Having a Glacier Point wedding is easily one of the most magical ways to get married in Yosemite. With its expansive views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley, there really is nothing like it. That’s why Jonathan and Soleil decided to have their elopement at Glacier Point. 

So without further ado, a peep at what a real Glacier Point wedding day looks like! 

Getting Ready at Lillaskog Lodge

It was a super warm September morning when I arrived at the Lillaskog Lodge outside the West gate of Yosemite. The whole house was bustling with their friends and family getting ready. The boys, of course, were big chilling and hanging out (because it takes them all of 5 seconds to get ready).

I spent some time upstairs with Soleil and her gal pals, photographing details photos and, of course, capturing a few getting-ready moments. 

Lilaskog Lodge is about a 1.5 hour drive from Glacier Point, so when we worked on their timeline together after they were given their 4 PM ceremony time, we decided an early departure was best. 

After Soleil was finished getting ready, her girls made this hilarious wall of bodies around her to hide her from everyone’s eyes and walked her out to the lawn, where she and Jonathan had their first look. 

Glacier Point Ceremony

After getting everyone into the cars and on their way to Glacier Point, I loaded up the bride and groom and took off. Passing through the entrance gate was the cutest thing. Everyone in the booth ooo’d and aaa’d at the couple in my backseat. They were even so kind as to waive the entrance fee! 

Once we got to Glacier Point, we did a quick first look with her dad while all the guests made their way to the amphitheater. Then it was game on!

Jonathan & Soleil exchanged emotional vows and I do’s while guests (and a few strangers!) watched with awe. There were probably between 15-25 extra people respectfully watching from the top of the amphitheater. They even went so far as to shush a foreign visitor who was talking too loudly!  After their first kiss, the whole area erupted in celebration! 

We spent some time doing family and friend photos at the amphitheater before splitting off for some couples’ photos. As always, before we got into any photos, I had us all take a few deep breaths and center ourselves in the present moment. 

El Cap Meadows Portraits

After spending about 30 minutes at the top, we hopped in the car to drive down to El Cap Meadow to catch the sunset. It’s super important to follow the LNT (Leave No Trace) principals while exploring Yosemite, so we stuck to the trail that follows the backside of the meadow and watched as El Cap lit up with the last light of the day. 

On our drive out of the valley back toward their small dinner reception, we had a bear run across the road! You always want to keep an eye on the speed limit signs, especially in the park. Bears running out in front of you are a pretty common occurrence!

Overall, Jonathan and Soleil’s magical Glacier Point wedding was a day I’ll never forget. If you want to know more about what having a Yosemite National Park wedding is like, check out this great resource. 

If you’re dreaming of your own Glacier Point wedding, I’d love to help you plan a day that feels just as effortless and meaningful so get in touch with me here!