How to Elope in Yosemite
Plan a Yosemite Elopement
Everything You Need to Know to Get Married in this National Park
Elope at the Taft Point overlook with El Capitan standing tall before a stunning sunset, or say your vows at Glacier Point with Half Dome as your witness at sunrise – explore one of the most stunning landscapes on earth as you embark on this journey together! This Yosemite Elopement Guide goes over everything you need to know to get married in the park – permits, ceremony locations, park restrictions, and more. If you want a truly wild outdoor wedding, Yosemite is the perfect place to elope!
↓ Keep reading for details to help you plan your Yosemite elopement! ↓
How to Plan a Yosemite Wedding or Elopement
The BEST advice I can give you about planning an elopement anywhere is to connect with vendors who know the area well – your photographer, planner, or officiant should know Yosemite well enough to help you navigate each step of the process as you find an exact ceremony location, decide on a date that location is accessible, and acquire your permits.
Yosemite - Towering granite cliffs & a pristine valley
Yosemite is a gorgeous elopement location! It is also a land with a lot of history, but first let’s focus the landscape – Yosemite Valley is one of the most-visited places on earth! In 2019 nearly 4.5 million people visited the park and most stayed in the valley itself. From there you can hike to a dozen waterfalls, mirror lakes, and witness the grandeur of standing below the 3000-foot cliff walls. Get your camping reservations well ahead of time because the valley floor sites book up quick! If you want to get out into the Yosemite backcountry though, things open up a lot – fewer visitors traverse the steep switchbacks to get up into the hills and see the valley from above. During the warmer months, the high points in the park are accessible by vehicle, but the high-altitude roads close for the winter.
It can snow in Yosemite late into the spring. In fact, the first time I visited the park was in April and we got caught in a snow storm and woke up to multiple feet of white fluff around us! It was MAGICAL! So, don’t get caught up on the idea of Yosemite being “California” because this corner of the state is truly wild and not to be taken lightly.
Why You Should Have a Yosemite Wedding
1. One of the most dramatic landscapes on earth
Granite cliffs 3000 feet tall, picturesque meadows, crystal clear alpine lakes, thick. old growth forests, and trails to overlooks so dramatic you can hardly believe this is real – there’s no other place quite like Yosemite.
2. Create a once-in-a-lifetime memory
THIS is your wedding day – turn it into an adventure in one of the most beautiful places on earth and create a memory you’ll NEVER forget!
3. There are few places so iconically beautiful
There are few places you see a photo of and think, “I know exactly where that is!” - Yosemite is one of those place. Everyone recognizes El Cap or Half Dome – even those who haven’t had the chance to visit before have likely seen a photo on a calendar, computer background, or in a climbing documentary (you have to watch Free Solo before a Yosemite elopement). If you want to marry somewhere that your friends and family will
4. You can elope anywhere in the park
Well, mostly. If you’re having a “just us” elopement, any place open to the public is open to you. There are designated areas for ceremonies with guests, but as long as we abide by all LNT guidelines, you can have a two-person elopement basically anywhere!
Getting Married in Yosemite National Park
Pick A Date
To start planning, first pick a date! I need a specific date so I can book you and reserve that date on my calendar, but you’ll also need a date for applying for your permit! No need to have all the rest figured out yet, but start with a date. If you would like a suggestion about the best time of year to elope at Yosemite - just ask!
Pick A Ceremony Location
I’ll go into more detail below, but basically any wedding with guests is restricted to a few specific areas within the park, but elopements with only a couple people can take place in more picturesque areas.
Secure Your Permits & Reservations
To secure your permits, and learn more about the permitting process click HERE. You can apply for a wedding permit up to 6 months in advance, and no later than 30 days before your date. There are plenty of amazing rentals in this area as well, so take the chance to find a gorgeous place to stay the night of your wedding!
Have Your Dream Wedding!
You’ve done the leg work, properly prepared, settled all the details - now all that’s left to do is get hitched! Your wedding is going to be gorgeous in such a beautiful place - I can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Permits - How to Get One & Why You Need It
You can learn everything you need to know about getting a wedding permit for Yosemite HERE. But, I’ll also break down the process below.
When: Apply for a permit no less than 3 weeks & no more than 1 year before your wedding date.
