Some couples plan their elopement in a weekend. Haley and Tyler planned theirs for a year and a half.

They booked me in early 2025 — long before they had a ceremony location, long before they had a permit, and long before they knew that the spot they originally wanted would be completely full by the time they applied. What they did have was a vision: a small, intentional ceremony in Glacier National Park, surrounded by the people who matter most, with the mountains at their backs.

What unfolded on the morning of June 26th, 2026 was exactly that — and then some.

Before You Plan: The Glacier National Park Ceremony Permit

If you’re dreaming of a Glacier elopement, the most important thing I can tell you is this: start earlier than you think you need to.

To hold a ceremony in Glacier National Park, you need a Glacier National Park special use permit. Here’s what you need to know about the process:

• You can apply for your permit up to one year in advance of your chosen date
• Your application must be submitted a minimum of 20 business days before your ceremony date
• Ceremony locations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis — and the most popular spots fill up fast

for more answers to frequently asked questions about getting married in Glacier National Park — https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/weddings_faq.htm

Haley and Tyler submitted their permit application approximately ten months before their elopement date. Even at ten months out, two of their top three requested locations — including Sun Point — were already completely full. Let that sink in. Ten months wasn’t early enough.

They were recommended Jackson Bay, also known as the ten mile pullout on Lake McDonald. And honestly? It turned out to be exactly right for them.

Glacier National Park Website

Glacier National Park ceremony locations

Glacier National Park weddings information page

The lesson here isn’t that Glacier elopements are impossible to plan — it’s that they reward the couples who start early. If you already know you want to elope in Glacier, don’t wait. Apply for your permit as soon as your date is set, and have backup locations ready. The park is in high demand, and the best spots go fast.

Haley & Tyler’s Glacier Elopement | The Morning of — Getting Into the Park

We met at the West Glacier Post Office at 8:45 AM on a Friday morning in late June. Their ceremony permit was for 9:00 AM at Jackson Bay, which meant we had just enough time — or so we thought.

What we didn’t fully account for was that Going-to-the-Sun Road had opened just four days earlier, on June 22nd. And when Going-to-the-Sun Road opens, Glacier gets busy. Fast.

By 8:30 AM, the line from the West Glacier entrance stretched all the way back down the highway to Belton Stage Road. We sat in that line together — me in my car, Haley and Tyler and their families in theirs — and we waited. It wasn’t stressful. It was just Glacier in the summer, doing what Glacier does.

We made it to the post office, Haley and Tyler hopped in my car, their families followed in three separate vehicles, and we made our way to the ten mile pullout. We arrived at 9:15 am for Haley & Tyler’s lake-side ceremony.

A note for anyone planning a Glacier elopement in late June or July: give yourself more time than you think you need to get into the park, especially if Going-to-the-Sun Road is open. The line at the West Glacier entrance can be significant, and there’s no shortcut.

Finding Jackson Bay — The Ten Mile Pullout Ceremony Site on Lake McDonald

Jackson Bay, commonly referred to as the ten mile pullout, is one of those Glacier locations that isn’t on any official sign and doesn’t show up clearly on most maps. If you’ve never been there, finding it can feel like a guessing game.

Here’s what I can tell you from experience:

Jackson Bay is located on Going-to-the-Sun Road, on the north shore of Lake McDonald, between Apgar Village and Sprague Creek Campground. It is roughly ten miles from the West Glacier entrance — though that’s approximate, not exact.

How to find it:

• Head east on Going-to-the-Sun Road from the West Glacier entrance
• Pass by Apgar Village and continue along the lake
• Jackson Bay is the only pullout in this stretch that has actual marked parking spaces — most pullouts are just a widening of the road without designated spots
• If you reach Sprague Creek Campground or Lake McDonald Lodge, you have gone too far
• It is so important to follow park rules and regulations in order to protect it’s natural resources. If you are unsure of where to find the Ten Mile Pullout (Jackson Bay) Ceremony Site – ask a park ranger for directions!

When you arrive, you’ll walk down a short path to a pebble beach right on the shore of Lake McDonald. The views of the surrounding mountain peaks are unobstructed. The water is clear. On an overcast morning, the light is soft and even — exactly what you want for photographs.

It is worth finding. I promise.

