Yosemite Valley Chapel

Chapel Weddings and Marriage Vow Renewals

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.

Once you have decided to choose the Yosemite Valley Chapel, then:

1. Call Faith (the Yosemite Community Church Secretary) at 209-372-4831. If your call goes to voice-mail, then please leave a message with your email address and phone number.

2. A Wedding Packet of Information will be emailed to you. If you left a message, Faith will return your call.

3. Read the Wedding Packet and call Faith to place a 14 day hold on the date and time of your choice. Please have two or three choices ready before calling Faith.

4. Fill out the 'Chapel Wedding Reservation Form' contained in the Wedding Packet and return it by mail along with the payment due. Faith will email you a confirmation, so please remember to include your email address on your reservation form.

Faith
YCC Secretary

Table of Contents

OFFICIAL Yosemite Valley Chapel Website

We are the ONLY OFFICIAL website for the Yosemite Valley Chapel and Yosemite Community Church (www.yosemitevalleychapel.org).

This is our ONLY website and we do not honor any other sites who claim to be the Yosemite Chapel.

Note: The OFFICIAL Yosemite Valley Chapel website has the word "valley" in its web address and ends in the letters ".org". Furthermore, the word "wedding" or "weddings" is NOT in its domain name (the domain name is the part after the "http://www" all the way to and including the ".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.

Introduction: Welcome to the Yosemite Valley Chapel

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 as both a beacon and clarion, brightly shining and triumphantly declaring the love of God to those who live here and those who visit.

By way of introduction, we want to familiarize you with us in a general way and specifically as it relates to the use of the Yosemite Valley Chapel for weddings and marriage renewals. Doing so will allow you to have the information you need to determine if the Yosemite Valley Chapel is the most suitable location and setting for your special day.

We have a lot of information for you on this page and we hope that it will cover most of your questions. Please see our Questions section near the end of this page if you have any further questions. Thank you.

Our Background: History, Mission, and Ministry

The History of Yosemite Valley Chapel

The Chapel was built in 1879 by those who recognized that the God who created our wonderful surroundings is even more incredible than His creation. As the psalmist declares "O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places" (Psalm 68:35).

The Chapel would serve as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike who understood that by opening to God's love and embracing His plan for our lives, we can know Him personally, fellowship with Him ongoing, and worship Him eternally.

Over the years, we have maintained that emphasis. To this day, Yosemite Community Church continues to be a church where God's children are welcome, Christ Jesus our Savior is exalted, and His Word is proclaimed. All this for the glory of God.

For more details, please visit our History page.


The Mission of Yosemite Community Church

To be a caring community of believers serving as a center for spiritual growth and renewal where those who live, work, and visit in Yosemite National Park may encounter the living Christ through joyful worship, Bible study, and regular fellowship.

While striving to bring others to Christ by invitation and example, we are called to minister to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of every person as God gives us strength and direction through the Holy Spirit.


The Ministry of Yosemite Community Church

Our ministry, the activities associated with the Chapel, are by definition an outflow of our mission, which, in turn, is born out of the purpose for which the Chapel was originally established.

Therefore, services and ceremonies conducted in the Chapel, by nature, must reflect that mission and purpose which adhere to the basic tenets of the Christian faith. The resident minister of Yosemite Community Church is therefore only available for services and ceremonies that reflect the traditional Biblical view of marriage. For other ceremonies, please contact the office for a referral minister or you may bring your own minister.

The information provided below, outlining the practices and policies consistent with our mission and ministry, will ensure that we have met our responsibility to help you have a meaningful ceremony and that you have established a foundation upon which you can grow together in your new life.

Anyone issued a valid wedding license by the state of California may have his or her ceremony at the Yosemite Chapel.

Getting Started

We are able to make reservations for up to 13 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 or visit www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weddings.htm.

Couples desiring a CATHOLIC WEDDING must arrange directly with Father Duffy, the resident Catholic priest of Yosemite. He will send you his special wedding packet for Catholic weddings. Please call Father Duffy at 209-372-4729 or write to:
P.O. Box 457
Yosemite, CA 95389.

This packet you are reading DOES NOT pertain to a Catholic wedding.

Chapel Facilities

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 (9) rows of pews on each side of the chapel.

There is only one rest room, which is used by the public. Because this bathroom must meet the needs of not only the wedding or marriage renewal party, but also guests, the church staff, and the public in general, 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

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 (except 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 4:30 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:

Fees and Scheduling

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:

I will need ONE of these items from YOUR minister:

1. Proof of ordination, or
2. Proof of license, or
3. A letter on your ministers 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.

Cancellations and Schedule Changes

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.

Please mail any cancellation notice to:
Yosemite Community Church
P.O. Box 456
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

On Your Wedding or Marriage Renewal Day

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 at the $400.00 chapel rental fee.

Rehearsal

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 14 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.

Music

You are free to provide whatever music you wish for your ceremony (including instruments, tape players, etc.) as long 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.

Chapel Decorations and Flowers

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 CAN BE USED 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.

No Rice Throwing, Birdseed, Flower Petals, Etc.

The throwing of rice, birdseed, flower petals, balloons, confetti, etc., is not permitted, either inside the Chapel or on the Chapel grounds.

No Receptions, Food, or Drinks at the Chapel

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

*** Pets are NOT ALLOWED in the Chapel!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!! ***

For more rules about your pets, please see the Yosemite National Park's Pets web page.

Park Entrance Fee

Please inform your wedding or marriage renewal party and guests that everyone will be required to pay applicable National Park Service vehicle entrance fees to enter the park.

Marriage License

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.)

Receptions and Lodging

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 (Delaware North Companies, Inc.).

You can call their Wedding Specialist at 801-559-5000.

For hotel reservations within the park, call 801-559-4884 or book online.

Seasonal Considerations

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.

? Questions ?

If you have further questions, please call our office at 209-372-4831. If we are not available to take your call when you phone, please leave a message on our voice mail and we will try to call you back as soon as possible.

Thank you for your interest, for allowing us to share with you, and for respecting the policies and practices outlined above. We pray that God will guide you as you plan and bless you as you honor Him in your lives.

REVISED 5-01-09

List of Local Florists, Photographers, Musicians, Videogaphers, Bed & Breakfasts, and Ministers

The Yosemite Community Church, as a courtesy, provides this list of local resources if you desire floral, photography, music, video service, lodging, or an alternative/outdoor Minister 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.