is by Montana natives who eloped in Montana and have designed over 100 elopements! We know all the elopement tips & secret spots to bring your dream Montana elopement to life. 

With 2 national parks & 9 national forests, Montana is home to a wide variety of landscapes, including over a hundred mountain ranges, lush green forests, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes & rivers. With trails accessible to every level & flourishing wildlife- Montana is THE place for adventurous couples to say, “I Do”. In this Montana Elopement Guide, we will go over everything you need to plan your big day in the Rocky Mountains.

How to Make Your Montana Elopement Legal

How to get married legally in Montana? If you are ready to GET MARRIED, let’s do it right!

1. First, you need to stop by a Montana county clerk’s office and complete a Montana Marriage Application. You do not have to go to the same county where you will be married, BUT you do need to return the application to the place where you got it.
2. Once you’ve completed the application, you and your fiancé will need to both go in person to get your marriage license. A marriage license is valid for 180 days, so make sure your ceremony is within that timeline!
3. There will be a cost to get your marriage license. You can look them up by county in advance, but they typically range from $50 to $70. This will be line item 1 on your list of the cost of getting married in Montana.
4. After your wedding, make sure your officiant signs it! The officiant is then responsible for getting those documents back to the county, and you’re legally wed!

Where to Go on Your Montana Elopement

We love everything about the state, and whether you are born-and-raised Montana folks or a couple ready for an adventure elopement, we have you covered.

Where to get Married in Montana: Whitefish

Whitefish, which was a speck of dust thirty years ago, is now a booming ski resort town. You get GORGEOUS views, top-notch food, and a gondola. Okay, maybe it’s a chairlift, tomato tomato. In Whitefish, there will be hands in the air, champagne popping, and serious mountain magic.

While Summer is typically the most expensive wedding season, in Whitefish, it is actually more affordable to get married, as it is their “off” season for the ski resort, which is why it should be on your venue list for where to get married in Montana. You’ll have a field of yellow flowers leading to your ceremony site with a gorgeous hiking trail in the background. From the ski lift to the wildflower field to the mountain views, it is remarkable.

Of course, all of our ski bunnies should definitely consider a winter elopement! You’ll spend the day doing what you love, with the one you love. After a morning out on the slopes, we will get you ready for an epic adventure ceremony! We’ll find the best ceremony spots for your commitment to one another. After, we will adventure all around, and then you will end the day with a romantic wedding meal by a crackling fire. 

Whitefish Mountain Resort Venue

Located in northwest Montana, Whitefish is only a 35-minute drive to Glacier National Park & home to Whitefish Mountain Resort. Enjoy your stay at The Firebrand Hotel and take in the view on the cozy rooftop spa & lounge. Grab some food on the way out at The Farmhouse Inn and Kitchen for the best breakfast in town (you have to try the avocado toast- so yum!). Pick up your gorgeous florals from Mum’s Flowers.

Whitefish Mountain Resort Wedding – Best Views in Montana!

Greater Whitefish Venue Options

Our favorite places to stay outside the park are The Lodge at Whitefish Lake and Grouse Mountain Lodge. Both are in Whitefish and so luxurious! Grouse Mountain offers a snow day ski special in the winter. Whitefish is where you’ll find your breweries, wineries, shopping, and the overall cuteness that is a Montana small town. Closer to the West Glacier entrance, you can find the Great Northern Resort and the Belton Chalet. On the road between West Glacier and Two Medicine, you’ll find Izaak Walton Inn. It’s quaint and lodgey (if that’s even a word), and the food is great in the restaurant!
Accommodations within the park sell out quickly. Lake McDonald Lodge (West Glacier), Many Glacier Hotel (Many Glacier), and Glacier Park Lodge (East Glacier) are the most popular. Don’t forget to check out AirBnBs close by!

Where to get married in Montana: Missoula

There’s something about photographing in the mountains in Missoula that makes you come alive. You’ll step out of the car and be hit with the smell of fresh pine trees, you’ll witness the golden hour light, and you’ll be so excited that it’s your wedding day!

Located in western Montana, just east of Lolo National Forest, Missoula is rich in history and gorgeous scenery, making it the perfect backdrop for your Montana elopement. Some great ceremony locations in Missoula include Blue Mountain and McClay Flats.

