Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is a stunning place to hold a small, intimate wedding ceremony. With unmatched views of the Teton Range, lakes, and fields of wildflowers, this national park is a gorgeous location to host an intimate wedding with a small group of family and friends surrounded by the beauty of nature. In this blog post, let’s talk about the steps you must take in order to have the ceremony you’ve always dreamed of. Obtaining Grand Teton National Park wedding permit is easier than most think! If you’re still searching for a photographer, I’d love to be there for you. Fill out this form and let’s talk about your big day!
Ceremonies in Grand Teton National Park
Ceremonies in the park require a Grand Teton National Park wedding permit unless they occur in the Chapel of Transfiguration, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, or a concession facility. There are numerous wedding locations to choose from in this gorgeous national park. Check out more about the permit application process here! Regardless of where you want to have your ceremony at in the park, you MUST apply for a permit at least 30 days in advance through this link.
I’m sure you’d love to come back ten years from now and revisit your ceremony location, right?! This is why permits are so important. To preserve the land that we all love and want to continue to enjoy years from now. Another important aspect of preserving the land is Leave No Trace. As a wedding photographer who does 99% of my work outdoors, I practice and understand the importance of Leave No Trace.
Ceremony Sites
Ceremony sites are based on a first-come, first-served basis and require an application 30 days before the event. Locations such as Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row (South), Mountain View Turnout, Glacier View Turnout, and Snake River Overlook can host up to 25 guests. Mormon Row (North) and Colter Bay Swim Beach can hold up to 40 guests.
Small dispersed wedding permits are available for small groups (up to 12 guests, including the officiant). These ceremonies may occur in any park area except reserved ceremony sites, paved trails around Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, String Lake, Lawrence S. Rockefeller Preserve, park partner facilities, park cemeteries, and near chapels.
As part of the park’s regulations, you may not use arbors, arches, platforms, podiums, rugs, tables, or tents. A few chairs are permitted for guests that have difficulty standing. The park doesn’t allow rearrangement of park facilities.
Details of Each Location
Schwabacher Landing can hold up to 25 people and features the gorgeous Snake River, a grand view of the Tetons, parking spaces, and benches. This location is sold out for 2023, so if you have your eye on it, be sure to watch out for the permit application opening date in fall of 2023. Mormon Row has two ceremony spaces and features views of the Tetons and historic buildings, including “the Pink House,” unpaved pathways, and wild grasses. Mountain View Turnout can host up to 25 people. You can find wildflowers and amazing views of the Tetons at this location. Glacier View Turnout can hold 25 guests and has paved pathways, parking, and astounding views of the Teton mountains. Snake River Overlook can hold 25 guests. It features views of the Tetons and the Snake River, paved pathways, parking, towering trees, and a rock wall.
Colter Bay Swim Beach can hold up to 40 guests and features views of the Teton mountains and Jackson Lake. The area is rocky, with trees that can provide some shade. The rocky beach and calm waters make a gorgeous ceremony space with the Tetons in the background.
Photography Opportunities
There are tons of gorgeous spots for wedding photos in Grand Teton National Park. The snow-covered mountains, blooming wildflowers, and calm waters make great backdrops for wedding day photos that you’ll never get tired of looking at. Regardless of the ceremony location, we can spend time traveling around the park and taking photos off the beaten path! That’s one plus of hiring a local. I know of many unique spots that aren’t common touristy locations.
More About Obtaining a Grand Teton National Park Wedding Permit
Grand Teton National Park requires Special Use Permits (SUPs) for any weddings and commitment ceremonies held on the grounds. Because this park is an outdoor, natural environment where resources are protected, and visitors are encouraged, only small, simple wedding ceremonies are permitted. Couples must request permits, not the wedding coordinator or planner!
Elopement permit applications for 2024 will be accepted beginning on December 4, 2023, at 8:00 am mountain time. The park must receive applications 30 days or more prior to the event. Even with a permit, the park does not give exclusive use of any area of the park for weddings. This means that visitor activity will remain the same, however sunrise always means very few visitors (if any at all). All ceremony locations are outdoor and weather-permitting. The park limits ceremonies to 2 hours, and it permits a maximum of 2 photographers.
The facilities may not be rearranged, and no decorations are allowed unless they are handheld. The park doesn’t allow the scattering of rice, seeds, or confetti. Permit applications require a non-refundable processing fee of $200. Permit information can be found here.
Your Grand Teton National Park Wedding Photographer
Grand Teton National Park is a gorgeous place to host a small, gorgeous wedding, surrounded by the beauty of nature. I hope this article about obtaining a Grand Teton National Park wedding permit was helpful! This national park is the ideal wedding venue for couples who want an intimate ceremony surrounded by natural beauty, and I’d love to capture every detail for you. I know you have family and guests coming from all over the country, so let’s make sure that every part of your day is documented! Fill out my contact form to chat about your big day 🙂
For more Jackson Hole wedding and elopement content, click on the blog links below. Don’t forget to view more of my portfolio, and let’s chat about your wedding day.
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