This is a guide to planning a Yosemite elopement including ceremony locations, permit requirements, elopement vendors near Yosemite, and locations within the park where you can get stunning mountain views.

Table of Contents

Why have a Yosemite elopement?

Yosemite National Park wedding permit info
- Permit cost
FAQs about eloping in Yosemite National Park
- How much does it cost to elope in Yosemite?
- Where can we marry in the park?
- Where can we take photos in the park?
- When should we apply for a permit?
- What’s the best time of year to visit Yosemite?
- Can we have our dog at our wedding?
- What restrictions are there for weddings in the park?
Where can you marry in Yosemite?
How to apply for a wedding permit in Yosemite
Reception venues in Yosemite

Why plan a Yosemite Elopement?

The first time I visited Yosemite was to photograph an elopement, and I was totally blown away by the scenery and the vast views within the park. I’m from Colorado, and there’s plenty of beautiful mountain views here, but there’s nothing like Yosemite. the staggering difference in height between the valley and peaks like Half Dome and El Cap is so vast, it just makes for a totally different experience. Maybe this isn’t something a normal person would notice, but all I could see was how the LIGHT looked from the tops of the peaks down into the valley. Watching the sun rise over Half Dome or watching it turn pink at sunset is such a treat for a photographer. The white granite of the mountains there is just so beautiful in photos and the blue layers of mountains is just so stunning, I can’t get over it, I’ve really never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world.

Every national park, state park, and national forest has different rules regarding weddings and different processes on how to go about marrying there, so it can be overwhelming to someone who’s planning for the first time. Since Yosemite is such a popular park, there are a lot of rules and regulations that need to be followed, and it can get really confusing trying to plan a wedding there. Since photographing a couple of elopements in Yosemite, I’ve learned it’s regulations well, so I wanted to create a guide to answer any all of your questions about eloping in Yosemite.

Yosemite Wedding Permit Info

If you didn’t know, in order to marry in Yosemite, YOU NEED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. You can not marry in the park without a permit, even if it’s just the two of you exchanging vows. The permit is $150 and allows you to marry and take photos anywhere in the park. Additionally, YOU MUST MARRY IN A DESIGNATED AREA. Yosemite is a very busy park, so you can’t just marry anywhere in the park- you have to exchange vows at designated locations that will be specified on your permit. You can take photos wherever you want in the park, but having an actual ceremony has to happen in at the location on your permit. If these rules are broken, you and your vendors will all be fined.

Applications for wedding ceremonies taking place in 2024 are currently open, and applications for 2025 will open soon. The park accepts applications one year in advance of the wedding month. This means that you have to apply for your June 2024 wedding permit on June 1, 2023, your July 2024 wedding permit on July 1, 2023, etc. etc.

The park issues a max of 60 permits per month for the park’s busy season, which is May-October, and a max of 40 permits per month for the slow season, which is November-December, so applications are extremely limited. All permits are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All wedding ceremonies sites allow a MAX of 50 people (this is including the couple, guests, officiant and photographer), some smaller sites limit the max to even less at 10. Make sure the site you choose allows for the amount of people you intend on inviting to your wedding.

FAQs about eloping in Yosemite

In order to elope in Yosemite, you need to pay a $150 permit fee to reserve one of the 13 designated ceremony sites in the park. Your guests still need to pay the park entrance fee if riding in separate cars from yours. You will still need to obtain a California marriage license as well.
There are 13 designated ceremony sites. You must reserve one of them in order to elope in the park. You have to exchange vows and rings at a designated site, but you can take portraits anywhere in the park.
Yes, you can take photos anywhere within the park if it’s just portraits. Your photographer will need a permit and you will still need to specify the area you will be taking photos. Most legitimate photographers will cover the cost of permits for their couples if they photograph on public land regularly.
As soon as the permits are released. Permits go fast (especially for weekends in summer), and they’re in limited supply. There are only 60 permits available for each month from May through October, and 40 permits per month for November through April. You can apply for a permit one year in advance of the month you wish to marry. So, If you want to elope in June of 2025, you can apply on June 1, 2024. If you have a specific date in mind, you need to apply as soon as possible within the one year to make sure you get the site you want. Permits are first-come first-serve.
Planning your elopement around the best seasons in Yosemite is very important, but different parts of the park will be accessible in different times of the year. You won't be able to visit Glacier Point or Taft Point before May or early June or after early November. If you'd like the epic views of either of these places or any other locations at higher elevations in the park, you need to plan your elopement between June and October. Unfortunately, when the road opens to Taft Point and Glacier Point is also when crowds are at their peak. Planning for sunrise and on a weekday can help you avoid these crowds, though. You can also plan a wedding in the fall during shoulder season and still have access to most of the park without all the crowds.
Sunrise and sunset always have the best lighting. If you want to see the sun coming up over half dome, head to Glacier Point before sunrise (this will mean a wakeup call around 3am). If you want dramatic lighting at Taft Point, head there for sunset- be aware, the crowds are insane this time of day.
Dogs are only allowed on paved roads and parking areas, so no. Dogs are not allowed on any trails or ceremony sites.
- No ceremony sites allow dogs, and no trails allow dogs
- Fireworks of any kind are not allowed including sparklers and smoke bombs
- All sites are restricted to at least 50 people (except the chapel), some are restricted to 10 or less including a photographer and officiant
- No throwing flower petals, rice, confetti, or leaving behind any other trash or waste of any kind including champagne corks
- Some sites limit the amount of cars allowed at the site.
- No blocking off trails or ceremony sites- the permit doesn’t reserve an area exclusively for you and your party
- no amplified music or mics
- no decorations, chairs, tables, tents, etc. are allowed to be set up
- No drones
- No receptions at ceremony sites
- No ceremonies around the base of sequoia trees

