Winter Elopement Guide

Written By Susan Kelleher

Winter is a beautiful season to plan your adventure elopement in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While winter might bring a few extra "challenges," there is just something magical about a winter elopement. You'll need to be more prepared, but one thing is for sure: you'll have an adventure-filled experience. In the Sierra Nevadas, you'll find snow-capped mountains and meadows blanketed in white, warm hot chocolate, and peaceful landscapes just waiting to be explored. As a bonus, a winter elopement means fewer crowds at many of the most iconic locations in the Eastern Sierras. While planning a winter elopement requires a bit of extra planning, we're here to help you every step of the way, so let's get into this Winter elopement guide!

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’s tackle planning your winter elopement! These tips are meant to help us to make the best out of whatever the unpredictable nature of winter throws our way (oh, and we’ll stay comfortable). 

Winter Elopement Ideas

Let’s start with some fun ideas on what you can do during your winter elopement!  How can you spend your winter elopement together and make it so much fun? We’ve got a quick list of some fun Sierra Nevada winter elopement ideas:  

  • Enjoy a warm breakfast together before heading out on your cold adventure

  • Get active - ski, snowboard, or keep it lowkey and snowshoe

  • Hike to a frozen waterfall for a magical winter wonderland 

  • Go ice skating at an outdoor rink - how fun would this be? 

  • Snowmobile to a remote area to say your vows 

  • Have a snowball fight! Who else can say that they had a snowball fight on their elopement day? 

  • Make some snow angels and build a snowman together. How cute is that? 

  • Grab a warm coffee or hot cocoa at a local cafe to keep the cold away. 

  • Warm up around a cozy indoor fireplace. How amazing would it be to get lodging with a fun fireplace? Enjoy a picnic, warm up with cocoa, or play board games. 

  • End your day in a warmer spot, whether it’s a local restaurant, a romantic picnic inside your cabin, or soaking in some local hot springs - is there a better way to end your winter elopement day? We don’t think so! 

We want to make sure that the two of you choose activities and moments that truly mean something to you! It’s your day, and you only get this one opportunity - so let’s make it unforgettable! 

Why Elope In Winter?

You might be asking yourself, ok, but why should I elope in the winter? Beyond the magical winter wonderland that the Eastern Sierras offer this time of year, let's talk about a few other reasons…

  1. Everything is less crowded during a winter elopement crowded. Many people don't like the cold, so if you love it, winter is the perfect time to elope.

  2. Just imagine snowflakes with a GORGEOUS backdrop while you say, "I do. "Of course, snow isn't guaranteed, but it's an experience you'll never forget. 

  3. The sun typically sets around 5 pm in the winter, which means getting sunset photos is much earlier in the day. 

  4. All the warm drinks—including, but not limited to, cocoa, coffee, tea, hot cider, and mulled cider! You can drink plenty to keep you warm during your winter elopement. 

  5. You'll have so much more privacy. This is the one time of year that you can have some of the more popular spots all to yourselves. Can you imagine having these grand Eastern Sierra landscapes to yourselves?

Choosing Your Winter Elopement Location

You’ll need to be a bit more intentional when choosing your winter elopement destination. Winter weather brings a few winter obstacles with it. Road conditions and accessibility will greatly affect your choice of a winter elopement destination. While we’re trying to narrow down location ideas, make sure to check a few things.

Is your Sierra Nevada winter elopement destination drivable in the winter months? If so, is a 4WD required? Are there other transportation options available? Maybe you can take a chairlift to a gorgeous mountaintop location to say your “I do’s.”

Is your ideal winter elopement spot open to the public during the winter? Particularly in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, some of the roads close entirely during the winter months (more on that later). 

Don’t worry! If we’re working together for your elopement day, we always help our couples with the logistics of their elopement day.

The Best Winter Sierra Nevada Elopement Destinations

Mammoth

Mammoth is an excellent winter elopement destination. And you won’t find the area short on amenities either. Take a gondola or helicopter ride, ski/snowboard before you say your “I dos,” have a snowmobile adventure, or simply relax at a spa. 

We love Convict Lake Resort, open all winter and is only around 10 minutes from Mammoth. 

BLM (Bureau Of Land Management) Land

For your adventure elopement, consider BLM land, preferably near a hot spring with amazing views! We’re positive you’ll fall in love with the hot springs in the area! One of them is even shaped like a heart. One is a pretty popular hangout spot. Another has stunning views of the mountains. There really is a hot spring for everyone here. 

