The Ultimate Guide to Eloping and Intimate Weddings in Grand Teton National Park in 2022
Eloping and Intimate Weddings can be an incredibly unique, private, and surreal experience – especially somewhere as beautiful as Grand Teton National Park.
Oftentimes eloping means insanely gorgeous views and an all-around peaceful atmosphere that allows you to focus on each other. While big Weddings have a lot to offer, I personally love elopements and small loved ones (family and friend) focused weddings.
As a photographer, I’ve experienced firsthand the magic that happens at elopements and I’m excited to share this guide with you on eloping in Grand Teton National Park. This park has so much to offer, and I would love to give you a peek into it!
Index:
o Best Spots for Eloping inside and outside of Grand Teton National Park
o The Permit Process for Eloping in Grand Teton National Park
o Things to Consider While You are Planning Your Elopement or Intimate Wedding
o Marriage Licenses in Wyoming
o Step by Step to Elope at the Tetons
Glacier View Turnout
Best Spots for Eloping in Grand Teton National Park
So what makes Grand Teton National Park special? This natural masterpiece offers various backdrops and landscapes for elopements from moody waterfalls to dreamy open fields with mountain backdrops. I curated a few spots you’ll want to consider when planning your elopement at Grand Teton:
1. Mormon Row North and South
If you’re looking to have a flat and open space for your ceremony and still indulge in incredible mountain views – this could be the spot for you! The historical spot is very popular for elopements, so be sure to get your permit and book this site well in advance. It also tends to get crowded, so if you’re wanting to book this spot, opt for a weekday ceremony. There are two locations, a North and South location. Both have spectacular views of the Tetons, have access to a parking lot, vault/pit toilet, and have gravel/unpaved trails. Both of these sites are slightly busy in the morning, very busy midday, and moderately busy in the evening. For more information on this site, click here or reach out, I am happy to answer any questions! I love this site, and would recommend a morning elopement or intimate wedding, as ceremony’s don’t have exclusive access to these locations.
2. Schwabacher’s Landing – For 2022, all spots are filled
This particular spot is one of the most popular for elopements and for good reason! It has absolutely spectacular views at sunrise, perfect for couples looking to have an early day. This spot features a beautiful winding river, mountain and water views, and is full of luscious greenery and meadows. Absolutely gorgeous! Which is why it fills up fast. This spot has access to a parking lot with 20 spots, a vault/pit toilet, and has some benches! In the park, we are not allowed to bring seating unless necessary, and so having benches is rare! Plus, they are pretty photogenic. This spot is almost completely full for 2022 within a week of releasing the permit system, so I would advise applying for this location sooner than later. For more information on this location, click here or reach out! This site is busy all morning, day, and evening. This site is also seasonal.
3. Glacier View Turnout
I absolutely adore this location! This is a great location year round and has absolutely jaw-dropping views of the Tetons. Personally, this is one of my top locations that I just love. It has a flat/level surface, gravel and informal trails, a parking lot, and is accessible all year! There are no seats or shade here, so make sure everyone in your party is comfortable. This location is not busy in the morning, slightly busy midday, and moderately busy in the evening. For more information on this location, click here or reach out! I personally love this location and would be happy to answer any questions!
For Winter Elopements and intimate weddings, I would recommend bringing snowshoes! You can get by without them, but you have to stay pretty close to the road, so bring those snowshoes, and let’s adventure! Click Here to see my top tips for Winter Elopements!
4. Mountain View Turnout
This location offers strong views and bring a certain feeling of serenity and peace. The towering Tetons mixed with greenery offers the perfect combination for a lovely wedding day. It is also one of the less busy spots within the park, offering more intimacy than some other locations. There are paved pathways making it very accessible, and offers a larger parking lot than some of the other locations. There is no pit toilet/vault, and does not have any seating or tables. This location is not busy in the morning, slightly busy in the afternoon, and not busy in the evening. If you are looking for a location that you will be most secluded from other visitors, this is the location for you! For more information, click here or reach out! I strongly recommend this location!
