We Went to Yosemite for a Wedding and Stayed for the Adventure
Enough love to fill Yosemite Valley
November 3, 2017
By: Edward Arthur Dalton & The Dream Chasing Family
This Yosemite trip is more of an adventure-filled love story than anything else, and one that is hard to match at that.
I don't think it is possible to take a bad picture in Yosemite.｜Edward Arthur Dalton
If you have brothers and/or sisters, you can probably relate when I say there is always that one unpredictable sibling who the family worries about more than any others. My sister Annie was that wild card for my family, which I've learned was ultimately a really good thing, at least in Annie’s case, even though she had us all wondering for a while what her fate would be. If there was ever something certain about Annie, it was her unpredictability.
What I mean is, free spirited personalities like Annie’s keep you on the edge of your seat because you never know what is coming next from them. Even when we thought we had Annie figured out, she would surprise us with the unexpected. This was certainly the case with her dating life, which gripped the family in anticipation for years as we anxiously waited to see the type of guy she would decide to settle down with (because she brought around some very… lets just say… interesting characters).
One of many valley views that left me speechless｜Edward Arthur Dalton
Her free spirit is probably what saved her from herself in this regard. Annie loves to travel, so when she was invited to join some friends on a weekend trip to Yosemite while she was living in California, it came as no surprise that she joined them. It also came as no surprise that she found a boyfriend on that trip, but this time one worth keeping. Thank heavens!
They dated, he proposed and she said yes. Then, in true Annie fashion, she surprised us yet again, this time with a perfectly simple plan to have the whole family travel to California for their wedding and a celebration in the place they first met, YOSEMITE!
We all wondered why we left with sore necks, then I found this picture of Sarah.｜Edward Arthur Dalton
Of course, we weren’t going to complain. Yosemite has been one of those destinations we have dreamed of visiting and the only thing that could have made visiting it any better was visiting it together as a family, which is exactly what we were about to do.
After an intimate wedding in the Oakland California Temple, we road tripped to the Yosemite Valley with family and friends for a weekend celebration of love and adventure!
The otherwise large 15 passenger family van being dwarfed by El Capitan｜Edward Arthur Dalton
One of the most beloved quotes ever made of the outdoors was by historic wilderness activist John Muir, who was drawn to Yosemite’s inescapable beauty and was a major force in the reason it ultimately became a National Park in 1890. In a letter to his sister Sarah from the beautiful Yosemite Valley, Muir wrote the short, but famous sentence that has echoed ever since;
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
Like Muir, people are drawn to the wild for different reasons. People throughout time have sought after and explored its beauty to find purpose. Sometimes we go for recreation, sometimes for religious or spiritual reasons, and sometimes simply to escape from life’s fast pace and reflect.
Giant Sequoias... and my little brother Wylie｜Edward Arthur Dalton
We knew Yosemite was going to be beautiful, but I don't think we realized just how awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping it would be. From the giant Sequoia trees that somehow look small against the backdrop of glacier carved granite walls over 3,000 feet tall. Simply put, Yosemite is larger than life, a magical place nestled in the Sierra Nevadas. Our first trip made it clear why Muir was so in love with it. To echo part of his famous quote, if you haven’t been yet, you “must go”! Oh... and don't forget your climbing gear like we did!
Here is the wedding film of Annie and Jordan's adventure filed love story!
To see more, join the chase for #AllThingsAdventure with Edward Arthur Dalton & The Dream Chasing Family!
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We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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