You want to elope in GTNP, buuuut you’re not from there so you have no idea where to start. Lucky for you, you have a planning expert right here: Jess! I have all the answers, tips, and tricks to make the process straightforward and easy-peasy, starting with the legalities.

While the mountains of Grand Teton National Park feel like another world, your marriage license must be handled by the state. Fortunately, Wyoming is one of the most elopement-friendly states in the country! Here is exactly how to make it official in Teton County AND a National Park.

01. Wyoming Marriage License

Schedule an appointment with a Wyoming County Clerk. You and your partner both have to go in person to the office. (Note: you can go to any county in Wyoming, but the closest one to the Tetons is the Teton County Clerk’s Office in Jackson). It costs $30 to get your marriage license.

You have to provide specific information and documentation at your appointment including government issued photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport) and a completed Marriage License Questionnaire. There is no waiting period in Wyoming, which means as soon as you get your license you can get legally married!

02. Ceremony Requirements

To ensure your marriage is recognized by the state of Wyoming, your ceremony must include…

• An authorized officiant: This can be a judge, a religious leader, or anyone ordained to perform marriages. (If you want a friend to do it, they can get ordained online via the Universal Life Church).
• Two Witnesses: Wyoming law requires two witnesses to be present at the ceremony. Eloping just the two of you?* Don’t worry. As your photographer, I can be  one witness, and we can easily find a second (another hiker, a videographer, or even a park ranger) to sign.

As your photographer, I can also be your officiant (I’m ordained through the Universal Life Church) or one of your witnesses!

03. Paperwork

After your elopement ceremony,  your officiant is responsible for filing the signed marriage license back with the County Clerk’s office within 10 days. Once it’s filed, you can request certified copies, which you will need for name changes, insurance, and other legal updates.

04. Park Permit

A marriage license makes you married in the eyes of Wyoming, but a Special Use Permit makes your ceremony legal in the eyes of the National Park.

Your permit is for a specific location on a specific date for up to one hour with a maximum guest count. These specifics all depend on the permit location (more about choosing your location in this resource linked here). 

To apply for a permit, you need to:

1. Download the application for Grand Teton National Park
2. Fill out the application
3. Pay the application fee (currently $200)
4. Email your application to the park’s Special Use Permit service once the applications open.

Applications  typically open around November/December of the previous year (so 2026 applications opened at the end of 2025, and 2027 applications will open at the end of 2026). They’re processed on a first-come, first-served basis. So the sooner you can submit the better chance you have of getting your preferred location on your chosen date! I suggest having your application done and ready to send when applications open (which is announced a few weeks before). 

This might sound like a lot to prepare, but as your photographer, I help you navigate this whole process! You’ll know exactly how to apply for the location you want!

Pro Tips

Marriage License Appointment

Schedule your appointment with the County Clerk on the 2nd day that you’re in the area and at least one day before your elopement. This will help you travel without the stress of arriving by a certain time to make your appointment and avoid any unexpected delays. Also, you can get your marriage license as early as 60 days before your elopement.

Special Use Permits

Even though the large site-specific permits are full for 2026, you can still get a small dispersed permit! These permits require you to have 12 people or fewer in attendance (including the couple, photographer, officiant, etc.). But in return, it opens up practically the whole park to choose your ceremony location. There are only a few restrictions and off-limit locations.

Ready to make it officially official?

If you have questions about and part of the legal aspects of eloping in Grand Teton National Park, I’ve got your back. I’ll take the stress away, so you can focus on each other!

Xo

Jess