How to Elope in California // Elopement in California
For all my 2020 Brides this year has been tough! Trying to navigate the ever-growing and changing climate for weddings with all states having different guidelines is hard. I’m offering all my 2020 wedding bookings an opportunity to keep their original wedding date and elope instead!! The idea of eloping has changed so much recently from what our grandparents or parents viewed it as. Heck, you can invite them AND great aunt Betsy. The main difference between traditional vs. elopement is the focus isn’t on decor or the food menu the focus is on you and your love!
An elopement is an intimate, meaningful experience focused on a couple and their love for each other. From a morning hike to a picnic on the beach, an elopement allows you to make your day exactly what you want it to be. Elopements provide an opportunity for couples to be adventurous, relaxed, or spur of the moment in ways a traditional wedding cannot be. I fully believe the experience of getting married is special whether you decide to elope or have a traditional ceremony. People tend to view elopements as a quick ceremony with a few portraits after, but I’m here to show you it can be SO much more than that!
You deserve a unique tailored experience on your wedding day, this is the date that you will forever celebrate your union !! You're going to want photos of the WHOLE thing, not a quickly rushed photo shoot. I want to be not just your photographer but your elopement guide every step of the way! I will help you make a tailored timeline and help you find all the best vendors to make your day easy breezy and enjoyable. Your elopement can be as adventurous or relaxed as you envision! From Big Sur waterfalls to open meadows over the sea having time to explore and relax make your day that much more unique and enjoyable.
Wondering what the heck you do during a full-day elopement? I get asked this a lot so I want to break down a timeline of what your day could look like below! We could swap out the waterfall for other forest or scenic hikes, we could not hike at all and stop along the way at more sightseeing locations. The options are limitless but the most important part is including you and your love. Do you love to read books together? do you enjoy playing instruments? Do you have a favorite song you like to dance to? Let’s incorporate all of those details to capture your truest selves.
EXAMPLE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE
Getting Ready Location: Ventana
Ceremony Location: Cliffs overlooking the sea
Additional Portrait Location: Waterfall
Meal/Celebration Location: Beach
1:00 pm - Meet at the getting ready location. Photos of you both getting ready/ drinking/ hanging out together.
2:00 pm - Are you staying around the forest? Want to do a first look? Let’s spend some time walking around and finding some beautiful light and trees. Do you play instruments or enjoy drinking beer together let’s bring that along!!
3:00 pm -4:00 - Leave for waterfalls and forest, 3-mile hike up and out stops along the way for photos
5:00 - 6:00 Check out the area around my favorite cove, the meadows before the cove, and say vows overlooking the sea there.
6:00 pm - Private chef/restaurant/picnic on the beach/ cliffs. We can have a private chef meet you at our beach of choice or I can bring along a charcuterie board of your choice with wine and a blanket. Private time with you two.
7:00 pm - 8:00 some golden hour photos of you two along the beach and exploring the cove as the light sets. Champagne!!
9:00 pm- Stop along the way back to your hotel. Photos as the stars come out, bring some headlamps !!
