How to Elope in Yosemite

Yosemite is the reason we started this business. We came here to get married. Its had a special and meaningful place for both of us, even before we met.

This is the most complete, most honest guide we could write about eloping in Yosemite. It's long because Yosemite deserves it. Pull out a coffee and settle in.

How many days do you need?

The ceremony takes one day. But your trip should be longer. We tell every couple the same thing: plan at least 3 to 5 days so you can actually be in Yosemite, not just pass through it.

Yosemite is the kind of place that rewards slowing down. A one-day elopement trip is a recipe for stress — you'll be exhausted from driving, racing the light, missing half the park. Give yourselves time to hike Vernal Falls, bike the valley floor, watch sunrise at Tunnel View, eat a burger at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, and actually be present with each other.

The wedding is one day. The memory is the whole trip.

When to go.

Every season in Yosemite has its personality. Here's the honest seasonal breakdown from someone who's been through all four:

Spring (March – May) — Our Top Pick

Waterfalls are at their most dramatic — Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall, and Vernal all roar in spring from snowmelt. The light is soft and warm. The downside: some high-country trails (including parts of Glacier Point Road and Tioga Pass) are often still closed into May. We shot Cesar & Melanie here in April and the falls were unreal.

Summer (June – August)

Everything is open — Glacier Point, Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, all the high-altitude spots. The weather is warm, the days are long. The tradeoff: crowds. July and August are the busiest months in the park. If you go in summer, aim for a weekday and start at sunrise.

Fall (September – November)

Our second favorite season. Crisp weather, golden light, fewer crowds. Waterfalls are diminished but hikes like Half Dome and the Mist Trail are still open. Tunnel View in fall is spectacular. This is when we eloped — October 2020, Glacier Point — and the light was perfect.

Winter (December – February) — We Don't Recommend It

Yosemite in winter is beautiful in photos. In reality, Glacier Point Road and Tioga Pass are closed, waterfalls are mostly frozen, and you'll be limited to the valley floor. Unless you specifically want a snowy elopement, save Yosemite for the other three seasons.

The honest cost breakdown.

Yosemite is one of the most affordable major elopement destinations in the world. Here's a realistic budget for two people on a 4-day trip, not including your photographer:

• Park entry: $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days)
• Wedding permit: $150 (required for any ceremony in the park)
• Reservations: $2 per peak-season entry reservation (summer only)
• Lodging inside the park: $200 – $600 per night (Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, Majestic Yosemite Hotel)
• Lodging outside the park: $120 – $300 per night (El Portal, Mariposa, Groveland)
• Camping: $8 – $36 per night (Camp 4, North Pines, Upper Pines — book 6 months ahead)
• Meals: $40 – $120 per day for two (pack some, splurge on others)
• Miscellaneous: $200 – $400 (gear rental, park activities)

Estimated total: $1,200 – $4,500 for two people, pre-photography. If you road-trip from California (like we did), you can cut flights entirely. This is probably one of the most accessible major elopement destinations in the country.

Personal note: Lily and I drove from LA, stayed at an air bnb in Oakhurst, and our entire elopement trip cost less than a single Saturday wedding venue deposit. You don't need to spend a fortune to make it meaningful.

Where to stay.

Majestic Yosemite Hotel

The iconic historic hotel inside the park. Expensive but unforgettable — this is where you stay if you want the full "special occasion" experience. Book 6+ months out.

Yosemite Valley Lodge

More affordable, less formal, still inside the park. Walking distance to Yosemite Falls. A solid middle-ground option.

Curry Village (a.k.a. Half Dome Village)

Canvas tent cabins and simple rooms. Character and charm, lower price point. Great for couples who want to feel like they're actually camping without fully roughing it.

Camp 4 & the Pines Campgrounds

Classic Yosemite camping. Walk-up spots at Camp 4 (first-come-first-served, legendary among climbers). The Pines Campgrounds require reservations 6 months out. This is how we did it — no shame in camping on your elopement trip if that's your vibe.

Outside the Park — El Portal, Mariposa, Oakhurst, Groveland

If park lodging is booked (very common in peak season), these gateway towns have hotels and Airbnbs 20-60 minutes from the valley. El Portal is the closest.

The ceremony locations worth knowing.

Not every spot in Yosemite allows wedding ceremonies. These are the designated ceremony locations, each with its own personality:

Glacier Point (our personal favorite)

The panoramic overlook of Half Dome, the valley, and the high country. This is where we eloped. You'll need the road to be open (roughly May through October). Ceremonies happen in the early morning or late evening to avoid crowds. The view does 90% of the work.

Tunnel View

The most iconic view in Yosemite — El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall all in one frame. Accessible year-round. Can get crowded, but a sunrise ceremony here is unforgettable.

