When to Elope in Big Sur
In addition to determining your venue, vendors and getting a plan in place to obtain your marriage license, we have specific tips for time of year and day to elope in the area. While eloping in Big Sur is stunning year-round there are high volume seasons of tourists and each year offers a different vibe in regards to weather. Read below for our top tips when considering season or time of day when eloping in Northern California.
What time of year should you elope in Big Sur?
Picking what time of year to elope in Big Sur really comes down to what type of vibe you’re seeking for your big day. Do you envision foggy skies and rainy moments? Are you wanting an epic sunset on a warm evening? If you’re a rain lover you’ll definitely want to elope in February or March. During the summer weather is surprisingly unpredictable: sunny one day, foggy the next. If you’re wanting to avoid tourist season, we recommend straying away from September – November. While these are for sure really lovely months in the area, they’re also the busiest so finding your vendors and venue will be a bit more of a challenge just due to sheer competition.
What time of day should you elope in Big Sur?
Picking the time of day to elope in Big Sur is actually a critical part to ensuring your big day goes off without a hitch. Eloping in the early or late morning will ensure your lighting is soft and your vibe is quiet. Not many folks are visiting the beach or forest in the morning. We recommend avoiding afternoons – unless it’s a foggy or cloudy day – as the lighting can be harsh and generally unflattering for your pictures. Evenings can offer either stunning fog or epic sunsets but they will also be well-visited by tourists. It’s also great to consider what your activities will be before and after, such as hair & makeup prior or a celebratory dinner after, so you’re putting in place the whole schedule of your big day.
How far in advance should I start planning my Big Sur elopement?
We get this question frequently: how far in advance should I plan by elopement? We generally recommend three to nine months so you have ample time to plan all aspects of your trip such as locking in hotel, flights and any activity or dinner reservations. However, we’ve planned ceremonies with as little notice as a week! As long as you have a plan in place to acquire your marriage license, we can tackle the rest such as securing vendors, permits and getting your timeline into place. Whatever best suits you, we can accommodate!