5. Snake River Turnout
This location combines views of the river and the Tetons, in a way that is completely artistic. This location is so beautiful, I think that it rivals Schwabachers Landing. There is a small parking lot, paved pathways, and is accessible all year. I have not been to this location in the Winter, and so am unable to speak to it. But it is absolutely stunning and easily accessible. This location does not have any pit/vault toilets or seating. It is slightly busy in the mornings, moderately busy midday, and not busy in the evenings. For more information, click here or reach out!
6. Colter Bay
Have you dreamed of getting married on a rocky beach with looming mountains overhead? If so, this location is for you! Breathtaking does not even begin to describe it! Because it is so stunning, they do have less spots for elopements or intimate weddings than the other locations. Colter Bay offers 30 elopements or weddings rather than the usual 60. More on that below in the Permit process. But this location does offer flushing toilets, large parking lots, and does have some trees. So there are so many ideal and perfect things at this location! I wouldn’t let the limited spots deter you! Generally it is not busy in the mornings, very busy during the midday, and moderately busy in the evening. I would recommend a morning ceremony, as permits do not provide any exclusivity. For more information on this location, click here or reach out!
Alternatives to eloping or having an intimate wedding in Grand Teton National Park
7. Wedding Trees – Bridger National Forest
This beautiful spot is located on a shady hill while a view of the valley and the Tetons unfolds in front of you. It is a little bit outside of the Grand Teton National Park, and so you can get those amazing views while enjoying a less busy spot. From personal experience, I would say that this location can get moderately busy at times, but most of the times that I have been there, one or two people/small groups have floated around. There is a tiny parking lot, and so I would consider parking somewhere else and shuttling in to this beautiful and remote location.
The Permit process for this location is relatively simple, for over 75 people you need a permit, for under 75 people you do not need a permit. For both, you do need to call the office and make a reservation. This location requires no use of confetti, rice, birdseed, and no caterers, tent rentals etc. If you are looking for a remote and off-the-beaten-path location where you can just celebrate your love for each other, this is the place for you. For more information on this place and the restrictions, click here or reach out! This is my other favorite location and so I would highly recommend looking at it!
8. Alternative Locations
As an alternative to getting married inside the forest in the National Park, I would recommend looking at all of the different venues around in the area. There are so many amazing locations that have beautiful views, are easy to work with, and provide weather alternatives. Some of the venues have cabins as well, making it easy for the entire wedding party to be in the same location as each other, as well as the same location for the ceremony! Some of my recommendations are below, I absolutely love these venues! Let me know if you have any questions!
Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club
The Gallery Below was a wedding at Spring Creek Ranch.
- These Images were captured with Foxtails Photography as photography assistant
What You Need to Know When Planning
1. Permits
As of January 2022, there have been some important updates for obtaining your permit to get married at Grand Teton National Park!
Most important to note of these changes: you will need to apply for a permit a minimum of 30 days in advance to allow time for processing. If you already know which site you’d like to have your ceremony, the earlier you apply the more likely you are guaranteed a spot as they are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Group size will be restricted to 25 people at most sites and up to 40 at others (like Mormon Row where there are more vast open spaces). The majority of places restrict to 25 people and offer 60 weddings there a year.
-60 at each location, so a total of 330 elopements and intimate weddings a year.
-Colter Bay is an exception, they only offer 30 elopements or intimate weddings a year.
-Mormon Row has 2 locations and offers 30 elopements or intimate weddings at each location, totaling 60 at Mormon Row.
Please also note that it is required for photographers to obtain a separate permit, which must be done in advance as well. When you apply for your own permit for the location, I would recommend already having a photographer booked so that they will be able to apply for permits at the same time.
To sum it all up, I would recommend picking your location as one of your first steps and applying for a permit there at least 30 days before your date. I would also recommend booking with your photographer about the same time as you apply for your permit, as photographers have a separate permit to apply for as well. Further below, I have some steps laid out to make it easier! Feel free to read that section or reach out to me with any questions!
Feel free to visit the National Park Website for more detailed information on permits.
2. Coordinating the time of day + looking at the weather
As a photographer, I can certainly tell you that timing is everything! Coordinating the right time of day can bring benefits such as better lighting for your photographs, and more privacy away from crowds of visitors.
