How to Elope in Grand Teton

I encounter a lot of couples who need help planning their elopement because of how many moving pieces are involved! Providing helpful resources to couples who are so excited about their adventurous elopements is one of the best parts of my job! One of my favorite locations is Grand Teton National Park! I’m a huge fan of elopements at National Parks because they offer a different kind of natural beauty! But they do come with a specific set of things to keep in mind when planning your elopement. So if you’ve ever wondered how to elope in Grand Teton National Park, I’ve put together this list for you!

National Parks truly are a great place to get married, and I especially love Grand Teton National Park for elopements. So, here are some tips on…

How To Elope In Grand Teton National Park

1. Time of Year.

Every season in Jackson has its pros and cons. Choosing when to go depends on the type of activities you want to do and the weather you like.

Summer: Most crowded, but wildflowers!

Summer will give you warm days with temps dropping a bit at night at Grand Teton. While the warmth prevailing and drawing in large crowds can be frustrating, it’s also one of the most beautiful times to see this National Park! Thanks to the common afternoon thundershowers the park is full of wildflowers at this time. In the valley, you’ll find wildflowers like Skyrocket Gilia, Larkspur, and Indian paintbrush because of the weather conditions. In the forest areas, you’ll find fireweed, columbine, monkshood, and the rare calypso orchid because of the moist ground. And the alpine zone has small flowers that grow close to the ground like moss campion, alpine forget-me-not, and sky pilot. Pro tip: Chose your elopement bouquet to coordinate with the beautiful wildflowers so that in your pictures you’ll have beautifully coordinated florals with nature!

Fall: Less crowded, fall colors, and even cooler nights!

Fall is a beautiful time to elope in this National Park! In the fall you’ll get beautiful sunny days and cold nights alternating with rain and the occasional snow storm! If you want to be sure to capture the beautiful fall colors in your pictures, you will want to plan your elopement between the third week of September to early October. The leaves changing color will depend on local climatic conditions such as the amount of rainfall and the temperatures at night!

Winter: Snow and snow sports.

Winter means sunny days and frigid nights in Grand Teton. You’ll see the valley and mountains blanketed in snow. If you plan on driving in the National Park during the winter make sure your car is equipped with four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or all-weather tires. Also, remember that the roads may be closed during blizzards. Besides, this is the time to go if you want to do some cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

Spring: Less crowded, unpredictable weather, trails could be closed due to snow or be muddy.

Spring will bring you mild days and cool nights! But you will most likely get rain and snow at this time too. Until late May the valley trails are usually covered in snow. If fewer crowds are important to you and your other half, this might be the perfect time for your elopement! So prepare for the unpredictable weather and enjoy the quiet intimacy! Also, since some trails might be closed because of mud or snow, it’s important to have a clear plan with your photographer just in case this does happen.

2. Travel and Lodging.

There are lots of options for travel and lodging so these are my best recommendations.

• Airport: Jackson International Airport (~15mins from town)
• A Grand Teton National Park Lodge: Jenny Lake Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge or Colter Bay Cabins, Headwaters Lodge & Cabin at Flagg Ranch (in between Grand Teton and Yellowstone).

3. Get Legal.

Getting married in WY is not difficult. Planning is key to making it work!

• You need to get a WY marriage license form, complete it, and then return it to the County Office.
• Don’t forget your required legal documents and your IDs because you’ll need them!
• Then, make sure to get an officiant and 2 witnesses.
• Check the permitting requirements with the Grand Teton National Park Visitor Services Office or other park services!
• OR! Consider a symbolic wedding!

4. Location!

This is where I come in!

Part of my job is creating a detailed plan with you both and choosing a location that works with your vision! Every elopement is different because every couple is different.

We work together to figure out what you want your day to be like AND, then I make a personalized list of locations for you to choose from and a timeline to fit your perfect day!

Here is a list of locations that I love:

• Ceremony Spots: Chapel of Transfiguration or Chapel of the Sacred Heart.
• Overlook:  Togwotee Overlook
• Short Hike to a Lake:  String Lake
• Long(er) Hike to and around a Lake:  Jenny Lake

So, this is my basic 101 how to elope in Grand Teton / what to keep in mind when planning your elopement! I hope that it was helpful in your planning because I know how overwhelming it can feel! Besides this resource blog post, I have more guides and examples on my Elopement Resource section on the blog!