Glacier National Park Archives - Thewmatt Photography

July 24, 2023

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Leah & Hans at Halfmoon Lake

I met Leah and Hans at the My Montana Wedding Expo and Style show this past January and they booked me on the spot. They were planning a "backyard wedding" at some property of family friends on Halfmoon Lake just a hop, skip, and a jump from Glacier National Park in West Glacier.

After a quick "fake first look" with the best man standing in for the bride, and then a real first look we hopped into cars and headed into and around Glacier for the wedding party photos before returning to the ceremony and reception location for the remainder of the night.

Venue: Private Residence / Rentals & Decor: Empress Tents & Events / Catering: Josh Auerhammer / DJ: Bradshaw Media / Florals: Bitterroot Flower Shop / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Glacier National Park, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding, West Glacier

July 5, 2023

Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, Michelle & Tyler

I was so fortunate to team up with An Epic Elopement for this sweet little elopement at Avalanche Creek in Glacier National Park. Just Michelle and Tyler, Tyler's parents, Michelle's best friends, myself, and Katie officiating. Michelle made her own bouqet with blooms from Two Kays Flower Farm, we took some lovely photos in a few different spots in the park, and they had dinner at the Belton Chalet just outside the West entrance.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: Elopement, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits

June 25, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Newmans

It's a bit of a cliché that the weather here in the mountains can be unpredictable. But sometimes clichés are created for a reason. My evening with the Newman family was a perfect illustration of that. Mid-June temperatures in the 40s? Why not?! It was a bit of a shock for these wonderful folks from Louisiana where the heat index was well into the 100s this past week. They braved the chill though, and the clouds, sun, and sky couldn't have been more cooperative for some truly amazing evening light.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier

May 22, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Wyatts

It's not every day I get to hang out with a family from Texas, and some newly minted University of Texas alumni. While photographing the Wyat family, however, that was just the case. They were visiting from Northeast Texas—a small town I was surprisingly not familiar with already—and two of the grown children are now former students from the campus where I spent a lot of time growing up.

As bad luck sometimes does, smoke from recent wildfires in Western Canada blew into Northwest Montana the few days before our session, and decided to hang around. That said, I think you'll agree it did nothing to make the backdrop any less amazing than it would normally be. Different? Yes. But Montana rarely disappoints.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family, family portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier

May 10, 2023

West Glacier Elopement Photographer, Carly & Steve

A few weeks ago I got a text from my friend Katie with An Epic Elopement to see if I was available on a Tuesday for a quick elopement in West Glacier. As it turned out I was available and was happy to jump at the chance to once again work with her to document a lovely couple's nuptials.

Why only two weeks in advance? Well, Carly and Steve just happened to be in the area helping some friends move to the Flathead Valley, and decided they'd go ahead and get married while they were here. They've been together for years and engaged for several of those years. After getting engaged people would ask Steve when the wedding was and he would respond "Tuesday." Turns out, he's been telling the truth all this time.

We met up at the old Belton Bridge outside Glacier National Park for a sweet ceremony, celebrated with tequila shots afterward, and then headed into Apgar Village just inside the park for some portraits on the shores of Lake McDonald.

Planner: An Epic Elopement / Officiant: Raul with Best Day Officiants

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: Elopement, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, Wedding, West Glacier

March 10, 2023

Ammie & Blake’s Courthouse Ceremony and Glacier National Park Portraits

My friend Katie with An Epic Elopement texted me one evening as she and her husband were having dinner with one of her neighbors to see if I was interested and available for a weekday portrait session with them. They were going to be getting married at the courthouse soon and were hoping for some portraits at the courthouse, and then 'somewhere epic' later on.

Well, it doesn't get much more epic than Glacier National Park in this neck of the woods, even if it is winter and there are low clouds everywhere. We left the sunny, blue skies of downtown Kalispell to the completely socked-in winter setting of Lake McDonald and took advantage of all the beauty it has to offer.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Maternity, Portraits

Tags: Civil Ceremony, couples portraits, Flathead County Courthouse, Glacier National Park, kalispell, maternity, Montana, Portraits, winter maternity

February 17, 2023

Glacier National Park Honeymoon Portraits, Morgan & Eric

Morgan & Eric visited Montana for their honeymoon after their Florida wedding. Going from one corner of the contiguous United States to virtually the opposite corner. Trading beaches for mountains and sun and warmth for winter.

They were absolute champs though, and Morgan fully embraced the winter setting by pelting Eric with snowballs—with a little bit of warning at least—to close out the session. Because if your winter portraits don't break out in a snowball fight, did they ever happen?

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier, winter portraits

October 28, 2022

West Glacier National Park Engagement Portraits, Morgan & Bryan

It's always a great idea, if the schedule works out, to do an engagement session with your photographer prior to the wedding day. For one, it insures that you've got a good rapport with them ahead of time. There's nothing better than when I roll up to a wedding day and the couple are already "old friends."

Morgan & Bryan have grown up visiting Whitefish with their families and thus are here often so it made sense to meet up for a portrait session. I loved meeting their dog Bruno—we always talk about Bruno—and wrapping up the session at the Bulldog in downtown Whitefish. I can't wait for their summer wedding at Snowline Acres this year.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Engagement, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, Engagement Session, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier

October 17, 2022

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Sanders Family

Another evening of absolutely perfect Fall weather here in West Glacier and Glacier National Park. This time with the Sanders family.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family, family portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier

October 10, 2022

Tanner’s Surprise Glacier National Park Proposal

Shout out to Tanner for all of the pre-planning on this one. Way back in June, he contacted me after booking a private tour with Whitefish Outfitters for October. Over the coming months, we touched base periodically to make sure nothing had changed, and I liaised with Whitefish Outfitters directly to be sure we were synced up on the timing when they would be arriving at Lake McDonald.

As you can see from the photos, everything worked out great, and she did in fact say yes.