Megan + Brice’s Multi-Day Yosemite Adventure Elopement
Glacier Point Elopement | Yosemite Autocamp Elopement
Yosemite Elopement Photographer | Summit and Sur Photography
When couples reach out to have me photograph their Yosemite adventure elopements, I am always genuinely thrilled! There is no day in Yosemite National Park that is ever the same, making elopements here constantly exciting and fresh. So when Megan and Brice reached out looking for their Yosemite elopement photographer, I truly couldn’t say “yes” fast enough, especially after our first consultation call. After meeting these two over a Zoom call, it was immediately clear that their elopement day was going to be special and insanely awesome, especially after they mentioned they would be staying at Autocamp Yosemite—-a super cool lodging option outside the park with luxury glamping!
Once we started planning their Yosemite elopement day, they let me know that while they wanted to have their ceremony at Glacier Point, they were also really intent on including Taft Point somehow. Normally, we could do a sunrise ceremony, take a mid-day break in the timeline, and then finish off the rest of the evening with Taft Point if the couple is staying in the valley or Yosemite West; however, because we all were staying at Autocamp, no one was super keen on spending most of the day driving back and forth (Autocamp is about an hour and a half to two hours from Glacier Point; if you’re wondering if it’s worth it, I can tell you firsthand, it absolutely is) so I suggested an alternate plan: a multi-day elopement! And because the Megan and Brice were arriving early, I knew we could absolutely make this plan work. So the plan then became a sunset session at Taft Point with a day in-between for their guests to arrive, and then their elopement day the next morning. After we got all the details squared away, the day finally came and it was time to bring it to life.
When it was finally time, Megan and Brice met me at the trailhead for the short hike to Taft Point. It’s a relatively easy hike, only about a mile or so with not a ton of elevation gain. As we hiked, we were surrounded by some gorgeous fall colors and incredible afternoon light shimmering through the forest. The dirt below our feet created little clouds that made for some really fun photos before finally arriving at the main attraction.
Taft Point is one of the most jaw-dropping spots in the park and it’s no wonder I get so many requests to shoot there every year. The best time to shoot here is at sunset when the light falls just behind El Capitan, creating the perfect landscape of cliffs, the valley below, and El Cap. As the sun continues to dip lower into the horizon, the light dances around the towering valley walls and truly, it’s magic.
After arriving at Taft Point, Megan and Brice changed their outfits so that they were a little more dressed up for this portion of their evening. They kept it fun and casual, with Megan in flat sandals and Brice in a sweater, perfectly complementing the landscape around them. We started with some classic Taft Point shots before giving someone else a turn (it can get crowded here sometimes but typically people are really good about taking their turn and then moving on so I always try to as well) and moving on to another spot in the area. These two lovers danced, twirled, laughed, and watched the sun set around them in the most perfect glow. Once we lost the sun, I broke out the lanterns for some blue hour portraits before we made our way back to our cars. We finished off that evening with smiles on our faces and ready for their elopement day…
In the days leading up to Megan and Brice’s elopement, I had been tracking the weather in case we needed to make any adjustments. So on the day before their ceremony, as the weather gods would have it, the weather was looking…interesting, to say the least. No stranger to storms throughout Yosemite, I already had some backup plan ideas ready to go. To be on the safe side of things, we ended up deciding to do their planned lunch as a breakfast instead, as it looked like the weather would start to deteriorate later in the day. So on the day before their wedding, we all went to bed with the plan to be up before dawn for getting ready photos!
After getting ready separately, with Brice in his Airstream and Megan and her friends in a cabin at Autocamp, we all drove to Glacier Point to watch the sun rise and so that they could have their first look of each other in their wedding attire. As we arrived at Glacier Point, the sun had just come up and was shrouded in gorgeous clouds that made everything feel even more like a fairytale.
With Brice waiting for Megan and Half Dome in the background, Megan hiked up the trail to surprise him with her insanely dreamy elopement dress. They spent a bit admiring each other’s outfits and the fact that they were getting married in just a few minutes with the gorgeous Yosemite Valley below them. After a few more photos, we all headed towards their ceremony spot, but, not before stopping for the two of them to exchange private vows in a secluded little cliffside spot. I absolutely love when couples choose to do private vows because they get the best of both worlds: their special guests in attendance for their ceremony but also the privacy of an elopement where they can say their vows to only each other. It’s always a special moment and theirs was no exception!
After they finished their private vows, we met the rest of the group at the overlook spot where they would be having their ceremony and well, it was spectacular. With Half Dome in the background, Megan and Brice were ready to say “I do!” With one of their friends as officiant, they exchanged rings and had their first kiss as a married couple. We left their ceremony spot so as not to hog it (we always try to be respectful of other visitors who want to grab photos and enjoy these great views) and grabbed some portraits with the guests before heading back to Autocamp for their catered brunch by the always amazing Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co.
When we arrived back at Autocamp, their full brunch was waiting upstairs at Autocamp’s “venue” (they host ceremonies and weddings here often). And let me just say, Jennifer at Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co. always nails it! She took care of the food, the decor, the cake, and all the florals for the day; they were all spectacular and we were all blown away. Of course, add the fact that we were all hungry and desperate for coffee and food, it was exactly what we all wanted. After getting some candids, details, and the cutting of the cake, we wrapped up and all headed back to our tents and cabins to avoid the incoming storm. It was quite possibly one of the most incredible Yosemite elopements and I feel so lucky to have been part of it for these two special people. Congrats again Megan and Brice!
VENDORS
Wedding dress: Martina Liana
Vow books: Amazon
Bride’s boots: On Running
Groom’s boots: Crevo Boots
Groom’s watch: Seiko
Florals: Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co.
Ceremony venue: Glacier Point
Reception meal + decor: Cakewalk Heirloom Baking Co.
Lodging venue: Autocamp Yosemite
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