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We will continually update as we approach the wedding date!
Wedding Plans
Small Wedding Ceremony
Cathedral Beach – Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park, California
Thursday June 18, 2026 – 10AM
Then a celebration with the newly weds!
Save the date
Saturday September 26, 2026
Columbus, Ohio
Think of it as a party, not a traditional reception —
Just food, drinks, and time together with family and friends.
We hope you will join us for one, both, or simply cheer us on from afar! Please note that travel and lodging will be at your own discretion and expense.
About Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, known for massive granite cliffs like El Capitan, (Have you seen the movie Free Solo?) and Half Dome, dramatic waterfalls, ancient giant sequoia trees, and a broad valley shaped by glaciers.
Map of Yosemite Valley. See Cathedral beach lower left.
Getting to Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is about 170 miles (275 km) east of San Francisco, roughly a 4 hour drive depending on traffic, route, and weather.
See Yosemite.com’s Getting to Yosemite. The park has several entrances so it’s helpful to know this in advance when you’re booking lodging. You want to be as close to Yosemite Valley as possible, and if possible stay in the park to avoid long lines at entrances. (We’re staying in Wawona, southern area of the park.)
We will give you a copy of our wedding permit in case the reservation system is in place for 2026. You will still need to pay the entrance fee.
Where Should I Fly Into?
We will be flying into San Francisco (SFO) which is a 4 hour drive to the park. This is the most ideal option for combining Yosemite with a California vacation.
Where Should I Stay?
We will be staying in an Airbnb in Wawona (located outside of Yosemite Valley, but still inside the park). Roughly 1 hour drive to the valley.
Atkinson family has stayed at Tenaya Lodge several times and it was amazing! (About 15 years ago) It is located outside of the park and about one hour drive south from the valley.
See Yosemite.com Places to Stay for up-to-date lodging options.
Yosemite Things to Do
Take a Virtual Tour of Yosemite!
See Yosemite.com Things to Do
Best Hikes in Yosemite
Yosemite Summer Visit Tips
Bike Rentals, Swimming and more Yosemite Valley
What are my transportation options?
We will be renting a car and plan on driving for the duration of the trip. Car rentals are typically the most flexible way to reach Yosemite and explore the area.
Yosemite Valley Public Public Transportation and Shuttle System.
Uber/Lyft rideshares are not an option.
Important Tips
- Arrive early to the park. Crowds are typical during this time of year.
- We will give you a copy of our wedding permit.
- Download paper maps and directions before arriving, cell service is spotty.
- Mountain roads can be narrow and winding, please drive slow and carefully.
- Pit toilets are available at the picnic area.
- Bears are common in Yosemite. Food must be at arm’s length and not left unattended at all times.
Why Yosemite
You may be wondering ‘Why Yosemite’?
Family Vacation Pictures
During our first Yosemite vacation we witnessed a rockfall while biking in the Valley, which my dad captured on video. Geologists and a media team were interested in the footage and later invited him back for an interview, so we returned the following year—this footage appears in the Yosemite Nature Notes episode titled “Rock Fall,” featuring my dad.
A bear with my backpack left unattended with snacks inside.