Sequoia National Park Weddings
- Brooke Motl
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
Most folks are familiar with adventure elopements by now: just you and your partner running off into the wilderness together, getting married with just your officiant and a photographer as your witness. But what if I told you that you could bring your family and friends into the wilderness with you if desired?
Sequoia is just one of many US National Parks that makes for an unforgettable wedding venue. Towering ancient trees, epic views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and a highly-rated restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge make Sequoia National Park weddings a fantastic choice for outdoorsy couples who want to include their loved ones in their special day.
Are you and your partner considering your own Sequoia National Park wedding? Read on for all the details from one of these adventurous celebrations.
Sequoia National Park Wedding Permit
The first thing to lock in when planning your Sequoia wedding is the date and location. There are seven locations in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks:
Beetle Rock
Crescent Meadow
Halstead Meadow Picnic Area
Wolverton/Long Meadow
Lost Grove Turnout
Panoramic Point
Muir Rock/Roads End
Once you've chosen your date and location, you'll need to submit a wedding permit application. The application fee is $150 and the application with fee must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the event date to be considered.
This couple submitted their application several months out to ensure Crescent Meadow, their preferred location, would be available on their desired date and time. Dates late spring-early fall are the most popular, so it helps to lock your date in as soon as you know a Sequoia wedding is right for you.
Sequoia National Park Wedding Planning Process
From there, the real fun begins!
As a Sequoia National Park wedding expert, I'm here to help you with the entire process. All of my clients receive a vendor recommendation list to help you curate an experienced team to ensure every part of your day is perfect.
In addition to helping you pick an amazing team, I'll also collaborate with you on planning the entire day. Over on the Sequoia page of my website, I break down my pricing packages and what they include; wedding and elopement coverage is offered in either half day (4-hr) or full day (sunrise-sunset; 8-hr of coverage total).
I'll customize a timeline just for you and your partner that best fits your:
Wedding date
Guest count
Preferred activity level
Here's what the timeline looked for this couple's day. Keep in mind, national park wedding timelines can be a bit more flexible than traditional weddings, and adjustments can be made day-of as needed.
The Wedding Day!
On the day of the wedding, there are a few parts of the timeline that are stricter when you have guests: the ceremony and dinner.
Your wedding permit will allow you up to two hours in your ceremony space, and officiants have a set time in which they will be there to perform the ceremony and facilitate the signing of your marriage license.
If you opt to have your reception at the Wuksachi Lodge, you'll be required make a reservation and the room will be reserved for only a set duration.
Outside of these parts of the day, any planned activities (hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, etc) and rest breaks can be adjusted as needed.
This couple's activities included hiking the Tokopah Falls trail in the Lodgepole area of the park and a tea ceremony at the lodge. The weather was a bit warmer than anticipated so we hiked only part of the trail before taking a rest break. That's just part of the beauty of a Sequoia wedding: you can make changes on the fly as needed!
Stay Flexible
After our short hike, the couple opted to return to the lodge for a nap before the rest of the days festivities. While they got some rest I hung out at the Lodgepole Visitor Center to grab some snacks and edit a few preview photos to share with them come reception time.
The rest of the day's festivities continued as scheduled. It was important to be mindful of the couple's time as well as their guests'. Many of their guests traveled to Sequoia National Park from out of state, and even from out of the country. The tea ceremony and dinner were sacred parts of the day, and we wanted to ensure those were honored and respected.
Book Your Own Sequoia National Park Wedding
Whether you're planning a Sequoia National Park wedding in the next few months or a year from now, Brooke Motl Photo is a local expert who can not only capture your day beautifully but help you with assembling the perfect vendor team and with planning the perfect day.
Complete a contact form using the button below to get started.
