Yosemite Weddings & Adventure Elopements
“Experience you can trust. Guidance you can relax into.”
Donny Alexander
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”~ John Burroughs
Yosemite Has Been My Home
My connection to Yosemite began long before I became a wedding officiant. I’ve been exploring Yosemite consistently since 1996 and have been fortunate to call the park home for more than twenty years, off and on. Over the years, these mountains have become far more than a beautiful place to visit; they’ve become part of who I am.
From 2006 to 2016, I served as the Banquet Manager at The Ahwahnee Hotel, where I had the privilege of overseeing more than a thousand weddings and countless other celebrations. Watching so many couples begin their lives together taught me that the details people spend months planning are rarely what they remember most.
What they remember is how they felt. The quiet anticipation before the ceremony. The laughter. The happy tears. The feeling of standing hand in hand while promising forever.
In 2010, I officiated my first wedding, and I quickly discovered something unexpected; I loved being the person guiding couples through one of the happiest moments of their lives. Since then, I’ve officiated hundreds of weddings throughout Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, each one unique, each one reminding me that no two love stories are ever the same.
More Than Just an Officiant
One of the greatest compliments I receive from couples is that I helped them feel relaxed. That’s exactly what I hope for.
Planning a wedding in a national park can feel overwhelming at first. Permits, locations, weather, timelines, vendors, road conditions, wildlife, and countless other details can quickly become stressful. That’s why I created the Planning Center and why I take the time to guide every couple through the process. When your wedding day arrives, I don’t want you thinking about logistics. I want you thinking about each other.
Why Yosemite?
There are beautiful wedding venues all over the world. But there’s something different about Yosemite. Towering granite cliffs. Ancient giant sequoias. Crystal-clear rivers. Thundering waterfalls. Star-filled skies. Nature has a remarkable way of reminding us what truly matters.
I’ve watched couples stand quietly together after their ceremony taking in the view, realizing that this moment is now part of their story forever. Those moments never get old.
My Philosophy
I believe your ceremony should feel authentic. It should reflect your relationship, your personalities, and the life you’re building together, not someone else’s expectations.
Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement with just the two of you or celebrating alongside your closest family and friends, my goal is always the same: To create a ceremony that feels natural, meaningful, and unmistakably yours.
Beyond the Ceremony
When I’m not officiating weddings, you’ll usually find me somewhere in the Sierra Nevada with a camera in hand or a climbing rope over my shoulder. Rock climbing has been one of my greatest passions for many years. Some of my favorite days have been spent ascending Yosemite’s iconic granite walls, exploring hidden domes, hiking remote trails, and discovering places that many visitors never have the opportunity to see. Those adventures have given me a deep appreciation for the beauty, power, and unpredictability of these mountains.
Photography is another hobby of mine, allowing me to slow down and experience Yosemite in a different way. Whether I’m watching the first light touch Half Dome, photographing wildflowers in the spring, or waiting for the Milky Way to rise above the valley, I’m continually reminded why this place inspires so many people.
Sharing Yosemite with couples isn’t simply my profession; it’s something I genuinely love. It brings me great joy to introduce others to a place that has shaped so much of my own life and to help them begin their next adventure in a landscape that has meant so much to me.
Yosemite has given me a lifetime of adventures. Helping couples begin theirs is one of the greatest privileges I could ask for. If you have any questions or need further information, please use the form below to reach out.
Yosemite Weddings & Adventure Elopements
“Experience you can trust. Guidance you can relax into.”
Donny Alexander
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”~ John Burroughs
Yosemite Has Been My Home
My connection to Yosemite began long before I became a wedding officiant. I’ve been exploring Yosemite consistently since 1996 and have been fortunate to call the park home for more than twenty years, off and on. Over the years, these mountains have become far more than a beautiful place to visit; they’ve become part of who I am.
From 2006 to 2016, I served as the Banquet Manager at The Ahwahnee Hotel, where I had the privilege of overseeing more than a thousand weddings and countless other celebrations. Watching so many couples begin their lives together taught me that the details people spend months planning are rarely what they remember most.
What they remember is how they felt. The quiet anticipation before the ceremony. The laughter. The happy tears. The feeling of standing hand in hand while promising forever.
In 2010, I officiated my first wedding, and I quickly discovered something unexpected; I loved being the person guiding couples through one of the happiest moments of their lives. Since then, I’ve officiated hundreds of weddings throughout Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, each one unique, each one reminding me that no two love stories are ever the same.
More Than Just an Officiant
One of the greatest compliments I receive from couples is that I helped them feel relaxed. That’s exactly what I hope for.
Planning a wedding in a national park can feel overwhelming at first. Permits, locations, weather, timelines, vendors, road conditions, wildlife, and countless other details can quickly become stressful. That’s why I created the Planning Center and why I take the time to guide every couple through the process. When your wedding day arrives, I don’t want you thinking about logistics. I want you thinking about each other.
Why Yosemite?
There are beautiful wedding venues all over the world. But there’s something different about Yosemite. Towering granite cliffs. Ancient giant sequoias. Crystal-clear rivers. Thundering waterfalls. Star-filled skies. Nature has a remarkable way of reminding us what truly matters.
I’ve watched couples stand quietly together after their ceremony taking in the view, realizing that this moment is now part of their story forever. Those moments never get old.
My Philosophy
I believe your ceremony should feel authentic. It should reflect your relationship, your personalities, and the life you’re building together, not someone else’s expectations.
Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement with just the two of you or celebrating alongside your closest family and friends, my goal is always the same: To create a ceremony that feels natural, meaningful, and unmistakably yours.
Beyond the Ceremony
When I’m not officiating weddings, you’ll usually find me somewhere in the Sierra Nevada with a camera in hand or a climbing rope over my shoulder. Rock climbing has been one of my greatest passions for many years. Some of my favorite days have been spent ascending Yosemite’s iconic granite walls, exploring hidden domes, hiking remote trails, and discovering places that many visitors never have the opportunity to see. Those adventures have given me a deep appreciation for the beauty, power, and unpredictability of these mountains.
Photography is another hobby of mine, allowing me to slow down and experience Yosemite in a different way. Whether I’m watching the first light touch Half Dome, photographing wildflowers in the spring, or waiting for the Milky Way to rise above the valley, I’m continually reminded why this place inspires so many people.
Sharing Yosemite with couples isn’t simply my profession; it’s something I genuinely love. It brings me great joy to introduce others to a place that has shaped so much of my own life and to help them begin their next adventure in a landscape that has meant so much to me.
Yosemite has given me a lifetime of adventures. Helping couples begin theirs is one of the greatest privileges I could ask for. If you have any questions or need further information, please use the form below to reach out.
