How to Get Married at The Wedding Tree
For couples looking to hold a micro wedding ceremony with close friends and family in the Tetons, the Wedding Tree is almost always my top recommendation. Permits for larger groups (anything over 12 people) within Grand Teton National Park can be incredibly overwhelming and frustrating for couples hoping to have a stress-free elopement experience, and one of my favorite solutions is this venue that’s only minutes outside of the park! Let’s chat about all of the details.
The Wedding Tree
The Wedding Tree doesn’t have an exact address, but is located on Bridger-Teton National Forest land just outside the Grand Teton National Park boundary. The site consists of two trees that beautifully frame the Grand Teton range in the background. People have been getting married here for decades, and it has become so popular that the National Forest rangers require permits for anyone using this site.
Even though its popularity has caused some stricter guidelines - it’s still one of the most secluded locations for a Grand Teton micro wedding ceremony! Unlike the park, there are not endless crowds of people visiting this viewpoint on their family vacation, so it stays relatively empty unless a wedding is taking place. And because the Rangers require permits for anyone holding a wedding, you generally have the entire site to yourself for the duration that you book it.
Here are the basic rules:
75 Guests Max
Only 6 vehicles are permitted to park at the site
Applications must be submitted a minimum of 30 days in advance
$300 Fee due along with the application
No Decor or Furniture is Allowed (this includes chairs - they will allow a few chairs for older family members, guests with very limited mobility, but this can only be a very small number)
You do not have exclusive use of the area - anyone else can hike through or visit the site
You must comply with all instructions in your Operating Permit (such as rules regarding bouquets, food storage, amplified music, etc)
And here is some basic information that I always share with my couples
There are no bathrooms on site.
There is usually no cell service.
The spot is a 5 minute walk from the parking area along a trail.
Dogs are allowed!!
How to Apply
You will apply at The Wedding Tree website. Scroll down to the calendar on their page and search for your desired date. You can reserve 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours. You’ll fill out the form, pay the $300 fee, and then proceed to the Operating Plan document. Fill this out completely and sign. You’ll be issued a final permit in 7 days or so, and then you will have officially reserved the Wedding Tree for your ceremony!
The Whole Grand Teton Micro Wedding Experience - Sample Timelines
I love helping my couples plan a micro wedding experience that ticks all of their boxes - time with family & close friends, an intimate ceremony in nature, time to adventure in the mountains, and celebration! Here are a couple of sample timelines for what your entire day could look like with a ceremony at the Wedding Tree.
Sunrise/Sunset Split Timeline
This one is an adventure packed, non traditional elopement day! We will have a ceremony with friends and family, but the majority of the day is centered around the two of you getting to explore the mountains.
Sunrise
6am - Meet at an incredible spot to watch sunrise in the Tetons. We’ll take some photos with an epic view. Bring coffee and breakfast and enjoy hanging out together.
7am - Morning Horseback Ride. You can lean into the Western vibes of Jackson Hole and wear something western but still bridal. We’ll take some awesome portraits with the horses, and you’ll get to explore the mountains on a horse!
9am - End Horseback Ride, photography break. You can grab food in town, go back to your hotel or VRBO, and hang out with family and friends.
You can start getting ready in the afternoon, and we’ll resume photography coverage with your first look!
4pm - First Look at the Wedding Tree before guests arrive
4:30pm - Ceremony at the Wedding Tree
5pm - Family Photos and Portraits at the Wedding Tree
5:30pm - Champagne Toast
6pm - Leave the Wedding Tree, guests can travel to your reception location or explore the park
6:30pm - Portraits/short hike in Grand Teton National Park. The park gets emptier in the evening as people go back to town for dinner, so we have a lot of viewpoints to ourselves! We can do a hike, canoe ride, or visit a few locations for photos.
8:30pm - Private Vows at Sunset
9pm - Sunset, Photography Ends for the day
Full Day Traditional Timeline
This is a very typical timeline for couples who want a more traditional micro wedding experience in the Tetons.
1pm - Getting Ready and Detail photos at your Airbnb
1:30pm - First Look, Portraits, Leave for Ceremony Location
3pm - Ceremony at the Wedding Tree
3:30pm - Family Portraits
4pm - Time to explore the park! We’ll take a couple hours for portraits and exploring - we can do a hike, canoe ride, or visit a few locations for photos.
6pm - Leave Park, drive into Jackson for Dinner
6:30pm - Private Dinner, Toasts, Cake Cutting
8:30pm - Quick Outfit Change and Sunset Portraits outside the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
9pm - Photography ends, you finish the day celebrating with everyone in the Cowboy Bar!
As your Grand Teton Wedding & Elopement Photographer my goal is to give you photos that feel like you’re reliving your favorite day over and over again, but I also help plan your favorite day from the ground up - that includes helping you secure permits for the Wedding Tree and planning the rest of your day.
I’ll also help with
Timeline Planning
Vendor Recommendations - tailored towards you two as a couple and your desert location. No more google searching!
Custom Location Guides - all of my favorite scouted areas that aren’t listed on my site!
Permit + Licensing help
Adventure Planning - all the best options for hiking, horseback riding, climbing, or whatever else you’re dreaming of doing together!