Things to know before you Elope in grand Teton National park

Things to know before you Elope in grand Teton National park

PERMITS

A permit is required to get married in the national park, (unless you are getting married in the Chapel of Transfiguration). It costs about 200$ to apply for and can be done on the parks website. After you fill out the application you will email it to grte_visitor_services@nps.gov . After that they will call you to get your payment information. You will want to obtain your permit ASAP as the locations and reservations for them fill up extremely fast! Here you can find all information on permits for commitment ceremonies and weddings

Info directly from National Park Service website 

Permit Types

There are two types of Wedding and Commitment Ceremony Special Use Permits that can be applied for:

  1. Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony Permits
  2. Small Dispersed Ceremony Permits

A permit is not required to hold a ceremony or reception at the Chapel of the Transfiguration, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, or a concession facility such as Jackson Lake Lodge. Arrangements for the use of these must be made directly with the establishments.

Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony Permits

The total number of permits issued by the park are limited to 1 ceremony per day, per location with a maximum of 60 ceremonies per year per location with the exception of Colter Bay Swim Beach, which is limited to a maximum of 30 ceremonies per year.

Ceremonies are limited to two hours maximum and must be defined with a start and end time.

Group size includes the ‘wedding party’, wedding guests including children, officiant, and photographer(s)

There are 6 site-specific ceremony locations that may be applied for:

  1. Schwabacher Landing – Group size limit of 25 people
  2. Mormon Row (North or South) – Group size limit of 40 people (North) or 25 people (South)
  3. Mountain View Turnout – Group size limit of 25 people
  4. Glacier View Turnout – Group size limit of 25 people
  5. Snake River Overlook – Group size limit of 25 people
  6. Colter Bay Swim Beach – Group size limit of 40 people

Small Dispersed Ceremony Permits

Group size is restricted to no more than 12 people, including the wedding party, attendees, guests/children, officiant, and photographers.

Ceremonies are limited to one hour maximum at dispersed locations.

Small Dispersed Ceremony locations maybe applied for throughout the park except inprohibited areas (see below). Only one permit will be issued per location per day. A location may not be permitted if the activity will interfere with or prevent general visitor use or cause resource damage. Applicant must provide a location description with coordinates and/or a satellite view map of the requested location.

Prohibited locations include:

  • Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony locations during Friday, May 12, 2023 to Sunday, October 15, 2023
  • The paved trails within and surrounding the Jenny Lake Visitor Plaza at South Jenny Lake, Jenny Lake Trail, and Jenny Lake Overlook
  • Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
  • String Lake developed area and trail
  • Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
  • Concessioner land assignments (exception for weddings sold/catered by concessioners in assigned facilities in accordance with their contract)
  • Park partner facilities (e.g., Murie Ranch, Teton Science School)
  • Within proximity of places where weddings are being managed by a chapel or concessioner (e.g., the Chapel of the Transfiguration)
  • Park cemeteries
  • If a location is behind a gate, the permittee may have walking access but not vehicle access

Locations outside the park with views of the mountains. (Special use permit not required) 

Table Mountain

This is an amazing up close view of Teton peak! It’s outside the national park and close to the Grand Targhee Ski Resort, so driving there from Jackson is a bit of a far drive. 

You can either take the ski lift up from the resort or hike one of the 2 trails to get there. It’s a tough hike though. The resort closes periodically. Check their website for the most up to date information and to find out when the lifts are open/closed.

The Wedding Tree

The Wedding Tree is a unique spot located within the Bridger-Teton National Forest (it is not in the national park). This spot can be reserved with the Bureau of Land management for your ceremony, and fortunately, it’s a very secluded location!

 parking lot is very small
Short walk from the parking lot
Open year-round, but the road to get there is rough in some places. 

Things to know before you Elope in grand Teton National park

Book ahead of time

That brings me to planning you Jackson hole wedding way way in advance, only because all of your vendors are going to be booked out at least 6 month to a year in advance. It is always worth a shot to see if somehow your date isn’t booked yet, but in order to get your first choice when it comes to hair and makeup, photography, florals, venues and places to stay, I recommend planning your Grand Teton wedding or elopement 1 year ahead of time.

Make sure your photographer and officiant are aware and equipped to handle the adventure you have in mind

Jackson and Teton national park are wild places and if you are thinking of any extra adventurous plans you will want to make sure you or someone you are with has some snacks, bear spray and first aid on hand. As well as knowledge of park rules and regulations. There would be nothing worse than being unprepared in an unforeseen situation on the best day of your life.

