The elopement couple poses for yosemite elopement photos with Yosemite Falls in the background, with the flooded meadow providing a mirrored reflection.

Yosemite Elopement Photos

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Yosemite Elopement Photos

Where do I even start with Emma and Damian’s Yosemite Elopement photos?! You’d think I’d start with the photos, but no, we’re going deep into the backstory. Buckle. Up. I met Emma back in 2008 or 2009 at summer camp in Vermont. We lost touch for a decade, (A mistake I will not repeat) but when she got engaged to her personal dreamboat Damian, I was their first call. We planned for over a year for their just-us-two elopement ceremony in Sequoia National Park. But just a few months before the elopement, the record spring floods closed most of that park, and we pivoted to a ceremony at Merced Grove, one of Yosemite’s Sequoia groves instead. We applied and got the ceremony request approved. Learn more about eloping in Yosemite here.

Yosemite Road Closures

Just 2 weeks before their late May elopement, the road between their rented cabin and their ceremony site in Yosemite literally fell off the side of the mountain. WTF. Accessing their Merced grove ceremony would now take 2.5 hours’ drive, each way, cutting into our adventure time. We changed plans again, booking new accommodation closer to Yosemite Valley, and getting confirmation that Merced grove was indeed accessible from the Valley. Phew, park staff assured us it was open. I counted on it, and didn’t check the day before.. but Emma and Damian did, only to find it CLOSED. What the heck, Yosemite. So, the night before their ceremony, which we began planning 1.7 years prior, we shifted the ceremony location one more time to Tuolumne Grove.

Yosemite Elopement Photos Style

Let me warn you – these two are as stylish as it gets. Damian went all out with a custom green velvet tuxedo, which looked awesome in the woods and mountains of California. I’m not afraid to say he was an absolute snack. (I said worse things on the day. Why am I like this.) Emma gave a big middle finger to tradition and rocked a black wedding gown with sparkles on sparkles on sparkles, and an open back. Edgy jewelry and a hairpiece complimented her sleeve of tattoos, including one of their adorable bunny Tosia back at home. That bunny is so cute I’m considering tattooing it on my own arm. Their first look in the trees was so sweet as they complimented each other and hugged and kissed as much as they wanted to. Which was a lot.

Elopement Letters from Family and Friends

Emma and Damian took the idea of letters from loved ones to the next level. As well as requesting messages from their friends, they also asked their friends to let them know WHEN to open the letters. Damian’s sister requested that they open her letter when they see a neat bird. When a Western Tanager sang above us on our walk to the ceremony, out came the letter! This was such a fun way to include their loved ones and add spontaneity at the same time. 10/10, I recommend.

Yosemite Elopement Ceremony Photos

Surrounded by Big Ass Trees, I officiated their Yosemite Elopement ceremony in a moustache, a nod to our summer camp experience. And because, why not?! The moustache made me look like a lorax however, and we were doubled over laughing at how ridiculous it looked when I smiled. Their heartfelt vows were so romantic and adorable, and they smooched several times during the ceremony. I love the Yosemite elopement photos of them admiring their wedding rings on their hands for the very first time. As I had signed the marriage license as their officiant, we needed another human to sign as witness. Damian asked a passing group of German tourists to sign for us, and after a brief kerfuffle over who has US citizenship and a bit of translating, we got it done and legal! They opened more letters and presents and then it was time to ADVENTURE!

  • Why am I like this?

Yosemite Valley Elopement Photos

Both gearheads, Emma and Damian rented a sweet black convertible to truly tour Yosemite Valley in style. I love that they personalized their elopement with everything important to them. A basic rental car was never going to cut it for their road trip elopement. The photos of the newlyweds posing with the Camaro with Yosemite’s waterfalls in the background were such showstoppers that I thought I’d peaked – that was until we entered Yosemite valley itself. The heavy spring rains flooded the entire meadow, giving us a unique mirror reflection of the continent’s tallest waterfall. I died and went to elopement photographer heaven. Add in the meadow at Half Dome and I firmly declared that this day couldn’t get any better.. Until nearby staff thanked me for not trampling the meadow in order to take my photos. It was so nice to be recognized for our restraint from entering the meadow. I nearly cried.

