Jacki and Patrick, like many other 2020 couples, had all their wedding plans flipped upside down. And they took it in stride, with more grace than I could’ve wished for. After a beautiful, intimate wedding in Malibu, these two decided to make something special of the chaos by joining Conrad and I a few days later in Yosemite for a little elopement-style adventure session in their wedding clothes.

Jacki’s Anne Barge wedding dress, originally chosen for a modern Hollywood wedding, was a Yosemite stunner. That woman slayed. And Patrick did it justice with his white tuxedo jacket. They are evidence that an outdoorsy, adventurous wedding or elopements can also be fashionable, modern, and luxurious. Wear the dress or suit (or literally whatever else) you want. Whether it’s simple or extravagant, it’s your wedding.

Jacki had her sights set on the iconic Taft Point after seeing some of my previous Yosemite photos there, so we pulled a few strings to make that dream come true. Due to Covid restrictions, Yosemite was requiring entry passes for visitors. Jacki and Patrick didn’t have one, so Conrad and I drove out of the park to pick them up, chase sunset, and take them back to their hotel. What could’ve been a minor inconvenience was the best time chatting and being in community with sweet friends. It also happened to be a sweet spot amidst the fires that filled Yosemite with orange smoke for weeks. We got incredibly lucky with soft haze and the golden-pink sunset that is so quintessentially Taft Point. It was still clear enough to see the best of the Yosemite Valley floor–– from El Capitan to the meadow to Yosemite Falls.