How: Submit THIS FORM with information about guest count & any other details you have about your event (decor, vehicles, ceremony location, accessibility requirements, etc.) Send the form & a $150 check made out to “National Park Service” to:
Attn: Catherine Carlisle-McMullen
Special Park Uses / Film & Weddings
Yosemite National Park, National Park. Service
PO Box 700
El Portal, CA 95318
Cost: The special use permit for a Yosemite elopement is $150. There is an additional $50/hour cost for event monitoring (required for gatherings over a certain size in certain areas), plus a $150 photography permit (which I get for myself – this allows me to photograph your wedding).
Why: The permitting process for an elopement at Yosemite protects the park’s natural resources, while also preventing you from having to get married next to a dozen other couples. We all love the parks, but the best way to keep these spaces pristine is to to support those who are monitoring the land use – permits allow us to keep getting married in beautiful places without doing damage!
What Does it Cost To Elope in Yosemite?
Like everything else, it depends - the minimum you’ll pay is $150, plus a $35 park entrance fee if you don’t own an America the Beautiful pass (which is $80/year and gets you into all US national parks).
Of course, every other detail of your day is totally subjective when it comes to price. You’ll be paying for attire, travel, a bouquet or decor, and food/drinks. The average elopement costs couples between $5,000-$15,000, which is MUCH cheaper than a traditional wedding.
Long story short: your Yosemite elopement can cost as little as $150, or as much as $230 just to enter the park, but as much or as little as you want for everything else!
A Few National Park Wedding Restrictions:
No pets are allowed.
No amplified music.
No wedding permits are granted on holiday weekend or holidays.
No exclusivity – other park visitors may enjoy your ceremony location while you are there.
No balloons, decor, or signage.
No throwing rice, birdseed, confetti, flower petals.
No stepping on plants or vegetation.
No ceremonies under the giant sequoias.
No seating – the exception being guests with special needs.
No drones or aerial photography.
No receptions within the park.
Yosemite Weddings Venues
The official ceremony locations in Yosemite where you can get married are on a first-come-first-served basis – you have two hours to have the ceremony at your location, and you cannot block it off or ensure privacy from other park visitors. If after applying your preferred location is unavailable on your date, the park will offer you a chance to choose a second ceremony spot. However, if you’re going to have fewer than 10 people at your ceremony, you are not limited to the official locations – small elopements have more options, and I’ll list my favorites below! If you want to have more than 10 people (couple + guests + vendors) at your wedding, then you’ll need to choose one of the below ceremony locations on your application:
Yosemite Valley Locations:
Something that makes the Yosemite Valley wedding locations so beautiful is their proximity to bodies of water – waterfalls or rivers. The highest flow in the valley is March - June, which is beautiful but can also be loud! Rushing water makes for stunning photos, but might drown out voices if your ceremony is being performed for a large group of guests. One of the best things about the valley is accessibility – many locations are wheelchair-friendly. However, the valley is also high-traffic and your best chance for privacy is an early morning ceremony.
Cascades Picnic Area
Open: Year-Round
Limits: Ceremony must be 6+ feet from the water’s edge.
Parking: 8 vehicles.
Facilities: Yes, & picnic tables.
Max. Group Size: 30
Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail
*Wheelchair Accessible *
Open: Year-Round
Limits: Little to no water flow July - October.
Parking: No, there is a shuttle.
Facilities: Yes, & two benches at the ceremony site.
Max. Group Size: 50
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
*Wheelchair Accessible*
Open: Year-Round
Limits: Ceremonies are not allowed on the bridge itself.
Parking: Limited.
Facilities: Yes.
Max. Group Size: 20
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Open: Memorial Day Weekend - October, & closes at dusk.
Parking: No.
Facilities: Yes.
Max. Group Size: 50
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
*Wheelchair Accessible*
Open: Memorial Day Weekend - October, & closes at dusk.
Parking: Limited.
Facilities: Yes.
Max. Group Size: 100
Bridalveil Fall
*Wheelchair Accessible*
Open: Year-Round
Limits: Low water flow July - October.
Parking: Limited.
Facilities: Yes.
Max. Group Size: 50
Wawona Locations:
Early morning weddings are encouraged for both of these locations, as they are very popular destinations for park visitors.
Glacier Point Amphitheater
*Wheelchair Accessible*
Open: Tuesday after Memorial Day to Sept. 30
Parking: Limited.
Limits: Weddings are not scheduled here July & August
Facilities: No, but there is seating within the amphitheater.
