Table of Contents:
- Yosemite National Park Elopement Permit Basics
- Where to Elope in Yosemite National Park With Under 11 People
- Where to Elope in Yosemite National Park With Over 11 People
- Yosemite Elopement Photography + Videography Duo
Today we’re talking about one of the most iconic national parks in the entire country, and what has become one of the most POPULAR destinations for adventure elopements in recent years: Yosemite National Park! This breathtaking park has a wide array of stunning locations for elopements & weddings, so we wanted to tell you about all of your options if you’re wanting to elope in Yosemite. We’ve included all of the best Yosemite elopement locations for groups under 11 people, permitted locations for over 11 people, and some venues for larger weddings. Let’s get started!
Yosemite National Park Elopement Permit Basics
How to get your Yosemite Special Use Permit
Let’s start with some basic info you need to know about Yosemite elopement permits, because the park’s policies are fairly strict & specific compared to many other national parks. This is simply due to the growing number of couples that want to elope in this epic location, and the park has to make sure every wedding is regulated & follows the rules!
To get married in Yosemite National Park, you will need to get a Special Use Permit. This permit costs $150 and if your wedding needs to be monitored by a park official, you’ll be charged an additional $50/hour. Keep in mind that the application fee & any other permit processing fees are non-refundable once you apply for your permit, even if it doesn’t end up getting approved!
You can schedule your wedding up to one year & technically no later than 21 days in advance, but you should apply as early as you can to increase your chances of getting a permit for your desired date + location! Because there are sooo many couples who want to elope at Yosemite, and there are only so many days in the year + park locations to use, you most likely won’t get your location of choice if you apply at the last minute (if you even manage to get a permit).
If your permit request is approved, you’ll receive your permit in the mail and will need to sign & return it to the park office for final approval.
And even though you’ll have this Special Use Permit, you and all of your guests + vendors will still need to pay the regular Yosemite entrance fees to get into the park. You can learn more about the park’s entrance fees here!
A note about Yosemite wedding ceremony locations
Because of the number of couples that want to get married in Yosemite, the park has come up with a specific list of permitted ceremony locations with different group size & site restrictions. These permitted ceremony locations only apply to elopements with over 11 people total; otherwise, you’re free to elope anywhere in the park as long as you follow park regulations! We’re first going to go through some of the best places to elope in Yosemite if you have UNDER 11 people (including you two, your guests, & your vendors), and then we’ll go into the permitted locations for ceremonies with OVER 11 people.
Where to Elope in Yosemite National Park With Under 11 People
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is one of the most popular spots in Yosemite National Park thanks to the freakin’ jaw-dropping views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. It’s an unbeatable location for Yosemite elopement portraits, as long as you’re okay navigating around crowds of other visitors! Glacier Point is typically accessible by car from late May through October or November, depending on snowfall.
Note: as of the time of writing this in July 2023, Glacier Point Road has been closed for a while due to construction. Check the NPS alerts before your elopement to make sure that Glacier Point is open again if you want to visit during your time in the park!
Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is a famous waterfall in the park, the one you see from Tunnel View! It’s usually pretty crowded due to how easily accessible it is via a quick 0.5-mile round trip trail with barely any elevation gain, so be aware that you definitely won’t be the only people trying to see the waterfalls. The parking lot at the trailhead often fills up so you may have to park farther away + walk a bit.
Tunnel View
If you’ve ever seen ANY photos of Yosemite National Park, chances are that you’ve definitely seen photos from Tunnel View, one of the most famous spots in the park! This historic, scenic overlook is located right next to Wawona Road, boasting glorious views of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall, and El Capitan. It’s a MUST visit if you’ve never been to Yosemite, especially because there’s no hiking required to get to the vista!
Taft Point
Alright now Taft Point is THE famous spot for wedding photos at Yosemite. You’ve seen the classic photo taken from afar of a couple kissing on the cliff with a breathtaking sunset behind them, right?! Taft Point is iconic for a reason, accessible by a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail west of Glacier Point, with panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan. Trust us when we say that if you manage to get a photo at Taft Point at sunset without too many crowds around, it will be the kind of photo you frame on your wall forever!
