Eloping in Grand Teton?

So first let me say congratulations on beginning your elopement process! Eloping is an incredible way to celebrate your relationship in an intimate, quiet and slow paced setting. If you're one of the many who are hoping to elope in front of the breathtakingly rugged scenery the Tetons provide, but haven't ever actually been to the area, I'm here to help. 

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I think one of the first important aspects of this process I often encounter is that people unfamiliar with the area underestimate the size of the park, as well as the overall remoteness within the park boundary. Grand Teton National Park spans 484 sq miles, a little smaller than the size of Houston, TX. It's truly a wild area for the most part, with a few lodges, restrooms and picnic areas spread throughout. Many of the most popular elopement spots are along the Teton Park Road, a 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive, which runs between the south entrance of the park about 15 miles outside the town of Jackson Hole, and the Jackson Lake Junction. A few of the popular elopement spots are not on this loop but are very near the South Entrance of the park as well. To enter the park, an entrance pass is required and must be obtained upon arrival, either at an entrance gate or online. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER YOUR ELOPEMENT PERMIT. You must display this pass in your vehicle at all times. Each vehicle entering the park must have their own pass. Sometimes areas of the park do not have a designated entrance gate or a gate that is open, and in that event you must obtain a park pass online. The vehicle passes are good for 7 days and cost $35.oo for US citizens. Discounts are available for certain parties like active duty military and you'll want to ask the rangers about whether or not you qualify when you obtain your entrance pass. 

 

Nestled just outside the park boundary to the South is Jackson Hole, WY. Jackson is where you'll be able to find lodging, fine dining, shopping, skiing and much more. Although Jackson is beautiful and I highly recommend experiencing the town at least once, it is also a very expensive area. The lodging and dining options in Jackson are some of the priciest in our state and that can be understandably challenging for eloping couples hoping to maintain a budget. There are several small towns around the area if you're open to a bit of driving-- including Dubois, WY, Alpine, WY, Star Valley, WY, Victor, ID, Driggs, ID, and if you're open to driving through Yellowstone, Cody, WY is another beautiful option as well. On the day of your elopement, its a great idea to plan your meals ahead, and consider packing food into the park for the day as the options within the park are very limited. Just make sure you follow bear safety guidelines with food--the best rule of thumb is to keep it all locked inside your vehicle. 

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​Picking your elopement spot

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Almost all of the listed locations on GTNP's permitting website book very quickly, especially on highly sought out dates like weekends and holidays. Some of my personal favorite locations IN the park include Schwabacher Landing, Colter Bay, The Snake River Overlook, The Blacktail Ponds, Mormon Row, Cascade Canyon Turnout, Teton Glacier Turnout, and Taggart Lake. OUTSIDE GTNP, the Wedding Tree also has a stunning view of the Tetons but is located in Bridger Teton National Forest, so it comes with a different permitting process. Other areas within the park are also potentially available, and can be applied for in the permitting process if you provide the name of the area as well as the coordinates to the park service. When considering your elopement spot I suggest reading about the areas on sites like alltrails.com, GTNP's own website and even reddit can be a great resource too. Make sure you prepare yourself for your location's terrain and physical demands as well as the popularity of your location, keeping in mind that a permit reserves your spot but it does not mean your spot is closed to the general public in most cases, and people wandering around in every direction is a fairly common occurance in the park. It's not necessarily shoulder to shoulder busy by any means, but people are around. If you would like a chapel wedding, the park does have two gorgeous little chapels that are able to be reserved. Check them both out: The Chapel of the Transfiguration, and The Sacred Heart Chapel. Permits are NOT REQUIRED for chapel weddings. Lodges are also able to be reserved, and also DO NOT require a permit, and you can browse lodge options here. 

