Ultimate Guide for a Jackson Hole Elopement
If you’re wanting an outdoors elopement, but you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience and personality of having a fun city nearby, then a Jackson Hole elopement is for you. This cowboy Western town has all the fun things a trendy city has – great restaurants, fun bars, unique shops and a cute downtown area – and yet it’s steps away from Grand Teton National Park. Many national park towns are small and undeveloped, with limited dining and lodging options that often haven’t been updated in many years. However, that is not the case with Jackson. Since Jackson is all at once a ski destination, a national park town and a favorite getaway for celebrities and billionaires, the town does not skimp on style.
While I haven’t been to Jackson Hole yet, I think it would make an epic wedding location. With my own travel/wedding experience and research, I wrote this guide with general information to help jumpstart your own research!
About Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Nestled into a valley between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountains, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is the ultimate outdoors destination. Whether you love winter sports like skiing, snowmobiling and sledding OR you love the warmth of summertime against majestic mountains, there’s an activity here for everyone. It is one of the top ski destinations in the US in wintertime, and in the summer, you can enjoy nearby Grand Teton National Park and then make a short drive to pop up to Yellowstone National Park via Yellowstone’s south entrance.
In addition to the fun to be had outdoors, there is so much to do and see in Jackson Hole. The town square is bordered by 4 massive elk antler arches, and great food and drinks are just a short walk away. The town has a distinctively cowboy feel to it, but many of the local boutiques you’ll walk by are filled with fine art worth thousands of dollars. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of luxury and nature.
With that in mind, I have to note that Jackson is not the most budget-friendly place to get married. Cost of living there is very high, so local vendors’ prices have to match it! But if a wedding here is within your budget, it’s totally worth it.
When to plan a Jackson Hole elopement
While I usually encourage couples to choose a shoulder season like spring or fall for popular northern destinations, in this case, you’re probably best off planning your Jackson Hole elopement in the summertime. One of the cool things about Jackson for outdoors-lovers like us is its proximity to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Unfortunately, from around November to May, the road between the two parks (Yellowstone’s south entrance) is closed to vehicle traffic. If you’re planning a Jackson Hole elopement, you might as well go when you can make the most of the destination! Plus, as I’ll note later, the times of year that permits are issued for ceremonies inside the park are limited.
It can get very chilly and snowy in Jackson in the winter months (which is what makes it a great ski destination!), so if you’re planning an outside ceremony, you may want to do something when the weather is a bit more bearable. Unless your wedding dream is a ski wedding or a winter wonderland wedding, go when it’s warmer! Choosing a time like late May or late September will allow you to have decent weather with most locations open and accessible, without the heavier crowds that July and August see.
How to legally elope in the Grand Tetons
As always, you’ll need a few pieces of paperwork to pull off your wedding in the Grand Tetons. Here’s a detailed list of the legal requirements a Jackson Hole wedding entails. *Be sure to check for the most updated information and policies as they can change often.
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If you want to get married in Jackson, you’ll need a Wyoming marriage license. These are only $30, and there’s no waiting period for it to be active. It’s valid for one year from the date of issuance. All you’ll need is to call ahead and schedule an appointment, complete the questionnaire and head to the County Clerk’s Office (in the basement of the County Administration Building if you’re doing it in Jackson) during business hours.
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You will need an officiant plus two witnesses to be married in Wyoming. The County Clerk’s Office clearly states they don’t perform courthouse wedding ceremonies at the office, so you’ll need to hold your ceremony with a third party officiant.
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If you want to get married anywhere inside the boundary of Grand Teton National Park (with a few exceptions I’ll get to in a bit), you WILL need to obtain a Special Use Permit from the park. You’ll need to apply no less than 30 days in advance of the date you are requesting, and the permit fee is $200.
There are two different types of permits in the park. The first is a Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony Permits, which can be obtained for any of the following locations: Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row (North or South), Mountain View Turnout, Glacier View Turnout, Snake River Overlook and Colter Bay Swim Beach. With this permit, you can reserve any of these locations from mid-May to mid-October for your wedding ceremony.
The other type is a Small Dispersed Ceremony Permit, which will allow you to hold your wedding nearly anywhere else in the park (with a few exceptions), but that area will not be closed off to other visitors. These types of permits can be reserved for weddings between the beginning of March and December. Notable exceptions include Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, some restrictions around Jenny Lake and chapels on park property (more on that later).
When you apply for your permit, you will have to specify:
• which permit type you are reserving
• a description of your proposed ceremony
• the date and time of your ceremony
• how many people will be in attendance
• what equipment you and your vendors will be bringing
Best locations for a Jackson Hole elopement
It was so tough to narrow down spots for a Jackson Hole elopement! There are so many incredible ones, and they come at varying price points. Paying the permit fee to elope in the Grand Tetons will be your most cost-effective choice, but there are other luxury venues available as well if you’re having a small amount of guests for your elopement. I’ve listed a few of both here.
The Wedding Tree
This spot in the Bridger-Teton National Forest features two gorgeous trees that frame the Teton mountains. It’s picture perfect! They don’t require permits for groups less than 75 people, but they do ask that you contact them to put your event on their calendar and approve your event.
Mormon Row
This is one of the most iconic sites in all of Grand Teton National Park. You’ve probably seen pictures of these famous wooden barns! The Moulton Barns used to belong to Mormon homesteaders who settled in this area over 100 years ago. It’s easy to see why they fell in love with this spot with the breathtaking views of the Tetons. This is one of the spots you can reserve with the park for your wedding!
Schwabacher Landing
Schwabacher Landing might be the most popular wedding spot in the park. The Teton mountains look like a painting reflecting in the Snake River at this spot. These views are hard to beat – but it is a popular wedding site so if you want to reserve it, book far in advance.
Jenny Lake
While Jenny Lake is one of the more iconic spots in the Tetons, there are a lot of rules around holding ceremonies here. A few places along the lake are prohibited for weddings (yes, even if you have the permit). You cannot hold a ceremony at the Jenny Lake Overlook on the one-way road from May 15-October 15 or on any of the paved trails within and surrounding Jenny Lake Visitor Plaza at South Jenny Lake. If Jenny Lake is your dream Jackson Hole elopement spot, we’ll have to get a little creative and hike one of the trails.
Chapel of the Transfiguration
While this historic church is located inside of Grand Teton National Park, it is an actual practicing church! This means that getting married here is managed through the St. John’s Episcopal Church whose congregation meets here. Your special use permit for Grand Teton National Park is NOT valid here – you will have to go directly through the church. It’s a log chapel that was built in 1925 to have sweeping views of the Teton mountains. It seats 65 people inside.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart
Much like Chapel of the Transfiguration, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart is also an active church located inside the park boundaries. This one, though, is a Catholic church. If you’ve been looking for a great compromise to have a Catholic ceremony and enjoy the outdoors on your wedding day, this is your spot.
Snake River Ranch
This family-owned ranch dating back to the 1930s is right along the banks of the Snake River and hosts weddings as well as special events and commercial shoots. The ranch also offers a ton of different activities like hot air balloon rides, winter dog sledding and boat tours – which sounds like the perfect spot for an experience-focused elopement if you ask me!
Diamond Cross Ranch
This ranch is arguably Jackson Hole’s most iconic ranch. Holding your Jackson Hole elopement at Diamond Cross is not exactly a budget-friendly choice, but it IS breathtaking and has received several honors as one of the best wedding venues in all of Wyoming. They also have cabins on site for lodging which makes things incredibly convenient.
Moose Creek Ranch
If you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path when you elope in the Grand Tetons, check out Moose Creek Ranch. This spot has a beautiful hilly backdrop at the base of Teton Pass and can provide lodging for up to 80 people in cabins, glamping tents and even an Airstream trailer. This venue is only available in summertime.
