One of our favorite things about our couples is that they opt for the unconventional, choosing to be true to themselves and their unique wedding vision. When wedding planning, many couples feel the pressure to have a large, more traditional wedding, but that’s not necessarily the best fit for everyone. Our couples, like Danielle and Matthew, crave a celebration like a destination wedding, an outdoor tent wedding, a mountain wedding, and an adventure wedding!
Danielle and Matthew decided to make a whole weekend out of their wedding celebration by having their ceremony one day and their tent wedding reception the next! They followed their hearts by keeping the ceremony intimate and private, then celebrating their new nuptials with their families the next day.
Their tent wedding story is an elopement and micro-wedding all wrapped up into one! Keep reading to find out how we pulled it all off…and how you can too!
Planning a Ryan Meadows Elopement at Glacier National Park:
When we first met Danielle and Matthew, they had their hearts set on an intimate tent wedding in Montana. They knew they wanted to get married within nature and so, Glacier National Park was the clear choice for their ceremony! Glacier is the most popular elopement destination in Montana and rightfully so due to the varied landscapes the park has to offer, from mountains to forest to lakes. It’s also such a vast park, so if you’re up for some hiking, you can truly find some of the most breathtaking views!
Danielle and Matthew chose to elope at Ryan Meadows within Glacier. One of the perks of working with a destination wedding and elopement planner (like us!) is that you can learn insider knowledge on the absolute best wedding ceremony spots in Glacier National Park. Ryan Meadows is one of those locales! More of a locals’ spot, you have to know it’s there to get there, making it a more private space than other areas of the park.
As soon as Danielle and Matthew told us that they desired an intimate and private location for their ceremony, we knew Ryan Meadows was the spot for them!
An Outdoor Tent Wedding Vision:
When it came to their reception, this sweet couple envisioned an outdoor tent wedding with rustic touches. Since their guest count was going to be just shy of 50 people, we knew we had to find a Goldilocks wedding venue for them; not too big and not too small! We ended up finding their best fit in Stage Road Estate in Columbia Falls, Montana.
This venue prides themselves on providing the perfect space to have the backyard wedding of couples’ dreams. Their grounds are vast enough to have a tent wedding facing the mountains, but it’s not too much space where guests feel drowned by the extra room. Featuring a custom-built home with sleeping rooms for 8, an adjacent bridal suite, and sweeping views of the mountains, Stage Road Estate was the perfect place for Danielle and Matthew’s wedding weekend. As an added bonus, it is situated only a few minutes from the entrance to Glacier National Park!
Rustic Tent Wedding Décor Details:
When planning the décor details for this tent wedding, we incorporated subtle rustic touches. Adjacent to the main house is an open grassy space with the mountains along the horizon. We planned to have their tent wedding in this space with a few cocktail tables on one side and long wooden guest tables covered by a tent on the other side.
We planned for the tables to be decorated with light peach gauze runners, black geometric terrariums, clear bud vases with purple and pink wildflowers, taper candles, and gold votives. We also interspersed little wooden antlers along the length of the runner to complement the various candles and flowers.
Each place setting featured a solid gold charger with a pleated white napkin wrapped around it. We then set each guest’s place card on top of the napkin.
We also planned to have lavender favors, where guests would get to take home a bunch of fresh lavender. We set the cake table near the favor table, where we set their two-tier naked cake. We dotted the cake with purple and yellow flowers and laid a gold cake knife set next to it.
Last but not least, we planned to hang various gold hoops over the drink table. Some rings would be wrapped in lavender all the way around. Others would be wrapped in eucalyptus and others would simply have sprigs of greenery along the bottom. We hung them in varied heights from the top of the tent and then strung fairy lights all the way around the tent’s perimeter. This was a gorgeous touch that gave this tent wedding an even dreamier quality.
The Day of the Tent Wedding:
On the morning after Danielle and Matthew eloped at Ryan Meadows in Glacier National Park, our team and the rental company’s team met at Stage Road Estate for setup. As a wedding planner, we are often the first to arrive to an event for setup and the last to leave after strike. We’re here for you from start to finish!
Once we transformed the space to be Danielle and Matthew’s tent wedding vision come to life, we welcomed the newlyweds and their guests in. We kicked off the celebration with a cocktail hour, where everyone congratulated Danielle and Matthew and nibbled on some delicious baked brie.
While the guests were mixing and mingling, we placed one last finishing touch on the tent wedding décor. We set Danielle’s stunning bridal bouquet in the center of the bride and groom’s reception table. Since her bouquet was romantic in style and fluffy in quality, it made the perfect centerpiece to distinguish the newlyweds’ table.
Following the cocktail hour, guests found their seats and shared a wonderful meal together. The rest of the night was marked by heartfelt toasts, decadent cake, and lighthearted dancing. Danielle threw the bouquet and danced with her new husband. We could tell that everyone was as happy as could be, which is the most rewarding part of our job!
We love seeing our couples’ wedding visions come to fruition and we could not have been more pleased with the way Danielle and Matthew’s rustic tent wedding turned out! Their tablescapes were gorgeous, the food was an absolute hit, and even the trees started to turn a beautiful red and orange for the autumn season. It was the relaxed and joyous occasion that Danielle and Matthew originally dreamed of, and we were so honored to be a part of it all!
A Word from Katie:
Cheers to you, Danielle and Matthew! Yours is a tent wedding I’ll never forget. It was the most beautiful day and I loved seeing you both so happy. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of your big day, and I wish you all the best in your future together!
-Katie
Planner // An Epic Elopement
Venue // Stage Road Estate
Photographer // Kelly Kirksey Photography- Shanaira
Floral // Flathead Farmworks
Cake // Turntable Bakery
Caterer // The Kopper Kitchen
Rentals // Empress Tents and Events
Restrooms // Peewees
Let's Plan Your Tent Wedding!
Based in Kalispell, Montana, An Epic Elopement specializes in all-inclusive elopements, micro-weddings, and intimate weddings. Here, you get the full experience of having a traditional wedding, but with a little more adventure included!
Are you ready to start your elopement journey? Send me a note describing your elopement vision and let’s make it happen!
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