Consider Eloping in Yellowstone National Park

If you’re dreaming of a wedding day filled with epic landscapes, intimate moments, and the kind of beauty that takes your breath away, then eloping in Yellowstone National Park might be exactly what your heart is calling for. Yellowstone is a place where time slows down, love feels bigger, and nature puts on a show that rivals any man-made venue. Whether you envision saying your vows beside a steaming geyser, in a field of wildflowers, or with a towering waterfall as your backdrop, Yellowstone offers a truly unforgettable setting for your elopement.

As a professional elopement photographer, I’ve had the honor of capturing some stunning scenery of this iconic park. In this post, I’ll walk you through why Yellowstone is the perfect place to elope, how to handle some of the logistics like special use permits, and how to turn your elopement into the ultimate honeymoon adventure.

Why Choose Yellowstone for Your Elopement?

1. The Scenery is Unmatched

Yellowstone is a place unlike any other. It’s home to geothermal wonders like Old Faithful, vibrant hot springs like Grand Prismatic, deep canyons carved by time, and rolling meadows where herds of bison roam. No matter the season, the park offers a rich variety of backdrops that can match whatever vibe you’re going for — dramatic, romantic, wild, serene.

2. Privacy & Intimacy

Traditional weddings can be overwhelming with hundreds of guests and the pressure to please everyone. Eloping in Yellowstone strips away the noise and lets you focus on what truly matters: your love. Whether you choose to elope with just the two of you or a small group of your closest people, the intimacy of this setting makes every moment more meaningful.

3. It’s a Wedding and an Adventure

Your elopement can be more than just a ceremony — it can be an entire experience. From watching wildlife together, to soaking in natural hot springs, or hiking to a secluded waterfall, Yellowstone invites you to step into a shared adventure that becomes the first unforgettable chapter of your marriage.

How to Get Married in Yellowstone National Park: The Permit Process

To elope in Yellowstone, you’ll need a Special Use Permit issued by the National Park Service (NPS). This process helps protect the park’s delicate ecosystems while allowing couples to celebrate their love in some of the most iconic locations on Earth.

Here’s how the process works:

1. Choose Your Ceremony Location
   The park limits ceremonies to certain pre-approved locations to avoid crowding and environmental damage. Popular spots include Artist Point, Mammoth Chapel, and Hayden Valley, among others. You’ll want to choose a spot that matches your vision and your guest list size (some locations have limits on how many people can be present).
2. Submit a Special Use Permit Application
   You’ll fill out the NPS Special Use Permit Application and submit it with a non-refundable $75 application fee. You’ll need to do this at least a month in advance, but I recommend submitting it as early as possible — especially if you’re planning for peak season (summer). The park accepts applications up to twelve months in advance, but permits are typically issued only a few weeks before the event due to changing conditions.
3. Await Approval & Review Guidelines
   Once your permit is approved, you’ll receive guidelines specific to your ceremony location, including rules about group size, setup, time limits, and what’s allowed (spoiler: no confetti or amplified sound!).
4. Hire an Experienced Professional Photographer
   A experienced professional photographer can be your greatest asset.

Key Things to Consider When Planning Your Yellowstone Elopement

Weather

Yellowstone experiences unpredictable and sometimes extreme weather. Even in summer, temperatures can dip into the 30s in the morning and rise to the 80s by afternoon. Thunderstorms can roll in quickly, especially in July and August. It’s essential to dress in layers, bring sturdy footwear, and have backup plans if your original location gets rained out.

Wildlife

Bison, elk, bears, wolves, and even moose may make surprise appearances during your visit. Always keep a safe distance and follow park safety rules. Seeing wildlife on your wedding day is magical — but safety always comes first!

Busy Seasons

Summer (June–August) is peak season. Expect crowds, long entrance lines, and limited parking. Spring and fall offer more solitude, changing foliage, and dramatic scenery. Winter is stunning but comes with accessibility challenges — many roads close, and you may need a snowcoach or snowmobile to reach certain areas.

Just the Two of You… or an Unforgettable Experience for Guests

Eloping doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Yellowstone offers the perfect blend of intimacy and flexibility. You can:

• Elope just the two of you and spend the rest of the day exploring waterfalls, soaking in hot springs, or watching a geyser erupt hand in hand.
• Invite a small group of loved ones for a private ceremony followed by a picnic, a catered outdoor dinner, or even a stay at one of the historic park lodges.
• Plan a multi-day experience with hikes, wildlife tours, and storytelling around the campfire. It becomes a shared adventure your guests will never forget.

Turn Your Elopement into the Honeymoon of a Lifetime

Once the vows are exchanged and the rings are on, you’re already in one of the most exciting places on Earth for your honeymoon. Here are just a few unforgettable activities you can enjoy in Yellowstone:

• Hike to Fairy Falls or Mount Washburn for incredible views
• Soak in the Yellowstone Hot Springs
• Take a private wildlife safari tour in Lamar or Hayden Valley
• Horseback ride through scenic mountain trails
• Book a night at the Old Faithful Inn, one of the most iconic lodges in the park
• Stargaze under one of the darkest night skies in the U.S.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even combine your trip with stops at nearby national treasures like Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, or Glacier National Park.

Why Hire Me, Hayley Howard Photography

Eloping in a national park is an entirely different experience from a traditional wedding — and you need a photographer who understands the rhythm of the wild, the movement of light, and the deep, quiet beauty of intimate moments.

As someone who adores adventure elopements and understands the logistical and emotional nuances of eloping in places like Yellowstone, I’m here to guide you. I’ll help with:

• Scouting ceremony and portrait locations
• Timeline planning for the best lighting and crowd control
• Permit and park regulation guidance
• Capturing candid, artful images that reflect your connection and the landscape around you

Your love story deserves to be told with intention and beauty. And I would be honored to help you tell it. My style of photography is timeless, natural, and true to color. For more information about what timeless photography means to me, click here.

Let’s Make Magic Together

If you’re ready to ditch the traditional wedding script and create something completely your own, let’s talk. Yellowstone is calling, and I would love nothing more than to be by your side — capturing every laugh, every tear, and every breathtaking moment along the way.

Reach out today to start planning your unforgettable Yellowstone elopement with me, Hayley Howard Photography. Together, we’ll create a celebration that’s as wild and wonderful as your love.

Let’s connect and start planning.

For more information about working with me, visit the experience page.