This little blog is going to give you everything you need to know about Yosemite wedding venues and the permits required! Now when I say wedding venues in this guide, I’m talking about both traditional wedding venues inside the park and the outdoor ceremony locations where couples can exchange vows. Yosemite is one of the most famous National Parks in the world and there’s a very good reason for that. If you’ve visited before then you know exactly why, if you haven’t then imagine towering granite walls with lush meadows sitting at the base of them.You can also check out this page about what getting married in Yosemite National Park is really like.
Spanning over 747,956 acres, Yosemite offers tons of different areas to adventure around and say your vows. There’s a few things we’ll go over here including group sizes, designated ceremony locations, accessibility, and what permits you need and how to apply for them. So without further ado…
Do You Need a Permit to Elope in Yosemite?
Short answer.
Yes.
It doesn’t matter if it’s just the two of you or 50+ people, you need a permit for any kind of commitment or wedding ceremony in Yosemite!
- Cost: There is a $150 nonrefundable fee that is required to be sent with your application. If event monitoring is required it is an additional $50 per hour.
- How To Apply: To apply, download the application on Yosemite National Park website. Once you download the application, include the check or money order for $150 and mail it in. All the up to date information can be found on the National Park’s website.
- When To Apply: You may book up to one year in advance and more than 21 days before your elopement date.
- Special Restrictions:
- Permits are not given out for holidays or holiday weekends.
- Leashed pets are allowed on paved areas only.
- Ceremonies are not allowed at the base of Sequoia trees.
- Use of balloons or other decorations/signage is prohibited.
- Drone use is prohibited.
- Tables, chairs and furniture are not allowed at ceremony sites.
- Ceremonies in any meadows are prohibited.
- What the Permit Includes: The permit includes a two hour time slot for a ceremony site. This will be given to you after you send in your application. Someone from Yosemite National Park will contact you about your ceremony site preferences. It does NOT include the entrance fee into the park. The entrance fee is roughly $35 per vehicle. Check out Yosemite’s site for up to date entrance fees.
Yosemite Wedding Venues
Each designated ceremony location in Yosemite has a guest capacity; however, if you have less than 11 guests on your day, you are not restricted to any ceremony location! You still cannot have any type of ceremony in the meadows or riparian environments. Check out the best Yosemite wedding venues according to group size below!
Best Yosemite Ceremony Locations for More than 11 guests
All of these locations listed below will require a permit with a designated time. You will be given your timeslot when you apply for the permit, so the earlier you apply the better luck you’ll have with getting the timeslot you desire.
Swinging Bridge – 20 people max
Swinging Bridge picnic area is the perfect spot to have an intimate ceremony with an amazing view of Yosemite Falls and sprawling meadows in the background. You also have access to the Merced river and beach areas along it!
Crowd Level: Moderate. Depending on the time of day that you will be here will also determine crowd levels. Earlier in the day there will be less crowds but you still may have some onlookers.
Seclusion: Moderate.
Accessibility: There is a paved path but getting to the beach area will require some walking on uneven terrain.
Season: This area is accessible year round except for holiday weekends.
Things to note: There are no ceremonies allowed on the bridge or in the meadows. Parking is limited so carpooling is recommended and there are also restrooms in the area.
Glacier Point – 50 people max
Glacier Point is probably one of the most sought after elopement locations in Yosemite. For good reason! You have a 50 person capacity in an amphitheater that overlooks all of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome!
Crowd Level: Very high. You will most likely have onlookers (which isn’t always a bad thing!).
Seclusion: Very little seclusion.
Accessibility: There is lots of parking, ADA accessible ramps and paved paths.
Season: Earliest available Tuesday after Memorial Day through September 30th. This is all reliant on road conditions.
Things to note: Weddings are not allowed here during the months of July and August. Group monitoring may be required for groups 35-50 people.
Cathedral Beach – 50 people max
Cathedral Beach is a stunning location that sits next to the Madea river overlooking El Capitan in the background!
Crowd Level: Moderate-Low. This is a popular beach area for people to picnic for lunch and hang out later in the day. Earlier in the morning will be a lot more secluded.
Seclusion: Moderate-Low seclusion.
Accessibility: There is limited parking and access to this area is all dirt. There are no paved walkways. There is access to a pit toilet.
Season: This location is closed November through Memorial Day weekend. During the Tuesday after Memorial day through October 31st this location closes at dusk.
Things to note: Group monitoring may be required for groups 35-50 people.
Lower Yosemite Falls – 50 people max
Lower Yosemite Falls is absolutely stunning in the late spring when everything is green and the falls are at full capacity from the snow runoff. The area where the ceremony needs to take place in my opinion is a little too small for 50 people so I would suggest maybe only 20-30 people here max.
Crowd Level: Moderate-high. Just like all other locations, later in the day and during peak season (summer) this area becomes so incredibly crowded! It’s right along the main path that takes you to the falls so there may be a lot of onlookers.
