YOSEMITE SMALL WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
DOCUMENTING THE YOSEMITE CHAPTER OF YOUR LOVE STORY
Epic waterfalls, mountainous landscapes, and lots of adventure - Yosemite National Park offers a unique elopement experience for couples looking for incredible views and a little adventure
Rose + Ruben
Along Glacier Point Road
EMBRACE YOSEMITE’S NATURAL BEAUTY
Center your wedding day around the people you love, not just the favors or table settings. Meg's Marvels Photography captures Yosemite small weddings and elopements that celebrate the authentic, adventurous, real moments. Walk away with beautiful, heartwarming photos you can revisit and share with loved ones over a lifetime.
Yosemite National Park is by far one of the most popular elopement spots in the United States. There are so many unique locations in and around the area - from beautiful views of Half Dome, breathtaking sunsets, roaring waterfalls, and countless hiking trails - it’s one of the absolute coolest places to exchange your vows.
There are SO many beautiful natural gems to explore around Yosemite. Think nature & beauty with tons of campsites and charming AirBnbs. Yeah, you can really have it all if you elope in Yosemite!
Krista & Andrew | Yosemite Valley
Mingling & Vincent | Yosemite Valley WaterfallHike
STEPS TO BRINGING YOUR DREAM YOSEMITE WEDDING PHOTOS TO LIFE
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STEP 01
INQUIRE
1 | Reach out through my site and tell me the vision for your wedding day (it’s okay if you’re still figuring out the details!). Together, we’ll make sure we’re a great fit and then can work together to finalize the details.
2 | Once availability is confirmed, we’ll set up a time to talk and make sure we connect. Comfort is key to good photos, and I’ll be by your side most of the wedding day, so my goal is to feel like just another friend on the day! :)
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STEP 02
DREAMING UP THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY
It’s time to start brainstorming your dream wedding day. I can help with locations and itineraries to start sorting through what would make for the best day for you! Plus, I’ll send over my planning guide to help you along the way.
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STEP 03
PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN
To ensure stunning photos and an amazing wedding day, we’ll put together a timeline. This can ensure we plan for the best light (aka the best photos) and to ensure the day doesn’t feel rushed. I’ll work with you on the small details to make sure you have a day that is low-stress and you’ll get all the photos you dreamed of.
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STEP 04
PREP FOR THE WEDDING
With week-of packing lists and reminders to the day of the wedding, I’ll be here to make sure you’re set up and ready to enjoy your day.
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STEP 05
YOUR WEDDING DAY
Relax, enjoy, and trust that I’ll capture so many beautiful memories for you both.
HEY, I’M MEG!
I’m an adventurous homebody who loves hanging out with dogs, catching new releases at the movie theatre, spending weekends hiking around places like Yosemite, and listening to Tiny Desk Concerts on repeat. I live with my cute husband and our sassy toy poodle, Teddy.
I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life, but didn’t realize how much I loved Yosemite until I started adventuring there with my husband maybe 6-7 years ago. We’ve had many adventures exploring all around Yosemite, hiking to waterfalls, climbing in Tuolumne Meadows, dipping our feet in Tenaya Lake, and camping underneath Half Dome. There’s plenty of adventure to be had, and there’s definitely a reason it’s one of the most famous national parks in the country.
The Best of YOSEMITE:
Tips & Recommendations
Where to Stay Near the Lake
Stay Near Groveland or Splurge on Rush Creek Lodge - Very Close to the Big Oak Flat Entrance & Hetch Hetchey
Get an Airb&bs in Mariposa to be about 1 hour from the Valley OR stay at Autocamp - The cutest luxury Airstream Park!
Rent a Hotel in Oakhurst to Stay a little over 1 hour from Glacier Point + Enjoy Hikes near Bass Lake
Rent a Cabin in Yosemite West to stay inside park boundaries
Get camping reservations for within the valley at Upper or Lower Pines - Be sure to plan ahead, reservations go quick!
Experiences:
Have a Picnic on the Meadow Floor
Go rock climbing in Tuolomne Meadows
Hike/Backpack countless trails - many are very steep!
Go rafting down the river
Rent a bike to explore the whole valley
Walk amongst Sequoias in Mariposa Grove
Book a Helicopter Tour to See the Valley from a New Perspective
Hikes + To=Do’s
Yosemite Valley
El Capitan Meadow - Great Picnic Spot, Bring Binoculars
Hike to Inspiration Point - Avoid the Crowds at Tunnel View
Swinging Bridge - During summer, a great place to cool down along the river
Grab Food at Curry Village - Just be prepared for a nice wait in line
Walk to Yosemite Falls - Bring an umbrella in spring when water levels are high
Hike the Iconic Mist Trail - But please wear waterproof layers if you go before summer ends!
Tuolumne Meadows / Tioga Pass
Go kayaking at Tenaya Lake
Catch a Sunrise at Olmstead Point
Hire a Climbing Guide in Tuolumne Meadows
Spend a Full Day doing the Cloud’s Rest Hike - Brutal, but beautiful! Bring Bug Spray!
Glacier Point Road
Watch the Sun Rise over Half Dome at Glacier Point
Do a Long Hike Between Sentinel Dome + Taft Point to Get Incredible Views
Catch a Bus Up Top & Head Down the 4 Mile Trail
From the Blog
Yosemite Elopement Guide
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I always want to be transparent and aim to answer all your questions before you even book. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get asked:
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First, fill out my contact form so I can learn all about you two and your wedding day. If you think we’d be a great fit, we can either set up a call to answer any lingering questions/brainstorm ideas OR jump in right away. As soon as you have a date & general idea for the location, I just need a signed contract and retainer to save your date and I’ll officially be yours to capture this awesome adventure.
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I am currently based in Walnut Creek, CA, and I spend a lot of time around Northern California - including SF/Bay Area, Yosemite, Big Sur, Tahoe, and so on. I am always open to traveling outside of this area for weddings + elopements, though most of my sessions take place either around my travel plans or within an hour of Walnut Creek, CA. For information on my travel pricing or travel plans, reach out!
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Besides the fact that I am very goofy and loving and know more Office quotes than are good for me… As a photographer, I go beyond just showing up and taking photos on your wedding day. Not only do I want to create a space that feels comfortable and inviting since taking photos can be outside of most people’s comfort zones, but I’m here to help. From make suggestions, offering advice, answering questions, providing recommendations where I can, and doing what I can to make everything easier on you! While I’m not a full-service wedding planner, I’ve been doing this long enough that I want to share what I’ve learned and keep this process exciting and fun!
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This varies from event to event, but for me, it’s often the intention of the day. The majority of small weddings/elopements I photograph have groups from around 0-60 guests and often focus on what’s important to the couple while skipping traditions that don’t fit. If your group is 12 or less (including photographers!), more options within the park are available for your ceremony.
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While I’m not a full-service planner, I love getting to work with couples before the wedding day and help make the process easier when I can. Most often I help couples with finding locations, putting together timelines and shot lists, bouncing around ideas for itineraries, and answering any questions I can along the way. I also have a pretty in-depth welcome guide that should help out as a reference as you plan!
on the blog
GETTING READY FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT DAY // PLANNING BLOGS
Let’s Dream Up Your Perfect Elopement Day Planning Guide
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Follow along on more adventures
Every love story is unique. To tag along on some of my past photo work, join me on Instagram. @megs_marvels
