Elope in Yosemite: A Full Guide

Eloping in Yosemite

I love that you have decided to plan an adventure elopement in Yosemite. It’s one of the most beautiful national parks in the states. However you’re probably here because you don’t know where to start. This guide will give you all the details on how to elope in Yosemite. As your Yosemite elopement photographer, I will also be your main resource for helping you plan the elopement of your dreams.

What’s included in this guide:

• Why you should elope in Yosemite
• How to travel to Yosemite
• When to elope in Yosemite
• Best places to elope in Yosemite
• How to legally get married in Yosemite
• Where to stay in Yosemite
• Activities to include in your elopement
• A full packing list for your elopement
• Meet your Yosemite elopement photographer

Why You Should Elope In Yosemite

Yosemite National Park has some of the most breathtaking views in the US. Whether you’re down low in the valley exploring the forests, rivers, and waterfalls, or high in the mountains hiking to some epic overlooks. You won’t be disappointed by what this place has to offer.

Yosemite is the perfect place whether you’re just eloping with the two of you or deciding to bring family and friends. They have some amazing designated ceremony sites if you bring loved ones along. However if it’s just the two of you we can roam to some more unique places for your ceremony. Either way you’ll have some breathtaking views.

How To Travel To Yosemite

The two closest airports to Yosemite are San Fransisco or the Fresno Yosemite Airport. From the Fresno airport you will still have an hour and fifteen minute drive north to reach Yosemite. So you will need to rent a vehicle to get there.

Yosemite does require a pass to visit so make sure you either have the National Park Pass or purchase the week pass upon entering the park. Yosemite has 5 entrances to the park. Four of them are on the West/South side and the other on the East side. The are also looking at adding a reservation system in 2025 like Glacier National Park to help control traffic so be aware of that.

When to Elope in Yosemite

Yosemite is beautiful and accessible year round. However during the winter and early spring you won’t be able to access places like Glacier and Taft Point. Each season will have some pros and cons so it’s up to you to decide what you really want your day to look like. My personal favorite time is in the early fall around September or early in the summer around mid June. The weather is perfect for hiking and the park looks amazing in these months.

Summer (June-August)

All the roads should be open this time of the year to access the higher elevation locations in the mountains for hiking. The weather is beautiful to explore and everything is lush and green. The earlier is better as smoke from wildfires can sometimes fill the air in the later parts of summer.

Fall (September-November)

The roads should all still be open through most of October. The weather is very comfortable and the fall colors are starting to appear in the valley. It’s such a beautiful time of the year to be in the park.

Winter (November-February)

The weather is colder at this time and snow typically fills the park. The only accessible areas are in the Yosemite Valley as all the mountain roads close down. It’s a beautiful time to see the park if you like the winter scenes. In February if everything lines up you might even see the famous Firefall in the valley.

Spring (March-May)

The spring weather can be a little unpredictable. It could still be snowing, raining, or sunny. You might experience all four seasons in one day. However in late spring around May, the park is starting to turn lush green, the waterfalls are flowing heavy from all the snow melt, and wildlife is becoming more active. It’s a great time to explore the park and the mountain roads typically open around the end of May.

Where to Elope in Yosemite

Are you dreaming of having an EPIC adventure elopement in Yosemite National Park? Well I got you covered. Below I will go over some of the best places to get married in Yosemite National Park whether you are including guests or just the two of you.

1. Glacier Point

Glacier Point is perhaps one of the most iconic views in the whole park. Half Dome makes the perfect backdrop for all of your photos. This is the perfect location for those beautiful sunrise photos as you can see from the photos above. This is a very popular location for to get married in Yosemite as there’s a dedicated amphitheater.

The Glacier Point Amphitheater can accommodate up to 50 people and monitoring is required for ceremonies with 35-50 guests. It’s a very accessible location with paved paths for anyone with handicap needs. The best time for your ceremony is early in the morning and consider doing a sunrise first look before your ceremony to capitalize on the beautiful light.

Aside from the ceremony location we can hike along the trail and capture multiple views along the Panorama Trail. It’s such a fun experience exploring in your wedding attire and finding beautiful locations to take photos. Please keep in mind that this is a popular location and you will most likely have people around you but don’t let that stop you because it’s popular for a good reason.

Here’s an example of a Sunrise Glacier Point Elopement.

2. Taft Point

Taft Point arguably has the best sunset views in the entire park. With roughly a mile hike out to the cliffs it’s not too hard to access. The hike also helps keep more people away. There’s also beautiful woodland locations to take photos along the way for breaks.

The cliffs have tons of space to explore and take photos aside from the iconic spots. To get the most privacy at Taft Point, I recommend planning to elope during the weekday and avoid holidays. Safety is going to be a top priority here as the cliffs can be dangerous. I will make sure not to put you anywhere you are uncomfortable with. Don’t worry because you can stay 10-15 feet away from the cliff edges and still get those dramatic photos. Taft Point is best suited for a couple with no guests on their elopement.

Here’s an example of a Taft Point Sunset elopement.

3. Sentinel Dome

Although I haven’t captured an elopement here yet, Sentinel Dome is a great alternate option to Taft Point. Sentinel Dome is a 2.2 mile roundtrip hike with wide open views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. It’s a less popular location compared to Taft Point so you will have more privacy. The hike starts at the same location as the Taft Point parking lot. This is best suited for an elopement with no guests.

