Why Drone Videography Is a Must-Have for 2026 Luxury Weddings (Especially in Jackson Hole)

In 2026, drone footage is no longer an upgrade—it’s an expectation. Especially in a place like Jackson Hole, where landscape, scale, and environment are inseparable from the wedding itself, aerial perspective has become essential to telling the full story. For luxury weddings, drone coverage isn’t about novelty. It’s about context, atmosphere, and intention.

That’s why Diana Edlinger Studios ALWAYS includes drone photography and videography. I go as far as to fly separately for photo & video. To truly focus on getting the BEST content, I will fly and shoot vertically for photography, and an associate will fly for cinematic motion shots.

Jackson Hole weddings are defined by space—wide-open ranches, dramatic mountain backdrops, intentional design, and movement across land. Drone footage captures what ground-based cameras simply cannot: the relationship between the celebration and its setting. The architecture. The landscape. The energy of a day unfolds within it all.

Where Drone Footage Elevates the Experience

Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island — Exquisite Events

Diamond Cross Ranch — Magnolia Ranch Events & Erin Wheat
Becca and Zak’s drone capture below was one I had envisioned, and it actually came out exactly as I wanted. The biggest key in pulling this shot off is the participation of our couple and being ready exactly when they are.

This was also the year I added the DJI Mini to my arsenal. The great part about mini drones… You can fly them inside!

The Gasparilla Inn Beach Welcome Party – Carrie Patterson Photography , Sharon Haas Cross Event planning via the Gasparilla Inn. Botanica Design Studio

The welcome party at Gasparilla Inn set the tone in the most unforgettable way—sun-drenched, high-energy, and unapologetically fun. A disco-inspired celebration layered bold color, shimmering details, and retro flair against the timeless backdrop of the beach. As the sun dipped low, the party came alive with movement, music, and reflection—mirror balls catching the last light, vibrant palettes popping against the sand, and guests fully leaning into the joy of the moment. It was equal parts nostalgia and modern glamour, where coastal ease met dance-floor energy, and the weekend officially began in full color.

This party deserved overhead coverage. What I’ve noticed with my drone work is that you really want to wait until the sun dips low to fly again. This will ensure you capture the glow of the lights below and have more even light.

The new Snow King Event Space – drone work shot alongside Laura Powers Photography.

What I loved about this was the simplicity in the minimalist nature of it. The concrete is a hard sell as a wedding ceremony space, but there was something beautiful in the symmetry of shadows. The space is left to show off what it is meant to do most, the view of the town of Jackson below, and the Tetons in the far-off distance.

Moonlit Telluride wedding night captured for Soiree Telluride.

I can confidently say this was the coldest I’ve ever been at a wedding. Early September in a mountain town is always a gamble—push past 11,000 feet into an open field and suddenly snow and lightning enter the chat. I hadn’t grabbed my winter jacket or leggings, and the weather delays pushed the ceremony start well into the evening, leaving almost no window for drone coverage of the tent.

But what we lost in daylight, we gained in atmosphere. A full moon rising, lights glowing against the landscape, and a soft veil of fog drifting through the background added an unexpected depth—moody, cinematic, and entirely worth it.

Private Residence overlooking the Snake River in Jackson Hole. Shot for Carrie Patterson for Elizabeth Kelleher of In Any Event.

Jackson is one of those places that never stops surprising you—vast properties and homes tucked quietly beneath a layer of privacy, revealed only to those lucky enough to find them. This cliffside property overlooking the Snake River was a dream to capture. Sunset along the edge was one of those moments that stays with you—etched in light, scale, and stillness—for both the couple and everyone present.

Drone imagery was essential here, not as an extra, but as the only way to truly convey the size, scale, and wild openness of the landscape. It’s what shows, unmistakably, why Jackson Hole is such a powerful place to get married.

Have I thoroughly convinced you of the importance of drone footage yet?