Outdoorsy DIY Camp-Themed Tenaya Lake Wedding » Yosemite National Park / by Vivian Chen

Anna and Erik are one of the most outdoorsy couples I know. In fact, they met while hiking the John Muir Trail. Anna was hiking with her friends Lily and Aaron and when Lily unfortunately had to leave the trail early. Anna and Aaron continued on towards Mount Whitney when they reached Forester Pass. That's when Anna noticed another another hiker, Erik coming up behind the wearing Crocs (a result of sore feet and a waning spirit from the night before). That detail stuck out to Anna as she tried to keep pace with Erik on the trail. He eventually passed them and made it to Forester Pass first where he stuck around chatting with other hikers. Often on a long through hike like the JMT people congregate on the high passes to celebrate the latest achievements a long the trail. When Anna and Aaron arrived, her ears perked when she heard Erik say he was from Cupertino. She immediately thought, "Yes! Close enough to my neighborhood that I might realistically see this guy again without too much trouble!" From that chance meeting, they struck up a friendship and Erik joined Anna and Aaron for the rest of the JMT.

As their friendship turned into a relationship and a marriage proposal, it was a no brainer that their intimate wedding take place in where it all began, the Sierra Mountains. They invited close friends and family to spend the weekend at Double Eagle Resort in June Lakes on the Eastern Sierras and held their wedding on the shores of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park. After a hand fasting ceremony, the couple and their guests celebrated with a picnic lunch under the warm summer sun. Erik's best man passed around a pair of white Crocs for everyone to sign and gifted it to him during the toasts. Afterwards, we headed over to Toulumne Meadows for a few portraits before wrapping up a perfect Yosemite wedding day.

Wedding Location: Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park // Lodging: Double Eagle Resort // Florals: Katharina Stuart // Anna's Gown: Claire Pettibone // Hair & Make-Up: Nicki Holstrom // Catering: Brenda Ostrom of Mountain Meadow Farms // Cake: Souffle Girls // Rings: Pave Fine Jewelry