Cheryl & Arnont Elope in Muir Woods and Celebrate in San Francisco

Arnont & Cheryl love to adventure together. They met on an ATV trip, and Arnont proposed after an eleven-mile hike up to a glacier! They even chose to elope where they had their first hike together. Simply Eloped helped them plan a friends and family-friendly wedding under the tall trees of Muir Woods near San Francisco. The sounds of the forest surrounded them as they exchanged vows, and afterward, they celebrated with a supper in the city. Find out why they are so happy that Simply Eloped professionals were with them for their forest elopement.

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another? 

Arnont: We met on an ATV trip to Pismo, CA. When I first saw Cheryl, I felt she was approachable, funny, and attractive.

Cheryl: When I first met Arnont, I thought he was really cute but shy around me.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Arnont: So, at first, I wanted to propose to her at Zion National Park because we loved the area so much. However, I couldn’t find the right moment to propose because the area was too crowded. Plus, I think she knew I would propose, so I think she was a bit confused when it didn’t happen. But that was my plan the whole time; cough, cough. Zion National Park was just the decoy proposal… the real proposal happened a few months after we were at Zion National Park. We flew to Montana and stayed in a lovely mini home at Glacier National Park. We hiked for hours, avoiding bears, moose, rams, and the occasional chipmunk. After hours of hiking and tons of switchbacks, with a crazy incline, we reached our destination, Grinnel Glacier. The lake was clear and ice cold. Mini icebergs were floating in the middle of the lake-broken pieces off the melting glacier—a waterfall flowing down the mountain from Salamander Glacier into the lake. We could see the green valley behind us for miles. We were tired, so we dipped our feet in the water and soaked in the sun. Everything was perfect. I pulled out the ring got on one knee, and proposed to her. At 7200 feet above sea level next to a glacier with the whole area to ourselves was an unforgettable moment. It was a moment I will always remember.

Cheryl: I was completely surprised. It was so perfect and surreal. I couldn’t believe it! But I like to remind him that he basically wouldn’t propose to me until I hiked those 11 beautiful miles. He made me work for it!

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Cheryl & Arnont: We eloped at Muir Woods National Monument in Mill Valley, CA. We chose it because it was one of our first hikes together and because it is unbelievably beautiful! 

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there? 

Cheryl & Arnont: We wanted to have an outdoor wedding surrounded by tall trees and away from the city. Muir Woods felt like a hidden gem. Just an hour north of San Francisco. The trail is nicely maintained and wheelchair/kid stroller friendly. The area is beautifully surrounded by majestic red wood trees soaring higher than some of the buildings in San Francisco. Also, the sounds of the nearby stream and morning birds chirping made it that much more serene. The trail was perfect for all ages, and the site was not far away from the big city so people could explore and rest after our ceremony before heading out to our wedding dinner. 

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Cheryl & Arnont: Just the regular things like finding my dress and Arnont finding his tux. It was an exciting time because we didn’t have to worry about a wedding party, an extravagant ceremony, or large reception. We made it our own and were okay with it being non-traditional. It made it more enjoyable and exciting as the time approached instead of getting stressed out or worried. We just focused on ourselves, and all the other people that made it there to share this day with us were like icing on the cake.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Cheryl & Arnont: It was amazing and stress-free. Our team of professionals made us feel like celebrities. Whenever we had questions our team was quick to respond. A week before our wedding my tuxedo rental never showed up and Keely, our team leader, was able to recommend some tuxedo rental shops near our wedding site. You wanted a bigger bouquet, sure we can make it happen. Here’s the itinerary for the wedding day planned out by the hour. Our wedding guests were impressed with everyone, from our wedding officiant to the photographer. Overall, we are very satisfied with our wedding team and recommend Simply Eloped to everybody and anybody! 

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Cheryl & Arnont: We had a beautiful dinner at RH Rooftop Marin, with our close friends and family. 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?Cheryl & Arnont: Don’t sweat the little things and enjoy every moment. Things will fall into place.

Officiation by: Ben Miyaji
Photography by: Melati Citrawireja
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Flowers by: Sunrose Floral
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Muir Woods, San Francisco, California

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.