Grand Teton Elopement Guide - Elope at Grand Teton National Park

From winding rivers through valleys of evergreens, to pink sunrises against towering mountains, Grand Teton National Park is full of beautiful landscapes. For many adventurous couples,  a Grand Teton elopement is the perfect way to tie the knot! 

From choosing the day you'll say "I do" to picking the perfect spot for your ceremony, I’ve got you covered! This guide will help you figure out all the details, and tell you everything you need to know to get married in Grand Teton National Park.

Weather & Seasons at Grand Teton National Park

Choosing the date of your elopement is an important step in planning your perfect wedding day. Here’s what you can expect throughout the year, and things you can do in each season!

Winter Elopements at Grand Teton National Park

Snow drapes the Grand Tetons in the winter, making for a magical experience. Though most of the roads and campgrounds are closed, winter is the best time for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing - if you're the adventurous type, there's primitive winter camping near the Colter Bay Visitor Center in the winter. Since a lot of the park is closed to cars, there aren't as many people around which means, while you can't have your ceremony here, some of the best photo locations are a lot more private!

Spring Elopements at Grand Teton National Park

During the spring, there's usually still a bit of snow, so many roads don't open up until May 1st. You can still go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing early in the season, or wait until later in the season when you can go hiking and have your ceremony at the park.

Summer Elopements at Grand Teton National Park

Summer in the Grand Tetons is a perfect time for an elopement. In higher elevations, you might still find some snow, but by late July it's usually all melted - meaning it's a great time to hike any of the trails in the park! The warmer weather means more crowds at the park, so to get some more privacy, plan for a sunrise or sunset elopement, and try to pick a date that falls on a weekday.

Fall Elopements at Grand Teton National Park

Fall is a great time to elope in Grand Teton National Park - oranges and reds begin to frame the mountains, creating an unforgettable landscape! If you visit in September, you'll be able to see the park before it's covered in snow, but after the height of crowds have left the park after Labor Day. A fall elopement means there will still be moderate weather for hiking in Grand Teton - check out Paintbrush Canyon or the Teton Crest Trail!

Grand Teton Elopement Locations

At Grand Teton National Park, if your ceremony is less than 12 people, you can have your ceremony anywhere - however, even with a smaller ceremony, if you’re hiring a photographer (which you should!), you’re still limited to the pre-approved locations.

If you have your heart set on a certain spot that's not on this list, we can definitely adventure around the park to take photos after the ceremony. Here are the 6 locations where you can have your Grand Teton National Park elopement.

Schwabacher Landing

Sitting on the edge of the beaver ponds, Schwabacher Landing is one of the most beautiful elopement locations in Grand Teton National Park. The Teton Range perfectly reflects in the clear alpine lakes on a clear day, and they shine as the sunrise hits them each morning. This location is the least busy midday, but it's worth it to say your vows at one of the best sunrise views in Grand Teton!

Mormon Row

Once home to two settler farmers, Mormon Row is a historic site that gives visitors a look into the early 1900s western farming community. The historic buildings are set on wide-open fields, with views of the eastern front of the Tetons in the background. The North features an adorable pink stucco house and the South has a rustic wooden barn - both perfect backdrops for any elopement. Shoot for a sunrise or sunset elopement to avoid the crowds here, since this is a popular spot for other park visitors!

Mountain View Turnout

A field of flowers coupled with a view of the Grand Tetons in the background makes any elopement feel like a fairy tale. This location is usually much less busy, so you don't have to worry about crowds! 

Glacier View View Turnout

At Glacier View Turnout, you'll find an unobstructed view of 3 of the Grand Tetons’ incredible glaciers - Middle, Teepee, and Teton Glaciers. Saying your vows in a field of sagebrush with the Tetons behind you is really a dream come true for any couple. 

Snake River Overlook

One of the most popular locations in the Grand Tetons is Snake River Overlook - with the curves of the Snake River and the Grand Tetons in the distance, it's not hard to see why! A sunrise elopement will help you avoid the crowds, and if you're lucky, you might even get some pink clouds and the moon setting behind the Tetons.

Colter Bay Swim Beach

If you've always dreamed of a lakeside wedding, look no further than Colter Bay Swim Beach. The rocky shores of Jackson Lake are the perfect location to say "I do." There are views of the Tetons in the distance and who doesn't love a beach wedding? This is one of two swim beaches at Grand Teton National Park, so it’s great if you want to get in the water!