Get Married in Montana at the White Raven Venue

Twenty-five minutes outside of Missoula is White Raven Venue and Retreat on a beautiful mountain plateau overlooking the Clark Fork River. Stone cliffs and majestic pines set among wildflower meadows offer guests a stunning backdrop.  It’s a style they call Montana-Modern, an elegant play between modern big city and rustic mountain lodge. The venue features a stately and luxurious ballroom, a grand gathering foyer, and an outdoor oasis of covered verandas, patios, trails, and gardens. There are multiple ceremony locations and all-weather facilities for events of up to 125 guests.  Stunning photo opportunities abound among their mountain-top gardens, along the Clark Fork River, within the White Raven Backcountry, Lolo National Forest, and at the Natural Pier Bridge, all of which border the property.  

Wedding at White Raven

Where to Stay & What to Do on your Missoula, Montana Elopement

Stay at the rustic Hip Strip Condo in the heart of Missoula. Within walking distance of shops & restaurants, you simply can’t beat the location. Top Hat is the place to go in Missoula to grab a bite to eat, listen to live music & have an all-around good time.  

Some of our favorite vendors in Missoula for all your bridal needs are: Agile Goat Flower Farm & Design, Burton’s Hair Co. & Skin Chic for makeup. Finish off your Missoula elopement by going on a Brewery Hop (Draught Works, Kettlehouse Brewing Co, Tamarack Brewing Co., Conflux Brewing Company), a rafting tour, hiking in Lolo forest or mountain biking at Blue Mountain.

Where to get Married in Montana: Bozeman

Bozeman is where you want to get married in Montana if you want both adventure and city life! Perfect for couples who want to do it all on their Montana elopement. Located in southern Montana, and a short drive to Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman is the perfect place for both an intimate elopement and a full-scale wedding. The gorgeous Bridger Mountains, Madison River, and Spanish Peaks welcome you from the distance!

Get Married in Montana at the Firelight Farms Wedding Venue

Firelight Farms never ceases to amaze. Surrounded by the mountains of Southwest Montana, Firelight Farm should be on your wedding venue list. The historic two-story barn has been renovated to incorporate artfully weathered reclaimed wood and modern minimalist details. We’ve photographed a few weddings at Firelight Farms, and the way they personalize to each couple makes the day so special.

Bozeman Wedding at Firelight Farm

Where to Stay & What to Do on Your Bozeman, Montana Elopement

Stay at the Lark Hotel– one of the coolest accommodations in Bozeman, where you’ll enjoy a modern twist on the traditional Montana aesthetic. Located right on Main Street, you’ll have easy access to everything you might need. Pro tip: Bozeman has weekly open-air concerts on Main Street every Thursday evening in the summer.

Get pampered by the talented professionals at Ethereal Hair & Makeup & pick up your beautiful, custom bridal bouquet from The Wild Blume. After you say “I Do,” grab some grub at Rockin’ R Bar & try one of their delicious cocktails (huckleberry liquor is a must)!

Where to get Married in Montana: Big Sky

After the Yellowstone show was released, Big Sky’s popularity skyrocketed. And for good reason. Big Sky is one of the most beautiful parts of Montana, perfect for your Montana elopement! 

Get Married at the 320 Guest Ranch, Montana Wedding Venue

Have your wedding and book your stay at 320 Guest Ranch! It was built with a pioneering spirit, which meant providing updated log-cabin accommodations, made-from-scratch, innovative food at McGill’s Restaurant and Saloon, and activities such as horseback riding, fly fishing, workshops, kids’ activities, and more.

320 Guest Ranch Micro Wedding

Lone Mountain Ranch Venue is Great for Weddings

Celebrate your love together under the Big Sky at Lone Mountain Ranch. Their Big Sky Big Love Elopement package includes all the highlights of a destination wedding. Say “I do” at their Ridgetop location surrounded by sweeping mountains and beautiful Lone Peak. Or, choose to say your vows among the trees next to the North Fork Creek. Either location will provide an intimate setting to share your love for each other and start your next chapter together. After the “I dos”, start your honeymoon! Horseback ride through the mountains with a private picnic lunch, mountain bike down their thrilling trails, or try paddleboarding at the lake. After all the adventure, the authentic cabins welcome you to retreat around a crackling fire while you rest up for the next day’s adventure.

Where to Stay & What to Do on Your Big Sky, Montana Elopement

For luxury accommodation, stay at Montage Big Sky. For our snowbirds, you’ll love their ski-in / ski-out access. They have an on-site spa where you can enjoy pre-wedding bliss with their wellness treatments, an indoor pool, and refined amenities. On your wedding day, check out Darcee the Flower Lady for all your floral dreams. For bridal hair, check out Antoinette’s Studio.

Beehive Basin Trail No. 40 (Big Sky) – A 7.1 mile hike- best suited towards experienced hikers and features views, wildlife, and a gorgeous lake. Check out this hiking engagement session!

