Grand Teton National Park Elopement Guide
You Should Elope in the Tetons!
Grand Teton National Park, and the surrounding areas, truly have it all. A variety of mountain views, a quaint resort town, and easy access to unique nature, hiking trails, camping spots, hot springs, rafting…. the list goes on.
You should absolutely elope in Grand Teton National Park!!
Not Sure How To Do This?
Howdy! I’m Sam, Your Grand Teton Elopement Photographer & Planner
I know there are so many options and things to consider when planning an elopement. I absolutely adore helping couples through this process + reducing stress! Grand Teton is one of the many national parks I know like the back of my hand.
Hiring your elopement photographer + planner is the perfect first step in planning your Grand Teton National Park elopement- even if you aren’t 100% sure of when or where yet! I’ll help you through every step of the process, from choosing a time of year/date for the perfect weather conditions, to picking a spot with amazing views, to securing any necessary permits, to finding other vendors and planning wedding outfits that are perfect for adventuring.
Hopefully the information below will help you decide if the Tetons are right for you guys! Let’s go over everything you need to know about eloping in Grand Teton National Park.
We’re Going to Chat About ALL of This:
Where To Elope in Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton NP has quite a few options for ceremony locations! And, you can always share vows outside of the park and then head in to adventure.
Below I’ll break down each of the options for you!
Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony Locations
Aka, the pre-set spots the park has picked out where you can hold a ceremony.
If your wedding day includes more than 12 guests (including the bridal party and vendors), or if you or your guests aren’t up for a hike to your ceremony location, I highly recommend choosing one of the six designated wedding ceremony locations in Grand Teton National Park that are available to reserve for elopements and micro-weddings.
All of these locations require a site-specific ceremony permit, which costs $200 and covers two hours of ceremony time, including setup and cleanup. Permits are limited to one ceremony per day per site, and a maximum number of 60 ceremonies per year per site—so if your heart is set on one of these locations, you’ll want to secure your permit ASAP! When you work with me as your elopement photographer and planner, I’ll help you navigate the permitting process and make sure we choose a location that perfectly fits your priorities and vision for your elopement day.
Schwabacher Landing
Group Size Limit: 25 people
Time of Year: mid-May to mid-October
This is arguably one of the most famous spots in the park. Serene beaver ponds, bright green reeds and meadows, and the majestic Teton Range provide a unique backdrop at this ceremony location just a short trail away from the small parking lot. This site has benches and outhouses, but do note that the road is gravel and is completely closed in the winter due to weather.
Mormon Row
Group Size Limit: 25 people (south site) or 40 people (north site)
Time of Year: late spring to early fall
The historic barns + buildings at Mormon Row are a fun backdrop, but you can go behind them as well if you’d like uninterrupted mountain views. The road closes to vehicles after snow arrives in early fall until it melts in late spring. Parking is very limited because of how popular this site is for visitors, especially at sunrise and sunset, but consider a weekday elopement at Mormon Row for a private ceremony at this iconic spot.
Colter Bay Swim Area
Group Size Limit: 40 people
Time of Year: mid-May to mid-October
Colter Bay Swim Beach, on the shores of Jackson Lake, has a backdrop of Mount Moran and vivid green pine trees. This site is accessible by a paved road with plenty of nearby parking, picnic tables, and a bathroom, great for less adventurous guests.
Mountain View Turnout
Group Size Limit: 25 people
Time of Year: mid-May to mid-October
This beautiful meadow has epic Tetons views, and trades limited amenities (no restrooms or seating) for serene privacy, as this location is typically not busy even during midday.
Glacier View Turnout
Group Size Limit: 25 people
Time of Year: mid-May to mid-October
The sun gleams off the Tetons during golden hour at this picturesque turnout, typically busy during sunset time because of its impressive views. There are no restrooms or seating at this site, but it’s conveniently located only 20 minutes outside of Jackson Hole for a romantic post-elopement dinner date.
Snake River Overlook
Group Size Limit: 25 people
Time of Year: mid-May to mid-October
The Snake River Overlook is another gorgeous site-specific ceremony location with an expansive view of the Tetons, above the meandering Snake River. It’s just 25 minutes from Jackson Hole, and it is one of the less busy ceremony sites in the park, though there are no restrooms or seating and only limited parking.
For more information about any of these spots, or to apply for a reserve site-specific ceremony permit, visit the National Park Service’s website.
Small Dispersed Ceremonies
If you are eloping with less than 12 guests/vendors, the park is your oyster! You can apply for a small dispersed ceremony permit that allows you to host your ceremony at (almost) any location in the park, year-round.
Most of the reserved site-specific ceremony locations above are available for small dispersed ceremonies during their “off-seasons.” A few areas of the park are completely prohibited for ceremonies, such as the areas around Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, String Lake, and the privately owned lodges and chapels.
