updated to reflect *new* 2024 permit locations and requirements

If you’re looking to have your wedding or elopement ceremony in Glacier National Park, you’ve probably gotten a Liiiiiitle overwhelmed with all the options. You’ll need to know where to get married in Glacier National Park. I mean, Glacier is absolutely STUNNING and if you’re biased like us, you think it’s the most magical place in the world. 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.

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. There are lots of Venues in Glacier National Park.

glacier national park imposes a reservation system

Due to managing difficulties with overcrowding, construction happening on Montana Highway 2, and Covid precautions, there will be a temporary ticketed entry system in Glacier National Park for the 2022 season.

The Ticketed Entry System in Glacier National Park is a temporary system imposed for the 2022 season, starting on May 27th thru September 11th, 2022. The system will be imposed 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 be released 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. The GTSR Entry Reservation Ticket must be purchased in addition to the $35 Entrance Fee, valid for seven days. Reservations cannot be purchased at the booth, but must be purchased 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. Check out our blog post on HOW TO ELOPE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK.

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

St. Mary 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 so busy. The “American Alps” feel of St Mary is utterly breathtaking!

LocationParticipants (peak)Vehicles (peak)Participants (non-peak)Vehicles (non-peak)Availability
St. Mary Amphitheater3063010Year-round
Rising Sun Amphitheater306N/AN/AJune-September
St. Mary Shoreline (Rising Sun Picnic Area)155N/AN/AJune- September
Sun Point125N/AN/AOnly before 2pm (issued time)
1913 Ranger Station204N/AN/AOnly before 2pm (issued time)
Red Eagle Trailhead125N/AN/AOnly before 2pm (issued time)
SUN POINT | 12 PARTICIPANTS. ONLY BEFORE 2PM ISSUED TIME.
st mary wedding ceremony locations, glacier national park elopement
RISING SUN AMPITHEATER | 30 PARTICIPANTS
complete elopement checklist, glacier national park elopement
SAINT MARY SHORELINE 15 PARTICIPANTS

See the full Saint Mary Shoreline Sunrise Elopement here!

1913 RANGER STATION | 20 PARTICIPANTS
RED EAGLE TRAILHEAD | 12 PARTICIPANTS

ceremony locations in Many Glacier

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

LocationParticipants (peak)Vehicles (peak)Participants (non-peak)Vehicles (non-peak)Availability
Shore of Lake Josephine153N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
Many Glacier Hotel Beach154N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
Many Glacier Hotel Green (behind lodge)154N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
Many Glacier Hotel – SW Beach154N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
Many Glacier Hotel Deck104N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
Many Glacier Amphitheater2010N/AN/ABefore 9am or After 5pm
where to get married in glacier national park, many glacier wedding location,
LAKE JOSEPHINE 15 PARTICIPANTS. BEFORE 9AM OR AFTER 5PM.

See this full Many Glacier Elopement at Lake Josephine

glacier national park ceremony locations, many glacier hotel wedding ceremony
MANY GLACIER BEACH 15 PARTICIPANTS. BEFORE 9AM OR AFTER 5PM.
many glacier hotel glacier national park wedding
MANY GLACIER DECK 10 PARTICIPANTS. BEFORE 9AM OR AFTER 5PM.
MANY GLACIER HOTEL GREEN | 15 PARTICIPANTS
MANY GLACIER AMPHITHEATER | 20 PARTICIPANTS

ceremony locations in 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.

LocationParticipants (peak)Vehicles (peak)Participants (non-peak)Vehicles (non-peak)Availability
*Apgar Amphitheater1533015Before 10am or After 5pm
*Apgar Picnic Area154206Not available April/May 2022
Fish Creek Amphitheater30125020Year-round
Fish Creek Picnic Area154206Year-round
Avalanche Amphitheater2043015After 6pm
Avalanche Picnic Area154206After 6pm
*7 Mile Pullout (Sandy Point)1542068am-4pm
*10 Mile Pullout (Jackson Bay)1542068am-4pm
*Sprague Picnic Area154206Sunrise – 7pm
*Lake McDonald Lodge Beach1553010Year-round
Ryan Beach154206Year-round

**Road Closures**

Going to the Sun Road from Apgar to Lake McDonald Lodge will be closed from 10pm-6am June thru September 2022 due to construction.

