Thank you for considering the
Yosemite Valley Chapel
and Yosemite Community Church (YCC)
for your wedding destination.
Please read all of the information
on this page before making your decision.
For your information, the National Park Service entrance policies change seasonally.
Please visit Yosemite National Park's
Entrance Reservations
and
Current
Conditions pages.
Once you have decided to choose the Yosemite Valley Chapel for your wedding,
then:
1. Please have 2 or 3 choices for your date and time.
Then fill out
our contact us online
form, including your email address, and a 14-day hold
will be placed on one of your choices, if it is available.
2. A Wedding Packet of Information will be emailed to you.
3. Fill out the 'Chapel Wedding Reservation Form'
contained in the Wedding Packet and
return it with the payment due.
Faith will send your confirmation
via your email address,
so please remember to include your email address
on your reservation form.
Thank you,
Faith
YCC Secretary
We are the ONLY OFFICIAL websites
for the Yosemite Valley Chapel and
Yosemite Community Church
(www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org and
www.YosemiteValleyChapelWeddings.org).
These are our ONLY websites and we do not honor
any other sites who claim to be the Yosemite Chapel.
Note: The OFFICIAL Yosemite Valley Chapel websites
have the word "valley" in its web address and
ends in the letters ".org".
Please be careful and watch out for this.
If you have any questions about this or
would like to report any suspicious looking websites
to us that claim to be the Yosemite Valley Chapel
website, please call 209-372-4831 and ask for Faith
or see our Contact Us page.
Congratulations as you make plans for your wedding or
marriage renewal ceremony!
We are pleased that you are considering the Yosemite Valley Chapel
as a possible site for this very special occasion.
For over a century, this humble house of God has served both
visitors to and residents of Yosemite.
It continues today as a place of Worship, prayer, meditation,
and celebration.
The History of Yosemite Community Church:
The Chapel was built in 1879
under the auspices of the Yosemite Union Chapel Association.
Their stated purpose was:
"To erect an undenominational house of worship in the Yosemite Valley".
They took their inspiration from
two Old Testament
scripture verses:
Haggai 1:8:
"Go up to the mountain,
and bring wood,
and build the house;
and I will take pleasure in it,
and I will be glorified,
saith the LORD."
Isaiah 2:2:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the LORD's house
shall be established in the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it."
Funds were provided by private donors and
monies collected in Sunday School classes
across the state of California.
Although the Chapel continues today primarily as
a house of worship, over the years it has become
a popular wedding destination
due to the spectacular setting
and the quaint beauty of the building.
The first Chapel wedding took place on October 24, 1884.
Anyone issued a valid wedding license
by the state of California
may have their ceremony at the Yosemite Valley Chapel.
We are able to make reservations for up to 18 months
prior to your wedding or marriage renewal.
NO WEDDING MAY BE CONDUCTED ON THE CHAPEL LAWN OR GROUNDS.
THIS IS NOT A SITE WHERE WEDDINGS MAY BE CONDUCTED AS PER
THE
OFFICE OF SPECIAL PERMITS.
The National Park Service requires that you obtain a
Special Use Permit for all weddings and renewals
in Yosemite National Park.
For information and an application, please
call the Special Park Uses Office at 209-379-1858,
email yose_special_use_permits@nps.gov,
or visit their
Weddings & Committment Ceremonies in Yosemite National Park.
No Special Use Permits will be offered on:
Traditional Protestant weddings are available
through the resident minister.
Please refer to the Pre-Marriage Counseling
section below.
You are welcome to bring any licensed officiant of your own choice.
See paragraph
Using Your Minister
under Fees and Scheduling below.
The Chapel seats approximately 125 people and
has a center aisle (approximately 4' x 40'),
altar, organ, baby grand piano, and a simple worship setting.
There are nine rows of pews on each side of the Chapel.
There is only one rest room.
Because this bathroom must meet the needs of not only the
wedding or marriage renewal party,
but also guests and the church staff,
it is not possible to use the rest room as a dressing room
to prepare for your wedding or marriage renewal.
Please remove all items from the restroom.
The Chapel is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.
Please arrive at the Chapel already dressed and
fully ready for the ceremony.
There is no side room to wait in prior
to the ceremony.
The Chapel is wheelchair accessible by a wheelchair
lift (elevator).
Pre-marriage counseling is only required when using the
resident minister.
You do not need to schedule this counseling if you are
bringing your own minister.
We wish for you to have a lovely, memorable wedding day
and we pray that you have a good, solid, growing marriage.
Premarital counseling is intended to equip you with
the tools and skills you will need to grow together.
Therefore, premarital counseling is required before
your wedding in the Chapel, for those using
the Chapel minister.
To facilitate this valuable aspect of your future health
and vitality as a couple, and to provide you an
opportunity to meet with the minister prior to
your wedding, we offer a one-day
Marriage Enrichment Seminar.
