Summer Wedding in Yellowstone National Park 

Destination Wedding In Yellowstone National Park

If there was an award for being mentally present, this couple, well this entire group would have won it. I think there is only one phone in this entire gallery. 

I loved everything about this day, and it’s taken some time and many more weddings to kind of realize why it was so special.

This wedding in Yellowstone National Park was absolutely fully and unapologetically them. From the cowboy boots under the wedding dress to the crazy swing dancing acrobatics that my brain simply doesn't understand.

Kiara and Cody got married in Montana at peak covid, so this Yellowstone wedding celebration was their one year anniversary and vow renewal. Kiara is from the Madison, Wisconsin area, and Kody is a cowboy from Montana.

For this day, everyone was present all day. There was only one goal, to celebrate these two humans. Everything that happened truly meant something to the couple and their families. This is the way to plan your wedding in Yellowstone, or anywhere. Just do what is actually important to you, and leave everything else behind. So if you’re looking for inspiration for your own destination wedding in Yellowstone National Park, hopefully you find a little here.

Backyard, wedding reception lawn, facing Yellowstone National Park
Looking out the front windshield of a car following a white Subaru driving towards the first look for a wedding in Yellowstone National Park

First look in Yellowstone National Park

The day really got started when we drove into Yellowstone National Park for their first look. We ventured in from the entrance near Gardiner Montana driving up the North Entrance Road to a secret spot. Kiara and Kody were both employees at the park together, and we went to a secret little mountain lake for their first look and a little scenic Yellowstone wedding photography. 

It was adorable. 

I don’t think the public can find it but it has to be one of the best wedding photography spots in Yellowstone. Heck I don’t think I could find this spot again. We went down some service roads and things that don’t show up on google maps. 

Definitely one thing that made their first look in Yellowstone so special was that since it was off of the tourist path, we were the only people there. I think that this is something to consider for every destination wedding or any wedding really. Finding a spot that has less people just makes things easier.

Quick Tips For Destination Weddings

  • Finding places in popular destinations like Yellowstone National Park that are off the main path of other visitors is key.

  • Go early in the morning or in the evening. This has the benefit of missing the biggest crowds and just as importantly, the light is better during this time of day for wedding, elopement, and engagment photography anyways. I think early in the morning is the best for the least amount of other people, but then you do actually have to get up early.

First look in Yellowstone National Park at Mountain Lake, very clear water behind a couple, followed by a forest and mountains in the distance
Couples first look reactions and a kiss in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding couple showing off their swing dance moves at a mountain bike in Yellowstone National Park
Couple standing together, holding hands, looking out over mountain lake at Yellowstone National Park
Bride and groom, cowboy boots, wedding dress in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding rings, placed on a pine tree and Yellowstone National Park
Wedding, skipping rocks on a mountain lake in Yellowstone National Park

Reception in Gardiner, Montana

Just to the north of Yellowstone National Park is Gardiner, Montana. The entire event was originally going to be in Yellowstone, but due to the regulations at the time there had to be an audible called.

The reception was at one of Cody’s families residences just outside of Yellowstone National Park. It was spectacular.

I really have no other venders to mention because this couple and their families and friends did everything. I believe Kiara’s sister even MADE HER DRESS. How incredible is that?

Every detail was immaculate. The centerpieces were full of leather boots, mason jars with fresh flowers, and antique lanterns. It was just so beautifully done and felt so authentic to the couple and their guests.

Yellowstone National Park wedding centerpieces, cowboy boots, mason jars with flowers and classic soda bottles
Yellowstone National Park wedding reception, Young boy in cowboy hat
Wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Just outside of Yellowstone National Park wedding reception, bride and officiant
Yellowstone wedding bridesmaids shoes, one crock
Wedding reception in Gardner Montana
Golden hour portrait of efficient at Yellowstone National Park wedding
Golden hour portrait of brides sister, made of honor, had a wedding in Yellowstone National Park sky sky blue dress
Wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park classic country attire
Silly wedding, grand entrance, wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone national park wedding reception view from the reception area a elk walking on the mountain
Bro, getting a hug from her father at a wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Brides, sister, and maid of honor, giving her speech at the wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park

Dancing The Night Away

Cody had one crazy surprise which was a line dance that he and his side of the party performed. Some people (Cody) definetly knew more of the moves than others.

Both Kiara and Cody are big musicians and played for each other’s first dances. It was so just so beautiful.

Under the Montana sky it felt like golden hour lasted for five hours. The light was incredible, even with some extra wildfire smoke in the air floating over the Rocky Mountains.

We of course took a quick five minutes away on the side of the mountain for some sunset photos.

Absolutely always one of my favorite things is sneaking away for some golden hour portraits of the couple. It just gives you a little break with each other and the light is much easier to work with closer to sunset. Which just means it’s easy to take a bunch of great photos really quick and efficiently, and then get you back to the party.

Line dancing at Yellowstone National Park wedding reception
Line dancing at Yellowstone National Park wedding reception golden hour
Line dancing during reception at a wedding in Yellowstone National Park stream lights at Golden hour groom, jumping in the air
Dance at a wedding in Yellowstone National Park at Golden hour couple dancing, holding hands
Couple dancing brides, spinning during first dance at Yellowstone National Park
Bride playing the guitar and singing for the grooms first dance with his mom at a wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Sunset and Yellowstone National Park couple, looking at each other, smiling
Wedding couple facing the sunset sunset over the mountains at Yellowstone National Park
Bride and groom, kissing at Sunset under the veil at a wedding in Yellowstone National Park
Bride and groom swing dancing during their wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Reception, candid of bride and groom during their wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park at Golden hour

The 5th Quarter - Destination Wedding Addition

Kiara was in the marching band at the University of Wisconsin and a whole bunch of her fellow band members made the trek out to Yellowstone to be there to celebrate with her. And if you’re going to make the trip anyways, you might as well bring the drums with you. And the trumpets, trombones, flugelhorns, and of course borrow a tuba from the local high school.

I was in the band in at UW-Madison too and we did performances at countless events, weddings, and sporting events. But this was like nothing else I had ever seen. It was so magical in the mountains as the sun was setting.

They played all the greatest hits, and it was beautiful chaos.

As the light faded there was a transition to open dancing and the string lights lit up the dancefloor under the Montana stars. Which I am told are the same stars we have in Wisconsin but I remain unconvinced because they were very different,

Brass band and drum playing at wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Brass band playing at wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Bride and groom and guest dancing with brass band at a wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding reception with brass band and dancing in Yellowstone National Park
Crazy dancing wedding reception with brass band everyone's hands in the air and Yellowstone National Park
Dancing together during wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Couple doing the poker dance during their wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding reception dancing with brass band in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park everyone dancing and doing the moves to hey baby
Trumpet player at a wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding in the center of a brass Band circle during a wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Dancing in the center of a circle of musicians at a wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park
Wedding reception with brass band at golden hour and Yellowstone
Couple singing during wedding reception and Yellowstone National Park
Singing and playing instruments during wedding reception and Yellowstone
Brides, father and mother, dancing during wedding reception and Yellowstone
Bride and groom, wedding reception, and Yellowstone National Park string lights
Wedding reception in Yellowstone National Park

Final Thoughts:

Simply one of my favorite weddings to date.

The combination of these amazing humans, the priority on presence and mental engagement, and of course having your wedding celebration somewhere like Yellowstone National Park with mountains helps too.

It really was a magical vibe.

Yellowstone Wedding Info: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/weddinginfo.htm

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