Elopement Photos in Yosemite at Night

As the sun set, we were pretty pooped. Back at their rental cabin, they made kraft mac and cheese for dinner, and enjoyed a few bowls of it while reading over the last letters from friends. Some of these were hilarious, some tear-jerking, and all appreciated. As they cuddled on the couch, I set up outside for a star photo over the hot tub. Soaking their tired bodies at the end of their Yosemite adventure elopement under the stars was just as magical as it looked – and ended up being some of my favorite photos of the whole day.

  • Yosemite elopement rings with a tree detail and topographic vow books.
  • A bride gets ready in a cabin for her Yosemite elopement.
  • A black and white silhouette of a groom in a cabin in Yosemite National Park.
  • A bride wearing a black gown stands in a cabin doorway.
  • A yosemite elopement bride giggles in her black sparkly dress and green and black flowers.
  • A bridal portrait of an edgy bride looking over the top of her green, white and black flowers.
  • Yosemite elopement photos of a first look between a groom and bride in a black dress.
  • The groom embraces the bride in this candid photo at their yosemite elopement.
  • The groom clasps his hands in excitement at seeing his bride dressed in an untraditional black dress.
  • The excited bride and groom stand in a forest having a first look before their Yosemite elopement photos.
  • A ladybug lands on the bride's black dress in this close-up photo.
  • A portrait of a plus sized bride wearing a black wedding dress.
  • The bride plays with the long train of her sparkly black wedding dress.
  • The groom, dressed in a green velvet tuxedo, laughs at something off camera.
  • The handsome yosemite groom dressed in a green tuxedo straightens his bow tie.
  • A handsome photo of the yosemite elopement groom.
  • The bride and groom stand in front of cascade falls in Yosemite national park in this elopement photo.
  • The bride and groom lean over a phone to read messages from loved ones on their yosemite elopement day.
  • A yosemite elopement ceremony in Tuolumne grove where the couple is surrounded by huge sequoias.
  • A bride wearing a black wedding dress wipes away a tear as she hears the vows of her husband at their yosemite elopement at Tuolumne grove.
  • The groom smiles over the brides shoulder as he hears her read her elopement vows in this candid photo in yosemite.
  • An emotional elopement ceremony in Yosemite national park by candid elopement photographer Lucy Schultz.
  • The elopement couple laughs together during their yosemite elopement ceremony in the forest.
  • The first kiss of the elopement couple getting married at Tuolumne grove in Yosemite national park.
  • A colorful photo of a bride in a black dress and a groom in a green tuxedo laughing during their intimate yosemite elopement photos.
  • The bride places the wedding ring on her husbands hand during their private yosemite elopement ceremony.
  • The groom laughs and admires the wedding ring he has just been given in this candid photo.
  • The elopement couple shares their first kiss as newlyweds in Tuolumne grove in Yosemite national park.
  • The newlyweds admire their rings together in this yosemite elopement photo.
  • The couple rejoices in just married bliss under the giant sequoias they chose for their elopement ceremony.
  • A gorgeous photo of a newlywed elopement couple facing the sequoia grove where they just eloped in Yosemite national park.
  • The bride wearing a black dress puts her arm around the groom as they gaze into the forest canopy on their yosemite elopement day.
  • The yosemite elopement couple shares a kiss in tuolumne grove after their elopement ceremony photos.
  • The offbeat bride and groom sit on a fallen log to read letters and open gifts from loved ones.
  • A bride wearing a black dress gets emotional while reading a letter sent by one of her best friends during her yosemite elopement.
  • A newlywed couple roars with laughter while reading a card sent by family on their elopement day in the giant sequoias.
  • A yosemite elopement portrait of the bride in a black dress and the groom in a green tuxedo smiling at the camera.
  • The ecstatic newlyweds pump their fists in the air after their yosemite elopement ceremony in the woods. The bride is wearing an edgy black leather jacket with Just Married printed on the back.
  • A playful bride shows off her unique black wedding gown in the giant sequoias of Yosemite in these elopement photos.
  • A tall groom stands among giant sequoias on his Yosemite elopement day.
  • A stylish groom in a green velvet tuxedo shows off his gearstick cufflinks in this detail photo.
  • A yosemite elopement couple walks under a flowering dogwood tree in this sweet forest photo.
  • A yosemite elopement couple poses for photos under dead giant tunnel tree in tuolumne grove.
  • A recent married elopement couple explores the inside of a dead sequoia tree.
  • A black and white photo of an elopement couple inside dead giant tunnel tree in Yosemite national park.
  • An untraditional elopement couple wearing green and black kiss under dead giant tunnel tree in this yosemite elopement photo.
  • A dramatic photo of a groom wearing a green tuxedo posing in front of a black convertible with yosemite's waterfalls in the background.
  • A yosemite elopement couple poses for photos with their black camaro in Yosemite national park.
  • A just married elopement couple kisses in the front seat of their black convertible in yosemite national park.
  • The elopement couple laughs together while overlooking yosemite national park from their black convertible.
  • The bride's hand is layed on top of the groom's hand on the gearshift of their black convertible.
  • The elopement couple poses for yosemite elopement photos with Yosemite Falls in the background, with the flooded meadow providing a mirrored reflection.
  • The groom snuggles up to his wife in front of yosemite falls, surrounded by green trees in this colorful Yosemite elopement photo.
  • The elopement couple in Yosemite is dwarfed by the tallest waterfall on the continent behind them.
  • A bride wearing an untraditional black wedding gown smooches her husband in front of Yosemite Falls in this colorful yosemite elopement photo.
  • A beautiful plus sized bride stands in front of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park wearing a black sparkling wedding dress.
  • A bride wearing a non traditional black dress cuddles up to her husband in the meadow in front of half dome in their yosemite elopement photos.
  • A 360 degree panorama of an elopement couple in front of Half Dome meadow in Yosemite National Park.
  • The silhouette of the newlyweds against half dome in their Yosemite National park elopement photos.
  • The elopement couple sways back and forth in a glowing forest at sunset in Yosemite national park.
  • The newlywed bride and groom pump their fists in the sky as they drive away in their black convertible.
  • A silhouette of the bride and groom on their yosemite elopement day in front of half dome.
  • A top down view of a couple cuddling on the couch reading messages that loved ones sent them to read on their elopement day.
  • The groom's arms are around the bride as he looks over her shoulder to read well wishes on an ipad.
  • A black and white image of a yosemite elopement couple back in their cabin reading messages that friends had sent.
  • A dramatic photo of a yosemite elopement couple sharing a steamy kiss in the hot tub under the stars.
  • Steam and water droplets rise from behind the silhouetted elopement couple as they bathe in a hot tub at night.