Where can you marry in Yosemite?

Yosemite Valley Locations

Lower Yosemite Falls Trail (wheelchair accessible)

Gorgeous views of Yosemite Falls, early morning will avoid crowds, but it’s beautiful for both sunrise and sunset.
Guest count: 0-50
Season: All year except holidays

Cathedral Beach

Cathedral beach has is a small beach on the river that has amazing views of El Cap. The lighting is beautiful in morning and evening, but I recommend a morning ceremony to avoid crowds.
Guest count: 0-50
Season: Summer&fall

Sentinel Beach Picnic Are (wheelchair accessible)

Sentinel Beach is a small beach on the river, best photographed in the morning light and to avoid crowds. It’s wheelchair acessible, and can hold a larger amount of guests.
Guest count 0-50
Season: Summer&fall

Cascades Picnic Area

This spot is in the wooded area near Yosemite Falls, however, after your ceremony, you can take photos closer to the falls. This area gets busy in the summer, so a morning ceremony might be ideal.
Guest count: 0-30
Season: All year except holidays

Swinging Bridge Picnic Area (wheelchair accessible)

Beautiful views of Yosemite falls, but it gets very busy, so I recommend a morning ceremony if it’s during the summer.
Guest count: 0-20
Season: All year except holidays

Bridalveil Falls

Views of Bridal Veil falls in the clearing in the forest. This location gets busy, so a morning ceremony is usually best.
Guest count 0-50
Season: All year except holidays

Yosemite Valley Chapel

This location is a little different as you have to book through Yosemite Valley Chapel Weddings and the fee is $1200 instead of the usual $150
Guest count: 0-50
Season: All year except holidays

Glacier Point & Wawona Locations

Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot

Wooded area, no view of the falls. One of the less popular ceremony locations, but also one of the less crowded.
Guest count: 0-50
Season: All year except holidays

Glacier Point Amphitheater

Glacier Point is one of my favorite locations. The best light is early in the morning, watching the sun come up over Half Dome. It’s truly a magical experience. Sunrise is also the least crowded time, as it’s one of the most popular locations.
Guest count: 0-50
Season: Not open July or August and road closed November-May

Tuolumne Locations

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area

This is on the granite slab near the lodge and is accessible when the road opens yearly.
Guest Count: 0-25
Season: May/June-September

Tenaya Lake Beach

This is a less busy area of the park and has stunning views and a beautiful blue lake with a beach, only open for a short time when the road opens yearly.
Guest count: 0-50
Season: Open May/June-September

Big Oak Flat Area

Merced Grove

This spot requires a 3 mile round trip hike through a wooded area with giant sequoias
Guest Count: 0-30
Season: Open all year except holidays

Tuolumne Grove

This spot requires a hike of about 2.5 miles round trip through a wooded area with giant sequoias.
Guest count: 0-30
Season: All year except holidays

How to apply for a wedding permit in Yosemite

Step 1: Pick a location and date

Do you have a specific date in mind or a specific location? If you have a date in mind, email Catherine here to see which locations are available for your date. If you have a location in mind, but no set date, email to ask which dates it’s available for.

Step 2: Secure the permit

After emailing the park and figuring out the date and site, download and complete the printable wedding permit from the official Yosemite National Park site. In the “proposed activity” section, put “Elopement ceremony and wedding photos.” Include your photographer, officiant, and any other vendors that will be present for the ceremony in the guest count and vehicle count on the form.

Step 3: Pay the fee

The application fee is $150. You can send payment via check or money order with your application. Note that you can not apply more than 1 year in advance. You can also not apply on short notice- the park needs at least 21 days to process the application.