If you dream of a destination elopement in Glacier National Park, you've come to the right place. Sarah and Tristan contacted me to help plan a small elopement ceremony somewhere beautiful and take wedding portraits they could cherish for their lifetime. With mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, shimmering waterfalls, and a few close family members by their side, this lovely couple said, "I do" at the edge of Lake McDonald in Glacier Park, Montana. Their dream wedding came true, and so can yours!

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Theirs was a sunrise elopement. The sun comes up at around 5:30 am during the summer at Lake McDonald, so I arrived at 4 am for Sarah's "getting ready" photos. Being naturally beautiful, Sarah didn't need to do much to herself besides slipping on her dreamy lace wedding dress. She pulled on a pair of elaborately designed boots, which exuded serious cowgirl vibes aptly suited for her Montana wedding.

Tender first looks between a bride and her dad are some of my favorite things to photograph during a wedding. The bond Sarah shares with her dad shined through as they enjoyed a private moment together before the ceremony. Sarah was as laid-back as brides come, taking a moment to straighten her dad's bolo tie before he walked her down the aisle. With dad by her side, Sarah made her way to the altar through a forest of Western Red Cedar and Hemlock trees. The length of her monarch veil and train resembled that of a princess in a magical forest setting. As daylight broke, songs of meadowlarks filled the air. We came to the edge of the trees, where we found Tristan and the officiant waiting near the lake.

Now facing each other by the edge of Glacier Park's largest lake, Sarah and Tristan were surrounded by mountains on the north, south, and east side. A glimmer of sunshine emerged on the mountain top as the nuptials began. Performing the ceremony was Sarah's uncle. The chilly morning air began to warm as the sun made its ascent upward.

The lake twinkled and sparkled with delight while Sarah and Tristan exchanged their wedding vows and rings. As the sun rose above the mountains, it cast a vibrant reflection of the magnificent peaks onto the lake. Sarah and Tristan kissed the exact moment the sun fully emerged from behind the mountain summit. Sometimes I'm blown away by magical coincidences like this one. That said, I highly recommend a sunrise elopement at Lake McDonald. The breathtaking views make it so worth waking up at the crack of dawn.

Sumptuous-looking sweet and savory treats were set up and ready for everyone to savor. The four-layered naked cake garnished with succulents was an excellent choice for the nature-chic celebration. Summertime strawberries, luscious cream puffs, and a bijou charcuterie board were tasteful accompaniments. Flutes filled with sparkling champagne glistened in the sunlight.

I love elopements because they are both elegant and casual at the same time. In my line of work, it's always fun to see how one elopement will be different from the next. Most that I photograph are unique in many ways while still entailing traditional elements like the wedding dress and bouquet, the father escorting the bride down the aisle, and the cake cutting ceremony. On this occasion, cutting the cake and champagne-sipping happened right after the nuptials. Sarah and Tristan invited a handful of family members to witness their wedding. The only one missing from this charming lakeside celebration was Sarah's brother, who could not attend due to military obligations.

This radiant bride looked gorgeous against the magnificent scenery around Lake McDonald. As a side note, any groom planning to wear jeans to their wedding should take a few notes from Tristan's attire. His jeans look crisp, and his boots look pristine. Dark jeans without fading are the way to go for weddings, and boots without scuff marks are a must.

Sarah and Tristan skipped having a wedding reception, so we began couples’ portraits soon after cake and champagne. Without a timeline to adhere to, the morning flowed effortlessly. I did not miss the traditional pageantry at this minimalistic wedding. It had what mattered most, a marriage.

We headed over to Sacred Dancing Falls, which is not too far from Lake McDonald. At the falls, the lighting changed dramatically. Clouds rolled in and cast a crisp, silver light onto the landscape, which complimented Sarah and Tristan's attire perfectly. The weather in Glacier National Park can be unpredictable year-round. That's because the park spans the Pacific-Atlantic divide and contains many microclimates. Fortunately, we made it through the morning without any rain.

Sarah and Tristan traveled to Glacier National Park from Georgia with nine family members who celebrated their wedding throughout the weekend. After their family left, Sarah and Tristan honeymooned through the following week, taking time to explore the peaks and valleys around Lake McDonald. Their elopement is a prime example of how sometimes less is more. Want to simplify your wedding? Contact me. I have many mountain landscapes in mind, and there's no better wedding décor than a stunning mountain landscape.