Last year, 10/10/22, we got married in Yosemite Valley. We eloped with just our two photographers, one of them lived in Yosemite for many years in the past, and a videographer. We started at a cabin in Foresta and drove into the Valley at the perfect time when the small amount of water still coming down a waterfall had a rainbow radiating. We did our ceremony next to the water at Cathedral Beach where El Capitan was in the background and looked like a perfect watercolor painting. We spent some time there before heading to a large meadow with a old fallen tree. By this time it was golden hour and all the grass was glowing around us. It was so beautiful and many other guests stopped to wish us a congratulations. We then went up a little past Tunnel View to stand out on some rocks and watch the sunset over the Valley. We had our first dance here and slowed down time sitting and watching the sunset. My husband and I then went to the Ahwahnee for dinner. It was so magical. As we walked up to check in at the dining hall they said “we’ve been waiting for you” since we were dressed in a white dress and a suit. They took a beautiful picture of us with the grand room behind us, and then we were walked to our table as the pianist played beautiful music. Our table was on the far side of the room, and many other guests turned to us smiling, as they too knew we must have just gotten married. We had the most wonderful time getting to enjoy so many wonderful things Yosemite has to offer. It will forever be a very special place for us.
Gabriel and Ashley Arcoleo