My partner and I are trying to plan our wedding for next summer. We want to make it a bit of an adventure. We are hoping to combine mountain biking, hiking (ideally to a scramble summit) and kayaking in a day or a one night trip. My folks have a cabin in Seely Lake, MT so somewhere near Glacier NP or in the North Cascades near us would be ideal locations. Other than this though, we have no idea where to start, what parts of the park to look at, or what kind of permits we might need. We don't need to have a formal ceremony but do want someone to photograph the trip and someone to marry us (ideally at the summit) and a place to throw a party with our friends and family after the trip. Does anyone have experience with some or all of this, or have any good ideas? we need help!

Mountain biking, peak bagging and kayaking in a day, plus your wedding? That's quite a bit.

I am going to throw out a suggestion to start with. Take the two boats from Many Glacier (in Glacier NP) and then hike to Grinnell Glacier where you can be married with the Continental Divide in the background. You can also rent canoes on the lake on which Many Glacier Lodge fronts and probably have a reception there as well.

Now for the questions and caveats. I assume that you are planning to do this in late July, August or early September. If not, then that limits your options. How may will be in your party (including the photographer and presider) as that may limit your options? How fit will all in your party be as that will determine their ability to tackle any hike?

I certainly talk further about options in Glacier NP as we have been there numerous times. I can also discuss North Cascades NP as we finished a backpacking trip there just a few weeks ago.

I am not sure if you are aware, but pretty much anyone can marry you (friend, aunt/uncle.... anyone). If your preferred officiant isn't willing to make the hike, you can look to your wedding party. At ULC.org anyone can become a legally ordained minister for free in 5 minutes.

Here are the laws for Montana: http://www.themonastery.org/wedding-laws/montana

I have read that in a National Park, you need the Park's permission to hold a wedding. You may want to check this out well ahead of time (info should be on the park's website). I don't think there's a problem in National Forest land, where there's a lot less bureaucracy involved. However, if you plan to use a commercial photographer, you may run into trouble on any Federal land unless the photographer is licensed by the Feds for that specific area.

Have you done any online research? That is the place to start.

Your source for Glacier NP is the Glacier National Park official website. And yes, they do require a special use permit for weddings.

No advice, but please post pics afterwards!

A week with no reply. Do you think the wedding's been called off?

They have other things on their minds...or were you expecting photos of the honeymoon?

Well the wedding is planned for next summer, so I would have expected some response in the last two weeks.

I suspect that the OP has left the building....

He meant to come back here, but he took a wrong turn in Albuquerque.

this is pretty much my dream wedding