Elevation: 7214 ft
Max Group Size: 50
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot
Open: Year-Round
Parking: 10 vehicles.
Facilities: No.
Max. Group Size: 50
Tuolumne Meadows Locations:
These spots are accessible only during the warmer months due to high elevation storms causing road closures. Morning ceremonies are recommended to avoid. high-traffic from visitors!
Tenaya Lake Beach:
Open: Whenever the access road reopens until Sept. 30
Parking: Limited.
Facilities: No.
Elevation: 8150 ft
Length of Hike: 100 yards (unpaved)
Max. Group Size: 50
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area:
Open: Whenever the access road reopens until Sept. 30
Parking: Limited.
Facilities: Yes.
Elevation: 8600 ft
Length of Hike: 250 yards (unpaved)
Max. Group Size: 25
Big Oak Flat Area:
These locations are open year-round, except when storms cause sudden & temporary road closures. These are some of the best spots for a forested Yosemite wedding ceremony!
Tuolumne Grove
Open: Year-Round
Parking: Limited.
Limits: Cannot stand under the sequoias & must remain on-trail.
Facilities: No.
Elevation: 6200 ft
Length of Hike: 2.5 miles round trip (paved)
Rating: Easy
Max. Group Size: 30
Merced Grove
Open: Year-Round
Parking: Limited.
Limits: Cannot stand under the sequoias & must remain on-trail.
Facilities: No.
Elevation: 6000 ft
Length of Hike: 3 miles round trip (unpaved)
Rating: Easy to moderate
Max. Group Size: 30
Yosemite Chapel
You do have the option of getting married in the historic Yosemite Chapel (built in 1879), and then going elsewhere to get couples portraits taken in one of the iconic outdoor Yosemite location. The Yosemite Valley Protestant minister and the church secretary can be reached at: 209/372-4831, or by writing to:
Yosemite Community Church
PO Box 456
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Yosemite Elopement Locations
Yosemite’s official wedding “venues” are for ceremonies that have more than 10 people in attendance (couple + guests + vendors). If you want to elope just the two of you (or with only a couple guests), you have more options to choose from! My two favorite elopement destinations in Yosemite are Glacier Point & Taft Point – they are accessible, gorgeous, notable, albeit busy. I’ll explain the best way to elope at these locations below & share my FAVORITE way to turn your Yosemite elopement into an all-day adventure!
Glacier Point
Elope here at sunrise to experience the majesty of Half Dome in the best light! Mornings here are often a big foggy, but the clouds will dissipate with the rising sun – this is an ideal location if you don’t want to hike! Glacier Point is accessible by car, and there are many areas to explore without venturing too far off into the forest. The trail from the parking area is .5 miles long, and it is possible to find a place to yourself at this popular overlook in the mornings or during the week. May - November you can drive up to the viewpoint, and truly adventurous couples who want the place to themselves might consider the 10.5 mile hike (or snowshoe, if it’s a hearty winter) the rest of the year.
Taft Point
Elope here at sunset to witness El Capitan lit by the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen! The hike to Taft Point is just over 2 miles round trip, with 250 feet of elevation gain. Remember to bring your headlamps if you’re going to be hiking back in the dark, but this isn’t a trail for only experienced hikers by any means. Wear comfortable shoes & use reason – you’ll be fine! On the other hand, Taft Point isn’t for those afraid of heights, with a pretty serious 3,000-foot sheer cliff overlook above the valley floor. You do not need to get close to the edge for a stunning image, no matter what you see on IG. This trail is heavily trafficked, and you’re likely to be sharing the sunset spot with other visitors unless you elope on a weekday or during the off season.
The Ultimate Yosemite Elopement Adventure Timeline
Morning – Wake up early for a sunrise “first look,” or breakfast ceremony at Glacier Point. Don’t forget the thermos of coffee!
Midday – Go back to your cabin or campsite, maybe hike to one of the stunning waterfalls in the valley.
Evening – Hike to Taft Point to catch the last light casting an array if colors over El Capitan & either say your vows or simply enjoy the sunset on your wedding day.
You got married in Yosemite!
Ready to Plan Your Yosemite Elopement?
Reach out!
Now that you have a good idea how to plan a Yosemite elopement, it’s time to start planning! We’d love to help you figure out details, choose your perfect location, and explore the dunes with you - check out our current travel schedule to see when we’ll be in the area, or get on the calendar so we can put Yosemite on our schedule!