This seminar is held in the Chapel the first Saturday
of each month (there is no seminar in January, July, or September).
History, experience, and feedback from participants
tells us you will find the seminar time well worth
your while.
The seminar begins at 8:15 AM and is over at
approximately 3:30 PM.
There is a one-hour break around noon for lunch.
Due to the limited lunch hour and the driving time
involved to return to the Chapel on the one-way loop,
we encourage you to bring your own picnic lunch to
enjoy on the Chapel grounds.
In addition, we provide two refreshment breaks.
Typically, 5 to 20 couples attend the seminar.
Unfortunately, child care is not available and
we ask that you do not bring infants or children
to the seminar.
The seminar consists in part of the following:
The following fees, payable to Yosemite Community Church,
may or may not be applicable to your given situation,
but are listed here for your information:
Using Our Minister: |
|||
Chapel Rental |
$1,200.00 |
||
Minister Officiation |
$500.00 |
||
Marriage Enrichment Seminar |
$200.00 |
|
|
Refillable Candle Fee |
$100.00 |
||
Rehearsal (optional) |
$100.00 |
||
|
|||
|
|||
Chapel Rental |
$1,200.00 |
||
Attendant Fee (unlocks restroom, |
$125.00 |
||
Refillable Candle Fee |
$100.00 |
||
|
If you use your own minister, then
I will need ONE of these three items from YOUR minister:
1. Proof of ordination, or
2. Proof of license, or
3. A letter on your minister's letterhead.
You pay your minister yourself.
All checks should be payable to: YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH
To confirm your reservation immediately, you may
send a check for the total applicable amount along with
your CHAPEL RESERVATION REQUEST FORM.
This will allow us to confirm your reservation immediately
assuming the date and time requested is available.
You may call the church office to check the availability
and arrange a tentative date and time.
We will hold tentative reservations for 14 days to allow
couples time to firm up their plans.
To confirm a tentative reservation, please return the
CHAPEL RESERVATION REQUEST FORM, along with your payment
for all applicable fees.
Please make your check payable to the Yosemite Community
Church and mail it to:
Yosemite Community Church
P.O. Box 456
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
We will send you a confirmation of your reservation
via your e-mail address.
We hope you do not have to cancel your reservation;
but if you do, please let us know in writing
as soon as possible so we may make the Chapel
available to others.
If we receive the notice of your cancellation (post marked)
at least 30 days before your wedding reservation,
50 percent of the Chapel and minister's fees and
100 percent of all other unused fees will be refunded.
If you notify us of your cancellation or schedule change
less than 30 days before your wedding reservation,
all fees are non-refundable.
In the event of a park closure due to natural disasters
or other unforeseen events beyond our control,
we would be happy to reschedule your event.
Please mail any cancellation notice to:
Yosemite Community Church
P.O. Box 456
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Please arrive at the Chapel 30 minutes before the
starting time of your ceremony to meet with our
minister so the ceremony can begin on time.
Weddings and renewals are scheduled 90 minutes apart.
You will have the Chapel reserved one-half hour before
and ending one hour after the scheduled time of your
ceremony.
For example, if your ceremony is scheduled to begin
at 1:00 PM, then your reservation is from 12:30 PM
until 2:00 PM.
The last ten minutes of your reserved time must be
set aside for clean-up.
Remember that the road in front of the Chapel is one-way.
If you are driving from the Yosemite Village area, give
yourself plenty of time to drive to the El Capitan
crossover and then to the
Chapel.
There will be ample time for your wedding and pictures
if you begin on time.
Your Chapel reservation is only for the time that has
been set and it is likely that the Chapel will be in use
for other services during the periods immediately
preceding and immediately following your wedding.
Please respect the allotted time for your wedding ceremony.
Please do not arrive earlier.
Please do not allow florists, musicians or other vendors
to arrive prior to your allotted time.
Please respect these policies.
If you feel you need more time, you MUST call the Chapel
and reserve an additional time slot:
see Fees and Scheduling above.
If you wish to schedule a rehearsal, please contact
the Chapel office at 209-372-4831.
Rehearsals are scheduled for one hour only.
They are usually scheduled at 6:30 PM or at 7:30 PM
(although sometimes our calendar allows an alternate time
within 30 days of your ceremony).
THERE IS NO ATTENDANT AND RESTROOMS ARE NOT UNLOCKED FOR REHEARSALS.
Please notify your minister if you are having a rehearsal.
The Chapel does not coordinate rehearsals with any minister.
You are free to provide whatever music you wish
for your ceremony (including instruments,
tape players, etc.) as long as the volume and selections
are within reason of what one would expect to hear in a Chapel.
A list of local area musicians
(and other services) is included below
for your reference.
