Glacier National Park Wedding Ceremony Locations to Make You Swoon!

Welcome to the treasure state of Montana where you will find all of these Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations!  Montana is known for its rugged and vast wilderness, cotton candy sunsets, and wickedly alluring Glacier National Park!  If you’ve decided to ditch that big wedding and opt for something that aligns more with you and your partner, you’ll be at no loss when searching for the perfect Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location for you both.  We’ll cover all these locations plus a few bonus locations we’ve found over the years that rival them!  Not to mention–stick around for the FAQ’s and a map of the general areas of these locations so you can see where they all lie in reference to one another. Or go ahead & contact us to see what photography package will fit your Glacier National Park wedding day!

Related: Eloping in Montana | The Ultimate How-to and Location Guide

Where can I get married in Glacier National Park?

You may get married at one of the following pre-approved wedding ceremony locations:

Lake McDonald District

• Big Bend

• Apgar Amphitheater

• Apgar Shoreline

• Fish Creek Amphitheater

• Fish Creek Picnic Area

• Avalanche Amphitheater

• Sandy Point

• Jackson Bay

• Sprague Picnic Area

• Lake McDonald Lodge Beach

• Ryan Beach

North Fork District

• Juniper River Access

• Bowman Lake

• Kintla Lake

Two Medicine District

• Running Eagle Falls

• Pray Lake Shoreline

• Two Medicine Amphitheater

• Two Medicine Picnic Area

• Walton Picnic Area

St. Mary District

• St. Mary Picnic Area

• Rising Sun Amphitheater

• Rising Sun Picnic Area

• Sun Point

• Red Eagle Trailhead

• 1913 Ranger Station

• Cutbank Field

Many Glacier District

• Lake Josephine Shoreline

• Many Glacier Hotel Beach

• Many Glacier Amphitheater

How much does it cost to get married in Glacier?

It costs $125 to apply for and receive a Special Use Permit to get married in Glacier National Park.  This, of course, does not factor in other wedding expenses like attire, food, travel, etc.

Thoughts to consider when choosing your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location

The pick two triangle of your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony:

When choosing your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location you’ll need to consider 3 elements: views, accessibility, and privacy.  In the elopement photography world we like to encourage folks to choose 2 of the 3!  For example if you’re wanting those epic Montana views with minimal crowds, it might not be the most accessible location.  Some sweat may be required (but you probably don’t mind the work anyway ;)).  If you’re bringing guests along that can’t do any strenuous walking or hiking and you’re willing to sacrifice big views, you’ll most likely find a location with a fair bit of privacy!  When choosing your Glacier National park wedding ceremony location–pick 2!!  Check out this lil graphic to help visualize what you can have when choosing the best place to get married at Glacier National Park!

Related: Best Post Elopement Party Ideas

So let’s hop to it!

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for epic views

Sandy Point (Views & Accessibility)

Sandy Point is located along the shores of Glacier’s most photographed location–Lake McDonald.  Lake McDonald welcomes millions of visitors every year thanks to its crystal clear waters and (almost) symmetrical mountain views.  No wonder its easily one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park! The sunsets at Lake McDonald are to die for!!  And we’d recommend choosing a ceremony and photo time as close to sunrise or sunset as possible so the water is still and reflective!  If the shores of Lake McDonald at Sandy Point don’t get you close enough to the views, rent a kayak or canoe to adventure onto the water with!

Ryan Beach (Views & Accessibility)

Lake McDonald is so stunning it grabs two spots on our list!!  Ryan Beach is an adorable forested nook of the lake that gives you a sense of romance.  You’ll be able to see other visitors at Apgar while you take in views of the mountains straight on.  This location is one of the best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for epic views due to the angle of the lake.  This spot makes you feel like you are getting hit in the face by Glacier’s many peaks making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park!

Bowman Lake (Views & Privacy)

Are you tired of lake locations yet?  We just can’t help ourselves!  Bowman Lake is located in the park’s North Fork and is particularly stunning in the fall!  As the larch trees light the horizon in yellow, you’ll be in awe exchanging vows at one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park. It might even be so beautiful it’s difficult to focus on the ceremony itself. 😀  Bowman Lake also sees less visitors than many of its other Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location competitors so you’ll notice it also makes our list below for privacy.  Pro-tip is to plan your entire day to be spent in the North Fork when choosing this location as the area is stunning and deserves to be explored (but maybe consider getting an AWD while you’re in town for this one). 🙂

St. Mary Lake (Views & Accessibility)

St. Mary Lake is located on the opposite end of the Going to the Sun Road as Lake McDonald and greets you in absolute splendor!  Truthfully there are so many gorgeous Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations on the lake that we couldn’t narrow it down so we’ll keep it general.  St. Mary Lake’s peaks light up at sunrise so who’s a big fan of getting up to trek to that side of the park?  We are!  And you should be too when considering this Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location!  When searching for up-close mountains, massive waters, and rugged cliffs, you should choose Saint Mary Lake!  When you think about the best places to get married in Glacier National Park, think St. Mary!

