Montana Destination Wedding Guide for

Lovers of Luxury

& Hippy Dippies Alike

Perks of Choosing a Montana Destination Wedding

Spoiler alert: it’s quite simply the shiz.

Maybe you’ve been dreaming of your wedding day full of big views, romance, and fun with guests but no where near you seems to fit the bill.  That’s where we meet a lot of our couples hoping for a Montana destination wedding.  You’re not alone in realizing that the scenery of Montana is unmatched.  The ruggedness brings an intimacy only known in fairytales.  And let’s not forget those jaw-dropping experiences for your wedding guests!  If a Montana destination wedding is on your radar, let us show you with ease how to plan and execute the wedding of your dreams as we dive into the best Montana destination wedding regions, the best scenic wedding venues with and without lodging, the best Montana destination wedding vendors, and some FAQ’s you’ll be dying to know!  We’ll also be covering our most popular Montana destination wedding photography package so your first vendor will already by taken care of!

But who are we exactly?  We’re Des and Dan, Montana elopement photographers, specializing in all things Montana destination weddings from “just us” elopements with a few guests up to luxurious destination weddings with a guest list of up to 40 folks.  So now that we’ve gotten introductions out of the way, let’s hop to where it gets juicy!

Related: See more of Katie & TJ’s Livingston Montana Wedding as featured below

1. Secure your photographer (yo, we hope it’s us!)

2. Find your perfect region in the state

3. Book your planner and venue side by side

4. Book lodging and travel

5. Secure florals, food, and detail vendors

6. Show up ready to party and experience Montana’s beauty!

Best Montana destination wedding venues with & without lodging by region

Best Montana Destination Wedding Venues in Glacier Country

• Green Valley Ranch

• White Raven

• Jewel Basin Weddings

Best Montana Destination Wedding Venues in Yellowstone Country

• Star M Barn

• The Ranch at Rock Creek

Truth be told we’ve seen some amazing wedding days come to life!  We’ve also seen some that could’ve used a little more help when it came to their venue selection.  We have learned what is really valuable to our couples relating to their Montana destination wedding so we’ll be viewing these venues through those lenses: potential views, venue communication, and the venue’s experience at truly WOWING their couples.  To us it’s not just about how a venue looks (though that’s insanely important).  We know that your whole experience matters from your first email exchange all the way down to your relationship with that venue long after your wedding day.  Keeping all that in mind, let’s talk guests!

We thrive on wedding days full of meaningful details, family snuggles, and larger than life landscapes.  We’ve found that’s where a lot of couples thrive too!  Feel free to bring those guests along for your wedding and get some help navigating those logistics with us.

You may be hoping for a Montana destination wedding venue to whisk your guests away to for a long weekend!  Or your guests may prefer to find their own places to stay and show up for a day to the wildest wedding view they could have imagined.  Either way, we’ve got you covered with these Montana destination wedding venues by region.  We’ll cover their location, why they stand out, how far out they typically book, and a price range.  In the meantime, contact us to get started planning!

Related: See more Elopement Photo Ideas for your Montana destination wedding!

Best Montana Destination Wedding venues in Glacier Country with Lodging

White Raven

White Raven is located in Missoula, Montana (another personal fave of ours).  White Raven offers wedding packages with and without lodging so your Montana destination wedding dreams can become all-inclusive or you can let guests choosing lodging on their own.  White Raven stands out as they offer a completely private venue surrounded by 180 acres of Montana’s wilderness.  With big views and modern amenities, you and your guests could easily spend the entire wedding week here!  Should you choose to venture out you’ll find some of Montana’s most infamous views a quick drive as well.  White Raven is also open in the winter and can accommodate guests during your snowy Montana destination wedding.

When budgeting you’ll find this venue to range from $9k without lodging to $22k with lodging for your and your guests.  White Raven typically books a year out for their wedding dates, so let’s get in contact ASAP if you think this is your fit for your Montana destination wedding.

