Yosemite Wedding // 2024 Guide
Yosemite National Park Wedding
Yosemite Elopement
Having a small wedding or elopement opens up infinite possibilities for your wedding day and means you’ll get married in such a beautiful and intimate way.
National parks in general are some of the most incredible places to get married in and Yosemite is one of my favorite national parks to visit, hike in, camp at, and of course photograph rad couples like you!
Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places to elope! Whether you're looking for beautiful meadows, iconic rock formations, stunning cliffside views, majestic mountain, lush forests, roaring waterfalls, shimmering lakes, Yosemite has all of this and more! Now let’s actually dig in to how to get married in Yosemite…
Getting Married in Yosemite
The National Park website outlines how to get married in Yosemite here. You’ll need to apply for a wedding permit in order to get married in Yosemite - you can download the application here. The cost of a wedding permit is $150, you can apply for it up to a year before your intended wedding date and must be sent at least 21 days before your wedding date.
Some of the things to think about in regards to costs of eloping in the park are permits, accommodations, and your vendors (and any travel fees they may have). There are accommodations inside the park and outside the park. I would recommend Yosemite West (a short drive to the valley and other epic spots) or Cedar Lodge as good (and frugal) options, and would definitely consider the town of Oakhurst!
How to Elope in Yosemite
Step #1: Choose your date/time of year
Step #2: Book your Yosemite Elopement Photographer - heyyy!
Step #3: We’ll go in depth planning together
Step #4: Obtain permits - I’ll help with this!
Step #5: Make your travel plans
Step #6: Apply for a marriage license
Elope in Yosemite!
Yosemite Wedding Locations
Now I’ll share some of my favorite locations in Yosemite, some are available for your wedding ceremony based on how many guests you have, if any, and some will just be beautiful adventure spots for your couple photos for your Yosemite wedding or elopement! I’ve included a few different options, depending on whether you want to do a bit of hiking for your elopement or you want a spot you can essentially drive up to, or spots that may require wheelchair accessibility, etc.
Yosemite Valley Locations
Cascades Picnic Area
Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
Bridalveil Fall (closed for construction 2023/2024)
Wawona Locations
Glacier Point Amphitheater (closed in winter)
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot
Tuolumne Meadows Locations
Tenaya Lake Beach
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area
Big Oak Flat Area
Tuolumne Grove
Merced Grove
Yosemite Elopement Locations
There are so many beautiful spots to elope in Yosemite! But here are a few of my favorite places in the park below. And just a side note: Places don’t always turn out how they appear on Instagram (and you’ll see from some of the photos below how one location can look really different on different days), so focus on the incredible experience rather than just the photo ops!
Also keep in mind that we can’t control Mother Nature - sometimes you choose a beautiful overlook spot but there’s so much fog you can’t see the view, or you were hoping for golden glowing sunset photos but it was an overcast day or raining, etc. Regardless, you’ll be in a magical place with lots of beauty to offer!
You can learn all about where to have your Yosemite ceremony here on the National Park website, but here’s a list of ceremony locations in Yosemite…
When to Elope in Yosemite
Best Time of Year to Elope in Yosemite
Yosemite is honestly beautiful to visit any time of the year! Whether you’re hoping for Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter elopement, Yosemite looks so magical in different ways during different seasons. Apart from how the scenery and landscapes look, another factor to consider is crowds and tourists, since you’ll likely want a more intimate and secluded setting for your elopement.
The winter months in Yosemite offer beautiful snow and winter wonderland vibes, but it also means many spots may be closed (like Glacier Point Road which would take you to Taft Point and Glacier Point). Fall offers lovely fall foliage as the leaves change and cooler weather, and Spring means pretty wildflowers and roaring waterfalls! Summer months bring warmth and swimming opportunities and greenery, but are the most crowded in this popular park. My personal favorite time to visit is Fall & Winter!
