Getting married is a monumental step, so why not choose a monumental setting? At Yosemite National Park, stand outside among granite monoliths and thundering waterfalls, or have your ceremony in an idyllic steeple-topped chapel framed by views of Yosemite Valley. Or find amazing alpine vistas around Mammoth Lakes, especially at Mammoth’s summit at 3,350 metres, easily accessed by an enclosed cable car. At Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, get your wedding party to form a human chain around the trunk of a giant sequoia, one of the world’s largest living things. The low-key Wuksachi Lodge features 102 beautiful rooms; you can also choose from a collection of historic timber- and tent-style cabins at Grant Grove or opt for rooms at the Cedar Grove Lodge for a more rustic experience.

Lake Tahoe, with an alpine setting unlike anything else in the world (except maybe Italy’s Lake Como), features sumptuous accommodation at or near the lake, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in the Northstar California resort at the lake’s north end, and the Resort at Squaw Creek at the base of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. In South Lake Tahoe, The Landing, a luxury boutique venue, is so close to the lake that if you throw your bouquet a little too far it’ll end up in the waters of the Tahoe.

Southern California has alpine retreats too—with wedding venues to match the scenery. Get married on a private beach at a San Bernardino Mountain classic, Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa. Wedding venues at Big Bear Lake range from rustic retreats to elegant B&Bs and even a paddlewheel boat.