Elopement with Family on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Destination Wedding | Yosemite National Park Photographer | Yosemite Valley + Taft Point
Ahh Yosemite National Park! The most beautiful place to have your destination wedding, especially if you make time to explore Yosemite Valley AND Taft Point! This elopement was an incredible day because they explored so many areas of the park, and all of the little details that they included in the day to make it totally them.
Anjoli and Sean have a really sweet story of knowing each other for awhile, but reconnecting and eloping a few months later. These two just knew and said, let’s do it! They brought their closest family and friends out to Yosemite for their destination wedding/elopement so they could share this adventure with everyone!
We started the day by meeting at a quiet little beach along the Merced River, where Anjoli had photos taken of her in her grandmother AND mothers wedding outfits. Her grandmothers wedding outfit was a navy suit and was so well preserved! She got a few photos in her moms, and then her own dress before heading to her ceremony spot!
Before the ceremony, Anjoli and Shaun prayed back to back with each other, and then had their sweet ceremony along the shores of the Merced River. Her dad officiated the ceremony as their family watched. They had a really sweet tradition of a wedding blanket that had been knitted by a family member and was wrapped around them to symbolically unite them.
After their ceremony, they had a little lunch catered at a picnic spot in the park. Everyone ate lunch, they cut their cake and we parted ways for a bit! I took them to a few of my favorite spots within Yosemite Valley, and in one of which they read letters from each other. We made the trek up to Taft Point for sunset where we met back up with some of their family members. We hiked in together and Anjoli changed into a light and flowy dress for their first dance.
For most first dances, I expect something pretty simple of just swaying together. Not these two! Their first dance was a well rehearsed and very impressive performance! Made extra epic by the golden sun setting behind them!
We wrapped up the rest of their portraits and hiked back with their family. It’s always so fun to get to show a couple around Yosemite, but even more so when the whole family tags along!
Thinking about having destination wedding or elopement in Yosemite National Park? From Yosemite Valley to Taft Point and beyond, there are some beautiful spots to be discovered and explored! If you’re ready to start talking about your Yosemite elopement, hit the button below and let’s get the party started!