Grand Teton engagement photos taken at windy point turnout on Teton park rd in winter by kinseylynn photo co a Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer

How to get a marriage license in Wyoming

You can pick up your wedding license at the Teton county Clerks office a day or two before your wedding. You will just need 30$, your Date and place of birth

  • Residence address
  • Social Security number
  • Parents’ (mother and father) places of birth
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport etc.)
Black tail ponds overlook, Jackson Hole elopement photos taken by Kinseylynn Photo Co

Do I need an officiant and witnesses to get married in Grand Teton?

Yes you will need to have at least two witnesses and an officiant to properly have your ceremony in the Tetons. If you are eloping and wanting to keep it small you will just want to make sure to have two people there who can sign your certificate. (Vendors or random bystanders do count!)

Engagement photos taken in grand Teton national park, by McKenzie Nield a Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer

Park closures

The majority of the yearJackson hole is covered in feet of snow, so you will want to make sure the place you are planning on is accessible during your date! The Teton Park Road closes to traffic from November 1st through April 30th. The road is closed between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge. The Signal Mountain Summit Road and the Moose-Wilson Road (from Death Canyon Trailhead to Granite Canyon Trailhead) close between November 1st and mid-May each year.

Exchanging wedding vows for their elopement near Jackson hole and grand Teton

Bring your Hiking shoes

You will probably want to bring a pair of hiking shoes plus your wedding shoes no matter the location of your ceremony there will be a bit of a walk or small hike to get to the views. Not something you want to wear heels or white shoes doing.

Grand Teton elopement photos bride wearing a rue de seine bridal wedding dress at her Jackson hole elopement

Get a park pass

You will of course want to explore and see all the sights while you are visiting so I would make sure to have a park pass in the plans for you and any family who might be visiting with you. Make sure to buy the annual pass, it is cheaper if you plan on spending more than one day in the park, which you will want to do. Plus then if you decide to visit again unexpectedly soon you will have it.

Intimate wedding vows at a Jackson hole elopement

Bring a coat or jacket no matter the time of year

Temperatures in Jackson Hole in the summer time can drop drastically at night. It’s always good to be prepared for cooler weather in case it decides to snow on us in June.

Jackson hole wedding elopement packages, ring swapping for their wedding ceremony, mermaid dress and black on black grooms suit taken by a Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer

Popular locations o get married in Grand Teton

As of 2022 Grand Teton national Park does not allow any weddings or commitment ceremonies to be held at any of their popular Lakes. But not to worry there are still many places with fantastic views of the mountains.

Signal mountain summit

Signal mountain summit wedding location in Jackson hole. Things you need to know for eloping in Grand Teton in 2022.

Chapel of the Sacred Heart

Chapel of sacred hearts wedding location in grand Teton, things to know before eloping in Jackson hole

Chapel of transfiguration

Things to know before you elope in grand Teton, chapel or transfiguration is a great wedding ceremony location that you don’t need a permit for

Diamond Cross Ranch

Diamond cross ranch is Jackson holes number one wedding venue, things you should know before eloping in Jackson hole and locations to do it

Table Mountain

Table mountain is a little know spot to elope in Jackson Hole you ride a ski lift up to the top for an incredible wedding photo veiw

Blacktail Ponds

Black tail ponds overlook is my favorite location for a Jackson hole elopement because of the beautiful pines and veiw of the Tetons. Things to know when you elope in Jackson hole from a Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer

Schwabacker’s Landing

The most popular location for a Jackson hole elopement, mountain reflections make for incredible wedding photos, take it from a Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer

The Wedding Tree

The wedding tree is another popular wedding location if you are having a Jackson hole elopement

Mormon Row

Mormon row a classic wedding and elopement location for your Jackson hole wedding and elopement photographer to take your wedding photos.

This is everything you need to know about starting to plan your Jackson Hole elopement.

Congratulations on starting this chapter and beginning to plan the most beautiful day of your life. Choosing Grand Teton and its incredible mountain peaks plus amazing wildlife and nature hikes is and excellent decision that you won’t regret, no matter the time of year.

Whether you want to have your photos taken in downtown Jackson or under the Grand mountains like these two did, we will make your dream wedding or elopement photos a reality. I specialize in vibey vintage western wedding photography and love small intimate outdoorsy ceremonies. Sound like we would be the perfect fit for each other? Let’s do this dang thing and start planning your epic day together! Fill out my contact form to get started!

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