How many of you are planners like me? As a planner and a bride, P was on top of it when we talked through different timelines and location options. With Big Sur hit by so many fires this year, we weren't sure if Pfeiffer Beach would be open. Luckily just just in time - a  week before their elopement - the Dolan Fire was contained and we went ahead and planned to head their after their ceremony.

But as (not) the planner, A took his chance to surprise his bride with the sweetest gesture. Just as she was about to walk down the aisle, she heard music playing. He had somehow managed to livestream musicians - with the very limited Wifi out in the redwoods - for their ceremony. They shared a first dance together and all the tears on their elopement day. Check out the rest of P + A's Big Sur elopement! 

Choosing to elope can be every bit as special and meaningful as choosing to have a traditional wedding. These two really took it to heart and carefully planned their day to be intentional and full of memories and moments. We started off at the Hyatt Highlands Carmel, where they got ready separately (pro tip: they have two floor suites perfect for this!) It still felt like they were in the same room even as they were a floor apart, and they got to share little moments like J passing her shoes down the staircase without peeking. They then headed to the balcony for a first look, where they took a deep breath together and just took in how much this day meant to them.

As we drove down to the coast of Big Sur, we found ourselves surrounded by the most beautiful fog. It was such a sweet ceremony with just the two of them, sharing their vows that were written on cards that even had the coastline captured on the front. And while we loved the fog, K + J got to share a quiet moment watching the sunset together as the sun broke through the clouds for just a bit. To end the day, they had a picnic on the beach, read letters written by their friends and family, and then cuddled up in blankets as we said our goodbyes. What an incredible honor it was to get to capture such an incredible day with these two!

When these two met in Canada at a friend's birthday party, little did they know that their paths would bring them all the way to California where they would eventually get married under the redwood trees. Work brought him to work in the San Francisco Bay Area, and love brought her to join him on a new adventure. With the pandemic making their plans to have a wedding with family across international borders impossible for 2020, they decided to tie the knot in a way that just felt right.

Eloping doesn't always mean it has to be just the two of you. K + L knew that they wanted to include their little one on one of the most important days of their lives, so they brought along two friends to help make their day happen. It was the sweetest day spent with their family, adventuring in the redwoods, playing in the river, and exploring the incredible coast of Big Sur. K would run without abandon as we went from place to place, barefoot on the sand and ombré dirt coloring her dress. For them, it was a day to feel free, to feel loved, and to feel wholly connected to things that mattered the most to them. Check out the rest of K + L's Big Sur Elopement!

When COVID forced these two to cancel their wedding in Monterey, they chose to pivot their plans and elope on the coast of Big Sur with just their parents. But it certainly didn't make it any less special - in fact, it was so incredibly sweet to witness the moments they shared together. They treasured moments like Sarah practicing her first dance with her father in the hotel living room, walks through memory lane looking at childhood photos that they gifted the parents, and all the emotion and tears that started to well up as it started to truly feel real.

I've loved getting to see the unique ways that couples choose to include their loved ones on their wedding day - and for these two, they had their parents each share stories and blessings to them during their wedding ceremony. And while we battled a bit of wind on the coast, it didn't stop them from enjoying the moments and even sharing a first dance and dances with their parents before continuing on to chase the sunset with just the two of them. Check out the rest of S + R's Big Sur elopement!

To say that this year has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement - from the first emails back in April checking in with 2020 couples on how they're doing, to walking with them through changing their wedding plans, to pivoting with every new situation, to getting them excited again about their wedding day again. But when it all finally comes together, it's so incredible to see two people get married in a way that focuses on what's most important. Getting to witness and capture W + J say their vows with the most tears I have ever seen in a ceremony, chase the sunset over the hills, and return just in time for the best surprise visit (and more tears) reminded me of how deep and meaningful these 2020 weddings can be. Check out the rest of their beautiful backyard wedding!

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 Big Sur elopement photographer and a local who spends countless weekends 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 location recommendations, best months to elope, day-of timelines, and planning tips! (Updated October 2020)

One thing that G + P had shared from the very beginning of story was their love for the ocean. They sailed together on many adventures, and it became such an important part of who they were as a couple. When COVID caused them to change their wedding plans, they decided to get married in a place that felt right - in Big Sur, California. Together, we looked through different ideas and venues for where they could get married before finally settling on Loma Vista Gardens, a beautiful garden venue nestled in the woods. Though they couldn't have many of their family and friends attend, you could just feel the emotion and love flowing out from their loved ones over Zoom as they witnessed these two's wedding day, cheered them on, and toasted to them over video. Check out the rest of their Loma Vista Gardens wedding below!

For the past 3 years, I’ve photographed weddings at Slowcoast, a beautiful cabin venue in the redwoods near the Santa Cruz coast almost exactly a year apart. Coincidentally when K + C’s larger celebration had to be changed due to the pandemic, they decided to get married in an intimate setting at no other than Slowcoast on September 14, 2020. But then their plans were changed again - my heart was broken when I heard that Slowcoast was one of the casualties in the CZU Lightning Complex just a few weeks before their wedding. It was a place where so many of my couples had gathered with their family and friends, said their vows under the giant redwoods, sat around bonfires cooking s’mores and sharing stories, and danced under the moonlight and stars. It was a place that held so many memories, stories, and magic.

But that didn’t stop K + C from getting married in 2020. Somehow the world had brought them back to their original vision - getting married where they grew up, having their first look at the fallen tree where they used to hang out, chasing the sunset where they used to sneak out to before it became an official landmark. It was a day of absolute magic and joy, as they reminisced over the places that had held so many memories  and created new ones together as husband + wife.

From their first date, C made it his mission to show K (who had recently moved) all the wonders of the West Coast. They went on countless foodie and hiking adventures, which eventually led them to their first international trip together in Thailand. When they decided to get married, they knew they wanted to say their vows in a place that inspired just as much awe as the many places they had explored together. So they settled on the Big Sur coast, where they got married in front of just family and spent the day doing what they loved the most. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!