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!
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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!
A Local Big Sur Elopement Photographer's 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 spends countless roadtrips exploring the endless trails in the area, 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 know my husband, you'll know that he's a huge coffee snob. Wherever we go, we'll try local coffee shops. It's one of the first things we'll look for when we travel somewhere new. Over the years, these coffee shops have held so many memories for us. One year, we spent New Year's Eve at Deep Creek Coffee in Utah, where on a chilly winter morning, the barista asked Keith to step in to help out with the morning rush. We spent those nights watching the stars and talking about getting engaged. For our proposal, Keith planned a scavenger hunt, and one of the stops was a place that sold Heart Coffee, a reminder of our trip to Oregon that made us want to move to the Pacific Northwest. We took some of our engagement photos at Flywheel Coffee in San Francisco, which was just one of the many coffee shops we frequented over the years. So after all these years, we wanted a way to share those stories, the places we went, and the people we met. When we looked online for ideas, we didn't find any designs that really fit what we were looking for, so we decided to create our own! Check out this DIY tutorial on framing and displaying your coffee bag collection.
Sometimes you meet a couple and they just radiate love. They don’t wait for the camera to be on, they don’t need any direction, they simply just are. A + C was exactly that kind of couple. They both told me how excited they were as they got ready separately - the nerves were all there. But the moment they saw each other, it’s like they took a breath of fresh air. They were at home with each other, marveling at how lucky they were to have found an incredible love story. So thankful to have been a part of their day, to end 2023 on New Year’s Eve documenting the precious moments of their story. Check out the rest of their Big Sur elopement below!
One of my favorite questions to ask couples is "What are some of your favorite memories together?" K + J told me that some of their favorite memories were the smallest moments, the mundane things of everyday life and the weekend getaways spent camping outdoors. So it was fitting that they chose to spend their wedding day doing those very things - staying in a cabin in the woods the night before, saying their vows at the historic Deetjen's Big Sur Inn, setting up a tent at their campsite, hiking in the redwoods, cooking dinner together over a campfire. It was nontraditional and perfectly represented who they were. Check out the rest of their Big Sur redwoods camping elopement below!
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!
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