A Local Big Sur Elopement Photographer's 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 spends countless roadtrips exploring the endless trails in the area, 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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G + M were introduced to each other through their parents, but it was their immediate strong connection that drew them to starting a relationship while in different countries - M, in California on the West coast, and G, in Toronto on the East coast. But distance couldn't keep them apart, and through their visits across the country, they found so much joy in getting to spend time with each other. It couldn't be more evident when I adventured with them in Big Sur. The moment their feet hit the sand on the beach, they were chasing each other, jumping into the water, splashing water everywhere, and laughing until they couldn't anymore. Check out the rest of their Big Sur engagement session below!
With Big Sur, you never know what the weather's going to be like - the weather often changes by the minute, and even by the mile. But the best part is that no matter what the weather's like, you can't go wrong. When I was driving down Highway 1 to L + G's engagement shoot, I was immediately excited when I saw the fog banks rolling over the mountains. They told me the same thing when they parked, that one of the reasons they chose to get married here on the coast was because they loved way the fog made the coastline so magical, like it couldn't be real time. When we ventured out to the rocky cliffs, we were greeted with the most incredible view - golden rays of sun shining through the misty fog, the rocks fading into the distance. The mountains came in and out of the fog throughout their session, and we had to just stop and take it all in. It was truly an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime sunset (even with the hundreds of sunsets I've seen over this exact same coastline!) Check out the rest of L + G's Big Sur engagement session below!
K had spent a few summers working at the Big Sur State Parks, and those memories spent hiking in the redwoods and in the mountains stayed with her. Though she had travelled to over 50 countries and seen so much, Big Sur remained as one of the top 3 most beautiful places she had ever been. Her fiancé, however, had never been, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to show him why she fell in love with the California coastline. On a warm summer day in Big Sur, these two got married at a private estate overlooking the ocean, with seals barking in the distance, birds flying overhead, and wildflowers dotting the paths. It was the spiritual experience she had remembered from all those years ago, made all the more magical because she got to share it with her loved ones. Check out the rest of their Wind and Sea intimate wedding on the Big Sur coast below!
A castle by the sea, does it get more romantic than that? B + A originally had an entirely different wedding planned in Oregon, but when their accommodations fell through, it didn’t feel right. It was so important for them to find a place where their families could spend the week together, so they started looking far and wide for the perfect place. Amidst their search, they were reminded of how much they loved their time spent on the coast of California. And when they found this castle by the sea, with towers rising into the sky reminiscent of Hogwarts, bookcases filled with tomes, and hidden doors with countless rooms to explore, this Slytherin and Ravenclaw couple knew this was it. Check out the rest of their Pebble Beach intimate wedding below!
M + J met the old-fashioned way - not through dating apps, but through Instagram DMs. They had a shared passion of travel, so M chose to propose on the Big Sur coast, an epic location that reflected the mountains, the water, and the trees they loved so much on their adventures. Check out the rest of their romantic proposal below!
Sometimes life gets crazy, but that doesn’t mean major life milestones have to be put off! In the midst of buying a house, moving, and yes, even E graduating med school in a few days, these two got to slow down and take a day to celebrate their love story. We adventured, we laughed, and we shared stories of our respective goldendoodle fur babies, a perfect day. Check out the rest of H + E's Alila Ventana Big Sur elopement below!
When B saw D playing guitar in a music video, little did she know that this man would one day be her husband. A love story straight out of a novel, these two fell in love when he crossed oceans to start a new chapter in LA. When they started to plan their wedding, they knew they wanted something intimate, something meaningful in a place that epitomized their love of California's landscapes. With his family all flying from overseas, they wanted to show their families the beauty of the place they lived. Big Sur became the perfect place for them. They started their day with a private first look in the redwoods, then had a beautiful sunny ceremony overlooking the coast, and ended with sunset overlooking the water. Check out the rest of their Alila Ventana Big Sur wedding below!
When J planned to propose on their trip to Big Sur, he could not have predicted that Highway 1 would have a slip-out and close for a month and a half. Their trip was planned for the week that the highway was set to reopen, but he couldn't take any chances. Since no cars were able to go into Big Sur except through twice daily convoys, he looked into hiring a helicopter. But in a twist of fate, the highway reopened early, and they were able to go to Big Sur after all. In a last minute plan to find an epic spot to propose to his parter N, we decided upon this lookout spot that overlooked the bridge and the coast. It was exactly what he envisioned. And their proposal could not be complete without their two pups! We headed out to the beach after, where they had a blast just running around with their fur babies, spending time with each other doing what they loved. Check out the rest of their Big Sur proposal below!
D + C had originally planned a completely different day - they were supposed to get married in the redwoods at Glen Oaks Big Sur. They had always been drawn to the incredible landscapes of the Pacific Coast, and knew they wanted a day surrounded by nature. We had plans to drive up the coast and adventure on the cliffs before heading back to the redwoods for their ceremony. Highway 1 had other plans for us though - just a month before their wedding, the highway had a dangerous slip out on the same weekend that they came to visit their venue. They managed to get out of Big Sur in time, but all traffic was closed to Big Sur. The day after the slip out, they visited Holman Ranch, a winery located in Carmel Valley. It became their new venue, and in just a month, they moved everything from Big Sur to Carmel Valley.
Just a few days before their wedding, the weather forecast had another surprise for them. It was forecasted to be sunny all week, but on their wedding day - just that one day - it was expected to rain. Though this could've easily put a damper on most people's wedding days, I found these two in such good spirits when I arrived. They decided to keep their ceremony and reception outdoors, and we even braved the rain and drove down Highway 1 to see the coast. Though we originally had a different coastal location planned, I had an idea for a last minute change that would get them closer to the coast without needing to trek through the mud. It ended up being the perfect stop, and the rain even let up! Soon after, the sun came out and we had a beautiful rest of the day at Holman Ranch. Check out the rest of their wedding below! |