Yosemite National Park Wedding: Avoiding Crowds Tips

Planning a Yosemite National Park wedding is exciting! Whether you’ve been to the Park or not. There’s no place on Earth quite like it, and that’s one of the reasons many people choose to spend their wedding day here.

Yosemite has increasingly been getting more and more visitors since 2020. The pandemic has changed a lot of the travel dynamics that existed before. Because of this, I wanted to share some tips and tricks about how you can get married in this incredible (and popular) National Park, and still have an amazing time away from the crowds!

#1 Plan for a Weekday Wedding

If you can take a couple of days or even a week off for your wedding – that’s ideal! Yosemite has been really crowded on weekends, even on what used to be the “low season”. If you can’t take that much time off, then it’s better to time your wedding day for the least crowded part of the day – early morning. And that’s when tip #2 comes in!

#2 Consider a Sunrise Wedding

Yup, rise and shine! You might not be a morning person, but depending on when you’re getting married, let me tell you… it will be worth it. I know waking up at 3:00 or 4:00 AM is not ideal at all, but getting the Park to yourself for the first few hours makes it all worthwhile! During certain seasons (hello summer), that’s really the only way to get married without having to stress about your guests parking, the amount of people that will be around your ceremony spot, etc.

#3 Be Flexible

We will do everything in our power to make sure you have an amazing day! But, sometimes, unexpected things happen. After all, we are working on public land, which is for the public. So we do have to work around certain expectations and hopes, and just make the most out of every situation! I’ll say this: most people are happy to move for a wedding ceremony that’s about to happen, they’re happy for the couple. So as long as we’re kind, respectful, and flexible with our expectations, there’s nothing to worry about.

#4 Elope During Low Season

I know I mentioned there isn’t so much a “low season” anymore. Except for… yup, you guessed it right: winter! Many people don’t want to risk having to deal with the weather on their wedding day. Some people are scared to drive in the snow or have never put snow chains on their tires before. For those reasons and more, winter tends to be such a peaceful time in Yosemite. It’s one of our favorite seasons! Usually when the first snowfall happens, we wake up super early to just check out the Park with that fresh layer of pristine snow, and let me tell you… it’s a beautiful, breathtaking sight.

“Shoulder” seasons are also a great hack! Late spring and early fall are usually when the summer crowds have come and gone, and the Park is a bit more calm.

#5 Avoid Holiday Weeks

Yosemite National Park does not grant wedding permits on holiday weekends. But you can get married on July 5th, for example. Well, depending on what day of the week that falls on, people might still have that day off. If the 4th of July falls on Thursday, for example, it equals loads of crowds throughout the whole weekend. So it’s just something to keep in mind!

To give another example, the week after Labor Day weekend is usually calm because most people have planned their trip for the week/weekend before.

#6 Hire Local People

Not to be tooting our own horn, but hiring local people will make a difference in your day. Local photographers know many little corners of this Park that can get you an amazing view + privacy! Most of them don’t even require a huge hike either.

We have done countless Yosemite weddings and I can’t begin to tell you how much the Park has changed throughout these 7+ years that we’ve been in business. But because we live so close to it, we can just drive out and find a new hike, a new spot, a new corner. And we have!

Going to the Park so much also reminds us why so many people visit Yosemite every year. It’s truly breathtaking. So we aren’t mad that so many people come here, it’s the opposite. But when it comes to getting married in a place like this and still feeling like you have the peaceful vibes that nature offers, it does take some expertise! And we do love a challenge 😉

#7 And if you’re up for it… take a hike!

The higher you’ll go, the less people you’ll see. It’s simple! Of course, hiking in altitude is not for everyone, and it really isn’t super necessary in Yosemite, because you get rewarded with amazing views doing easy-moderate hikes. But, if hiking is your thing and you just dream about a secluded area for your Yosemite wedding, then hiking might be the best plan for you!

Bryanna & Ryan got married in the shoulder season, just before summer. The waterfalls were still flowing, all roads were open, and the summer crowds hadn’t arrived just yet. They also went for a sunrise wedding, which is honestly – always a great idea.