Grand Teton Elopement Photographer

Hi! I’m Lucy – a colorful Grand Teton Elopement Photographer here to drop my knowledge bombs on you! I’ve been to all the Grand Teton elopement locations in this epicly beautiful National Park, and I’ve got the scoop on the how, when, and everything else it takes to elope in the Grand Tetons. Read on to learn everything you need to know to plan your elopement in this stunning park.

Special Availability in 2024

I have special availability in Grand Teton and Yellowstone the week of September 10 to 17th, 2024! Contact me now for a custom package and take advantage of this incredible scenery!

Where is Grand Teton National Park?

Where to Elope in Grand Teton National Park

I have great news! All 7 of the wedding ceremony locations in Grand Tetons National Park are absolutely stunning. These are some of the prettiest National Park elopement ceremony sites in the whole country! Mountain views dominate each and every one. I’ll go over the pros and cons of each elopement site so you can decide which one is right for you! My booked clients get access to my custom map of Grand Tetons, with all the ceremony sites, dispersed sites, and photo locations visible on the map.

Schwabacher’s Landing Elopements

Mormon Row Elopement Locations

Two historic barns make up “Mormon Row” at the southeast edge of the park, closest to Jackson and the Gros Ventre area. Both are popular with photographers in early morning, and hold a steady trickle of tourists throughout the day. Birdlife and ground squirrels are common here, but there isn’t much chance for big wildlife viewing.

Dispersed Ceremonies in Grand Teton

If you have less than 12 people, including kids, guests, yourselves and your officiant & photographer – you can apply for a “dispersed” ceremony permit at any location within the park, with the exception of the 7 designated ceremony sites, Jenny Lake, or Hidden falls and Inspiration Point. You must provide a detailed description of the site you are requesting, so having someone on your team with knowledge of the best sites is key! I’ve been all over and have scouted some incredible dispersed ceremony sites for those of you wanting a uniquely beautiful elopement location in the Grand Tetons.

How to Elope in Grand Teton National Park

To marry, have a vow renewal, or elope in Grand Teton National Park, you will need to reserve one of the 7 ceremony sites with a Special Use Permit (“S.U.P.”) from the National Park. This permit costs $200 and can be downloaded here. You need to apply at LEAST 30 days in advance, and be patient, allowing 7-10 days for the park to review your request. Applications for 2024 will be accepted beginning on December 4, 2023, at 8:00 am MST.

Your photographer and videographer are covered under your ceremony permit and do not need a separate permit.

Step by Step guide to eloping in Grand Teton

Follow these steps to planning your Grand Teton elopement, and it will be a breeze! In addition to your SUP from the park, you will need a Wyoming state marriage license to make your marriage legal. You’ll want to visit the Teton County courthouse in Jackson, Wyoming, to pick up your $30 marriage license.
1. Hire a knowledgeable Grand Teton elopement photographer FIRST.
2. Collaborate with your photographer on a ceremony location & time and apply for the SUP.
3. Book your accommodation & hire any additional vendors – an officiant, florist, etc. I’ll send you recommendations!
4. Pick up your elopement outfits, marriage license, and elope!

When to elope at Grand Teton National Park

Because of the park’s high elevation, this park experiences a bitterly cold and snowy winter, and the main park road closes for much of the year. Plan for an elopement between June and September for the best weather, scenery, and access. Late June is a sweet spot, with massive wildflower blooms and beautiful greenery. September brings fall colors to the mountains, with cool temps and the elk rut. As always, you should plan to elope on a weekday rather than a Saturday or Sunday for maximum privacy and access. And you should start planning well in advance, since the ceremony slots book up quickly in this popular season.

Best time of day for photography at Grand Teton

Most of the time, I don’t care what time your ceremony takes place when you elope, since I am confident in capturing all hours of the day well. But, there is something to be said for the BEST time of day, which is undoubtedly sunrise. The east-facing mountain range towers over the valley, awash with orange, pink, and purple hues of first light. Mornings are calm, free from afternoon thunderstorm risk, and offer the best chance to see wildlife. If morning isn’t your thing, that’s ok – the park is stunning at any hour.

