Growing up, I loved to be outside and experience the beauty and adventure of the outdoors. As an adult, I travel and follow people on their own adventures. As a destination wedding photographer, I’ve been able to combine my love of travel and creating art through photos. It’s been an incredible ride, from western weddings to adventurous national park weddings. If you are recently engaged and planning your adventure, congratulations!!! Throughout this blog, I’ll detail how to plan your national park wedding and help you ultimately decide if that is right for you. Adventure weddings are always a blast, and I can’t wait to help you plan yours!
Choose the Right National Park + Best Ceremony Location
First, and arguably most important, you must choose your favorite park for your wedding! National park weddings are unbelievably beautiful, filled with adventure and all the rustic vibes. Before making your decision about which park, do your research. Look on Pinterest at other parks and see if you can find some inspiration for your big day. I have a deep love for Yosemite and Glacier National Parks. However, that wouldn’t stop me from checking out different parks for my day. Sit down with your partner and discuss what is important to you and your overall vibe or connection to the park.
Once you’ve chosen your national park for your big day, it’s time to look at ceremony locations. While researching online, you’ll see plenty of incredible locations within the park for your ceremony. However, do your research. Some places will require a permit, while others don’t. If you’ve found a spot you love, look into it and call the park’s rangers. They’ll be able to give you more information!
Obtain the Proper Permit For Weddings
As I’ve previously mentioned, some spots within the park require permits. If you’ve decided on a specific site for your ceremony in the national park, obtain the proper permit. There’s nothing worse than planning your wedding only to have things shut down because you didn’t have the right piece of paper. Here’s a step-by-step guide to booking a wedding in Yosemite! All parks will have something similar, showing you exactly how to obtain a permit for national park weddings.
Things to Consider When Getting Married at a National Park
You may want to consider a few things before signing the dotted line and making all the arrangements. First, how far away is the closest airport to the national park? If you’re having guests fly in for your big day, you’ll want to make sure the airport isn’t too far away. Not only can that make for disgruntled guests, but you don’t want anyone to get lost or stuck at the airport waiting for a ride.
What about wedding flowers, ceremony decorations, or an after-wedding picnic? All national parks have specific rules to ensure the park is maintained and well cared for. Look into specifics for what you can and can’t bring into the park. Lastly, what does it cost to get married in the park? Most of the time, your permit is the only cost you’ll pay within the park. Anything else you decide to bring is an added cost!
What is ‘Leave No Trace’ + Why It’s Important
Respecting the park and nature is essential when opting for national park weddings, elopements, or even visits. ‘Leave No Trace guidelines and best practices were established to ensure the protection of nature and do one’s part to protect the land. A quick overview of those principles is as follows.
- Plan Ahead + Prepare
- Travel + Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more detailed information, check out the Leave No Trace website here.
Best National Park Wedding Locations to Consider
Glacier National Park
Yosemite National Park
Grand Teton National Park
National parks are some of my favorite places on Earth and are special to me. I hope that you found this guide helpful and that you can enjoy planning your upcoming wedding. As a destination wedding photographer who has worked with dozens of couples, I suggest trying to enjoy yourself, schedule time together, and enjoy the adventure. Your wedding day will go by quickly, and making time for one another is essential.
Are you planning your dream destination wedding and looking for the right photographer? Let’s chat!
