If you love cozy cabin vibes, this Big Sur elopement is for you. L + M loved the outdoors - they shared many memories hanging out at lakes, hiking in the forests, and cozying up by the campfire. When they started planning their elopement, they found the perfect place to stay. This historic inn was full of charm, from the cozy fireplace to the wood-panel walls to the dappled light through the window. But most importantly, it was home to several cats, which made L + M all the more excited as proud cat parents. The moment I arrived, I saw M petting a cat, who had found a new home lounging on their car. It was the best way to start the day - and that same cat followed us to the little redwood grove where they said their vows! They continued on to the beach and coast for the rest of their day, where they raced each other on the beach and took Polaroids of each other to remember the day. Check out the rest of their Deetjen's Big Sur Inn elopement below!

K grew up in California and spent many summers camping in Big Sur as a child. She treasured these childhood memories fondly - days spent hiking in the redwoods, exploring the coast, and running on the beach. When K + T met in Virginia, she knew she had to bring T to this magical place she loved so much. It was the perfect place for these two avid birdwatchers, who even brought their binoculars and called out the birds they recognized. Since their first date was at a brewery, they also stopped by Big Sur Taphouse for a beer. It was a day that just felt like them. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!

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.

J + M were high school sweethearts, and decided to get married on their 15 year anniversary! They had an intimate ceremony in the redwoods with just their immediate family, and then adventured out to the coast to catch the sunset. Check out the rest of their Big Sur wedding before!

A + S met online (the old-fashioned way!) and chose to elope in Big Sur. They knew they didn't want the big, traditional wedding experience, but rather something intimate. With the towering redwoods as the backdrop to their ceremony, their day truly felt like a fairytale. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!

​D + J got married at their local courthouse that afternoon, and drove down to Big Sur to take their wedding portraits. We had one of the sunniest days we had in a while, and had such a blast running around the beach. Check out the rest of their wedding portraits session below!

These two got married on their 8 year anniversary, and celebrated with just their immediate family present, surrounded by the redwoods in a fairy circle. There was no rush, no pressure, just a relaxed, stress-free day - exactly what they wanted to soak it all in and take in every moment of their wedding day in the heart of Big Sur. Check out the rest of their Glen Oaks Bridge House wedding below!

When B first visited the California coast on a college exchange with CSUMB, he immediately knew that this place was special. Years later, he met W at a housewarming party and they both knew it wasn’t an ordinary connection. They fell in love, and he knew he had to bring her back to this magical place. They had their ceremony in Pacific Grove overlooking the water, then explored the coast of Big Sur before returning to De Tierra Hacienda House for an intimate dinner as the sun set over the vineyards. Everyone cried during their ceremony, and couldn’t stop crying when these two shared their first dance and dances with their family. It was such an emotional day, and they knew that their decision to change their original large wedding plans to an intimate one was the right one. Check out the rest of W + B's wedding below!

When Kristi and Zac sent their inquiry, I swear I found our couple in an alternate universe…

1. Both Kristi and I grew up our entire lives a few houses down from our future spouses and even had mutual friends, but didn’t meet and didn’t start dating until our senior year, our spouse’s junior year. We both went to the movies for our first date.
2. Both Kristi and I did long distance with our partners in college. When Zac/I left for college, Kristi/Keith put together a CD of songs. We spent many hours on Skype and wrote post it notes to each other
3. Both Kristi and I eventually ended up at the same college as our partner.
4. Zac re-proposed on Freemont Street, Keith and I met in a city called Fremont.
5. Zac/I didn’t like coffee before meeting Kristi/Keith, but now the first thing he does/I do in the morning is turn on the coffee maker.
6. Both Kristi and I are the detail oriented, overthinkers, while our partners remind us to have fun and relax.
7. Both Kristi and I are very crafty people, and like to design our own personal details. She even designed a custom vintage style postcard with a bride and groom in the redwoods (you would’ve thought it was from Etsy!)

​Kristi had been following my work for years, not even knowing that we shared such similar stories. The more and more we chatted, the more similarities we found. It was truly fate. And of course, their elopement day was incredibly sweet, and it was an absolute joy to be a part of it. From her putting on his boutonnière (just like prom), to her helping him shave to get ready, to them reading old love letters to each, it truly felt like an authentic reflection of their story and the memories they had shared over the years. Check out the rest of their Glen Oaks Big Sur elopement below!

T knew he wanted to do something special to propose to his partner. When they got to the viewpoint, he gave her headphones to listen to a song and a love letter to read, and then surprised her with proposing in Big Sur overlooking the coastline. Does it get more romantic than that?! Check out the rest of T + S's Big Sur coastal cliffside proposal.