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Montana Backpacking Wedding

Elopements

Montana Backpacking Wedding

When Sam and Kyle said they wanted to be adventurous for their elopement vow renewal, we all knew a Montana backpacking wedding was in order!  Ya see, these two have been married for 10 years and never got that adventurous wedding day they’ve grown to dream about, so we decided we would take them to one of our favorite backpacking spots prepared to explore during their Montana backpacking wedding!

The week before their Montana backpacking wedding, these two opted to do the ultimate Montana road trip to explore and meet new hiking friends.  Sam and Kyle adventured from Bozeman through Missoula, up to Kalispell (that’s right, they visited Glacier National Park), and over to this beauty Montana backpacking route over in the Kootenai National Forest.  Their time on this trail was spent doing some nice scrambling, crossing water falls, holding hands, and ending up at this glorious lake which still had icebergs in June!

Kyle and Sam are very much paired together perfectly.  It’s no wonder these two have been married for 10 years!  As I was stoked to adventure alongside them, I couldn’t help but notice how they challenged each other, yet always wanted the other to be comfortable and feel safe.  These two are definitely adventurous souls (did I mention they RV full time), and I can’t wait for you to check out the rest of their epic backpacking wedding!

Our first night at the lake

Sam and Kyle decided they wanted to hike up, set up tents, pop some champagne, and snuggle up for some twilight pics.  The two had packed their hiking wedding attire in their packs (along with all their Montana backpacking supplies), so they need to hang them up to dewrinkle.  This was epic and such a fun way to see traditional wedding gear!

Oh, did I mention all this was after Kyle jumped into the frozen lake while Sam stood by with something to dry him with?!  Like I said–adventurous souls!!

We took a few minutes to snap some chilly vibe shots in front of the icebergs this Montana lake is known for, and the two celebrated their week long Montana backpacking adventure by sipping champagne taking in the views.

 

guy jumps in at leigh lake
groom looks over shoulder while jumping into glacial lake
groom jumps off boulder into glacial lake
grooms jumps into glacial lake
grooms sits on iceberg in leigh lake montana
groom walks across icebergs in leigh lake montana
groom walks on glacier at sunset
grooms swims in glacial lake
man climbs out of iceberg filled lake in montana
grooms climbs out of iceberg filled lake
bride and groom hangs wedding dress in mountain trees
groom hangs up wedding dress in montana
grooms wedding attire laid at leigh lake montana
timberland beanie and groom's boutonniere
dried floral bouquet in leigh lake montana
black and white image of dried bridal bouquet
reflective image of leigh lake montana at sunset
champagne sits on an iceberg in montana
groom looks in handheld mirror
couple hugs during montana backpacking wedding
couple sits between tents in montana
couple hugs between tents during montana backpacking wedding
black and white leigh lake montana at sunset
bride and groom take in views of leigh lake montana
groom smiles while holding bride at montana backpacking wedding
groom points at mountain views during sunset
couple sits on boulder at sunset in montana
icebergs in leigh lake montana at sunset
couple hikes leigh lake montana
couple hugs at backpacking wedding
couple kisses close at leigh lake montana
couple sprays champagne during leigh lake sunset
eloping couple screams in mountains
bride and groom pop champagne during montana elopement
bride and groom pop champagne in front of mountains
groom chugs champagne at leigh lake

Montana Backpacking Sunrise Adventure

Since Sam and Kyle had experienced the lake at sunset, we wanted to be sure we got up early enough to catch sunrise and get that dreamy lighting for some epic Montana backpacking wedding photos!  Sam and Kyle got ready under soft dawn light with gorgeous pinks showing up behind the mountain.  As the morning progressed, the two would find themselves hopping boulders, spotting mountain goats, and laughing hysterically at the amount of fun they were having at their elopement vow renewal!

Pro tip for backpacking weddings:  Sam found some drief florals she was obsessed with, and these are great for a Montana backpacking wedding!  They are durable, gorgeous, and very Leave No Trace friendly as they don’t introduce any new species into the high alpine areas.  You can find our favorite dried bouquets here!

