Planning Your Perfect Day in Yosemite National Park
A lot of research went into location scouting and day of timelines for this particular elopement, as it was a location new to my bride and groom and to me. We had countless meetings to plan for crowds, weather, lighting, and to prep for any additional licenses and requirements needed to capture photos in a National Park. Cassandra and Adam’s day went off without a hitch, and I want to share the details of which locations I think worked best for perfect lighting and minimizing the impact for my couple’s privacy and for others enjoying the park.
These times/locations may change depending on the weather and time of year, so if you are looking to book an elopement like this please make sure you find a coordinator or photographer who can bring your vision to life! Please also make sure that they are familiar with the specific requirements to follow for photography and leaving no trace.
First Look at Glacier Point During Sunrise
I think Glacier Point is the perfect place to do your first look and get your first photos together on your elopement day. There are many spots that overlook Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, and the lighting is just perfect at sunrise. There will be others at this location but it is easy to still find a picture perfect place for your first look. This location is also easily accessible and there are parking lots nearby.
Photos at Tunnel View
Tunnel view is the postcard landscape a lot of people think about when they think about Yosemite. This is a great place to snap a few photos at really any point of the day. We came here after sunrise because it was an easy stop on our itinerary while travelling from Glacier Point to the Valley. It is always crowded here, but we managed to snag a parking space and grab a few photos.
Vows in El Capitan Meadow
The valley in Yosemite is vast, because of this and the open shade during daylight hours, I think this is the best place for a ceremony or to exchange vows. It is easy to find a place that is intimate away from others where you can be present and not worry about being a spectacle. Make sure you stick to the marked paths here and leave no trace behind.
My couple chose to have a quiet lunch back at their cabin after their vows and to spend some quality time together as newlyweds. This is by far one of the best perks about eloping – no one is waiting on you. You get to pick what you spend all of your time doing, and how much of that is also captured. This break after an early morning also allowed us to make sure they were well rested in time for my favourite part of the day, sunset!
Sunset at Taft Point
This location was the most planned and prepared for. To get to Taft Point it was about a 40 minute easy hike in, taking our time with a dressed bride and groom.
General Planning Tips for Yosemite
- Make sure you choose locations based on the time of year you plan to elope. For example, if you want to have a waterfalls in the background, plan for a spring elopement as most run dry by the end of the summer. Another note is that some roads close during winter, so to make sure you plan accordingly.
- Choose a florist that is familiar with the rules and regulations of whichever park you are planning to elope in. There are specifics around pollinating plants and flowers that must be abided by.
- Plan to get married mid-week for less crowds and better access to all the best photography locations. Despite getting married on a Wednesday in October, at some locations our couple was rotating in locations with 4 other couples.
- Have a flexible photographer that allows for changes to locations or even having a backup day for couples portraits if the weather doesn’t cooperate on the day of. This is something I always allow with my couples when doing travel adventure elopements.
