A Local Big Sur Photographer's Planning Guide to Eloping in Big Sur
When it comes to elopement locations in the US, Big Sur is one of the top places people come to get married. With its vast coastal views and redwood forests, it's a place full of wonder and natural beauty. As a local Big Sur elopement photographer who has helped plan and photograph over 200 elopements here, I'm here to help you craft an epic day that feels genuine to your love story. Check out this guide for how to elope in Big Sur, including location recommendations, best months to elope, day-of timelines, and planning tips!
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Big Sur has long been a perfect location for romance - with its towering redwood forests and rugged coastline, it's no wonder that so many couples choose to propose here! Its remote location and otherworldliness makes it an ideal location for proposals. If you're thinking of getting engaged in Big Sur, check out the guide below for tips on how to choose a location for your proposal and important things to consider when travelling to this area!
K grew up in California and spent many summers camping in Big Sur as a child. She treasured these childhood memories fondly - days spent hiking in the redwoods, exploring the coast, and running on the beach. When K + T met in Virginia, she knew she had to bring T to this magical place she loved so much. It was the perfect place for these two avid birdwatchers, who even brought their binoculars and called out the birds they recognized. Since their first date was at a brewery, they also stopped by Big Sur Taphouse for a beer. It was a day that just felt like them. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
Just 2.5 hours south of San Francisco, there's a magical place on the California coast where the redwoods meet the ocean and the ocean meets the mountains. The Monterey Bay has grown more and more as a destination over the years - and for good reason! People come from all over the world to see the abundant wildlife and drive down Highway 1 to see the views that California is known for. It's not a surprise that this area is also popular for weddings. Surrounded by such a diverse range of landscapes, there's wedding venues for every type of couple - redwood forests for a fairytale wedding in Big Sur, ocean-view terraces for romantic sunsets overlooking the Pacific Ocean, gardens flourishing against the Santa Lucia Mountains. And the best part is that oftentimes you don't have to choose just one! You could get ready in a redwoods cabin, say your vows in a garden, and chase the sunset on the coast all in one day if you wanted to. If that sounds like your dream wedding, out this guide on Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey wedding venues!
Planning an elopement or intimate wedding instead? Check out the Big Sur Elopement Guide for more information specifically for wedding days with smaller guest counts. J + M were high school sweethearts, and decided to get married on their 15 year anniversary! They had an intimate ceremony in the redwoods with just their immediate family, and then adventured out to the coast to catch the sunset. Check out the rest of their Big Sur wedding before!
A + S met online (the old-fashioned way!) and chose to elope in Big Sur. They knew they didn't want the big, traditional wedding experience, but rather something intimate. With the towering redwoods as the backdrop to their ceremony, their day truly felt like a fairytale. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
D + J got married at their local courthouse that afternoon, and drove down to Big Sur to take their wedding portraits. We had one of the sunniest days we had in a while, and had such a blast running around the beach. Check out the rest of their wedding portraits session below!
These two got married on their 8 year anniversary, and celebrated with just their immediate family present, surrounded by the redwoods in a fairy circle. There was no rush, no pressure, just a relaxed, stress-free day - exactly what they wanted to soak it all in and take in every moment of their wedding day in the heart of Big Sur. Check out the rest of their Glen Oaks Bridge House wedding below!
When B first visited the California coast on a college exchange with CSUMB, he immediately knew that this place was special. Years later, he met W at a housewarming party and they both knew it wasn’t an ordinary connection. They fell in love, and he knew he had to bring her back to this magical place. They had their ceremony in Pacific Grove overlooking the water, then explored the coast of Big Sur before returning to De Tierra Hacienda House for an intimate dinner as the sun set over the vineyards. Everyone cried during their ceremony, and couldn’t stop crying when these two shared their first dance and dances with their family. It was such an emotional day, and they knew that their decision to change their original large wedding plans to an intimate one was the right one. Check out the rest of W + B's wedding below!
When Kristi and Zac sent their inquiry, I swear I found our couple in an alternate universe…
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