Glacier national Park hiking elopement, Lake McDonald wedding ceremony
7 MILE PULLOUT 15 PARTICIPANTS. 8AM-4PM.

See this full elopement at 7 Mile Pullout

glacier national park elopement wedding locations
APGAR AMPHITHEATER 15 PARTICIPANTS. Before 10am or after 5pm.

See this full elopement at Apgar Amphitheater

RYAN BEACH 15 PARTICIPANTS.

See this full elopement at Ryan Beach Meadows

10 MILE PULLOUT 15 PARTICIPANTS.

See this full 10 Mile Pullout Elopement

Ceremony locations in Glacier National park, Sprague Picnic Area
SPRAGUE PICNIC AREA 15 PARTICIPANTS. SUNRISE UNTIL 7PM.

See this Full Sprague Picnic Area Elopement

LAKE MCDONALD LODGE 2 PARTICIPANTS. OPEN YEAR ROUND WHILE GTSR IS OPEN.

See this full Lake McDonald Lodge Elopement

ceremony locations in Two Medicine

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.

LocationParticipants (peak)Vehicles (peak)Participants (non-peak)Vehicles (non-peak)Availability
Pray Lake306N/AN/ABefore 10am or After 4pm
Two Medicine Campground Group Site126N/AN/ASunrise-Sunset
Two Medicine Campground Amphitheater306N/AN/A8am-5pm
Two Medicine Picnic Area126N/AN/ABefore 10am or After 4pm
Walton Picnic Area153N/AN/ASunrise-Sunset
PRAY LAKE 30 PARTICIPANTS. BEFORE 10AM OR AFTER 4PM.

See this full Two Medicine Elopement

TWO MEDICINE CAMPGROUND GROUP SITE 12 PEOPLE

ceremony locations in North Fork

LocationParticipants (peak)Vehicles (peak)Participants (non-peak)Vehicles (non-peak)Availability
Juniper River Access123N/AN/ASunrise-Sunset
Bowman Lake123N/AN/ABefore 3pm (issued time)
Kintla Lake82N/AN/ASunrise-Sunset
where to get married in glacier National Park, bowman lake
BOWMAN LAKE 12 PARTICIPANTS
Glacier National Park ceremony locations, kinta lake
KINTA LAKE 8 PARTICIPANTS

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. We recommend limiting the number of cars that will be included in your wedding by considering transportation options or limiting guest count. No confetti or glitter, or tossing petals are 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 are closed in the off-season months, and you can check in with the office if that’s the case.

You can mail your application with your fee or email it and call in with a credit card number.

Glacier National Park Special Uses
PO Box 128
West Glacier, MT 59936
406-888-5960
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 was done 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

Glacier national Park hiking elopement, avalanche lake
  1. […] Full blog post on Our Favorite Ceremony Locations in Glacier. […]

  2. […] drive up the winding canyon road to the Rising Sun Picnic area. It’s one of the most secluded Glacier National Park ceremony locations and it was all ours. Even though it was smoky the last few days, when the sun rises above the […]

  3. […] place they stopped in the park and that was the “OMG” moment for them. When they were deciding where to elope in Glacier National Park, they came to the same place they fell in love with so many years ago. Aaaand then they came back […]

  4. […] never forget. Vi and Bryan originally were interested in Glacier National Park. There are so many wedding ceremony locations in glacier national park that it’s one of our faves to adventure to! Buttttt, Vi and Bryan decided to up their elopement a […]

  5. […] It can be daunting to chose a ceremony site from a place that the couple had never been to before. Honeybee helps every couple with a location matchmaking process where we give them ALL the best location options and they can chose from the list. Their group was small, so they got to chose from all the best Glacier National Park ceremony locations. […]

  6. […] Pssst! If you’re eloping in Glacier, pick up our free Glacier national park ceremony locations guide! […]

  7. […] at Two Medicine is the PERFECT way for them to get married! Not only is Two Medicine one of the most secluded areas in Glacier National Park, but it checks all the boxes: mountains, lakes, and of course […]

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