- Month: Late September
- Ceremony Location: Taggart Lake
- Lodging: Condo in The Aspens
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Paige and Alex wanted a laid back elopement day where they could be fully present with each other and surrounded by stunning scenery. Lucky for them, there’s no better place for that than the Tetons!!
We arrived at their lodging mid-day to capture a few minutes of them both getting ready before heading to the national park. Alex got finished up first, and then Paige got in her dress and put on her shoes.
First Look at Schwabacher
Once they were finished getting ready, Matt and Alex left for the first look location to get a short head start, and then Lauren and Paige followed. Once the guys arrived at Schwabacher, Matt got him set up and turned around so he wouldn’t see Paige when she arrived. Once Paige and Lauren arrived we jumped into the first look which ended up being adorable.
Couples Photos at Schwabacher
After Alex got a good look at Paige’s dress and they took in the moment for a few minutes, we snapped some couples photos of the two of them by the water. The fall colors and the reflection in the water at Schwabacher always love to show off!!
Pit Stop Before the Hike
On the way to the trailhead, we stopped at one more quick spot to get some “small people big mountains” shots. There’s a few spots around the park that we like to call the “wall hanger” spots because they make for some pretty dang dramatic photos with the Tetons towering above!
Hike to Taggart Lake
Paige and Alex’s ceremony was going to be at Taggart Lake, so we boogied over to the trailhead and got ready to head up to the lake. There was construction happening on the normal route we take to the lake, so we were forced to take the other side of the loop which ended up being just as stunning and worth the extra little bit of distance.
Ceremony at Taggart Lake
Once we made it to the lake, Paige and Alex took a few minutes to freshen up and take in the scenery before we began the ceremony. Matt ended up officiating the ceremony and stood off to the side of them so he wasn’t blocking the view or distracting from them. When it’s just the couple or a small group, Matt is able to officiate for our couples free of charge if they wish, and if they choose to do this then Lauren shoots all of the photos during the ceremony. Both of us shoot photo during the ceremony if our couples choose to hire an officiant or do a self-run ceremony.
Paige and Alex ended up exchanging beautiful personal vows and then sealed the deal with a ring exchange and a first kiss!
Couples Photos and picnic at the Lake
After the ceremony we snapped some couples photos and individual photos of the two of them and they shared some charcuterie and champagne on the infamous rock.
Evenings at Taggart are much quieter than the middle of the day, and it’s usually rare to see more than a few other total people in the evening. The middle of the day can be a bit of a zoo up there so we always recommend early morning or late evening if you’re looking to go up there on your day.
Hike Back Down
After their picnic we made the hike back down to the trailhead as the sun continued to set. The air was dead still and we could hear elk bugling in the distance on the way down. It’s hard to beat the fall in the Tetons!
Lantern Photos
Paige and Alex wanted some photos after darkness had almost completely fallen, so we busted out the lanterns and got some photos of the two of them with the Tetons and the moon. This is always a fun option for ending the day and always turns out so cool!
Finishing Downtown
After the lantern photos it was time to head to Downtown Jackson to get some final photos before they headed to their dinner reservation. We snapped some photos in front of the antlers and the Cowboy Bar, and then went inside the Cowboy Bar where some generous locals bought Paige and Alex tequila shots.
It was time for their nice dinner so we said our goodbyes and well wises to the two of them before they walked over to the restaurant. We had a blast getting to hang out with them on their day and capture their love and we’re so grateful that they chose us to be there! Congrats to Paige and Alex, may their marriage be filled with boundless adventures and laughs!
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