Yosemite Elopement - 10 Reasons To Consider It Instead of A Traditional Wedding

Are you planning to get married? If so, there is an interesting option to consider instead of a traditional wedding. This is a Yosemite elopement, where instead of a traditional wedding, you can elope to the Yosemite national park in California and get married there. Yosemite is a great place to get married and the photos in the amazing environment make the idea of a Yosemite elopement very appealing.

What is a Yosemite elopement?

A Yosemite elopement is avoiding a regular marriage and getting married in Yosemite. You can get married in the national park at specified locations. The weather would be awesome and the opportunities for photographs would be great. Skip the hassles and stress of a traditional wedding. Travel to Yosemite and get married in one of the most awesome places for a marriage.

The Yosemite national park is in California, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The huge sequoia trees and the Tunnel view are some of the attractions that make visitors flock to this park. There are a number of options to stay in Yosemite. It is, of course, a photographer’s paradise.

A Yosemite elopement is becoming a popular marriage idea and many couples are choosing to get married here. It would be an unforgettable experience of your life with memories that would last a lifetime. There are lodging options available as well as restaurants in the area. This makes it convenient to plan a wedding in Yosemite.

Planning a Yosemite elopement

If you are thinking of planning a Yosemite elopement, then there are many Yosemite elopement packages available. The Yosemite elopement package would include accommodation for the couple, dinner, and toast for select guests, with a reception. There are also packages that include photography. These packages make it convenient to opt for a Yosemite elopement wedding.

In case you find the idea of a Yosemite elopement wedding interested, the following is information that will help you plan the Yosemite elopement and wedding:

October is the best month to plan a Yosemite elopement and wedding. You should avoid the winter months and it is freezing cold. The months of June to August are crowded because of the tourist season.
Planning a sunrise or sunset wedding would be great. The feel would be lovely and you can get great photos too.
Glacier Point is the perfect location for a Yosemite elopement wedding. Taft point is another amazing location for a Yosemite elopement. However, it is a bit risky and you need to take care if you are planning a photoshoot here.
Half Dome is a good place for a Yosemite elopement wedding if you are adventurous and ready for a good hike.
In case you prefer a quiet Yosemite elopement, then there is a chapel in the valley to suit your needs.
There are lodges and hotels where you can plan the wedding by availing of the packages offered.
There are a total of thirteen designation locations for a Yosemite elopement wedding. You would need to obtain a permit for the wedding that costs around $150. Make sure you book in advance.
There is also an entry fee for the national park ($35). If you want photographs, a permit is needed and would cost $200.
There are also camping locations available, in case the idea of camping for a Yosemite elopement appeals to you.
Note that Yosemite elopement wedding permits are not given for holidays. Also, pets are not allowed.

10 reasons to opt for a Yosemite elopement

Now that you have understood all there is to Yosemite elopement weddings, the question is should you go ahead? To get the answer to this question, you need to know the reasons to choose a Yosemite elopement. Why not go the traditional wedding way? What is so special about a Yosemite elopement? Why elope when you can get married in a grand celebration? Is it worth getting married at the national park? The answers to all these questions are given below.

To help you make your decision, we have compiled 10 reasons you should choose a Yosemite elopement wedding. After going through these 10 reasons, you should be convinced that a Yosemite elopement is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion that you should consider choosing.

1) It is a once-a-lifetime experience

The biggest reason for choosing a Yosemite elopement is that it presents you with a once-al-lifetime experience. This is an experience you will never forget. The memories would last for a lifetime. A wedding is a once in a life experience (for most people) and you would want it to be special. A Yosemite elopement allows you to get married at some of the most fantastic locations possible. The awesome background, the great view, the pleasant weather, the open space, and just the two of you. This is reason enough to choose to get married at Yosemite. If you value experience more than material things, then a Yosemite elopement is the best way to get married.

2) A Yosemite elopement can help reduce stress

Planning a wedding can be highly stressful. There are wedding planners to help, but they are expensive. They also can’t do everything and certain things have to be done by you. Deciding on a large guest list and making plans for everyone and everything can be a nightmare. Many couples would not want to ruin their special moment with this kind of stress. A Yosemite elopement allows you to have a stress-free and enjoyable wedding. Just the two of you on a mountain with no worries! It is a perfect way to get married. Relish the memories and enjoy the experience rather than getting bogged down by stress!

