If you’re anything like most of our couples, then the first time you saw the Grand Tetons you knew instantly, this is the area I want to say I do! We experienced the same thing when we renewed our vows here in 2020. Jackson Hole has a special ability to just pull you in, and The Grand Teton Mountain Range is one of the main reasons. It’s nearly impossible to think about Jackson without associating it with the Grand Tetons. People travel here from countries away sometimes just to see them in person. From someone whose traveled to many of the scenic places our beautiful country has to offer, I can admit there are plenty of beautiful mountain landscapes all around the nation. But, there is something truly special about the Tetons. In an area that has plenty of gorgeous landscape to go around, the Tetons sit in the middle of the plains like a crown amongst the proverbial kingdom. Their towering presence in an area that feels relatively flat makes them all the more impressive. One of our favorite things about seeing them in person is they appear to change shape depending on what perspective you’re looking at them. All things considered, it’s easy to see why this area has grown in popularity amongst couples looking to have an intimate wedding or elopement! Every year as we meet new couples we’re almost always asked, “What is your favorite spot to shoot!?” It’s probably ever evolving to an extent but at this point in time, we would say our three favorite spots for weddings in the Grand Tetons would be: The Wedding Tree, Mountain View Turnout, and Taggart Lake (in no particular order)! All three of these spots are so different, but all three do a stellar job of showing off the Tetons. Below we’re going to dive into what we love about these spots, show some examples from each location, and provide some relevant info if you’re interested in trying to check out these spots for your special day!
The Wedding Tree
If you do any kind of research on wedding ceremony locations in the Jackson Hole area, I would venture to say it’s nearly impossible to not come across The Wedding Tree. While this highly popular spot technically falls outside of the Grand Teton National Park, the perspective from Wedding Tree puts a beautiful wide angle view of the Grand Tetons on full display. If you can time the wildflower blooms just right, you are in for a real treat. If I’m being honest, I think one of the reasons this spot gained so much popularity is it used to be free. Million dollar views and free!? Of course as it’s grown in popularity over the years, changes have been implemented to help sustain this location for everyone who visits. There is now a $300 “processing" fee associated with this location. Given the scenery, and as someone whose shot at many a venues all across the country, this fee is more than fair in our opinion. Find a venue with a view of the tetons like this and you’re likely to tack on two more zeros to the end of that fee. So all things considered, there is a lot of value within this special location. One of the reasons this spot is on our favorite list, beyond the open fields, and expansive views, is the fact that it’s usually not too crowded since it’s off the beaten path. Parking can be very limited, sometimes as little as 5-7 cars can fit, depending on their size. Keep this in mind when planning logistics for everyone. The walk out to the wedding tree itself is relatively flat and what most avid hikers would likely call very easy. Even loaded down with all of our equipment it’s only a 2-3 minute walk for us from the parking lot. With this, the terrain does have a fair amount of small rocks and can be uneven at times so if you have any elderly family members or guests with mobility issues, this can be a big factor to consider in making sure you can get them out there safely. In addition to a few visuals below, click here to learn more about booking your elopement / wedding at The Wedding Tree!
Mountain View Turnout
We’ve covered this topic a few times in blogs over the years, but the view from Mountain View Turnout is our favorite perspective of the Grand Tetons. As we mentioned at the beginning of this one, the shape of the tetons appears to change depending on where you’re viewing it from in the area and while I would argue there isn’t a bad view of the tetons to be had, the way they are shaped from this angle has become one of our favorite. Pro tip, if you can time golden hour just right at this location, the light comes in from the side and really adds contrast and highlight to the mountains at the same time. This location is considered one of the 6 site specific ceremony locations within the park. If you’re looking for more information on how to apply to hold your elopement or wedding at Mountain View Turnout, click here! In addition to the view, we love the open field here and also how close you are to the mountains. While you don’t get the wide views like you would at The Wedding Tree, it feels like you’re right on top of the grand tetons here and the mountains will appear larger in your photos due to being a lot closer. As you’ll see below, it’s hard to beat!
Taggart Lake
You won’t find Taggart Lake on the 6 site specific ceremony locations. For this special spot you will need to apply for a dispersed site ceremony within the Grand Teton National Park. For these type of ceremonies, they allow you to choose from other spots in the park. The maximum amount of people you can have present at these types of ceremonies is limited to 12 and that’s including guests, & vendors. Just something to keep in mind as you start envisioning your elopement or wedding in the grand tetons. If you’re down for a 40ish minute hike out with moderate changes in elevation, this could be a great option. With the combination of beautiful lake views and close ups of the tetons, Taggart Lake should definitely be up for your consideration. Timing is everything with this beautiful location. We find the best timing for this spot is sunrise or sunset. If you try to visit this mid morning to mid day during peak season, it is likely to be way too crowded for an elopement, no matter how small. One of the things we love about taking our couples here is you're treated to a lot of mountain view scenery along the way, lush aspen forests, and running water from the creek next to the trail. It provides plenty of photo opportunities on the way out or the way back in addition to the views at the lake. If your celebration meets the size requirements and you don’t mind the extra effort of a moderately strenuous hike, check out Taggart Lake. It’s so worth the trek!
As you can see above, all of these locations are very different and they can also appear different at different times of day! The one thing they all have in common is beautifully highlighting the grand tetons! Whether you want those wide views and open fields that you can get at The Wedding Tree, or you prefer the more close up views at place like Mountain View Turnout or Taggart Lake, there’s something for everyone in the Jackson Hole area. These happen to be our favorite 3 but, there are so many breathtaking options to choose from! We hope this will help you narrow it down and we hope you all enjoyed following along!
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