Intimate Glacier Point Elopement with Family

Karli & Michelle

Brides dance on a cliff at Taft Point in Yosemite during their sunset elopement photos

The Couple and Their Decision to Plan a Glacier Point Elopement

With panoramic views of Half Dome, it’s easy to see why couples would choose a Glacier Point elopement! Karli and Michelle only had a handful of wishes for their wedding day. 1) They wanted something intimate and personal without too many eyes on them, 2) they wanted to include their close family and friends while keeping the day intimate so they could truly experience every moment, and 3) they knew their elopement had to take place somewhere beautiful with an epic landscape. Yosemite had always been at the top of their bucket list so it was an easy choice to make that the destination for their elopement with their loved ones.

On the morning of their Glacier Point elopement, Karli and Michelle chose to hold their first look at the overlook at Glacier Point. Although it was also the location for their ceremony, the brides wanted to spend some time by themselves and see the sunrise before their guests arrived for the ceremony so we left before everyone else so the brides could enjoy a few moments with just the two of them.

After exploring some of the cliffs with the most spectacular views of Half Dome, we met up with their family at the amphitheater. If you’ve ever visited Yosemite, then you know that the view at Glacier Point is unlike any other. For most of Karli and Michelle’s loved ones, it was the first time they had seen anything like it and they were all amazed!

Karli and Michelle’s best friend officiated the ceremony, and after the brides said ‘I Do’, everyone took a small afternoon break to refuel before our sunset adventure at Taft Point.

We couldn’t have asked for clearer skies that evening. As we reached the edge of the cliffs at Taft Point, we were met with beautiful views of El Capitan and Yosemite Valley below. The sunset light was just as amazing with beautiful colors lighting up the sky as the sun went down.

As the day came to a close, Karli and Michelle shared private vows, danced on the cliffs to Cardi B’s WAP haha, and ended the night star gazing into the clear night sky.

Tips for Planning Your Glacier Point Elopement

Glacier Point is one of the best places to elope in Yosemite and also one of the best places to elope in all of California! While this place is stunning, that means it also draws a lot of visitors. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning to elope at Glacier Point.

Consider Eloping at Sunrise

Glacier Point is one of the most accessible elopement locations in Yosemite. You can literally drive right up and walk to the overlook which makes this an ideal location for elopements with guests. Because it is so easy to access, Glacier Point draws a lot of visitors. In order to experience the most privacy we recommend eloping at sunrise. Not only will you get the best lighting, but you’ll also be able to avoid the crowds and get a more private experience.

Choose a Weekday Elopement

We almost always recommend our couples elope on a weekday. As with most places in nature, these areas can get quite crowded during weekends, so we recommend eloping on a Monday through Thursday to avoid the crowds.

Check the Road Closure Schedule

Because of its higher elevation within the park, Glacier Point Road is not open all year round. If you want to plan a Glacier Point elopement, you will need to plan to visit this area between June and October as the road to Glacier Point closes around November through May/mid-June and you will not be able to access this area of the park. To see the latest park updates, visit the Yosemite National Park website for more information.

If you want a photographer who truly cares about you and your experience, look no further.

We had a small wedding in Yosemite National Park in California. We had never been there before, and Sergio took all the weight off our shoulders when it came to all the research and hassles of a destination wedding. He sent us vendor references, air bnb ideas, and a detailed timeline of our wedding day. As many other reviews have said, Sergio was basically our wedding coordinator. If you are looking for a photographer who literally does it ALL, Sergio is your guy! The wedding day, Sergio made both of us feel so comfortable and not awkward at all. We both do not like to be the center of attention and do not like to be photographed but there was never an awkward moment between us and Sergio. He was literally running around on the mountain side trying to get the best pictures and best angles. He even asked for some songs that we liked and brought a speaker and played them while he took pictures of us to make us feel more comfortable and relaxed. If you are looking for a photographer who does the little things, once again, Sergio is your guy! We could not stop talking about how much fun we had even though we were freezing our asses off in the 30-degree weather all day in wedding dresses lol. Now for the pictures because I know that’s what everyone wants to hear about. As soon as we opened the email our jaws dropped. The pictures were absolutely breathtaking. We still get compliments about them and how they’re the most beautiful pictures they have ever seen. Along with the photographs, Sergio sent us a few GIFs as well. Those were so fun to see because we were not expecting those at all, and they turned out so cute! If you want a photographer who truly cares about you and your experience, look no further. Sergio, thank you so much for making this day truly special for the both of us. We will cherish these photographs forever and relive these moments through these photographs.

Karli & Michelle

Glacier Point elopement