Real tips for real couples adventuring in the mountains

If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re not doing the whole ballroom thing. You’re getting married in one of the most awe-inducing places on Earth: Glacier National Park. Your dress might get a little dirty, you might see a grizzly bear, an there might even be hail. Your boots might get a little dusty, muddy, or completely soaked…And that’s exactly the point.

You’re probably dreaming of that wide-open alpine view, the crisp mountain air, and the way your dress or suit will catch the wind as you say your vows surrounded by wild beauty. But… also wondering, “Will I be freezing?” or “Do I need hiking boots?”

Choosing what to wear for an elopement in Glacier isn’t about fashion for fashion’s sake—it’s about function, comfort, and capturing the version of you that shows up in wild places. It’s also about weather, terrain, movement, and joy.

Here’s everything you need to know about what to wear for an elopement in Glacier — from clothing to accessories, shoes to extras — so you can feel confident, cozy, and 100% like yourself on your day while recreating responsibly.

Dress for the All the Weather on your Glacier Elopement

While most elopements in Glacier happen in summer, July in Montana will bring cold mornings, strong winds, and the potential for both sunburns and hail storms in the same hour. So regardless if you’re saying “I DO!” in December by Lake McDonald or hiking to Sun Point at 4am for a sunrise elopement in August, plan for the weather with your wedding wardrobe.

Typical alpine summer temperatures range from 30-40 degrees fahrenheit at dawn to 50-80s by noon. The daily highs are wildly dependent on your elevation, as is the UV index. Surprise storms are common an can drop torrential downpours for mere minutes, for an hour.

How Weather Impacts your Wedding Day Wardrobe

The whole point of eloping in Glacier National Park is to experience your love with your love in a place you love. It’s so much more fun to spend the whole day adventuring when you’re not uncomfortably hot, freezing your toes off, or wishing you’d brought a raincoat.

Planning ahead and packing a few extra items that visually compliment your wedding attire can make the difference between savoring eery minute of Glacier’s unpredictability, and well…not.

This year, Going to the Sun Road opened weeks early, and a wedding party took advantage of the perfect weather to gather portraits at Logan Pass. The weather shifted and the bridal party was caught on the Logan Pass Live Webcam in a blizzard in June.

The mountains are dramatic—and so is the weather. So bottom line, always layer.

Planning around the weather? Don’t miss my When to Get Married in Glacier guide.

Dress Silhouettes for your Glacier Elopement

You want to feel radiant, not restricted.

Ballgowns are romantic, but in the backcountry they’re more of a bug hotel. Ten-layer tulle skirts trap heat, catch sticks, and fill with flying critters. Trumpet dresses are absolutely gorgeous on a flat aisle, but restrict movement. If you’re climbing rocks or doing a dramatic dip, they’ll fight you every step of the way.

Here’s the real talk. Choose Movement-Friendly Fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and silk that catch the wind beautifully and are easy to hike in.

• Avoid tight skirts that restrict movement.
• Skip Cinderella tulle mountains unless you’re cool with pulling pine needles out mid-hike.
• Go for soft A-lines, flutter sleeves, or high slits that allow actual freedom.

Clients who have the most fun and the best experiences on their wedding day seem to wear dresses with a few key things in common, but primarily: movement.

Layers of lightweight fabric like chiffon and organza photograph incredibly on camera, in the wind, and while you’re twirling under the watch of mountain goats. Chapel-length trains work brilliantly for dramatic moments draped across rocky outcroppings, and pick up enough trail dust to say “yeah, we eloped outside” without wrecking the fabric.

Pro Tip: a hot bathtub and original blue Dawn dish soap can work wonders in removing trail dust.

What to Wear that will Actually Photograph Well in Glacier

✅ YES:

• Textures like lace, linen, mesh
• Solid, earthy colors
• Movement-friendly shapes
• Coats, wraps, and shawls
• Hair that moves with the wind
• Simple accessories with a story

🚫 NO:

• Neon or busy patterns
• Super shiny satin
• Ill-fitting suit pants or bulky coats
• Plastic flower crowns
• Tight dresses you can’t sit in
• Shiny formal fabrics that wrinkle easily

Bottom line: You should be able to walk, sit, spin, kiss, and scramble comfortably. Because you will likely do all of those things.

I have definitely worked with clients in fully beaded, trumpet-style, and couture gowns. And I’ve worked with clients who wore vintage thrifted dresses and tea-length sundresses. Whatever your vision is for your wedding day, just communicate with your photographer about what locations and activities make the most sense for you.

