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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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!
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!
Exactly one year since their proposal, K + J got married with just their immediate family as their witness. The ocean served as their backdrop, and they even spotted an otter mom and baby swimming on the coast! It was little moments like that, or their nephew walking down the aisle with his ring security box, that made their day feel so intimate and meaningful. While we had to change locations last minute due to highway closures, we got to experience the magic of spring in Big Sur - yellow and white wildflowers lining the trails, calla lilies growing in the valley, and of course, the epic cliffs and coastal views that Big Sur was so famous for. Check out the rest of their Carmel and Big Sur elopement below!
D + C told me that it was important to them that they got to just be themselves - to savor the quiet moments, the warm embraces, the subtle looks, the gentle hand touches, the genuine awe of taking in the landscapes around them. They weren't the type of couple to run around with the biggest laughs, but instead found a safe home in each other where they feel at peace. So when it came to approaching photography for their day, I wanted to make sure that I respected their story - and it was exactly those quiet moments that made their day feel so authentic. They got ready together in a romantic cabin in the woods, cut a little cake together, changed into boots to explore the seasonal calla lilies, and got to see the Big Sur coastline (and even a cute little otter swimming below them!) If that all sounds like a dream Big Sur elopement for you, check out more photos below for inspiration!
Sometimes you meet a couple and they just radiate love. They don’t wait for the camera to be on, they don’t need any direction, they simply just are. A + C was exactly that kind of couple. They both told me how excited they were as they got ready separately - the nerves were all there. But the moment they saw each other, it’s like they took a breath of fresh air. They were at home with each other, marveling at how lucky they were to have found an incredible love story. So thankful to have been a part of their day, to end 2023 on New Year’s Eve documenting the precious moments of their story. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
One of my favorite questions to ask couples is "What are some of your favorite memories together?" K + J told me that some of their favorite memories were the smallest moments, the mundane things of everyday life and the weekend getaways spent camping outdoors. So it was fitting that they chose to spend their wedding day doing those very things - staying in a cabin in the woods the night before, saying their vows at the historic Deetjen's Big Sur Inn, setting up a tent at their campsite, hiking in the redwoods, cooking dinner together over a campfire. It was nontraditional and perfectly represented who they were. Check out the rest of their Big Sur redwoods camping elopement below!
I always love asking couples what they love to do and their favorite memories together - it helps shape our planning as we craft a day that feels personal and authentic. For C + C’s day, there were a few important things we talked about during our consultation call - getting married by the ocean with their feet in the sand, including Kingsley, their 150-pound Great Dane, and ending their day sitting by a fire pit. Sure, there were mishaps like ants getting in their pizza, or getting sunburnt on an unusually hot day in November, or even leaving the champagne in the other car, but I could just tell that these two were in it through thick and thin. It didn’t faze them, and they continued to laugh and embrace each other as they celebrated an intimate day together. It ended up being the most incredible day, full of moments that reflected their love story. Check out the rest of C + C's Big Sur elopement below!
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