 

Weather Conditions
 

Weather is a VERY important factor to consider, which depending on the season can be wildly unpredictable.  Spring in Grant Teton is different than spring in most other places, as it can and most often does include large, crusty snow drifts covering the landscape the closer you get to the mountains. Spots like Cascade Canyon and Teton Glacier Turnout will definitely still have snow in late May to early June, so also consider that when thinking about how you want your portraits to look. If you want snow in your portraits but milder temps, May is a great month to look into. If you are hoping for lush, wildflower dotted mountainscapes, warmer temps and more frequent sun, consider mid-late July, August, and early September. If gorgeous autumn colors mixed in with the towering peaks and chillier temps are your thing, late September into early October would be best. Between the months of October-April in the park is definitely winter in my opinion, and will come with frequent snowstorms capable of multiple inches to multiple feet of snow in a matter of hours. As well as frequent snowstorms during winter, the Tetons themselves are often cloud covered, preventing the stunning silhouetted peaks *most* people desire in their portraits. Not to say winter elopements can't also be super beautiful and perhaps more unique at times, but I'd rather you be prepared than disappointed. 

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​​​Obtaining a Permit

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The permitting process can be intimidating but is pretty straightforward once you have picked your location. It is VERY competitive for those sought after dates like weekends and holidays, so if you want one of those make sure you are getting those permits in on the day the park starts accepting them, which for 2026 is Thursday, December 4th,2025 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time (10 a.m. Eastern). There are two different types of permits, the "Large, Site-Specific Ceremony Permit" and the "Small Dispersed Ceremony Permit". The large, site specific permit is for anyone hoping to elope with a larger group of people, most commonly limited at 25 people with the exception of Colter Bay which allows for 40 people. The small dispersed permit allows for MAXIMUM of 12 people and provides a bit more flexibility so far as locations go, as most areas in the park are available for this outside those specifically prohibited. Keep the differences between these permits in mind when making your location selection, and remember you are more likely to secure a permit if you have 12 people or less and choose a less sought out location within the park. On your permit, you will need to list ALL involved persons, including any vendors (myself as the photographer, videographers, officiants etc), guests, witnesses and of course, you, the bride + groom. Your permit will ask you about photography equipment, and if I am your only vendor you would only need to list "photographer will be carrying two camera bodies and a backpack of gear on their person" as I do not utilize any off-camera equipment, and I wear my gear at all times. Fill your permit out completely according to the park's instruction. After your application is submitted you should know within two weeks if you secured your preferred location. I can help you with any questions during this process too so don't hesitate to reach out at any point!

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​We got a Permit, What's next?

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​Next, we can get a contract written up and signed and a deposit put down. I require a non-refundable $450.00 deposit to secure and hold your date. From there, we begin planning the finer details together and I can help you with anything and everything you might need to facilitate YOUR perfect day.  One of my favorite parts of any wedding day is working to create a special experience unique to each couple. We can look at all of the local food options, floral vendors, hair & makeup, lodging and even other excursions around GTNP during your stay. At least two weeks prior to your date, I will schedule a phone call or video call with you to discuss your elopement itinerary and photo priorities. We will create a custom timeline tailored exactly to what you want your day to look like, or no timeline at all, it's truly all up to you. ​

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The Day Of

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On the day of your elopement I will arrive 30-45 min early to prep for weather and lighting etc. We will meet up and head to your ceremony spot together. During your ceremony I do my best to be a silent, observing shadow. I don't prompt you or interrupt your vows at all but I do move around you quietly to get all of the best angles. Ceremonies are only permitted for ONE hour, so that leaves us three more to explore the park and take lots of stunning bridal portraits. We will have created a plan for this in our phone call I mentioned previously, so we will travel to our first portrait location at this point. My style is a mix of natural prompts/poses with some candid style shots. I know candid style shots are very popular but I believe a healthy mix of both is important, and I am very good at creating moments that don't LOOK posed, even if they are. When we are finished, I will have a sneak peek available within 72 hours unless I tell you otherwise, but I'm usually too excited to skip this part so its very rare that you won't have a glimpse into your day very quickly. 

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Reliving the Moment

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My turnaround time runs anywhere from 6-10 weeks depending on where I am at in my wedding season. When your album is finished I will notify you personally and send you a link in an email with instructions about accessing your photos as well as recommendations about wall art, prints and more. You will have full print release for your images so that means you do not pay me for your actual photos, only the initial service price. I usually yield 450+ edited images from an elopement, often averaging much higher than that number.  

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