POV you elope at Sequoia National Park under the biggest trees in the world, exchange your vows at Crescent Meadow, and end the night with dreamy golden hour portraits at Beetle Rock:
Barbara + Ray’s Fall Sequoia Elopement at Crescent Meadow
A sunny ceremony by the lush meadows
I met up with Barbara and Ray on the trail to Crescent Meadow, one of the largest meadows in the Sequoia National Park forest. It’s an amazing place to see wildlife, have a picnic, or explore the trails, just like we did on this beautiful fall day! On our way to the meadow we found this incredible fallen tree with wild, sprawling roots—the most epic place for elopement portraits ever. These two said their vows under the shadows of a giant sequoia, covered in sunlight and warmth from the gorgeous weather we had.
You’ll notice their ceremony didn’t actually take place in Crescent Meadow itself; that’s because it’s not allowed! To protect the fragile vegetation and keep it beautiful, ceremonies are only allowed near the meadow on marked trails, as is the case for all wedding locations around Sequoia National Park.
Crescent Meadow has a maximum guest capacity of 30 people for weddings, and a parking lot capacity of 10 cars! If you’re getting married on a weekend from 8am-7pm, you and any guests you invite will need to take the park shuttle to the meadow (during shuttle season). Otherwise, you’ll drive yourselves there and park in the Lodgepole Area. Don’t worry though, I’m happy to answer all your Q’s about this since I’m super familiar with the logistics and rules of the park!
Champagne, portraits, and tree-hugging
Lol of course there was tree hugging, we were in a forest with the biggest trees in the world after all! After Barbara and Ray said their vows, we wandered a little deeper into the greenery for portraits—and can I just say, I was obSESSED with Barbara’s purple gown. The way the vibrant shades of purple popped against the greenery all around us… 10/10 would recommend wearing a colorful elopement dress. Bonus points if you coordinate your color of choice with your florals like Barbara did, I was drooooling over the gorgeous purples, violets, and blues in her dreamy bouquet.
If you need help picking your elopement outfits to make sure you look as amazing as these two, I got you covered with this guide!
We found the perfect fallen tree to hang out at for a bit, where the newlyweds popped a bottle of champagne and toasted to the absolutely insane scenery they just got married amongst. There is seriously no cooler place to take elopement portraits than in, under, and next to these towering trees—especially the giant sequoias in the Parker Group that we admired for a while.
And the best surprise of all? While we were exploring and trying not to trip over a gigantic tree root, we looked over and were joined in the forest by a BLACK BEAR! I will always get excited over any animal (including the many chipmunks we saw), but especially these cuties. Of course we had to take a minute to just pause and watch it roam through the woods; it felt like a sign just for these two, and made their day even more special 😉
Golden hour views at Beetle Rock
We ended the night up at Beetle Rock, where we had the most spectacular vistas of the San Joaquin Valley. This spot is sooo amazing for golden hour portraits because it’s super easy to access, and has views for dayssss. The only thing to note is that there’s often smog covering the valley, so beware of that possibility if you go up at sunset! No better way to end Barbara and Ray’s magical day than with delicious golden light, a cozy blue hour, and a couple of glowing lanterns to light our way out. Congrats you two!
How to Plan Your Own Elopement at Sequoia National Park!
Wanna know the secret to planning your easy, stress-free, and BEAUTIFUL Sequoia National Park elopement?! Use my Sequoia National Park Elopement Guide!
In that guide, I answer allll your burning questions about eloping in this majestic park, such as:
- What permits are required for an elopement in Sequoia National Park?
- How to plan an elopement in Sequoia National Park
- How to get a marriage license for a Sequoia National Park elopement
- What is the best time of year to elope at Sequoia National Park?
- Recommended hiking trails for elopements at Sequoia National Park
- Where to stay when visiting Sequoia National Park
And so much more, don’t you worry! I cover it all, from top to bottom. I’ve photographed so many couples in this park that it’s basically a second home to me at this point haha.
Ready to Hire Your Sequoia National Park Elopement Photographer?
That’s me! Hi, I’m Bree, your friendly neighborhood cat mom, fiction reader, and reality TV watcher. Oh, and your Sequoia National Park elopement photographer, of course 😉
If you’re dreaming of a personalized, stress-free, and intentional elopement under the biggest trees in the WORLD, I’d love to show you all my fav spots in this amazing park. Get in touch now and let’s make it happen!
Wanna stalk me a little more first? I get it! Here are a few other guides you’ll def be obsessed with:
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