Don’t Shy Away from Color

Earth tones like terracotta, sage, and warm neutrals photograph beautifully against Glacier’s greens, blues, and rocky backdrops

If white is your thing, go for it — just choose one with texture to pop in photos

Hard Pass on Glitter: Here’s Why

Please—please—skip the glitter dress. I get it, sparkles are fun. But glitter is basically microplastic confetti, and Glacier is a delicate alpine ecosystem. Once it flakes off, it’s impossible to remove. In places like GNP, that magical fairy dust becomes a microplastic pollutant that’s almost impossible to clean up. Once it’s there, it’s there forever. So if you’re drawn to shimmer, skip the glittery dress and look for metallic thread, beaded detail, and fabrics that naturally catch the light.

Let’s keep this land wild. Learn more about how to have an eco-friendly elopement in GNP.

Bridal Styling in Glacier: Hair, Makeup, & Accessories

Most of my Glacier National Park clients decide to have a sunrise elopement ceremony, which means wake-ups between 2-4am. Factoring time for professional styling, you’d need another 1-2 hours to get ready. And while there are definitely hair stylists and makeup artists who will meet you at your Columbia Falls AirBnB at 3am to start curling your hair, you have the freedom with your elopement day to do what feel right for you. Maybe you braid your own hair, or put it in your signature messy bun.

Unpopular fact: The wind doesn’t care how long you spent curling your hair. Alpine wind tunnels are real and ferocious, so expect by the end of your day to look…windblown ;).

What works best for many of my clients are half-up and pulled-back styles with braids and messy buns. If you are a long-hair-don’t-care girlie, you can absolutely let your mane fly free in the wind. Loose waves add to the mood and photograph stunning. Just be sure to bring a comb for touch-ups and bring a scrunchie to pull it back in case the wind starts whipping.

Here are some other tips for making your day about you, not your hair.

• Soft movement that looks natural in motion
• Secure pins or braids if it’s especially windy
• A scarf or hat if you want personality + function

The reality is, if your hair is crazy, we naturally want to fix it. Which means instead of reveling in that magic moment on a mountain top staring into your soulmate’s eyes, you’re fidgeting fixing your hair. Or wisps of hair are blocking your teary-eyed vows from camera.

Makeup that Matters

Go waterproof (especially mascara and blush). Bring blotting papers or a small touch-up kit. Mountain light is kind—your makeup doesn’t need to be heavy.

Wearing a Veil in Glacier National Park

Did I mention yet that glacier can be windy? This applies to veils too 😉

Veils look absolutely stunning in these mountains and if you want to wear a veil, you absolutely should. Chat with your photographer about when to wear the veil and which locations you can really play with it, rather than fighting the wind.

Veils of all lengths can work incredibly well in Glacier, depending on the location and activities incorportated in your elopement. Learn more about Best Places in Glacier to Get Married.

Know that it might become a kite, and that will be beautiful too. And don’t be afraid to ditch the veil mid-day!

Accessories & Layers

Pack for sun and snow. Sunglasses, gloves, hand warmers, umbrella — yes, all of it. Glacier can throw all four seasons at you in one afternoon. Bring a stylish outer layer, like a long wool coat, a cozy shawl, or even a cropped leather jacket.

Getting married in the fall or winter? Consider nude leggings under your dress for extra warmth, or fuzzy white gloves and earmuffs.

Suits, Menswear, and Non-Dress Outfits That Work

Whether you’ve been wearing tailored suits since college or you own exactly one shirt with buttons, you are free to dress your best in Glacier. Maybe you’re eloping in a traditional Scottish tartan and kilt, a black tie tuxedo, or simply breezy business casual. Whatever you choose will be perfect, because there’s no wrong way to exist in Glacier.

Just make sure what you wear is true to who you are, and you’ll look (and feel) amazing. While it has become increasingly popular since the Yellowstone TV Series, playing cowboy dress-up your Montana wedding won’t feel authentic to you in the moment or looking back. Unless that’s your real life vibe too, of course.

Lightweight, Flexible Suits Work Best

• Linen or stretch wool-blends are breathable and great for movement
• Earthy or muted tones (charcoal, sand, forest green) blend well with Glacier’s colors

Skip the Tie (if you want)

Glacier elopements are often relaxed — unbuttoned collars, rolled sleeves, and suspenders can look just as polished

Bring a Jacket or Overcoat

A wool peacoat, Pendleton blanket coat, or rugged canvas jacket adds warmth and style for those shoulder-season weddings to quell the morning chill.

Add Texture and Earth Tones

Earthy colors—forest green, soft brown, rust, navy—pop in Glacier’s landscape. A structured blazer or canvas jacket over a simple shirt adds style and warmth.