The park service just requires a description and coordinates for the location on your permit application. They will only issue one permit per location per day, so if you have a specific site in mind, you’ll still want to reserve early. Permits are $200 and must be reserved at least 30 days in advance.
Dispersed Ceremony Location Ideas
Here are just a few of my personal favorite ideas for small dispersed ceremony locations for your Grand Teton National Park Elopement:
- Taggart Lake: An easy 3-mile out-and-back trail winds past many of the park’s best natural features. A ceremony at the lake followed by portraits capturing all of these wonders would be a fun way to spend your elopement day—and the trail connects to two other loops if you want to adventure further!
- Phelps Lake: A moderate, 6.6 mile loop (if you go all the way around the lake). This hike has awesome views that honestly remind me a lot of lakes in the Italian Dolomites. You can even go swimming or cliff-jumping here!
- Sunrise and Amphitheater Lakes: This is a strenuous, 9.8-mile out-and-back hike starting at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead. If you’re up for some serious hiking on your elopement day, it’s hard to beat the privacy and rocky mountain views of this Grand Teton elopement location. You could also add on Delta Lake (a personal favorite of mine).
Want Personalized Location Ideas?
When you hire me as your elopement photographer and planner, I’ll create a custom location guide with tailored recommendations for ceremony locations throughout Grand Teton National Park, whether you prefer to hike in several miles for ultimate privacy, stay close to amenities, or find the coolest and most one-of-a-kind views.
Chapels & Lodges
Grand Teton National Park contains two small historic chapels and several beautiful lodges and cabin sites that are available for weddings and elopements, right within the park! These locations are great if you’re picturing a more traditional religious ceremony followed by amazing pictures with mountain views, or a small wedding in a cozy lodge where your closest friends and family can stay on-site.
A permit through the National Park Service is not required for weddings and elopements at one of the chapels or lodges in the park—so that’s one less thing on your to-do list! Arrangements for ceremonies at these locations must be made directly with the establishments, and all guests will need to pay the park entrance fee to access any of these facilities.
Chapel of the Transfiguration
- Run by St. John’s Episcopal Church
- Group Size Limit: 65
- Season: Memorial Day through September
- Cost: $10,000
- Visit St. John’s website for more info
Chapel of The Sacred Heart
- Run by Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church
- Group Size Limit: 115
- Season: June through September
- Cost: $2,000 donation
- Visit the church’s website for more info
Jackson Lake Lodge
The Grand Teton Lodge Company holds wedding ceremonies and receptions at this historic lodge. It is a great choice for anything from a large, traditional wedding to an intimate micro-wedding.
Couples and their guests can stay on-site in one of the lodge’s traditional hotel rooms, suites, or cozy cottages, or at any of the Grand Teton Lodge Company’s other beautiful lodges and cabin sites throughout the park.
For pricing and more information about planning a wedding at Jackson Lake Lodge, visit the lodge’s website.
Other Lodges
The other privately-owned lodges in Grand Teton National Park don’t advertise wedding packages, but may still allow their guests to conduct small elopement and micro-wedding ceremonies on the property.
Adventuring During Your Grand Teton Elopement
Without the structure of a traditional wedding day, we have the freedom to do
whatever you want.
Working with me as your elopement photographer and planner means we’ll chat about your favorite ways to adventure—whether you want to embark on a backpacking trip, hop on a snowmobile, or just wander around town together! There’s no wrong answer when it comes to adventuring on your elopement day.
Hit The Trails: Hiking or Backpacking
Grand Teton National Park has too many hiking trails to count, but this huge variety means it’s easy to find a trail that fits your experience level and slots perfectly into the schedule for your elopement day. This is just a small sampling of my favorite Grand Teton National Park trails!
- Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point: One of the most popular trails in the park—and for good reason—the amazing site of this rushing snowmelt-fed waterfall cascading through the pines makes it worth finding an time to meander the 1-mile trail to Hidden Falls, and another 0.5 miles takes you to Inspiration Point for views of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole.
- Garnet Canyon: This tricky 8.2-mile out-and-back hike reaps beautiful rewards in exchange for some switchbacks and rock scrambling—the hike ends in a wildflower-dotted canyon surrounded by some of the Grand Tetons’ most iconic mountain peaks.
- Marion Lake: Marion Lake, which is accessible by two different trailheads, is a backpacker’s dream—a 14.7-mile loop from the Rendezvous Mountain Trailhead or an 18.8-mile out-and-back trip from the Granite Canyon Trailhead would help you find true solitude.
