Let’s get into this question right up front! I’m sure that finding the perfect spot for a wedding is at the top of yours, and everyone single other couple’s planning list. It’s going to set the theme, set the adventure, and is going to be the canvas for your wedding pictures. With a venue like Yosemite National Park, there are literally dozens of possibilities. Some are hard to get to, while others are easily accessible; some are only open in summer, while others are open year around but in the thick of tourist crowds. The list below is not exhaustive by any means, but it includes the main ceremony locations from the NPS website WITH pictures.

NOTE: If you have 10 or less people (including yourselves, officiant, photographer, and any guests), you can have your wedding virtually anywhere – let’s talk about your dreams and come up with the perfect spot!

Yosemite is magnificent in every possible season, it’s literally impossible to make a bad pick. That said, there are unique aspects to each season.

My first choice is fall, hands down – October and November in particular when the leaves are changing colors, the temperatures are mild to cool, and the crowds are minimal. It’s like some magical Tolkien Middle Earth Elvin land, with the only possible downside a potentially dry Yosemite Falls (Bridalveil Fall typically flows year around).

Close behind is spring, April to early June, before the summer masses show up, but the water falls are pounding, the trees have their leaves back, the meadows are green with blooming wildflowers, and my favorite of May – Dogwood blossoms!

Then there is winter – rain and snow are common, but that means rain and snow are common! Weather, low hanging clouds clinging to the cliffs, all that moody atmosphere makes for an amazing space. Don’t sell winter short, even if it’s cold, it’s beautiful.

Finally, that leaves summer – clear blue skies with afternoon thunderheads, green meadows, the falls may be dwindling, or they might not. The summer brings the crowds, sunrise weddings are the rule of the day, but if you find a weekday sunrise to celebrate your elopement, you’ll be rewarded with a quiet, stunningly beautiful scene.

Note, if you’re looking to access the high country – Glacier Point, Taft Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmstead Point, or other locations along Tioga Pass Rd, you’ll want to look at June through late October-ish as they’re inaccessible after the snow begins to accumulate.

Don’t tell anyone, but sunrise in Yosemite National Park is by far the most magical of times. Even in the busiest parts of the year, the masses are still in bed and if they’re up, they’re having breakfast. If you can make it out, you’ll be rewarded with solitude and grandeur unequaled anywhere in the world. The light can be tricky down in the deep Yosemite Valley, but locations on the rim, like Glacier Point, are spectacular.

Of course sunset is equally majestic, but you do have to accept that there will be a few bonus guests at your elopement if you’ve chosen one of the most iconic of locations. It’s all fun though, and I love how excited other visitors get for couples getting married in Yosemite. In fact after this particular ceremony, we did a huge group photo of all the strangers from around the world who ended up celebrating the couple’s wedding day! There are ways to avoid even small crowds like these, and that’s one of the huge advantages of having a local lead the way.