Why They Chose a Pre-Wedding Elopement in the Mountains:

Georgia and Eric have always been committed to keeping their relationship “theirs” and not letting outside people influence their love for each other. They love their family and friends, but before their traditional wedding in Texas, they wanted to have that day to share with just the two of them, to create beautiful memories and recognize the gift they have in one another.

If being sweet manifested into two people, those people would be Georgia and Eric. The love, laughter, and kindness just overflowed between them whether they were hiking up a mountain or sipping a cup of tea. Their love was so infectious and beautiful!

They love the mountains and trees and wanted to explore nature they couldn’t find in Texas. They wanted to share slow quiet moments together: cooking, writing out vows, and playing card games. They also wanted to adventure out in nature, go for a hike, and gaze at the stars, with the focus always 100% on their relationship. And elopements can be whatever you want them to be, whether that’s your only wedding or a private celebration before (or after) a bigger event!

Checkout our full Yosemite National Park Elopement Guide to learn how to plan your own elopement!

Their Elopement Experience: Slow Moments and Mountain Views

Morning at Their Cabin

They started their time in Yosemite with slow morning moments at their cabin deep in the woods at The Redwoods in Yosemite. They made some tea, joked around, prepared a picnic, and then sat to write out their vows together. After helping each other get ready, they set off to explore as much of Yosemite as they could.

El Capitan Meadow Picnic

Starting with El Capitan Meadow, they wandered the trails that wind through the meadow, taking a moment to marvel at the majestic towering cliffs on either side before laying out their blanket for a picnic. They continued to fulfill their vision of a day that was 100% them by playing their favorite card game, eating their sandwiches, taking photos of each other, and taking in the beautiful world around them.

We captured some up close photos to document all the emotions before backing up to give them a little more privacy to just enjoy playing the game together.

Valley View

We knew we wanted to take them to Taft Point, our favorite spot for photos in Yosemite, and on the way there is Valley View, a beautiful turnout that gives a sweeping view of the valley. We had to stop and grab a few photos there!

Taft Point Vows at Sunset

After a quick outfit change (yes, you can do an outfit change during your elopement!), they hiked to Taft Point, at one point running along the trail like a couple of kids in love. Then they reached the cliff and got to bask in the panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. They danced in the golden sun and then climbed onto a rock to share their private vows.

We found a more secluded spot off to the side at Taft Point and composed the photo with mountains on either side of them and the sunset right behind them.

As the sun began to set, the sky overflowed with vibrant colors, and their vows overflowed with intimate love, words shared for just the two of them, to hold and treasure for the rest of their lives.

After wiping away the many happy tears, we told them to stand on the end of the cliff and enjoy the view as the sunset created a masterpiece before our eyes. As they faced outward and the golden rays of sun illuminated the valley in front of them, it was like a blessing from above saying that their future together was warm and bright.

Stargazing Under the Milky Way

Being lovers of the night sky and living in a city where stars are harder to see, Georgia and Eric knew they had to see what the stars looked like out in the mountains. And as the sky got dark, the Milky Way painted a billion stars across the sky, and they just watched the beauty of it all unfold.

We used our tripod and a 20-second exposure for the star photos, and we used our star tracking app to see where the Milky Way was strongest.

From big to small, Georgia and Eric intentionally made every moment of their day a moment that was for them. Every moment was a tribute to their love, a testament to their friendship, and a celebration of their future marriage, and every moment… belonged to them.

How We Helped Plan Their Elopement Experience

From our first planning call, we knew Georgia and Eric wanted a day focused entirely on slow moments and connection. We crafted them a timeline and chose locations that would give them the intimate, nature-filled experience they were dreaming of.

Locations They Chose and Why:

• The Redwoods in Yosemite for their cabin and morning moments: a cute collection of cabins deep in the redwoods, perfect for slow tea-drinking, vow-writing mornings.
• El Capitan Meadow for their picnic and card games: one of our favorite meadows in the park with towering cliffs on either side and peaceful trails.
• Valley View for photos on the way to Taft Point: a beautiful turnout with sweeping valley views.
• Taft Point for their private vows at sunset: our favorite spot for photos in Yosemite, hands down. The panoramic views of Yosemite Valley are unmatched.
• Taft Point for stargazing: staying in one location as day turned to night let them experience the full transformation of the landscape.

No Permit Needed for Photoshoots

If you’re not having a wedding ceremony in the park it qualifies as just a photoshoot, and therefore no permit is needed! Permit regulations can sometimes change, but we always make sure we have the most up-to-date info for our couples.

Building Their Timeline

We built them a timeline that prioritized slow moments in the morning, adventure in the afternoon, and sunset vows followed by stargazing. October was the perfect choice, beautiful fall weather, fewer crowds than summer, and clear skies for incredible star visibility.

Checkout our full Yosemite National Park Elopement Guide for more info on how to plan!

Thinking about eloping? Let’s make it 100% YOU.

Photos From Their Amazing Elopement:

Yosemite Vendors for Your Elopement:

• Photographers: The Chaffins
• Accommodations: The Redwoods in Yosemite

Want to start planning your elopement or intimate wedding?