The deets on

our Montana destination wedding Photography package

I promise we’re getting into venues, vendors, and the like but first:

The 2 Day Montana Destination wedding experience

Most of our couples choose 2 days to have ample time celebrating with their guests at their gorgeous venue (listed here no doubt) and still get a whole day dedicated to exploring Montana with just you two.  Of course we’ll be traipsing along trails, helping row your raft, or following along for whatever other adventure you choose to be a part of your Montana destination wedding!  You need more than a photographer.

You need artists.

And you need a team of professionals who geek out at Montana’s beauty the way you do.

What exactly comes with

our Montana destination wedding Photography package

We don’t leave you in the dark wondering what to do next, how to make your wedding day your own, or how to live your wedding day experience to the fullest.

So here’s a taste of what’s included in

your 2 Day Montana Destination wedding experience

• Unlimited planning consultations
• 2 full days of photography coverage
• 2 professional photographers
• Online, high res photo gallery
• Timeline assistance
• Lodging recommendations for you and guests
• Wedding checklists
• Travel packing lists
• Personalized vendor recommendations

And that’s just a peek into how we serve ya!

Check this cool shiz out.

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

Best Montana Destination Wedding Venues in Glacier Country without Lodging

Jewel Basin Weddings

Jewel Basin Weddings can be found nestled in the evergreens along the Jewel Basin (our favorite region to hike in the Flathead Valley).  While the owners may not consider themselves luxurious in the traditional sense, there is no denying the luxury that comes with having your own private, scenic venue to enjoy with guests.  Jewel Basin Weddings is located 45 minutes from Glacier National Park and Whitefish making it a centralized location with a unique touch.  This Montana destination wedding venue retains the personal touch of Montana locals that you’ll need when hoping for quick and personalized service.  Their owners are quick to share their favorite local experiences for you and your guests as if you’re long-time friends.  

Jewel Basin Weddings can be booked for the weekend with a current rate of $4500 from June through October.  Expect for Jewel Basin Weddings to be booked a year in advance, and they are open for tours year round if you need to place an eye before making your final Montana destination wedding venue decision.  This is the perfect Montana destination wedding venue for low-key, introverted couples hoping to get big views with no crowds.

Best Southwest Montana Destination Wedding Venues with Lodging

The Ranch at Rock Creek

The Ranch at Rock Creek is located in Philipsburg, Montana and is considered to be a luxury ranch wedding and event venue.  The Ranch at Rock Creek stands out as among the rest due to their ability to put together curated wedding moments and details for busy folks.  This venue excels at taking your vision and running with it to ensure your Montana destination wedding results in a day that is truly reflective of you.

For us personally, we are floored at the venue’s ability to house, wow, and entertain you and your guests for the entirety of your experience.  With on-site dining, a spa, and countless outdoor activities, you can truly create a week’s worth of Montana memories for yourself and guests.  Their team and their ranch ambassadors will ensure no one is left wanting for a great experience!

Elopements and weddings range in cost from $10k-$25k and can book a year or two out from your date.  Smaller elopements have much more flexibility and be booked in as little as 60 days out.  However, keep in mind this is subject to room availability so you’ll want to book as soon as possible.

Let’s hear it again!

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

Montana destination wedding vendors to hire

Montana Destination Wedding Planners

Montana destination wedding planning is no task for the weak or those who are unfamiliar with Montana’s trusted vendors or timelines and coordination that work with your wildest wedding dreams.  Massive weddings (or even intimate weddings) with several vendors and specific visions can become a huge source of stress for couples when they are not equipped with an experienced planner.  As a rule of thumb, we encourage couples having more than 3 on-site vendors on their wedding day to hire a planner to help choose those vendors and coordinate between them all to ensure the day flows smoothly.  The value cannot be understated of having someone else to carry the burden making sure your vision is lived out in the least stressful way possible for your Montana destination wedding.  As such, we want to connect our Montana destination wedding couples with planners that we have seen rock folks’ faces off year after year when planning their wedding.

