updated to reflect *new* 2026 permit locations and requirements

If you’re looking to have your wedding or elopement ceremony in Glacier National Park, you’ve probably feel the overwhelm with all the options. You’ll need to know where to get married in Glacier National Park. I mean, Glacier is absolutely STUNNING! We were married in Glacier ourselves so it holds a special little place in our hearts. We even used some of these 6 Sweet Wedding Traditions to Include in Your Elopement. We’re here to help you narrow things down.

For the best tips and tricks, check out the FREE DOWNLOADABLE Glacier National Park Elopement Guide

My husband and I were married in Glacier National Park in 2019, so we’ve been through this process. Not to mention we’ve helped 100+ couples elope in Glacier! Limit the number of cars you need for your wedding by considering transportation options or limiting guest count. No confetti or glitter, or tossing petals is allowed at any location in the park. It is important to abide by the Leave No Trace guidelines.

Glacier National Park issues permits are $125 and issued through the National Park Service. You can fill out your wedding ceremony application with one of the above locations. Some of these locations close in the off-season months, and you can check in with the office if that’s the case.

1. Apply for your permit
2. Submit the $125 fee here! Include Bettina’s email below!
3. Send your permit to Bettina at: GLAC_SUP@nps.gov

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT YOUR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK WEDDING PERMIT

You have your choice of Big Kahoona (yes, I just said “big kahoona”) mountains, glacial lakes, deep blue rivers and cascading waterfalls. There are a lot of logistics to juggle and we want to make sure you find the best place for your Glacier National Park ceremony.

glacier national park imposes a reservation system

There is a timed ticketed entry system in Glacier National Park for the 2025 season.

The Ticketed Entry System in Glacier National Park starts on June 13th thru September 28th, 2025. The system is operating 11 hours of the day 6am-5pm at the West Entrance and St. Mary Entrance.

⅔ of entry reservation tickets will be released for 60 days before your event date for advanced ticket sales. Remaining tickets will release 48 hours in advance, available up to the day of your park visit (assuming they are not sold out). The Going to the Sun Road (GTSR) Entry Reservation Tickets are $2 non-refundable. Purchase your GTSR Entry Reservation Ticket in addition to the $35 Entrance Fee, valid for seven days. You can’t purchase tickets at the booth, you must purchase online. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR RESERVATION TICKET.

FAQ’S ABOUT THE RESERVATION TICKET SYSTEM

where to get married in Glacier National Park

Whether it’s just you and your favorite person eloping and you’re up for a little adventure, or if you’re planning an intimate ceremony that’s grandma-approved, we’ll find you the perfect ceremony place. If you’re up for a little adventure, there are so many AMAZING options that open up. Our favorite ceremony spots require a little bit of a hike to get to, but it’s so worth it!

Keep reading as we break down the entrances into Glacier and the ceremony options within.

FOR MORE INFO: CHECK OUT HOW TO ELOPE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK – ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR 2026

PEAK SEASON is defined as the 2nd Friday in May thru the 2nd Sunday in October.

NON-PEAK SEASON is defined as the 2nd Monday in October thru the 2nd Thursday in May.

ceremony locations in St Mary & Logan Pass

St. Mary and Logan Pass is a beautiful place to be married and we recommend you come in the early morning sunrise or later during the sunset so things won’t be as busy. The “American Alps” feel of St Mary is utterly breathtaking!

Location	Max Participants	Pet Friendly	Site Details	Availability
Big Bend	10	No	Wheelchair accessible, snacks ok. Use developed gravel area only. Busiest part of the park!	Early July – Mid September
St. Mary Amphitheater	75	Yes	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok.	Year-round; Before 6pm. In 2026, not available until July 2nd due to construction
Rising Sun Picnic Area	20	No	Up to 4 chairs allowed on durable surface. Snacks ok. Ceremony to take place on the rocks when available. Area frequently restricted due to wildlife activity.	Early May-Late October
Rising Sun Amphitheater	100	Yes	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok.	Early May-Late October; Before 5pm
Sun Point	20	No	Snacks ok. Busiest part of the park, especially during sunset.	Last week of May-Mid October
1913 Ranger Station	30	No	Snacks ok.	Year-round
Red Eagle Trailhead	15	No	No facilities. 4 chairs permitted on durable surface. Snacks ok.	Year-round

Check out this sunrise ceremony at Sun Point!

See the full Saint Mary Shoreline ceremony with adventure hike afterwards!

ceremony locations in Many Glacier

Many Glacier is one of the more accessible elopement spots for intimate weddings. Use Many Glacier Hotel as a basecamp. You and your guests (or heck, just you and your sweetie) have access to some stunning parts of Glacier National Park!

Location	Max Participants	Pet Friendly	Site Details	Availability
Shore of Lake Josephine	15	No	No facilities. Snacks ok. Requires a 2 mile roundtrip hike to access or a boat ride. Ceremony area is dock area. Events to take place on rocks when water levels allow.	Last week of May – Mid October
Many Glacier Hotel Beach	20	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. Permittee must notify Many Glacier Hotel prior to event.	Last week of May-Mid October
Many Glacier Hotel Green (behind lodge)	15	No	Snacks ok. Permittee must notify Many Glacier Hotel prior to event.	Last week of May-Mid October
Many Glacier Hotel – SW Beach	15	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. Permittee must notify Many Glacier Hotel prior to event.	Last week of May-Mid October
Many Glacier Amphitheater	100	Yes	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok.	Last week of May-Mid October; Before 5pm

See this full Many Glacier Elopement at Lake Josephine

Check out this Many Glacier Hotel Green Ceremony!

ceremony locations at Lake McDonald

Lake McDonald is great if you don’t have very much time to explore. You can basecamp in Whitefish or Kalispell for the breweries and fancy eating spots and still get in some rivers and lakes. This is also the most popular section of the park, so planning for “off” times is a MUST.