Other Outdoor Adventures
If you’d rather take in the amazing scenery of Grand Teton National Park in a non-hiking way, consider hopping on a snowmobile, raft, or maybe even a horse! There are self-guided and guided tour options starting at several of the lodges in the park, and more experiences just outside the park in nearby Jackson Hole.
Visit Jackson Hole
Grand Teton National Park is not only a premier elopement location because of the stunning nature—the close proximity to Jackson Hole is another fantastic perk! Old West vibes abound in this beautiful, historic town with tons of restaurants and shopping. Grab a drink after your elopement ceremony at an iconic spot like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar or the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill.
Where to Stay During Your Elopement
Whether the vibe of your ideal stay is more adventurous or all about comfort, there are options from right inside the park, steps away from nature, to the middle of downtown Jackson, walking distance from bars and restaurants.
Camping
There are eight designated campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park, though most are only open seasonally and all require advance reservations. You can reserve sites at any of these campgrounds up to six months in advance at Recreation.gov.
Also consider camping outside the park in the Bridger-Teton National Forest or at Snake River Park.
Grand Teton National Park also allows year-round backcountry camping with a permit. Peak season permits (May 1 to October 31) can be reserved online, and winter permits can be reserved over the phone. Walk-up permits are also available throughout the year at certain visitor centers and ranger stations. The National Park Service has a map of the zones, routes, and sites where backcountry camping is allowed.
Lodges & Cabins
For comfy accommodations without sacrificing closeness to nature, there are several lodges and cabin rental sites right inside Grand Teton National Park.
Vacation Rentals
For solitude and a quaint place to get ready for your elopement day, consider renting a whole house for you and your people on AirBnb, VRBO, or a local vacation rental company in Jackson Hole like Outpost or Teton Homestead.
How To Get To Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is in such a beautiful area that I’d highly recommend a roadtrip with your partner to reach this remote part of Wyoming.
If you’re coming from across the country—or across the world—Salt Lake City and Denver are the closest major international airports to Grand Teton National Park.
Jackson Hole has a small airport as well, with flights to and from Salt Lake, Denver, and Dallas, though flights there can be pricey.
How To Plan Your Grand Teton Elopement:
If this guide has convinced you that a Grand Teton National Park elopement might be right for you, but you’re not quite sure where to start and feeling overwhelmed by the options, don’t panic! I’ll break down the steps to planning your dream elopement and do my best to make the process as stress-free as possible for you and your partner.
1. Contact ME
First things first, fill out my contact form! No worries if you don’t have all the details figured out yet—reach out to me with your ideas, and I can help walk you through the rest of the steps from inquiry to elopement day. I pride myself on being not just an elopement photographer, but also a local expert, planner, and my couples’ best friend and support as they navigate the elopement planning process.
2. Pick a Spot and Secure Permits
Our first task will be choosing a location! If one of the options above caught your eye, that’s fantastic—but there are even more hidden gems all over the area to suit your priorities, and my first step as your photographer will be to create a custom location guide to help you select the best fit for you. I’m super familiar with the permitting process for national parks, so I can help you navigate the application and nail down a date.
3. Book Lodging
Once we know the ceremony location, I’ll help you sort through the best places to stay, whether you’re seeking ultimate comfort or a night under the stars. I can help secure campground reservations, scour AirBnb for the perfect house, or find an off-roading trail for dispersed camping or backpacking.
4. Find Other Vendors and Nail Down Timeline
Once we have a location and place to stay, we can start building out the timeline for your elopement day, including hiring any other vendors you may need to make your dream elopement a reality. This might include florals, hair and makeup, reservations for elopement day activities or rentals, formalwear, and food. I have established relationships with several local vendors and can provide recommendations to help you pick the right professionals to execute your vision!
5. Get Your Marriage License!
One key detail for planning a Grand Teton National Park elopement is obtaining a Wyoming marriage license. Both you and your partner will have to appear in person at the Teton County Administration building in Jackson, WY with a photo ID and a completed Marriage License Questionnaire. Appointments are required and are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is no waiting period for a marriage license in Wyoming, but the county recommends making an appointment one to two business days before your wedding day to avoid any delays. The fee for a marriage license is $30.
Wyoming is not a self-solemnization state, meaning an officiant is required to perform a marriage ceremony. If you want to keep your elopement ceremony as private as possible, I am an ordained officiant and I’m happy to conduct your ceremony—I can be as hands-off as you prefer to keep the focus completely on you and your personal, private vows to each other! Alternatively, the county offers a list of local officiants, and it’s easy for a friend or family member to become ordained online for free through the Universal Life Church.
6. Elope!
With all the planning out of the way, and me on your team handling any last-minute details, all that’s left to do is marry your person and have the absolute best day ever.
Fill out my contact form below to start chatting, no matter where you are in the planning process!