Montana Destination Wedding Floral Designers

What elevates your Montana destination wedding from cookie cutter to couture?  That’s right, babies.  Floral design.  Floral design is what takes every event and adds the luxury and personalization that cannot be found anywhere else.  Hiring the correct floral designer for your Montana destination wedding really means choosing your priorities.  Some considerations for hiring your designer is understanding their specialization, where their blooms are sourced from, and the extent of their planning assistance.  We’ve compiled our list of trusted Montana destination wedding floral designers who we know can wow you with their attention to detail and execution of your dreams.  Here are our most trusted Montana destination wedding floral designers!

Yelllowstone Country Floral Designers

Florally

Florally is located in Bozeman, Montana and is considered the home of artists!  Connie, owner and lead designer, describes their designs as thoughtful, natural, and romantic.  Connie and her team seek to gather your story, grab inspiration from earth’s natural beauty, and translate those two into floral designs for your Montana destination wedding that truly symbolize the romance in your story.

Florally sources their blooms first from local farms in the Bozeman area.  When their designs require more to reach your specific vision, they will, however, source blooms first from the contiguous US and then anything needed internationally.  Florally advises their clients to trust the creative process when working alongside a floral designer as those weddings always turn out the most satisfactory for you and in regards to aesthetic!

For larger weddings Florally can book out as far as 18 months.  Smaller weddings and more flexible dates can be booked about 4 months out pending availability.

One mo time!

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

Des and Dan truly made our wedding day perfect. When we started looking for a photographer for our elopement, we had a hard time finding someone whose pictures and editing style we loved. After looking through their portfolio, I immediately scheduled a consultation. From the first meeting, it felt like I had known Des for years with how personable she is. My husband and I knew we had found the perfect people to help us plan and spend our elopement day with. We didn’t know the area well, so all the guides and resources provided were a life saver! There was never a question we had that went unanswered, and the communication was always easy and quick. I am in love with every single one of our photos, and there are so many to look at! The final gallery tells the story of our wedding day, and we are so excited to be able to share them with our friends and family. We wouldn’t have been able to have the most amazing day without them!

-Rose & Ryan

Montana Destination Wedding Videographers

We believe your Montana destination wedding deserves to be documented to the fullest extent.  With our packages you’ll have 2 photographers, but you may find yourself in need of a videographer to round out the experience!  Videographers can add a lot of value to your day and the years after as you get to feel the nostalgia watching your film over and over again!

Finding the RIGHT videographer, however, cannot be overstated.  When choosing this vendor be sure it’s someone you vibe with… but also be sure they vibe with the creative process of your photographers.  It is always a good idea to get videographer recommendations from your photographer so you can be sure they will jive and make for the most pleasurable experience for you, your guests, and all on-site vendors.  That’s why we’ve chosen to showcase this videographer in particular found below. 🙂

Montana Destination Wedding Caterers and Private Chefs

We’d be lying if we didn’t say this is selfishly one of our favorite parts of every Montana destination wedding–yummy FOOD!  Your dinner with guests is often what guests will be chatting about for months.  You’d think those epic mountain views, emotional vows, or stunning floral designs from floor to ceiling would capture their attention, but truly it’s their taste buds that have the potential to lead conversation.  Not to mention America has seen a serious uptick in food allergies and intolerances.  You’ll need trusted caterers and private chefs who can work with various menu options to ensure everyone’s meal is yummy and safe for them to consume.  These caterers and private chefs have experience working with different menus that will wow you and your guests and leave you wanting for more!

What season to plan your Montana destination wedding

Summer Montana Destination Weddings

Our obvious answer–summer!  But you should know summer weddings in Montana have a short window!  Summer in Montana is typically considered from late July through early September giving you roughly 6 weeks for that pristine Montana destination wedding weather.  The temps feel great, the sun is usually shining, and the winter blizzards are long gone.  However, summer can come with wildfire smoke, so you’ll need to be flexible on your expectations of views should smoke obstruct your views.  Summer is also the most reliable time of year to have ease of access in travel and catching some trails.  By August even the highest elevation trails will likely be opened up so you can enjoy Montana’s wildest adventures after your wedding.  You’ll see wildflowers, wildlife, and wild night life during summer!

