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!
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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!
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.
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!
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