Intimate Yosemite National Park Elopement

There’s something so incredibly special about an intimate elopement. Especially when you’re surrounded by natural beauty in a stunning place like Yosemite National Park. If you’re considering exchanging vows in an intimate setting, this early fall Yosemite National Park elopement is the perfect planning inspiration. In this post, I’ll be going over some tips for planning an elopement in Yosemite in autumn, how to select a ceremony site, and share some more details from Steph and Erik’s unforgettable wedding day. Follow along until the end of the post where you’ll find the full gallery from this gorgeous elopement in Yosemite National Park!

Autumn in Yosemite National Park

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Yosemite National Park. One of the best parts about planning a fall elopement in Yosemite is that the summer tourist crowds will have died down, allowing for a quieter and more intimate experience. In terms of weather, temperatures will start to cool off somewhere between 55 and 45 degrees on average. Increased rainfall can also make for softer ground and muddier areas throughout the park.

Something to consider? If you want to hike up to scenic points, consider the type of elopement dress and footwear you decide to wear! Layers of tulle have the potential to trap dirt and bugs when you venture off the main trails. Things can get chilly when you get to higher elevations, so maybe you want to consider a long sleeve wedding gown or a warm shawl to throw on your shoulders. Leave the gorgeous bridal heels meant for flat ground and bring a pair of boots to change into when things get more adventurous. Want proof you can rock this style? How cute are Steph’s hiking boots with her stunning cape wedding gown?! The perfect fall hiking elopement bridal look.

Planning an Elopement Ceremony

Finding the right place to exchange your vows is one of the most important parts of the wedding day experience. An elopement in Yosemite National Park offers endless possibilities when it comes to wedding ceremony and photo locations. Some of my favorites? Taft Point provides jaw-dropping views of the valley below and is one of the most popular spots in the park. And for good reason! Another favorite is El Capitan Meadow where you can get sweeping views of the mountains. Plus, it’s super accessible. As for specific ceremony spots within the park, check out the Yosemite National Park website here. It lists every spot in the park you’re allowed to have your ceremony, from Cathedral Beach to Bridalveil Fall. Be sure to consider that some of these locations require access to Glacier Point Road, which is closed at certain times of the year!

Steph + Erik’s Yosemite Elopement 

Now onto Steph and Erik’s emotional and adventurous elopement in Yosemite National Park. They had an intimate ceremony with close family and friends in Sentinel Meadow. The wedding ceremony arch featured flowers paired with tufts of vibrant burgundy and yellow leaves for an autumn wedding aesthetic. They exchanged emotional vows that they wrote for one another. After their ceremony, we took photos in various stunning locations across the park. My favorite has to be their photos at Taft Point where our bride changed into hiking boots with her gorgeous wedding gown. Speaking of which, our bride Steph chose such a unique elopement dress. It featured a removable cape that tied around her shoulders and make for amazing photos. Plus, the wedding dress with removable cape allowed her to rock two different looks which I absolutely loved! Her boho fall bridal bouquet tied in the whole look with dried flowers and changing leaves which was perfect for autumn.

Check out all the photos from this stunning elopement in Yosemite National Park in the gallery below! Feeling more of a beach aesthetic for your big day? Our latest blog post is a session on the beaches of Hawaii. See the full post here!