Evergreen Lodge Wedding | Sarah + Ethan

Glamping Evergreen Lodge Wedding in Groveland, CA

Photographing a wedding in the mountains is an amazing experience, especially when the couple loves being outdoors. For this particular wedding, nature was a huge inspiration, so choosing Evergreen Lodge in Yosemite was a natural choce. The couple chose earth tones as the color scheme and incorporated lots of flowers and trees into their decor. They even decided to get married under the beautiful trees in the mountains.

To match this nature-inspired theme, our photographer took a unique approach to capture the essence of the day. They focused on capturing editorial portraits, which are artistic and visually stunning. These portraits showcased the couple's style and personalities while also highlighting the beauty of the surroundings.

As an editorial photographer with a focus on community engagement, I was given an exceptional opportunity at Sarah and Ethan's wedding at Evergreen Lodge in Yosemite. Their choice of a mountain venue beautifully aligned with their passion for nature and set the stage for their wedding, deeply rooted in the natural splendor of Yosemite, reflecting their personalities and outdoor lifestyle. Their wedding decor, inspired by the surrounding wilderness, featured natural earth tones and a wealth of florals, all set under Yosemite's towering trees. This setting was ideal for creating the soulful, artistic images that are central to my photography style. Opting for a multi-day celebration, akin to a luxurious camping wedding weekend, Sarah and Ethan's event allowed for the capture of more spontaneous, natural moments. This approach perfectly captured the spirit of their community-centered celebration, blending artful portraits with real storytelling.

My tips and advice for couples getting married at Evergreen Lodge:

Consider doing a sunrise photo session in Yosemite National Park on a day before the wedding day. This gives a time to explore the gorgeous landscapes and get photos in the actual park. Some of my favorite locations are Tunnel View, Taft Point, and the lower valley areas.
For the reception timing, if possible have your first dance 1 hour before sunset, then go take sunset portraits (usually only 10-15 minutes). These provides perfect golden lighting for both your first dance and sunset portraits of just you two together.
Plan a multiple day “wedding weekend”. Evergreen Lodge provides a large amount of accommodations, so many of your guests can stay on-site. Venues that provide accommodations are perfect for doing multiple days of wedding events, ensuring you get to spend quality time with everyone attending. Wedding days can seem to go by quickly, so I strongly recommend doing events over multiple days. You can plan some activities in Yosemite National Park, a welcome BBQ dinner in one of the picnic areas, or have the venue organize activities for you. There is also a pool at this venue, so a relaxing day spent by the pool after the wedding can be a fun wind-down after the events.
Unsure of which cabin to rent for getting ready? The John Muir House provides the best light for getting ready photos with it’s A-frame shape and floor to ceiling windows. It also is the most spacious out of all the cabins, highly recommend booking this cabin specifically for getting ready.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hi, I’m Catalina Jean - a destination wedding photographer servicing Oregon, California, Mexico and beyond. Nature, minimalism, dark shadows, real emotion all make my heart skip a beat.

Getting hitched? Check out my work and reach out to learn more.

Venue: Evergreen Lodge // Florist: Emily Petros // DJ: Sounds Elevated // Bakery: Butter & // MUAH: Braided Blonde Locks // Dress: Daughters of Simone // Suit: Suit Supply // Rings: Young in the Mountains