Riley and Connor flew in from Nebraska to celebrate their love with a romantic Big Sur elopement, and from the second we had our first consult call, we were all in. They booked immediately, and we started planning out an adventure that would take us from one of the most beautiful boutique hotels in Carmel to the epic cliffs and redwoods of Big Sur. When Riley first reached out, she told me she wanted something romantic, beautiful, lowkey, and dreamy for her and Connor’s elopement, and honestly, that describes this day perfectly.

Getting Ready at Villa Mara Carmel

Riley and Connor stayed at Villa Mara Carmel, which was recently voted one of the top 50 hotels in the world and just received a Michelin Key (no big deal!) and it absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment I walked in, the staff was next-level kind. I didn’t even have to introduce myself, someone at the front desk saw my cameras and said, “You must be here for Riley and Connor.” Then he escorted me to their room and encouraged us to have a wonderful day and photoshoot. Such a small thing, but it totally set the tone for how welcoming and thoughtful this place is.

We took getting-ready photos in their suite, along with some flat lays and solo portraits. The space had this understated charm that made everything feel cozy and elevated. After that, we wandered around the property, snapping portraits on the front lawn, in the courtyard by the fireplace, and along the hotel’s signature staircase with Villa Mara in the background. Every corner of this place is effortlessly photogenic.

Before we headed out, we popped back into the room to grab a few things and found freshly baked warm cookies waiting on the nightstand. Like… what?! The cutest surprise and such a sweet little touch by the staff. Safe to say we were all officially obsessed with this place!

Big Sur Redwoods Elopement Moment

From Carmel, we made our way down Highway 1 to start the real adventure: a Big Sur redwoods elopement tucked into one of my favorite forest trails.

The weather was overcast (my favorite for shooting), and the light was soft and diffused, making the redwoods even more moody and magical. Riley and Connor wandered through the forest like they were straight out of a fairytale surrounded by gorgeous nature.

After the forest, we hiked back toward the coastline to take in the cliffs of Big Sur. The ocean was misty, the cliffs were dramatic, and Riley’s fiery red hair stood out in the most beautiful way. This is the part of Big Sur that really feels like the edge of the world and it’s why people travel from everywhere to get married here!

Something a little extra fun for me was that I brought along my old Nikon film camera from 1986 and shot a few rolls throughout the day. Some of their final gallery images are direct film scans, and they came out lovely! It's always a joyous and different experience for me shooting with film, and this day was the perfect chance to do it.

From the moody redwoods to the warm cookies at check-in to dancing on the cliffs, Riley and Connor’s romantic Big Sur elopement was filled with beauty, calm energy, and genuine joy. 

They came all the way from Nebraska for this and I couldn’t be more honored that they trusted me to guide them through the experience.

If you’re dreaming up your own Big Sur redwoods elopement or California coastal elopement, I’d be thrilled to help document your love!