13
February 23, 2010
There are many reasons to elope, some practical, some personal. Elopements are very special and bring the focus of the wedding directly to the love between a man and a woman, and nothing else. Ultimately, whether or not to elope is entirely your decision. But the truth is, despite being much easier to plan than a full wedding, elopements in Yosemite do require a bit a special planning.
Planning a wedding from a distance is difficult to say the least. With an elopement in Yosemite, you do have freedom to have the wedding at the location of your choice, you are no longer restricted to venues or locations to suit large groups. I have created the guide below to help take care of some of the issues that might come up.
- Pick a date. One of the first things to consider is exactly when to get married in Yosemite. Each season has different opportunities. Spring has fresh growth and waterfalls. Summer brings warmth and easy access. In the fall, the waterfalls dry up and the changing colors are spectacular. Winter brings snowfall and a winter wonderland. All that being said, if you have the opportunity, plan your wedding for a weekday to avoid crowds and get better rates with vendors.
- Find a location. This can be difficult to say the least because of the overwhelming beautiful places to get married. Think about what aspects are the most important to you when you think of Yosemite (waterfalls, open meadows, grand vistas, etc.) and start your search there. One other issue to consider is the influence of tourism and crowds. If your weddings is going to be over 10 people in size, you should view the park's recommended sites as you will be limited to these.
- Choose an officiant. Check through our list of officiants to see who fits your needs and personality. I recommend talking with a possible officiant to see if they are right for you. With their experience, they will also be able to help you choose the perfect location for your wedding.
- Marriage License. You can start the process at your local county clerk's office, or contact Mariposa County's office. The County of Mariposa charges a $60 fee for the license. I can recommend working with Mariposa County as it is a smaller office and moves quickly.
- Park Permit. Yosemite National Park requires you to have a Special Use Permit for your wedding in the park. You can find detailed information on the park's website or by contacting Chris Thorpe at 209-379-1858. You will need to supply a planned location (although not necessaryily spot specific) as well as $150 for the permit fee.
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Plan a Yosemite Elopement
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Oh my goodness! Honestly Patrick, it is so refreshing to see your work. Considering my outdoor photography style of wedding photography, it has been a long time since I was truly inspired by other photographers' work. These images are exciting for me to see! So great, keep up the good work...
=Matt=
Matt told me to check out your site... TRULY beautiful work brother... Fantastic to see such grand mastery of light in these settings.
Well done Sir.
Thanks for the good words! Matt, when are you going to come up here and join me on a shoot?