Because the Chapel is small, we recommend that flower
arrangements be kept to a minimum.
The Chapel has two freestanding candelabras for your use.
Candles are rented
(see Fees and Scheduling above).
If you plan to light a Unity Candle during the ceremony,
bring one 3" base candle, the side candles will be rented
and are the Chapels property.
NO tape or tacks are permitted in decorating.
Nothing is allowed that will leave any remaining "print"
on the Chapel.
No decorations are permitted on the piano or organ and
these instruments are not to be moved from their fixed
locations.
No use of candles is permitted outside the altar area.
NO REAL FLOWER PETALS MAY BE THROWN INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL.
YOU MAY USE SILK FLOWER PETALS ONLY TO BE USED BY A FLOWER GIRL.
NOTE: Please designate a person(s) to pick up and
remove all flowers, 3 inch base unity candles, paper,
boxes, etc. from the Chapel and Chapel grounds.
The last ten minutes of your reserved time should be
used for this.
THE UNITY CANDLEHOLDER IS THE PROPERTY OF YOSEMITE
COMMUNITY CHURCH.
IF YOU TAKE IT, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A NEW ONE.
The throwing of rice, birdseed, flower petals,
balloons, confetti, etc., is not permitted,
either inside the Chapel or on the Chapel grounds.
There is no area in which you are permitted to have a reception
at the Chapel.
PARK SERVICE PERMITS NO refreshments or food of any kind,
NO EATING OR DRINKING AT THE CHAPEL OR
ANYWHERE IN THE GROUNDS, INCLUDING THE PARKING LOT.
*** Pets are NOT ALLOWED in the Chapel!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!! ***
No pets are allowed inside or outside of the chapel at any time.
For more regulations about your pets, please see the
Yosemite National
Park's Pets web page.
To enter Yosemite National Park, there is an
entrance fee required.
You must bring your California Marriage License
(issued within 90 days of your ceremony) with you
to your wedding ceremony (California residency is not
required for a marriage license).
The minister must have your license before your ceremony
can begin.
A Standard License may be obtained from the County Clerk in
any California county.
(If you should desire a Confidential License
for use in Yosemite, you must obtain that license
at the
Mariposa County
Clerk
(209-966-2007) in the town of
Mariposa,
California.)
The Chapel has no facilities for wedding receptions and
none are allowed on the Chapel grounds or in the parking lot.
Arrangements for a reception can be handled directly with
Yosemite Concessions Services Corporation.
You can call their Special Functions Department at
801-559-5000.
For hotel reservations within the park, call
801-559-5000.
During winter, be prepared for snowy and icy conditions
by carrying the
required
tire chains in all vehicles from Labor Day through Memorial Day.
If you do not have chains, you WILL be turned back to
the closest town outside the park to purchase or rent them.
The local 24-hour recorded road and weather information
telephone number is
209-372-0200.
It is especially important during the winter months for all
those who attend your ceremony to be prepared with
outdoor footgear since the paths to the Chapel may be
snow or ice covered.
IN WINTER TIRE CHAINS ARE REQUIRED.
THEY MUST BE CARRIED IN YOUR VEHICLE EVEN IF
CONDITIONS ARE NOT SNOWY OR THE ROADS SHOW
NO SIGNS OF SNOW OR ICE.
Please also be aware that during peak visitation periods,
such as holidays and the summer months, you should plan for
extra travel time due to increased traffic into the park and
possible delays at the park entrances.
In planning your travel to Yosemite National Park, please
call the recorded Road and Weather line of the park at
209-372-0200
for the most up-to-date information.
For more Yosemite weather information, please see the
Yosemite National Park -
Is there a best time to visit section.
If you have further questions, please call our office at
209-372-4831.
REVISED 10-22
The Yosemite Community Church, as a courtesy, provides this list
of local resources if you desire
floral,
photography,
music,
or
lodging
for your wedding.
All arrangements and fees are made directly with the individuals.
The Yosemite Community Church cannot be held responsible for
arrangements or correctness of information.
We recommend that you perform your own due diligence prior
to signing a contract.
Florists
|
Photographers
|
Musicians
|
Updated: 10-22
Please visit our:
Google Photos Album
(if you would like to view these photos in a slideshow,
then after tapping the above link,
tap the 3-dotted more options menu near the upper right and choose Slideshow
from the menu that appears)
Facebook
Photos page
(no slideshow option)
Main Facebook page
Chapel photos shared by others:
- Wikimedia Commons
- Google Maps
- Flickr Collection 1
- Flickr Collection 2
- Flickr Collection 3
- Flickr Collection 4
- Yelp
Chapel videos shared by others:
- Huell Howser's 2007 interview with Pastor Brent (starts at 4 min mark)
- YouTube Collection 1
- YouTube Collection 2
- YouTube Collection 3