Sacred Pause: Why Ceremony Still Matters in Adventure Elopements
September 9, 2026
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Photos by Lucy Schultz Photography
Jackson Hole, Wyoming — Sydney and Tian’s elopement at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming was an epic, mountain-filled all day adventure! Their photographer suggested Grand Teton National Park to Tian and Sydney while they were planning because of their desire to have “mountains in every photo”. This mountain elopement at Grand Teton National Park proves that it’s one of the best wedding locations in the United States!
As the first light of dawn crept over the dramatic peaks, Tian and Sydney only had eyes for each other. Their first look was at Schwabacher’s Landing, one of the most popular and busy places in the park. Luckily for them, a bull moose was browsing in the river just 100 yards away. This caused all the photographers and tourists to focus on the moose, and that left them with a gorgeous view all to themselves. Because the plan for their day was so chill, they even got to watch a coyote hunting in the grass before heading to their ceremony.
The couple chose Glacier View Turnout as their elopement ceremony location in Grand Teton National Park. This ceremony site is great because it’s easy to access, so Sydney’s grandparents and their close friends could happily join them. A rainbow came out just before the ceremony, shining a little touch of pride on the marriage.
Sydney’s grandfather officiated their short and sweet ceremony like he has done for all of his grandchildren. After some group photos, Sydney and Tian chose to share their vows privately with one another. They traveled to a little hidden gem spot where they could be totally alone with each other. Tian barely got two words out before she got choked up, which Sydney mercilessly teased her for. And Sydney tried to hide her emotions behind her vow book- very unsuccessfully. By the end, both women cried and embraced each other as many times as they wanted to. It was so incredibly adorable.
Following their vows, it was time for a gut busting pizza party lunch on the rooftop of Dornan’s with all their friends. Afterwards, they bought out a boat tour on Jenny Lake, treating their handful of guests to a relaxing and scenic tour of the mountains. They saw incredible views, and nobody broke a sweat. Tian changed into a custom forest green suit for a late afternoon stroll through the fall colored brush. It was time for the playful pair to goof off, as they competitively threw trail mix into each other’s mouths. They shared a romantic first dance played on a simple phone speaker. Their entire day was peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and tearful expressions of the deep love and care that they share.
“Eloping in the Grand Tetons is very easy. You don’t need any decorations because the mountain’s beauty and wild atmosphere speak for themselves. A ceremony permit is required to marry inside the park, but the low $200 fee makes one extra step of paperwork well worth it. The Grand Tetons have some of the most beautiful and easy-to-access ceremony sites of all the National Parks. You can apply starting in December of the year prior to your elopement, so plan ahead! Mornings have the best light in the Tetons, as well as the best chances to see wildlife and have privacy, so plan on getting up early! June to October is the best time to elope in the park. This is when the roads are open and the wildlife is abundant. Pack some bug spray and comfortable shoes, because you’re going on an adventure!”
“Planning a full day elopement doesn’t mean you’re being posed for photos for hours. In fact, quite the opposite! I love recommending full day elopements to my clients because of how much more relaxed their days become.
A full day elopement means you have time to slow down and soak up a slow morning. You’ve left time in your day for spontaneous things, like wildlife watching or waiting out the weather (or dancing under a rainbow!). You don’t have to hurry to make it to the next location, because you’re not watching the clock. You’re enjoying the experience of your day instead of staging a list of photos you need to take. And my favorite part: you have time to relish the bucket list excursions that are available in your elopement destination, like going horseback riding, hot air ballooning, caving, taking an unforgettable helicopter flight, or even scuba diving!
In contrast, when you have a shorter elopement limited to 2 or 4 hours, your day becomes rushed as you try to pack as much in as possible. Shorter elopements come with more stress. If there’s traffic or weather that causes delays, you’ll have to sacrifice some of the photos you’ve been dreaming of. Great photos come from great moments, so plan a day that fits your ideals and ticks off your unique bucket list.”
See more from Grand Teton National Park:
• Grand Teton Winter Adventure Elopement
• Intimate Elopement Ceremony in the Grand Tetons
See this wedding and more inside Adventure Wed Magazine!
Planning and Photography: Lucy Schultz Photography
Location: Grand Teton National Park
Sydney’s Hair and Makeup: Courtney Hilton at Skye Artistry
Pizza: Dornan’s Pizza & Pasta Co.
>Boat Company: Jenny Lake Boating
Custom Vow Books: Jillian Jensen Creative
>Rings: Brilliant Earth
Dress Designer: Madison James
Dress Shop: Jo-Lin’s Bridal, Irmo SC
Suit: Kirrin Finch
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