There are some places that make you want to slow down and take everything in, and Grand Teton National Park is absolutely one of them.
Alex and Brandon’s Grand Teton elopement was one of those days that felt incredibly simple in the best possible way. They got ready together, brought their pug along for part of the day, exchanged private vows surrounded by the Tetons, and spent the rest of the day exploring some of my favorite places in the park.
And then there was the dress.
Alex’s wedding dress had the most beautiful embroidered colorful flowers throughout it, and it somehow felt like it had been made specifically for the landscape around us. It was whimsical without feeling over the top, and the colorful details against the mountains, water, and greenery were absolutely perfect.
As a traveling wedding and elopement photographer, this is exactly the kind of day I love photographing. There wasn’t a huge production or a packed timeline. It was just two people who wanted to spend their wedding day somewhere incredible, with their dog, exploring, taking photos, and actually enjoying the experience together.
Traveling to Wyoming for Their Grand Teton Elopement
I flew into Wyoming two days before their elopement, which is something I typically do for my travel weddings and elopements.
I love arriving early for destinations like Grand Teton National Park because it gives me time to get settled, explore the area, watch the weather, and make sure I have a solid plan before the actual wedding day.
The Tetons are one of those places where conditions can change quickly, and there are so many different Grand Teton National Park elopement locations that I love having the flexibility to adjust the plan if needed.
It also means that by the time the wedding day arrives, I’m not rushing straight from an airport into a full day of photographing. I get to actually be present and excited for the couple.
And honestly, driving through this area is one of my favorite parts.
I will absolutely admit that I listen to Noah Kahan while driving through the Tetons from spot to spot, and something about the combination of that music, the mountains, and knowing I’m about to photograph another couple in this landscape just fuels me creatively.
Getting Ready Together at Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in Alpine
Alex and Brandon started their day by getting ready together at Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in Alpine, Wyoming.
I loved that they chose to get ready together instead of spending the morning completely separated. It fit their entire elopement so well. Their day wasn’t about following every traditional wedding rule. It was about creating a day that actually felt like them.
The hotel is also a convenient home base if you’re planning a Grand Teton elopement and want to stay outside the park. Cobblestone Hotel & Suites is located in Alpine, and the hotel is pet-friendly, which made it an especially practical option for a couple bringing their dog along for the adventure.
You can check availability and book Cobblestone Hotel & Suites in Alpine here.
Including Their Dog in Their Elopement Day
Before heading into the park, we spent some time taking photos with their pug while they were still in casual clothes.
I absolutely loved that they wanted their dog to be part of their wedding day. When you’re planning an elopement in Grand Teton National Park, it can be tempting to focus so much on the scenery and the “perfect” photos that you forget about the little things that make the day actually yours.
For Alex and Brandon, their dog was part of their life, so of course he should be part of the story.
One important thing to know if you’re planning a dog-friendly Grand Teton elopement is that pets have significant restrictions within the park. The National Park Service says pets are not permitted on park trails, beaches, in buildings, or in the backcountry. In general, pets can be in developed areas such as roads, road shoulders, parking areas, campgrounds, and picnic areas while restrained on a leash no longer than six feet and within 30 feet of a roadway.
So if your dog is coming along for your Grand Teton wedding adventure, make sure you build your day around the areas where pets are actually allowed.
Private Vows at String Lake
After spending some time with their dog, we headed into Grand Teton National Park.
One of the most meaningful parts of their day was their private vows at String Lake.
There was something really special about having this moment away from a traditional ceremony setup. It was quiet, intimate, and completely focused on the two of them.
String Lake is one of those places that immediately makes you understand why people travel from all over the country to get married in this part of Wyoming. The water, mountains, trees, and reflection of the Tetons create such an incredible backdrop.
For couples planning their own Grand Teton National Park elopement, it’s important to check the current NPS rules and permitted locations before building your timeline around a specific spot.
Exploring Grand Teton National Park for Elopement Photos
After their private vows, we started exploring.
We spent a ton of time around the String Lake area and trailhead, stopping at different spots and taking advantage of all of the variety the landscape gave us.
This is one of my favorite things about being a Grand Teton elopement photographer. Your elopement doesn’t have to mean choosing one pretty location and staying there for the entire day.
There are so many incredible Grand Teton National Park elopement locations that you can build a day around movement and exploration. You can start near the water, drive through the park, stop at overlooks, walk through different landscapes, and end somewhere completely different than where you started.
If you’re planning your own elopement and don’t know where to begin, I actually wrote an entire guide to the places I recommend for photos. You can read my Grand Teton National Park photo locations guide for more ideas and inspiration.
The Tetons at Blue Hour
One thing I always tell couples who want the most beautiful light in the Tetons is that blue hour is one of my absolute favorite times to photograph here.
There is something about the Tetons during that short window after the sun has gone down but before the sky becomes completely dark.
The mountains take on this soft, cool tone, the colors become more muted, and everything feels incredibly peaceful. It doesn’t have the same dramatic golden glow that you get at sunset. Instead, it feels quieter and more cinematic.
And for me, it is one of the most beautiful times in Grand Teton National Park.
I especially love blue hour for elopements because by that point in the day, couples have usually settled into the experience. The nerves from earlier are gone, the formal parts of the day are over, and we’re just wandering around together making photos.
