Lauryn + Paula styled shoot lesbian wedding california yosemite national park dresses white

By Summit and Sur Photography

This summer, I decided I wanted to set up a styled shoot with more inclusivity in mind, with the focus being on the LGBTQ+ community. I reached out to Lauryn and Paula who were recently engaged and they were so excited to get dressed up and go to one of the most epic places in California: Yosemite National Park...

...They put me in touch with Sherri from Madelaines Bridal Boutique in Clovis who was able to help us with dresses for the shoot. I organized florals, cake, and made sure to book a place for Lauryn and Paula to get ready that morning. The days leading up to the shoot, the weather was looking pretty wild with a lot of rain. This was far from the first time I had shot in Yosemite but it was the first time I was encountering such variable weather.

While I was a little nervous about shooting in those conditions and making sure Lauryn and Paula were warm and dry, I knew one thing for sure: Yosemite is always gorgeous, no matter the weather. On the morning of the shoot, the lovely ladies from Yosemite Makeup and Hair came to Lauryn and Paula's room at the Yosemite Valley Lodge to get them all glammed up. We started around 3 am, hoping to catch an incredible sunrise at Tunnel View. As they were getting ready, the rain continued dropping but I kept hoping it would give us a break by the time we left the room to explore and do their mini-ceremony.

To my amazement, as we pulled up to Tunnel View and got out of the car, we were greeted by the most incredible view: the valley, shrouded in magical clouds with the most gorgeous light peeking through. We made our way over to the overlook and took in the incredible morning view of El Capitan, Bridal Veil Fall, and Half Dome. It was spectacular! Afterward, we headed down to Cathedral Beach where Lauryn and Paula exchanged vows to each other and then celebrated with some champagne and cake!

We spent more time taking photos on the beach as the light continued to play with the passing clouds, continuing to shower us in beautiful light. Once we were done, we went to the Ahwahnee Hotel for our final stop: brunch! We took a few photos in the lobby while waiting for our table and then finished off the morning with the most delicious meal.

Thanks again to Lauryn, Paula, and all the vendors that helped with this shoot!

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