While I love photographing weddings in New York, one of my very favorite things is travel. When I got the email from Grace and Ethan about their wedding at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, I couldn’t have been more excited. Glacier National Park had been on my bucket list of places forever, and the opportunity to photograph a wedding there was a dream come true! Even better, we got a gorgeous fall day for their wedding. Fall can be tricky in Montana, you never know if you’ll get a blizzard or a sunny day, and this day couldn’t have been more perfect!
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake is a beautiful location for a wedding just outside Glacier National Park. If you still want a mountain backdrop, but don’t want to bring all your guests inside the park it’s an excellent compromise. I also highly recommend what Grace and Ethan did… we photographed in the park the morning before and they had a private vow exchange in Glacier, and then had their wedding with all their guests at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake the following day. We got the best of both worlds!
The view from the lawn at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Grace had traveled here a few years before and declared to her mom that THIS was where she was going to get married. Low and behold, she met Ethan about a year later and she was true to her word. They tied the knot right about this very spot!
At the Lodge there is a beautiful getting ready suite and I had a great time hanging out with Grace and all her girls.
No western wedding is complete without the cowboy boots and hat!
Getting ready photos are some of the best moments! I loved getting to share this with them!
Since Grace and Ethan had done their first look at Glacier National Park the day before, we jumped right into portraits after everyone was all ready! Whitefish lake made for a beautiful backdrop.
The wooden arbor has handmade by Ethan! They drove it out from the midwest in the back of their truck and then built it the morning of the wedding! What a handy groom!
As everyone was getting ready, I was strolling around the property, and noticed they had canoes along the water’s edge. I mentioned this to Grace and without even my prompting, she said “Of course we’re going to take photos in the canoes!” I LOVE an adventurous couple who isn’t afraid of a little dirt or lake water and these two were up for anything. These were so fun to take!
After portraits we got everyone seated for the ceremony on the lawn at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. What a beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony!
Proof that even if you’ve seen your partner multiple times in their wedding attire, you can still get emotional for that walking down the aisle moment!
Such a beautiful ceremony conducted by a close friend!
They did it!
Grace and Ethan had a breakfast for dinner theme and their desserts were all breakfast pastries! So fun and tasty!
And then it was time to party!
They tore up the dance floor and everyone had an amazing time!
An exit with sparklers to close out the night and Grace even got to put on a cute reception dress! I can’t thank Grace and Ethan enough for having me photograph their incredible wedding! What an amazing day! Huge congrats to the newlyweds!
If you’re in search of a photographer for your destination wedding or elopement, don’t be shy! I offer lots of special packages for destination events and travel is always included!
