Rainy and Intimate Glacier National Park Elopement

When I look back on our day, as we look through photos and video, I feel like we have something truly unique here. Not only in the setting, but in the fact that I can truly remember every part of the day in my mind. The photo of me laughing as he’s reading his vows…I remember exactly what he said and why I laughed. I remember the conversation we had as we hiked 4 miles in our wedding gear, about what our lives would be like and what we wanted for our future. I don’t think that every bride has that joy and clear memory of the love that surrounded her and her groom on their wedding day, and we have that.

I met Nathan the week after I was laid off from a job due to covid. I was in a place of absolute chaos. Not knowing what my future was supposed to look like. But I knew I was going to focus on myself and enjoy my independence. After our first “frate” (friend date. I addressed our hangouts like this until I just caved to the fact that I wanted to officially be with Nathan), I knew that he was going to be in my life for a long time. about 8 months (in the middle of a pandemic mind you). In March, after 8 months of dating, Nathan proposed to me in The Grand Canyon, 3 short months after his father unexpectedly passed away. A hardship that we had to face that truly formed us as a couple and solid partners for each other. My heart was the happiest!

As we dug into wedding planning, I experienced some of the worst anxiety, trying to make so many other people happy other than just looking to what felt right and authentic for Nathan and I. Until finally, after confronting these fears and concerns with my parents and feeling love and support from our immediate families, we decided to ditch the traditional wedding and do what we wanted! This took a lot of courage, many conversations and lots of tears, but it was the best decision we made.

We’ve wanted to visit Glacier National Park for a long time. A dream we both had individually, that we had the joy of experiencing together. We decided to elope in this beautiful place, with little to no plan, but our amazing photographer and videographers in tow. We rounded up a few incredible vendors for flowers and cake and hair and makeup and got the day going.

We woke up. We had coffee and breakfast and listened to our favorite music together. We spent some moments alone finishing up our vows and reflecting on what this day meant. Nathan helped me into my dress, and I pinned on his boutonnière. We drove out to a remote beach where it was just us and one sweet old man a ways down just sitting, peacefully taking in the view. He congratulated us at the end. We read the vows we had written for each other. The anxiety and stress weren’t there. There was no one to impress. We were simply able to express our love to one another. We brought along Nathan’s father’s bible and read some of our favorite verses from it. Had his father been alive, he would’ve married us as he has been a pastor his whole life. Having his bible with us felt like a little piece of him incorporated in our day.

We prayed over each other, our future marriage, for unity and stamina in our relationship and for Christ to be at the center. We exchanged rings. I said “hey, wanna be my husband?” He said yes, and when asked if I wanted to be his wife, I said YES. We kissed, hugged, chugged local Montana beers. We hiked 4 miles in the rain in our wedding clothes. One little girl asked her mom who I was. She responded with, “that’s a princess, sweetie!” I felt like a princess. Even dirty, rain-soaked and in hiking boots.

I remember every moment. Because it was just Nathan and me. We focused on each other and our marriage. It felt perfect, and I want to encourage every bride that is on the fence to do what feels right for them, take the plunge. You won’t regret it!

– Bride, Lindsey

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