Unique Yosemite Wedding Photo Ideas You Can Incorporate on Your Wedding Day

A Yosemite Wedding is probably one of the best places to have an intimate wedding day with your closest family and friends. We think Yosemite National Park is one of the best places to elope, and we also love how many wedding venues are positioned around the park.

If you’re planning an elopement together, then we suggest you check out our Yosemite elopement guide packed with tips and an epic elopement story to inspire you as you plan. However, if a small wedding is more of your plan, then we have the perfect Yosemite wedding photos for you.

Here are some wedding photo ideas you can use at Yosemite National Park, capturing its beauty while highlighting your love story:

Take Photos at Iconic Locations

• Tunnel View: Capture the grandeur of Yosemite Valley with El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall in the background.
• Glacier Point: Take romantic sunset shots overlooking Half Dome and the valley below.
• El Capitan Meadow: Perfect for serene, nature-filled portraits with towering granite cliffs as the backdrop.
• Yosemite Falls: Pose near one of the tallest waterfalls in North America for a dramatic and romantic scene.
• Mirror Lake: Get reflections of the surrounding cliffs and trees for a magical, symmetrical shot.

Try Adventure-Inspired Photos

• Hiking Trails: Document a quiet, intimate moment during a hike on one of Yosemite’s scenic trails.
• Cliffside Views: Embrace the thrill with shots on high vantage points like Taft Point, capturing the adventurous spirit of your day.
• Bridal Veil Meadow: Celebrate your love amidst the wildflowers, with a mix of close-up and wide-angle shots.

Try Golden Hour Photos

• Sunrise at Cathedral Beach: Begin your day with soft, golden hues illuminating the river and cliffs.
• Sunset at Taft Point: Get your photographer to catch some epic shots from far away.
• Milky Way Magic: End your day with astrophotography, capturing you under a starlit sky.

Embrace Your Personal Love Story Outdoors

• Getting Ready Outdoors:  Getting some candid photos while you both are getting ready always seals the deal with the scenic backdrop.
• Picnic by the Merced River: Capture playful or intimate moments while enjoying a quiet meal by the water.
• Post-Ceremony Hike: Highlight your joy as you explore Yosemite’s trails in your wedding attire.

Elopement Inpiration From Couples Like You

Leahmai and Chris

Photography by Henry Tieu Photography

Leahmai and Chris had a ceremony at Glacier Point with their closest friends, one of them officiated the ceremony. We love how romantic, adventurous, and carefree this wedding day was. They even took wedding photos at Taft Point at the end of their day. 

Some ideas we love from this wedding:

• Champagne Showers. No wedding day is complete without some epic shots of you popping some bottles!
• Custom Jean Jackets. We love how Leahmai and her bridesmaids styled their bridal outfits with custom jean jackets. This is a great way to get unique photos and stay warm if the weather gets a little chilly. 
• DIY Picnic. These two shared mini cupcakes instead of a wedding cake. Consider bringing along some snacks and drinks to celebrate your special day and enjoy the view together. 
• Custom Doggy Socks. Since dogs are not allowed during your wedding at Yosemite, this is a great idea to incorporate your furry friend. 
• Matching Undies. If you want a unique photo prop to document, then matching undies should be your go-to!
• Just Married Signs. This couple had multiple signs they incorporated. We love how they tagged these signs to their backpacks as they hiked throughout the park. 

Other Vendors:

• Wedding Dress: BHLDN
• Suit: J Crew
• Bouquet: Blue Orchid Creations
• Jean Jacket: Dearly Threaded

Photos From This Wedding:

Irene and Eric

Photography by Toni G Photo

Irene and Eric originally planned their Yosemite wedding at RushCreek, but their wedding day had to be postponed. Instead of getting upset, these two planned an adorable and simple ceremony at the entrance of the park. 