groom puts necklace on bride during leigh lake wedding
couple kisses in tent during sunrise at leigh lake
couple kisses in tent during montana elopement
eloping bride puts on necklace at sunrise in montana
alternative bride looks at dried floral bouquet during elopement
dried floral bouquet outdoors
montana sunrise at leigh lake in libby
husband and wife kiss during elopement
groom helps bride down boulder
bride and groom explore mountains in montana
wedding couple hugs during alpenglow
bride and groom hug with dried bouquet at leigh lake
bride shows off wedding dress in mountains
alternative wedding attire at mountain elopement
couple kisses in front of alpenglow
groom holds bride in leigh lake
eloping couple laughs in wedding dress at mountain elopement
eloping bride pulls groom close
bride and groom hug in front of alpenglow
bride and groom hugs in front of mountain
alternative elopement in front of mountain
alpenglow across leigh lake montana
wedding dress on boulder at leigh lake montana
couple sits staring at alpenglow
sunrise reflects off water at leigh lake montana
dried floral boutonniere
tiny couple hugs at leigh lake montana
groom helps bride climb boulder in wedding dress
eloping couple hugs and laughs at leigh lake
eloping couple hugs and laughs
elopement couple looks into montana view
couple kisses during leigh lake wedding
couple kisses on top of iceberg
eloping couple stands on boulder in front of icebergs
eloping couple climbs mountain
montana bear grass at leigh lake montana
bride and groom look at leigh lake montana
groom caresses shoulder of bride
ice field at leigh lake montana
bride and groom look out at leigh lake montana
groom hugs bride and looks into camera
alternative wedding couple hugs
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eloping couple sees mountain goat in montana
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eloping couple with matching hand tattoos
bride and groom explore leigh lake montana
bride and groom hop across boulders in montana
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couple hugs for a moody black and white photo
eloping couple kisses at leigh lake montana
bridal couple holds each other close in libby montana
wedding couple stands on boulder in libby montana
eloping couple stands on boulder in leigh lake
eloping bride puts hand in groom's backpocket
couple hugs while eloping in montana
husband and wife pull in close for a hug in cabinet mountains
eloping grooms holds bride closely
alternative boutonnieree attached to suspenders
bride holds groom's indie boutonniere
small handcrafted dried grooms boutonniere
alternative wedding couple in front of mountain
alternative couple hugs while eloping
eloping couple hugs in front of mountain
eloping couple hugs in front of mountain

Montana Backpacking Wedding Ceremony

Once their adventure was done, Sam and Kyle felt the sun popping through the mountains to beautifully light up a boulder on the edge of the lake.  They decided to have their ceremony there with the sun warming their skin between the views of gorgeous evergreens, icebergs, and tents.

Once of the most memorable moments from their ceremony was right after their vows.  I walked up and asked them, “How are we going to celebrate?” 

Kyle looked around somewhat frantically when his eyes lit up.  He went to the water’s edge and pulled out a chunk of ice.  Sam looked confused, but Kyle took a big bite and offered her some of the ice chunk to eat!  This was Kyle’s awesome version of a Montana backpacking wedding cake, and it was genius!  We are certainly all going to remember this epic (and hilariously confusing) moment from their Montana backpacking wedding!

We celebrated a bit more by shouting in the solitude of the mountains so the grizzlies knew we were there and to stay far away, and then we packed up to hike back out.  Sam and Kyle wanted some awesome photos of them hiking out in their wedding gear, and I was stoked to oblige.  

Their Montana backpacking wedding was coming to a close, but the two couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces.

 

bride and groom wedding outfits
bride and groom wedding outfits
bride and groom couple photos
couple exchanges vows in montana elopement
black and white wedding ceremony photo
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bride exchanges vows in boho wedding dress
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couple elopes in front of glacier
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bride and groom portraits with reflection
couple during outdoor vow ceremony
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bride and groom portraits
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groom pulls iceberg from lake
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wedding ceremony photo with icebergs
black and white wedding photo
Eloping in the Mountains
couple celebrates montana elopement
alternative couple during Montana backpacking wedding
bride and groom hug during montana elopement
black and white mountain landscape
bride and groom couple photos
couple portraits in montana during elopement
couple portraits in montana
couples photo black and white
couple matching tattoos during montana wedding
couple matching tattoos during elopement
alternative groom during mountain elopement
alternative bride and groom elopement
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alternative couple outfit
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couple kisses in front of iceberg
kissing couple at montana elopement location
Mountain Elopement
couple hikes in Montana during hiking elopement
grooms holds bride's dress while hiking elopement
bride and groom hiking during elopement
Bride laughs wearing minimalist elopement dress
Bride laughs while wearing boho elopement dress
Bride laughs wearing boho elopement dress
Groom elopement photo while backpacking
Montana Elopement Location
Bride and groom hike with backpacks on
Bride and groom hike during elopement
Bride and groom portrait for elopement photos
Couple backpacks during mountain elopement
Backpacking bride in Leigh Lake Montana
Backpacking bride in Leigh Lake Montana
Bride hiking in wedding dress
Bride in hiking wedding dress and backpack
Dried floral bouquet for elopement
Bride and groom backpack during elopement
Couple backpacks during Montana elopement
Couple backpacks during elopement
couple backpacking wedding
couple elopes in montana

Additional Resources:

We love taking couples like Sam and Kyle (and you too) into the glorious backcountry of Montana!  Check out these resources to help you plan your Montana elopement!

Eloping in Montana | The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Montana

Glacier National Park Elopement Guide | In case you’re looking for a gorgeous front-country view to elope in 

Best Places to Elope in the US | Because Montana isn’t the only goreous place to have your elopement adventure!

 

Hey, it’s us!

We’re Des & Dan! Husband & wife elopement photographers, planners, and officiants! We help couples like you create elopement days full of meaningful details, authentic moments, and creative experiences because we believe you deserve a wedding day where you are truly heard—a wedding day you can truly remember.

We’d love to help in any way you can, so check out our other free planning resources or send us an email by hitting contact! We’d love to hop on the phone and see what you’re envisioning for your elopement day.

You deserve this.

Des & Dan

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