Taylor & Justin’s Carmel Beach Elopement in California

High school sweethearts are really the best meet-cute of all. Taylor & Justin are a sophomore/junior romance that turned into a forever love. The one thing they knew was that they were both too shy for a big wedding. So they began the search for their elopement in California because it had the ocean views and cliffs they envisioned. Carmel near the Big Sur checked off the boxes on their wish list. Their ceremony was perfect – blue water, big waves, colorful hillsides, cliffs, and best of all, secluded. We love their sophisticated style with Taylor’s lovely gown and Justin rocking the formal suit. Read more to discover how this couple’s intimate nuptials with Simply Eloped were a no-stress experience.

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

Taylor: We grew up in the same little town, so we always knew each other. We started hanging out more in high school. He was a sophomore, and I was a junior. I asked him to the junior/senior prom, and here we are, six years later! My first impression of Justin was that he had the best laugh/smile. 

Justin: We started dating in high school, although we met long before that. My first impression of her is that she was very smart, pretty, and athletic.

 How did you propose or accept the proposal? 

Taylor: He took me fishing on our 5 1/2 year anniversary. He wandered off, far enough to where I couldn’t see him. Then he started yelling for me to come over like he had caught a big fish! Once I made it over there, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! 

Justin: I threw a rock in the water and said, “Will you marry me?” It worked. She said yes. 

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

Taylor: We chose to elope in Carmel, California. We had always wanted to vacation in California together, so it just made sense. We narrowed it down to Carmel by looking through the many options on the Simply Eloped website. Carmel seemed to be everything we were looking for (it definitely did not disappoint).

Justin: We chose California because it is pretty and the weather is always nice. I also have family from California.

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

Taylor: After deciding on California, we started looking through the different options for California on the Simply Eloped website. We thought Big Sur looked pretty, so we explored the venues offered near Big Sur. Carmel seemed to be just what we wanted – a beautiful ocean view with rocks and cliffs as well. 

Justin: My favorite part about eloping in Carmel was that the view was incredible. There were tons of huge rocks and massive waves. 

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there? 

Taylor & Justin: We can’t even put it into words! It was absolutely gorgeous. The water was extremely blue, there were beautiful colors on the hillside, and the weather was perfect. It was also secluded, which made our ceremony that much more intimate. 

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

Taylor: The day of the wedding, we went shopping at Carmel By the Sea. We actually bought our wedding flowers that morning at Tiger Lilly Florist and Gifts. They did such a wonderful job and had my flowers done within an hour. Then we went back to our hotel, and I started getting ready. I did my hair and makeup. I wasn’t stressed at all, which was the best feeling. Once we got to our elopement location, our officiant, Rebeca, helped me get into my dress so Justin and I could do a first look. It was such a stress-free day! 

Justin: After dropping Taylor off at the hotel, I went back down to Carmel By the Sea. I bought some sunglasses, walked down to the beach, and talked to my brother on the phone. I wasn’t stressed the entire day; just excited! 

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Taylor & Justin:  Absolutely incredible! We would recommend them to anyone wanting to elope. They organized everything from the officiant to permits. They responded to our emails within the day whenever we had questions. We are SO glad we decided to use Simply Eloped.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement? 

Taylor & Justin: We didn’t have a reception or anything like that when we came back because we are both rather shy (hence the elopement). I did want a tasty dessert after we eloped, though! We went and got a maple apple cinnamon roll from Lilly Mae’s Cinnamon Rolls. It was so good! Better than any wedding cake I’ve ever tasted. 

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Taylor & Justin: Just do it! We have no regrets whatsoever. The planning process was so much less stressful compared to a wedding. In fact, it wasn’t stressful at all! Eloping makes the day all about you and your spouse, as it should be.

Officiation by: Rebeca Ruiz Delgado
Photography by: Joshua Rose
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Carmel River State Beach, Big Sur

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 Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.