This blog is all about the Yosemite wedding locations that have been approved by the park for your elopement ceremony. Yosemite is one of my favorite places to take couples and capture their elopements! Yosemite National Park is one of the most stunning locations for an elopement wedding here in California. With its breathtaking cliffside views, lush forests, epic waterfalls, glistening lakes, and magnificent meadows, you’ll surely find the perfect Yosemite wedding location for you! Whether you are looking to elope with a waterfall cascading down in the background of your wedding ceremony or tie the knot while being surrounded by towering pines, it will be unforgettable!
Couples who are looking to elope in the great outdoors of Yosemite National Park know that Yosemite offers a variety of locations for elopements and intimate weddings, so this is my official guide on the best outdoor Yosemite wedding locations for your elopement!
Table of Contents
Yosemite Wedding Locations
Remember that wedding ceremony locations in Yosemite are first-come, first-serve, so it’s important to get your permit in as soon as possible. When you get approved for your location, you’ll have two hours there to complete the ceremony. If your preferred location is unavailable, as stated in your application, you’ll be contacted and offered the chance to pick a different space!
One thing I always like to tell my eloping couples is that if you have fewer people in your guest count, (11 or fewer), you’ll have more ceremony locations to choose from because you are not restricted to the folowing approved ceremony locations listed by the park with exception of open meadows and riparian environments.
One of the many reasons why having a Yosemite elopement is so incredible is that there are endless possibilities for wedding and elopement locations to choose from!
Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail
One of the great things about Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is that it’s available ALL year! Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail is a beautiful and easily accessible place, ideal for couples who may not be able or want to trek too far into the park. But still want to experience a glorious Yosemite water feature. This location allows groups of up to 50 and they have two long benches available, as well as restroom facilities near the ceremony site. The view of Upper Yosemite Falls is spectacular
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Open All Year
- Heavily Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Early Morning
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
- Handicap Accessible
Cascades Picnic Area
Cascades Picnic Area is also open all year, and ceremonies can be held inside the approved picnic area, at least 6 feet from the water’s edge. Cascades Picnic area is on the other side of the road from Cascades waterfall is one of the more secluded ceremony locations. Keep in mind that parking here is restricted to only 8 cars, so if you have a large group, try to meet up before and carpool to the site, as this location also allows groups of up to 50 people. There are restrooms and picnic tables nearby, making this an ideal place for a low-fuss ceremony and picnic reception with loved ones.
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Open Year Round
- Moderately Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Mornings and Afternoons
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Cathedral Beach Picnic is one of the more popular ceremony locations in Yosemite Valley. The views of El Capitan are stunning from this beach! It’s perfect for an elopement ceremony and for an intimate wedding, and for those who don’t want to hike or trek to their location. The only downside is that they are not handicap accessible and are closed from November through Memorial Day Weekend. From Tuesday after Memorial Day through October 31st, the location closes at dusk. I do not recommend choosing this location in the springtime due to the river being much higher, creating a narrow beach area. This location is a much better choice in late summer and fall because the beach will be much bigger later in the year. Due to this area being a picnic area, there are lots of picnic tables and places to grill, which makes for a great spot for a small gathering after the ceremony.
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Closed Oct. 31st to the Tuesday after Memorial Day
- Moderately Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Early Morning, Late Afternoon
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
- Not Handicap Accessible
Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is a stunning Yosemite wedding location if you want to get up close and personal with this windswept waterfall! This is the first waterfall you’ll see when entering Yosemite Valley. The trail to Bridalveil Fall is open year-round. During the wintertime, spring, and early summer, the water flow is at its peak! Sometime around July, the waterfall completely dries up. This waterfall is very accessible and has a brand new parking lot and restrooms. The designated ceremony spot is just up the paved path until you are beyond the second stone bridge. Bridalveil Fall lies at the forest clearing on your right, where the fall comes into view! The view of the waterfall from the approved ceremony site is impressive, but the only downside to this ceremony location is that it’s right along the main paved trail, so you will run the risk of not having very much privacy during your ceremony.
These two photos are to show you how close the designated ceremony area is to the main walking path. The view is stunning, but there will be people walking by.
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
This Yosemite wedding location has a view of Yosemite Falls. This site is wheelchair accessible and located on a beach just north of the bridge. This location is open year-round with restrooms nearby. However, parking is very limited. Ceremonies are not allowed on the bridge. I like the view from this location, but expect visitors to watch your ceremony from the bridge. This is not a private ceremony choice, so I recommend a sunrise ceremony for this location.
- Maximum Guests – 20
- Open year Round (You’ll see the falls between November to July)
- Heavily Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Early mornings
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
- Handicap Accessible
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area is one you won’t forget! Sentinel Beach is my favorite ceremony location in Yosemite Valley! This location showcases views of Sentinel Rock and Upper Yosemite Falls. The surrounding cliff faces will leave you awestruck because of the proximity to the beach. This location is also wheelchair accessible but closed from November through to Memorial Day Weekend. If you’re planning on tying the knot on the beach, be aware that it closes at dusk during the open season. There are pit-toilet facilities and limited parking, but this location is one of the few that allows a large number of guests, 100 people maximum.
