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Cathedral Beach Yosemite Wedding

Cost, photos, tips & more for 2026

Cathedral Beach Yosemite Wedding Guide

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Cathedral Beach is one of those Yosemite wedding locations that somehow feels both iconic and quiet at the same time. Tucked along the Merced River with wide-open views of El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks, it’s a dream spot for couples who want that classic Yosemite backdrop without hiking a mile in wedding attire. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a small micro wedding with a few of your favorite people, Cathedral Beach gives you sweeping granite, river reflections, and enough space to actually breathe and be present on your day.

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Cathedral Beach Yosemite Wedding Photos

Lauren and Corey

Lauren & Corey’s day started at sunrise at El Capitan Meadow for their first look, and took photos around the valley before heading to Cathedral Beach. They said their vows on the beach with El Cap and the Merced River as the backdrop.

After the ceremony, they celebrated with their friends and family at the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area and had a picnic with champagne and donuts. They also chose to read their vows to each other in private at Sentinel Beach before we wrapped up this Yosemite National Park elopement.

We hope you enjoy these photos from their Cathedral Beach Yosemite wedding!

“We had a small wedding/elopement in Yosemite National Park in August 2021 that Savannah & Greg did the photos for. The photos turned out even better than we could have imagined. They did a great job helping us find locations in the park and helping us pose at each spot. Our wedding got postponed from 2020 because of covid, and we had booked them over a year before that. They had great communication for what turned out to be over a two year wait from booking to the actual day. Highly recommend them.”

– Corey & Lauren

QUESTION

bride and groom having a ceremony during their Cathedral Beach wedding in Yosemite National Park

Cathedral Beach Weddings

Weddings at Cathedral Beach in Yosemite are popular due to the gorgeous scenic view this location provides. This is a designated ceremony site in Yosemite National Park that features views of El Capitan, the Merced River and the meadows.

The location is also a popular beach, swimming hole and picnic area, meaning it does get busy in the summer months. Due to this, we highly recommend planning your Cathedral Beach Yosemite wedding in the early morning hours to avoid crowds and have the most intimate experience.

It’s also important to note that the water levels vary throughout the year. In the early summer months, flooding is common and the beach may be under water.

Cathedral Beach Picnic Area Wedding Cost

The permit to get married at Cathedral Beach picnic area is only $150 and allows you to have up to 50 guests for your ceremony.

To learn more about planning your wedding, we recommend reading our Yosemite Wedding Planning Guide.

QUESTION

Accessibility

Cathedral Beach is located in the valley at the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area. There’s a large parking lot on site as well as bathrooms, trails and a picnic area.

It’s is open year round, except from November-memorial day weekend, and is just a short walk from the parking lot on a paved trail.

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