How to Elope in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is an AMAZING place to elope! Whether it’s already a special place to you and your partner or you’re looking to start your marriage in an exciting and adventurous way, getting married here will be an experience you’ll never forget. From the valley floor surrounded by pines and the granite summits of Half Dome and El Capitan to the epic viewpoints above, and all of the waterfalls, lakes, and trails in between, there’s no shortage of beautiful spots to say your vows and explore on your elopement day. If you’re wondering where to start with planning an elopement in Yosemite, this article is for you! It might seem a little daunting at first, but eloping here is pretty simple! Below I’ll walk you through everything you need to consider when planning your Yosemite elopement, from permits, locations, logistics, and other tips I’ve learned from my experience as a Yosemite elopement photographer.
Permits and Fees for Eloping at Yosemite National Park
Special use permit: First things first, you’ll need a special use permit to get married anywhere in the park (or for any type of photos, even if no official ceremony is planned). It’s $150 and you can find the application HERE.
TIP: Weddings and ceremonies can be scheduled from as little as 21 days in advance to up to a year in advance so even though a last minute elopement is possible, you’ll want to apply as early as possible if there’s a specific spot you want, otherwise another couple might book your date first.
Photography permit: If you will be hiring a professional photographer, you will also need a photo permit and that is $200. The application can also be found via the link above.
Entrance Fees: Upon arriving to Yosemite National Park, you will be required to pay the park entrance fee. The cost is $35 per vehicle, so carpooling is always recommended if you will be having guests join you. You can also purchase the America the Beautiful Pass for $80, which gets you into any national park for free for a whole year!
Officiant or No Officiant?
If you want to actually get married IN Yosemite National Park you will need an officiant. They will be the one to perform your ceremony and complete the marriage license paperwork to make things official. I recommend having one of your friends or family members officiate to keep things personal and intimate! It’s relatively easy and inexpensive to have them ordained - this article has more helpful information about that. If you’d rather just hire an officiant, keep in mind that Yosemite is pretty remote, so you will most likely have to pay a little extra for travel. You will also need at least one witness for your ceremony. This can be a guest, or your photographer if it will just be the two of you.
Another option you can consider, especially if you are traveling from a different state or country, is to have a legal ceremony at your local courthouse before you come to Yosemite for your elopement. This makes things a little more simple because you don’t have to worry about having an officiant travel in or doing any paperwork on the day of. You can relax, enjoy your day, have your dream ceremony, and celebrate with the person who matters most to you! Just because you don’t sign your marriage license on the same day you say your vows, doesn’t mean it will be any less special!
When to Elope in Yosemite National Park
Time of Year: The time of year you choose for your Yosemite elopement will play a big role in your overall experience and how your day looks and feels.
Winter will have the fewest crowds, but you’ll be limited to locations in the valley since the roads to Glacier Point and Taft Point close down for winter. It can also be freezing cold and there’s a higher chance of snow, so I usually don’t recommend winter unless you really LOVE the idea of frosty fingers and toes on your wedding day.
Spring is when the viewpoint road opens back up (depending on the weather that year) and the waterfalls are the fullest so I recommend this time of year if you want to get married a little earlier in year before it gets super hot or you want to visit a waterfall on your elopement day.
Summer is the busiest time of year in Yosemite but for good reason! If warm, sunny weather, hangs by the lake during the day, and sunset hikes in the evening sound perfect to you then a summer elopement might be a great idea! I would just HIGHLY recommend a week date to avoid as many crowds as possible. Camping is super popular in the summer so if you’re interested in booking a site during your stay, start planning as early as possible because getting a reservation last minute is almost impossible.
Fall is my favorite time of year for eloping in Yosemite!! The crowds start to thin out, the weather cools off a bit, and the colors change in the most magical way. It’s also still a pretty nice time for camping!
Time of Day: On your elopement day, I always recommend planning around sunrise or sunset for best lighting - both of these times are extra magical in Yosemite so I promise it’s worth it! Sunrise means an early wakeup call but fewer crowds and sunset means you get to sleep in a little bit and take your time getting ready but you may have to share the more popular spots with other visitors in the park.
The Best Spots in Yosemite for Your Elopement Ceremony
The best spot in Yosemite for your elopement ceremony will depend on a variety of factors, like how many guests you have in attendance, what time of year you’re getting married, how important privacy is to you, and what you want your view to be when you say your vows. Below I go through some of my favorite ceremony location options and which situations each one is most ideal for. Keep in mind that if your group size is more than 11 people, you are limited to the designated ceremony locations listed HERE. Just remember you can always have your ceremony in one location and take photos throughout the park later in other spots!
If you hire me as your elopement photographer, you get my full Yosemite location guide with all the best spots that I’ve scouted and researched!
Yosemite Valley
The valley is the most accessible area of the park (usually open year round) and is the only place you can get married in the winter months. There are a variety of different locations to choose from with views of the meadows, El Capitan, Half Dome, and waterfalls.
