The couple kiss on a granite ledge at Taft Point above Yosemite Valley as the sun sets

Yosemite National Park Elopement: Glacier & Taft Point

Elopements, Stories

10/24/24

An intimate & adventurous elopement in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is the perfect backdrop to your elopement. Between the valleys, the peaks, the waterfalls and the cliffs, there’s no shortage of epic and breathtaking views to say “I Do’ in. As your Yosemite elopement photographer, I’m on your team from day one. From permits to timelines I help bring your unique vision to life. I prioritize intentional moments filled with love and capture the best day exactly how it feels. I’ll help you plan the most unforgettable day that feels like you, and document your adventure in a way that feels like art.

The couple kiss on a granite ledge at Taft Point above Yosemite Valley as the sun sets

C & A started of their elopement like any amazing day should: at a cabin tucked in the mountains of a national park. It was a perfect fall day- the sun was warm and the breeze was crisp. The couple spent the morning getting ready and creating intentional moments to hand gifts out to each other and their families. I have never seen so many thoughtful gifts! It was such a great way to include parents and siblings and creating photo ops with your intimate crowd.

Wedding details on a tree stump: wooden vow books, a ring box, white heeled sandals, a Yosemite postcard and an eloping invitation
Engagement ring and two wedding bands resting on a Yosemite National Park map near Glacier Point
Strapless lace wedding gown hanging from a pine branch outside a mountain cabin
Black and white of an older man helping the groom fasten his bow tie
The groom fastens a cufflink on an older man's shirt sleeve outside in the sun
The groom wipes away a tear while holding an open gift box among the pines

Black and white close-up of the groom straightening his black bow tie, a photo charm pinned to his lapel
Black and white detail of the groom's cufflink, watch and boutonniere with a framed photo charm

The groom smiles and adjusts his cuff in a navy suit and bow tie outside the cabin
The groom poses with his navy suit jacket slung over one shoulder in a sunny pine forest
The bride in a sheer embroidered robe with gold Mrs. lettering, looking over her shoulder from a deck
Wooden Welcome to Our Cabin sign with a National Park Service arrowhead that reads Yosemite Summit
The bride in her lace gown and long veil by a river rock fireplace as a woman spreads out her train
The bride puts on an earring beside the stone fireplace, sunlight catching her lace sleeves

A woman helps the bride with her gown in the sunlit cabin living room

The bride smiles while reading a handwritten letter in her lace gown and veil
The bride holds a white keepsake box printed with my beautiful bride and the date 09.26.24
The bride unties the ribbon on a small teal gift box, her veil falling behind her

After getting ready and feeling the excitement set in, we headed to Glacier Point for a late afternoon ceremony. The ceremony was heartwarming and full of love and included a great surprise from the Groom’s sister to help ease the nerves: she gave them both a mini bottle of rum. One had water, one had rum. The person who had the rum went first on sharing their vows! Such a cute idea.

Black and white of the bride walking a forest trail hand in hand with an older man in a suit
The bride holds the arm of an older man as they look toward the granite cliffs at Glacier Point
Black and white of the groom smiling at a tearful woman holding the ceremony book
The veil blows sideways as the bride is walked to the groom in front of family at Glacier Point
The groom smiles at the bride during their ceremony above Yosemite's forested slopes
Half Dome rises behind the softly blurred couple holding hands during their ceremony

The couple exchange vows with six family members around them and Half Dome behind
Wide view of the small Glacier Point ceremony with Half Dome and the high Sierra beyond

The couple laugh as a guest hands them mini rum bottles during the ceremony
The couple sip from mini bottles while the officiant smiles between them
The couple tip back their mini bottles mid-ceremony against the sunlit Yosemite high country

The bride smiles at the groom as family looks on, granite domes and pines behind them
The bride reads her vows from a small book, tears in her eyes, with granite cliffs in the distance
The couple exchange rings beside the officiant holding the vow book

Black and white of the groom wiping away tears while the bride reads her vows, family smiling nearby
Half Dome towers over the couple and their six guests during the Glacier Point ceremony

After very heartwarming ceremony at glacier point, we headed to taft point for sunset. Not only is the hike to taft point the most beautiful thing ever, the destination is incredible. Taft point was a location that truly took my breath away. Taft point has some of the most epic and iconic photo spots for elopements and it did not disappoint!

The couple raise their arms in celebration on a sunlit forest trail
Close-up of the couple holding hands, showing the lace sleeves and corset back of her gown
The couple walk hand in hand toward moss-covered pines on the trail to Taft Point
Black and white of the bride glancing back over her shoulder as she leads the groom down a forest path
Sun flares through tall pines as the couple walk the trail, her jeweled hairpiece in view
Golden light fills the forest as the couple walk hand in hand past cut logs

Wide view of the couple walking among towering pines and fallen logs in warm evening light

Close-up of the bride gathering the tulle skirt of her gown in a lace-sleeved hand
The couple embrace on the granite edge at Taft Point as sunset glows over the valley
The couple hold each other beside a sheer rock pillar in orange sunset light
The groom hugs the bride from behind, both smiling, with Yosemite Valley cliffs behind them
The groom kisses the bride's temple as she closes her eyes in the warm evening light
The groom dips the bride for a kiss on the cliff edge at Taft Point as the sun sets behind the pines

The couple share a quiet moment on the rim while the sun drops behind a lone pine
The couple walk hand in hand across the granite toward the overlook, her long veil trailing

The couple stand hand in hand on a jutting granite ledge above a hazy pink canyon
The couple hold hands on the boulders at Taft Point with El Capitan across the valley
A tiny couple kisses at the tip of a towering granite cliff high above the Yosemite Valley floor
The bride wraps her arms around the groom's neck, bouquet in hand, on the granite above the valley
The couple stand at the far edge of a massive rock outcrop as the sun sets over the Sierra
The bride's veil lifts in the wind as she and the groom stand back to back on the granite rim

The couple embrace on stacked granite slabs, her veil spread across the rock
The couple stand side by side facing a golden sunset over layered mountain ridges

The bride holds a white rose and eucalyptus bouquet, her cathedral veil pooling on the granite
The groom cradles the bride's face for a kiss with a sheer granite wall behind them
The couple touch foreheads under her veil at sunset on the canyon rim
Black and white of the couple kissing on the cliff edge, framed by her blowing veil
The bride holds the groom's face as they lean in nose to nose in the glow of sunset
The bride lifts her bouquet and the groom raises a fist as they celebrate at sunset over the valley