The Crab Cooker Hot Tub / Hill Top Hot Springs

The moniker is because this hot spring has the hottest water around. This is one of the springs in Mammoth with a pipe pumping hot spring water into the tub. This hot spring is an excellent option if you don’t want to get dirty. Easily fitting 5 to 7 people, Hill Top Hot Springs sits higher than all the others and has stunning 360 views of the valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains. The mountains look extra gorgeous from a hot spring, trust us! 

Whitmore Tubs Hot Springs

Whitmore Tubs Hot Springs is tucked right off the side of a BLM parking area, so you’ll be soaking right next to the parking area. This small tub is footsteps from a parking lot and can fit about 3 to 4 people. Water is pumped into this tub, making it clearer and less muddy than others.

Wild Willy’s Hot Springs

The Wild Willy’s Hot Springs consists of three smaller pools, each varying in size, with one easily accommodating 50 to 75 people. This is also where you’ll find the hot spring shaped like a heart! It’s surrounded by a decent-sized BLM area. This is the only 100% natural hot spring in Mammoth Lakes. 

June Lake

The town of June Lake, California, is a fantastic place to elope in the winter, with tons of venues and lodging options! 

Just outside Mammoth Lakes, you'll find the June Lakes Area,  a beautiful loop drive with multiple dazzling lakes. One of our favorite lakes, at Range Of Light Wed, is Silver Lake. There is parking and restrooms at the lake, and no hiking is required to get to the beach for a ceremony.  

You can elope at June Lake in the winter and be surrounded by stunning snowy scenery. However, you should be prepared for cold weather and potential road closures due to snow. Depending on conditions, some areas might require snowshoes or other winter gear to access.

Or have an adventure elopement at June Mountain in the winter, a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The only thing better than the beautiful snowy backdrop for your "I dos" is that, depending on snow conditions, you might need to access the ceremony site via ski lift or snowmobile. 

Highway 88 

Highway 88 stays open all winter and has some great spots, including: 

Desolation Hotel

Kit Carson Lodge

Kirkwood Ski Resort 

The Hideout At Kirkwood (We are huge fans!)

Yosemite National Park

The Tioga Pass entrance station to Yosemite from Lee Vining closes in the winter due to snow, usually from November to June. During this time, it is impossible to reach the valley from the East.

If you have your heart set on a Yosemite winter elopement, you don't need to worry because all other park entrances, including those along Highway 120 from the west, Hetch Hetchy, Highway 140, and Highway 41, remain open year-round. 

When it comes to extremely popular National Parks like Yosemite, particularly in the valley, the plus side of having your elopement in the winter is having the entire park to yourselves! Can you imagine having Yosemite grandeur almost completely to yourself? Adventure elopers can stay in The Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley for an epically beautiful elopement day!

The winter months in Yosemite offer beautiful winter wonderland vibes with fields blanketed in snow, but it also means that spots may be closed (like Glacier Point Road, which would take you to Taft Point and Glacier Point). You'll need to be prepared for that.  

Check out our Yosemite National Park Elopement Guide

Flowers For Your Winter Elopement

Flowers are not anyone's best friend in extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot. No need to worry; Susan has your back with winter elopement florals.  If you are open, opting for faux or dried flowers will last you much longer in freezing temperatures. You also won't have to worry about how it looks or if it'll begin to droop in the cooler temperatures. 

If you're super into real flowers, there are plenty of ways for us to provide you with beautiful winter elopement florals. We can use beautiful flowers like anemones, Star Of Bethlehem, and Israeli Ruscus Greens. Susan is excellent at what she does, and you can rest assured you're in good hands!

Range Of Light Wed Elopement Packages

All of our elopement packages include: 

  • 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 Locations Include:

We also offer a la carte stand alone services! 

5 Tips For Planning A Winter Elopement

1. Be Aware That You're More Limited On Elopement Locations

This is particularly true in the Sierra Nevada Mountain of California, where some of the roads close completely in the winter.  For example, Sonora Pass typically closes from November through May. While winter elopements offer the perk of giving you more privacy because many people don’t choose to elope or explore during colder months. However, one of the major drawbacks is that certain mountain elopement locations are completely inaccessible in the winter months. 

That simply means you have a smaller pool of elopement destination options to choose from when you elope in winter.  First, you’ll have to decide if that’s a deal breaker for you. But please don’t worry; we’ve got some amazing suggestions below.

