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Last Updated November 2025
Big Sur is one of the most popular places people come to elope, and for good reason! With its epic coastal views and redwood forests, this gem on the California coast is a place full of wonder and natural beauty. But it can also be a daunting process trying to figure out how to get married here. You might have questions like:
Big Sur Elopements At-A-Glance
Permit Costs: $400-$425, Venues: $0-$9,375, can be less if working with a photographer/planner
Best Time of Year: April-November Planning Timeline: 3-12 months ahead, book photographer first Guest Count: Up to 25 people, more options if less than 10 people Need Permits? Contact f[email protected] for coastal elopements, Contact [email protected] for redwoods elopements
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 J + R had never seen the redwoods, so they came to Big Sur to elope. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect day - the sun danced through the trees for their intimate redwoods ceremony, then the fog rolled in as they made burgers on the beach followed by the most incredible mix of sun and cloud on the coast. We couldn’t help but just end the day with taking a moment to stand in awe of the landscape. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
If you're dreaming of a redwoods and coast elopement, this one's for you! These two always dreamed of getting married in a place surrounded by natural beauty, and Big Sur was the perfect place! They spent their day walking under the towering redwoods, sharing pizza on the beach, exploring sea caves, and saying their vows at sunset over the coast. Check out the rest of their elopement below!
 Nestled in the small town of Pacific Grove is Asilomar Conference Grounds and Asilomar State Beach, two of the best hidden gems of the Monterey Bay and Central Coast. While most people may know the white sands of Carmel Beach, the playful otters of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the rugged coastline of Big Sur, Asilomar holds its own with its rich history and beautiful architecture. Spend enough time with locals and you'll find that its the spot to watch the sunset. Besides its rocky beach, the nearby conference grounds serves as a community gathering place, with live music nights, fire pits, and pool tables. The buildings were designed by Julia Morgan, who is best known for her work at Hearst Castle. So if you're looking for an all-in-one wedding venue that has beach and coastal views, lodging, and historical architecture, this is the place for you!
Carmel was always these two’s happy place - a coastal getaway from the Bay Area, where they’d stay at their favorite hotel, grab a cup of coffee, and take slow walks along the beach. They always knew they wanted an intimate, private elopement, so they chose to come back to Carmel to celebrate in a way that felt meaningful and authentic to them. To start the day, they got ready in separate rooms at La Playa, a gorgeous property in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and rented a rad Corvette to drive down Highway 1 to the coast of Big Sur for their elopement ceremony. They closed the night with dinner at a local favorite La Bicyclette. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
As huge car and motorcycle fans, these two had always dreamed of road tripping to the Big Sur coast. Though originally from Wisconsin, they found themselves living in California which was the perfect opportunity to take their very own Aston Martin on the most epic road trip of their lives! They eloped on the coastline of Big Sur and spent the day exploring all the beautiful landscapes that Big Sur had to offer. Check out the rest of their elopement below!
These two met through the silliest of pick up lines and built a beautiful life together making memories from late night Sonic runs to bathtubs filled with Orbees. As self-proclaimed “outside people” not “outdoorsy people,” they chose to get married in Big Sur because it was the perfect in-between - a stunning place of nature that didn’t require hiking! They had an intimate ceremony with their closest loved ones. From getting to adventure with them from redwoods to beach to coast, I got to witness all the little moments they said they loved about each other - the little moments that made them call each other home. Check out the rest of their intimate beach elopement on the California coast!
After 8 years together, these two college sweethearts knew that they didn't want a traditional wedding. They fell in love with the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, a beautiful oceanview venue overlooking the Big Sur coast. It was the perfect setting for their intimate ceremony with just family. Check out the rest of their Hyatt Carmel Highlands wedding below!
 A pilot and a firefighter, R + M immediately hit it off when they met two and a half years ago. They knew they wanted an intimate wedding, and what better place than the charming coastal town of Santa Cruz where they decided to settle down and had made many memories adventuring with their pup Ellie. They said their vows under the towering redwoods forest at Henry Cowell State Park, and even held their reception in their own home, which they transformed into the most beautiful intimate dinner reception! It was such a meaningful day, shared with their immediate families and spent in the places that were home to them. Check out the rest of their Santa Cruz elopement below!
 Ever wondered what an 8-hour elopement looks like? Instead of having a traditional wedding at a venue, R + C choose to have otters and birds witness their wedding day. It was such an intentional and meaningful day in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, starting with a tea ceremony and getting ready with their 2 brothers and 2 sisters. After a sweet first look, these two shared a few private moments making coffee together, a favorite morning tradition of theirs. Their families joined them on the cliffs of Big Sur for an intimate ceremony on the coast, followed by picnicking on the beach with their two pups. And though we had a mostly cloudy day, the sun even peeked out in the last minutes of sunset as the perfect way to end the day. Check out the rest of R + C's intimate California coastal wedding below!
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