Destination Wedding: Lower Yosemite Falls

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Kelly and David’s destination wedding.  When Kelly described her wedding to me, I was super excited.  She planned on a very intimate ceremony with about 25 guests, lots of personal details, and the location…. Yosemite!  I’ve actually been wanting to go to Yosemite for a while now, so this was a dream.  Included below are mostly pictures of the guest experience and Kelly.  First, a picture of the “Tunnel View.”

yosemite wedding destination

yosemite wedding photography

A welcome gift bag awaiting at the hotel for us.  Included in the bag was snacks, water, mini flashlight, map, paper soap, band-aids, sun block, compass, hand sanitizer, carabiner, off repellent, matches, and tissue.  I love all the details Kelly thought about!

yosemite wedding photography

I started with some pictures of David at 9am.  Location: The Lower Yosemite Falls Lodge.

yosemite wedding photography

Kelly got ready in a cozy cabin at the historic Awahnee Hotel, right under the falls.

yosemite wedding photography

Awahnee Hotel yosemite wedding photography

Awahnee Hotel

Kelly’s dress was customized with a beautiful red flower and sheer gold fabric on the backing.  She also made her necklace, earrings, and the hangars!

Awahnee Hotel yosemite

Ever since I got my Canon 100mm macro lens, the “ring shot” is one of my favorite things to do.   I like to incorporate one object that represents the wedding.   It’s usually something simple like a pine cone (as shown below), a leaf, a bird’s nest from the table decorations, or flowers.

yosemite wedding photography

Awahnee Hotel yosemite wedding photography

yosemite wedding photography

Intimate ceremony at the falls.

yosemite wedding photography

Guest added leafs with their finger prints on a tree Kelly made.

yosemite wedding photography

yosemite wedding photography

yosemite wedding photography

Since the wedding took place in the morning, everyone had a great lunch at the historic Awahnee hotel.  I was done shooting by 3:30pm, which is the record earliest finish time for me!  After their busy morning, Kelly and David were able to start their relaxing weekend hanging out with friends and family, hiking, and rock climbing.

Awahnee Hotel yosemite

*Pleast note: for personal reasons, some of the images from the wedding will remain private.