Ousel Falls(Bozeman)– A 1.6 mile hike, great for all levels, featuring a stunning waterfall at the top. And let’s just say, it’s a stunning option for winter lovers too! It’s also a great place to ski Big Sky Resort!

Where to get Married in Montana: Glacier National Park

Glacier is one of the largest national parks IN AMERICA, so obviously, there is a lot to talk about. For us, it’s home. It’s in our backyard. For our couples, Glacier is the type of gorgeous where you can step out of the car, and it literally takes your breath away. We get asked if we have elopements in the same spots, and the answer is a resounding NO. Glacier Park is its own beast. You’ll never elope in the same spot twice, and it’ll never be the same experience twice! It’s massive, the weather is constantly bringing something beautifully different, and YOU! You are the secret sauce that will make your adventure elopement so much fun!!

All wedding location options in Glacier National require a Special Use Permit. While these are not your normal venue, here are some options for your ceremony and reception.

Get Married at Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier National Park. At the westernmost section of the lake in Apgar, there is a National Park Service visitor center with wi-fi access, restrooms, and a gift shop. Lake McDonald Lodge is the largest lodging facility on the lake and is approximately 5 miles east along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The lodge was constructed in 1913–14 to resemble a rustic hunting lodge with Swiss-influenced architecture.

Glacier National Park Adventure Session at Lake McDonald

Where to Stay & What to Do on your Montana Elopement

We can meet our wedding-day couples in the morning while they stay at St. Mary Village and capture their getting-ready photos! What is the downside of elopement? What we love most about elopements is that our couples make their day whatever they want. This can include wedding traditions on their elopement day. There are NO rules on what makes a Montana elopement and we love that.

We can get up in the morning, when it’s still dark and drive up the winding canyon road to the Rising Sun Picnic area. It’s one of the most secluded Glacier National Park ceremony locations. When the sun rises above the mountains, the skies turn pink. BAM! Magical sunrise for your ceremony. We time it perfectly!

In Glacier, you can hike, bike, or even take a romantic boat ride! It’s also an epic time to take a drive down the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road (you can even download the audio guide for this!) River rafting is also HUGE here.

How to Elope in Glacier National Park – Ultimate Guide

Elopement in Yellowstone – Artist Point Ceremony

Where to get Married in Montana: Yellowstone National Park

A Yellowstone National Park elopement, in Gardiner, Montana is absolutely epic. It’s the place where elk walk the street, and the locals are the NICEST!  We’ve also never EVER seen sunsets like those golden hour times near Yellowstone National Park. The sky absolutely lit up with pinks, yellows, and oranges. Get ready for insane wildlife and romantic skies. 

Get Married at the Union Pacific Dining Lodge Venue

The Union Pacific Dining Lodge is an event center, serving as a venue for weddings, gatherings, celebrations, and more. The main room, known as the Mammoth Room, and the former Union Pacific train waiting area, known as the Firehole Room, have been mostly untouched since 1925 and continue to leave a lasting impression on all who visit. Three of the four walls in the room feature striking windows spanning nearly the height of the building. The rustic atmosphere, built almost entirely from local timber and rhyolite stone, captivates guests of all kinds. The grand fireplace is operational and is the main source of heat in the Mammoth Room.

Where to Stay & What to Do

Located in southern Montana, Red Lodge is a small town known for its hospitality & country charm. Stay at Blue Sky Cabins where you can soak in a giant 2-person tub, while enjoying the breathtaking Montana landscape. Grab a bite to eat at the local Cafe Regis– with garden views & fresh ingredients. 

Despite being a small town, Red Lodge has amazing vendors to help you get ready for your elopement. Appearance Plus Salon-Day Spa and Flower Garage will take care of all your beauty & floral needs. 

How to Elope in Yellowstone Guide

Drive the Beartooth Scenic Highway– a 68-mile road linked to Yellowstone with unbeatable scenery of mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes & wildlife. Horseback riding, skiing & golfing are other popular activities in Red Lodge. All of our couples LOVE  Hebgen Lake, so we’ll make sure to check that out for you, too!

Check out our complete list of where to get married in Montana, with our Montana elopement locations

What Season to get Married in Montana

Montana is one of the lucky states that gets to experience all four seasons, which makes for beautiful elopements all year round! Whatever your vision is, Montana can make it happen.

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

Montana is the outdoorsy couples’ paradise. With endless hiking trails, snow-capped mountains, and crisp air, a Montana elopement is nothing short of amazing. Whether you choose a secluded mountain top or an icy waterfall, the beautiful Montana landscape will have you shouting, “I Do.” If you’re ready to make your own dream Montana adventure elopement, Contact Kelsey.