How to Get Legally Married During Your Grand Teton Elopement

Now that you've thought about when and where you want to have your elopement, it's time to do a bit of legal stuff to make your marriage official. In Wyoming, couples are required to show up to the county clerk's office together to pick up their marriage license. When you go to pick up your license, you'll need to bring your ID, a filled-out copy of Wyoming's Marriage License Questionnaire, and $30. There's no waiting period in Wyoming, so as soon as you get your license, you're ready to have your ceremony!

The closest office to Grand Teton National Park is in Jackson, WY. You'll need to make an appointment to get your license, and because it's a popular place for people to say "I do," make your appointment early and give yourself a little time before your ceremony in case you run into any hiccups in the process.

To make your marriage official, you need to have an officiant and two witnesses to sign your license. An officiant can be anybody who is legally able to officiate a wedding, so you can hire somebody or have someone you know get ordained through the Universal Life Church!

Grand Teton Wedding Permits

Having your ceremony at Grand Teton National Park isn't as simple as showing up and saying your vows. On top of paying your entrance fee, you'll need to get 2 types of permits to have a Grand Teton elopement - a Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony Permit and a Portrait Service Commercial Use Authorization Permit (CUA) - so let's talk about how to get those.

To get into Grand Teton National Park, each car must pay an entrance fee of $35 and your pass is good for 7 days. If you have an America The Beautiful Pass, it'll waive your entrance fees to the park - the pass costs $80 and gets you into every national park in the country for an entire year!

For all wedding photos, you'll need a $300 Portrait Service CUA permit. Your photographer will need to apply for this permit at least 30 days before your ceremony. For the ceremony, you'll need a reserved site-specific ceremony permit for $200. You'll need to apply at least 30 days in advance, so I'd suggest applying as soon as you set your date - the NPS accepts applications starting in February each year.

Grand Teton Elopement Packages

You want a wedding day that's as unique as your love, and I understand how important it is to make it special! My Grand Teton elopement packages are designed to help you plan a day that's stress-free and all about you.

From location recommendations to planning a timeline, to navigating the unique and kinda confusing permit requirements, I'll be with you every step of the way to make sure you have the best day ever! If you're ready to elope at Grand Teton National Park, or want to learn more about my elopement packages, contact me!

Also check out this LGBTQ+ wedding in the Grand Tetons that I blogged HERE.

5 Epic Locations to Elope in the United States

I’m going to get straight to the point—here are some of the dreamiest places to elope in the US.

1. Grand Teton National Park

Grand teton national park was one of the first places that truly took my breath away.

I have photographed here in the summer and in the winter and it is gorgeous no matter the time of the year.

The Teton mountain range is just INSANE and there are so many spots in the Grand Tetons to have an elopement. Jenny Lake, Glacier View, Schwabacher’s landing, Mormon Row, etc.

You can stay in Jackson or the Teton Village while you’re there! Jackson feels a lot like a “big small town”. It has the small town feels but there is still so much to do there!

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall—elope here!!

2. Moab, UT

Three words: arches. national. park.

Okay, there are other reasons why Moab, UT is one of the best places to elope. While I absolutely LOVE Arches National Park—there are TWO OTHER parks right by Moab, Utah! All three of the parks are;

Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Dead Horse State Park

That’s THREE parks you can visit all in one town. What?! All of my clients end up having a week long adventure in Moab because there is so much to see! This is a perfect town for a multi-day elopement if you want to check out multiple parks.

And there is so much to do here in Moab! Canyoneering, horseback riding, vintage shopping, off roading, whitewater rafting, stargazing, and so much more.

I get so excited every single time I get to go to this gorgeous little town.

I’d recommend eloping here in the spring and fall! It can get really hot in the summer and also snows in the winter! Unless that’s what you’re looking for—then go for it!

3. Sedona, AZ

Sedona is seriously one of my favorite places for couples to elope.

1. There’s SO much to do here! Helicopter tours, epic dinners, fortune telling, hiking, off roading, cliff jumping, the list goes on and on. I’ve had so many of my couples book a week in Sedona when they get married! They’re able to elope in one of the coolest spots and then have a week long trip FULL of adventure.