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful high-elevation meadow along the Tuolumne River with beautiful views along the Tioga Road. As long as you follow the park’s rules for open meadow areas, it’s a wonderful spot for a few elopement portraits!
El Capitan Meadow
El Capitan Meadow is a super popular spot for wedding photos thanks to the absolutely epic views of El Capitan, as well as Lower and Middle Cathedral Rocks. Make sure to stay on the designated trails to protect the meadow and prevent new “trails” from being formed by too much foot traffic!
Yosemite Falls
Did you know that Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America?! It’s a crazy beautiful waterfall that’s actually made up of three individual falls: Upper Yosemite Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, and the middle cascades. This is the waterfall that you’ll see from many spots around the park, and it’s accessible by just a 1-mile loop trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall. You can also hike to the top of Yosemite Falls if you’re looking for a much longer & much more challenging hike!
Cathedral Beach
Cathedral Beach is a beautiful beach area located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, with amazing views of El Capitan. It’s a great spot to hang out with your friends & fam and have a celebratory post-ceremony picnic!
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is an absolutely breathtaking lake on Tenaya Creek in the northwest corner of Yosemite Valley, best known for its reflections of Half Dome and Mount Watkins when the water is calm. But it’s important to note that the lake doesn’t have much water for the majority of the year – it’s at its fullest in the spring and early summer thanks to fresh snowmelt from Tenaya Creek.
Sentinel Dome
Last but not least is the breathtaking Sentinel Dome, a granite dome on the south wall of Yosemite Valley just southwest of Glacier Point. Hike the 2.2-mile out-and-back trail for some of the best views in Yosemite National Park!
Where to Elope in Yosemite National Park With Over 11 People
Now let’s move onto the locations where weddings of over 11 people are permitted in Yosemite National Park!
Yosemite Valley Wedding Locations
Yosemite Valley is one of the more popular areas of Yosemite, featuring many of the most iconic parts of the park like Tunnel View and El Capitan Meadow! You could easily make a whole day out of driving through Yosemite Valley, stopping at all of the gorgeous lookouts and exploring the different spots accessible to visitors. Here are the locations within Yosemite Valley where weddings are permitted for groups of over 11 people!
Cascades Picnic Area
- Max group size: 30
- Max vehicles: 8
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: Year-round
- Parking on-site? Yes
- Restrooms available: Pit toilets nearby
- Additional site info: Ceremonies prohibited at the falls viewing platform
Lower Yosemite Falls Paved Trail
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: 0
- ADA-Accessible? Yes
- Open: Year-round, except on holiday weekends
- Parking on-site? No; shuttle required
- Restrooms available: Yes
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 50
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
- Max group size: 20
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? Yes
- Open: Year-round, except on holiday weekends
- Parking on-site? Limited
- Restrooms available: Yes
- Additional site info: No ceremonies allowed on the bridge or in the meadows
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: 6
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: Tuesday after Memorial Day through October 31st
- Parking on-site? Limited
- Restrooms available: Yes
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 35-50
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
- Max group size: 100
- Max vehicles: 8
- ADA-Accessible? Yes
- Open: Tuesday after Memorial Day through October 31st
- Parking on-site? Limited
- Restrooms available: Yes
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 50+
Bridalveil Fall
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? Yes
- Open: N/A
- Parking on-site? Parking lot
- Restrooms available: Yes
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 50
Wawona Wedding Locations
Wawona is a basin located on Wawona Road, originally home to American Indians, and is the town that’s closest to Chilnualna Falls & Mariposa Grove. There are 2 permitted wedding locations in the Wawona area that both fit up to 50 guests!
Glacier Point Amphitheater
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? Yes
- Open: Tuesday after Memorial day through September 30th; weddings not schedule in July & August
- Parking on-site? N/A
- Restrooms available: N/A
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 35-50
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: 10
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: N/A
- Parking on-site? Yes
- Restrooms available: N/A
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 35-50
Tuolumne Meadows Wedding Locations
Tuolumne Meadows is a breathtaking sub-alpine meadow along the Tuolumne River & the Tioga Road, located in the eastern part of Yosemite National Park. It’s definitely worth a visit if you want to get away from the crowds of Yosemite Valley (although you’ll still find plenty of visitors in this area), and there’s even a beautiful lodge with canvas-tent cabins that makes for a great wedding location!
