Kings Canyon + Sequoia Elopement Photographer
Film + Digital · Giant Sequoias · Sierra Nevada · Ancient Groves
There is a tree in Sequoia National Park called the General Sherman. It is the largest living thing on earth by volume — nearly 275 feet tall, almost 3,000 years old. Standing next to it, the scale of what you're looking at doesn't fully register. Your brain just keeps adjusting and re-adjusting, trying to understand something that large and that old.
It's the right scale for a wedding.
Kings Canyon and Sequoia sit side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada, and together they form one of the most awe-inspiring elopement landscapes in the country. Kings Canyon delivers dramatic granite gorges, roaring rivers, and alpine meadows that rival anything in Yosemite. Sequoia gives you the ancient groves — towering, silent, otherworldly. A ceremony under old-growth sequoias is one of the few elopement experiences I know of that genuinely earns the word sacred.
These parks are less crowded than Yosemite and every bit as extraordinary. For couples who want the Sierra Nevada without the masses — this is it
Why Kings Canyon + Sequoia for Your Elopement
Standing at the base of the world's largest trees is the adventure here — no climbing required, just looking up
The sequoias are unlike anything else on earth. Ancient giant trees, cathedral-quiet groves, soft forest light filtering through centuries-old canopy. There is no substitute for this experience.
Kings Canyon is Yosemite's quieter twin. Dramatic granite walls, a deep river gorge, subalpine meadows — the landscape is epic and the crowds are a fraction of Yosemite's.
Film loves the light in these forests. The diffused, golden-green light in the sequoia groves is one of the most beautiful natural lighting conditions I've photographed in. Film renders it in a way that digital simply can't match.
It pairs beautifully with Yosemite. If you're dreaming of a two-day Sierra experience, Kings Canyon + Sequoia and Yosemite are within a few hours of each other.
Where We Can Elope in Kings Canyon + Sequoia
Giant Forest (Sequoia) — the heart of the sequoia groves. Home to the General Sherman Tree and miles of old-growth forest.
Moro Rock (Sequoia) — a granite dome with panoramic Sierra Nevada views.
Crescent Meadow (Sequoia) — a lush, wildflower-lined meadow ringed by giant sequoias, often called the "Gem of the Sierra." Quiet, intimate, and one of the prettiest spots in the park for a ceremony or an intimate picnic
Grant Grove (Kings Canyon) — home to the General Grant Tree (the second-largest tree on earth) and some of the most accessible old-growth forest in both parks.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway / Cedar Grove — the canyon floor at the deepest point of the park, with towering granite walls, the Kings River, and lush riverside meadows.
Zumwalt Meadow (Kings Canyon) — a peaceful subalpine meadow surrounded by canyon walls and pine forest. One of the most serene spots in the Sierra Nevada.
Kings Canyon and Sequoia are about four hours from home base — so this collection includes a one-night hotel stay, built directly into your price. That means your day can move at its own pace: get ready in the morning, spend your afternoon among the giant sequoias or out at the canyon overlooks, and have real flexibility on start and end times — chasing the best light for a sunrise ceremony, a sunset ceremony, or whichever feels right once you're there.
Every Kings Canyon + Sequoia Elopement collection includes:
➡ A 2,3 or 4+ hour elopement session at your choice of locations across Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park
➡ Hybrid film and digital photography - film moments are captured throughout your time with me
➡ A custom timeline and location plan built around your vision
➡ A complete digital gallery delivered with full printing rights
Kings Canyon + Sequoia Elopement Pricing
Pricing
The Love Letter - $2,100
2 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
35mm film
Sneak Peek within 5 days
The long way Home - $3,800
3 hour coverage
Online gallery, full print release
A handful of mini polaroid prints
120mm Film ( Medium Format)
Sneak peek within 5 days
Timeline & Planning guidance
All Inclusive: starts at $5,200
Includes everything in the “Long way home”
Plus: Additional 2 hours, Additional 1-2 locations, Bouquet & Boutonniere, Officiant, timeline assistance, and additional film rolls
For Destination + International Couples
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are a true escape, and getting there is easier than you'd think. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is about 1¾ hours from the park entrance, with daily domestic connections plus direct flights from Mexico. Coming from further abroad, fly into LAX or San Francisco International (SFO) and connect through to Fresno. The logistics on the ground are genuinely simple. California has no residency or citizenship requirement for a marriage license. Your passport and your partner are all you need.
→Full planning guide for international and destination couples
Planning Your California Elopement From Abroad
For Destination + International Couples
Kings Canyon and Sequoia are among the most underrated California national parks — international couples who find their way here are often overwhelmed by what they discover. The closest major airports are Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), about 1.5–2 hours from both parks, and Los Angeles (LAX), about 4 hours south. California has no residency or citizenship requirement for a marriage license.
→ Full planning guide for international and destination couples
FAQ
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Yes — the National Park Service requires a Special Use Permit for all weddings and elopements within both parks. The process is similar to Yosemite. I'll walk you through the application from start to finish.
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Late spring through early fall (May–October) is the main season. Summer (July–August) brings wildflowers and warm evenings. Fall (September–October) has fewer crowds and golden afternoon light in the groves. Winter and early spring can mean road closures at higher elevations — check conditions if you're considering an off-season elopement.
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Yosemite has the name recognition and the iconic valley. Kings Canyon and Sequoia have the ancient trees and more privacy. There are no crowds at Zumwalt Meadow. The sequoia groves in the morning, before day visitors arrive, feel like another world.
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Absolutely — the two parks share a border and many visitors move between them in the same day. A morning ceremony in the sequoia groves and afternoon portraits in Kings Canyon is one of my favorite Sierra days.
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Yes — I have trusted recommendations for both in the Sierra Nevada region. Wildflower-inspired arrangements in these landscapes are extraordinary. Just ask when you inquire and I'll make the right connections.
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I keep Fridays and Saturdays for full weddings, so elopements are available Sunday–Thursday.
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I limit overnight destination elopements to 1–2 per month to give every couple the preparation and attention these locations deserve. Sierra dates book up — reach out early.
Ready to elope among the giants?
Tell me your dates, your vision, and what's drawing you to the sequoias. I'll respond within 24 hours with location ideas, timing, and availability.
Start your inquiry below ↓