D + C had originally planned a completely different day - they were supposed to get married in the redwoods at Glen Oaks Big Sur. They had always been drawn to the incredible landscapes of the Pacific Coast, and knew they wanted a day surrounded by nature. We had plans to drive up the coast and adventure on the cliffs before heading back to the redwoods for their ceremony. Highway 1 had other plans for us though - just a month before their wedding, the highway had a dangerous slip out on the same weekend that they came to visit their venue. They managed to get out of Big Sur in time, but all traffic was closed to Big Sur. The day after the slip out, they visited Holman Ranch, a winery located in Carmel Valley. It became their new venue, and in just a month, they moved everything from Big Sur to Carmel Valley.

Just a few days before their wedding, the weather forecast had another surprise for them. It was forecasted to be sunny all week, but on their wedding day - just that one day - it was expected to rain. Though this could've easily put a damper on most people's wedding days, I found these two in such good spirits when I arrived. They decided to keep their ceremony and reception outdoors, and we even braved the rain and drove down Highway 1 to see the coast. Though we originally had a different coastal location planned, I had an idea for a last minute change that would get them closer to the coast without needing to trek through the mud. It ended up being the perfect stop, and the rain even let up! Soon after, the sun came out and we had a beautiful rest of the day at Holman Ranch. Check out the rest of their 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!

Picture this, you are sitting in a small cabin in the woods on a snowy day. There's a fire burning in the hearth, with a pot of blackcurrant juice heating up over it. You’ve just come inside from the snow, and you shed layers and warm up by the fire with a sweet drink. Not your vibe? No problem. You are in a small coastal city with a group of friends. The sun is shining and the weather is perfect for a picnic, so you pack up your things and you all head to the canal, rent a boat and picnic in the middle of the harbor. Still want more? Okay try this. It’s nearing midnight, and you’ve just woken up from a nap. Your bag is packed by the door while you heat up a drink to put in your thermos. Your phone starts buzzing with alerts, and you look out your window into the sky to see the faintest streak of green light cut across the starry night sky. You grab your things, race to your car and drive just 10 minutes away from town to an open clearing. The sky is ablaze with lights of green, pink, red, and purple. If you like any or all of those things, then check out our Nordic Country Travel Guide, which covers Finland, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. If you want to plan an even longer trip, you can check out our Norway and Faroe Islands Travel Guide!

P reached out to me about scheduling their engagement session, but little did she know that V planned to secretly propose to her! We set the date and location for the session, on the beach just like some of their favorite memories spent exploring the California coast. She didn't expect the proposal at all when I had her turn around! Check out the rest of their beautiful sunset proposal session below.

D planned a romantic getaway at Post Ranch Inn for their 7 year anniversary. He wanted to surprise her with a proposal, so we chose a sunset location for them to stop at on their drive down Highway 1. Though we battled a bit of poison oak to get here, it was worth the views! After a quick adventure on the rocks, we continued to Calla Lily Valley to see the spring blooms and ended with a beautiful sunset on the beach. Check out the rest of their proposal below!

J + A loved travelling - it was something they were both passionate about, and they shared so many memories together exploring new places over the past 4 years together. When J reached out about planning his proposal, he knew he wanted it to be in a place that they hadn't been before. Together we chose one of my favorite spots, a hidden gem on the coast of Big Sur for an intimate proposal overlooking the cliffs. This March proposal ended up being the perfect weather, and we got to see a beautiful sunset just as we ended the session. Check out the rest of their Big Sur proposal below!

When I + P reached out to me about doing a double proposal, I was so excited to get to help them capture a moment and milestone that felt so authentic to who they were. The idea of one person proposing to the other just didn't feel right, so they chose to do their proposal their own way - by sharing letters with each other and proposing at the same time. Though they had thought about proposing somewhere abroad like Patagonia, they realized that they wanted to share this moment in a place that was meaningful to them. Not only had they spent many weekend trips driving up Highway 1 to explore Big Sur, but the ocean had always been a special place for them. They even both chose blue outfits and blue rings to match! I took them to some of my favorite hidden gem spots on the coast, where they got to share a private moment overlooking the cliffs. We even got to see the seasonal calla lillies blooming on our way to the beach! Check out the rest of their Big Sur double proposal below!

J told me that the redwoods were a special place for them. They had spent many weekends exploring different redwood trails all over the Bay Area, and even lived near a few of them. When it came time to planning the proposal, J wanted to make sure that he could throw her off his trail. To make sure she didn't know his plans, he had her dress up to multiple day trips. We chose this beautiful redwoods grove as the perfect setting for his proposal - one of my favorites where the light streams through the trees, away from the crowds where you can hear the wind rustling the leaves. When he took her on an afternoon stroll, she had no idea! Check out the rest of his Big Sur redwoods proposal below.

When we moved to Pacific Grove, we knew that this was it. We fell in love with the small town vibes, the close-knitted community, the 5-minute drive to the beach, the 20 minute drive to the Big Sur coast. So when we looked for a house, we looked for one with good bones. We ended up finding one that we loved, but we knew that a remodel was in our future because we had so many dreams of what it could be: a dream home that would be the place for many gatherings, dinners, stories, and friends. After many months of researching, planning, designing, and DIY-ing our house remodel, we finally made it. Here's our journey!