2. Budget Additional Travel Time For Your Winter Elopement 

A winter elopement means you’ll need to factor in adverse road conditions getting to and from your destination. Snow and ice build-up in the Eastern Sierras can double your travel time. Aside from giving yourself plenty of extra time to get to your ceremony site, you’ll also want to budget more time at your elopement destination, just in case a blizzard makes access to California or the Eastern Sierras impossible on the day you planned on saying “I do.” If you budget more time for your trip, you can switch days for better weather if you need to. 

3. Be Flexible 

We can’t stress this enough: Don’t risk your life to get married on a specific day. If the weather on your elopement day is life-threatening or dangerous, you’ll need to be flexible. That’s just the nature of winter elopements. 

While we’re planning your winter elopement, we’ll make sure to discuss ideas for backup destinations. Check with your elopement photographer (Hi, Joleen!) on what they think of your alternate locations. If you’re eloping in the winter, always see what your photographer’s process is in these situations because there’s a high likelihood that adverse weather could affect your big day. Don’t worry, Joleen has you covered. 

4. Are You Comfortable Being Outside for an Extended Period of Time In The Winter?

This is particularly true if you've chosen a remote Eastern Sierra winter elopement destination. Keep in mind that you'll be outside for 4+ hours in the winter, which is very different from any other time of year. Eastern Sierra mountain locations tend to get extremely cold, snowy, and windy during winter. 

It's a good idea to consider whether you'd feel comfortable spending several hours consecutively outside when it's snowing, windy, and in the single digits. This is especially relevant if your winter elopement destination requires hiking to get to it, and you can't run to your car to warm up if needed. Don't let this scare you; it's just something we would like you to consider. 

5. Make Sure You Bring The Right Gear

Regarding car travel during winter, you’ll want a vehicle with all-wheel drive. We also highly recommend having either winter tires or tire chains handy. You’ll also want an emergency kit in your car, but more on that below.

Remember that high alpine winter locations often have intense wind, making ear muffs a lifesaver. Some winter elopement locations have packed down trails, where MICROspikes will be needed. Others you might be required to snowshoe in. We’ll let you know what you’ll need! 

Packing List For Your Sierra Nevada Winter Elopement

Transportation - Let’s Talk 4WD, Tire Chains, Gloves, and A Shovel

Living in the Eastern Sierra mountains, we've all seen countless 2WD passenger cars stuck on the side of the road. Of course, there are limits to any vehicle, but a 4WD will get you out of most road conditions. In addition to 4WD, you'll need to carry chains, which are a legal requirement in many situations when roads are bad. They must be in your car. We promise that if you get to the point where you need those chains, you'll be so thankful that you packed a pair of sturdy gloves (we all love cute mittens, but these will get dirty). 

Lastly, pack a shovel. Whether you've gotten blocked in behind a pile of snow, or it's just snowed so much that you need a little extra help, you'll be so glad to have a shovel. We also like to have a piece of cardboard handy when it snows so that we can kneel on it if we need to be on the ground for some reason. 

  • 4WD Vehicle 

  • Snow Chains 

  • Gloves 

  • Shovel

  • Piece Of Cardboard 

Transportation BONUS

We can tell you from experience that having a camper van, motorhome, or cab-over camper as part of your elopement adventure really gives you many more options in the comfort department. Many of our couples waited out a brief high country downpour in the back of a camper van while enjoying the heater and space. Your car will work absolutely fine, but if you're kicking off a honeymoon road trip, having the extra space and comfort is definitely worth it.

Clothing - Warm Layers, Hiking/Snow Boots, Socks 

Everyone should dress in warm layers, which is especially true for the bride. Trust us, we understand that you don't want to have a winter jacket on in all of your photos, but there are so many opportunities for those in between moments (like walking in between locations) that make for the perfect candid moment (Joleen loves those!) If you're bundled up because it's freezing, you may want to be bundled in something you want to be photographed in!  We love some coordinating puffer jackets or heirloom coats passed down generations. Maybe it's a rad thrift store find, or a jean jacket with calligraphy of your new last name (if that's your thing) off of Etsy. It will be in many of your winter elopement photos, so choose wisely.

Choosing Your Winter Elopement Dress

Elopement dresses for winter will look a bit different than your typical adventure wedding dress. As we mentioned above,  layering up is going to be crucial!  

