April 5, 2024

West Glacier National Park Engagement, Spence & Kristen

This has been the winter and spring of engagement portrait sessions for several lucky couples. Or should I say I've been the one lucky to be working with them?

Spence reached out to me weeks ago as he and his now-fiancé Kristen would be in the area and he was planning on proposing. While he wasn't trying to capture the actual proposal itself as part of a portrait session, he wanted to commemorate the occasion with a portrait session the following day.

We spoke on the phone a couple of times, he asked dozens of really great questions, and we settled on a time and place for the session. All we needed was confirmation of Kristen's "Yes!" and we were off and running.

We experienced a perfectly magical evening with clear skies and warm sun in West Glacier and Glacier National Park resulting in some epically beautiful photos.

March 20, 2024

West Glacier Vow Renewal Photographer, Joni & Brandon

Joni contacted me all the way from Texas because she, her husband, and their three children would be visiting the Flathead Valley and wanted to have a simple vow renewal somewhere picturesque, ideally with snow and mountains. Thankfully, Mother Nature cooperated, and we coordinated with Jason of Big Day Officiants for the ceremony exchange itself and had the most lovely evening together.

March 13, 2024

Surprise Glacier National Park Winter Proposal, Melanie & Bryan

I told Brian—after he'd successfully asked for Melanie's hand in marriage on the shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park—that I think my heart was probably pounding as quickly as his heart was. Surprise proposals are such an honor to be a part of but man can they be stressful. What if I'm in the wrong spot? What if I'm focussing on the wrong couple? What if I have a camera failure at the key moment?

Thankfully, choosing a winter proposal here in Glacier means it won't be super busy, and with the proper preparation—something Brian and I began discussing three months prior—a lot of the risks can be minimized. Photographing a proposal is also an adrenaline rush for me not unlike the start of a race, where I quite literally have one opportunity to get it right, and there are no true do overs.

November 20, 2023

Winter Engagement in West Glacier, Kristina & Casey

Another day, another astonishingly beautiful day in West Glacier. Kristina and Casey are getting married this summer just outside the West entrance to Glacier National Park and were in town meeting up with their planner Big Day Celebrations and other wedding vendors so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to grab some engagement portraits in the same area they'd be getting married in!

November 17, 2023

West Glacier Engagement Photographer, Abby & Kyle

When Abby and Kyle first booked me for their wedding and added an engagement session, we always planned on scheduling it in the Fall. Partially because the Fall colors in Northwest Montana are amazing, but also out of necessity. Kyle is a Wildland Firefighter, and during the summer his schedule can be extremely volatile.

Thankfully, things worked out tremendously weather-wise. We did have a heavy dusting of snow that provided a lovely contrast with the Fall colors. I am so looking forward to their wedding this spring.

October 27, 2023

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Alaina & Harrison at Snowmoon Ranch

I was honored to be brought into this wedding at the suggestion of Empress Tents & Events for this lovely wedding they were planning at Snowmoon Ranch which has an amazing panoramic view of Glacier National Park. We had the absolute perfect weather and a dream team of wedding vendors that made for a night not soon forgotten by anyone in attendance.

Venue: Snowmoon Ranch / Planning and Rentals: Empress Tents & Events / Bakery: Bonjour Bakery & Bistro / Band: The MAC Band / Bar Services: Mavericks Bar & Casino / Catering: A Moveable Feast / Florals: Forage & Floral / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss by Lana / Invitations: Paper Muse Co. / Officiant: Best Day Officiants / Photobooth: Pixelated Photobooth Gigs / Transportation: Wild Horse Limo / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

October 8, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Genthers

The Genther family, like many families I have the pleasure of working with each year, were on their way around the country while taking the time to 'road school' their kids. I guess technically you'd call it homeschooling, but when your classroom is the wide-open country that doesn't seem to encapsulate the experience. We met up in West Glacier towards sunset, headed into Apgar Village, and they ultimately ended up in Lake McDonald to close out the evening. Pretty much the perfect way to end a session on a relatively warm late-summer day.

September 27, 2023

West Glacier Engagement Photographer, Ashley & Matt

Ashley and Matt were recently engaged and just happened to be here in Northwest Montana for a friend's intimate wedding day. In my extremely biased opinion, they had the magnificent idea to get some engagement portraits done while they were here. After all, it's awfully difficult to pass up the opportunity for engagement portraits at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.

September 6, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Duecks

The Dueck's were on a cross-country trip visiting National Parks and just experiencing all of the amazing things the American West has to offer. We met up in West Glacier just outside Glacier National Park on a mildly smoky late summer day, which is a fairly common occurrence unfortunately. The good news is, sometimes the haze makes for some truly dreamlike light and backdrops. That feeling came through really well in this gallery of images.

September 1, 2023

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Kristina & Ryan at Great Northern Resort

Kristina & Ryan's wedding at Great Northern Resort just outside Glacier National Park in West Glacier was such a lovely, laid-back affair surrounded by family and their closest friends. We were able to have a little fun with the wedding party photos—as you can see above—and enjoyed the live music stylings of The MAC Band as the night came to a close.

Venue: Great Northern Resort / Planner: Big Day Celebrations / Bakery: Cakes by Debi / Band: The MAC Band / Florals: Foolish Blooms Farm / Hair & Makeup: Glacier Beauty / Rentals & Decor: Empress Tents & Events and The Party Store / Videographer: Erickson Media / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

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Matt Wetzler is an editorial, motorsport, portrait, and destination wedding photographer based in Whitefish, Montana.

Copyright ©Matthew Wetzler 2008–2024