Two-Day Yosemite Micro Wedding With an Unexpected View

Melissa & Casey

Newlyweds posing on top of Taft Point in Yosemite National Park during their Yosemite Micro Wedding.

There’s something magical about Yosemite. The towering granite cliffs that surround you as you drive through the park’s winding roads. The way the golden light spills over the valley at sunrise. The quiet moments between the wind and the trees as you walk through the fields or trails.

It’s the kind of place that makes you stop, breathe, and want to take it all in. And for Melissa and Casey, it was the perfect place to hold their Yosemite micro wedding.

The Couple and Their Decision to Plan a Yosemite Micro Wedding

Melissa and Casey wanted two things for their Yosemite micro wedding.

They wanted an experience with loved ones
They also wanted to preserve the intimacy and privacy of their day

When they first inquired, the couple didn’t have a specific location in mind. All they knew was that they wanted to get married somewhere in the mountains. We hopped on the phone and I shared photos of Yosemite National Park. Neither of them had been to Yosemite before and they thought what better way to explore the park for the first time than during their elopement?

From an Intimate Wedding Reception To Unexpected Views, This Is How To Plan a Yosemite Intimate Wedding

Because Melissa and Casey wanted to prioritize time with loved ones and time for just the two of them, they chose to plan a two-day Yosemite intimate wedding. This way, they could focus on the experience of each day and be fully present for it all.

Elopement vs Intimate Wedding: Can You Have Both?

Day One: Quality Time with Loved Ones

The first day was Melissa and Casey’s official wedding day with family. As it was everyone’s first time visiting Yosemite, their main focus was soak in the beautiful views of the park and enjoy time with everybody who had flown to Yosemite to be with them.

On day one, we woke up early in the morning for a first look and private vows at Glacier Point as the sun rose over the mountains. They even brought their film camera for me to play with and take photos of them.

After their sunrise session, we went down to Cathedral Beach and met up with their loved ones for their official ceremony. Afterward, everyone shared a breakfast picnic of coffee and donuts and enjoyed a low-key, fun time together. In the afternoon, everyone gathered back at the Airbnb for a gorgeous sunset dinner reception on the porch under string lights.

Day Two: Adventuring Together in Yosemite

For day two we planned an adventure just for Melissa and Casey. The plan was to hike to Taft Point for sunset, but we experienced some unexpected weather along the way.

The whole time we were in Yosemite up to this point, it had been sunny. Just hours before our sunset hike, it started getting cloudy and we saw that it was going to rain. Because the rain had appeared so last minute, none of us had any gears to bring along for the hike. I asked Melissa and Casey if they still wanted to hike and they said yes despite not having any umbrellas or raincoats.

Halfway up the trail, we saw other people start hiking back. They told us there was no view at the end just in case we wanted to pivot. Again, I checked with the couple to see if they wanted to change the location. However, I also shared that we never really know until we get to the location.

They decided to continue hiking and when we got to the end of the trail, it was still raining. We hid under trees to stay as dry as possible and used our jackets to cover their faces and my camera gears.

Within three minutes of getting there though, it magically stopped raining and the fog lifted.

El Capitan showed up and we had complete panoramic views of the valley. Having photographed elopements in Yosemite many times, I have to say this was the most ethereal, out-of-this-world view I have ever seen in the park. The sun shone through the fog and added a soft layer of colors I truly had never seen before.

And, the best part was because everybody else had left when they saw the rain, we had one of the busiest places in Yosemite all to ourselves!

Henry’s Elopement Tip: Embrace the Unexpected

Anytime we elope outdoors, we have to be prepared for all kinds of weather. Even if the forecast calls for sun, it can change quickly.

With weather changes, sometimes it can be hard to decide at the moment. Whether or not you make the “right” decision, there’s really no way to know at that moment. Sometimes you just have to make a decision and go with it and hope for the best like Melissa and Casey did.