Montana is known by many as “the last best place”. For brides planning their wedding day or couples seeking dramatic mountain backdrops for their honeymoons, Montana serves up a vast range of Big Sky venues. Knifeedged, white-capped peaks gradually blend into a carpet of lush wildflowers and tumbling streams – the Crayola landscape of summer. In addition to stunning vistas, Montana is chock-full of recreational opportunities: horseback riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, canoeing, river rafting, rock climbing, bird watching, golfing – and, of course, shopping and day spas. These are just a sampling of what awaits couples during their Wild West nuptials.
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The Lodge at Whitefish Lake
An ideal spot for destination weddings or a prime honeymoon home base, is conveniently located 20-minutes from Glacier Park International Airport and nearby Glacier National Park. This rustic yet luxurious lodge caresses the shores of this “mirror pond” lake and offers an exclusive, private beach for storybook Montana gatherings. Retreat to the 8000 square foot reception lodge built from native timbers, rock, and stone and eat, drink, and dance the starry evening away. Lodge suites and lakefront condominiums are available to host you and your guests during your celebration, and the hotel staff is eager to assist the bride and groom with every minute detail: from bakers, florists, musicians, photographers, and every other necessity of your big day.
Big Mountain Resort
Whether your dream honeymoon includes scaling towering peaks, backpacking into seclusion, or relaxing with a deep massage and mud mask, the Lodge and Whitefish area can provide whatever sort of romantic getaway you can imagine. A short, 10-minute drive from the Lodge leaves you in the middle of the wildflower meadows of Big Mountain Resort. Butter-colored glacier lilies, pink shooting stars, and wide-eyed
balsamroot dot the pasture-green slopes of Big Mountain with intense shots of color. A popular Big Mountain activity for birdwatchers and nature lovers is a Walk in the Treetops. Wooden boardwalks – 70 feet above the terra firma – enable tethered participants to walk from tree to tree, observing the wildlife and ecosystem that sustains the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
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Big Mountain walk in the treetops
A 30-minute drive from the Lodge at Whitefish Lake leads you to Glacier National Park. Experience the breathtaking vistas by taking a tour aboard the Park’s historic Red Buses. These antique vehicles, operated by Rising Sun Tours, provide informative background on not only the geographic features of the Park, but also the history of the Blackfoot Indians who call the Park and its surrounding lands home. A day hike along the Garden Wall from high atop Logan Pass, mountain biking the Camas Road, or taking a wet & wild, whitewater rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River are all excellent ways to experience Glacier Country.
Montana Island Lodge
If a slightly more remote, unusual, get-away-from-it-all wedding or honeymoon is more to your liking, the Montana Island Lodge is just the ticket.
This Lodge is located on a private, all-to-yourself island in Salmon Lake, in the heart of the vernal Seeley-Swan valley. The striking and expansive Bob Marshall wilderness lies just to the east of the Lodge, while the mammoth Mission Mountains flank the western slopes. This upscale Lodge is rented in its entirety and can accommodate receptions of up to 125 people and overnight guests of 25. A pontoon shuttle boat frequently runs from the mainland to the island, as guests arrive and depart, and a canoe, paddleboat, and fishing boats are at your disposal for a post-ceremony, sunset cruise. For the equine-loving couple, consider a horse pack trip into the vast Bob Marshall Wilderness where you truly leave modern distractions behind. This beautiful tract of mountains, rivers, wide-open spaces and wildlife – large and small – offers a setting newlyweds will never forget.
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Chico Hot Springs
The word “paradise” brings about different images for everyone; however, in Montana “paradise” means Paradise Valley, a swath of green and golden land that cradles the meandering Yellowstone River and separates the jagged Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains from the Gallatin Range in Southwestern Montana. Just south of the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park and nestled within Paradise Valley, lay the natural thermal pools and historic lodge of Chico Hot Springs. Seasoned event planners, a popular day spa, and charming buildings and grounds make Chico a major draw for local, national, and international weddings and honeymooners. From evening cocktails enjoyed in the thermal pools, to bridal luncheons in the quaint stone wine cellar, to walking down the aisle towards the snow-capped Emigrant Peak against blue sky, Chico was seemingly made for romance. The facilities and property can accommodate larger weddings up to 300 guests, however the lodge offers numerous options to make smaller events cozy and intimate as well.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
After you’ve cut your cake under the candle-lit canopy, it’s time to jumpstart your honeymoon with a hike up Electric Peak in Yellowstone National Park, followed by a few fly casts for rainbow trout in the meadows and pocket water just a few miles in from the Gardiner entrance. Let your sore muscles recover the next day by
traveling to nearby Livingston, at the mouth of Paradise Valley. This authentic western town boasts surprisingly sophisticated art galleries, as it is a favorite hamlet for artists and celebrities alike. Top off the evening with an elk steak or bison burger from the much-loved 2nd Street Bistro and head back to Chico for champagne and a soak. If you’re still game for adventure, nearby Mill Creek and Pine Creek offer a smorgasbord of outdoor adventures, all within a 15-minute drive from Chico.
Summertime in Montana is a fusion of natural beauty, relaxing solace, and adventure to satisfy most romantic wedding & honeymoon planners. Come celebrate your inner cowboy-bootwearing- backpack-wielding-spa-indulging self in Montana. They don’t call it “the last best place” for nothing.Where To StayBig Mountain Resort; Whitefish, Montana
www.bigmtn.com
Lodge at Whitefish Lake; Whitefish, Montana
www.lodgeatwhitefishlake.com
Montana Island Lodge; Seeley Lake, Montana
www.montanaislandlodge.com
Chico Hot Springs; Pray, Montana
www.chicohotsprings.com |
