Why They Chose a Winter Elopement in Yosemite

When Anissa and Alex reflected on big celebrations they had thrown, they realized something: when they’re hosting, they don’t get to be fully present. That’s what pushed them towards eloping.

They fell in love with the idea of a Yosemite winter wonderland – exploring waterfalls and getting photos with El Capitan. They had visited before, but never in snow! This would be their first time experiencing a true winter wonderland.

And here’s the beautiful part: they have a 9-month-old son, Elio. You can absolutely have an adventure wedding with a very young child! They wanted to show him the nature they love, making this his first visit to a national park. He even served as their ring bearer!

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

Their Elopement Day: A Winter Wonderland Adventure

Getting Ready and First Look in the Snow

The day started with them getting ready out in the forest, putting on their final touches. With Anissa’s fur shawl and gloves against the snow-covered forest, it was giving serious Narnia vibes – she looked like a winter princess!

They shared a sweet first look in the snow, nerves melting away as soon as they saw each other. The snow provided gorgeous natural lighting for these intimate moments.

Private Vows and Beers

In the quiet winter forest, they exchanged heartfelt private vows – just the two of them and the snow-covered trees. Afterwards, they grabbed beers from the Yosemite general store and enjoyed them while sitting on rocking chairs, taking in the wintry wonderland – just like their tradition!

Yosemite Falls

They’re huge fans of waterfalls, so next was the best waterfall spot in the park – Lower Yosemite Fall Trail. Here you can take in the majesty of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and get right up close to the lower falls. The snow was piled so high on either side of the trail that it went over their heads at some points! With all the recent snow melting, the waterfall was full and powerful, blasting water from the mountainside.

Ceremony at Swinging Bridge

For their ceremony at Swinging Bridge Picnic Area, they stood on top of the snow with the falls in the background and their closest friends and family around them. They shared a beautiful ceremony where their son Elio was the ring bearer. After a tender first kiss and hug, it was time to celebrate – Alex threw snow up in the air, embracing the winter wonderland vibe!

Mini Picnic Reception

Then they shared an intimate mini reception picnic with their guests – heart-shaped conchas (Mexican pan-dulce treat), sparkling cider to toast, and fresh hot coffee for everyone with cute little cups that say “love is brewing.” The sun filtering through the trees onto the snow made for a beautiful setting.

El Capitan Meadow Sunset

For sunset, they headed to El Capitan Meadow to soak in a gorgeous winter sunset complete with alpenglow lighting up Horsetail Falls and El Capitan. They danced around in the snow, had a snowball fight, and shared sweet moments – including playing in the snow for the first time with their son, Elio!

Ending at Valley View

We ended the night at Yosemite Valley View as the sky started to get dark. We brought out lanterns, and they soaked in the beautiful final moments of their wedding day with Yosemite around them, truly and perfectly encapsulating the winter wonderland vibe they wanted.

Throughout the entire day, they got so many moments to slow down and be present – exactly what they wanted for their wedding day.

How We Helped Plan Their Winter Elopement

It was so much fun helping these two bring this winter wonderland vision to life! We provided all the location recommendations including the ceremony spot, helped them with the ceremony process, and built them a timeline that included a lot of stuff all in 1 day! A first look, private vows and beers together, ceremony and picnic reception with family, multiple locations to explore just the two of them, and time to play in the snow with their son!

Preparing for a Winter Elopement

Winter elopements in Yosemite require special preparation. We made sure they knew to wear proper gear to stay warm, and we came prepared with boots and snow gear ourselves since we were trudging through snow with our cameras. Also carrying chains in the car as this is often required in Yosemite in the winter. February was perfect for their winter wonderland vision – fresh snow, flowing waterfalls from the melt, and that magical Narnia atmosphere they dreamed of.

What Couples Can Learn From This Elopement

You absolutely can elope with young children, and winter in Yosemite creates a completely different but equally stunning backdrop. With the right planning and preparation, you can have that intimate, present experience you’re craving while creating magical memories for your whole family.

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

Photos From Their Amazing Elopement: