Elope in Big Sur: 2021 Guide to Big Sur Elopement Package

Places to elope in Big Sur

Carmel River State Beach Carmel River State Beach

This mile-long beach features a bird sanctuary in a lagoon, several different rocky outcroppings where the waves clash, and beautiful coastal plants. You will love the peaceful paths that offer...

Glen Oaks Big Sur Glen Oaks Big Sur

Commit to each other in a redwood grove that has grown for centuries. In the small hamlet of Big Sur, Glen Oaks is an exceptional mountain escape and retreat from...

Loma Vista Gardens Loma Vista Gardens

Located in the heart of Big Sur along California Highway 1, the historic Loma Vista gardens offer spectacular views of Mount Manuel and the Ventana Wilderness. Loma Vista – which...

Carmel redwoods cabin Carmel redwoods cabin

Celebrate outside a Carmel cabin nestled in the redwoods! Enjoy peaceful solitude with just the two of you and any additional vendors. Perfect retreat for committing to a life of...

Big Sur Lodge Big Sur Lodge

The redwood grove at the Big Sur Lodge is a serene spot near the Big Sur River. Venue rental and travel fees apply

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Big Sur Elopement Packages

Our Big Sur elopement packages include everything you will need to have a relaxed Big Sur wedding ceremony in a beautiful, natural setting.

Services and Packages

Seed

Officiation services

Personalization of vows
Enactment of ceremony

Advice on obtaining wedding license
Advice on ceremony locations

Starting at

$700

Sprout

Everything from the

SEED PACKAGE
Photography of ceremony

Brief portrait session after
(up to one hour of photography)
Digital transfer of 75+ edited images

Delivery of Photos (15 days or less after ceremony)

*You can add on extra hours of photography after booking

Starting at

$1,500

Bloom

Everything from the

SPROUT PACKAGE
Nosegay bouquet & boutonniere of your choosing

*You can add on extra hours of photography after booking

Starting at

$1,750

Oasis

Everything from the

BLOOM PACKAGE
Two Hours of Photography
One hour of videography

Long-form video of ceremony & 1-2 minute highlight reel
Hair & Makeup for one person
Carmel Beach Permit
On-Site helper

*You can add on extra hours of photography after booking

Starting at

$4,950

Simply Eloped has been seen in

We had started our big wedding plans but didn’t like how it wasn’t really intimate. Eloping captured the intimacy and was made just for us and our kids.

Yvette and Cesar

All around great experience. Would reccomend Simply Eloped to anyone considering eloping!

Heather and Mark

We chose Simply Eloped because they planned everything for us! Everyone we worked with was super welcoming, positive, and so helpful!

Birttney and Jarod

My husband and I have been together for 12 years, we moved in together and saved for years to purchase a home, then cane kiddos, the expense of a wedding was always on the back burner, then we found you.

Nicole and Cody

Just thanks so much for making our day so special and helping us celebrate spending the rest of our lives together!

Samantha and Austin

You guys had great reviews and even better pricing that fit into what we were looking for.

Taylor and Jordan

Simply Eloped made eloping such a breeze. I really appreciated how Simply Eloped provided support with coordinating the necessary permits and linking us with an amazing photographer and videographer. Shout out to Keely for coordinating everything, being so reachable and easy to communicate with and amazing to work with.

Christine and Jordan

I can’t thank you all enough. For the bride and groom that are looking for the same “wow” effect without the hassle- look no further. The entire month before, my husband and I kept saying- “I can’t wait for our wedding!” It wasn’t: “I can’t wait to get it over with!”. There were absolutely NO hiccups! Flawless and perfectly scheduled. Just the right amount of communication and personalization. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! JUST “WOW”!

Rosemary and Douglas

Keep Keely, Joshua, Luis and Denise (Big Sur Area). They are the “Dream Team.” Not only do they work well together, but they are genuinely happy for you and informative on what it takes to pull off your special day. I especially love my emails from Denise and Keely. These two ladies kept me on task❤️

Shannon and Rickey

Meet our vendors

Joshua, Photographer

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

Big Sur has the most majestic landscapes on the west coast. You can’t beat the ocean, cliff, & redwood views all in one drive along highway 1!

What’s your favorite elopement venue in Big Sur?

Carmel River Beach is amazing for ocean backdrops & Glen Oaks Big Sur has charming cabins under the redwoods which offers an amazing setting in the forest!

What’s a fun fact about you?

I’m a wine nerd.

Denise, Officiant

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

The natural beauty in this area is some of the most exquisite anywhere.

What do you love about the work you do?

Its such a joyful celebration. During a wedding, nothing is happening in the world except that beautiful hopeful moment.

What’s your favorite elopement venue in Big Sur?

Glen Oaks, serene and very private. You can’t surpass the magnificent splendor of those redwoods.

Molly, Photographer

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

Big Sur is such a magical place! Whether you choose to say “I do” under a canopy of giant redwoods or on the beach with the sound of waves crashing at sunset, you can’t go wrong.

Tell us about one of your most magical elopements in Big Sur!

In the woods without any guests and we had the chance to chase the sun for the perfect sunset session. The soft golden glow and the dramatic cliffside made for some memorable moments!

How to elope in Big Sur

Eloping in Big Sur is hands-down a magical experience. From the deep redwood groves to dramatic cliffside overlooks, there is no shortage of amazing places to elope in Big Sur. However, choosing your stunning venue or location is just a fraction of the aspects of your elopement that you will need to figure out. Read on for our top tips on ensuring you have the perfect Big Sur elopement!

Finding the right Big Sur vendors

We like to say that you should be able to get a cup of coffee with your vendors for an hour and have a really good time. The collection of professionals that work your elopement ceremony should feel like your best friend for a day; should make you feel at ease and secure. From your photographer to your officiant, videographer to hair & makeup artist, each person has a very important piece of the look, feel and function of your big day. Beyond just budget and style, make sure you feel some sort of personal connection with your vendors – it’s important!

Where can I elope in Big Sur?

Finding the Big Sur elopement venue of your dreams won’t be hard as there are many options for many vibes. When you imagine your elopement do you see a private redwood grove with only plant life and animal life to witness your ceremony? Glen Oaks Big Sur will surely deliver. Do you want to dip your toes in the sand while the cool ocean tickles across the tops of your feet? Are you set on a cliffside venue with an epic view of the sunset? Carmel River State Beach might just be the perfect elopement option. Big Sur elopements offers vibes of all kinds, and, while there may be permitting to look into (which we cover as part of your package in many instances) or reservations with private property owners to arrange, we can walk you through the details of each! No matter what you envision, we’re here to help you find the perfect scenic setting for your Big Sur Elopement.

How do I legalize my Big Sur elopement?

California – more specifically, Monterey County – makes it pretty easy to acquire your marriage license. You will each need a form of identification – Driver’s License, official passport or military ID. In addition, if either of you have previously been married you will need an officiant copy of your divorce decree. The state of California only requires one witness for your ceremony and there is no waiting period between when you get your marriage license and hold your ceremony. You will need a certified officiant to perform your ceremony and sign off on your marriage license. When you book with us, we’ll send you a guide with specific instructions on how to get your marriage license to ensure your ceremony is legal.

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!

Article written by

Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot. She feels her happiest when building - teams, programs, ideas

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Read the real stories of couples who eloped in Big Sur!

Kristi + Dom

It’s clear that Kristi and Dom have a lot of fun as a couple. From the moment they starting engaging with Simply Eloped, their messages were full of optimism and exclamation points. Kristi and Dom chose to have their private elopement – with just the two of them – tucked away in the backyard of Carmel Redwoods Cabins in California. Surrounded by 800-year old Redwood Trees, these two exchanged their vows, popped some champagne and headed down to the beach for portraits. Read more about how these two fell in love, why they chose to elope and why their Redwood elopement was so magical.

How did you meet? What was your first impression of each other?

Kristi – I was throwing a birthday party for a friend! My friend asked if her boyfriend could bring a friend along, I said, “if he’s cute!” She said, “he is!” and he WAS!!!!

Dom – Well, actually, we met two months prior to this party, I was just too shy and star struck in the presence of her majesty!

How did you fall in love? How did you know?

Kristi – I said it first over text message, and he said, he wanted to wait to make sure. Then I took it back! hahah! But I knew the first time we hung out!!! And before he talks, I know he did too LOL!

Dominic – I knew the moment I saw her! But I knew to wait to say it because I wanted to be sure! But I’d say like a week in!

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Kristi – I knew it was coming! In fact, I have a video of me winking at the camera on our drive up to the snow!! Dom is a total home-body so when he asked to go to the snow, I knew something was up!

Dominic – I knew it needed to be spontaneous because she knows me too well! I was very nervous! I took her up to a snowy lake and she felt it in my pocket!

What do you love about your partner?

Kristi – He keeps me grounded and teaches me to enjoy the little things. Just when I think nobody has any advice that could help me, he always surprises me with great insight and always offers me unconditional love and cozy hugs. He has a stellar sense of humor, too!

Dom – She’s my biggest supporter and number one fan! She gives the best lovin’s and is the yang to my yin!

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Kristi – Our ability to see each other’s perspectives, totally!!

Dominic – I would say our mutual respect. And our love.

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

Kristi – The simple planning process, prices and EXCEPTIONAL communication with our wedding coordinator, Keely!

Dominic – It had the best deals!

What attracted you to a Big Sur elopement?

Kristi – I wanted to be sure we could have both worlds, the beach and the tree’s! Collette was just awesome to work with and we loved getting married in the redwoods! We drove about 20 min down the road for extra pics by the beach! Carmel was the perfect place for us !!!

Dominic – I love the Redwood Forest! The Redwood tree’s really put things into perspective because they’re so big! So serene and quiet!

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

Kristi – We bought Dom’s suit off of amazon a week before! I ran around to 7 stores two days before to find the perfect shoes! I made my bouquet with things from around the house and a little eucalyptus! Luckily for us, our venue took care of the marriage license and certificate! Before the ceremony I was so excited and a lil’ tipsy! I put my veil on backwards! I just couldn’t wait to marry him!

Dominic – I was very calm before the elopement! No cold feet at all! However, the night before the wedding, Kristi thought she lost her shoes, yikes! I was like, “do I wanna do this?” Just kidding! Of course I did!

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day!

Kristi/Dominic – We had a great experience! Keely was very communicative and resourceful! We were able to connect to our officiant Denise throughout the planning process and she even called to get to know us! Our photographer Josh was so easy to work with and provided us with beautiful pictures!! Everyone was wonderful! We are so grateful.

How did you celebrate after?

Kristi/Dominic – We celebrated with In-N-Out and [an episode of] The Office! We also had a zoom reception with some family!

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

Kristi – DO IT!!!! Eloping offers you and your partner so much quality time during one of the most important times of your life!! It’s about you two!! Soak it up and focus on each other! I am so happy I got that time with my husband<3!

Dominic – Do it! Your family will get over it;)! I think with traditional wedding ceremonies, it’s east to get caught up in trying to appease other people! It’s all about YOU!!!

Why did you decide to elope?

Kristi – Covid-19. No regrets at all, though! Would 10/10 recommend!

Dominic – I wanted to elope from the beginning.

Coordinated by: Simply Eloped
Officiation by: Denise Adkins
Photography by: Joshua Rose

Go back up

Elope in Big Sur

Why is Big Sur awesome

Everything You Need to Know about Eloping in Big Sur

Places to elope in Big Sur

Big Sur Elopement Packages

Officiation services

Enactment of ceremony

Advice on ceremony locations

Everything from the

Photography of ceremony

Digital transfer of 75+ edited images

Everything from the

Nosegay bouquet & boutonniere of your choosing

Everything from the

One hour of videography

Hair & Makeup for one person

Carmel Beach Permit

On-Site helper

Wildflower Experience

Add-Ons

Extra Photography

Extra Photography

Flowers

Flowers

Hair & Makeup

Hair & Makeup

Engagement Shoot

Engagement Shoot

On-Site Helper

On-Site Helper

Add videography to your Big Sur elopement

Big Sur Elopement Gallery

Simply Eloped has been seen in

Meet our vendors

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

What’s your favorite elopement venue in Big Sur?

What’s a fun fact about you?

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

What do you love about the work you do?

What’s your favorite elopement venue in Big Sur?

What do you think makes eloping in Big Sur so special?

Tell us about one of your most magical elopements in Big Sur!

What’s your favorite elopement venue in Big Sur?

Our Team

How to elope in Big Sur

Finding the right Big Sur vendors

Where can I elope in Big Sur?

How do I legalize my Big Sur elopement?

When to elope in Big Sur

What time of year should you elope in Big Sur?

What time of day should you elope in Big Sur?

How far in advance should I start planning my Big Sur elopement?

Janessa White

Reading corner

How to Plan a Small Wedding in California

How Does Eloping Save the Environment? 6 Environmental Perks of Eloping

101 Elopement Dresses That Are Completely Show-Stopping

4 Tips You Should Know If You're Eloping With Family

Elopement Do's and Don'ts: Useful Tips For Couples Who Are Eloping

Eloping vs Wedding: What's the Difference?

Kristi + Dom

How did you meet? What was your first impression of each other?

How did you fall in love? How did you know?

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

What do you love about your partner?

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

What attracted you to a Big Sur elopement?

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day!

How did you celebrate after?

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

Why did you decide to elope?

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