Summer is most popular for Montana destination weddings.  Thus you’ll need to plan ahead to get the venue and vendors of your dreams.  Demand is incredibly high, so let’s start working together quickly to get those big vendors and your date nailed down quickly.

Related: See this summer Avalanche Amphitheater Wedding for a peek into this season!

Fall Montana Destination Weddings

Summer is a heavy hitter for Montana destination weddings, but fall comes in at a close second.  Personally, fall is our favorite season to host your Montana destination wedding for a few reasons.  First of all, the weather feels crisp and most smoke has dissipated.  The weather can become moody (which we’re big fans of) if rain and clouds move through.  The weather is usually not so dicey that you won’t have access to Montana outdoor activities, and crowding is down making those experiences more enjoyable for all parties.

Fall colors begin to pop in some regions of Montana as early as mid-September at high elevations.  Mid to late October is the safest bet when hoping for abundant fall colors during your Montana destination wedding.  Plus, who doesn’t need an adventure in the fall to hold them over until the holiday season?  We always fill our fall dates first as we encourage our Montana destination wedding couples to take advantage of the potential for semi-moody weather and rich Montana colors!

Related: See Paige & Jack’s Two Day Flathead Valley Wedding to showcase Fall in Glacier!

Winter Montana Destination Weddings

Montana destination weddings in the winter is for serious snow-bunnies.  Your winter wonderland wedding in Montana should be held at a destination eeeeerily close to their airport so you and your guests will have the best opportunity to live out your wedding dreams in the event of extreme wintry weather.  A lot of couples find the weather risk is welcome considering the potential for snow covered mountains as a backdrop for their Montana destination wedding week.  The potential for snuggling by the fire, skiing, and wildlife viewing is at an all time high during this season for couples brave enough.

When it comes to choosing a winter Montana destination wedding, your vendor options will be paired down as a lot of venues are closed and vendors needing to travel will be hesitant to book.  Plan on a simpler affair perhaps at an in-house venue that can accommodate all of your needs.  Our favorite winter wedding destination is Paradise Valley as you can typically easily explore this region with quick access to Yellowstone National Park.

Spring Montana Destination Weddings

When you envision Spring… what do you see?  Well in Montana you shold envision water.  So. Much. Water.  This is Montana’s rainy season, and the snow ismelting at the same time.  If your idea of a Montana destination wedding involves some dicey showers and flowing waterfalls, you’ll be in good shape during the Spring.

Spring is our least booked season for Montana destination weddings for this reason.  Most couples choosing this season understand the risk of mud and rain.  But hey!  That’s not to say it hasn’t been done and been done beautifully!  You should choose as late in the Spring as possible if this is your hope for your wedding.

How much does a Montana destination wedding cost?

• Venues: $4000-$45,000
• Photographers: $8000-$15,000
• Planners and Coordinators: $2000-$15,000
• Floral Designers: $1000-$20,000
• Hair and Makeup Artists: $750-$4000
• Caterers and Private Chefs: $100-400 per guest

Let’s hit those Montana Destination wedding FAQ’s

What is the easiest way to travel into Montana?

Since it’s your Montana destination wedding you’ll likely need to fly in.  Bozeman and Kalispell are our favorite airports, but Great Falls and Missoula are great options when looking for cheaper fares and more reliable car rentals.

What should my timeline look like?

A Montana destination wedding honestly deserves a few days of celebration!  We encourage couples to book with us for a minimum of two days: 1 day for your ceremony + guests day and 1 day to explore Montana to all of our favorite local gem locations for those larger than life photos and adventures.

Who pays for what?

This is a great question and honestly only once you can answer.  Some Montana destination wedding couples foot the bill for their entire party’s lodging, flights, etc. while other couples simply send along the invite and cover the cost of the venue and reception meal.  It’s truly up to you both!

Do we need a local officiant?

You can certainly hire one, but you can also have someone from your guest list officiate!  Montana is one of the easiest states to get married in, and their marriage laws make it so that (almost) anyone can officiate your Montana destination wedding.