Megan and Matt’s Yosemite Intimate Wedding
Fall Yosemite Intimate Wedding | Summit and Sur Photography
California Elopement Photographer // Yosemite National Park
Getting married in Yosemite National Park is almost incomparable and as a photographer, I will be honest: it is still one of my top two favorite places to work (if you know me, you know the other is Redwoods and it’s is a very, very, close tie at this point). And it really doesn’t matter where you pick in the park to say “I do” because there’s literally no bad spots, only incredible views, waterfalls, trails, and forests. So it should come as no surprise that when Megan and Matt asked if I would be interested in photographing their small Yosemite wedding, I couldn’t say yes fast enough!
You may remember these two lovers from their Moab engagement session in the spring of 2021 where we ran around Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP, and Arches NP, getting all the best views and light that Utah had to offer. Up until that day, I thought they would be having a big blowout wedding abroad, which was what they had originally contacted me for and I had to let them know that my speciality are smaller weddings and elopements (even though Mexico sounded pretty cool, not going to lie). But when they brought up Yosemite at their engagement session, I was thrilled that not only they were considering one of my favorite places, but also that I would get to work with them again potentially. After a couple calls and some brief logistical planning, they decided to move forward with a ceremony at Glacier Point in the fall of 2021.
Megan and Matt’s day started well before the sun was out, as they prepared for a sunrise first look at Glacier Point. As the sun started its ascent, I met them at their Airbnb in West Yosemite before starting the drive up to the iconic overlook. In the weeks and even days leading up to their big day, we were watching the forest fire situation, as it had been pretty smoky in the valley due to the fires near Lake Tahoe. Luckily, the smoke subsided just long enough that morning to give them a great view of Half Dome for their first look and ceremony. Matt definitely loved getting to see Megan before their ceremony and we spent a few minutes exploring Glacier Point before it was time to start their ceremony with their family.
Their ceremony was incredibly intimate and included a ring warming as well as personal vows from both Megan and Matt. Megan’s brother officiated and it was so great to be able to watch them say “I do” amongst their nearest and dearest in this incredible place. The amphitheater was the perfect place to hold their ceremony considering their group size and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a spot in Yosemite that is both beautiful, accessible, and has seating for your guests.
After some family portraits, everyone walked up a little side trail to where Megan and Matt’s catered brunch was waiting. While the location of their brunch would normally give a view of Half Dome and the east side of the park, by this point the wind had shifted a lot of the smoke back into the area, quickly covering up the views. That said, the newlyweds took it in stride and enjoyed their incredible meal provided by Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co. Not only did they create incredible dishes and desserts for everyone to nosh on, they put together the tablescape and provide all the boho rustic furniture and florals for the brunch. I highly recommend them if you are looking to do something similar for your big day in Yosemite (bonus: they also specialize in Vegan fare)!
After some lovely toasts from Megan and Matt’s family members and lots of laugh and mingling, we all went back to take a little afternoon snooze before meeting up again for sunset photos.
A few hours before sunset, I met Megan and Matt back at their Airbnb so we could grab a few photos of them with their pup, Dutch, before heading to Taft Point. Dutch was definitely excited to hang with her newly married parents and getting watch them get kisses from her was pretty hysterical! Not wanting to miss out on the last good light of the day, we packed ourselves into our cars and made our way back up Glacier Point Road toward the Taft Point Trailhead.
By the time we arrived at the Taft Point Trailhead, we could tell that the smoke had definitely thickened and we weren’t sure what kind of view we would have once we arrived at the cliffside overlook. We took our time walking the trail, stopping to take photos along the way and take in the beauty of it all. Before long, we arrived at the end of the forest and started making our way down to the cliff. I am not sure what we were expecting, but when the forest opened up to see Taft Point, we were all shocked to find that the visibility was completely obstructed by not just smoke, but rather an ethereal combination of smoke and fog (Yes, I know, smog. Under normal circumstances, not great. In this instance, pretty cool!). While there was a part of me that was sad they didn’t get to see the valley from up above in all her glory, this interesting phenomenon was incredible to capture because my typical Taft Point landscape photos were suddenly elevated and made Matt and Megan look like they were floating on a rock, in the middle of the sky. It was truly an amazing thing to witness and photograph!
After lots of fun photos, dances, and taking in the evening, we walked back to our cars and said our goodbyes. Getting to work with these two lovely humans twice in a year was such a treat and I look forward to future sessions with them. Congrats again Megan and Matt!
Vendors
Airbnb: Modern Cabin in Yosemite West
Megan’s Dress: Rue De Seine
Megan’s Hair and Make Up: Mickie Hanson
Florals, Brunch Catering, and Decor: Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co.