How to Plan an Elopement in the California Redwoods

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.

What does a modern elopement look like?

Let's first clarify one thing: what is an elopement? An elopement traditionally referred to a couple getting married secretly by themselves. However, modern elopements are often done with the knowledge of family (though not always), and sometimes even with an intimate group of guests. The term "intimate wedding" may be used for elopements with guests up to 10, or even 25 people. If you have guests, what differentiates an elopement from a traditional wedding? Typically elopements/intimate weddings don't follow the wedding playbook: they may not have a venue, wedding party, DJ, reception, amongst other things. Because there aren't any restrictions, couples may include unique activities like getting ready together in a cabin, grabbing pizza and beer for lunch, having a private chef cook dinner, dancing under the stars, or hosting a picnic bonfire for their guests.

Deciding Between an Elopement vs. Wedding

​​The big question. For me, I never knew elopements were a possibility. It never crossed my mind because I had never seen anyone else elope. Looking back, I would've eloped if I knew more about modern elopements. There's no right or wrong choice for everyone, it's a deeply personal decision to create a wedding day that's authentic to who you are. Here are the most common reasons couples choose to elope:

1. BUDGET: This is usually the very first reason couples to elope. You can scroll down to the section "How much does it cost to elope?" for a better idea of what an elopement costs (hint: usually about 10-30% the cost of a traditional wedding).​​​​
2. PLANNING: This might be the second reason couples choose to elope. Planning a wedding can quickly get overwhelming, from having to navigate family dynamics, to deciding on who to invite (and who not to invite), to worrying about a million details that you never thought you had to think about.​
3. GUESTS: While elopements typically assume that you have no guests, they can also refer to intimate weddings with a small number of guests. Sometimes it can be easy to jump to wanting to run away and just get married, but your wedding day can also be a day to celebrate with those who have stood by your side and made you two who you are today. Has your dad always dreamed of walking you down the aisle? Is your best friend beyond the moon to see you tie the knot? For some, it may be an easy decision to include (or not include) your loved ones in your wedding day, for others, it may involve some compromise and sit-down talks before finalizing a decision.
4. VISION: While the first 3 reasons are often the first things that come to mind when choosing to elope, I recommend starting with your vision. What do you envision your wedding day to look like? Are you an extrovert who loves the life of the party, or an introvert who shies at the idea of hundreds of eyes all focused on you? What moments in your love story have been most precious to you? Then take those answers to those questions and ask "How do I bring those moments to my wedding day?" For some of you, it may have been your very first road trip together, where you hiked up to catch the sunrise. If so, eloping with just the two of you might be your dream wedding day. For others of you, it may have been sharing the joy and happiness of your proposal at an after-party with your closest loved ones. If so, maybe an intimate wedding is the choice for you. Or maybe it was getting to dance all night with your partner at your best friend's wedding, sharing stories with your friends and making memories together. Then maybe a traditional wedding is the route to go. Whatever you choose, let it be reflective of what you makes you two the most excited to get married!

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Choosing a California Redwood Elopement Location

The stretch of California from Big Sur all the way up to northernmost end of the state is dotted with countless redwood forests. When choosing an elopement location, there are a few factors to consider:

• How accessible is it? If you're already in California, consider if you want to go somewhere more local, or make it a road trip. If you're flying in, here are the closest redwoods to each airport:
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 1 hour from Muir Woods
  • Oakland International Airport (OAK): 20 minutes from Joaquin Miller & Roberts Regional
  • San Jose International Airport (SJC): 1 hour from Henry Cowell & Big Basin
  • California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV): 1 hour from Redwood National Park, but only has direct flights from SFO, LAX, and DEN
• How difficult is the hike? Some areas have easy walks that quickly bring you deep into the redwood forests, while others may require a bit of hiking. Typically larger, more popular parks have easily accessible trails.
• How crowded is it? There are some parks that are popular for a reason - like Muir Woods - but eloping there may mean sharing the space with many other visitors. You may want to choose a lesser known park or getting married on a weekday if you prefer to have a little more privacy.
• Can I elope there? Always check with the individual park for its permit process and elopement guidelines. Some are stricter than others - Muir Woods only allows weddings before 10 AM or after 4:30 PM, and doesn't allow any weddings on weekends or holidays from March 15 to October 15.

Here is a map of popular California redwood elopement locations:

Budgeting for an Elopement

One thing for certain is that eloping costs less than the average $30-40k spent on a wedding. But just as wedding budgets can range immensely, elopement budgets can range even more depending on what you envision for your elopement experience.
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Lower Budget

• ​Short 1-2 hour elopement
• Lesser known location
• Monday-Thursday off-peak pricing
• No travel fees with local vendors
• Non-traditional wedding attire
• Ordained friend as officiant
• No overnight stay
• No dinner reception

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Higher Budget

• Full 6-8 hour elopement day
• Well known destination location
• Friday-Sunday peak pricing
• Travel fees to hire vendors
• Traditional wedding attire
• Hired vendor as officiant
• 2-night stay at location
• Private dining/private chef