Award winning Yosemite Elopement Photos

Their incredible adventure elopement has already won an Elopement Story award from WPJA – a photojournalism organization recognizing international excellence. It’s my 25th Elopement Story award, and you can view the award here. In addition, their Yosemite Elopement photos have won 3 additional awards in the Artistic guild, details, and documentary categories. I’m proud to capture not just the pretty scenes at elopements, but the funny, candid, and emotional moments in between.

Yosemite Elopement Vendors


Planning and Photography: Lucy Schultz Photography – Hello!
Hair & Makeup: Alexis Jade
Flowers: My Dinosaur Dreams from Etsy
Dress: David’s Bridal
Tux: Indochino
Rental Cabin: VRBO
Rings: Attleboro Jewelers

Seeing their Yosemite Elopement Photos

Emma and Damian are the nicest people, alive or dead – so I should have expected the absolute onslaught of compliments once they saw their photos. Screenshots of texts we exchanged might be the only way to capture their Caps-lock excitement. F bombs were dropped.

Then they sent the photos to their friends..

And I got doused in compliments all over again! E&D sent me the screenshots of their friends losing their minds over the pics. Warning.. expletives were used. Read at your own risk. Also fun fact: it was ALL real, nothing fake or photoshopped.

Stay tuned for part 2!!

Wait, what? That’s right – these stunners booked a 2 day elopement with me, and you’re not going to want to miss the incredible forest we visited the next day!

About Me

I’m a nomadic and colorful Yosemite elopement photographer with an obsession for mountains, hiking, and my cats. My photography style emphasizes the epic landscape of your dreams and the authentic moments that make you two.. well, you two! I love my job and my nature-loving clients. Yosemite is one of my very favorite National Parks. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Meet Me

Make me your Photographer

I have 1 spot available for a Yosemite or Northern California elopement in mid August, 2023. If you’d like your Yosemite elopement photos to be as epic and Emma and Damian’s, don’t wait to get in touch!

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