how to get
married at
colter Bay
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
An easy Colter Bay elopement guide with parking, best light windows, and seasonal notes, from a Colter Bay local.
Colter Bay 101
I know Colter Bay better than quite literally other photographer, because I’ve lived here for many years. Colter Bay is a little cove off Jackson Lake in the northern part of Grand Teton National Park. There’s a complex of seasonal NPS and Grand Teton Lodge Co buildings, restaurants, cabins, and campgrounds, and the wedding ceremony site is down by the water.
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.
The most important thing to note about Colter Bay is that it is quite isolated. It takes me about an hour to get to town (assuming there are no bear or bison jams), and getting into the park can take even longer with the entrance station. If you get a Colter Bay permit, your best bet is to stay somewhere outside of Jackson.
location
Colter Bay is located at the far northern end of Grand Teton National Park, near the southern entrance to Yellowstone.
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.
Colter Bay is a bit far from the traditional photo locations but it is close to some other famous vistas that make for a stunning backdrop to wedding portraits.
Basic logistics
Guest capacity - 40 people (including vendors)
Dogs - no
Accessibility - good
Sunrise or sunset - both are stunning
PERMITS
Historically I’ve recommended hiring your photographer or planner before getting permits so they can help you navigate the process. Permits have become so competitive that I no longer recommend this - find out if you even get a permit before hiring vendors.
Permits cost $200 and can be found on the Grand Teton Weddings & Ceremonies page. Permit applications opened on December 4th, 2025. Do not submit your application before the park opens applications - they will not accept them and you will not receive a refund.
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!
Colter Bay is not available for winter weddings, as the village is usually not plowed after it snows.
This location tends to work best for couples who:
want a quiet, minimal ceremony without a formal setup
are okay with sticking to the northern part of the park and skipping Jackson
think Mt Moran is the baddest Teton
It’s usually not a good fit if:
you want total privacy at peak times
you want to be based in Jackson
you want to go to some of the main, more popular sites in the park
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