You’ll typically want to plan for weekdays if you want more privacy at your ceremony for an elopement at park locations. Weekends work as well, they are just busier! But if you have permits and reservations, things will shake out!
Sunset and sunrise are typically the best lightings for photography, but of course, your ceremony can be any time of day you prefer.
<h2> Times of the Year </h2>
Autumn has proven to be one of the best seasons to get married at Grand Teton with milder weather compared to Summer and Winter and stunning fall foliage throughout the park. Although Summer can have beautiful weather and bright open skies, prepare to encounter visitors. Personally, I think that all times of the year are the best time to be in Grand Teton National Park. Each season has something unique to offer!
3. Apply for your marriage license + elope!
Did you know that in Wyoming there is no waiting period and you can pick up your marriage license and get married the same day? There is a Clerk’s Office right outside the national park in Jackson Hole, where you can apply for your marriage license in person. Make sure to bring your photo ID, the marriage questionnaire which can be located on their website, and payment which will be $30.
This beautiful wedding was held at the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club.
- These images were captured with Foxtails Photography as photography assistant
Step by Step on Planning an Elopement or Intimate Wedding in Grand Teton National Park
1.Pick your Elopement Date.
This is the first step in the process. The easiest way to do this is by picking a date and then deciding on vendors, but sometimes it makes more sense to pick your vendors and select your date based on their availability. Personally, I suggest brainstorming with your significant other about your dream wedding and then using that to plan your day. Unsure of how to make your wedding day dream come about? Contact me! I would love to explore all of the possibilities for your wedding day with you! I want you to have the best day of your life, and I’m here to make that happen however I can!
2. Pick your Elopement or Intimate Wedding Photographer.
There are so many reasons why this should be in the top steps of your elopement planning. As a photographer, we have a solid list of good vendor recommendations, location recommendations, lighting recommendations, and activities recommendations. Having all of these ideas of how to make your dream a reality makes it a lot easier on you!
I offer a complimentary planning session, where we come together and chat! I get to know you two, what is most important to you and makes you guys click, and what you’re hoping for getting out of your special day! After that, I draft a customized proposal of what your day could look like, activity suggestions based on getting to know you two, and several backup options. We go back and forth until we finalize the dream day for you two. After that, I send over vendor suggestions, and help you book your dream vendors and all other logistics! Having someone go through the process with you makes everything significantly easier and stress-free! Interested in booking with me? Head on over to my packages page!
3. Finalize Plans.
Once you have your photographer booked, get a finalized plan for your day. If you book with me, I will go through every step with you! If not, use these three steps below:
1. Dream up what you what your day to look like!
2. Pick your location!
3. Pick other Vendors such as:
a. Hair and Makeup Artist
b. Florals Vendor
c. Officiant
d. Any other vendors, such as Mountain guides, River guides, Helicopter pilots, etc.
4. Obtaining all Permits and Licenses Necessary.
After your day is planned and finalized, obtain your permits! I would suggest doing this step at about the same time as booking all of your vendors. I outlined above the Permits needed to Elope in Grand Teton National Park and all of the details with that. I’ll also send you a checklist if you book with me, to help keep all of this straight! Book your permits or location as soon as you can, that way you have reservations! I also outline this step early on, so that if something comes up we can move on to the backup plans with plenty of time.
At this step, I also suggest finalizing all travel accommodations. Things fill up fast out here, so sooner is better than later! Contact me for any help with this, as a local I know the ins and outs of traveling out here!
5. Elope and Get Married at the Base of the Tetons!
The days leading up to your wedding, I will double check everything! Including all of the backup plans! All you have to do is step back, and enjoy the day!
Now that you’ve learned of some beautiful ceremony spots at the park and what it takes to put together your elopement, it’s time to start preparing! Are you ready for the most magical and unforgettable day with the love of your life? I’d love to capture it! Contact me or visit my website to learn more about my Elopement and Intimate Wedding Packages. I would love to work with you!
Some Additional Sources
https://www.rockymountainbride.com/blog/36-jackson-wedding-venues-wyoming-weddings/
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