How to Elope in Grand Teton National Park
The glorious Snake River along with Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, and the majestic Teton Range are all beautiful backdrops for a wedding. Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park offers a phenomenal landscape to magnificanly house your elopement. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.
To elope in Grand Teton National Park, a special use permit must be secured first. The non-refundable permit itself is $125, and the application for the permit can be found here.
The permit must be received at least two weeks before the requested elopement date, except for elopement locations within the The Chapel of Transfiguration, the The Chapel of the Sacred Heart, or a concession facility. The Chapel of Transfiguration and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart are on private property and the park fee is waived for elopements not happening on park grounds; inquiries must be made through those chapels specifically. The rangers are typically easy to get a hold of to ask questions about the permits, approved ceremony locations, approved props/décor, etc. In Grand Teton there are eight pre-approved ceremony sites: Headwaters Lodge and Cabins at Flagg Ranch, Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, Signal Mountain Summit, South Jenny Lake, Schwabachers Landing, and Teton Village. Watch for road and trail closures from November through May due to weather. Since these areas are designated, there’s a chance that some of them are booked well in advance, so the earlier you’re able to turn in your permit, the better. Some people choose to forgo the permit, simply winging it or risking it, but I strongly advise applying for the permit. You certainly wouldn’t want to be fined or asked to leave on your wedding day because of a permit that wasn’t acquired.
Some common restrictions in Grand Teton National Park are the types of props/décor that can be used, typically dogs aren’t allowed, and throwing rice, birdseed, and flower petals aren’t permitted, among others. Disturbing vegetation or other natural objects, including using a sound system is also on the restricted list. Some leniency is allowed concerning concessions buildings, but must be addressed in your permit. These are in place to protect the park and its flora and fauna, as well as the experience of the other park guests, and these are great questions to ask a Park Ranger when you ask about your permit!
Some of the approved ceremony locations require strenuous hiking, and to venture into other areas of the park to take photos may require a fair amount of hiking. Carpooling is highly recommended, as parking in some areas may be limited. I suggest planning your ceremony time for either sunrise or sunset. This will give you the most flattering light of the day, with the least amount of foot traffic from other visitors. Chat with your photographer about what time and location make the most sense to you. When it comes to Grand Teton, I typically suggest a sunrise/early morning ceremony so you have lots of time for traveling around the park to take photos, and then you’ll be able to enjoy the sunset afterwards. For the adventurous couple, I recommend celebrating your elopement with a floating and rafting tour along one of the lakes or down the Snake River!
Here are a few things to be sure to bring with you as well:
Hiking shoes, as well as the shoes you’ll be wearing for your ceremony
Sweater/jacket – the mornings and evenings in Grand Teton tend to be cool, especially if you’re eloping outside the summer season
Water/snacks, maybe some bubbly?
Any easy, cute props, like a rug/blanket to stand on
Headlamp or flashlight if you are shooting at sunset and need to hike down in the dark
If there is a chance of rain, bring a jacket and/or umbrella. KLEM Studios is all for embracing the weather and running around in the rain—it can be so dreamy! Just be sure to have a jacket or blanket along to warm up afterwards
Have a few locations in mind to take photos after the ceremony (your photographer can help you with this as well)
A Grand Teton National Park elopement provides a vast venue for one of the best days of your lives, filled with gorgeous scenery and jaw-dropping photo opportunities. It’s perfect for the adventurous couple that wants to start their forever with an unbeatable view. There are so many more tips and tidbits that I share with our couples that choose to have us photograph their elopement in Grand Teton National Park, from lodging/campground options, to hike suggestions, to restaurants. If you’re planning your Grand Teton elopement and are looking for the perfect photographer, feel free to reach out to us today.
Stay grand,