The Ceremony

By 9:30, we were on the beach and the ceremony was getting started.

Haley and Tyler had their closest people with them — parents, grandparents, siblings — the people who have been there for everything and would be there for this. They gathered on the pebbled shore of Lake McDonald, mountains rising up behind them.

The ceremony was short and sweet and exactly what it needed to be. Nobody was managing a shot list or watching the clock. They were just there — and it was perfect.

After the ceremony, we did family portraits right there on the beach. And then Haley and Tyler signed their marriage license — on the shore of Lake McDonald, with the mountains watching — followed by a few bride and groom portraits. At about 10:30 am, we left the beach and their families headed off to give them the rest of the morning for photos as newly weds.

Belton Bridge

After saying goodbye to their families, I took Haley and Tyler to two spots just outside the park — both within minutes of the West Glacier entrance.

First, Belton Bridge. We climbed down to the rocky shoreline beneath the bridge and made some images I’m genuinely excited about — the kind of shots that come from a couple who’s comfortable with each other and doesn’t need to be told how to be together.

Belton Stage Park

Then we drove to Belton Stage Park.

They had planned to exchange private vows there — just the two of them, no audience, no ceremony structure, just the words they wanted to say to each other without anyone else listening.

And then it started to rain.

Not a downpour. Just a quiet, steady rain settling in over the mountains, the kind that turns the trees moody and softens everything around it. They stood there in it and said their vows. Haley and Tyler have been together for over three years. They’ve lived together, built a life together, and if you ask them whether getting married felt different — they’ll tell you no, not really. They already found home in each other and the ceremony was just the icing on the cake.

But watching them exchange those private vows in the rain, fog rolling in over the peaks behind them? That felt like something special.

I finished up some detail shots in the soft flat light while a very friendly man and his dog finished up their morning at the park — timing that required some patient waiting and made for a genuinely funny few minutes — and then we moved into couples portraits.

The fog. The moody trees. The rain still coming down lightly. The images from those last thirty minutes are some of my favorites from the entire morning.

We wrapped up around 12:30 — nothing was rushed, nothing was missed, everything was exactly right.

Ready to Book Your Glacier National Park Elopement?

If you’re planning a Glacier elopement and you want a photographer who knows the park, knows the permit process, and knows how to move through a day like this without making it feel like a photoshoot — I’d love to hear from you.

The Glacier Elopement is a 4-hour weekday elopement package starting at $2,750, with travel fees based on your ceremony location within the park. It’s designed for exactly this kind of day — intentional, unhurried, and yours.

If you’re looking for a little more time to explore Glacier Park, take in the scenery and spend a day just enjoying being newly-weds — The Half-Day, Full Day or Wedding Weekend packages might be just what you’re looking for.

Finding Jackson Bay — A Practical Guide for Couples

Everything you need to know to find the ten mile pullout on your Glacier National Park elopement day.

Location: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park — between Apgar Village and Sprague Creek Campground

How to get there from West Glacier:

1. Enter Glacier National Park at the West Glacier entrance
2. Head east on Going-to-the-Sun Road
3. Pass by Apgar Village, continuing along the north shore of Lake McDonald
4. Watch for the only pullout in this stretch with marked parking spaces — that’s Jackson Bay
5. Do not pass Sprague Creek Campground or Lake McDonald Lodge — if you see either of those, turn around

What to expect:

• A short walk from the parking area to a pebbled beach directly on Lake McDonald
• Unobstructed mountain views across the water
• Soft, even light on overcast mornings — ideal for ceremony coverage
• Moderate foot traffic depending on time of day — earlier is better

Permit reminder: You need a Glacier National Park Special Use Permit to hold a ceremony here. Apply up to one year in advance. Apply as early as possible — popular locations fill up fast, even ten months out.

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Planning a Glacier National Park Elopement?

As a Glacier National Park wedding and elopement photographer based in the Mission Valley, I photograph a limited number of Glacier elopements each year — intentionally limited so every couple gets my full presence and attention on their day.

If you’re in the early stages of planning and want to talk through locations, permits, or what a Glacier elopement actually looks like from start to finish — reach out. I’m happy to help!

Learn more about glacier elopement photography

Montana wedding photographer — Stacy Edwards Photography