Two Medicine & St. Mary Adventure Session | Maddy & Matt

As Montana elopement photographers we cross paths with a lot of couples hoping for the BIG views in Montana.  They’re traveling across the country to get up close and personal with the Rockies, but they’re also bringing along guests.

A lot of couples start planning and realize they’re not willing to sacrifice seeing those big views or relaxed time with their guests.

That’s exactly how Maddy & Matt found themselves planning a 2 day elopement experience.  Day 1 was their Fish Creek Amphitheater wedding, and their Two Medicine & St. Mary adventure session follows below. 🙂

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

Views of the Two Medicine Valley

Maddy & Matt wrapped up their ceremony day where they got ready in Whitefish, had a Fish Creem Amphitheater ceremony, and had a relaxed campfire dinner with their guests.  They knew on day 2 they wanted to get out away from crowds and experience a more rugged & locals only Montana.

We knew just the location!  We planned over the course of months recommending locations for Maddy & Matt based off of the views they came to us hoping to see.  As such we met them in Hungry Horse to drive towards Two Medicine together.  We always meet couples where they won’t have lost cell service as navigating Montana’s roads can be intimidated if you’ve never been before.

Maddy & Matt enjoyed the lengthy commute while we explored the boundary of Glacier National Park before showing them one of our favorite hidden gem locations we’ve spent years seaching for.

The two spent time soaking in views of the Two Medicine Valley from above with just a quick walk from parking.  Within a few dozen yards’ walk they were entirely secluded from the rest of the world (us included) as we gave them time to really reflect on their ceremony day while standing in the fresh Montana air.

A St. Mary Picnic

Once Maddy & Matt had felt that true seclusion they were hoping for, we took them over to St. Mary so they could chow down on leftovers from their reception! 😀  

We found them a cozy, private little spot overlooking St. Mary Lake that truly few others find.  We helped them scale up a bit so they were overlooking the lake as well as other hikers and nature lovers.  They danced on mountaintops, scaled rock walls, and enjoyed some of the yummiest grapes we’ve ever tasted (thanks, M&M for sharing <3)!

Once their picnic and first dance was finished, we adventured down to a more popular location for those epic Glacier National Park photos they came for!  Looking back, it was the quality time from this morning paired with the exact views they wanted that created their favorite memories of their elopement experience.

Related: Glacier National Park Wedding Ceremony Locations

“Not only are Des and Dan skilled in photography, but they also offer packages that assist in destination planning, vendors, location scouting, timelines, and packing lists. Having someone in your arsenal that serves a major purpose AND has endless knowledge of your event is priceless.” -M+B

Faux snow in September

When we were colllaborating on locations for their day 2, Maddy & Matt sent this infamous meadow over and over again!  We knew we had to include it in their plans!

Glacier always has a fun surprise up her sleeve, and the conditions at this meadow were no different.  We arrived to the meadow overlooking the Going to the Sun Road (their favorite views of the entire day), and noticed the wildflowers had started to wither.  However–the dry conditions paired with the wind created a STUNNING snowy effect.

When the wind blew, we’d watch the wildflower seeds fly everywhere around us so Maddy & Matt seemingly had snow on their 85 degree day 2 elopement experience!  It created magical, romantic, jaw-dropping moments that felt like they only belonged to Maddy & Matt.  These were their favorite images and were truly magazine WORTHY. <3

“Des was so so so helpful! She provided us with so much information and made the experience & planning so effortless for us. Des is so much more than a photographer and planner, she is a friend. She makes you feel so comfortable and like you have known her for years.” -J+J

A dip in Lake McDonald

We all hated to leave, but Maddy & Matt had one more spot on their agenda–Lake McDonald!  They were (understandably) starving!!  So we took them to Apgar for a fun lakeside dinner!  Matt skipped rocks while Maddy watched over her goofy new husband.  We also had to get some of those gloriously soft Lake McDonald sunset images so we had some time dedicated to classic Glacier portraits!

Now–Maddy & Matt are from Minnesota so they know cold weather.  We mentioned casually that they could jump in the frigid September waters of Lake McDonald.  It didn’t take much convincing at all, and the two were getting ready to take the plunge!

They jumped in the water hand in hand, played around a little, and then quickly climbed out! <3

We helped them find the restrooms nearby to change into warm clothes ASAP!  We all gathered around our cars to say goodbye, and we were all honestly so grateful–grateful for the amazing two days they had in Glacier and grateful we found each other along the way!  We both also unknowingly got each other locally roasted coffees from where we live and exchanged gifts!  We hugged and sent them off their next adventure–a Banff honeymoon!

Related: Montana Destination Wedding Guide with help finding locations, venues, and things to do

One mo time!

Here’s what eloping folks are saying about hiring us:

We don’t even know where to begin – Our elopement wouldn’t have been possible without Des and Dan. We had a vision for our wedding, but we had no idea where to start. Des helped us every step of the way, from finding stunning locations, giving great recommendations for vendors, and suggestions for activities on non-wedding days, we felt so supported! No only were Des and Dan amazing at their job, but we genuinely enjoyed spending time with them! They were so much fun, but also such a calming presence. And, to top it all off, we love love LOVE our photos!

-Maddy & Matt

Who made this Two Medicine & St. Mary adventure session possible?

Bridal Dress | Vowed Weddings

Groom’s Attire | Mainstream Duluth

Lodging | Airbnb in Whitefish

Florals | Forage and Floral

Cake | The Cake Girl

Hair and Makeup | In Justina’s Chair

Jewelry | Schmidt’s Jewelry

Photography | Destinie Fouche Photography

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!