2. The weather! You can elope here pretty much year round. Though the summers can be pretty hot! But the winters are usually pretty mild. And if you’re lucky, there’s sometimes a blanket of snow in Sedona in the winter. There’s nothing more beautiful than a light dusting of snow contrasted with the beautiful red rock of Sedona! Spring and Fall are so gorgeous in Sedona and the best time to elope!

3. I have an entire blog on how to elope at my FAVORITE spot in Sedona! Check it out HERE. I also blogged an entire wedding from Merry Go Round Rock—click HERE to read it and see what your wedding day can look like!

4. Page, AZ

Look at this picture. Do I need to say more?

Similar to Moab, UT (as stated above) Page, AZ has SO many sites to see!

I’m talking about Horseshoe Bend

Lake Powell

Antelope Canyon

And even the Grand Canyon isn’t too far from Page, Arizona!

Horseshoe Bend is actually where my husband and I eloped! (And took our engagement photos) So, I may be a bit biased. But seriously, Page Arizona is GORGEOUS!

Photos taken by KMT Photos

It’s a small town but there is so much to see and do! You can even stay in this traditional Navajo hut HERE.

You can take a tour of the incredible Antelope Canyon, you can even take a boat down to the bottom of Horseshoe Bend. What?! So cool! You can do horseback riding, helicopter tours, or rent a house boat and ride around Lake Powell.

This small town has a lot to offer!

5. Literally anywhere in Colorado

Pull off the side of the road and elope

Okay, maybe I am simplifying it a little bit…but seriously! Everywhere you go—Colorado is just breathtaking. Here are some places you can elope in that are so dreamy;

Estes Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Garden of the Gods

Durango, CO

Telluride, CO

And in Colorado you can LITERALLY HAVE YOUR DOG MARRY YOU!! I don’t think I need to say any more.

But I will.

In Colorado you literally don’t need anyone to marry you! And you don’t need witnesses! Why doesn’t EVERY state do this? I have no idea.

This is probably my favorite reason to elope in Colorado! It makes it so easy for you two to be able to have a “100% just you two” experience. No friends, no family—just me! Lol!

Colorado is also pretty much an “all year round” elopement destination! Yes, it snows in the winter, and yes it can be hot in the summer. But everything is so accessible! It makes it super easy to have a beautiful snowy wedding! Fall and spring are also stunning in Colorado.

Part of what I do for my couples is help them pick the BEST location for THEM! All of my packages are all inclusive so that you’re able to travel anywhere in the United States for your elopement. Whether you want to share your vows by a lake in the mountains or in a lush, tropical forest—I got you. Click HERE and fill out my contact form for a free elopement consultation! Let’s plan your next epic adventure.

4 Tips to Choosing the Best Elopement Location

My husband and I eloped last year, and it was incredible. We had always wanted to go to Iceland or Ireland, elope in the wild, and then have our honeymoon right after. Instead, we ended up getting married at Horseshoe Bend in Arizona because it was closer to home, and left us more time to relax. Our elopement was amazing, and I’m so happy we decided NOT to have a traditional wedding. Elopements are my favorite thing to shoot, and a lot of eloping couples have a hard time narrowing down a location. I’m spilling all my secrets today! Here are my top 4 tips to choosing the best elopement location - and they might surprise you! 

First, I wanted to explain why we opted for an Arizona elopement instead of heading across the Atlantic. We had picked Horseshoe Bend for our engagement photos. We had never been there before, but it looked amazing and we wanted to go somewhere cool and explore.

On the day of our engagement shoot, it was rainy and a bit stormy, but we started hiking anyway. Within a few minutes it got SO cold, but we went for it cause we were committed! Once we arrived at our pre-planned location, we got set up, and our photographer started shooting.

Me + my hubs on our elopement day. Photo by KMT Photos

For like, all of two minutes. All of a sudden there was a torrential downpour! We ran back to our car while water rushed everywhere around us, lightning struck down from the sky and hit the ground around us, and crazy, tornado-style winds threatened to blow us off the cliff…

I thought I was going to die. It still makes me anxious thinking about it. LOL. We only got about five photos, but since we had planned this whole trip just for the engagement shoot, we said NAH. We went back the next day for a reshoot and got fun, awesome photos. 

