Getting Married in Grand Teton National Park On a Budget


I am an elopement and wedding photographer who specializes in Utah and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Recently, my friends have been asking me the same question, "Can you actually get married in Grand Teton National Park without spending an outrageous amount of money?" and my answer has always been simple, "Yes!"


When I first got engaged, I had a dream of getting married in Grand Teton National Park, but that dream was quickly crushed once I started inquiring with vendors and finding out how much it would cost - particularly for a venue. I tried googling and searching for more affordable ways to get married there. I would have cut any part of my budget just to have the right location, but before I got very far into my planning, I realized that there was no way I could afford to get married there when the venues started at $10,000. I sadly had to give up on my dream. I got married at a location over an hour away and we drove into the park to capture the first look, private vow reading, and wedding party photos. My wedding day was a very long day that had a complicated itinerary, but I thought it was as good as I could have made it. I talked myself into being content with at least that.


After I learned more about the wedding world and started photographing other people in the area, I started uncovering the secrets that I wished someone would have told me in 2021 when planning my own wedding. So if you are lucky enough to stumble upon this blog, then I am going to share with you how I would have got married in Jackson back then, and the type of weddings I want to photograph for my couples now.

Jackson Hole Wedding Photographers


Here's the reality:

When any couple gets married, there are typically three high-ticket bookings that they have to make. Those high-ticket things are the photography, the venue, and the attire. Sadly, a lot of times couples will sacrifice their photos for other parts of the wedding. Now I know that I am biased, but almost all of my past clients will tell you that when the cake has been eaten and the guests have gone home, all that is left is your memories. So I am always a huge supporter of keeping those memories tangible with photographs and videos. Typically, you get what you pay for when it comes to photographers, and when you find an awesome one like me, I will act as a lot more than your photographer or videographer, I will be your greatest support through this process. I will help you find other vendors, work hand-in-hand with you to plan the perfect timeline, and send you brochures full of advice that you may have never known you needed! So when you start to inquire with vendors, ask them questions about their process and their level of communication before the wedding. Some vendors book you and then show up to your wedding, maybe even charging for calls in between. Make sure that you know exactly what you are getting when booking with vendors by thoroughly reading their website and reviews, and doing a consult call to ask questions. I can almost make you a promise that if you hire vendors who are passionate about your day and helpful to you through the process, then you will never regret paying them what they ask.


Scroll to the bottom for more information about booking your wedding with me!

Jackson Hole Micro-Wedding


The secret ingredient to an affordable Grand Teton elopement is a small invite list. The reason may not be the one you are thinking. We are going to skip the venue and rough it in the wilderness, and yes, it is going to be awesome! There are several locations in the national park and surrounding areas that are jaw-droppingly beautiful and easy to get to. There are areas where you can wear your 6-inch heels and there are areas that will require hiking boots. When you elect to get married in a place like this, you will need a small guest list because you will not be able to accommodate everyone's needs, and let's face it, not everyone is willing to go hiking through the wilderness. But the best part is that you get to trade in that huge chunk of money you would have spent on a venue for much, much, much smaller fees and permits that are required to get married in the area.


If you are considering clicking out of this blog already, hear me out! Many of my elopement couples want to incorporate all of their friends and family and trust me, they have lots of friends and family, but at the end of the day, they know this type of moment only happens once. When you have spent your whole life dreaming of getting married somewhere amazing, you can always make adjustments that can be even more fun than you originally expected! Many of my couples run away to Grand Teton National Park and elope with their closest friends and family (usually 25 people or less) and then they go home and get to wear the dress all over again when they throw a huge reception!


Doing it this way is also a huge stress reliever. I have had couples that have come out here to get married secretly by themselves and had me or other vendors be their witnesses. I have also had couples who brought their immediate families and everyone had on full suits, dresses, heels, and professional hair and makeup while they navigated a dirt road and stepped over a few tree ruts to get to the perfect location. By only bringing the most supportive group of people to watch you get married, it adds to the memories. Elopements like these are raw, vulnerable, beautiful, and full of memories you will never forget!

Where to Get Married in Grand Teton National Park


If you are willing to have a small wedding, then there are so many locations that could be the perfect place to host your wedding. This frees up a huge portion of your budget and can make the total cost of the wedding similar to any other location. The only catch is that there cannot be any sort of setup in most of these locations. There will not be an arch to stand under or chairs for your guests to sit on as you get married. I do not believe that you will need or want those things when the view is as beautiful as the Teton Mountains. Plus, most elopement ceremonies last 15-30 minutes and people can stand that long and still be comfortable.


I won't list out specific locations for good reasons. Photographers, especially local ones, spend so much time finding perfect, private locations. When we share these areas with the public, it can sadly cause a plethora of issues for us, our businesses, and most of all, the location. We want to keep the integrity of the area by keeping it private for our couples who will value the space as much as we do. That way we can ensure a private ceremony when it comes to your special day!


With that being said, I will say that there are several beautiful locations within the National Park. Surrounding the National Park is a National Forrest and there is also some great BLM land. Location matters because each of these will have different rules to know and follow.