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Sample Lower Budget Elopement:
​Permit: $200
Photography: $3000
Bouquet: $200
Hair/Makeup: $200
Dress: $500
Suit Rental: $100
​Officiant: $300
TOTAL: $4500

Sample Higher Budget Elopement:
Permit: $300
Photography: $5000
Bouquet: $200
Hair/Makeup: $500
Dress: $1000
Suit Rental: $150
​Officiant: $300
Accommodations: $350
Private Dining/Private Chef: $700
TOTAL: $8500
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Most couples will, of course, choose to splurge on some aspects and skip other aspects entirely! The beauty of elopements is there's truly no one way to elope - you can splurge on your dream photographer to capture your epic adventure in the woods, or you can buy that dream dress you've been eyeing on Pinterest for years. By skipping the most expensive costs of planning a wedding (venue and catering for 100+ people) as well all the extra costs that add up quickly (invitations, decor, florals, the list could go on), you get to choose how you want to invest in your wedding day.

Planning an Elopement

1. Check the park's permit process.

Sometimes this may be listed under wedding permits. Use the links below to find permit information on popular redwood elopement spots (locations are listed in order of south to north):

• BIG SUR: Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Pfeiffer Big Sur (More info on the Big Sur Elopement Guide!)
• SANTA CRUZ: Big Basin, Portola Redwoods, Henry Cowell (More info on the Santa Cruz Elopement Guide!)
• SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Muir Woods, Samuel P Taylor, Joaquin Miller Park​, Roberts Regional
• ​SONOMA: Armstrong Redwoods
• HUMBOLDT: Humboldt Redwoods, Redwood National, Jedediah Redwoods
• SIERRA NEVADA: Yosemite National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon 

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2. Decide on a date.

• Pick a meaningful date. Many couples choose to elope on or near their anniversary.
• Be conscious of weather. Luckily California weather is pretty mild throughout the year, with rainy season typically running from November to April (but check your specific location, as California's a big state!) Even in rainy season, we still get a good amount of sunny days in between.
• Consider weekdays over weekends. If you have guests, you might be considering weekends for ease of travel. But parks can be busy during the weekends, especially those closer to well-trafficked areas like San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Big Sur. Weekdays are often your best bet to avoid crowds as well as save costs.
• Ask your vendors. Once you've found a vendor you love - especially one that's helping to plan and/or photograph your elopement - ask them for their recommendations and availability. You may run into difficulty hiring vendors for weekends, as most will either have a minimum spend or turn down smaller bookings on weekend dates.

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3. Research and book vendors.

• PHOTOGRAPHER: For many elopements, your photographer may be the one person with you throughout the entire day. That's why it's so important that you choose a photographer who gets you, who gets your vision, and who is just as excited as you are to celebrate your love story. If you're not familiar with the area, I highly recommend hiring a local photographer who knows the area. Having grown up in the Bay Area, I mostly work in the San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, and Sonoma areas and have hiked through many of the redwoods locations myself. Because I know the area well, I often serve as a planner to my couples, helping them pick locations, build their timeline, and recommend other local vendors. 
• OFFICIANT: Many couples nowadays choose someone they know to officiate their wedding to add that personal touch to their wedding ceremony (commonly ordained through the Universal Life Church).  But if you are eloping with just the two of you or just don't have anyone in mind to perform your ceremony, you may choose to hire a professional officiant instead.
• FLORIST: For most couples, all you will need is a bridal bouquet and possibly a boutonniere. Plan to pick up your florals the day before, or arrange drop-off. You can also think outside of the box! Some couples hire a florist to create a floral installation in place of the traditional wedding arch for the ceremony, or floral centerpieces for a cute picnic or dinner reception.
• HAIR/MAKEUP ARTIST: Hair/makeup artists typically travel to brides on the day of, so consider weekdays since you will only need bridal hair/makeup rather than a full team.

OTHER VENDORS/THINGS TO BOOK: While couples will usually book the above vendors at the minimum for their elopement, you can also choose to make your elopement day a full day experience and even keep some aspects of a traditional wedding day if they're important to you! Here are some other vendors to consider:

• ACCOMMODATIONS: Can you imagine anything more romantic than getting ready together in a cabin in the woods?! It's the perfect way to start and end your wedding day.
• VENUE: If you prefer more privacy and ease of travel for guests, you may want to consider booking a venue. Some venues may offer elopement packages for weekday elopements with options for accommodations, ceremony, and reception all in one place.
• EVENT DESIGNER: You might have seen beautifully designed elopements on wedding blogs or Pinterest, ones with A-frame archways framed with florals or elegant picnics with pampas grass, poufs, and delicately laid out grazing tables. If you love all the details, consider hiring an event designer - but always check with the park/venue first to see if they allow decor to be brought in. 
• VIDEOGRAPHER: There can be something so special about having your day documented cinematically in film for you to hear your vows back. Look for videographers with a similar style to your photographer so you can have the dream team working together to capture all the best memories.
• PRIVATE CHEF/DINING: I mean, is a celebration complete without good food?! You can look into hiring a private chef for just the two of you, bringing in a food truck or catering to host at an Airbnb, or reserving private dining at a restaurant.
• ACTIVITIES: Love camping and the smell of roasted s'mores over a bonfire? Always wanted to zipline over the treetops? Your day isn't limited to just having a ceremony and reception - it can be a day full of adventure and experiences. Make the day yours!

