I truly, honestly feel like I am the luckiest person in the world getting to do the job that I do. And it’s because I get to meet people like Kate and Tommy. Their smoky summer Glacier National Park elopement was magical, romantic, and chock-full of love, emotion tenderness and true beauty. Their love, their happiness, their joy just filled my soul to the very brim and left my entire being grinning.

But let’s back up a bit. From the moment Kate contacted me about her elopement in Glacier, I knew we’d have a fantastic time. We had such a great conversation over the phone and she told me that she and Tommy first met playing a video game, specifically while in a dragon fight. At the time he was living in St. Louis, and she was in Chicago. They eventually Skyped and realized, oh hey, you’re attractive! When they finally met she told me it was love at first sight. He moved to Chicago and they’ve been together ever since (five years!).

Kate had been to Montana before – actually to Glacier, but it was when she was in 6th grade and she didn’t have clear memories of it. Tommy had never been before, but they both knew it was where they wanted to be married. (They’re avid hikers and love exploring and learning about new places.)

Fast forward to their wedding day. The smoke from Canadian wildfires hung over Glacier like a thin veil, but thankfully, their elopement was literally a week before the latest fires in Glacier started, so we really lucked out and still had access to the Going to the Sun Road.

Though there was some concern about the smoke obscuring the mountain views, Kate and Tommy just went with it and I’m so glad they did because, in my opinion, the smoke just added to the romance and the beauty of their day. And it gave us a bit of an early “sunset” (hey there bright orange sun!), which made for some particularly unique images!

They held their ceremony on the shores of Lake McDonald, and as Kate walked out from the tall stand of cedars, Tommy saw his bride for the first time and he broke out into a huge smile, as did Kate.

Their parents were in attendance, and as these two spoke their vows to one another, there were a few tears, but so much joy and love and laughter. We had a blast making images along the shoreline and even had a family of four Common Mergansers photobomb us by zipping around the lake like tiny, energetic motorboats. (Mergansers are are type of duck, for those of you who aren’t bird nerds like I am.)

From there we toured around the park a bit, encountered a black bear who Tommy spied on the next shoreline away from us, and had a great time finding some beautiful little nooks and crannies of the park in which to make photos. Kate especially loved the old cedar forest and all the mossy rocks and logs in its interior. As we walked around, she told me that she loves moss so much her friends have given her the nickname “Kate Moss” – haha!

I could seriously write pages here, so suffice it to say that it honestly couldn’t have been a more perfect day for these two, and I seriously loved every second I got to spend with them.

Kate and Tommy! It goes without saying, but congrats, congrats, congrats again to you from the bottom of my heart! To witness your love and be invited to capture it for you was such an honor. You two are incredible together and I’m so happy you got to make it all official in Montana! Come back to visit soon – drinks are on me! :)

Vendors for Kate + Tommy’s Smoky Summer Glacier National Park Elopement:

Venue: The amazing Glacier National Park
Officiant: Sally Hanger
Florist: Conrad Floral, Bigfork, Montana
Jeweler: Love & Promise Jewelers, Chicago, Illinois

On the Docket:

Weddings, elopements and portraits! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I’m pretty sure I’ve got the best job in the world. When Ashley contacted me way back when about photographing her and Wayne’s elopement in Glacier National Park, I swear, we were just giddy and happy and giggling on the phone to one another the entire call. So I knew we’d have such a wonderful time making images together on their wedding day.

She and Wayne, their dog, Noose, and her sister and her sister’s husband all made the trek out to Montana together to check out Glacier for the first time, and to get hitched while they were out here. Not only did they get to say their “I Do’s” in Montana, they also got to celebrate Ashley’s pregnancy with baby Beau, too!

Their day couldn’t have been more gorgeous – blue skies, clear water, and oh-so-much laughter and fun and smiles! (And a few happy tears here and there, too.)

We had such a great time zipping around the Going-to-the-Sun Road and stopping off to make fun photos along the way. As we drove along, we had a great time chatting, and one of our conversations led us to determine that Brad Pitt has got *nothing* on Wayne, and that Wayne could start up a second career as an actor if he wanted to.

And I’ve got to say – Ashley certainly wins the award for most kick-butt, gung-ho, rockin’-mama-to-be. She was all about climbing around on rocks, and, as the sun started to dip below the mountaintops and the light was just about to disappear completely, she even flat out RAN to chase the light with me! Color me impressed!

As our evening wound down, we found ourselves laughing our heads off, grinning to beat the band, and doling out giant hugs and well-wishes after a day exceptionally well spent.