Tenaya Lake Beach
- Max group size: 50
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: Road opening until September 30th
- Parking on-site? Parking lot at trailhead
- Restrooms available: N/A
- Additional site info: Monitoring required for groups of 50
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area
- Max group size: 25
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: Road opening until September 30th
- Parking on-site? Limited
- Restrooms available: In the lodge
Big Oak Flat Area Wedding Locations
Big Oak Flat Road is a continuation of Highway 120 from the west, with an entrance to the park about 25 miles from Yosemite Valley. If you want to get married beneath the massive California sequoia trees, this is an awesome area to do so thanks to the two beautiful groves of majestic giant sequoias!
Tuolumne Grove
- Max group size: 30
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: N/A
- Parking on-site? Parking lot at trailhead
- Restrooms available: N/A
- Additional site info: May be snow on trail from late October to June; ceremony must remain on foot path
Merced Grove
- Max group size: 30
- Max vehicles: N/A
- ADA-Accessible? No
- Open: N/A
- Parking on-site? Parking lot at trailhead
- Restrooms available: N/A
- Additional site info: May be snow on trail from late October to June; ceremony must remain on foot path
Larger Yosemite Wedding Venues
Finally, we wanted to include a few larger wedding venues in or near Yosemite National Park, in case you want to have a bigger wedding and more space to celebrate, and maybe just take some epic portraits on a trail or two!
AutoCamp Yosemite
AutoCamp Yosemite is not only one of the COOLEST places to stay in Yosemite, but also makes for a rad wedding venue. AutoCamp offers the most cozy, luxurious, but still rugged airstreams, cabins, and glamping tents that you will neverrrr want to leave. They’ve got multiple site options for weddings with space for 32-100 guests, and each space has absolutely stunning views + plenty of room to create the unique day of your dreams! Seriously, it’s super easy to customize every site to what you want: you can have a movie night on the sprawling lawn with your guests, play outdoor games after your ceremony, or end the night around a private campfire. You can even buy out the ENTIRE property and make yourselves at home for an absolutely epic weekend retreat with all your loved ones!
Rush Creek Lodge
Rush Creek Lodge is a gorgeous lodge located right at the entrance of Yosemite National Park, with 20 acres of beautiful wooded area for you to enjoy! Their wedding packages include facilities & equipment for up to 200 guests, and the lodge even offers delicious catering options for your special day. Learn more about weddings at Rush Creek Lodge here, and if you want some real-life inspiration, check out Katie & Leo’s Epic Yosemite Elopement!
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Yosemite Valley Lodge is a stunning lodge located directly across from Yosemite Falls, which means you get to say your vows super close to the highest waterfall in North America! The central location makes it an awesome place to gather with your guests out on the lawn, to have a romantic reception on the patio, and to have absolutely breathtaking views of Yosemite all around you.
Tenaya at Yosemite
Tenaya is another gorgeous lodge located near the park that offers a variety of outdoor activities, cozy amenities, a luxurious spa, and, of course, awesome views of the park. Tie the knot out on the grand terrace & the spacious lawn, and have your intimate reception out on the beautiful stone patio under the stars!
The Redwoods in Yosemite
Lastly, the Redwoods in Yosemite, nestled in the heart of Yosemite Valley, is a beautiful collection of vacation home rentals, cabins, and a whole wedding & event center. Whether you want to tie the knot indoors or outdoors, this venue provides a stunning setting for your Yosemite wedding, ideal for groups of up to 80 people! You’ll have easy access to swimming in the Merced River, and you’ll also be super close to a variety of trails to explore, such as the Chilnualna Falls trail.
Yosemite Elopement Photography + Videography Duo
Heyo, we’re T and Corey – a husband and wife photography + videography duo that LOVES Yosemite elopements!! We’re obsessed with everything about adventure elopements in gorgeous places, especially in one of the most epic national parks in the country and we’d be so stoked to tag along to capture yours. Check out our Yosemite elopement photography + videography packages to find out a bit about what we offer, and reach out to us here when you’re ready to plan your epic Yosemite adventure!
Lookin’ for more info-packed elopement guides like this one? We got you – below are a few of our favorite guides about more epic elopement locations in the U.S.!
