Shae & Brian’s sunrise ceremony made for some truly beautiful Lake McDonald Elopement Photography. Their relaxed approach to their Intimate Wedding in Glacier National Park meant they were able to have a beautiful day, exploring the park and celebrating together. 

This gorgeous pair met literally because of their height! Shae is around 6 foot, and Brian is over 6’5”. As a joke, Shae’s friends brought Brian to her birthday party as a “gift” one year. Obviously, they really did hit it off and now they’re two tall people in love and happily married! 

Even pre-Covid, Shae & Brian had always planned to have an intimate wedding in Glacier National Park. As their early September wedding date approached though, they decided to have a true elopement at Glacier, just the two of them, with a church ceremony for their families on another date. That way, their families wouldn’t need to travel, and they could have both their adventure elopement and a more traditional service. 

This was an especially beautiful day to be a part of because Shae is a nurse and had an incredibly hard year working with Covid-19 patients. Being able to show both her & Brian around Glacier National Park for the first time and taking their Lake McDonald Elopement Photography was a true privilege.

LAKE MCDONALD ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Lake McDonald Elopement Photography

You might remember Lake McDonald from Haley & Damon’s incredible wedding there (see Part 1 and Part 2!). It’s wonderful to see the Lake from different angles and times of day – and to see how beautiful the wide-open shore can be if you choose to elope just the two of you. Shae & Brian were married in a sunrise ceremony after getting ready in separate accommodation and it’s safe to say, the early wakeup call was worth it! Lake McDonald was perfectly still, and the entire environment felt really peaceful, as if no-one else was awake. That said, as their wonderful officiant, Kate Berry, pronounced them married, they cheered and two paddle boarders who’d been gliding across the lake cheered as well. It was a really fun moment, followed by what else but shots of tequila!!

Intimate Wedding Glacier National Park

After we watched the sunrise over the lake, we headed off to explore the wonders of Glacier National Park. Shae & Brian had never had the chance to visit the park, so it was incredible seeing their reactions as we drove from Lake McDonald into the juicier parts of Glacier. The drive itself is spectacular, but it was made even more special by getting out to explore different spots. One of the beautiful things about having an Intimate Wedding at Glacier National Park, or in any National Park for that matter, is the chance to take your time and really explore different areas. Having no time constraints meant Shae & Brian could really stop to take in all the beautiful views and focus on enjoying those moments with each other.

Make the Most of Your Elopement: Be Flexible

Originally, Shae & Brian had planned to just hike up one trail. I went to check it out a few days before their wedding though, and because they were married on Labor Day weekend, the trails were super crowded. Instead, we decided to drive through the park, stopping at different spots and making the most of everything Glacier has to offer. In the end, Shae & Brian were so glad that they opted to do that instead because they were able to see a lot more of the park. This laidback, flexible approach is one of the best ways to make the most of your elopement day. It means you’ll be able to really appreciate and enjoy the day as it happens! 

 I’d love to take your Lake McDonald Elopement Photography for you and help you to explore Glacier National Park! To learn more or book it in, get in touch by clicking the button below!  

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