4. Tenaya Lake Beach

Tenaya Lake is the perfect option to get married in Yosemite if you love alpine lakes. Mountains surround the lake and the views are stunning at sunrise. I haven’t captured an elopement here yet, but I can assure you it’s a place you will want to consider. It’s a fairly private location and very accessible. The walk from the parking lot to the beach area isn’t too far.

It’s not open year round so make sure the roads are accessible. They usually are open from May through October but that depends on the snow. Tenaya can accommodate up to 50 people.

5. Other Locations to Consider to Get Married in Yosemite

Yosemite has a lot more locations you might want to consider that I haven’t captured yet. There’s some beautiful woodland areas amongst Sequoia and Redwood trees. You can also get married in the valley with El Capitan as your backdrop like the photo above. Here’s a list of some of those locations.

• Washburn Point
• Cascades Picnic Area
• Swinging Bridge Picnic area
• Sentinel Beach Picnic area
• Mariposa Grove
• Tuolumne Meadows Lodge area
• Tuolumne Grove
• Merced Grove

You can find more information on all these locations here.

How To Legally Elope in Yosemite National Park

Rules to follow to legally get married in Yosemite.

• A special use permit is required for any wedding or commitment ceremony being held within Yosemite National Park.
• The cost is $150 and if event monitoring is required, it’s an additional $50/hour. Weddings or ceremonies may be scheduled up to one year in advance and more than 21 days prior to your event.
• Please complete the application and include any special needs of your party (e.g., access for persons with disabilities, elderly guests, etc.).
• Be sure to include the nonrefundable application fee of $150 with your application. Make sure to include the ceremony site location that you would like reserved along with 1-2 alternate options in case your first choice is taken.

California Marriage Laws:

• Both of you must be at least 18 years old, and you must apply for and sign for the license in person.
• The cost for a public marriage license is $84.
• There’s no waiting period, so you can get your license in the morning and get married in the afternoon.
• A ceremony must occur within 90 days from the date the license is issued. A ceremony may take place anywhere within the state of California

Where to Stay When You Elope in Yosemite

There’s a variety of options to choose from depending on what you enjoy.

Hotels:

• The Ahwahnee: is a historic hotel located right in the Yosemite valley with tons of amenities for you to enjoy.
• Rush Creek Lodge: is a beautiful lodge and spa with tons of amenities from pools, restaurants, hiking trails, and more for the perfect getaway.
• Yosemite Valley Lodge: this is conveniently located in the center of Yosemite Valley with access to multiple restaurants and close to hiking trails. There’s also a season swimming pool.

Airbnbs:

• Family Cabin in Yosemite: this cabin can host up to 4 guests and offers views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Clouds Rest. It’s located inside the gates of Yosemite National Park and is in quiet community of 30 homes built in 2012.
• Sunset Summit in Yosemite: this home is conveniently located in Yosemite and built in 2023. It has magnificent views of Yosemite and can accommodate 8 guests.
• That Red Cabin: this is a cozy 2 person cabin in the woods just 15 minutes from the south gates of Yosemite. Enjoy some peace and quiet with the convenience of restaurants and grocery stores nearby.
• Mountain Lodge in Mariposa: this mountain lodge can accommodate up to 10 guests with stunning mountain views. It’s the perfect private oasis to relax with tons of amenities like an in ground pool, hot tub, fireplace, expansive views, and so much more. It’s the perfect spot to stay with family and friends.

Campgrounds:

Yosemite has a ton of campground locations that you can reserve if this is more your style. Here’s a link to there list of locations that you can choose from depending on what your prefer.

I recommend booking a location that is near your ceremony location for convenience on your wedding day.

Activities to Include When You Elope in Yosemite

Here’s a full list of options within the park that you can choose to include on your elopement day or the days surrounding it:

• Backpacking deep into the park
• Rock climbing
• Hiking the many trails
• Photography
• Chase waterfalls
• Search for wildlife
• Mountain biking
• Geocaching
• Fishing
• Horseback riding
• Swimming
• Boating/rafting
• Golfing
• Picnic in the valley
• Skydiving
• Gold panning
• Spa day
• Anything unique to your relationship

A Full Packing List When You Elope in Yosemite

You’re going to need to be prepared for your adventurous Yosemite elopement. Even during the summer months it can be cool exploring the mountains and weather conditions can vary. Here’s a list of items you should pack.

• Passport, driver’s license, and other ID you need
• Light puffy jacket, rain jacket, and lightweight layered clothing
• Hiking boots and plenty of socks
• Water bottle
• Snacks for flight
• Headlamps
• Sentimental items for your elopement
• Vow books
• Wedding rings
• Light gloves
• Dress pants, suit jacket, belt, pocket square, and anything you want to wear
• Wedding dress, earrings, necklace, leggings for under dress
• Marriage license (if applicable)
• Bathing suits
• Light gloves/hand warmers

Meet your Yosemite elopement photographer

Hey, I’m Marcus! I’ll be your go to resource for when you elope in Yosemite National Park. The first time I explored Yosemite I was in awe. I spent a full day exploring all over the parking capturing an adventure elopement. Every location we went to took my breath away with its beauty.

I learned so many tips and tricks on how to make an unforgettable experience here. There’s so many incredible locations including ones that are hidden from all the crowds. I’ll help you plan an adventure of a lifetime and come prepared with back up plans as well just in case that crazy weather happens. If you’re ready to plan your dream elopement contact me here or fill out the inquiry form below.

If you’re looking for more information about eloping, checkout these blogs below.

How To Elope in Hawaii, How To Elope in Scotland, How To Elope in Glacier National Park, and How To Elope in Iceland