Location	Participants (peak)	Pet Friendly	Site Details	Availability
Apgar Amphitheater	250	Yes	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok. No roadside parking.	Year-round; before 5pm
Apgar Picnic Area Shoreline	20	Yes	Snacks ok. 4 chairs permitted on rocks. Ceremony on rocks when water levels allow.	Year-round
Fish Creek Amphitheater	200	No	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok. If campground gate is closed, party must walk around. No restrooms available after closure.	Late May-Early September; before 6pm
Fish Creek Picnic Area Shoreline	30	Yes	Snacks ok. 4 chairs permitted on rocks. Ceremony on rocks when water levels allow.	Late April-Late December
Avalanche Amphitheater	100	No	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok. Parking is extremely limited.	Early May-Mid October
Avalanche Picnic Area Shoreline	15	Yes	Snacks ok. Parking is extremely limited. Ceremony on rocks when water levels allow.	Early May-Mid October
7 Mile Pullout (Sandy Point)	20	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok.	Year-round
10 Mile Pullout (Jackson Bay)	20	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok.	Year-round
Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline	20	Yes	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. Ceremony on rocks when water levels allow. If campground gate is closed, party must walk around.	Mid May-Early September; gates close at 9pm
Lake McDonald Lodge Beach	30	Yes	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. Ceremony on rocks when water levels allow. Notify Lake McDonald Lodge prior to event. Busiest part of the park, you’ll see lots of park guests.	Year-round
Ryan Beach	15	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. No facilities. Ceremony area is the beach.	Year-round

See this full elopement at Apgar Amphitheater

See this full elopement at Sprague Picnic Area Shoreline

See this full elopement at Ryan Beach Meadows

See this full Lake McDonald Lodge Elopement

ceremony locations in Two Medicine

*2026 update* Most locations in Two Medicine are unavailable this year due to construction!

Two Medicine is one of the quietest areas in Glacier National Park, which makes it an ideal place for a wedding or elopement ceremony. Whether it’s the big kahoona mountains, glacial lakes or roaring waterfalls you’re after, Two Medicine has it all. Another plus of Two Medicine is that you could easily have up to 30 people attending your wedding if you are on the shoreline of the lake.

Location	Participants (peak)	Pet Friendly	Site Details	Availability
Pray Lake Shoreline	30	No	4 chairs permitted on rocks. Snacks ok. No roadside parking. Ceremony to take place on rocks when water levels allow.	Last week of May-Mid October. Unavailable in 2026 due to construction.
Running Eagle Falls	15	No	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks ok.	Last week of May-Mid October. Not available after Sept 7th 2026 through spring 2027 due to construction
Two Medicine Picnic Area Shoreline	20	Yes	Snacks ok. No roadside parking. Ceremony to take place on rocks when water levels allow.	Last week of May-Mid October. Unavailable in 2026 due to construction.
Two Medicine Amphitheater	75	Yes	Wheelchair accessible. Snacks allowed.	Last week of May-Mid October; before 5pm. Unavailable in 2026 due to construction.
Walton Picnic Area	15	No	Food/beverages in designated picnic spaces only.	Year-round

See this full Two Medicine Elopement

Check out Bianca & Max’s sunrise elopement in Two Medicine! Photography & Videography!

ceremony locations in North Fork

Location	Participants (peak)	Vehicles (peak)	Participants (non-peak)	Vehicles (non-peak)	Availability
Juniper River Access	15	3	N/A	N/A	Not available after 9/7/26 due to construction
Bowman Lake	20	3	N/A	N/A	Not available after 9/7/26 due to construction
Kintla Lake	10	2	N/A	N/A	Not available after 9/7/26 due to construction

how to get married in Glacier National Park

Jake and I were married in Glacier National Park in 2019, so we’ve been through this process. Not to mention we’ve helped 100+ couples elope in Glacier! Limit the number of cars you need for your wedding by considering transportation options or limiting guest count. No confetti or glitter, or tossing petals is allowed at any location in the park. It is important to abide by the Leave No Trace guidelines.

Glacier National Park issues permits are $125 and issued through the National Park Service. You can fill out your wedding ceremony application with one of the above locations. Some of these locations close in the off-season months, and you can check in with the office if that’s the case.

1. Apply for your permit
2. Submit the $125 fee here! Include Bettina’s email below!
3. Send your permit to Bettina at: GLAC_SUP@nps.gov

Glacier National Park wedding officiants

You will need an officiant registered with the state of Montana (it could be a friend or family member) or a professional in the area. Having a professional officiant can make a world of difference to make your ceremony special. The wedding ceremony in the video by Sarah Harding, a very talented officiant.

Kate Berry – hello@kateberryjoyful.com
Sarah Harding – harding.sarah4@gmail.com
Sally Hanger – sallyhanger@gmail.com
Tom Paris