How to Get Your Yosemite Wedding Permit
If you’re dreaming of saying your vows among the winding Merced River, misty waterfalls or cathedral-like granite of El Capitan — a Yosemite wedding is magic — but first, you must secure a Yosemite wedding permit. The National Park Service requires it for any ceremony inside Yosemite National Park, whether you’re eloping at sunrise or celebrating with a small group.
But don’t worry — I’ve walked many couples through this process as a Yosemite elopement photographer (sometimes literally mailing their paperwork for them).If you’re in the middle of planning your Yosemite wedding, check out my Yosemite page here.
What Is a Yosemite Wedding Permit? (and why do you need one)
A Yosemite wedding permit (officially a “special use permit”) is permission from the National Park Service (NPS) that allows you to hold your wedding or commitment ceremony in Yosemite. It’s required for every ceremony in the park — no matter how small or simple.
The permit doesn’t permit the public from sharing the space, but it does prevent another wedding or ceremony booked in the exact same location.
This permit:
- Grants you and your guests access for the ceremony itself (you still need to pay park entry fees).
- Is emailed/sent to you once processed and must be on your person the day of your ceremony.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Yosemite Wedding Permit
1. Download the Permit Application
The form is available on the Yosemite National Park website — it’s a PDF you can fill out digitally and print.
2. Fill It Out- Let’s do it Together
There’s an pre-filled example permit at the bottom of this post.
Contact Info
Name: whoever will be the main point of contact
Organization: na (not applicable)
Social Security Number or Tax ID: if you don’t have one, use your passport number
Email address: use the good one that you check all the time!
Telephone number: use your cell phone number
Cell phone number: you know this one
Address: you know this one too.
Description of Proposed Activities:
Wedding ceremony at Sentinel Beach with a small group of people. No decor, chairs, amplified sound or equipment.
Date/Location/Time:
Example: June 17, 2026, Sentinel Beach, 8 AM-10AM
Notes: No permits issued on holiday weekends or holidays. Each permit is for a 2 hour window. The 8 AM-10 AM window is usually the best choice to avoid crowds.
Alternate Dates/Alternate Locations/Alternate Times:
Be sure to fill out all your back up choices so you have options. You may just need to change the date or time and still get your preferred location!
Participants:
List the total number of people, including your officiant, photographer, etc. Be sure to double check your chosen location requirements, the guest capacity is different for all of them.
Vehicles:
Be mindful of each location’s parking capacity. It’s best to list 1-3 vehicles and note “we will only park in designated areas.”
Equipment:
None
Individual in Charge:
This should be the person filling out the application.
Have you visited the requested area?
Check yes if you’re working with an experienced Yosemite wedding photographer who is guiding you through the process and has visited the area in person.
Signature:
Sign, date, and it’s ready to mail!
3. Prepare Your Payment
The permit fee is $150. This fee is non-refundable once the application is received.
At the moment, Yosemite cannot accept credit cards — so your paper check must be mailed with the application. If you’re out of the country, this is often where I come in.
4. Mail Your Application & Payment
You have two options:
USPS Mail:
Special Park Uses/Film & Weddings
Yosemite National Park, NPS
P.O. Box 700
El Portal, CA 95318
FedEx/UPS:
Special Park Uses/Film & Weddings
Yosemite National Park
5083 Foresta Rd
El Portal, CA 95318
5. Wait for the Park to Review
Once received, Yosemite’s Special Park Uses office will:
- Review your application
- Email you to confirm or suggest alternatives (if needed)
- Prepare your official permit document
Processing usually takes a couple of weeks.
6. Carry the Final Permit on Your Wedding Day
Print it and keep it with you — rangers may ask to see it at your ceremony location. Although this has literally never happened, you should keep it on you.
How Far in Advance Should You Apply?
You can apply for a Yosemite wedding permit up to one year in advance, and it must be submitted at least 21 days before your date.
I suggest applying the moment you know your preferred date and location. This will help you:
- Get confirmation before finalizing travel plans
- Choose your preferred location and time
- Allow for back-and-forth if a location or date isn’t available
Yosemite is a popular place to get married (especially spring through fall), so the earlier you apply, the better.
Yosemite Wedding Permit Rules & Restrictions
These Yosemite wedding permit rules apply whether you’re planning a full wedding or a quiet elopement with just the two of you.
- Your wedding permit reserves the location for 2 hours.
- If you have less than 11 people in your party, you’re not limited to the official list of Yosemite ceremony locations!
- Weddings will not be permitted on holidays or holiday weekends.
Drones, amplified sound, chairs, tables, and decorations aren’t allowed. If you have 30–50 people, you may be charged an additional hourly monitoring fee ($50 per an hour) - Dogs are generally not allowed with the exception of Lower Yosemite Falls & Glacier Point (on a loophole, these are dog friendly areas of the park).
- Some locations, especially popular Glacier Point, are only permitted after Memorial Day through September 30th.
You can view Yosemite National Park’s official wedding locations list (like Cathedral Beach, Swinging Bridge, Glacier Point spots, and more) on the NPS site. But if you want the inside scoop, check out my Yosemite Wedding locations guide for a local’s opinion.
For Couples Outside the United States: I’ve Got You
If you’re planning your Yosemite wedding from another country, the permit process might feel extra old-school and complicated — but don’t worry, I can help.
Because the application must include a mailed-in document and paper check (no online payments), many international couples worry that timing or logistics could slow things down. That’s where I come in.
I can mail your Yosemite wedding permit application and check on your behalf.
This means you fill out the form digitally with me, we get everything ready together, and I send it in — taking the stress of international postage and timing off your plate.
You’ll still be listed as the applicant on the permit, but I’ll handle the parts that make international planning tricky.
Just reach out, and we’ll walk through it step by step.
You Don’t Have to Do this Alone
A Yosemite wedding permit may sound complicated, but it’s not. And if you get stuck, I’m here to help.
I live just outside Yosemite, and I’m in the park often—across seasons, trailheads, and ceremony locations.
Some useful resources while you plan may be my Yosemite Wedding Locations Guide, and my curated list of trusted, local Yosemite Wedding Vendors.
If you want help with permits, choosing the right Yosemite elopement location, or building a day that feels fully supported from start to finish, I’d love to help.