I didn’t want to have a tainted image of Horseshoe Bend, and we wanted our elopement to be someplace special, so we went back there to get married. On our elopement day, it was the perfect, perfect day. It was so calm, slightly warm with a gentle breeze, and the sun was shining. It was all in stark contrast to our previous visit, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. 

You may be thinking, “Rebekah, cool story - but what does this have to do with our elopement?!” 

Hang tight - and keep reading. 

Here are my Top 4 Elopement Location Planning Tips: 

1. Weather

It’s super important to look at what the weather’s going to be like for the location you want to elope in. Obviously if you’re not local to a particular area you won’t know what the weather is going to be like, but that’s why it’s a good idea to do some research ahead of time. 

Also - what do you want out of the weather on your elopement day? 

Are you hoping for a warm sunny day? Do you want to elope in the Grand Tetons in the snow? Even if you DO want snow, you may not want to be completely snowed out! I lived in Wyoming for a year, and when it snows you can’t get anywhere. A nice fluffy layer of snow is cute and pretty, but most people don’t want to be in a white out or blizzard on their elopement day. 

2. Time of the Year 

Think about what time of year you want to elope. You have a bit more flexibility when planning an elopement than you do with a traditional wedding. 

You don’t have to elope within the month, and you also don’t have to wait 2 years. You can elope anytime you want - just make sure that the time of the year or season works for you. 

3. Hiking Elopements 

To hike or not to hike? 

You may see gorgeous mountain elopements and envision yourself doing just that, but a lot of the time it’s a 14 mile hike both ways. If that’s what you want to do, then totally go for it! But consider how much you might be hiking, and whether or not you’re comfortable with that.

Some people want to drive and then just have a short walk instead of a day-long hike. 

Be mindful of the location you’re choosing and how much hiking is involved. Also, is a hike something that really speaks to you and that you want to incorporate into your elopement? 

I offer 2 day elopements if you want to hike somewhere awesome, camp out, and then hike the next day and elope at sunrise. :) 

This Zion elopement required some hiking, but it was SO worth it!

With hiking in a very specific place, you can always ask your photographer for suggestions. If you’ve narrowed down a general area (for example Zion or Yosemite), you can ask your photographer to help you pick a specific spot to elope in. 

Yosemite National Park is a super popular elopement location. It’s beautiful, but it’s SO busy. If you’re comfortable with it not being quite so private, though, then it’s a great spot! 

When we got married at Horseshoe Bend, it was so busy! We even ventured off the main stretch to get away from the crowds, but there were still so many people there. Despite the unexpected guests, we still had a gorgeous day! I’ll be the first to admit though, that it was a little distracting. I prefer more privacy for myself, and I like to have privacy for my couples as well. If you’re a very private person and don’t want the world watching while you tie the knot, that’s something to keep in mind. 

Popular Elopement Spots

You can also have your ceremony in a secluded, private spot and then go elsewhere for photos. If there’s an epic elopement location that you’ve seen and love, it’s not to say that you can’t go there if it’s busy. It may just be a better option to go there after your ceremony in case you run into hikers or people passing by.

4. Elopement Locations -

A new place vs. someplace special 

For your elopement, you have two options: 

1. Pick a place that you’ve always wanted to go to, OR 

2. Pick a place that’s really special to the two of you. 

Someplace special to the two of you 

For example: If you got engaged while on vacation in Ireland, or Redwood National Forest. If that’s your special spot and that’s where you want to get married, awesome! 

If you love Colorado and it’s sentimental to the two of you, then you can absolutely choose that as your elopement location!

Going somewhere you’ve always wanted to go:

I’m a big fan of eloping at a dream destination, because you can just turn it right into your honeymoon! 

If you’ve always wanted to visit Morocco, then that might end up being an epic elopement location for you!

You can elope, celebrate, and then immediately start your honeymoon. You can also have your photographer take cute honeymoon photos the next day. Picture the two of you just chilling, playing on the beach together, exploring… 

To narrow down your elopement location - you don’t have to pick an exact spot! 

Reach out to your photographer and let them in on your must-have list. If you want to hike, but don’t want to hike 20 miles, put it on your list. If you want to get married when it’s cool outside, but not snowing - add it to the list. If you have dream destinations on your list but aren’t sure if it will be perfect for you since you’ve never been, ask your photographer for advice. Elopement photographers are also elopement planners, so you can get way more help with making sure your day is perfect. 

