Emily and Aly’s Sunrise Yosemite Elopement Adventure With a Picnic at El Cap Meadow 

Emily and Aly drove to Yosemite from the PNW to elope among the rocky giants! We started the morning at Glacier Point at sunrise before ending coverage in El Cap Meadow. Emily and Aly sipped hot chocolate in the morning as the sun rose and had a picnic in the evening, where they cut their cake and frolicked through the meadow. Get all the details below.

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Planning a Yosemite Elopement

“The permit cost for getting married in Yosemite National Park is $150. The permit application can be obtained online. The person in charge of permitting, Catherine, is a wonderful resource and answers emails super quickly!

Regarding LNT, the areas that are shown in these images are all public spots within the park. Glacier Point, for example, is a huge tourist attraction and has trails leading up to various spots on the rocks that are easily accessible for park-goers. Cathedral Beach Picnic Area is another public access spot.

Finally, the meadow where the couple shared cake and champagne together is a popular place for park-goers to set up chairs and watch as climbers climb the rocks. Of course, it’s super important to abide by LNT principles, which means staying on trail, not spraying champagne into the park, and being cognizant of any and all wildlife.” [Kylie, the photographer]

Check out our Yosemite elopement guide for more details.

Top Tips For Your Yosemite Adventure

“Pay attention to local weather, road closures, and any park maintenance happening in the area. Yosemite is a stunning place to get married, but being uninformed about road delays can greatly affect the timeline of any elopement day. Weather patterns are important to pay attention to, as well, especially during wildfire season.

Giving yourself extra time to get from Point A to Point B within the park is also vital when planning your timeline. Yosemite is vast, and it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour (or more) to get from one iconic spot to another for photos. Stay mindful of timing, and always hire someone who knows the lay of the land!” [Kylie, the photographer]

About the couple:

“Emily and Aly knew exactly what they wanted, and even when their ceremony time had to be moved because there was one already booked for their original time slot, they pivoted with ease, and we developed a new game plan. Not to mention the way they were so in sync with each other throughout the entire day. They paid attention to each other’s wants and plainly stated what they wanted from me as their photographer, which made photographing them a breeze! 

Their outfits were beautiful! Emily’s train on her dress was perfect for getting action shots, and Aly’s red suit was the perfect pop of color! I also really loved how they made their elopement their own by bringing a picnic blanket, cake, and champagne to top off their day.” [Kylie, the photographer] 

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Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“Their wonderment and awe as they saw Glacier Point together for the first time was so amazing to witness. The two of them danced, twirled, and explored Glacier Point together at sunrise, taking moments to pause and watch as the sun rose over the mountains. Another one of my favorite moments was their ceremony at Cathedral Beach Picnic Area. Their vows to each other were beautiful!”

Final Words of Advice From the Photographer

“I definitely think it’s important to note that any time you choose to elope, the weather is always a factor. In this case, we ended up with the most amazing sunrise and cloudless sunset, which provided the perfect lighting at both times of the day. However, it doesn’t always end up that way for couples, so it’s super important to keep an open mind and trust your photographer to still get amazing shots regardless of weather conditions!

Emily and Aly were concerned with potential bad weather (as most elopement couples are regardless of the location), but they trusted our game plan wholeheartedly, which made all the difference!” [Kylie, the photographer]

Ready to take the leap and elope? Learn to elope here.

Photos From This Elopement Adventure