Cascades Picnic Area
Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
Bridalveil Fall
Taft Point
Taft Point is an incredible viewpoint spot with views of El Capitan in the distance and the valley below. It’s most popular for sunset and getting that iconic “standing on the edge of a cliff” shot you’ve probably seen on Instagram before. Getting here requires a short but sometimes steep hike so keep that in mind if you have guests. I’ve seen older family members do the hike but it is definitely not wheelchair friendly. If you don’t visit this spot on your elopement day I highly recommend booking an adventure session the day before and getting some photos here at sunset, I promise you won’t regret it!!
Glacier Point
Glacier Point also overlooks the valley and has one of the best views of Half Dome! It’s more accessible than Taft Point as it’s only a short walk from the parking lot but this means it’s a little more crowded as well. The best time to shoot here is at sunrise and trust me once you see a sunrise here, you’ll realize the early wakeup call is 100% worth it! (Check out this sunrise Glacier Point engagement session or this Glacier Point elopement to see what I mean.) Since it is an easy location to get to, I always recommend week day ceremonies because even at sunrise, it can get packed on the weekends. There’s an area here for ceremonies with bigger groups of up to 50 people as well as plenty of other spots nearby that are more ideal if it’s just you and your partner.
Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass road leads from the valley (on the opposite side of the Glacier Point road) to the only east entrance of the park. Because of the higher elevation and unpredictable storms, it’s usually open from May through October, depending on the weather, but if you can make it during those months, it’s definitely worth the drive! Some of my favorite spots there are Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne meadows. You can see more photos of these locations in this Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows elopement blog.
A NOTE ABOUT 2022The road to Glacier Point and Taft Point will be closed for reconstruction in 2022 so if you want to get married in Yosemite and visit these spots, 2021 is THE year to do it!! Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until 2023 when the road reopens again. If you are aiming for a 2022 elopement in Yosemite, no worries! There are still plenty of other amazing locations to choose from — and if you book me as your elopement photographer, I can make the process of choosing a location WAY easier since I’m familiar with park and how to work with different locations at different times of the day.
Where to Stay for Your Yosemite Elopement
If you’re eloping in Yosemite, you have so many options on where to stay from camping or staying at one of the lodges inside the park, to airbnbs or hotels in the surrounding areas.
If you’re interested having a truly adventurous outdoor experience for your elopement, there are campgrounds available to reserve inside and around the park. Many require reservations up to 5 months in advance and first come first serve sites typically fill up early in the morning, so planning ahead is important if you want to camp! *2021 update* campsites are limited due to COVID and they are only available by reservation.
Tenaya Lodge
Located right outside the south entrance to the park, Tenaya Lodge is about an hour to an hour and 30 minutes from the valley and the viewpoints up on Glacier Point road.
Autocamp is the cutest luxury camping resort located about an hour outside Yosemite Valley! You can stay in a modern airstream, cabin, or a canvas tent surrounded by nature, but with all the amenities you could possibly need to still feel like you’re at a 5 star hotel. If you stay here, it’s the perfect place to take some fun “in home” photos on the morning of or before your elopement and for getting ready photos in general!
Check out this blog to see an elopement day that started with getting ready photos at Autocamp before heading in the park! This elopement is also featured in this IG REEL.
I love airbnb because you can usually find cheaper prices and places that are a little more aesthetic for photos. If you’re planning to have getting ready photos taken I always recommend this option over a hotel or a tiny, cramped cabin with outdated furniture. Good locations to look for airbnbs close to the park are in Midpines, Mariposa, and Oakhurst. An hour and a half drive is a pretty normal commute time to get into the park, so if you’re visiting multiple days in a row, you may want to pay extra to stay somewhere inside.
Check out my Yosemite Airbnb Guide for a list of the best Airbnb options near the park!
Extra Tips for Planning Your Yosemite National Park Elopement
Yosemite is HUGE - book an all day (or multi-day) package so you can take your time and explore different parts of the part during your elopement experience and have all the memories documented!
Book your photographer, date, and permits around the same time! If you hire an experienced photographer, they will be able to help you throughout the planning process, which can get overwhelming if you've never been to Yosemite before.
If you plan on having guests at your elopement, make time during your day to explore and get photos of just you and your partner! If you don’t want to take too much time away from your guests, book an adventure session on a day before or after your elopement!
Remember that Yosemite is a pretty remote park and that almost every vendor you hire will have to travel in - this usually means paying a little extra, but it’s totally worth it to have your dream vendors.
Yosemite Elopement Photography Packages
If you’re thinking about eloping in Yosemite, I’d love to help document your day! I offer a variety of packages that include a half day of coverage up to multiple days of coverage so I can create something that works perfectly for whatever adventure you're planning! This day will be filled with so many special moments and memories and my goal as your photographer is to make sure you’re able to look back on photos that allow you to relive your elopement experience over and over again. Documentation of your elopement is also extra important because it’s likely that your photos will be the only way to share the day with those of your loved ones who won’t be in attendance. To get a conversation started about your Yosemite elopement reach out through my contact form and I’ll be in touch shortly!
More info and pricing can be found on my Yosemite elopement photographer home page. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
