As a Montana elopement and intimate wedding photographer, I have a few mottos I like to live by. One of my favorites is: 2 day elopements are always a good idea. And the second is: bring the dogs. So when you combine those two… I’m one happy gal. Sophia and Alan’s intimate wedding weekend in Northwest Montana featured romantic lakefront nuptials, the sweetest little dinner party, and a day full of hiking with their 5 dogs in Flathead National Forest. Talk about a dream! 

Intimate Wedding in Glacier National Park

There’s something so beautiful and inspiring about a couple that does exactly what feels right for them on their wedding day. Sophia and Alan were such a testament to exactly that. If you’ve spent any time researching destinations to elope in, you’ll know that many (if not most) national parks aren’t very dog friendly. While some certainly allow dogs in some capacity, many trails prohibit dogs – even on leashes. Glacier National Park is no exception! However, Sophia and Alan did not let the pet restrictions put a damper on their dream wedding day in Northwest Montana.

Day 1 of Sophia and Alan’s intimate wedding weekend began with getting ready at a beautiful log cabin (and included lots of puppy kisses). After a first look out in the woods, we made the short drive to Glacier National Park for their ceremony. Sophia and Alan tied the knot on the shores of Pray Lake, surrounded by their closest friends and family. They popped champagne, shared a first dance, and even skipped some rocks. I absolutely love when my couples embrace their personalities on their big day!

After some Glacier National Park bridal portraits, we made our way back to Whitefish for dinner at a friend’s ranch. The outdoor space was decorated with so much intention, elegance, and coziness – and I loved it! Sophia had cozy blankets as favors for each guest with a tag that said “to have and to hold, in case you get cold”. It truly added to the intimate feel of a dinner on the ranch.

Northwest Montana Intimate Wedding Wedding Weekend

Day 2 of Sophia and Alan’s wedding weekend was for the dogs. They headed out on the trails in the Flathead National Forest in the early morning sunshine. They hiked to a lake to allow the dogs to literally soak up every bit of the day and go swimming. My heart was so full after having spent two days celebrating Sophia and Alan. 

Documenting Sophia and Alan’s intimate wedding weekend in Northwest Montana was everything that I had imagined since first connecting with them. It’s always such a heartwarming experience to see a wedding day come to fruition after months and months of planning. 

Vendor List:

Photography – Sydney Breann Photography
Florals – Rose Mountain Floral
Bride’s Dress – Genevieve’s Bridal Couture
Dress Designer – Lillian West
Groom’s Attire – Calvin Klein

Elopement Planning Resources

If you’re ready to plan your own dream day – from Montana and beyond – let’s connect! You can find more Montana elopement inspiration on the blog in the meantime. And as always, be sure to follow me over on the ‘Gram (@sydneybreannphoto) to keep up with my latest adventures and sweet couples. So what do you say… are you ready to wander?