Related: See more of Bri & Michael’s elopement at St. Mary Lake Elopement at Sunrise

Or check out some of our favorite videographer’s work at Livemore Weddings featuring St. Mary lake here!

Pray Lake (Views & Accessibility)

Pray Lake lies in the Two Medicine region of the park–one of our favorites when considering the best places to get married in Glacier National Park!  This small section of the park tends to be one of the most underrated so it can feel more intimate than other areas.  Pray Lake makes it on our list of Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations due to its stunning reflective waters!  Our advice here is to time your ceremony as close to sunrise or sunset as possible to have the best chance for reflections during your Glacier ceremony!  And bonus: Pray Lake can house the most guests of any Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations without being an amphitheater.

Related: See Brant & Shelby’s Pray Lake Wedding with guests for more inspo!

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for bringing guests along

Apgar Amphitheater (Accessibility & Privacy)

Apgar Amphitheater makes the absolute TIPPY TOP of our list of the best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations due to its location and amenities.  This amphitheater is located within a 5 minute drive into the park from the West Glacier entrance and is located a 30 second walk from Lake McDonald!  You can even get views of Lake McDonald during your ceremony–though there will be a few trees (and likely some kayakers too).  Often our couples choose this Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location when they’re wanting to spend time with guests around Lake McDonald but exceed guest capacity limits at other locations.  They may also have guests requiring a paved walkway and nearby restroom to make things easy on their guests.  The Apgar Amphitheater has all this and more making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park for an all-around great wedding experience.

Related: Apgar Amphitheater Wedding

Avalanche Amphitheater (Accessibility & Privacy)

Nestled in a cedar grove, this Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location should be high on your list when bringing guests along.  While we love this location for its accessibility, we love it even more for its proximity to the Avalanche area of the park.  The amphitheater sits off the side of the Trail of the Cedars with the distant sounds of Avalanche Creek resting on your ears making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park for authentic natural experience. Even with the proximity to such a busy trail, our couples have noted how secluded it feels since the seating for guests is placed strategically in the grove so passersby don’t feel intrusive!  Your guests will love their easy walk on a dirt path to hop to your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony!

Related: Avalanche Amphitheater Wedding

Fish Creek Amphitheater (Accessibility & Privacy)

We’ll tell the truth here–we’ve only had the privilege of photographing a wedding here once, but we still really believe it’s one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park!  This amphitheater calls to us for many of the same reasons as others (accessibility for guests, nearby amenities, etc.), but what we really love is its aesthetic.  With a vintage feel and added seclusion, the Fish Creek Amphitheater should be high on your list of Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations if you’re looking for the most unique amphitheater in the park!

Related: Fish Creek Amphitheater Wedding in Glacier National Park

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for privacy

Bowman Lake (Views & Privacy)

Bowman Lake has already been featured on our list above for having those epic and awe-inspiring Glacier National Park wedding views; it also makes our list for being one of the most private Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations!  Nestled in the North Fork, this lake will cost some time and (vehicular) effort to get to.  Since Bowman Lake is about one and a half hours from the west entrance of Glacier National Park fewer visitors make it up this direction making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park for privacy’s sake. Often visitors are too distracted by the Going to the Sun Road or Many Glacier.  Bowman Lake has the ability to be so quiet you can hear the ringing of silence in your own ears!  Pair the location with a sunrise or sunset ceremony, and you are almost guaranteed a peaceful and tranquil environment in which to exchange vows.

Kintla Lake (Views & Privacy)

If you thought Bowman Lake was secluded…. Watch out for Kintla Lake!  This Glacier National Park ceremony location is even further north than Bowman Lake, and the road is even more rugged making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park if you want to feel secluded in nature!  This is, simply, the most private location to have your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location in the park.  Keep in mind that choosing this location may also mean you’re choosing to spend your day in and around Kintla Lake, Bowman Lake, and the Polebridge area so your time is spent snuggling and checking out views instead of bouncing around the inside of your car on the road. 🙂

Fish Creek Amphitheater (Accessibility & Privacy)

If heading all the way to the North Fork wasn’t what you had in mind, the Fish Creek Amphitheater near the west entrance of the park may your next best bet for a private Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location!  This amphitheater is listed above for its accessibility for guests, but it also has the bonus of feeling incredibly secluded and quiet.  We have never visited this potential Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location and found large crowds.  Perhaps a straggler every now and again, but overall this amphitheater is a great option for its privacy and location to the west entrance making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park while keeping it private.

