how to get
married at the
wedding tree
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
The Wedding Tree 101
The Wedding Tree isn’t actually located in Grand Teton National Park - it’s a wedding venue in the Gros Ventre (“Grow-Vont”) Mountains, right across from the Tetons. The nearest town, Kelly, is a 20-30 minute drive from Jackson Hole and is pretty much just a rustic community of homes on the edge of Grand Teton National Park and the elk refuge.
The Wedding Tree venue is basically composed of two gigantic trees on the edge of a hill with a dramatic backdrop of the Teton range. The class-IV Gros Ventre river churns below and the entire area smells like sagebrush.
The Wedding Tree was once an under-the-radar spot since it’s not in the Tetons themselves, but this is now my most popular guide so I’d say it’s blown up now. This means that you’ll want to jump on permits quickly if you’re thinking about this site - prime summer and fall weekend dates are already full for 2025!
Fortunately, the Wedding Tree is busy for weddings and elopements but not much else. Most visitors to Jackson Hole never explore the Gros Ventres, so as Grand Teton wedding ceremony venues go, you won’t have to deal with many other people.
location
The Wedding Tree isn’t actually in the Tetons. It’s an outdoor wedding venue near Kelly, Wyoming in the Bridger Teton National Forest and Gros Ventre Mountains.
The Wedding Tree venue is:
35 minutes from Jackson, WY
10 minutes from Kelly, WY
5 minute hike from the parking lot
The trail is mostly dirt and slightly rocky but without much vertical gain. It is not the most accessible wedding venue in the Tetons, though. Fortunately, there are plenty of wedding sites in Grand Teton that fit the bill for easy-access.
Like all outdoor locations in and around Grand Teton National Park, there are no benches or tables for guests at The Wedding Tree. If you want certain fixtures, you’ll have to coordinate with an event planner (I can recommend one!).
It’s also worth nothing that this trailhead does not feature a restroom and there isn’t one in Kelly either, so plan on using the bathroom in Jackson or getting comfortable outside. Mormon Row is not too far away though and does have an outhouse.
Amenities at The
WeddinG Tree
PERMITS
To get married at The Wedding Tree, you’ll need to fill out an Operating Plan and choose dates online with the Friends of Bridger Teton calendar. The website will prompt you to choose a time allotment, so it’s best to book your photographer before getting permits to make sure you get the best conditions and are not rushed for time at The Wedding Tree. If you choose not to do this, I would advise at the very least not booking The Wedding Tree in the afternoon if you want to see the Tetons in the background of your images - the backlit sun will blow them out (the photos in this guide were taken in the afternoon, as a reference).
The Wedding Tree is starting to get a lot of attention so you’ll need to book pretty far in advanced for prime summer dates.
Transportation
The Wedding Tree has extremely limited parking, so it’s best to book a shuttle from Jackson Hole to the venue for your wedding guests.
The parking should be adequate for smaller elopements.
season
Summer through fall are the best times for ceremonies at the Wedding Tree 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.
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. The Wedding Tree is pretty far away from the Tetons and not being able to see the mountains on your wedding day is tragic, so earlier summer sessions will reduce your chances of getting smoked out.
Winter weddings are a little complicated in the Tetons and The Wedding Tree is one of the only venues that is still open. It can be challenging to get to though, depending on conditions, as you have to drive uphill into the Gros Ventre mountains a bit. Plan accordingly and rent a 4x4 car (but only if you have snow driving skills!).
Average Weather at The
Wedding Tree
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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.
pets at the
wedding tree
Looking to bring your goodest boy to your elopement? The Wedding Tree is on National Forest land, so it’s a pet friendly venue! It’s actually the only wedding venue in the area that is, since pets aren’t allowed in Grand Teton National Park.
You’ll want to arrange for a friend or someone to watch your dog if we’ll be taking photos elsewhere in the park, though. They can come to the overlooks, but it’s best not to leave them in your car in the summer.
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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Rocky beach, endless water, Mt. Moran.
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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 The Wedding Tree, 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