That was exactly how this part of Alex and Brandon’s day felt.
A Secret Grand Teton Photo Location
From the String Lake area, we eventually made our way toward another spot I love near Schwabacher Landing.
I’m going to keep this one a little vague because, well, it is a secret spot for a reason.
There are certain places in the Tetons that are well known and understandably popular, but there are also little pockets that I have found over time that feel much more quiet and secluded.
This particular location is on the other side of the park and gave us a completely different look from the photos we’d already taken.
That’s one of the reasons I love working with couples who trust me with their elopement day. I can take them to the iconic locations, but I can also build in some less obvious places so their gallery doesn’t look like every other Grand Teton elopement.
Alex’s Colorful Floral Wedding Dress
And honestly, Alex’s dress looked incredible against all of it.
The embroidered colorful flowers were such a beautiful detail, especially against the more muted greens, blues, and earthy tones of the Tetons.
It had this whimsical quality that felt completely at home in the landscape without looking like she was trying too hard to match it.
Some wedding dresses look incredible in a ballroom. Some look incredible in a garden. And then there are dresses that just belong outside.
This was definitely one of those dresses.
The colorful embroidery added so much movement and personality to the photos, especially when she was walking through the landscape or standing against the mountains.
One More Secret Spot
And then, at the very end of the day, we went to one more secret location.
This is a spot I’ve rarely ever seen anyone else taking photos at, and honestly, I don’t even know if most people know about it.
It ended up being especially meaningful because these were the photos Alex was most excited about.
There is something really satisfying about ending an elopement somewhere that feels completely unexpected. By this point we’d already photographed the water, the mountains, the trees, the trails, and several different views of the Tetons.
But this final location gave us something different.
And because Alex had specifically been looking forward to these photos, it made the ending of the day even more special.
This is one of the reasons I don’t think an elopement timeline needs to be built entirely around the most popular locations. Sometimes the places that aren’t all over Pinterest or Instagram are the ones that end up meaning the most.
Why I Love Photographing Grand Teton Elopements
This day was such a good reminder of why I love photographing elopements.
Alex and Brandon trusted me to help create a day that wasn’t just about checking off a list of traditional wedding events. We got ready together, photographed their dog, drove through the Tetons, stopped at different locations, exchanged private vows, explored, listened to music in the car, and made photos until the very end of the day.
There was no pressure to make the day look a certain way.
It was just them.
And that’s what I love about Grand Teton elopement photography.
The landscape is obviously incredible, but the photos become so much more meaningful when the experience itself feels like the couple.
Planning a Grand Teton National Park Elopement
If you’re considering a Grand Teton National Park elopement, there are a few important things to know before choosing your location and building your timeline.
The National Park Service currently requires a permit for wedding and commitment ceremonies held in Grand Teton National Park, unless the ceremony is held at certain exempt locations such as the Chapel of the Transfiguration, Chapel of the Sacred Heart, or a concession facility. The current application fee is $200 and is non-refundable, and the park asks applicants to allow at least 30 days for processing.
For small dispersed ceremonies, the park currently limits groups to 12 people or fewer, including the couple, guests, officiant, photographers, and videographers. There are also specific areas where these ceremonies are prohibited, so don’t assume that a location that looks perfect for photos is automatically available for a ceremony.
The NPS also prohibits things like arches, altars, rugs, tables, tents, generators, confetti, balloons, bubbles, and other scattered or released materials for permitted ceremonies. Drones are prohibited in the park as well.
If you’re planning a Grand Teton wedding or elopement, I recommend starting with the official Grand Teton National Park wedding and commitment ceremony information. That page has the current application, permitted ceremony information, group-size rules, prohibited locations, and instructions for submitting your permit application.
And because park rules can change, always verify the current NPS requirements before your wedding day.
What About Photography Permits?
The National Park Service also has separate rules surrounding commercial photography. Current NPS guidance says that in most cases, a still photography permit is not required when photography involves eight or fewer people, uses only hand-carried equipment, takes place in areas open to the public, doesn’t require exclusive use, doesn’t adversely impact resources or visitors, and isn’t likely to create additional administrative costs.
Grand Teton Elopement Photographer | Jackson Wyoming Elopement Photographer
There is something really special about photographing an elopement in Grand Teton National Park.
The mountains are obviously a huge part of it, but what I love most is how much freedom the landscape gives you to create a day that actually feels like yours.
You can get ready together in Alpine, bring your dog along where park regulations allow, explore Grand Teton National Park elopement locations, exchange private vows, chase blue hour, stop at overlooks, find quiet places away from the crowds, and finish the day somewhere that feels completely your own.
As a traveling Grand Teton elopement photographer, I love creating days like this for couples who want their wedding experience to feel like an adventure instead of a production.
I photograph elopements throughout Wyoming, including Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, and the surrounding Jackson Hole area, as well as destination weddings and elopements throughout the country.
If you’re looking for a Grand Teton elopement photographer or Jackson Wyoming elopement photographer and want someone who can help you build a day around your priorities, your locations, and the experience you actually want to have, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
You can inquire about your elopement here, view my wedding and elopement services, or explore more of my work on my website.
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I can’t wait to photograph your adventure.
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