As far as winter elopement dresses are concerned, dresses with a heftier fabric will be essential. You’ll have a thicker level of protection between you and the cold winter weather. We still want to ensure you can quickly move around in your winter elopement dress. You need to be able to hike, snowshoe, or ski in your dress, so don’t choose anything with so much fabric that activities become impossible. 

Hiking & Snow Boots

Once your feet are frozen, you won't want to take pictures or be outside for very much longer, trust us! So invest in some good, high-calf, lined, waterproof hiking or snow boots. While the good ones might be expensive, they keep your feet warm, and that can really make or break your winter elopement experience. We also recommend investing in some Merino wool socks because they're still warm even when they get wet.

If your winter elopement happens to be on one of those insanely cold, clear days after a storm, we'll deal with some ice. There are very few things worse than slipping on ice and landing hard. You can grab a cheap pair of crampons, and they'll likely save you from a nasty fall. If we have freshly fallen snow, then you won't need to worry about ice.

For The Brides

Nude leggings can be a real game-changer! They are a cheap and easy way to be comfortable on your adventure elopement day. They even come fleece-lined for some extra warmth, and you won't be able to see them in the nude color. We recommend getting two pairs in case one gets wet walking through snow.

  • Coat (Puffer, Heirloom, Fun) 

  • Elopement Dress/Suit

  • Nude Leggings (Fleece Lined)

  • Waterproof Hiking/Snow Boots 

  • Merino Wool Socks 

  • Crampons

Keeping Warm During Your Winter Elopement

Body/Hand/Foot Warmers

If your fingers get cold, like your feet, you won't be having fun. We recommend going all out with body warmers! Get yourselves body warmers, foot warmers, and hand warmers. You can pair the hand warmers with white gloves for the bride and black/grey gloves for the groom, and they'll look nice in photos. Plus, body warmers can be stuck anywhere inside your clothing.

Change Of Clothes

Once you've had your adventure, you'll be so eager to change out of your formal wear for something comfy and cozy. Make sure to pack an extra pair of warm socks and a fuzzy pair of Uggs after a day in the snow!

Blanket 

Hopefully, you'll be dry and warm with all your layers, but a blanket that matches your theme can serve a dual purpose. When the ground is wet or snowy, a blanket can give you more options for snuggling up in nature, places like a wet fallen tree, or even the snowy ground. If it matches your theme, trust us, you'll be happy to see it in your wedding photographs.

A Thermos 

Sometimes, you need to warm up to your core, and whatever your warm beverage is, it can serve two purposes: it will warm your fingers as you drink it. 

  • Body Warmers

  • Foot Warmers

  • Hand Warmers

  • Warm Change Of Clothes

  • Blanket That Matches Your Theme

  • Thermos

Miscellaneous Comfort Items

Clear Plastic Bins/Totes 

With snow comes road closures, even to some of our most accessible places in the Eastern Sierras. Both roads to Cathedral Beach and Sentinel Beach (popular ceremony locations in Yosemite) are closed in the winter but are a short and easily walkable distance. Even the easy distances get a bit more challenging in the snow. You'll be trucking out your wedding clothes, bouquet, cake, champagne, charcuterie, blanket etc. If you pack them all in a clear bin with a lid, you can find what you need quickly and have a place to dump everything without it getting frozen and wet. 

Bonus Tip: Nest a second tote in the full one. As you're sorting through things knee-deep in snow, you will thank us!! 

A Sled

It may not sound like it, but carrying your totes in the snow is a lot of work. If you could drag them behind you, it would be easy peasy. Bringing a sled will help us get everything to your winter elopement destination. 

Portable Fire Pit (where allowed) + Fuel

You'll need to check local laws first, but is there anything more enjoyable than snuggling up to a warm fire in the snow while you dig into your wedding cake? We don't think so!  Nothing is more beautiful than freshly fallen snow, and Joleen is always up for shooting in it, but she wants to keep you comfortable and enjoying the experience. To be able to warm your fingers and toes by the fire sounds like just the thing to keep you out in the wilderness and having a great time! You can pick up Fuel (wood) at most gas stations and local markets as you head to your elopement location. Don't forget newspapers and kindling.

  • Clear Plastic Totes/Bins

  • Sled 

  • Portable Fire Pit + Fuel (where permitted) 

Elopement Resources

Susan Kelleher
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Leave No Trace Elopement Guide