LGBTQ Montana Elopement

Montana All Inclusive Elopement Package

When Kendalyn and Gabi emailed me about their LGBTQ Montana Elopement… my first thought was fuck yes. My second thought was, oh my goodness I can’t wait to make their day everything they want and more. I am a queer person and an LGBTQ Wedding Vendor in Idaho, so right away I knew I was going to love serving this couple. This amazing couple told me that they wanted to go on a true Montana adventure. As an adventure elopement photographer, I offer full planning and timeline organization prior to elopements. I LOVE when couples tell me that they trust me fully as a local because I have spent 30 years living in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. I am extremely familiar with the National Parks in all 3 states from a personal level. And, I have plenty of photography experience in all 3! Kendalyn and Gabi are from New York and wanted a true LGBTQ Montana Elopement experience. They wanted to feel awe by the landscape and experience as much wildlife and beauty as possible!

Adventure Elopement in Montana’s National Parks

After thinking through all the options, I decided to focus on the Montana side of Yellowstone National Park for Kendalyn and Gabi’s adventure elopement. Kendalyn loves wild animals and told me she dreamed of seeing a buffalo, a moose, or a bear. To me, it was an immediate no brainer to visit the East End of Yellowstone National Park and then adventure outside the park for a bit more adventure in the Absorka mountains. Due to Kendalyn and Gabi’s schedule, we scheduled their elopement for a weekday in late May at the very start of the season. Although late spring can be unpredictable as far as weather goes, it’s also the best time for wildlife sightings. Especially if you want to catch the spring wildlife babies in the wild! Also, Kendalyn and Gabi were inspired by Sean and Bailey’s Yellowstone National Park elopement I photographed in 2020 here.

Queer Elopement in Montana

Something that I believe should be said about LGBTQ Elopements is that there are no rules when it comes to fashion. Kendalyn and Gabi told me that they were not planning on wearing dresses or anything too feminine for their LGBTQ Montana Elopement. That simply isn’t their style. I encouraged them to pick outfits that felt true to who they were. They both share a love for comfort and practical clothing. Kendalyn chose a stunning white crepe jumpsuit that fit her perfectly and still allowed her to hike. Gabi chose a sleek navy suit. When we weren’t hiking, they wore their fancier dress shoes. However, their outfits both allowed them movement and flexibility! It was a win!

The Perfect Spring Adventure Elopement Day

Kendalyn and Gabi’s adventure elopement day could not have gone better. Truly, I think it was a day that was just meant to be. Everything went perfectly. I arrived at Kendalyn and Gabi’s adorable cabin Airbnb in the mid-morning. We chatted for a while and had a chance to get to know one another before spending the entire day together. After helping one another get dressed, we hopped in their rental car for a full day of driving.

Right away, pulling into Yellowstone National Park, we were stopped because a Mama Grizzly bear and a cub were near the road. Then, we were stopped again not long after that for another grizzly bear sighting. In all my life, I’ve never seen more than two bears in one day. We continued driving until we reached a junction, where someone in the bathroom told us there was a wolf den with new pups at the top of the hill. We drove to where they pointed, and sure enough, a very small group was gathered with a biologist. It was unbelievable!

Alpine Lake Adventure Hike

The adventure part of their elopement occurred in the middle of the day after driving a couple hours into the park. I like to give my adventure elopement couples at least 3 options when it comes time to picking a hike. Gabi and Kendalyn chose a 3 mile hike to an alpine lake to exchange vows. Fate was on our side again because we didn’t run into a single person at the lake. However, at the last moment, I decided that we should wait to share their vows until sunset. The weather looked perfect and I had a gut feeling something even better was ahead.

LGBTQ Montana Elopement

Once we crossed the border into Montana, we were greeted once again with more magic. We stopped for a snack break at a stunning bend in the river. To our surprise, a mama moose and two babies appeared out of the trees. We all stood in awe watching them drink water. Every animal on Kendalyn’s bucket list was checked off. It was absolutely incredible. I have never experienced anything like it!

We drove up a steep mountain pass to a special spot. I don’t like to share too much info about Beartooth Pass because it feels like an undiscovered secret 😉 However, it is truly amazing. After driving for less than 30 minutes, we reached the summit at 11,000 feet elevation. We stepped outside and took photos at the top of the ice field. It provided a 360 degree view of all the mountains around us. Montana loves to show off.

Sunset Vow Exchange in the Mountains

Since we were approaching sunset at this point, I decided to follow my gut and lead us down a dirt road. I camped in this location years ago, but had a feeling this was their ceremony spot. Sure enough, we came up over a ridge and right in front of us was the most incredible view of Pilot Peak. Kendalyn and Gabi exchanged vows here, all alone, without any witnesses. Except for me and a couple deer that passed by, they were totally alone. To me, this is the most magical part about eloping. You don’t elope to get married at a scenic location with tourists everywhere. You elope so you can be completely alone in nature and feel completely connected to the present. When the sun peaked out of the clouds after they finished their vows, it felt like a sign from the universe that these two were truly meant to be. It was an incredible day.