Other Ways to Cut Costs


Flowers - Now let me start this off by saying that I LOVE flowers. Wedding flowers are one of my favorite details in the wedding and I respect the art of flower arrangements tremendously, but some National Parks have strict rules when it comes to plants. This is because it can be harmful to introduce new plant life to parks. Some florists will make you beautiful bouquets of artificial or wood flowers and this can be a great alternative. When there is no aisle, no arch, and no huge wedding party, the floral budget decreases significantly. With all of that being said, I do want to say that if you are going to cut costs on flowers, I at least recommend that the bride has a bouquet because it is a great excuse to have something to do with your hands during photos and it elevates the photos dramatically.


Wedding Attire - When you are flying somewhere to get married, it can be difficult to bring a huge wedding dress in your carry-on luggage. Renting your dress can be an alternative way to have the perfect dress without spending all of the money. Many dress rental shops will ship you your dress. So if you were to arrive early at Jackson Hole and have the dress sent to you, then after using it, you could mail it back before you fly home. Another option involves pick-up and drop-off in Salt Lake City. There are dress rental businesses that can be found by asking me or searching on Instagram that run their business out of their home in the Salt Lake Valley. In this scenario, you could fly into Salt Lake City, rent a car, pick up your dress, and drive less than five hours to Jackson Hole. You could see more of the surrounding area and there's a good possibility that the dress has been worn in Jackson Hole before so that you could envision the look.


Food and Refreshments - You will already be saving thousands of dollars by not feeding a hundred people at a traditional restaurant, but when you choose to elope with your closest friends and family, it is easier and cheaper to feed your group on your wedding day. When I had my wedding photos done in Jackson, my mom had the local grocery store prepare sandwiches for us. We had a picnic in the park and that can make for some incredibly cute photos! There are also several dining options at many different price ranges. When you have a small group of people, it can be easy to make reservations and host a nice meal together to celebrate the wedding! The same concept goes for wedding cakes. I am always a huge fan of the wedding cake tradition, but if you do not like it you can skip it all together. Hiring a professional to make you a small, decorated cake can be a very cute touch to your wedding in front of the Tetons. After the ceremony, you can cut the cake and pop champagne with your guests as a mini reception! I also like to encourage my couples to bring a speaker and have a first dance in front of their guests!

Wedding Activities in Grand Teton National Park


I hope that as you have read through this blog, the wheels are turning and you are seeing that a wedding in Grand Teton National Park can be a possibility for you! After taking into consideration how much money it would cost to host a large, traditional wedding at home, I think that you might even find that it is cheaper to have a luxury, dream wedding with your closest friends and family in Jackson Hole. With all of those savings, we are to the part where I encourage you to have some fun! If you are new to my page, then I will tell you right away that my specialty involves adventure! I love to curate a wedding experience with my couples. This means that I want to be there to document more than the "I-dos". I encourage couples to plan out at least one activity during their elopement. Here are some of my favorite ideas:


Winter Activities:

  • Dog Sledding to Granite Hot Springs
  • Not only is this super adventurous, but it is extremely romantic! I can capture you bundled up as you get into your dog sled, and then we can capture the fun and flirty bathing suit photos once you enter the hot springs. Just Google it and you'll immediately add this activity to your list!
  • Horse-drawn Sleigh Through the Elk Refuge
  • This is an activity that you could book with your whole family. It is a great opportunity for you to bring your own cameras and get an up close and personal view of Wyoming Elk!
  • Ice Skating in Jackson Hole
  • Just across from the iconic Cowboy Bar is Jackson's Town Square. In the winter they are known to set up a giant ice skating rink in the area and have booths with hot chocolate to warm up! It is a very magical atmosphere with the soft winter snow and the twinkling lights at night. If the outdoor rink is not set up, there is the possibility of going to an open skate session in the indoor town rink.
  • Skiing or Snowboarding
  • Let's not forget that Jackson Hole is a ski town! People come from all over the world to shred snow and if you love to ski or snowboard, I might ask you to wear your wedding attire with your skis!


Spring, Summer, and Fall Activities:

  • Hiking and Exploring
  • Grand Teton National Park has some of the best hiking options! There are easy trails, short trails, and long, difficult trails. Checking out the All Trails app or website is a great place to start. When it comes to photographing the activity, we will keep it simple and easy so that no one gets sweaty and you can wear whatever shoes you want!
  • Jenny Lake Boat Tour
  • Jenny Lake is so gorgeous. It sits at the base of the Teton mountains and you may even spot wild life on the shore while taking a tour.
  • Walking through the Town
  • The town of Jackson Hole is one of the smallest tourist towns I have been to, but it packs a punch. There are a lot of great areas to visit and some iconic stops that will make for great photo opportunities!
  • Picnic Dates
  • This idea is one of those ideas that can be very fancy or more lowkey. There are picnic benches throughout the park and options to set up a whole scene outside of the park!
  • Camping
  • There are a lot of great camp areas throughout the park and we can come up with a hundred different ways to capture you in your camping element!
  • Kayaking or Canoeing
  • I think the picture below speaks for itself, this can be incredibly fun!

Book Your Photography or Videography With Me!


I hope you are sold on getting married in Jackson Hole, but if you still have some questions, I would be happy to set up a call! I offer half day and full day elopement packages, as well as large wedding packages. Like I stated earlier, I am here for you through the planning process and I have several brochures that share invaluable informtion as you create your dream wedding timeline! Reach out to set up a 30 minute phone call consultation with me so that I can hear your vision and tell you more about what I offer!