3) You prefer privacy

Not everyone prefers a traditional wedding where they are the cynosure of all eyes. Some people don’t want to be the center of attention. If you don’t want to be in the spotlight, then a Yosemite elopement is the best option. You do not need to worry about so many guests watching you. Neither do you need to worry about what they think of your wedding dress and wedding arrangements. Plan a Yosemite elopement wedding with just the two of you and enjoy the occasion. It is a great option for those who value their privacy. A Yosemite elopement is a private wedding and is the best option for people who want a quiet wedding without the crowd.

4) You want to get great photos

A wedding creates memories. These memories need to be captured for posterity. Taking photographs is the best way to do this. A Yosemite elopement wedding is the best occasion to get the best photographs. Yosemite has awesome views and the wedding locations ensure you get the best photographs. Get a friend to click the photos or better still hire a professional photographer. We guarantee that the photographs would be mind-blowing. They would be filled with passion and allow you and your better half to shine. The photographer doesn’t have to worry about capturing the occasion, he/she has to just focus on the two of you. This ensures the memories created would be those you would cherish for a lifetime. Your friends and relatives who see these photos of your Yosemite elopement wedding would regret why they didn’t think of getting married in such an innovative way.

5) You want to save money with Yosemite elopement

A traditional wedding is quite expensive. You need to send invitations to everyone. Then you need to book a venue for the wedding, which would be expensive. Then there is decoration, floral arrangements, dresses for you, all of which cost a lot of money. The cost of arranging lunch goes up depending on how many guests you invite. According to a study, the average cost of a wedding is $33,900. You can save this money by choosing a Yosemite elopement. All you need to pay is the entry fee, permit fee, and photography permit fee, all of which cost under $500. Spend money on a good photographer to capture memories. The Yosemite elopement wedding can help save a lot of money. Use that money to save for your future and at the same time end up having an unforgettable wedding.

6) You want a ‘just us’ wedding

If the two of you are deeply in love, then you probably want the focus to be on you and your partner for life. A traditional wedding can be a chaotic experience with so many people and a lot of events happening. The special feeling of becoming a couple can get lost. Your focus should be on each other and not on managing the chaos. This is what a Yosemite elopement can help you achieve. The focus would be on both of you. The Yosemite elopement wedding is an intimate one. You can get lost in each other as you take the vows that make you a couple. Forget everything else and enjoy the most special moment in your life.

7) You don’t like the family drama that comes with traditional weddings

You have to admit it, a traditional wedding is essentially a family drama. There are guests galore, with many family members. These family members are capable of creating a lot of drama. The bigger the wedding, the more are the guests, and more is the drama. There are some people who relish the drama and the chaos it creates. However, there are many who do not like this drama and wish to avoid them. Plan a Yosemite elopement and say goodbye to the drama. Avoid unpleasant scenes where the drama causes clashes between family members and unpleasantness. Instead, go by yourselves for a Yosemite elopement wedding and come back with rich memories in the form of photos. Share them with your family and enjoy the drama-free experience.

8) You care for the environment

More and more people are worried about the environment. Everyone wants to do their bit for their environment. Avoiding a traditional wedding is one way to care for the environment. Statistics show that the average wedding produces nearly 500 pounds of trash. That’s large damage done to the environment. Avoid all this and opt for a Yosemite elopement. It's just the two of you amidst nature. There is no pollution you create but just take back memories. ‘Leave no trace’ is an eco-friendly concept. Reduce your wedding carbon footprint by planning a Yosemite elopement wedding. You can demonstrate your commitment to the environment by not leaving behind any waste.

9) You don’t like a big wedding

A big wedding involves a lot of arrangements, many guests, a lot of noise, and chaos in general. Some people love a big wedding but not all are comfortable with this concept. If you don’t like the noise and the crowd, then a Yosemite elopement wedding is a good option. Avoid the razzmatazz and instead focus on your better half. Have a quiet wedding in the most beautiful of environments. A Yosemite elopement is better than a big wedding in many aspects. It is not that you have to get married all by yourselves. You can bring along a few of your close family members and friends for a quiet and memorable wedding.

10) You want to do something off-beat

If you are the type who wants an off-beat experience, then a Yosemite elopement wedding is for you. If you are not really into tradition and are bored of the usual conventional weddings, then you would probably want to try out something different. A Yosemite elopement is truly different. It is not like a traditional wedding. It is unique, it is intimate, and it is special. You get a chance to be married in a special and different way that will be remembered for a long time. If you don’t like to follow the crowd, then don’t waste time with traditions that you don’t believe in. Instead, opt for a Yosemite National Park elopement wedding that literally creates a new tradition. Spend a magical time with your loved ones in the beautiful Yosemite mountains. Take the vows amidst nature and enjoy the awesome experience.