Sunrise vs. Sunset in Yosemite
Sunrise means less tourists and crowds, but it also means you’ll be getting ready super early in the morning and hiking in the dark if your spot involves hiking - all of which I’m totally down for, by the way! Then we’d usually head straight to the valley while we still have that morning lighting. My favorite sunrise spot in Yosemite is Glacier Point!
Sunset means you have all day to get ready and won’t feel rushed, and we can always start in the Valley with your First Look and some photos there. However, sunset also means more people. My favorite sunset spot in Yosemite is Taft Point (and it’s large enough to still have room for yourselves among crowds)! In general, different spots also look quite different at sunrise versus sunset, so I’ll help you through that planning. I’ll also explain more in general about sunrise versus sunset in the awesome Elopement Planning Guide I provide for my couples!
Yosemite Wedding Vendors
For vendors, you may want to think about a florist and a hair and makeup artist. You can either find a local florist or you can get your florals elsewhere and they should be able to last overnight if stored properly (ask your florist for tips). For hair and makeup, you can either find someone local, bring someone in from outside the park, or you can even do it yourself!
Whatever you decide for your day, Yosemite is a glorious place all around, with a lot of incredible sights to see, as well as good food and drinks to celebrate your day! I’d love to plan your dream day - you can get started right here!
Taft Point
Taft Point is an incredible viewpoint over a cliff that offers phenomenal views! From a small parking lot, the hike is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round trip and is typically considered an easy hike, though conditions may change at different times of year. The hike itself is pretty too! Note: The road to this trailhead will be closed for 2022, it will only be accessible via a strenuous hike.
El Capitan Meadow
El Capitan Meadow is a lovely meadow (obviously, haha) that has beautiful views all around. You can see the iconic granite walls of El Capitan and this is a great place to watch rock climbers scaling its walls! It’s easily accessible with pullouts to park in and there’s nice woodsy areas and quiet spots for a little picnic…
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is a popular spot that’s only a short walk away from a parking lot! This lookout offers incredible views of the iconic Half Dome, just one of many of Yosemite’s treasures! P.S. I’ve been on top of Half Dome - it’s one hell of a hike! Note: The road to this spot will be closed for 2022, it will only be accessible via a strenuous hike.
Cook’s Meadow & Sentinel Meadow
Cook’s Meadow and Sentinel Meadow area is a gorgeous spot to explore through, and has those iconic wooden walkways too! There’s meadow views, woodsy vibes, the Merced River, and that awesome backdrop! It’s also easily accessible with pullouts to park in, just like El Capitan Meadow. And of course there’s also Cathedral Beach, Sentinel Beach, and Swinging Bridge!
Yosemite Elopement Packages
Elopement Packages in Yosemite
Your epic Yosemite Elopement Package includes…
Unlimited guidance for planning your elopement
Customized location ideas
Local vendor recommendations
Personally designed timeline for your day
My exclusive in-depth “Elopement Planning Guide”
Coordinate elopement logistics
Permit research and assistance
Activity ideas, wedding attire guidance, and ways to personalize your elopement day
Laid-back and relaxed photo coverage for your elopement
I’m your PLANNER too!
I’ll help you plan your elopement from start to finish!
*You’ll have an EXPERT by your side the whole way*
Yosemite Elopement Photographer
I’m your Yosemite Elopement Photographer & Guide, experience creator, resource provider, planning consultant, location scouter, idea machine, and adventure buddy
I’m your personal GUIDE, your PLANNER, and your BEST FRIEND! As both your Yosemite expert and your elopement expert, I’m here to help craft the experience of your dreams - and capture it all for you! I’ll be there every step of the way to help make your vision come to life…
LE’TS DO THIS!!
Are you ready to throw the rulebook out the window?
Contact Me
I’ll email you back right away!
![Winter Elopement [2024 Guide]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/590d435517bffcc3aa0b3ceb/1683417206485-W8XM7ZAIZMMUPLPGRYH5/yosemite-elopement--sarah-linda-photography--15.jpg)