Great Locations for Elopement Photographers in Grand Teton

Outside of the designated 7 elopement ceremony sites, there are TONS of amazing photo locations throughout the park. You can visit any number of them before or after your ceremony! Most offer a chance to see wildlife, hike, and be immersed in the mountain scenery. Be sure to visit signal mountain, the horses at JP Cunningham cabin, and hidden falls. Jenny lake is the most popular place in the park, and crowds flock to this lake for its boat tours. The other lakes: Jackson, Blacktail, Bradley, Taggart, and Delta are incredibly scenic too, and offer more solitude.

Grand Teton Elopement Timeline Example

The perfect timeline will look different for each couple. If you’d like me to create a blueprint for you, just get in touch! Here is a hypothetical timeline for an epic full day adventure elopement in Grand Teton National Park. I don’t recommend anything shorter than a full day – after all, you’re going to be traveling from quite a ways to be there.

6:00 Sunrise first look at Schwabacher’s Landing. Look for moose together and take portraits in front of the mountains.
7:00 Charcuterie breakfast – cold cuts, crackers & cheese, veggies & dip and fruit
8:00 Have a dispersed ceremony in a field of wildflowers overlooking the mountains.
9:30 Take the scenic boat tour of Jenny Lake. Look for otters and enjoy the fresh air.
11:00 Eat a hot lunch at the Jenny Lake Lodge.
12:30 Go for a horseback ride, hike to Bradley lake, or take a scenic drive looking for Bison and Grizzlies.
Stroll hand in hand around Jackson lake and rent SUPs, or just take a dip!
5:00 Pizza and huckleberry Ice Cream at the shore.
7:00 Sunset first dance at the historic barns
8:30 Tent photos and smores at your campfire
9:30 Epic astrophotography over your tent as you settle in for the night.

Do I need an Officiant to elope in Grand Teton National Park?

In Wyoming, an officiant is required to make your ceremony legal. You can hire one, opt for a friend to become ordained, or use your photographer as your officiant, if they are ordained and prepared, which I am! This could save on costs and allow your plan to be more flexible, since having an appointment with your officiant will lock you into a timeline.

How much does it cost to Elope in Grand Teton?

You could have an incredible and affordable elopement here if you are aiming to be thrifty. If you’d like to do it up and make your elopement into your dream honeymoon too, the Grand Tetons is a great place with good bang for your buck. Accommodation may take up the biggest share of your budget – that and how spendy you want to be with your outfits. Here’s a sample budget breakdown for an elopement in Grand Teton:

Grand Teton Elopement Budget

$30 Wyoming Marriage License
$200 National Park Special Use Permit
$500 to $5000 Elopement garments and accessories
$600 to $2500 Your Accommodation for a weekend
$5000 to $9000 A great Grand Tetons elopement photographer & planner
$400 Optional Hair & makeup
$300 Food, drinks, snacks and cake
$400 to $800 Professional officiant (optional)
$400 Flowers
=$7230 to $17,230

Where to stay in Grand Teton National Park in 2024?

There are 4 park lodges plus a few ranches, campgrounds and cabins inside the park. You can also browse my list of Grand teton Airbnbs for inspiration. Try Triangle X ranch, white grass ranch, and lost creek ranch for an authentic wild west experience. The Jenny Lake Lodge, Headwaters, Signal mountain lodge, Jackson Lake lodge and the cabins & glamping tents at Colter Bay are closest to the National Park because they are inside the park.

What to do during your Grand Teton Elopement

The amount of awesome experiences that await you here is almost endless! There is something for everyone at this park. Jackson lake offers the chance to kayak, SUP, swim, or charter a boat cruise on the sparkling water. The ranches offer trail rides on horseback or you can take a raft ride down the snake river. Wildlife watching, birdwatching, hiking, bike touring, and scenic drives are easy ways to spend a day in this fantastic landscape. And all of them are surrounded by glorious mountain peaks. You should definitely plan times and places to eat your favorite foods, and the nightlife in Jackson, WY is pretty hoppin’.

Make me your Grand Teton Elopement Photographer!

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