Paddle Ridge

Paddle Ridge was STUNNING for our June 2026 wedding! We had multiple guests tell us it was the most beautiful wedding setting they had ever been to!!! It was alternating between rain/sunshine and it honestly could not have been more gorgeous. We had mostly out of state guests who had never been to Montana before, so it was the perfect introduction to GNP and the surrounding area without being too far from Whitefish/Columbia Falls. Their staff is excellent with communication leading up to the wedding and it was so helpful that they set up the tables and chairs the day before the wedding. Staff was so easy to reach and answered every question we had. They also moved the chairs/heat lamps after the ceremony and throughout the reception for us. Shout out to ginger Jim, he was the BEST bartender!! Our guests were raving about him. The bar setup is the perfect size for a large group and there was also plenty of room on the grass/under the pavillion for extras such as charcuterie tables, a photobooth, and even some couches and extra seating (we had 100 guests). The ridgetop retreat was arguably the best part of the booking- we had our entire bridal party stay there and the basement was the perfect spot for finishing our DIY flowers/storing anything else we needed. I honestly don't know what we would have done without that space!! We did not use it for an afterparty but it would be large enough to do so. I cannot say enough about this venue- it truly is an experience (especially for guests naive to the area) and fit for fancy weddings or a more laid back one like mine!!! The only thing that was tough was getting out of there by 10am the morning after- but totally understandable considering the amount of space they have to clean. Thanks Paddle Ridge!!

We were married at Paddle Ridge (Glacier Raft Company) in August 2024 and could not be happier that we chose this venue. We looked at TONS of spaces (virtually, since we live in Chicago) and chose this space for a few reasons: Location- located just minutes from the West entrance to Glacier National Park, the views were stunning, and we had tons of options for photo spots. Views- the view from the ceremony space (and the entire reception) was literal perfection. The photos say it all, but it felt like living in a post card. Our guest were blown away, and everyone has new profile pictures with this backdrop! The space- the venue itself is pretty simple, but very well maintained. They were watering, mowing, and trimming the afternoon before- it was PERFECT for our ceremony! We even had a little rain during dinner, and the rainplan for the space works perfectly. The cabins are also STUNNING. We stayed in the Ridgetop Retreat, which felt like having a resort lodge to ourselves for us and our wedding party to get ready in. It also served as storage and prep for the catering staff, space for our after party, and a lovely home base the day-of, conveniently located STEPS from the reception/ceremony space. We did not have a chance to see the Ridgetop Retreat (or any other cabins) when we visited a year prior, or virtually, so we were really just crossing our fingers that they were nice. Luckily they exceeded our expectations, but this venue definitely needs updated photos of the lovely interiors! If we had any feedback, it would be that dealing with reservations and pre-wedding communication was a bit of a pain. The service was subpar, and because the venue company and the parent company that handles lodging are seperately managed, nobody could tell us if/when we could get checked in early for our rehearsal (the day before our wedding), if anything could be unlocked to drop stuff off, or even if anyone was staying there that week, when we wanted to add time to our reservation. Also, no late checkout the day after a wedding is BRUTAL when you still plan to clean up after yourselves. While the venue's employees are incredibly kind, there was a lot of turnover during our time working with them and a lack of attention to detail because of that (we had to repeat ourselves and correct mistake frequently). Luckily we had a great planner to follow up for us during the wedding planning time, and everyone on-site was absolutely AMAZING during the weekend itself, especially the site manager and bartenders.