Glacier National Park destination wedding
When Kaitlyn and Casey first inquired about me photographing their Glacier National Park Destination Wedding I could barely contain my squeals of excitement. I’ve photographed destination weddings at Smokey Mountain National Park, Panama City Beach in Florida, and in the deserts of Phoenix, Arizona, but Glacier National Park would a first. Turquoises blue waters surrounded by fields of wild flowers with snow vcapped mountains in the background… I mean, this is what photography dreams are made of.
Then, when I got to know the couple on the phone, I was even more eager to secure this wedding. She is is a NICU nurse who just opened a baby clothing boutique, Baby Blooms, he is a state trooper. She has a quiet, gentle, and reassuring presence. He is outgoing, playful, and yet his presence is relaxing in the most refreshing way. Together they are completely and utterly in love. To say that I was dying to be the one who got to photograph this next step in their relationship story is an understatement.
The one where i get hired
Finally, I got the text saying that they would absolutely love for me to be the one to photograph their big day for them. Words that honestly feel like an honor every single time I hear them. But especially for weddings like this one where the bride and groom want something small and intimate. Only their closest people present.
So when I get invited into that space, it always feels like more than just a wedding vendor getting hired by clients, because it is. It’s a couple who who is entrusting you to not just capture but be a part of one of the most intimate, private, and personal moments of their entire life. They are agreeing to share with you who they are and what they have with one another. A vulnerability that is unique to getting your photo taken. They are trusting you to correctly “read the room” every second of their wedding day. To know when to be silent, when to speak up, when to ease moments of tension, and when to step back.
So, Kaitlyn and Casey, thank you! It was truly a privilege and a pleasure.
the one with the plan
Planning a wedding at a National Park is a little bit different than planning a wedding in your hometown. You have permits to apply for, applications to fill out, and requirements to meet in terms of vehicles, guest list, and equipment lists. Each National Park is different. To learn more, visit the National Park Website, select your park of choice, and double check the requirements for that specific park.
But once all that was done, Kaitlyn and I discussed what the plan would be for her big day. What site did the choose to get married at, where all did she want to go for photos, when would the sun set, and what was the best route to get it all in. The Ceremony was at Pray Lake, after that we would stop at various points for their first dance, father/daughter dances, mother/son dance, and of course, some ICONIC photo spots. Here’s what we planned:
the one where the groom gets ready
My day began at 10 am with the first stop being the AIRBNB where the Groom got ready. This AirBnb was so conveniently located just minutes outside the entrance of Glacier National Park. If you are getting married in Glacier National Park, I highly recommend these locations. Glacier National Park is already so huge that your day is bound to be full of a lot of driving up and down the Going-to-the-Sun road no matter where you decide to elope at in the park. So, its best to save time by choosing to get ready somewhere close to the park.
the one where the bride gets ready
The next stop was the girls Airbnb which was just minutes away from where the Groom was getting ready. I think this AIRBNB was owned by the same people as the AIRBNB where the groom was staying because they were decorated, painted, and styled very similarly which made for great consistency in the wedding gallery! Upon arrival, we managed to snag some detail shots, group photos, and of course, Kaitlyn’s first look with her dad.
the one where they say “i do”
Next up, was the ceremony location, Pray Lake. The bride, groom, videographer, best man, and maid of honor, all piled into the car with coolers of snacks and drinks for the road. As soon as we pulled up to Pray Lake I understood why Kaitlyn and Casey chose that site for their nuptials. Pictures do not do it justice. Before we got started I stood there on its rocky beach, surrounded by pine trees masking the wild animals who live amongst them, staring out over it’s shallow waters at the grand mountains still covered with bits of snow and took a deep, cleansing breath.
In through the nose…. out through the mouth.
The faint smell of fresh pine wafting through the crisp air.
I live for breaths like this. The ones that bring you back to the moment you are in. The breaths that stop you dead in your tracks, grounding you. Breaths like this in surroundings like this entail of a sense of impermanence— the reminder that nothing is permanent. It’s the ongoing process of change. A time to sew and a time to harvest. A time to breakdown and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to set boundaries and a time to embrace. A time to live and a time to die.
Some do not like the concept of impermanence. It creates anxiety in them, just as it used to do with me. But no one can flee death. Mostly because most of us fear coming to the end of our life with things left unsaid, undone and unreconciled. But the only way to live a life where we regret nothing is to awaken ourselves to this awareness that death is always with us. Understanding that truth serves as the faithful reminder that the time to do what we feel called to do is always now and not in some distant and unimagined future.
Love is what empowers us to live fully and die well. Let us count ourselves grateful for having known a love that enables us to embrace death with no fear of incompleteness or lack, with no sense of irredeemable regret. We find the courage in life through loving. After all, it is the only thing that is eternal.
“You know from experience how real this is. Those you have loved deeply and who have died live on in you, not just as memories but as real presences.”
That isn’t some romanticized nonsense. I truly believe that. Every friendship, every family member, anything and anyone who we have loved, no matter how temporary, has no end. Life, and death, really are all about love.
I’m not going to lie to you readers, I am totally tearing up right now.
But this is why I photograph weddings. To attend a wedding is to witness love win. In marriage:
Care overcomes selfishness.
Community overcomes isolation.
Commitment overcomes abandonment.
Trust overcomes betrayal.
Awareness overcomes ignorance.
Respect overcomes narcissism.
Openness overcomes avoidance.
Truth overcomes lies.
Courage overcomes shame.
Love overcomes death.
