How to Elope in Yosemite
Your Updated Guide to Eloping in Yosemite National Park
Below is everything you need to know about Yosemite elopements. Picture this—elope at the Taft Point overlook with El Capitan standing tall before a stunning sunset, say your vows at Glacier Point with Half Dome as your witness at sunrise, or stand before one of the many waterfalls and say “I do.” 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!
Why You Should Choose Yosemite as Your Elopement Destination
You should elope in Yosemite if you love a dramatic landscape, enjoying hiking outdoors, and desire a location that is truly one-of-a-kind beautiful. There’s a reason Yosemite is one of the most-visited nature spaces in the United States, and that means it’s essential you know what you’re getting into when you consider it as your wedding venue. With the right elopement photographer, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds, experience the most beautiful parts of the park at the perfect times, and celebrate your love in the most adventurous way imaginable.
Steps to Get Married in Yosemite National Park
The best advice I can give you about planning an elopement anywhere—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.
1) Create a list of your priorities
The first thing you need to do is set your list of priorities. What is most important to you? Is it the venue, photographer, date, another vendor, or something else? Whatever is your first priority, make it happen! If that first priority to make this event perfect is a vendor—reach out to them asap!
For elopements, it’s standard to begin with booking your photographer. You really want to prioritize connecting with someone who you will enjoy inviting into this special moment. Often, I’m the only other person present for an elopement, and it’s very important to me that each couple I work with feels supported to be fully themselves.
2) Choose a date
Book that top priority—venue, vendor, or other scheduling consideration. Choose a date and get it set! Once you’ve booking your top priority for a date, it’s time to start planning. You’ll be able to reach out to other vendors to check their availability, begin sending out save-the-date’s to any guests, and finalize so many other choices. It’s at this stage that you begin to find plans falling into place.
3) Choose a ceremony location
This decision can be made anywhere in the planning stage. If you’re bringing guests, you’ll need to know your ceremony location earlier. If you’re eloping just the two of you, you can decide on this up until the days before! Of course, you’ll need to know a general location. But, for example, if you’re eloping on a hiking trail and want to choose the best spot based on what feels right in the moment, I am happy to be flexible.
4) Reserve any bookings or reservations
Now it is time to make sure you have everything all set! A place to stay, your vendors, your travel arrangements, etc. You’ll also want to check up on any other permits that may be required, especially if you’re choose a ceremony location on public lands.
Yosemite does have a strict wedding policy in some ways, and it’s important to do your research to determine if you can comply. If you agree to abide by the restrictions, the next step is applying for your permit. Apply ahead of time, and don’t be surprised if the park takes a while to get back to you! They process permits on a seasonal basis, so some months you’ll hear back immediately and others you won’t hear back until close to your date. If you’ve reached out to the park and are still waiting on a reply, I recommend calling or following up with an email.
5) Have your dream wedding!
You’ve done the leg work, properly prepared, settled all the details, and 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.
Bringing Your Dog To Yosemite
Yosemite is a protected national park. Dogs are allowed to enter the park, but are limited to roads, campsites, and parking lots. All unpaved trails are off-limits to dogs.
Places You Can Bring Your Dog
In developed areas
On fully paved roads, sidewalks, and bicycle paths (except when signed as not allowing pets)
In all campgrounds (except walk-in campgrounds) and in group campsites
Wawona: Wawona Meadow Loop, Chowchilla Mountain Road, and Four Mile and Eleven Mile fire roads (but not the Four Mile Trail in Yosemite Valley).
Hodgdon Meadow: Carlon Road from the trailhead to Hodgdon Meadow and on the Old Big Oak Flat Road from Hodgdon Meadow to Tuolumne Grove parking lot.
Places You Cannot Bring Your Dog
On trails, including the trail to Vernal Fall, even if carried
On unplowed roads covered in snow
In wilderness and all other undeveloped areas
On all meadows, beaches, and waterways
In public buildings
On shuttle buses
In lodging areas
In all walk-in and group campgrounds/campsites, including Camp 4
In any other areas, as signed
Regulations for pet owners
At Yosemite, pets are NOT allowed on trails, in wilderness and/or off trail areas, inside buildings, in amphitheaters, on roads closed for winter, or on snow (service animals excepted).
At all times, pets must be on a leash, not more than six feet (1.8 meters) in length or in a crate/cage.
At all times, pets must be with and under control of their owners.
Owners must pick-up and dispose of all fecal matter.
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
The Best 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?
Now that you have a good idea how to elope in Yosemite, it’s time to start planning your day! I’d love to help you finalize details, choose your perfect location, and explore the park with you. You deserve to celebrate your love in this epic place!
