how to get
married at
colter Bay
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Colter Bay 101
I know Colter Bay better than any other photographer in the area, guaranteed, because I’ve lived here April - October for many summers.
The beach at the Colter Bay Swim Area is not a sandy beach. It’s made up of a lot of smooth, glacial, gray rocks. The amount of beach varies based on the time of year as the water levels change. This is one reason I say it’s so important to book a local photographer - they can tell you what the water level is and what the beach will look like.
If you’re thinking about having your wedding at Colter Bay, here’s what you need to know:
It can accommodate up to 40 guests
It is one of the first venues to book up
It is the only ceremony site located on a lake
It offers a beautiful, unconventional view of the Tetons
There may be bears
Jackson Lake water levels may be very high or very low - luckily I usually know what’s happening with the dam since my partner guides on the Snake River below
Colter Bay is the only venue with nightly accommodation
location
Colter Bay is located at the far northern end of Grand Teton National Park, near the southern entrance to Yellowstone.
The Colter Bay Swim Area is:
1 hour from Jackson, WY
Accessible immediately from the parking lot
Traffic often backs up at the pay stations and for bison, bears, and moose, so give yourself a ton of extra time.
Given its distance and the fact that you’ll drive past nearly every other wedding site in Grand Teton National Park, the swim beach is really best if you’re staying in the northern part of the park or Yellowstone National Park.
Unlike pretty much every other wedding venue in Grand Teton National Park, Colter Bay has a few scattered picnic tables. They’re spread out and not particularly great for a ceremony, but they exist should you need them.
If you want certain fixtures like chairs, though, you’ll have to coordinate with an event planner (I can recommend one!).
Colter Bay also has a bathroom with running water at the ceremony site.
Amenities Colter Bay Swim Area
PERMITS
Permits cost $200 and can be found on the Grand Teton Weddings & Ceremonies page. Permit applications opened on December 16th, 2024. Do not submit your application before the park opens applications - they will not accept them and you will not receive a refund.
Colter Bay is one of the first venues to book up, so don’t wait on this permit. It is now full for 2025.
I’ll go into the details about the different types of permits you can get for Colter Bay weddings below. Most people will fall under the “Site Specific Ceremony” category if they are getting married in the typical season (June to early October).
Types of Wedding Permits for Colter Bay
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Ceremony sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the popularity of the Colter Bay Swim Area, only one wedding or elopement is allowed per day. To secure your desired date, you must apply for the permit early because it’s one of the first locations to book up. Last minute elopements here are not likely but you could get lucky.
Applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled event, but earlier is better given Grand Teton National Park’s popularity for weddings. Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row (South), Mountain View Turnout, Glacier View Turnout, and Snake River Overlook can accommodate up to 25 guests, while Mormon Row (North) and Colter Bay Swim Beach have a capacity for up to 40 guests.
Remember: ‘guests’ includes the photographer, officiant, videographer, and guests. So you actually should have your photographer booked before you choose your venue, or at least before you submit your permit if you’re having a wedding in Grand Teton National Park.
Site-specific ceremonies can only be held in the park from May 10th to October 20th. You still need a permit after that, but you can only get a Small Dispersed Ceremony permit and are limited to 12 guests.
These permits do not apply to the two distinct chapels in the park (Chapel of the Transfiguration and Chapel of the Sacred Heart) or the lodges - all of these locations have their own websites and fees.
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Small dispersed wedding permits are available for smaller gatherings of up to 12 guests, including the officiant. For Colter Bay, you can only have a small dispersed wedding here before May 10th or after October 20th.
These ceremonies are permitted in any park area except reserved ceremony sites, certain paved trails (around Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, String Lake), Lawrence S. Rockefeller Preserve, park partner facilities, park cemeteries, and areas near chapels.
Small dispersed weddings can be held in the park all year and are the only option for winter elopements in Grand Teton National Park.