Before officially beginning the ceremony, Kaitlyn did a first look with her other dad. The bond that taught her not just how to love but that she is worthy of it.
the one with the big announcement
The ceremony was followed by family photos and then a BIG announcement from the Bride and Groom. Go ahead and scroll down and see for yourself!
the one with prettiest road in america
Right through Glacier National Park is a road called, Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Road spans 50 miles and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Simply driving along it you will see impressive glaciers, beautiful valleys, cascading waterfalls, towering mountains, colorful wildflowers, and of course, wildlife sightings!
“Designed by highway engineer Frank Kittredge, the route includes a grand loop carved directly into a cliff known as the Garden Wall. It took eight years and $2.5 million to achieve this engineering marvel. Three men died during construction and many more resigned in the face of difficult and vertigo-inducing work. Hauling in supplies and equipment provided its own logistical challenge, often requiring the construction of new trails. Laborers moved mind-boggling quantities of trees, stumps, and rocks while skilled masons used native stone to build bridges, retaining walls, and guardrails that blended into the surrounding environment. The road they built—and that we still enjoy—truly fulfills its purpose: “making available to people the most and best of Nature's creation.” (source)
Kaitlyn and Casey decided that what would be best for them and their families is to travel down the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at various points along the way, and doing Casey’s dance with his mom, Bride and Groom Photos, Kaitlyn’s dance with her Dad’s, and of course, their first dance with one another.
stop #1- running eagle falls
Our first stop was the obligatory Glacier National Park Sign and then off we went to Running Eagle Falls.
Named after a female Blackfeet warrior, Running Eagle Falls is a beautiful yet deceptive natural feature, famous for “tricking” visitors with a seeming change in water flow, located in east Glacier.
Kaitlyn was a CHAMP and did the hike in her wedding heels.
stop #2- saint mary’s lake
The next stop was Saint Mary’s Lake for the Groom to do the traditional Mother-Son Dance. We all watched as they stood ashore near the Rising Sun Dock.
Side note: while this Lake might look beautiful enough to swim in, don’t! Formed from a melted glacier, the lake waters rarely reach temperatures above 50 degrees. The day after the wedding, I explored the park with my own family and highly recommend the Saint Mary’s Boat Tour through the Glacier Park Boating Company.
stop #3- Sun point
The next stop was Sun Point for some Bride and Groom photos. When we arrived, however, there were already four other Brides on the rock, so we went on a different trail and did some photos up on the top of that mini mountain first before finally make it down to Sun Point.
This site high above the lake was once home to the Going to the Sun Chalets, built in 1915 by the Great Northern Railway as part of a network of hotels, chalets and tent camps.
Above, this 1940 photo depicts the post-Depression resurgence of the Going-to-the-Sun complex, still in its prime. In less than two years the Chalets would close due to war, never to reopen. Below, the complex at the peak of its popularity in the early 1920s.
Today it's a great viewpoint over St. Mary Lake, as well as a shuttle stop, parking area, and starting point for the Baring Falls, St. Mary Falls, and Virginia Falls trails. It also serves as an iconic spot for some wedding photos.
It’s worth noting that Kaitlyn made it until this point in her hiking the rugged Glacier National Park terrain in her heels. Finally, she switched to the only thing she had available in the car, her bridal slippers.
Stop #4- jackson glacier overlook
Jackson Glacier Overlook is home to the best view of a glacier along Going-to-the-Sun Road, telling one of the park's most important stories. In 1966, Jackson Glacier measured 316 acres. By 2015, it measured 187 acres. Geologists state that by 2030 there could be no more remaining Glaciers.
Glaciers are incredibly important for life on earth. They hold about two-third's of the Earth’s freshwater. Many rivers are born from glacier water with large communities of both people, crops, and wildlife depending on it for water. They also provide a lot of nutrients to rivers and oceans.
Anyway… on our way to Jackson Glacier Overlook we spotted some wild Big Horn Sheep feeding on some of the beautiful (and apparently delicious) vegetation.
stop #5- west tunnel
On our way down the Going-to-the-Sun-Road we stopped for Kaitlyn to do her father-daughter dance in West Tunnel. The west tunnel has windows in it for unobstructed views of Lake McDonald Valley and a sidewalk along the inside for pedestrian accessibility.
As they slow danced in one of the windows, the sunset was stunning and the moon was beginning to appear.
stop #6- red rock point
On our way to Red Rock Point, we got to see a young black bear!
With a higher density of grizzly bears than any other national park in the lower 48, Montana’s Glacier National Park is undeniably “bear country.” Staying bear aware is crucial while exploring here, both to keep you and the four-legged locals safe.
You’ll find two species of bears in Glacier National Park: black bears and grizzly bears (also known as brown bears). Don’t rely on color to tell them apart — grizzlies can be black and black bears can be blonde. Their distinguishing features can be found in their snout and back.
While gazing in wonder at this black bear from the safety of our car, the videographer (a local) told me the following joke:
“Want to know the difference between black bear scat and grizzly bear scat? Black bear scat is smaller and often contains berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur. Grizzly bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.”
In all seriousness, its important for to carry bear spray when hiking in Glacier National Park and to follow the National Park’s Guide for Staying Safe around Bears.
Anyway, Red Rock Point was absolutely stunning and the perfect spot for Kaitlyn and Casey’s first dance amongst the teal and white roaring rapids.
stop #7 - Lake Mcdonald
We arrived at our last stop, Lake McDonald, around between 11-12 pm. The moon’s reflection danced in the gentle ripples of Lake McDonald’s water as Kaitlyn and her Dad danced on it’s shore.
After that, Kaitlyn & Casey grabbed their wedding cake out of the back of their car and I grabbed the flash for the top of my camera as they partook in the cake cutting wedding tradition. Sealing the entire night with a sugary and sweet kiss.
We finished up around midnight. Thankfully the sun doesn’t set in Glacier National Park until like 10:30 pm, giving us a lot of wiggle room.
