Two Part Grand Teton National Park Elopement

M+V_Elopement_2626.jpg — Mary + Victor

Jackson, Wyoming

Mary and Victor had a late summer elopement in Grand Teton National Park. The festivities began before dawn with a 4.5-mile hike to Delta Lake. Mary and Victor changed into formal attire upon arrival at the lake and lovingly posed for pictures surrounded by incredible views of Grand Teton and turquoise-blue alpine water. Their wedding ceremony took place later that afternoon at Schwabacher Landing, a prime spot along the shores of the Snake River with sweeping views of the Teton mountain range in the distance. Afterward, Mary and Victor had a celebratory dinner at IL Villaggio Osteria, a fine-dining Italian restaurant in Teton Village, Wyoming. Are you curious about an adventure elopement? Check out the rest of this post for some seriously epic elopement inspiration.

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Photography: Kayleigh Rust

Dinner: IL Villaggio Osteria

Makeup: India Richey

Flowers: The Faux Bouquets

Rings: Guérin Joaillerie

Cake: Lady in the Wild West

Throughout the years, I have photographed many lovebirds at Delta Lake. Though it was somewhat off the beaten path in previous years, Delta Lake has recently become a popular spot. I recommend hitting the trail as early as possible so you can arrive before the crowds show up. Mary, Victor, India, the hair and makeup artist, and I met at the Lupine Meadows trailhead wearing headlamps and began the trek to the lake in the shadows of night.

#earlybirdgetstheworm! Just as I hoped, our 3:30 am wake-up call paid off. There was nobody in sight when we arrived at the lake. India did Mary’s hair and makeup on the granite boulders, and then Mary and Victor had fun posing for pictures together. The dramatic rock formations and snow-covered terrain made a gorgeous backdrop for their sweet first look.

Delta Lake gets its exquisite color from the powdery glacial silt suspended in the frigid water. Teepe Glacier and Teton Glacier feed silt into the lake. Looking out across the water, Grand Teton sits in the center of Teepe Pillar to the left and East Prong to the right. Grand Teton dominates the landscape at an impressive 13,776 feet in height.

The Lupine Meadows trail to Delta Lake is uphill and gains roughly 2,500 feet in elevation. It is smooth with packed dirt until the 3-mile marker. From that point on, the difficulty increases with a steep incline, fallen trees, and a boulder field in the final stretch. If you are interested in getting married at Delta Lake, plan on wearing appropriate shoes for comfort and safety.

We hiked back to our cars from Delta Lake and prepared for the wedding ceremony at Schwabacher Landing. The elevation at Delta Lake is 9016 feet, 2442 feet higher than the elevation at Schwabacher Landing. At this lower elevation, the sun shined in all its glory, and not a single snowflake was in sight. A small group of family members joined Mary and Victor for their wedding on this lovely September day.

Mary and Victor had a beautiful and magical wedding ceremony. They wrote personalized wedding vows and expressed their love for each other with carefully chosen words. The wind was calm, and the Snake River was so still that the water reflected the sunshine and the spruce trees surrounding us, making a perfectly picturesque backdrop for the ceremony and their wedding photos. Instead of the stress and chaos of a big wedding, Mary and Victor chose to have a grand adventure to Delta Lake and a meaningful ceremony submerged in nature and all its serenity.

After the ceremony, I took Mary and Victor to Mormon Row for a few newlywed photos. Mormon Row is conveniently located about 6 miles from Schwabacher Landing. Established by Mormon homesteaders in 1927, the area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, one homestead and two barns remain standing.

Mary and Victor looked dreamy in their formal wedding attire, standing among the rustic scenery at the Moulton Barns with the Teton mountain range in the distance. The sun began its descent, and I snapped a few more photos. It was a fun and eventful day that I will never forget. A big thank you to Mary and Victor for bringing me along to capture the moments of their wedding day.

Is an adventure elopement right for you? If you love outdoor escapades and want to strip away the preconceived notions of what your wedding day should look like, the answer is YES. Adventure elopements come in all shapes and sizes. The best part about them is you get the freedom to make yours any way you want. Need some help planning an epic adventure elopement? Click the button below and let's start planning.

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