4. Shop for your wedding outfits.

Whether you've always dreamed of getting married in an elegant bridal gown, or want to rock a jumpsuit with pockets, there's so many different options to feel like the raddest married couple out there!

For non-bridal specific outfits:

• Rent the Runway​ ($)
• Lulu's ($)
• Modcloth ($)
• Reformation ($$)
• Asos ($$)

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For preowned dresses:

• Preowned Wedding Dresses
• Still White
• Nearly Newlywed

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For boho bridal shops:

• BHLDN
• Lovely Bride
• Loho Bride
• Tangerine Rentals​​

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For boho bridal designers:

• Bibiluxe ($$)
• Reclamation Dresses ($$)
• Dreamers and Lovers ($$$)
• Made with Love Bridal ($$$)
• Lovers Society ($$$)
• Daci Gowns ($$$$)
• ​Rue de Seine ($$$$)

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A big question brides often ask is "What shoes do I wear?!" Always make sure to wear comfortable shoes, and remember that your shoes won't show up in most photos if you're wearing a floor length dress. For cute and functional hiking boots, check out Kodiak, Blundstone, or Danner shoes. You can also look for bridal boots depending on your comfort level and how much hiking will be involved on your wedding day.

5. Plan your day.

This is a great step to work with your photographer and/or planner on. Think about what moments are most important to you. If there are aspects of a traditional wedding that you want to include, do it! This is also the perfect opportunity to get creative - you can plan a whole day of adventure starting with cooking breakfast together in a romantic cabin in the woods, and ending the night dancing under the stars. Since most redwood locations are also near the ocean, I always recommend chasing the sunset together for those beautiful golden hour portraits (what's more romantic than that?!) Just make sure to plan around sunset time so you don't run out of light!
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Elopement Timeline (No Guests)

6 HOUR TIMELINE
3:00 - 4:00 Getting Ready in a Cabin
4:00 - 4:30 Travel to Elopement Location
4:30 - 5:00 Ceremony & Vows
5:00 - 6:00 Redwood Couple Portraits
6:00 - 6:30 Travel to Coast
6:30 - 7:30 Sunset Couple Portraits
7:30 - 8:00 First Dance on the Beach
8:00 - 8:30 Return to Cabin
8:30 - 9:00 Private Chef-Prepared Dinner
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4 HOUR TIMELINE
4:00 - 4:30 First Look
4:30 - 5:00 Ceremony & Vows
5:00 - 6:00 Redwood Couple Portraits
6:00 - 6:30 Travel to Coast
6:30 - 7:30 Sunset Couple Portraits
7:30 - 8:00 First Dance on the Beach
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Intimate Wedding Timeline

7 HOUR TIMELINE
2:30 - 3:30 Getting Ready in a Cabin
3:30 - 4:00 Travel to Elopement Location
4:00 - 5:00 First Look & Couple Portraits
5:00 - 5:30 Ceremony & Vows
5:30 - 6:00 Family & Group Photos
6:00 - 6:30 Travel to Coast
6:30 - 7:30 Sunset Couple Portraits
7:30 - 8:00 Travel to Dinner
8:00 - 9:30 Toasts, Dances, & Guest Candids
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5 HOUR TIMELINE
4:30 - 6:00 First Look & Couple Portraits
6:00 - 6:30 Ceremony & Vows
6:30 - 7:00 Family & Group Photos
7:00 - 7:30 Travel to Dinner
7:30 - 9:30 Toasts, Dances, & Guest Candids
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6. Create a checklist for the week of.

Now that you've got a plan, create a checklist for things to do the week of so you don't forget!

• Write your vows.
• Pick songs for dances/background music (if applicable).
• Confirm meeting times and locations with all vendors and guests (if applicable).
• Download the Google map offline and favorite all meeting locations in case of no cell service.
• Pack personal items like wedding outfits, rings, jewelry, vow books, comfortable shoes, etc.
• Pick up your bouquet the day before or morning of.
• Tidy up your getting ready location prior to photos (if applicable).

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7. Celebrate!

You made it! Take it all in, treasure the moments, and celebrate how amazing it is that you get to marry the love of your life.

Don't worry if you're in the early planning stages and feel a little lost! As a California elopement photographer, I provide all of my couples with:

• Planning and consultation calls to get to know you and help you craft a day that focuses on what's important to you
• Location recommendations with information on permits, costs, and guest limits
• Sample timeline customized to what you want documented on your wedding day
• Planning checklist to help you organize and keep track of your progress
• Suggestions on how to personalize your day
• Officiant add-on option (by my husband!)
• Vendor recommendations to make your day a little more magical
• Tips specific to the area to help your day run smoothly

Fully inspired and ready to start crafting a day full of adventure together?

Let's do this!