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for nearby hikes and activities

St. Mary Lake (Views & Accessibility)

St. Mary has those bangin’ views like we’ve mentioned above, but it’s also incredibly close to a ton of scenic hikes (long and short!) making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park and adventure. You’ll find high alpine meadows, flowing waterfalls, scenic drives, and monstrous cliffs within a 30 minute drive or less from this location, and that’s in addition to the already insane views St. Mary has to offer on her own!  Down the road you’ll find hikes like Virginia Falls, the Highline Trail, and Hidden Lake.  St. Mary Lake makes a great Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location as you can easily tack on any activity your heart desires within an easy driving distance!

Related: See this St. Mary Amphitheater wedding for a peek into this area of the park!

Ryan Beach (Views & Accessibility)

Ryan Beach was mentioned earlier for insane views of Lake McDonald, but along with those views comes the opportunity for so much fun to be had around Apgar making it one of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park for easy fun.  Since Ryan Beach is located nearby you can opt to get some huckleberry ice cream at Eddie’s right after your ceremony or even rent a kayak from Go Glacier Outfitters!  All the Lake McDonald adventures you could imagine are an easy 10 minute drive from Ryan Beach making it one of the best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for creating an adventurous and unique timeline!

Pray Lake (Views & Accessibility)

Pray Lake made our list of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park earlier for bringing guests along, but oh baby does it give great access to some nearby hikes!  Some serene wooded trails are a quick walk from the Pray Lake ceremony location as well as quick access to a fun boat tour showcasing a lot of what Two Medicine has to offer!  This Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location gives amazing options for hiking whether you’d like your trail to be short or long, easy or strenuous!

Related: See more of Livemore Weddings work featuring Two Medicine here!

Avalanche Creek (Views & Accessibility)

The Avalanche Amphitheater was on our list of the best places to get married in Glacier National Park earlier for its amazing accessibility and coziness, but Avalanche Creek is a close-by Glacier National Park ceremony location boasting its own right in proximity to the Avalanche Lake trail!  We have had so many couples enjoy their ceremony at the amphitheater or the creek to quickly head off and hike Avalanche Lake!  With this location you’ll be within walking distance of this infamous hike and in good shape to break a (gorgeous sweat) on  your wedding day!

Best wedding ceremony locations that border Glacier National Park

Wait… yes… you’re still in the right place!  While these locations are not technically in Glacier National Park we have many couples choosing these for their ceremony location because they either look into Glacier National Park or are stunning in their own right!  These locations [as of 2022] require no ceremony permit and reside in a lot of same mountain ranges found making their way through Glacier National Park.

Since we personally location scout for every single couple, we’d love to share a few gems we’ve found over the years exploring Montana for our clients!  Since these are some of our favorite undiscovered spots, you’ll excuse me if the names are vague and leave you wanting more! 😛

Historic Bridge (Views & Accessibility)

This historic bridge makes our list of best wedding ceremony locations because the unique imagery you can achieve here!  With rugged cliffs, blue river water, and a unique opportunity to photograph from above, this location is simply one of the most picturesque ceremony locations we offer our couples.  It doesn’t help you can show up any time without a permit and exchange vows in this authentically Montana local hot spot.  Pro-tip: during the summer this place is CRAWLING with water-sport enthusiasts and bridge-jumpers.  You’ll need to plan an early ceremony during the ceremony to avoid the whippersnappers making a ruckus.  😉

Flathead River (Views & Privacy)

The Flathead River consists of three forks: the north, middle, and south fork.  One fork in particular winds through a wilderness area almost untapped by the crowds that can sometimes plague Glacier National Park.  These Flathead River locations range from sandy beaches to rocky beaches, gentle streams to white rapids, and sloping hills to astounding cliff-faces.  Another perk of these locations: no permit!  So whether you opt to choose these locations in a permit pinch or just love them above a Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location, you’re in luck.  These gems of ours are pristine wilderness.

Local Public Land (Views & Accessibility)

This local public land can make all of your Montana wedding dreams come true!  If you’ve imagined your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony full of all things Pinterest–aisle runner rugs, gorgeous chairs, huge floral designs, and maybe even an arch–but you’re left feeling a little saddened the park doesn’t allow these things we’ve got some GREAT news for ya!  We know a local park allowing all the above that looks into the gorgeousness that is Glacier National Park!  We have had great success getting permits for this location processed quickly and efficiently, and we are never dissatisfied with the views!  Our clients feel the same way! 

