First, we can’t tell you how excited we are that you are including your dog(s) in your elopement/wedding day! We love it when our couples include their dog(s) on their elopement day. We know how much your fur babies mean to you. One of the best things about elopements is that you aren’t confined to a venue – you can have your ceremony with some of the most incredible scenery in the backdrop! What could be better than including your furry best friend on one of the best days of your life? Keep reading for our ultimate dog friendly elopement guide, and let’s plan your dog-friendly elopement.

Range Of Light Wed

We're Range Of Light Wed, your elopement planning dream team. We are a group of seasoned local wedding professionals who want to support your elopement or small wedding journey. Our biggest goal is to give you a meaningful experience that feels just how you want it to.

We delight in sharing our home, the Sierra Nevadas, with couples ready to start their lives with big adventures or quiet moments. For us, it's not just about your elopement itself. Instead, it's about the experience of connecting with nature and each other in a deeply personal way.

Let the dog friendly elopement planning begin…

The Ultimate Dog Friendly Elopement Guide

Steps To Planning Your Dog Friendly Elopement:

Find A Dog Friendly Elopement Destination
Choose A Dog Friendly Time Of Year
Consider Your Dogs Hiking Experience
Have A Pet Sitter For The Pup Of Honor
Choose Dog Friendly Accommodations
Learn About Dog Friendly Leave No Trace
Pack The Dog Essentials
Hire A Dog Friendly Elopement Team
Have the best day ever!

Find A Dog Friendly Elopement Destination

The top priority for a dog friendly elopement is finding a dog friendly elopement destination! While many National Parks do not allow dogs (looking at you, Yosemite), most State Parks do, so there is no need to worry!

Part of finding a dog friendly elopement destination is assessing how good your dog is with travel. Most likely, you won’t want to board a plane if you’re bringing your dog along for your wedding day, so the place you choose to elope will need to be within driving distance. Each dog is different, so you’ll need to take that into consideration and think about any needs or quirks that your dog has. For instance, if your pup doesn’t like long car rides, you might choose an elopement destination closer to home.

Here are a few tips to get you started with finding a dog friendly elopement destination:

Avoid National Parks: Many National Parks are not dog friendly, so look outside of National Park boundaries during your search.
Instead, Check Out State Parks and Forests: Many state parks and forests are dog friendly. In addition, check out the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. We’ll get into our favorite elopement destinations below.
Use AllTrails: Use dog friendly filters on sites like AllTrails to find hikes that will allow dogs.

Choose A Dog Friendly Time Of Year

When planning a dog friendly elopement, it’s important to consider the weather. Dogs with heavy fur coats can be more sensitive to heat, and on the flip side, dogs can get chilly, so your elopement location and the season must be dog appropriate.

If it’s snowing (check out our Winter Elopement Guide), or if the ground is going to be hot (read our How To Elope At Death Valley National Park guide), some booties can keep your dog’s paws safe! If necessary, consider packing a doggy jacket or a cooling vest just in case, and be prepared for whatever weather you and your pooch will encounter on the elopement day.

Consider Your Dogs Hiking Experience

While you might have a dream location in mind, you’ll need to consider your dog’s activity level when choosing your location and experiences. For example, if your dog is energetic and loves to run, you might choose an outdoor area with plenty of beautiful hiking trails.

If your dog is older and likes to lounge, it’s best to choose an easily accessible elopement destination with mild weather.

Another option is having your dog participate in some activities while staying at your accommodation, while you and your partner enjoy your day.

Have A Pet Sitter For The Pup Of Honor

Whether you want an adventure elopement or a more traditional wedding, you’ll be busy getting ready and enjoying the experience with your love. Of course, you’ll need to spend time with your dog, but a pet sitter can come in handy. On the day, you’ll have moments when you need an extra hand or want another person to have eyes on your dog so you can stay present in the moment.

Your pet sitter can be a family member or guest, or you can use a service like Rover to find a pet sitter in the area where you’re getting married.

Choose Dog Friendly Accommodations

If you’re traveling for your elopement or wedding, don’t forget to book a dog-friendly accommodation. Most pet parents do this naturally, but it can be easy to overlook when busy planning so many other aspects (Hi, we’re here to help)!

If you plan to leave your dog at your hotel or vacation rental for some of your big day, you’ll want to be sure the space is suitable for them to be alone.

Something else to consider for your dog-friendly elopement or wedding is that it might be possible to have your ceremony at your Airbnb (or hotel). Many rentals and hotels have beautiful places for a ceremony, whether a specific event area or a stunning outdoor space.

Learn About Dog Friendly Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is important anytime you explore the outdoors, and with your pup, you’ll need to take extra precautions. To protect wildlife and plant life, be sure to keep your dog on a leash and keep them on the trail. Pack out anything you bring in, including dog poo bags, and get familiar with the Leave No Trace rules of your specific elopement location.

You can check out our complete Leave No Trace Elopement Guide, but here are the 7 Leave No Trace Guidelines.

Plan Ahead
Travel and Camp On Durable Surfaces
Dispose Of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate Of Others

Pack The Dog Essentials

Including your dog on your elopement day means you’ll have to pack a few extra things. You’ll want to pack plenty of water, food, bowls, treats, poop bags, jackets and booties, and anything else your pup might need throughout the day. You can even get them a backpack to carry their own supplies.

For food and water, be sure to pack extra if you are planning to hike to your elopement destination. It’s always better to be over-prepared than to not have something you need.

Range Of Light Wed Tip: Dog treats are great for when it’s time for photos - make sure to bring your pup's favorite treats!

Hire A Dog Friendly Elopement Team

A dog-friendly elopement team helps you have your dream wedding experience with your pup in tow. We all love dogs, and Joleen, our resident elopement photographer, is all for your dog(s) being a part of your intentional elopement day!