Some ideas we love from this wedding:

• Custom Jean Jackets. This couple also incorporated custom jean jackets, but we love how their theme is with “the mountains are calling” written on the back.
• Adorable Mugs. This is a great way to drink your celebratory drink if champagne isn’t your thing. You can share some cider-like these two did or a cup of coffee.
• Custom Vow Books. Irene and Eric wrote their vows on adorable books. If you’re looking for a guide on writing your vows and a similar book option, then head to our wedding vow guide. 
• Charcuterie Brunch. This is the most delicious spread we have ever seen. This idea makes for a delicious snack and a gorgeous photo opp. 
• Sparkling Cider Toast from Dad. If your family/friends join you on your adventurous wedding day, then this can be a great opportunity for them to prepare a small toast for the bride and groom. 
• First Dance moments. We love how these two danced together in front of Yosemite’s sign. 

“Irene + Eric were so go-with-the-flow throughout this whole corona craziness. Her wedding dress hadn’t come in yet, so she wore her rehearsal dress… her wedding ring hadn’t come in yet, so she used her engagement ring… and every time she received a rejection from venues, she continued to come up with new & creative ideas to make it happen!” [Toni]

Other Vendors:

• Florist: Botanique Floral 
• Custom Jacket: Mimosa Bridal 
• Charcuterie: Easyylivin
• Macrame: CreatedBySomeonesMom
• Watercolor/Calligraphy Invites: @ireyiu (the bride)
• Wedding Dress: Asos 
• Galaxy Mugs: Coy Wolf Studio 
• Hairpiece: Wild Rose and Sparrow

Photos From This Wedding:

When to Get Married in Yosemite

Photo by Toni G Photo

This national park is gorgeous, but can also become very crowded during peak seasons. We recommend May and September if you’re looking for cool weather and smaller crowds. 

If you’re interested in planning a winter wedding at Yosemite, then you should keep in mind many trails are closed starting as early as October due to snow. If you have a specific month in mind, then we suggest teaming up with one of our Wandering Weddings members to help plan your special day. Besides time of year, you also need to decide what time of day you would like to get married. We personally love both sunrise and sunset photos at Yosemite. If this is something that interests you, then talk to your photographer and videographer about full-day coverage. 

Yosemite Wedding Venues

Photo by Toni G Photo

We love Yosemite weddings for a handful of reasons, including the epic spots to plan your ceremony together. 

You can plan a ceremony in a remote location like the couples we feature below, or you can contact venues nearby including the Yosemite Valley Chapel, Tenaya Lodge, or Victory Lodge to name a few. 

If you rather say “I do” in a remote spot, then Yosemite has gorgeous options within the park including: 

• Taft Point
• Glacier Point
• Half Dome
• Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Wedding Permit

Photo by Allison Slater Photography

Planning your wedding at Yosemite requires a wedding permit. This permit costs $150, and you must submit your application before your special day. It’s important to note that even if you’re only planning on taking wedding photos at Yosemite, you still need to apply for a Yosemite Wedding Permit. 

If you have your heart set on having a gorgeous Yosemite wedding, then their ceremony location list is a great place to see the individual rules and regulations.

Here are some tips to remember:

• You’re limited to 2 hours at all locations, and these locations are also first-come, first-served.
• No pets are allowed during any wedding ceremonies.
• If you have fewer than 11 people in your wedding party, then you can plan your ceremony in other locations not included in the list we linked to, with the exception of open meadows and riparian environments. 
• Please remember LNT (Leave No Trace). It’s important to clean up after yourself and avoid disturbing the park’s plants, grasses, and tree roots.
• The park does get multiple visitors a year. To avoid crowds, we love sunrise and sunset elopements. 

Yosemite Wedding Vendors

If you’re ready to start planning your wedding at Yosemite National Park, then you need a rad photographer to help you along the way. We recommend teaming up with one of our Yosemite Wedding Photographers. The photographers and videographers below would love to capture your Yosemite wedding day.