Yosemite Elopement Photographer
Yosemite Elopement Photographer
Yosemite Elopement Photographer
You’re dreaming of a Yosemite elopement because you want to escape it all, right? No stress, no distractions—just pure joy, adventure, and the two of you surrounded by nature. This is your chance to create a day that’s entirely about your love, free from the pressures of a traditional wedding.
Whether you're looking to elope with just you two, or you want to plan a small wedding with just you and the fam, I can help you find the perfect spot! As your Yosemite elopement photographer, I’m not just taking your pictures—I’m your planner, guide, and adventure buddy. On the big day, I’ll be right there to capture everything: the epic moments, the journey, stillness, the laughs and all the fun stuff that makes your adventure uniquely yours. When you look back at your photos, you'll get to relive all the feelings you felt on your wedding day.
Don’t be—I’ve got it all covered for you. We’ll keep the planning your elopement chill with a couple fun calls and a quick questionnaire to really get to know you both. I'll simplify everything into easy steps, so you can stay focused on what matters while I design a custom adventure that matches your vibe. And it's all included inside of my Yosemite elopement photography packages.
What I love about elopement weddings is that they can be molded into your ideal day together, which can last from 6 hours, to all day! Whether you're planning a Yosemite Elopement, an vow exchange on the coast, or even a San Francisco courthouse elopement, your ceremony will only be a short part of the story of your day together. I teach my clients how to build their elopement day into a beautiful customized experience and create real memories together. I encourage you to bring in your own hobbies and personality into your day, by including the fun things you already love to do, or even new experiences into your day together. Keep scrolling to see some ideas of how you can craft an intentional day of fun together!
Adventure elopements give you the freedom to plan your vow exchange pretty much anywhere! Whether it's the top of a cliff at Taft Point, watching the waves crash along the rocky coastline in Big Sur, or on a sandy beach in Maui, Hawaii. Plan your Elopement day based on your bucket-list location and then build out the rest of your day from there! The vows will only take up a short portion of your day, and can happen at sunrise, sunset, or anywhere in between!
Here are some awesome ways to craft your Yosemite elopement into an intentional day spent together creating fun and genuine moments, so your photos will reflect the time you spent together making memories.
The rest of your day can be filled with any sort of activities that you would like to do together! For Yosemite Elopements you could spend the day together paddling a kayak in Tenaya Lake, have a picnic and play a game of cribbage in Tuolumne Meadows, grab a beer together at a local Tavern, or plan a fancy dinner at Rush Creek Lodge. No matter what you love to do together, you can incorporate that into creating fun memories together during your elopement day, which makes your photography even more special because you're creating real moments to look back on together.
At some point in the day we can plan to take your photos somewhere epic, and don't worry, I help with this part! I even give my clients access to my 50-page Yosemite Location Guide with a variety of awesome places to choose from with sample photos from past elopements and sessions I've photographed, to help you choose an awesome spot for any part of your day together! We'll already have gotten so many great photos of the memories you created together, but don't worry, I also help you guys with what to do on camera to get some great posed photos for you as well, so you have a well-rounded gallery of photos to look back on together, and show your family!
Waterfall Yosemite Elopement Photography with dog witness and Taft Point sunset
Dreamy Yosemite Elopement photography in Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, & Taft Point
Everything You Need to Know to Start Planning Your Dream Yosemite Elopement
Do you need a permit to take wedding photos in Yosemite?
HOW DO I CHOOSE AN ELOPEMENT LOCATION?
What is a Yosemite Wedding Permit For?
ARE YOUR PACKAGES CUSTOMIZABLE?
WHAT DOES AN ELOPEMENT TIMELINE LOOK LIKE?
How many hours will I need my photographer?
How expensive is it to get married in Yosemite?
Can I include family at my elopement?
how do I elope/get married in yosemite?
Of course! You can definitely include members of your family in your elopement plans, as long as they are up for the adventure! I recommend inviting only the people you know will help keep the day’s focus on YOU! Some couples prefer to include a very small group (or no one) at the elopement ceremony and then they plan a reception or party to follow on the date or at a later date. There are no rules when it comes to elopement weddings, and that’s part of the freedom!
ANSWEr
A Yosemite Elopement will likely cost you much less than a traditional wedding. Your budget will likely solely consist of these few things: a photographer/planner, travel costs/lodging, wedding attire, bouquet, and your permit/marriage license and of course food! Most Yosemite elopements cost between $7k-$15k, which is about what you'd spend on a typical wedding venue!
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Most couples really value having all the memories from their elopement day together, from getting ready, until sunset, which is why most of my elopement packages include all-day photography coverage. A few couples may just want some photos from their ceremony, as well as bridal photos inside the park, which can take some time when you're traveling through Yosemite's vast regions. For less photography coverage opt for 6-hours or a "half-day" package.
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Your day can be exactly what you want to make of it, but in most cases we will need to plan out travel time to the locations (including drive time, parking, and hiking to the spot) time for getting ready, the vows, and the post-ceremony celebration, as well as any special activities you want to plan to share together on your big day.
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Yes! My goal is always to serve you as best as I can, so I want to make sure that you’re getting everything your heart desires when it comes to your wedding day photography. If there’s something you desire that isn’t included in your package (extra hours, albums, 2nd shooters, whatever!) then we can absolutely add it on. In our initial consultation, we can discuss each package and decide which option (or in-between option) will best suit your needs!
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Yosemite's wedding permit or "special use" permit is basically a document signed by the park office that says you’re allowed to do your ceremony there. Permits are pretty simple to obtain and they help assure that no one else is getting married at that time/place while also protecting the land and wildlife. They are currently about $150, so super affordable!
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Not if you're only coming to take photographs, and not actually "getting married". This is what we call a bridal photography session, and in Yosemite bridal photography is allowed to be captured without a special use permit (for now!). If you're interested in coming to the park to take bridal photos then I have specific packages just for you! Just fill out an inquiry form on the contact page and indicate that you're interested in an Adventure Bridal session! :)
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This is the fun part! Are you envisioning sand in your toes, a gorgeous mountain range, a high-sierra meadow at sunrise, or a cliffside ceremony? If you can dream it, we can make it happen! We'll have to keep in mind travel time, getting ready, and locations that are only for avid hikers. I also have a free quiz I can send to help you narrow the location for you. Just know, I’m always down for an adventure, so don’t be afraid to dream BIG!
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FAQs