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!

If you're choosing to elope, chances are you're already wanting to get married in a nontraditional way! So why not personalize your day and truly make it feel unique to who you two are as a couple? There are endless ways to add your own personal touch - from documenting everyday moments hanging out in a cabin in the woods, to picnicking with your favorite foods, to keeping morning traditions of doing crosswords or playing Wordle. Check out these 30 creative ways to make your intimate wedding day special!

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.

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!

When you're looking to hire a photographer, you'll quickly notice that a photographer's editing style is one of the most important aspects that differentiates one from the other. But for most people, trying to identify and narrow down a preferred style can be overwhelming, especially if it's their first time hiring a professional photographer. Disagreements over editing are common pain points, and sometimes can lead to negative experiences if realized too late. The best thing you can do to ensure that you love your photos is to do your research and spend time looking at multiple photographer's portfolios, paying special attention to how their style translates across different settings.

Imagine standing amongst the giant redwood trees, a quiet stillness in the air, with just you and your partner breathing in the mountain air. The moment you look into each other's eyes, you know - you are so lucky to have found each other. No other eyes on you, no months of stressing over planning, no need to worry about tablecloth colors or chair types, just the two of you coming together to celebrate what your wedding day is all about. As a California wedding and elopement photographer, my goal is to help you create a day that reflects all the things you love about each other - a day that captures genuine and authentic moments. If that sounds like your perfect wedding day, read on for everything you need to know about planning an elopement in the California redwoods! P.S. Planning a larger wedding? Check out the blog post on Redwood Venues in the Bay Area & Santa Cruz.

As the #1 most visited state in the United States, California is undoubtedly one of the most popular places to elope. Known for its sunny weather and diversity of landscapes, it's a place where you can go from redwoods to coast, from big city to small town all within a matter of hours. Having lived in California all my life, I've spent years exploring all the different parts of the state, from road tripping down Highway 1 to Big Sur, to camping in Yosemite in the snow, to finding hidden gems dotted throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. It's that passion and love for the outdoors that has brought me to specializing as a Northern California elopement photographer - that plus my obsessive love of planning and many Google Sheets. So if you're thinking about eloping, here's everything you need to know on where to elope and how to plan an elopement in Northern California!

Halfway between the Bay Area and Big Sur is the town of Santa Cruz. It's one of my favorite coastal towns, with laid back outdoors vibe. Imagine staying in a treehouse, brewing coffee in the morning to start your day as you breathe in the fresh mountain air. You walk outside and the giant redwoods surround you everywhere you look. A short drive up the coast and you'll find yourself gazing at coastal bluffs that jut out to the ocean. As a Santa Cruz elopement photographer, I'm here to help you craft your dream elopement day! Whether you imagine adventuring in the redwoods to say your vows, having your first dance and ending the night with a bonfire on the beach, or even starting your day surfing in the ocean, you get to choose what you want your wedding day to look like. Check out this Santa Cruz elopement guide for more ideas on how to plan your Santa Cruz elopement!

There's no surprise that San Francisco - a place that often tops lists for best places to visit - is also a favorite for many couples choosing to elope. Whether it's a destination you've always wanted to travel to or a place you call home, this city is a cultural hub with things to do for everyone. Imagine exploring the coast with just the two of you, the ocean breeze in your hair as you read your vows to each other, sand in your toes as you run into the ocean after. Or this - a weekend getaway with just 10 of your closest friends and family, having your favorite people witness you get married and sharing memories together over good food and good company. As a Bay Area elopement photographer, I'm here to help you craft your dream San Francisco elopement - a day that feels genuine and authentic, a day that encompasses everything you think about when you hear "Best Day Ever." Check out the guide below for more information on where you can elope and how to plan your elopement!

If you've looked at wedding blogs or Pinterest, you've likely seen posts like "50 Must-Have Wedding Photos" or "The Ultimate Wedding Shot List." These posts provide you a comprehensive list of standard photos you might want on your wedding day. And while they can be a good place to start, I challenge you to re-think the list. Your wedding is not like everyone else's - it's your own unique day that celebrates all the amazing things that make your love story special. It's one that celebrates the ways you wrestle each other in a cuddle fight, the inside jokes with your best friends that should never be revealed to anyone else, the memories growing up with your crazy but still kinda cool family. So why should your wedding photos be any less unique? Dive into this step by step guide to rethink how to capture genuine, authentic memories of your wedding day.