Ashely and Wayne! It completely goes without saying, but here I am going to say it again anyway ;) – what a truly fantastic day! I loved getting to meet you and make these images, and I’ll never forget running around the lake and creek with you both! You two are just fabulous, and baby Beau is lucky to have you both as parents! Congratulations again on your nuptials, and an early congratulations on little mister Beau! Come back and visit soon. :)

Vendors:

Venue: Glacier National Park, Montana
Officiant: Reid Copeland – 406-261-2220

On the Docket:

Portraits, weddings and elopements! Don’t miss ’em!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I have a soft spot in my heart for intimate weddings and elopements, and Leah and Rob’s elopement in Glacier National Park was no exception. Rob has been visiting Montana for years, but last year he took Leah out to Glacier for the first time (they live in Massachusetts), and she absolutely fell in love with it – hence their (excellent) decision to get married in Montana!

We were treated to a spectacular, sunny day in the park, which was particularly nice for Leah. When she had originally visited Glacier it was pretty socked in with cloud cover and mist, so Leah was literally seeing a lot of the park again for the first time! The two held their ceremony on a rocky shoreline of Lake McDonald as the sun glinted off the water and waves lapped at the pebbles. Leah and Rob shared their vows with one another, smiling and laughing all the while, and then finally got to make it official with a kiss and signing of their Montana marriage license.

We took advantage of the gorgeous day and tootled around, finding pretty places (not at all a challenge in Glacier, of course!), and making images as we went. One of our pit stops had us poking around into the recesses of a beautiful cedar forest. Beams of light filtered through the tall trees, landing in perfect patches against the craggy rocks and brilliant moss. And we just happened to find ourselves a little “mini” weeping wall within the forest with perfect light, and I may have gotten a little excited (ok, overly excited – who are we kidding here…sweet light makes me gaga!), and Leah and Rob fit into the scene just like a dream!

We popped out of the forest and moved along from creek to spectacular vista after vista, and were even graced by fields of wildflowers still in bloom! Leah and Rob were so much fun to work with (I’m not sure we ever stopped cracking up!), and it was so fun to capture images of the two of them in a place they adore so much.

We topped off our little “photo tour” by catching the last light on the lake, watching the sun go golden and then pink and then hide from us completely – the perfect end to a perfect day!

Leah and Rob! Thank you again for such a wonderful day spent with the two of you! I’m so glad serendipity brought us together and that I got to make these images for you on such a special day in your lives in such a meaningful place to the two of you. You are such a blast and were so much fun to hang out with as we made your photos – and my offer still stands for beers the next time you come through Montana! Congrats, and thank you, thank you, thank you again! Yay for being married in Montana!

Vendor Information for Leah and Rob’s Elopement in Glacier National Park:

Officiant: Rev. Chrysta L. Bourne, Kalispell, Montana

On the docket:

Weddings and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

You never know what kind of weather you’re going to get when you’re in Glacier National Park. And with all the rain (and snow!) we’ve been experiencing this spring I was certainly crossing my fingers that Deanna and Michael’s Glacier National Park elopement at Lake McDonald wouldn’t be totally rained out.

But wouldn’t you know it, after adjusting our shoot date a bit, we were treated to an absolutely beautiful (albeit chilly!) spring day! I was beyond happy, as were Deanna and Michael who had traveled to Glacier all the way from North Carolina to celebrate their elopement. They had never been to Glacier before, but they were both keen on the lake and its famed colored rocks.

Eloping in Glacier and making these special photos is more than a little meaningful for Deanna and Michael. They had actually attended high school together, but had never really spent any time with one another until Deanna was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. As Deanna was going through her treatments, they began to talk, and the rest is history. (And, as an added bonus to their trip to Glacier, a week before eloping, Deanna was treated to the exceptional news that she is officially in remission! What a wedding gift!)

So it was certainly a time for celebration as Glacier treated us all to knockout views, beautiful light, and raging powerful waters. Because we were up there in the springtime, we also had the luxury of pretty much enjoying the park to ourselves (which is highly unusual!). So we traipsed about the open areas, marveled at the beauty around us, and I just adored seeing how much these two love one another.

Deanna is also a photographer so it was great to get to work with someone who knows what it’s like “behind the camera” too. Deanna picked out a blush-pink dress (just a subtle hint of pink) and had a bouquet of roses and peonies to match. We even had a happy little bumblebee (who also liked Deanna’s bouquet) hitch a ride with us for a while! Michael was ever-so-dapper in a smashing tux and wore a boutonnière to match Deanna’s bouquet. But all of their finery, while truly gorgeous, in my opinion was secondary to their complete and utter joy. We had such a great time laughing, I got all melty as I watched Michael tenderly hold and kiss his beautiful bride, and we all truly enjoyed and were wowed by our surroundings.

Deanna and Michael – I’ve already said this to you, but I’ll say it again. Thank you so much for inviting me to document such a happy, meaningful and love-filled time in your lives. I was so honored to get to do this for you, and even more grateful to have gotten to meet you both. Thank you so much for all your thoughtfulness, your joy, and for loving one another so freely! I loved every single second I got to spend with you both, and I’m so happy you have found one another. Thank you again (and thanks also for all the goodies for the drive home!). The next time you’re in Glacier, be sure to give me a shout! :)

On the docket:

Portraits and weddings! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine