Wedding Venue: The Wedding Tree, Bridger Teton National Forest, Wyoming

Reception Venue: The Bentwood Inn, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Planner: Alison Kyle with Destination Jackson Hole

Sometimes the best wedding venue discoveries happen when plans change. Brooke and Joe decided to reschedule their big plans for a larger celebration last June due to COVID-19. They opted for a small, intimate Wedding Tree Wedding in Bridger Teton National Forest in 2020, followed by a larger event with family and friends in 2021 at the Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole.

The Wedding Tree in Bridger Teton National Forest

The small ceremony this year was absolutely perfect. The Wedding Tree in Bridger Teton National Forest can be reserved at the USDA Forest Service website. The parking lot accomodates about 5-7 cars max. If you are planning for more than 20-30 guests, a shuttle would probably be required. Forest service permits are required for 75 or more people. However, be sure to get your event on the forest service calendar even if you don't meet the 75 person permit requirement. The Forest Service will let you know if there is another event planned on the day you picked. You wouldn't want to arrive and have another wedding happening at the site already. No offsite catering is permitted, and no decorations can be used whatsoever, including signs. The site is not closed off for your wedding, so tourists could potentially still come and go during your event.

Unmatched Views

The views, however, are phenomenal. If you are an adventurous couple seeking a rustic ceremony site with the best Teton views possible, this might be your spot. The wedding tree itself is about a 5 minute hike from the parking lot, so be prepared if you plan to have grandparents or guests with mobility issues in attendance. There are no services on the road to the site, so make sure you have a full tank of gas and plenty of water.

Another benefit of the Wedding Tree site is that it is one of the few permitted wedding sites in the Jackson Hole area to allow dogs. While pets should still be on a leash, they are permitted in the Bridger Teton National Forest, while in Grand Teton National Park, they are limited to staying in the parking lots.

One thing to be mindful of when planning a Teton wedding is the sun and weather. Brooke and Joe had several places they wanted couples portraits taken in the Bridger Teton area. They also wanted to have a nice dinner with their families at the Bentwood Inn. We ended up carving out some time in between the Wedding Tree and the start of their cocktail hour for a few iconic Teton locations, and then we asked for another quick portrait session as the light got softer closer to sunset. Luckily, it's never hard to find open space and beautiful views in the Jackson Hole area, so we only had to drive a few minutes from the Bentwood for their second session at sunset.

The Bentwood Inn, Jackson Hole Wedding Venue

The Bentwood Inn in Jackson Hole is a full service wedding venue, offering event space, outdoor ceremony and reception areas, and full lodging for up to 20 of your guests. It also operates as a Bed and Breakfast, and their in-house chef is incredible. The dinner they prepared for Brooke and Joe's reception was one of the best wedding dinners we've ever tasted. It was truly perfect. Most dinners they prepare at the Bentwood Inn are four-course meals, complete with local seasonal ingredients. We really enjoyed meeting the staff at the Bentwood. They were kind, down-to-earth and so hospitable to our couple, their guests and each of their vendors. We cannot recommend this venue enough. I'm so excited to photograph it again for Brooke and Joe this coming summer.

We have been so honored to be a part of Brooke and Joe's journey the last couple years. Brooke and Joe were a referral to us from another one of our favorite couples who got married a few years ago. Brooke and Joe have the sweetest way with each other, and the small Wedding Tree wedding seemed to fit them really well, even if it wasn't what they originally planned. The pandemic has created so many hiccups for this amazing couple, but we can't wait to document their next celebration. They plan to have the whole event at the Bentwood Inn.

Congrats on your marriage, Brooke and Joe! Thanks for letting us be a part of it! See you this summer!