Dress for the Weather

I’m saying this again because heat-related injuries and illnesses happen far too often in summer, and we default to saying “it’s fine” when we’re a little hot. It’s never the brides on mile 3 to Grinnell Glacier saying “oh man I wish hadn’t brought this wool suit jacket…”

In planning your suitings and grooms-wear, think about the weather and outdoor temperature of when you’re planning to elope. A heavy wool 3-piece suit in July will be extremely hot and uncomfortable, whereas a pair of breathable slacks with a dress shirt, suspenders, and bow tie will look completely on-par and have you feeling great.

Sensible Shoes = Safe Feet (and They Barely Show Anyway)

Let’s kill the myth that your wedding shoes have to be photogenic. The truth? Your footwear will barely make it into your photos—and if they do, you want them to be you.

Most of your wedding day in GNP will be spent walking, standing, or climbing & hiking. Glacier terrain can be unforgiving, even if you stay mostly on paved roads and pullouts. The most scenic photo spots are on the business side of uneven trails, alpine ridges, and rocky shorelines. Heels just aren’t up to the tasks.

Hiking boots, trail-ready Docs, or neutral-toned boots keep you sure-footed on uneven trails, rocky overlooks, and riverside spots. Nobody looks romantic when they’re slipping on a granite slab. Brands like Danner, Blundstone, or even white Doc Martens look amazing with dresses.

Plus let’s talk about risk mitigation. Hiking boots might be less cute than white satin heels, but limping out with crutches and an ankle cast is much MUCH less cute. Instead of typical wedding heels or slippery bottomed mens dress shoes, opt for:

• Hiking boots in a neutral or earthy tone
• Clean trail runners or sneakers that match your color palette
• Cute ankle boots with tread
• A low, wedge heel that that you are confident traversing short trails
  • There’s a reason this is last on my list

Break in your Wedding Day Shoes!

You’re probably going to be spending anywhere from 6-12 hours in those puppies, and no one wants blisters on their wedding day. Don’t let your elopement day be the first time you wear these shoes!

Follow these tips and your ankles (and your photographer) will thank you!

Extras Items That Add Meaning (Not Cliché Wedding Clutter)

For an elopement ceremony in Glacier, you can honestly go as big or as small as you want with the “extra touches.” If simplicity is your vibe, you don’t need much more than your day-of outfits. But the few things you do bring should feel like you. Here are some favorites from past elopements:

• A locally grown flower bouquet featuring Montana native flowers
• A dessert picnic with a mini-cake or huckleberry pie
• GNP Pendleton blanket monogrammed with your initials or wedding date
• A handmade vow book (bonus points if it’s waterproof or leather)
• A custom “We Eloped in Glacier” sign from Etsy
• Matching pocket knives, Nalgene water bottles, or flasks that become keepsakes

These details are often what make it feel like your wedding, even if you’re on a mountaintop or riverbank. Plus, it opens the door for loved ones to participate in a meaningful way, even if they aren’t present. Let your family help you make the vow books, or gift you the blanket.

Think intimate, intentional, photogenic.

Check out my GNP Elopement Packing List! (coming soon)

Thinking of Jumping in the Lake? Let’s Talk about Underwater Portraits

If you’re considering running full-sprint off the dock into Lake Mcdonald, going paddleboarding on the Flathead River, or doing a cold plunge at St. Mary Falls, you’ll need to add a few safety considerations to your attire plans. Voluminous skirts can quickly become heavy entanglement hazards, and what started out as a spontaneous adventure turns into a cumbersome, panic-filled “I really wish I didn’t do that” moment. I don’t say this to scare you! Just know that if you’re the type who can’t see a rope swing without going full Tarzan, you might want to leave the taffeta ballgown at home.

Learn more about what to wear for your aquatic, underwater elopement.

And of course, you know I’ll be there to photograph it for you! I’m the only photographer in Montana offering underwater bridal portraits, and I always bring your own safety swimmer.

Still Planning the Rest of Your Day?

Here’s everything else you might need:

• 🏞️ Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park
• 💍 How to Legally Get Married in Glacier
• 📅 When to Get Married in Glacier
• 🌈 LGBTQ+ Elopement Planning Guide
• 🌿 Eco-Friendly Elopement Planning
• 🚫 Leave No Trace Guide

Already Married & planning a Portrait Session in Glacier? These Fashion Tips still apply!

This blog isn’t just for wedding days. Want to mark your anniversary, engagement, or just celebrate a new season of life? I offer adventure portrait sessions, too—complete with styling tips, location guidance, and maybe even a cold plunge at the end.

Planning a trip to Glacier? Let’s photograph your post-wedding bridal session with the most majestic backdrop on Earth.

Final Tip: Comfort = Confidence

Whether you’re eloping in a wool coat and boots or a flowy sheer gown that catches every breeze, your outfit should support the experience—not distract from it. You deserve to feel confident, warm, free, and 100% yourself in the wild.

Ready to Plan a Day That Feels Like You?

Let’s build that day together. Reach out to get started.