Muir Woods Wedding Guide 2026

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the same thing from couples:

“We know we want to get married in Muir Woods…but we have no idea where to start.”

If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

As a redwoods elopement photographer, I’ve helped countless couples plan weddings in Muir Woods, and have answered the same questions time and time again. How do permits work? Where can you actually have your ceremony? What’s the best time of day to avoid the crowds?

It can be a lot, especially when the information online is all over the place.

I’ve photographed elopements and weddings here for years, and this guide will walk you step by step through everything you need to know, from permits and ceremony locations to timelines, crowds, and all the little details that make planning a Muir Woods wedding so much easier.

Here’s exactly how to get married in one of the most breathtaking places to elope in California.

How to Plan a Muir Woods Wedding in 6 Steps

This is my foolproof step-by-step guide on how to get married in Muir Woods in just 6 easy steps (seriously, only 6).

This is the exact process I walk my couples through when they’re planning a Muir Woods elopement.

Step 1: Choose Your Date

You can get married in Muir Woods any day of the week. However, from May 15th to October 15th, weddings are only allowed on weekdays. No matter the time of year, I recommend a weekday ceremony to avoid the crowds.

In my experience, the best time of year to get married in Muir Woods is September, October, or May if you want good weather without as many crowds.

• June-August: You’ll get the warmest temperatures, but you’ll also get the most crowds. This is the best time of year, though, for those foggy light rays you see in the photos.
• September-October: This is my personal favorite. The weather is usually still really nice and summer crowds start thinning out.
• November-May: Expect cooler temperatures and a much better chance of rain, but also way fewer people. Winter and early spring are very quiet and moody, and May is a great sweet spot before peak summer crowds arrive.

Step 2: Choose Your Muir Woods Ceremony Location

After you have your date, it’s time to choose your ceremony location.

There are only three designated places where you can have a wedding ceremony in Muir Woods: Founders Grove, Bohemian Grove, and Fern Creek. I’ve included a photo of each below so you can actually see the difference instead of trying to pick one from a name on a permit application.

• Founders Grove – Up to 30 people. Closest ceremony site to the entrance. It has some of the best redwoods, but is the busiest ceremony spot.
• Bohemian Grove – Up to 10 people. It has the biggest redwood tree of the three and feels a bit more secluded than Founders Grove.
• Fern Creek – Up to 30 people. Furthest from the main entrance. It doesn’t have the largest trees, but definitely offers the most privacy.

Important: Your photographer, officiant, and any other vendors count toward the maximum number of people allowed at your ceremony.

Founders Grove

Bohemian Grove

Fern Creek

Step 3: Choose Your Ceremony Time

Ceremonies in Muir Woods are only allowed between 9am-10am or 4:30pm-6:00pm.

In my experience, I almost always recommend the morning time slot. The park is practically empty, you’ll have fewer people walking past during your ceremony, and mornings give you the best chance of getting light rays coming through the redwoods.

The evening slot can still be beautiful, but you’ll usually be dealing with more people in the park, especially during the summer.

If privacy is your biggest priority, go with the morning.

Step 4: Apply For a Muir Woods Wedding Permit

In order to get married in Muir Woods, you’ll need what’s called a special use permit. The permit costs $700 and you can apply up to a year before your date.

Here’s how to apply:

1. Fill out the special use permit application here.
2. Email it to goga_permits@nps.gov and pay the nonrefundable $60 application fee on pay.gov.
3. Once approved, you’ll pay the remaining $640 and will get the permit a few weeks before the big day.

Step 5: Purchase a Vehicle Reservation

Almost there! Before heading into the park, you’ll need to purchase a parking reservation.

The cost is $10 for a standard vehicle or $13 for an electric vehicle. Reservations are required in advance, so this is definitely not something I’d do last-minute.

Step 6: Get Married in Muir Woods!

See, I told you it’d be easy.

Seriously, that’s it! You’ve got your date, ceremony location, time, permit, and parking reservation. Now all that’s left to do is show up and get married under some really, really big trees.

Real Muir Woods Wedding Photos

Now that you know how to elope in Muir Woods, let me show you what is actually looks like.

Audrey and Austin’s Muir Woods wedding is proof that with the right planning, you can have both convenience and the scenery you’ve always dreamed about.

Originally, they wanted to get married in Redwood National Park. But with guests flying in from all over, they needed something close to a major airport so their loved ones wouldn’t have to endure an entire day of travel just to get there. So the idea of getting married in Muir Woods was born.

These two had the most incredible ceremony at Founder’s Grove early in the morning, right at opening time. The best part was that not a single person walked by during the entire thing. For a location as busy as Muir Woods is, this was a shock (in the best way possible of course). Granted, we did plan for November which is one of the best times of year to elope in Muir Woods.

After the ceremony we took some portraits along the trail which was definitely the highlight of the day for me. The light rays?! The fog?! It’s literally a photographer’s dream.

After portraits, we headed to Muir Beach where they ran barefoot along the shoreline and soaked everything in.

It’s days like this that remind me why I love being a redwoods elopement photographer. And I can’t wait until the next couple comes along and gets to experience the same.

Looking for Similar Locations to Muir Woods?

While Muir Woods is one of California’s most iconic places to get married, it isn’t the right fit for every couple. If you’re looking for fewer crowds, more privacy, or a different redwood experience, here are a few guides to help you compare your options:

• Redwoods Elopement Locations in California
• Redwood National Park Elopement Guide
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park Wedding Guide
• Armstrong Redwoods Wedding Guide
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Wedding Guide

Muir Woods Elopement Packages

You made it through the whole process! Date, location, time, permit, parking. Done!

If Muir Woods sounds like the dreamiest place to tie the knot (spoiler alert: it is) then you’ve come to the right place. I’m Brianna, a Northern California based elopement photographer who helps plan and photograph elopements throughout the redwoods. I take on just 18 couples a year to be sure that you’ll get the hands-on memorable experience you deserve for a day as special as this one.

If you’re stressed about permits, marriage licenses, locations, or vendors, don’t sweat it. I’m here to help through all of the above and more. You can view my elopement packages page here or take a peek below to how I can help.

• 4 hours – 2 days of elopement coverage anywhere in California
• A personalized elopement planning experience with unlimited assistance
  • Personalized elopement location recommendations
  • Vendor, lodging, and activity recommendations
  • Assistance and information to help you with permits, licenses, etc.
  • 90+ page elopement planning guide filled with tips and tricks
  • Customized elopement timelines
  • Optional complimentary officiant services
• Online gallery with full resolution images and printing rights
• Complimentary album design
• 24-48 hour sneak peeks to share with the world
• Travel fees to anywhere in California are already included
• Starting at $6,500

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