All Of Our Elopement Packages Include:

On-site hair and makeup (we'll bring the getting-ready camper to you if you're sleeping under the stars).
Personal florals for 2 people
Officiant
Complimentary Champagne
Picnic Lunch
A personal cake
A table for 2 where local laws allow
A ceremony arch or ground florals
Seating for up to 15 when selected
Collaborative Timeline Planning
Location Suggestions
6 Hours of Photography Coverage (with option to extend)
Full Resolution files with printing rights.
Online gallery for printing and sharing.
NO TRAVEL FEES

Check Out Range Of Light Wed Elopement Packages

Best Dog Friendly Elopement Destinations In The Sierra Nevadas

The John Muir Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This remote location offers many hiking options, all of which have surreal views! The alpine lakes are crystal clear, and the trails are dog friendly.

ALABAMA HILLS, CALIFORNIA

If you’re looking for a dog friendly elopement destination, we highly recommend Alabama Hills. The area has been the setting of several old western movies, and is one of the best dog friendly elopement locations. The remote and vast space offers plenty of spots to get some privacy for the “I do’s” of your elopement ceremony. The stone formations and rocky hills are nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains, creating an incredible view!

LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

Lake Tahoe spans across California and Nevada, and while many places are dog friendly, you’ll need to double check your exact elopement location. Some of the trails have strict rules, but most places welcome pups. Some of our favorite dog friendly elopement locations in Lake Tahoe include:

Zephyr Cove
Hidden Beach
Sand Harbor

MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA

The town of Mammoth Lakes is incredibly dog friendly, including many of the hotels. Outside of town, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails and relaxing hot springs (though dogs aren’t allowed in the hot springs). You can soak in natural pools while your pup explores or hangs at your Airbnb. Some of our favorite Mammoth Lakes elopement locations include:

Inyo National Forest
Horseshoe Lake
Mammoth Mountain
Twin Lakes

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA

Eloping in Stanislaus National Forest with your dog means you can explore some of the incredible dog friendly trails here. This national forest is just a few hours north of Yosemite but is truly a hidden gem and the perfect place for a dog friendly elopement. If you’re looking for a location that closely resembles Red Wood NP or Sequoia, then this is the place for you! We love the dog friendly moderate Crabtree Trail to Bear Lake Trail.

SONORA PASS, CALIFORNIA

The Sonora Pass is an impressive 9,624 feet above sea level, and makes a fantastic elopement destination. The Sonora Highway, also known as California Highway 108, crosses Sonora Pass on the second highest mountain highway in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Growing up in Sonora we would take drives over hwy 108 to see the gorgeous views, the beautiful mountains, and the stunning nature. This area is seriously one of our favorite places EVER and it’s so dog friendly!

Ways To Include Your Dog In Your Elopement

Include Your Dog While Getting Ready

There are so many fantastic rental and cabin options in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and many are dog friendly! Even if your dog doesn't come with you for a hike or the adventure part of your elopement, it's still so special to have your dog there for the cozy morning and getting ready photos. This is a really great way to include your pup!

First Look With Your Dog

Having a first look with your dog on your wedding day as a way to include them is such a special moment, and it's much easier than it sounds. It's a fun and quick way to include your dog in your special day. You can do your first look with your partner, and then BOTH do a first look with your dog. You can make it even more fun by being on opposite sides and calling them to see who they come to first (we LOVE this).

Have Your Dog Walk You Down The Aisle

When you want someone to walk you down the aisle but you want your elopement to be just the two of you, your dog walking you down the aisle is absolutely perfect. We completely understand if you want your big day to be just the two of you and how special and sweet it is to be walked down the aisle by your furry best friend!

Have A Pup Of Honor/Best Dog

Another way to include your dog in your elopement ceremony is to include them as your pup of honor or best dog. Depending on your elopement vibe and your dog's personality, there are many ways to include them in the ceremony. Dress them up in a festive bow tie, flower collar, or little sign to wear. Seriously, how cute is that? If you choose to include your pup in your ceremony, we highly recommend having your pet sitter on standby at your elopement location. In our experience, you never know when you'll need your pet sitter to hold onto your pup during your ceremony

Dress Them Up For The Occasion

Tuxedos, dresses, bandanas, and tutus - the cuteness overload is REAL! You can find almost anything for your pets nowadays and customize it to fit your pet and their personality. Of course, this is only a good idea if your pet can stand to be in clothes. We also love floral collars and little boutonnieres to go with their bowtie. Susan is happy to create florals for your dog as well!

Including Them All Day - For Your Entire Wedding Day

If your dog loves the outdoors and is an experienced hiker, we say heck yeah, let's bring them along for the whole adventure on your wedding day!

Range Of Light Wed Elopement Packages

On-site hair and makeup
Personal florals for 2 people
Officiant
Complimentary Champagne
Elegant Picnic Lunch
A gluten-free, organic, non-gmo cake
A table for 2 where allowed
A ceremony arch or ground florals (where allowed)
Seating for 15 people where permitted
Collaborative Timeline Planning
Location Suggestions
6 Hours of Photography Coverage (with option to extend)
Full Resolution files with printing rights.
Online gallery for printing and sharing.
NO TRAVEL FEES

Our Elopement Packages Include The Following Locations

Sonora Pass - Highway 108, Kennedy Meadows, Donnel Vista, and our secret spots!
Yosemite National Park - Taft Point, Glacier Point, And All Of The Yosemite National Park Favorites (Not Dog Friendly)
Eastern Sierras - Mammoth Lakes, June Lakes, Tioga Pass, Bridgeport, Bishop, Alabama Hills, Lake Tahoe, and Inyo National Forest
Southern Desert - Lone Pine, Mojave, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs