Yosemite wedding photography

Century Tree Co // Wedding Photography & Officiating Services in Yosemite National Park, CA.

GETTING MARRIED IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.

Yosemite Valley is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I am in love with the massive valley full of waterfalls, the expansive muted meadows, the lush green forests, and above all, the epic views. If you are wanting to be in awe throughout your entire wedding day, get married in Yosemite National Park. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Yosemite roughly 300+ times throughout my life (I grew up in Fresno, the gateway to Yosemite!) and the beauty never ceases to amaze me, and I want you to have an amazing experience as well!

Why should you get married in Yosemite?

1) It’s epic in variety. Depending on the time of year you want to get married, you can see anything from roaring waterfalls to golden sunsets at high elevations to the most romantic snowfall coating the valley floor. You can get married any season and still be overwhelmed its beauty.

2) It’s affordable. A wedding permit is only $150 to get married anywhere in the National Park. You will need to list the places you plan on attending, and some places need permission beforehand. But consider spending a little over a hundred bucks to have an incredible view and a lot of privacy. There are several places to eat in the valley or just outside the valley. Your photographer will need a photography permit as well.

3) It can be glammed up or off-grid. You have the option of hiking in your wedding dress to the top of a waterfall, having an elegant affair at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, having a ceremony in the valley and dinner at a restaurant, etc. It can be as formal or as casual as you’d like, and there are options of places to go in case of heavy rain, traffic, or other weather issues.

When should you get married in Yosemite?

Spring: The temperature begins warming up in April, and by the end of May, you will be in the 80’s on average. After the snow melts, the valley starts regrowing with vivid colors & tall grass, the rivers and lakes begin to experience a massive amount of snow-melt water, and the waterfalls begin to echo with their roars. For activities around your wedding day, go and hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls for a totally immersive waterfalls experience,

Summer: The best weather is in the summer, with massive waterfalls and perfect temperatures. It can get pretty warm, but in the shade, it’s constantly pleasant. The days are longer, and at night, I highly recommend a walk to watch the galaxy float by. The downfall is there are significantly more tourists that any part of the year. People are everywhere, on every trail. The best way to have privacy is a weekday wedding, and maybe a sunrise ceremony! For activities, go float down the Merced River, try bouldering at the OG bouldering rock at Camp 4, or doing something crazy like hike Half Dome. (I’ve done it twice - it’ll be epic but you’ll be sore!)

Fall: My favorite season. The colors are vibrant red, orange, yellow, and hunter green. There aren’t a lot of tourists either, because students are back at school. Snow begins falling in late October, but doesn’t usually get heavy until late November/early December. For activities, I’d recommend having a camera to photograph the incredible autumn scenery, stargazing at night, and visiting the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Winter: Talk about a winter wonderland, Yosemite is the place to be. The National Parks Service does an incredible job making sure the roads are accessible by car even in heavy storms. You can still access many areas of the valley with snow, and still enjoy eating a good meal by the fireplace at one of the valley lodges in the evening.

Where should I get married?

There are too many places to count, but there are a handful of popular options. The most insta-worthy ceremony locations are Taft Point and Glacier Point. Granted, these two locations are only accessible for the summer time, but they are epic in beauty. Sentinel Beach is another popular destination for morning ceremonies, or any of the golden meadows. If you want a more traditional ceremony, there is a really cute chapel. Beautiful locations that aren’t often frequented by tourists for weddings are Tuolumne Meadows (a personal favorite), Sierra Forest, and Mirror Lake. You just can’t go wrong in Yosemite, except if you want more privacy, you should consider a weekday wedding earlier in the day.