Prohibited locations include:
Reserved Site-Specific Ceremony locations during Friday, May 10, 2024 to Sunday, October 20, 2024
The paved trails within and surrounding the Jenny Lake Visitor Plaza at South Jenny Lake, Jenny Lake Trail, and Jenny Lake Overlook
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
String Lake developed area and trail
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Concessioner land assignments (exception for weddings sold/catered by concessioners in assigned facilities in accordance with their contract)
Park partner facilities (e.g., Murie Ranch, Teton Science School)
Within proximity of places where weddings are being managed by a chapel or concessioner (e.g., the Chapel of the Transfiguration)
Park cemeteries
If a location is behind a gate, the permittee may have walking access but not vehicle access
Areas where there is high visitation during the requested period or potential for resource damage
Park regulations prohibit the use of arbors, arches, platforms, podiums, rugs, tables, or tents. Limited seating, primarily for guests with standing difficulties, is allowed. It's important to note that rearrangement of park facilities is not permitted according to park guidelines.
Cost
Eloping or having an intimate wedding at the Colter Bay Swim Area beach is significantly more budget-friendly than traditional venues in the area. Couples can secure a spot via a $200 permit fee through the Grand Teton National Park.
Entrance to the park is $35 or free with an America the Beautiful pass.
season
Summer through fall are the best times for ceremonies at Colter Bay and other venues in the Tetons. It can stay chilly in the mornings all summer, but it’s much more bearable in July and August. Colter Bay is always a bit chillier than Jackson, too, which I really appreciate in the summer!
The Tetons can get hit hard by wildfire smoke, however, so it’s a bit of a toss up whether you want to gamble on rain, snow, or smoke. Colter Bay is particularly far away from the mountains (all the way across Jackson Lake), so it might be best to have your wedding in June, before fire season really gets going.
Colter Bay is not available for winter weddings, as the village is usually not plowed after it snows.
Average Weather
at Colter Bay
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68° / 36°
June is cooler than the rest of the summer months and there’s always an off chance it could rain or even snow. But overall June is full of wildflowers and beautiful weather, and wildfire season usually hasn’t started yet.
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78° / 41°
July has been getting hotter in recent years, and can easily reach the 80s. July is a little less rainy than June, though, and you should still see plenty of wildflowers (unless it’s a very dry year).
Wildfire season usually stars in July, so your chance of smoke will be higher.
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76° / 39°
Despite those lower numbers, August has been the hottest month in the Tetons in recent years, with sustained temps in the 80s. Rain is definitely always possible, but August is overall pretty dry.
Wildfire season will definitely be going off by August, so your chance of smoke will be higher.
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67° / 32°
September is a beautiful time of year in the Tetons. It’s slightly cooler than the summer months and the aspens and cottonwoods will start to change at the end of the month.
Wildfire season didn’t used to go until September but in recent years we’ve had fires or gotten smoke from other states, so your chance of smoke will be higher.
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52° / 24°
Early October usually has a last hurrah of warm weather before it gets truly cold in the Tetons. The cottonwoods and aspens should still be changing and it’s a much quieter time in the Tetons.
Wildfire season is usually over by October but it went until November in 2024, so who knows anymore.
Have a great wedding day
More Wedding Venues in Grand Teton
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Rustic barns, wide open sky, fields of grass.
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Calm water from the Snake River, morning fog, ample shade. Maybe a moose.
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Two trees framing the entire Teton range.
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Sagebrush and intimate mountain views.
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Ansel Adams and the Snake River. Enough said.
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Bright sun and wide sagebrush vistas.
More Planning Resources
I’ve put a lot of thought and time into these free resources and put even more consideration into my clients’ weddings and galleries. All of my clients will receive:
My unlimited attention, local expertise, and assistance while designing your wedding or elopement timeline.
A plan b for the day in case the weather does not cooperate - this is so important in Grand Teton and only a local photographer is going to have the knowledge to basically create two itineraries.
My client planning guide packed with Jackson Hole and Grand Teton-specific details and vendor recommendations to make planning your day as seamless as possible.
An easy-access, beautifully-designed digital gallery with full print and sharing rights.
If you’re considering getting married at Colter Bay, I highly encourage you to reach to a photographer with a serious connection and expertise on Grand Teton National Park. It will show in the photos!
Recommended Reading:
About Your Wedding Photographer
Hey, I’m Danielle! I’m a wedding and elopement photographer in Jackson, WY and literally live in Grand Teton National Park.
I’ve seen all of the wedding ceremony sites at every time of day and in every season, which is the kind of expertise you want in someone who will be helping plan your timeline and taking your wedding photos.
If having a photographer with some serious local expertise and skill behind the camera sounds like something you want on your very important wedding day, check out my Grand Teton wedding and elopement packages.
Contact
vilaplanaphoto@gmail.com