Seclusion: Very little seclusion.
Accessibility: Incredibly accessible. The trails throughout this whole area are completely paved.
Season: It’s available year round except for holiday weekends.
Things to note: Group monitoring may be required for groups of 50 people. There is no parking on site so taking the shuttle or walking will be required. No ceremonies are allowed on the Yosemite Creek Bridge or at the base of the waterfall. There are restrooms on site.
Tenaya Lake Beach – 50 people max
Tenaya Lake Beach is a perfect place for a ceremony in the mountains with a “beachy” feel to it. Standing on light sand with crystal blue water behind you, you get an incredible view of some of the towering domes in Tuolumne!
Crowd Level: Moderate – low. This tends to be a popular area for people to spend beach days at especially in the heat of summer. Early mornings and late evenings will help you have less people around.
Seclusion: Moderate – high seclusion. Again, depends on the time of day and year! But seclusion is very possible to find here.
Accessibility: The parking lot is paved however you will need to walk on both sand and dirt to get to the ceremony site.
Season: This location will become accessible whenever the road opens for the season to October 31st. Even when the road opens there still may be snow in this area.
Things to note: Monitoring is required for groups of 50 people.
The Ahwahnee Hotel – 120 people max
If you are wanting to have more guests with a traditional setting, still in the park with access to all the gorgeous views, then the Ahwahnee might be the best place for you!
Crowd Level: Very low. This is a secluded venue area that limits access to the public.
Seclusion: Lots of seclusion.
Accessibility: Very accessible. There are lots of paved paths and areas that are easy to access.
Season: Year round. The outdoor areas can only be booked in the warmer months, June through September.
Things to note: This would be a separate booking through Yosemite Hospitality and you would still need to apply for a permit to get married in the park.
Yosemite Wedding Ceremony Locations for 10 or Fewer Guests
These locations are definitely some of the more secluded locations! Having 11 or less guests attending your elopement day really opens up a lot more locations for you to say your vows which also allows for more flexibility on the time since you are not assigned a time slot when you apply for your permit.
A note about these locations: For very small ceremonies, Yosemite allows couples with fewer than 11 people to request certain locations beyond the designated ceremony sites, as long as they follow park restrictions. These aren’t traditional “venues,” and approval isn’t guaranteed, so you’ll want to confirm your specific plans with Yosemite’s Special Park Uses office before building your wedding day around one.
Tuolumne Meadows
There are lots of gorgeous spots in the Tuolumne Meadows area. From granite domes to rolling streams and vast landscapes, you get a mix of everything!
Crowd Level: Moderate to low. During peak summer months, especially on weekends it can get very crowded in a lot of the popular zones but it is easily avoidable.
Seclusion: Moderate to high seclusion.
Accessibility: Hiking will be required on unpaved and uneven terrain.
Season: Road opening until September 30th.
Things to note: You cannot have a ceremony in the meadows themselves but there are lots of surrounding areas that you can!
Olmstead Point
Olmstead Point offers such an iconic view of the Yosemite Valley. You get to look out on Half Dome and Clouds Rest
Crowd Level: High to Moderate. This is a very popular destination for people to pull over and snap a photo of the viewpoint itself, especially late morning to evening.
Seclusion: Low to high seclusion. If you’re up for a small .5 hike you can hike down the trail near the parking lot to get away from the crowds a little bit. If you stay near the parking lot the crowds tend to be high.
Accessibility: If you stay in the paved parking lot area, it is very ADA accessible.
Season: Road opening until September 30th.
Things to note: There are some other hikes in the nearby area that give similar views with less crowds! Let me know if you want some help finding those ;).
Artists Point
This location is amazing if you’re up for a little hiking but want similar views to those of Tunnel View, especially in the summer where the crowds are thick! You have a full view of the Yosemite Valley and it is the perfect place to watch the sunrise!
Crowd Level: Low. Since it’s a little bit of a hike for virtually the same view as Tunnel View, not many people come up this way.
Seclusion: Lots of seclusion. You might get a couple people around you especially mid day, but sunrise on a weekday is the perfect time to find total seclusion.
Accessibility: You will need to hike about 2.3 miles roundtrip with around 500 feet of elevation gain.
Season: It is technically accessible year round however in the winter months there may be snow that makes this spot inaccessible or very difficult to get to unless you have snowshoes.
Things to note: This trail is not super maintained so you may come across some downed trees.
Tuolumne Grove/Merced Grove
If you’re looking for some towering Giant Sequoia trees while still having the freedom to also get the iconic Yosemite views, this is your place!
Crowd Level: Moderate to High. This is a popular place for people to start their tour of Yosemite National Park since it is right next to the main gate entrance! During the peak summer months it can tend to get crowded.
Seclusion: Moderate to low seclusion. This definitely depends on what season and time of day that you are wanting to explore here! It can range from low crowds to high crowds.
Accessibility: There are a few paved trails in the area that make it ADA accessible. Other trails are hard packed dirt and range from easy to moderate.