Bridalveil Fall

Literally named for the view. A short walk from the parking lot, mist in the air, one of the most dramatic and easily accessible waterfall ceremony spots.

Taft Point

A moderate hike with an absolutely jaw-dropping overlook. For couples who want to earn the view. Warning: no railings, so not ideal if anyone in your group has a fear of heights.

Sentinel Dome

A shorter, easier hike than Taft Point with a 360-degree view of the high country. Quieter than Glacier Point. An underrated gem.

Swinging Bridge (Picnic & Portrait Location)

You can't have a ceremony here, but it's one of our favorite spots in the park for a pre- or post-ceremony moment. It's where Lily and I had our reheated ramen picnic and got dive-bombed by bees. (More on that story below.)

The permit you actually need.

Every wedding ceremony in Yosemite requires a Special Use Permit from the National Park Service. This part is non-negotiable. Here's what you need to know:

• Cost: $150 (non-refundable)
• Apply at least 3 weeks in advance (longer for peak season)
• Submit through the Yosemite Wedding Coordinator's office
• The permit specifies your ceremony location, date, time, and guest count
• Maximum 35 people at ceremonies in most locations (Glacier Point allows up to 50)
• No amplified music, no decorations that stay behind, no chairs in some locations

Don't try to skip this. Rangers do check, and an unpermitted ceremony can get you fined and kicked out of the park. Part of what you're hiring us for is making sure this paperwork is handled — we do it for every couple.

Our Glacier Point elopement story.

Here's the story we promised. October 2020. Lily and I had been together for a while, we'd always loved Yosemite, and the world was in a weird place. We decided to elope.

We drove up from LA. Stayed at Oakhurst with eight of our closest people, said our vows at Glacier Point in the early afternoon. It was the best decision we'd ever made.

But here's the part nobody knows: for our "reception," we brought ramen from Tsujita Annex — our favorite spot in LA. The plan was to reheat the broth at Swinging Bridge and have a picnic after the ceremony. The bees had other plans. Within minutes of opening the broth, we were swarmed. We ate ramen while swatting bees and laughing.

And the cake. We'd bought a beautiful cake from Paris Baguette the day before, packed it in the Yeti cooler with dry ice, and by the time we went to cut it — it was frozen solid. We couldn't even get a knife through it. So we took a photo with the frozen cake, laughed, and ate it the next day once it thawed.

We still talk about it every October. And every couple we've shot in Yosemite since then has gotten a little piece of that story — because that's the kind of day we're trying to help you have. Not a performance. A real, specific, slightly-imperfect memory you'll still be laughing about in twenty years.

A sample 4-day itinerary.

Day 1 — Arrive & Settle In

• Drive in (most couples come from LA, SF, or Sacramento — all 3-5 hours away)
• Check into lodging
• Sunset at Tunnel View — let the park introduce itself
• Dinner at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel or The Ahwahnee Bar

Day 2 — Explore Before the Big Day

• Sunrise at Sentinel Meadow or Cathedral Beach
• Hike to Vernal Falls (or the full Mist Trail if you're up for it)
• Bike the valley floor in the afternoon
• Early dinner and early bed

Day 3 — Elopement Day

• Early morning ceremony (sunrise = best light, fewest people)
• Portraits at your chosen ceremony location
• Picnic at Swinging Bridge or Cathedral Beach (bring layers for spring)
• Afternoon rest
• Sunset portraits at Tunnel View or Glacier Point
• Intimate dinner wherever feels right

Day 4 — Slow Morning, Then Home

• Coffee somewhere with a view
• One last hike or drive
• Head home having spent 72 hours actually IN your elopement, not rushing through it

What nobody tells you.

A few things we learned from our own elopement and from years of shooting here:

• Go on a weekday. A Tuesday in Yosemite and a Saturday in Yosemite are completely different parks. If you have any flexibility, avoid weekends.
• Sunrise beats sunset. Fewer people, softer light, cooler temperatures. You'll fight traffic and crowds at sunset — at sunrise, you'll have the park almost to yourself.
• Book your permit before anything else. Popular locations and dates fill fast. Your ceremony location dictates everything else.
• Bring more layers than you think. Even in summer, mornings at Glacier Point can be 40°F. Spring and fall can swing 30 degrees between sunrise and noon.
• Cell service is nonexistent in the valley. Download maps, download your timeline, download everything. Consider it a gift — you'll be fully present.
• Don't underestimate the drive. The last hour into the valley is winding mountain roads. Build in extra time, especially if you or a guest get carsick.
• Bring a cake that can THAW. Learn from our mistakes.

The bottom line.

Yosemite is the place that changed what we thought a wedding day could look like. It's affordable, it's accessible, it's breathtaking, and it rewards couples who slow down enough to actually be in it.

If you've read this far, you're probably already halfway there. The valley is waiting for you.