Photos by Katie Dawn Photo
Abigail and Tyler eloped at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park in June 2026, pairing their wedding clothes with cowboy accessories. After the vows, they spent the evening wandering the park and spotting wildlife, including a small grizzly bear.
They’re from the South and wanted mountains behind them when they said their vows, and the Tetons won. They made a long weekend of it, exploring Yellowstone, hiking nearby trails and working their way through the local restaurants and bars before the big day.
A Grand Teton elopement at Colter Bay
Abigail wore a lace gown with white cowboy boots and carried a bright, colorful bouquet; Tyler wore a cream jacket. On the wedding day they got dressed, added the cowboy pieces and drove out to Colter Bay to say their vows with the range behind them.
An evening of wildlife
The plan after the vows was no plan. They drove and walked around the park, ending up in a meadow by an old wooden barn with the range behind it, and the wildlife kept showing up, a small grizzly among it. It’s a good reminder to build slack into an elopement timeline: the best moments in a national park tend to happen when you’re not rushing to the next spot.
Planning a bigger celebration in the same park? See this Grand Teton National Park wedding for a different take on the same views.
Get the look
Editor picks inspired by this wedding, not what the couple wore.
- Ariat Casanova X Toe Western Boot in Blanco, $279.95 at Ariat. A white knee-high cowgirl boot for the lace-gown-and-boots look Abigail wore at Colter Bay. It has an inside zip, which you’ll appreciate when you’re getting into boots in a wedding dress, and Ariat takes returns for 90 days, so break them in at home before the trip.
- Tecovas The Annie Cowgirl Boot in Bone, $375 at Tecovas. Tecovas’ best-selling women’s boot, with a 14-inch shaft, a scalloped top and a snip toe. Bone is a softer off-white than Ariat’s Blanco, so it’s the one to pick if your gown is ivory rather than bright white.
The idea worth stealing
Make the trip the honeymoon too. Abigail and Tyler did Yellowstone, hikes and the local bars in the days before, so the wedding day itself only needed one stop and a free evening. Elopement days with that much breathing room are the ones that feel like a vacation, not a shoot.
Wedding vendors
- Location: Colter Bay, Grand Teton National Park, WY
- Photographer: Katie Dawn Photo
