Yosemite National Park

the hearnes » adventure elopement photographers

anna + robert's winter elopement in yosemite national park

One of the best things about being elopement and intimate wedding photographers is the extremely close relationships we get to develop with our couples during their wedding day. Anna and Robert’s elopement in Yosemite National Park was no exception! Their wedding story actually starts the week before their elopement day - when the forecast called for rain starting at 9am, which was not great considering we were planning a sunrise first look and mid-morning ceremony. We kept an eye on how the forecast changed, and observed the weather all week in Yosemite (side note - a huge benefit to hiring elopement photographers that have spent time in your epic wedding location is they have experience with all the different weather scenarios!!), and eventually decided to change a few things around with their timeline. We also encouraged them to buy umbrellas because with a wedding in the mountains you just never know!

As things always do in Yosemite, it all worked out and we even got to shoot (and watch) one of the most impressive sunsets I’ve ever seen in Yosemite the evening before their wedding. After a gorgeous first look in one of my favorite meadows surrounded by the towering mountains, we made our way up to a quiet overlook for sunset portraits. By the end of the day, the bottom half of Anna’s wedding dress was nearly soaked, but they were all smiles and over the moon excited for their elopement the next day! The morning of their elopement Yosemite was covered in a thin cloud layer, just enough to give us gorgeous wintry light, but not raining as the forecast had claimed (hallelujah!!). Their chilly ceremony took place in a little patch of snow with Half Dome as the backdrop and a fallen Yosemite tree as the alter. It was absolutely perfect. Lauren Snead, their amazing officiant, gave a perfectly sweet, perfectly Anna + Robert ceremony for them with their closest family members as witnesses. We then whisked them away for a few more portraits under Yosemite Falls, and just as the clouds began to sprinkle, we made our way back to the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee) for a delicious lunch in their gorgeous ballroom. By the time the day was over we felt like family and knew we’d made two new friends. It was a perfect way to end our winter season in Yosemite National Park! By the time this blog is posted we’ll be in Utah for a month of desert elopements and adventures. Life is sweet

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The Hearnes Adventure Photography is run by Abbi and Callen Hearne, a husband & wife wedding photography team with an emphasis on adventure. They live on the road as full-time nomads in their big white van, allowing them to serve a large portion of the western US including California, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. They believe love is the greatest adventure and strive to create photos that are epic, romantic, true, and timeless.

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