Hiking to the chapel - planning weddings in national parks

Sunset, August, 1995 by Chris Theimer

A bride's practical guide to getting married in a national park

On March 14, 1992, I hiked in Yosemite National Park. Unlike most visitors, I wore a full-length while wool crepe dress, white Bruno Magli pumps, and gardenias in my hair. I was on my way to Yosemite Valley Chapel to get married.

Arranging a wedding in a national park is no more difficult than arranging one at a church. You just need to operate under a slightly different set of assumptions than the average wedding planner, and be willing to make a few trade-offs for your gorgeous outdoor setting.

Learn the ground rules first. Contact the ranger headquarters of the park you're interested in. The Complete Guide to America's National Parks (National Park Foundation, Washington, DC, 1994-95; $14.95) lists all 367 national park areas and how to contact them. Find out what locations and times are available, and whether you'll need a permit. Concessionaires at the Big Three - Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon - all have events planners and brochures outlining the options at hotels and lodges, as well as lists of local wedding photographers, florists, and bakeries.

Think small. "We're really not equipped to handle weddings with more than 85 people," says Alley Keosheyan of Group Sales at the Grand Canyon. "We don't have a scenic site with enough space to seat a bigger gathering." That's true of all of the Big Three parks. Find out your park's limit before determining your guest list.

Think off-season. According to Charlene Olsen, events and wedding coordinator of Yosemite Concession Services, "If you're going to get married in Yosemite between May and October, you'll need to start planning at least a year in advance. The critical issues are accommodations and catering space at the lodges' banquet rooms. The rest of the year is much easier."

Make a field trip to the site. This is the single most important step. Information provided by the Park Service can help you visualize where you can hold the ceremony - a vista point or a chapel, for example - and whether you want a buffet outdoors or a sit-down dinner in a lodge. But you must make at least one visit to nail down the details. Bring along the most organized person you know - preferably someone who's arranged a wedding before - so you can make quick judgments on the fine points of your big day.

You should also schedule an appointment with the relevant ranger or events planner. By doing so, I managed to organize my entire wedding in one weekend. This is the time to find out administrative trivia such as what refrigerators you can use to store your floral arrangements.

Don't expect perfection in grooming. Most national parks aren't near a major town or a four-star, full-service resort. During your site visit, find out which grooming services are available. For example, Grand Canyon and Yosemite have hairdressers but no dry cleaners. If you want your gown pressed, you may need to pack a steam iron.

Save a slush fund for weird transportation expenses. I didn't want to drive my wedding cake over two mountain passes the day before my wedding. For peace of mind, I decided it was worth the extra $50 the baker charged for delivery and assembly. The same holds true for flowers, tuxedos, and other details.

Have fun! What's the downside to getting married in a gorgeous location? The only one I've found is my wedding pictures, which my friends refer to as "the $2.98 wedding photos." The background is so perfect that the pictures look fake.