The Best Time of Year to Elope in Big Sur
I’m asked pretty frequently when the best time to elope is in our Northern California climate. I grew up in Monterey California along the coast of Big Sur and for as long as I can remember our weather has never been predictable. In all honesty, we really don’t have seasons!! I’ll walk you through some graphs and some positives and negatives about each season here on the coast. Most people think of “Sunny California “ but Big Sur and the Bay Area are generally much cooler than the southern part of the state. So when you elope in Big Sur ALWAYS bring a jacket and some hiking shoes! I have a full elopement guide to help you plan every aspect of your day. From the sweetest officiants and the most boho bouquets to my favorite hotels, I got you!!
What’s more important than the season you elope?
The day of the week!!! Big Sur gets busy during the weekends, If you can elope on a Monday-Thursday you will have a much different experience than any weekend!
The winter light on the coast tends to be my favorite! There is something about it that is softer than a harsh summer sun at sunset. The ocean swells in winter can get huge and transform some of our local beaches, making them almost unrecognizable. During the winter rock bridges are more accessible and wild winter waves can make your photos so dramatic! From foggy mornings to a beach that is normally covered in sand being covered in rocks this time of year is one of my favorites.
The best time for:
Wildflowers: June
Mustard Seed: Beginning of August
Papas Grass: Mid Sept-Oct
Lillies: January-April
Low tide: September- October (some rock formations are only available during this time)
Caves are accessible generally: August - Nov (depending on tides)
AVOID: Car week, is generally mid-August and lasts for two weeks, dates change year to year but this is the busiest time to come to the coast.
Note: I love our low-hanging fog, clouds in the sky, and stormy waves so I think the winter months are the most beautiful but also have the highest chance of rainfall
Summer and Spring are when our wildflower blooms come to life. I want to be very clear, Summer does not mean any kind of warmth or heat. We have a very diverse climate, the redwoods tend to be a little sunnier than the cliffside/ beach areas. During the elopement below we had beautiful sun through the trees and beautiful fog on the coast.
There is something beautiful about every season in California, from foggy cliffs and raging swells to the sun shining through the redwoods. Anytime is a good time!!
I’m asked a lot: What if it rains? It almost never rains ALL day in Big Sur so we can always change up the schedule based on predictions. I’m a firm believer in embracing your day for all that comes, I have some clear umbrellas we can bring and some cool caves we can hide in! You can see below that most of our rainfall is from November - March. There have been some years when we have been at the beach and 90 degrees on Christmas!