Season: This area is accessible year round however during the winter months there may be snow on the trails which may require snowshoes/winter equipment.
Things to note: You may want to consider and early morning ceremony here if you are eloping anywhere from the Tuesday after Memorial day until September 30th.
Clouds Rest
Clouds Rest happens to be one of my all time favorite hikes in Yosemite. The views from the top are unbeatable as you look out over Yosemite Valley and Half Dome! It is a pretty long/intense hike so keep that in mind, but it’s so worth it!
Crowd Level: Low to moderate. This hike can become very crowded/popular in the summer especially mid day to afternoon. Early morning and late evening will definitely hold less crowds.
Seclusion: Moderate to high seclusion. Even though this is a popular hike, it’s area is very vast so seclusion should be easy to find.
Accessibility: This trail is 12.6 miles out and back with 3,116 feet of elevation gain. It’s steep but gorgeous!
Season: After the road opens you will need to keep an eye on what the snow levels are like. This hike may not be accessible right away and you will need to wait for snow to melt. This area is open until the roads close in late fall.
Things to note: This location is for those who are avid hikers and want to spend most of their wedding day hiking.
Half Dome
Half Dome is probably the most iconic hike in all of Yosemite. It is by no means an easy hike and requires extensive hiking skills and logistical planning. But dang, the views from up there? Wild.
Crowd Level: Extreme to low. Even though there is an additional permit required to hike Half Dome, during the summer months it is incredibly crowded mid day. It can make going up or down the cables difficult. In the off season when the cables are down, going before sunrise can make the crowds virtually disappear.
Seclusion: High to low seclusion. No matter the season you will most likely encounter some people.
Accessibility: This hike is around 17 miles with 5,305 feet of elevation gain.
Season: Summer to mid fall.
Things to note: You will need an additional permit to hike Half Dome whenever the cables are up. The permits are lottery style.
Taft Point
Taft Point offers Half Dome like feels without the grueling hike and need for a permit! This is another very popular destination for hikers and other couples who want to say vows here.
Crowd Level: High to low. Depending on the time of year and day, the crowd levels can vary greatly.
Seclusion: High to low seclusion. Varies on time of year and day.
Accessibility: This is a 2.4 mile hike with around 360 feet of elevation gain.
Season: The road to this area does close for the winter so unless your up for a major cross country/back country ski trip early summer to late fall is your best time.
Things to note: This hike does require hiking and is not a drive up location. Make sure you are prepared with proper footwear, food and water.
How To Avoid The Crowds
I understand that some of these locations may hold special memories which is precisely why you’re considering a Yosemite wedding venue! Even though Yosemite can become quite crowded (especially in summer!). There are a few things you can do to mitigate being in the thick of the crowds so you have seclusion on your wedding day.
- Consider a midweek elopement. No matter what season it is, there will always be higher crowds on the weekends versus the weekdays.
- Have a sunrise elopement! Especially at the more popular locations such as Glacier Point, choosing to do photos at sunrise versus sunset thins out the crowds.
- Get married in the “off seasons”. Summer is by far the busiest season in Yosemite so considering an elopement in the spring, fall or winter will also decrease the crowds.
- Choose a less popular spot to say your vows. When you choose a location that would require hiking or is a less popular spot overall, there will naturally be less people. You can always take couple’s photos at the popular areas but choose to have your intimate moments in a more secluded location.
How to choose the right location for you
First, sit down with your partner and start dreaming about what your day looks like. Here’s a list of questions that can help to narrow down your location.
- Do we want to be fully secluded or do we care if there are onlookers?
- Do we like morning or evening better?
- Do we want to hike/walk on our wedding day?
- Do we imagine waterfalls, granite peaks, rivers, thick forests or meadows?
- Do we enjoy warmer or colder weather?
After you answer these questions, it will help you to start narrowing down a few spots in Yosemite! If you are still feeling stuck then feel free to reach out and I can help you find the absolute perfect location that you won’t find on any blog post!
Planning your Yosemite elopement
We’re going to keep this short and simple but here’s 5 easy steps to help you get started on planning your Yosemite elopement.
- Do some research to see if it’s the right fit. Check out this blog, What It’s Really Like to Elope in Yosemite National Park for a closer look at the reality of a Yosemite Elopement.
- Decide on a date that you want to elope on. Then choose a few places you guys like as top and back up ceremony spots & apply for permits.
- Book vendors & lodging.
- Create a timeline. Some photographers help with this part of the planning! But work around ceremony time you got and map out all the locations you’d like to visit on your wedding day.
- Have the most epic day and remember to Leave No Trace (LNT).
Ready to Plan Your Yosemite Elopement?
I absolutely love helping all of my clients plan their wedding days in Yosemite! From recommending vendors, finding the perfect hidden locations, working through the permit process to creating a timeline that gives you enough time to relax and explore! Feel free to reach out here to get started with planning the most stress free wedding day ever.
I'm stoked you're here!