And finally–Here’s our map of where these Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations are generally located!

Glacier National Park wedding ceremony FAQ’s

Can you have a wedding at Glacier National Park?

Yes!!  And you’re considering it… or you wouldn’t have made it this far!  Have no fear, though.  A Glacier National Park wedding is way less stressful and way more gorgeous than those stuffy wedding you’ve been imagining.

When can you elope at Glacier National Park?

You can elope at Glacier National Park year-round.  However, during the winters only certain ceremony locations remain accessible due to inclimate weather and snow.  Contact us if you’re interested in an off-season elopement at Glacier so we can help navigate those challenges!

How many guests can I bring with me?

Glacier National Park has a maximum party capacity of 30 at a few locations.  Each location will have its own requirement limits, but it’s important to know that any vendors (such as ourselves and your officiant) count in your party total.  We will also need to be prepared to car-pool for certain locations as parking can be difficult in more popular areas.

Why can you only exchange vows in certain locations?

Glacier National Park wedding ceremonies can only take place in these places as an effort to conserve park resources.  As we help you plan and execute your Glacier National Park ceremony, we’ll also instill Leave No Trace knowledge for you and your guests so the park remains open and accessible in the future.

How do I make my Glacier National Park wedding ceremony legal?

I’ve written a whole other blog about that topic: How To Get Married in Montana!  So check it out!

How far out from my Glacier National Park wedding should I book photographers?

We believe the perfect amount of time is ~6 months.  HOWEVER–we have had an increase of couples booking us for their Glacier National Park wedding in 2 months or less, and we are well equipped to help you along the way even in a time crunch!  We’ve done it in as little as 10 days, and it was still their perfect Glacier National Park wedding day!

What other vendors will I need for my Glacier National Park wedding?

Great question!  We certainly have our favorites and vendors we trust!  Each client of ours get a 38 page vendor guide full of our favorite vendors for your Glacier National Park wedding!  Take a sneak peek at our vendor list below.

How do I get my permit?

You will apply with the park service using this link.  A lot of this can seem a little confusing so we also have a Glacier National Park wedding permit guide we send to all of our clients to instruct how to apply for your permit and have the best odds of having a ceremony location you love.

How much does a Glacier National Park ceremony cost?

A Glacier National Park wedding ceremony permit costs $125.

What if my Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location is on the Going to the Sun Road but I didn’t get a vehicle reservation?

No worries!  Your Special Use Permit given to you allowing your ceremony is your Going to the Sun Road registration for that day and that day only.  It will also serve as your guests’ vehicle registration if their cars are listed on the Special Use Permit

Who should you hire for your Glacier National Park wedding ceremony?

For florals– you’ll want to hire Rose Mountain Floral.  Rose Mountain Floral is known for their durability and customization.  If you want florals personalized to your favorite blooms that will last all day, check them out!  We have never had a couple dissatisfied when using Rose Mountain Floral!

For videography–you’ll want to hire Evan Lanier with Livemore Weddings!  Evan has 12 years of experience in creating adventurous and romantic films showcasing your wedding day! Every one of our couples who have hired has been high key obsessed with their film and could not have more stoke!

Glacier National Park wedding ceremony location recap!

Whether you’re looking for big views, accessibility and ease, or privacy–Glacier National Park has all of it!!  Let’s check out which Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations are best for what one more time!

Best Glacier National Park  wedding ceremony locations for epic views

• Sandy Point
• Ryan Beach
• Bowman Lake
• Pray Lake
• Saint Mary Lake

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for bringing guests along

• Apgar Amphitheater
• Avalanche Amphitheater
• Fish Creek Amphitheater

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for privacy

• Fish Creek Amphitheater
• Kintla Lake
• Bowman Lake

Best Glacier National Park wedding ceremony locations for nearby hikes and activities

• Saint Mary
• Ryan Beach
• Pray Lake
• Avalanche Creek

Best wedding ceremony locations that border Glacier National Park

• Historic Bridge 
• Flathead River 
• Local Park

Yo.  You need a hiking wedding guide and photographer.

Imma be so honest.  We love hiking weddings, and we love helping couples plan their elopement days to be full of meaning and intention.  Kick that tradition crap outta here, and let’s plan something magical together!

You deserve for your wedding day to bring you peace in the great outdoors, and this is only a taste of how we help our couples.

All of our elopement packages come with professional elopement photography, two photographers, and unlimited planning assistance.  We think this is the best way to serve eloping couples, and we can’t wait to chat!

Contact us about photographing your elopement!