Rendezvous Lodge atop the Bridger Gondola
This spot atop the gondola at Teton Mountain Resort might have one of the most jaw-dropping views of all the Tetons. If you’re looking for sweeping views from high above the mountains, this is it.
Where to stay for a Jackson Hole elopement
Like I said before, Jackson Hole is not cheap. There’s a reason why the upper echelon of society vacations here! If you want to go totally all-out for your wedding accommodations, I’ve provided a few options here. However, there are also some options on my list that are more affordable for limited budgets (relative to elsewhere in Jackson).
Amangani – Asian-inspiration meets Old West pioneering spirit at this luxury resort from the iconic Aman brand
Caldera House – modern, trendy resort that’s great for a group with a large wedding budget. Rooms are suite-style and they even offer wedding packages
Hotel Jackson – upscale hotel that puts you in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole
Hotel Terra – this boutique hotel at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort would be in the medium price range for Jackson Hole and also offers elopement packages
Teton Cabins – these cabins are operated by Diamond Cross Ranch, which I mentioned earlier!
Anvil Hotel – an old motel turned hip, modern boutique hotel with a great restaurant
Outpost: Dogwood 2722 – crisp white condo in Wilson
Outpost: Alpine Cottage Three – cozy western cottage near downtown
Outpost: Teewinot C4 – chic styled condo
Mountain Retreat w/Hot Tub & Sauna – stay on the quiet side of the Tetons in this small Idaho town
Tip: Jackson is full of second homes, and so many of them are rented out on Airbnb. Check there for tons of condo options!
Things to do when you elope in the Grand Tetons
The possibilities are ENDLESS in Jackson Hole! You have the Teton mountains, the lively town of Jackson and Yellowstone all in the same vicinity. Here are a few of my top picks.
Food
Unlike some other small outdoors towns where good food is few and far between, Jackson has plenty of options.
Cowboy Coffee Co. – cute cowboy themed local coffee shop
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar – this is the iconic bar on the town square where you literally “saddle up” to the bar. No really, the barstools are saddles.
Persephone Bakery – artsy bakery with fresh baked artisanal bread
Gather – New American eatery near the town square
Bin22 – stylish wine bar with tapas
The Kitchen – upscale retro ambiance with beautifully plated food
Hatch Taqueria & Tequilas – trendy taco spot
Glorietta Trattoria – Italian food with handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza inside the Anvil Hotel
Activities
Most obviously, exploring Grand Teton National Park is the first thing you have to do when you plan a Jackson Hole elopement. Here are a few other ideas.
Take a day trip to Yellowstone National Park – why visit just one national park when you can visit two?! Head up to Yellowstone’s South Entrance to see the geothermal activity in America’s first national park.
Get fitted for a custom hat at Encounter Hat Co – I listed this activity on my Crested Butte elopement guide and loved it so much, I included it here as well!
Soak in Astoria Hot Springs in Hoback – cozy warm springs along the Snake River south of Jackson
Go on a horseback ride through the mountains – there are so many different outfitters who can do this in Jackson, and Teton Village Trail Rides is one of them
Get adventurous and go whitewater rafting – could you possibly have a more epic wedding week if you did this?!
Bring home a piece of artwork for your future home – there are so many beautiful art galleries around downtown Jackson Hole. Find some art that speaks to you!
Try the wines at Jackson Hole Winery – wines with a view of the Tetons. What could be better?
Have a picnic at Oxbow Bend – this might be the prettiest spot in all of Grand Teton National Park. I didn’t put it on the list of ceremony locations because it’s right up against the road and a parking lot, but it’s absolutely worth a visit for some pictures!
Let me help you elope in Jackson Hole
Does a Jackson Hole elopement sound perfect for you?!I’d love to help you make that dream come true! If western frontier vibes with a dramatic mountain backdrop sounds like your style, then a Jackson Hole elopement is calling your name.