- Maximum Guests – 100
- Closed November Through Memorial Day Weekend
- Moderately Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Early Morning, Lake Afternoon
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
- Handicap Accessible
Yosemite Valley Chapel
For an indoor ceremony location, consider the Yosemite Valley Chapel. The chapel is very plain and simple on the inside, however, it’s nestled in the heart of Yosemite Valley and has a stunning view of Yosemite Falls. It’s surrounded by tall pines and granite rock faces. The chapel is an additional fee, but still a lot less expensive than a regular church.
Yosemite Wedding Locations in Wawona
Glacier Point Amphitheater
This place is a breathtaking overlook with an entire view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country! Glacier Point is a wheelchair-accessible site and is available for use from the Tuesday after Memorial Day, until September 30th due to road closures in the area outside these times. But if you can schedule it right, you’ll get to experience this incredible amphitheater, with incredible views of the mountains in the background. There are plenty of seating options available for guests, who won’t be able to believe their eyes when they see where you’re eloping to in Yosemite!
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Open the Tuesday after Memorial Day Weekend through September 30th
- Weddings are not scheduled here in July and August
- Seating Available
- Heavily Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Sunrise/Early Morning
- Parking at Site
- Bathrooms at Site
- Handicap Accessible
- Gift Shop and Small Market on Site
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot
This falls is a magnificent location with an impressive waterfall that cascades over enormous weathered stones into a lovely pool below. This waterfall allows you to get really close to it without any climbing! Chilnualna flows all year with peak flow in May. This trailhead can only accommodate 10 vehicles, therefore carpooling is advised. The location is somewhat downhill from the parking lot, close to a huge private house, and can be a tough hike for some. I recommend not inviting any guests and sticking to a “just us” elopement so that you can have your ceremony much closer to the waterfall!
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Minimal Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – Mornings
- Parking at Site
Yosemite Wedding Locations in Tuolumne
During the high-elevation storms in Tuolumne, the spots below are only available during the warmer months. Both locations have gorgeous mountain views and are incredible if you decide to have an early morning wedding ceremony! It’s no secret that Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point Road can become very crowded in the summertime, so instead of completely ruling out Yosemite, please consider having your elopement in the Tuolumne area of the park. This area is not nearly as heavily trafficked as the Valley. However, Tioga Road is closed from late fall to early spring due to its high elevation and snow storms throughout the winter.
Tenaya Lake Beach
Tenaya Lake Beach is a magnificent high-country lake surrounded by unbelievable granite domes, lodgepole forests, and Yosemite’s vast wilderness. This beach location is open from the time the road opens in late Spring to the end of September. It is a lovely and peaceful area by the lake shore, with snow-capped mountains on the horizon and a wonderful clearing of trees flanking the ceremony spot. I adore this area, and it’s definitely an underrated part of Yosemite National Park! If you want to elope in the summertime, seriously consider a ceremony spot in Tuolumne. There are so few tourists that venture to this area!
- Maximum Guests – 50
- Available from the time the road opens in early spring until September 30th
- Minimal Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – All Day
- Parking at Site
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area
This is the perfect place to settle in after having a hiking elopement in Yosemite or before! Tuolumne Meadows is also open until late September but is upstream from the lodge. There’s an easy dirt path you can take toward the river, which will guide you to this location. But beware, there is very limited parking available, so carpooling is a necessity.
Wedding Ceremony Locations in Big Oak
Tuolumne Grove
This trek to a sequoia forest is not a location I would recommend doing in a wedding dress. You can easily hike down into the grove, but I suggest changing out of your wedding dress for the hike back up. I also do not recommend bringing a group down there. I recommend taking portraits only in the Tuolumne Grove. However, if you do select this area for your ceremony, you’ll marvel at nearly two dozen giant towering sequoias. If you plan to tie the knot from October through to June, be aware that there may be snow on the ground. But if that winter look is what you’re searching for, you’re free to visit this site all year round. Although, unfortunately, you are not to stand next to the sequoias. You must be on the other side of the fence. If you want to stand right next to the Sequoia trees, visit my webpage to elope in Sequoia National Park.
- Maximum Guests – 30
- Available from the time the road opens in early spring until September 30th
- Moderately Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – All Day
- Parking Two Miles From The Grove
Merced Grove
Merced Grove is home to about 20 giant sequoias and is accessible by foot only. This trek will take you through a long trail where you will arrive at a few tall sequoia trees. It is accessible all year, but from October to June, you may find yourself hiking through snow, and you must always stay on the route. I personally was not impressed when I hiked to this area, and I do not recommend selecting this area for your ceremony location. If you want to see Sequoia trees during your Yosemite trip, I recommend coming here after your elopement wedding day on your own time.
- Maximum Guests – 30
- Available from the time the road opens in early spring until September 30th
- Minimally Trafficked
- Best Time of Day – All Day
- Parking Two Miles From The Grove
Secret Yosemite Wedding Locations
Aside from the above-listed locations that you are confined to if you have more than 11 guests, there are a plethora of “secret” locations that are just as amazing for elopement couples too! I can’t stress enough to have fewer than 11 guests! You will have so many more options for your ceremony location such as Sentinel Dome, Olmstead Point, Taft Point and countless other areas within the park! The best thing about booking an elopement photographer who is also an elopement guide who will guide you through this process is that we know the best and secret locations for your elopement such as this location!
Or This Location!
And this location!
Now that you know all the best Yosemite wedding locations for your wedding or elopement, check out my blog on how to elope in Yosemite to help you get started on your elopement planning! And when you’re ready to book your Yosemite elopement photographer, reach out to me at the link below!
