A Grand Teton National Park adventure elopement - behind the scenes.
Dreaming of a Grand Teton National Park wedding or elopement that feels wild, intentional, and deeply personal? The Tetons offer some of the most dramatic mountain landscapes in the country—jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and sweeping valleys just outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
As an experienced adventure wedding and elopement photographer, I’ve spent over a decade hiking, skiing, and photographing in Grand Teton National Park. This story documents one of the most extreme and meaningful elopements I’ve ever photographed: a summit wedding on the Grand Teton via the Exum Ridge—a true once-in-a-lifetime mountain wedding experience.
The Grand Teton towers a vertical mile and a half over the valley of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
I’ve been traveling to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park for nearly a decade to hike, ski, and explore the Tetons. Over the years, I’ve visited more than 20 times. For most of that time, I stood in the valley—or on nearby peaks—looking up at the jagged 13,700-foot summit of the Grand Teton, wondering what it would be like to climb its rocky flanks and look down from the top.
When my friends Collin and Liz reached out and told me they wanted to get married on the summit of the Grand Teton—and asked me to photograph their wedding—there was no hesitation. I was all in. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was a true Grand Teton elopement in one of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West.
Getting to the top of the Grand Teton isn’t a simple hike—it’s a full alpine climb. Collin and Liz are incredibly experienced outdoorspeople and the creators of The Wild Outsiders, a platform dedicated to helping people get outside and explore wild places. Collin and I have shared some intense backcountry adventures together over the years, so it came as no surprise when they told me they didn’t want the “easy” route. Instead, they chose the Exum Ridge, a more technical and visually stunning climbing route that offers some of the most iconic views in Grand Teton National Park.
In early summer, I began training specifically for this Teton summit wedding—running, strengthening my core and upper body, and rock climbing as much as possible. Liz and Collin hired two professional guides from Exum Mountain Guides, one of whom was ordained to marry them at the summit. This level of preparation and intentionality is what makes adventure elopements in the Tetons so unique.
By August, we were back in Jackson Hole and ready to begin. We met our guides, Wade and Brenton, for a full day of skills training inside Grand Teton National Park. They assessed our fitness, comfort on technical terrain, and overall readiness—and ultimately gave us the green light to attempt the climb.
Wade and Collin climbing during a day of training in Grand Teton National Park.
Liz and Collin pose with Wade, who was specifically ordained to marry the two on the summit of the Grand Teton.
The original plan was a two-day ascent: hiking to a 10,000-foot saddle on day one, summiting on day two, and hiking all the way back to the valley. But after reviewing the weather, it became clear our window to summit was just one day before storms rolled in. The decision was made to compress everything into a single, epic push: 19 miles and more than 7,000 feet of elevation gain in one day. Not a typical wedding day—and that’s exactly what made it perfect.
The wedding day began at 2:00 a.m. I packed my bag knowing weight mattered more than ever. While I typically photograph weddings with multiple camera bodies and lenses, this Grand Teton elopement required moving fast and light. I brought one camera, one lens—a 16–35mm—along with extra batteries and memory cards. Every ounce counted.
At 3:00 a.m., we met Wade and Brenton in the parking lot for a final gear check before starting our hike under the stars, beginning our journey toward one of the most unforgettable adventure weddings in Grand Teton National Park.
Hiking through the dawn at 8,000ft. We’d already been on the move for nearly 3 hours.
I asked Collin and Liz to pose for a kiss as the sun came up.
Just after sunrise we reached the saddle at 10,000ft. We took a short break, put on our climbing harnesses and helmets and continued on. The group was split into two sections. Liz and Collin and Wade were one team and Brenton and I were another. Liz and Collin would follow a rope length behind Brenton and I so I could always be photographing down as Liz and Collin came up.
Wade and Collin at the saddle discussing our route to the summit of the Grand Teton.
Brenton and I made a great team. I don’t rock climb much so I was close to the limit of my technical skills on some of the pitches. The Exum Ridge route includes 18 pitches of up to 5.9 climbing. Brenton would let me know which ones were hard and I would put my camera away to focus solely on getting up safely without falling. He would let me know good spots to get shots of Liz and Collin coming up and tie me in so I could lean out over the cliff as they came up.
Brenton ties me into the side of the cliff so I can photograph Liz and Collin coming up behind us.
Liz climbing up to the ledge I’m tied into. The wide angle lens I selected for the climb worked well to include the climbing and the beautiful landscape behind.
Collin climbs the last few feet of an especially scenic pitch on the Grand Teton.
Brenton climbing an exposed section above me.
Collin getting excited on his wedding day!
At 11am there was all of a sudden nowhere to climb. We’d gone as high as we could. After a short traverse we reached the true summit.
We made it! Time to get married. Liz and Collin snuck behind some rocks, stripped down and changed into wedding attire (at over three miles in the sky!) They had written their ceremony down on the side of a paper bag which they handed to Wade. I’m not sure who was more nervous, Liz and Collin or Wade who had never married anyone before. As the ceremony progressed I gingerly hopped around trying to get the best angles without falling 7000ft off the edge to my death.
Collin and Liz getting married on the summit of the Grand Teton.
Liz and Collin changed back into climbing clothes and we began the long long descent back to the parking lot.
After 9 long miles of down climbing we finally made it back to the trailhead down in the valley. 19 miles and over 7000 vertical feet of climbing was done. Liz and Collin and I met Collin’s family in Jackson Hole for a burger and then went to bed!
The next morning we woke up early, Liz and Collin dressed back up in their wedding attire and we took some of the couples shots that we were unable to get on the summit of the Grand.
Photographing Liz the morning after getting married on the summit of the Grand Teton.
Strava captured all the data from our summit climb. Definitely the toughest wedding day I’ve ever had. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Grand Teton National Park Wedding & Elopement FAQs
Do you need a permit to get married in Grand Teton National Park?
Yes. All weddings and elopements in Grand Teton National Park require a special use permit from the National Park Service, regardless of group size.
Can you get married on the summit of the Grand Teton?
Yes, but only with significant planning. Summit weddings require technical climbing experience, professional guiding, proper weather windows, and strict adherence to park regulations.
What time of year is best for a Grand Teton elopement?
Late summer through early fall (July–September) offers the best balance of access, weather, and trail conditions. Higher elevation or summit elopements often have a very narrow seasonal window.
Do we need a guide for a Teton summit elopement?
For technical routes like the Exum Ridge, hiring certified guides—such as Exum Mountain Guides—is strongly recommended and often essential for safety.
What makes Grand Teton National Park a great place to elope?
The Tetons offer unmatched alpine scenery, accessibility from Jackson Hole, and a sense of scale and wildness that makes elopements feel deeply meaningful and intentional.