What is The Best Time of Year to Have Your Jackson Hole Wedding?

One of the things that gets overlooked when it comes to planning your wedding or elopement in the Jackson Hole area is what season you should get married in?  We honestly think this is one of the biggest things to consider when you start your planning!  Figuring out what season you want to have your wedding or elopement can have a big impact on the overall look of your photos.  You have to consider things like temperatures (which can be extreme out here in the winter) accessibility, lodging, crowding, vendor availability, etc.  Our goal with this blog was to give some insights into each season and provide visuals so you can determine 1) Does it sound like a specific season would work for you?  and 2) Does it look like a specific season would work for you?  I remember one of our elopements from a few years back where the bride was shocked and disappointed that there was still snow on the ground in late May.  Little things like this are what we cover below so you can make the best decision for your special day!

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Spring (April through Early June)

People that are used to Spring in the South can be shocked when they find out Spring in Jackson Hole usually still means a lot of snow on the ground, and you still get the occasional snowfall.  For the most part, it’s on it’s way out and usually hanging by a thread, but if you’re planning on having your wedding any time during April through late May, I would plan on expecting to still have some snow in a lot of areas.  It’s warm enough most days that you’ll be fairly comfortable most times of the day, but if we’ve had a heavy winter, it can take time to melt in spots where it really accumulates.  Bottom line, expect mild but cool weather (think fall type temps) and some left over snow.  Some spots may still be closed or require trekking through some snow to get to where you want to go, but most spots are accessible and opening back up, if they aren’t already fully open.  Spring can be a great option if you’re looking to avoid the crazy summer crowds, but don’t want to deal with the bitter cold of a Jackson Hole winter.

Summer (June, July, August)

Summer is by far the most popular season to say I do in Jackson Hole!  The Grand Tetons have a little bit of white cap left from glaciers and leftover snow, temps are cool and crisp around sunrise with warm afternoons, followed by cooler evenings.  June is what I like to call perfect weather!  Even on a hot day, with the low humidity, you really have to be trying to sweat.  Once we get to late summer though, the temps will ramp up mid day for sure.  Late summer expect mid afternoons in the 80s-90s!  June is the most mild of the summer months, and July falls perfectly in the middle in our experience.  You can usually count on all of the snow being gone by mid June, with the exception of high elevation areas.  By mid June, you can usually count on everything being open as well!  One thing to be mindful of if you’re planning on eloping in the summer, the crowds are much greater than the Spring time, it’s just a part of it as many people travel here to explore The Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone during summer break.  If you can time it just right in June, you will also catch wild flowers in full bloom in the area!  But it’s not uncommon for a rogue snowstorm or cold front to come through every now and then and take them all out.  The weather is truly the wild wild west here in the summer!  August always tends to be a wild card month for wild fires.  Not necessarily here but oftentimes states away and blowing in.  This can cause the mountains to barely be visible on some days.  It’s not a guarantee but it happens enough that it’s worth mentioning if you’re considering August.

Fall (September, October, November)

Fall is by far our favorite season here in Jackson Hole!  It might have to do something with the fact that we grew up in Florida where no matter what time of the year it is, it’s always summer!  For us, fall is a time of year where things tend to slow down  bit with tourism and the crowds die down.  If you can time peak fall color just right, you are in for a treat!  There’s nothing quite like driving through the park and seeing a sea of vibrant yellow aspens at the base of The Grand Teton range!  The temps are what I would say most expect when it comes to fall weather, maybe a touch cooler due to our elevation.  If you’re looking for more colors than just yellow, you can find it if you venture away from the tetons and more towards The Bridger Teton National Forrest area in Alpine and Star Valley, although you can sometimes find it spritzed in around the shoreline of Jackson Lake!  If that vibrant color, lower crowds, and mild temps are what you’re dreaming of, then fall is definitely your season!

Winter (December through March)

Winter in Jackson can be downright cold!  We’ve shot in temps as low as negative 16 and thigh deep snow.  We’ve also experienced mild winters like this year where a 40 degree day might be the norm.  In general though, you can usually count on Jackson Hole being snow covered, and somewhere between 10-30 degrees most days, with sunrise being the coldest part of the day!  Definitely plan on reserving a rental car with AWD/4WD and pack accordingly for your attire!  This may mean leggings underneath your wedding dress, or a heavy coat for in between shots!  The snow covered mountains against a blue sky are breathtaking if you haven’t experienced it yet!  The biggest drawback in terms of getting married here in the winter is the amount of locations being limited due to closures in and around the park.  There’s also a bit of unpredictability.  While it’s possible any time of year for the mountains to be covered by fog, clouds, or wildfire smoke, this is especially true during the winter where we would say your odds of seeing the grand tetons on any given day are 50/50 at best!  The area is still gorgeous when covered in a blanket of snow so don’t fret!  Bundle up, prepare to be cold, and enjoy the day!

In our opinions, getting married in the Jackson Hole area or the Grand Teton National Park can be beautiful at any time of year!  But, there can definitely be some variability to the overall look, feel, and process itself depending on when you decide to say your I dos.  In any event, if you’re planning far out, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer or planner (if you’ve already booked one) for more specifics.  Hop on local social media groups and ask other couples that got married in Jackson or GTNP, what it was like for them at that time of year.  A lot of our couples that are planning a year or more out will even travel here during certain times of the year just to see what it’s like in one season vs another.  There’s no right or wrong here, just what’s right for you!  As always, if you have any questions about your elopement or wedding, don’t hesitate to give us a shout!