I hope these top 4 secrets to choosing the best elopement locations were helpful! If you need some elopement inspo, contact me and I can help you plan your epic dream elopement! 

Arizona Sunset Bridal Shoot | Talyn and Kenny

Our bridal shoot with Talyn and Kenny was nothing short of magic. Not only are they hilarious and absolutely adorable together, we had one heck of an evening! 

From meeting a cow to being gifted a Bible from a drunken stranger, this Arizona sunset bridal shoot was one to remember! 

My hubby Trevor came along with me for the shoot, and we met Talyn and Kenny close to sunset. They looked amazing in their suit and wedding dress, and Kenny was killing it with his GQ-style poses. There were a ton of bugs (I would say there were killing it too), but we had a blast anyway! 

I love hunting for amazing locations for my couples, and I love shooting in state parks. For Talyn and Kenny’s bridal shoot, we went to a gorgeous creek. There was a lush, perfect grassy bank along a babbling brook, and the light was amazing. We were the only ones there (or so we thought!). It was so calm and serene. We then stumbled upon Milky the cow, who we later realized is a boy…(can you guess how we figured that out?!). We found his name hilarious, because he obviously doesn’t produce milk…so I said he’s more “Milk-ish”. LOL

Talyn and Kenny were loving their time together and took every opportunity to snuggle, kiss, and twirl. They were also happy to flip each other off with their ring fingers (which had us all laughing our asses off). They were pure magic together, and it was so awesome to be able to spend time with them.

That’s why I love bridal shoots and always recommend them, especially if you have a hectic timeline on your wedding day. It gives you a chance to spend some quality time together and get amazing, fun photos. 

Not sure what a bridal session is? Or are you hoping to include one in your wedding package, but not sure if it’s worth it? This is why a sunset bridal shoot is a must - and why you deserve it. 

We finished the shoot as the sun went down. As we were getting ready to leave, a car full of strangers pulled up to us. One guy started talking to us and it was immediately obvious that he was drunk. He was rambling and kind of freaked us out a bit, and then said to one of the other guys in the car, “yo yo yo, give me my bible!” Naturally we freaked out a little bit more!

Talyn and Kenny, still in their wedding outfits, watched with us as one of his buddies opened the trunk of the car and pulled out an ornate wooden box. Drunk Guy #1 opened the lid of the box to reveal a beautiful, white leather, gold embossed bible. 

He handed it to Talyn and Kenny and said, “this is your wedding gift!” He told the four of us (as we stood there dumbfounded) about his 4 marriages, and left us with very sage (albeit very drunk) relationship advice. With that, he left with his buddies, we breathed a sigh of relief, and then we proceeded to laugh hysterically at the randomness of it all. 

The setting sun was shining on the bible box, so I got one last shot of Talyn and Kenny holding their new wedding gift. We headed home, a night of randomness and hilarity coming full circle. I seriously could not have asked for a better evening, and I’m so glad that Trevor and I got to spend time with Talyn and Kenny to make (and experience) some magic. 

If you loved this Arizona sunset bridal shoot, then check out this Wyoming bridal shoot in Grand Teton National Park! 

You can also get more tips about planning your wedding day here on my blog!

Bridal Session in The Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming Wedding Photographer

A childhood friend hit me up on Facebook and asked if I could photograph her wedding and her bridal session at the Grand Teton National Park and I was like, ummmmm YES OF COURSE! She flew me out from Arizona to photograph the most beautiful bridal session at Jenny Lake before her wedding.

I flew in to Salt Lake City and drove to Rexburg, ID, to reunite with the bride, Darby, after almost ten years. Soon after meeting her then future husband, Ryan, we drove to Wyoming from Rexburg to do her bridal session!

With the sun beginning to touch the mountainside we started with their First Look. After their First Look we started on their two hour long bridal session.

Ryan and Darby could not have been more perfect for each other. They had the same sense of humor and the same laid-back attitude—they were MEANT FOR EACH OTHER.

While they wanted those dramatic and beautiful moody photos—they mainly just wanted to laugh and make funny faces and it was totally amazing. She brought her traveling gnome to sneak into some photos and she also wanted to have my brother (one of her good, old friends) in some of her photos in the background, because WHY NOT?? It was a beautiful and hilariously epic night in the Grand Teton National Park.