Under the Stars: Connie and Max’s Epic Yosemite Elopement Adventure

Connie and Max wanted their wedding journey to start with something intimate and extraordinary—a day just for the two of them before their larger celebration with family and friends. Yosemite National Park, with its breathtaking landscapes and star-studded skies, was the perfect backdrop for their private elopement. From their first look at Cathedral Beach, framed by Yosemite’s iconic cliffs, to chasing the sunset at Taft Point, every moment was one for the books. But the real magic happened under the night sky, where the Milky Way blazed across the heavens, creating an unforgettable finale to their day. Get all the details below.

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About the Elopement

Photography by Julia Goldberg Photography

“Connie and Max knew they were going to have a big ceremony with their friends and family. But first, they wanted to do their own special day with just the two of them. They chose to come out to Yosemite National Park to celebrate their big day.

They did their first look on Cathedral Beach with the towering cliffs behind them. After we explored the stunning Yosemite Valley, we headed up to Tunnel View to take photos as the sun lit up the valley. We then went up to Glacier Point to explore the views before heading out on our hike to Taft Point to witness one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.

But one of the most incredible parts of our day was the stars! With no moon up in the sky, the stars LIT UP THE SKY. The Milky Way was bright across the entire sky and the night temperatures were still in the 70s. Making it the most comfortable evening to be out under the night sky. We explored around the park in the dark for 3 hours taking some fun star photos!” [Julia, the photographer]

Learn how to elope in Yosemite. 

Permits and Top Tips When Eloping Here

“You can get a permit through the Yosemite National Park website. I always leave no trace so we were careful about leaving only our footprints.

Yosemite is pretty crowded in summer. I always recommend eloping on a weekday over a weekend! Also, one of the best parts of Yosemite is its amazing variety in landscapes. Taking the time to really explore Yosemite is definitely worth it. Taking a full day (or even 2-3) days for your elopement here is the best way to fully experience all the stunning beauty Yosemite has to offer.” [Julia, the photographer]

Learn how to leave no trace during your elopement.

About The Couple

“Connie and Max were so much fun to work with. Their love for each other was so apparent it made shooting them so easy! They just constantly exuded happy and fun vibes all day. One thing that stood out for working with them was how much they wanted to get star photos. From our very first Zoom call, they were trying to figure out the best date for the best stars. And wow did it work!

We picked a weekday when the moon was pretty small. Because it was so far out though we couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. I was going to Yosemite for 3 days though, so we decided if their actual wedding night was cloudy I would meet them on one of the other days I was there to capture the star photos. But we lucked out!

Not only did the stars come out in an absolutely incredible full force. The Milky Way was bright through the dark sky, but the weather was perfect. With it still hovering around the high-60s/low-70s even in the dark! We spent 3-4 hours wandering around the park with the bright stars overhead. It was one of the most magical evenings I’ve ever had under the stars!” [Julia, the photographer]

Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“I think my favorite moment from this session was exploring the park after dark with them. Vows had been said and it almost felt like the fun, reception part of a big wedding. Where all the buildup and stress are behind you and it’s just time to party. It was really fun just climbing around rocks and finding fun places to watch the sky with an almost empty park around us.

Max has a cool car that he is pretty proud of all the work he’s put into it. I really loved the shots we got with it!”

Final Words of Advice From the Photographer

“I think my biggest piece of advice would be to not rush your elopement. I think some people have the idea that because they are eloping it should be small or just need a few hours of coverage. But just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean it should be any “less”. Your elopement day(s) should be you going ALL OUT! This is your big day and it should feel that way!” [Julia, the photographer]

Learn how to elope here.

Photos From This Elopement