Embark on an unforgettable Big Sur elopement, where limited connectivity immerses you in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature, from redwood forests to dramatic cliffs—explore our Big Sur elopement packages to find your perfect moment!
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Discover the magic of Big Sur for your elopement, where nature’s grandeur takes center stage. Picture exchanging vows amidst the majestic redwood forest, with the rhythmic sound of crashing waves against the precipitous cliffs as your symphony. Embrace the simplicity of limited cell reception, allowing you to fully savor each moment without distractions. Big Sur offers a timeless backdrop, but keep in mind its ever-changing weather; layers are essential for cool coastal breezes. While the rugged terrain might pose challenges for wheelchair accessibility, adventurous spirits find the journey well worth the breathtaking destination.
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Why Eloping in Big Sur is awesome
Embarking on a Big Sur elopement is an invitation to an unparalleled natural spectacle, where:
We’re firm believers that there’s magic within each and every wedding that takes place.
You, your SO, and someone to make it official. For couples all about the essentials, the Seed package sets you up for a simply perfect day.
Not the right fit?
Customize your PackageThe Sprout package offers a professional officiant, one hour of photography, your Personal Elopement Planner and access to our best-in-class tech platform. Your stress-free elopement starts here!
Not the right fit?
Customize your PackageBloom couples enjoy all of the Sprout services and more—namely, a matching bouquet and boutonniere delivered to your suite or ceremony site.
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Customize your PackageWhy should big weddings have all the fun? If your dream elopement includes an exotic photo sesh, a first-look video, and a dedicated glam team, Oasis is your destination.
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Customize your PackageEloping 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!
If either party wishing to elope has been divorced within the past six months, you’ll need to present a copy of the divorce decree along with your other required documents. A California marriage license is immediately valid and remains valid for 90 days. It must be used within the state of California. Once your marriage is formalized, don’t forget to return the actual license to the clerk’s office where it was issued. They will provide you with certified copies of your marriage license. If you’re not sticking around the area for long after your elopement, let us know! Your officiant may be able to assist with this bit.
If you’re looking to elope in Lake Tahoe, be sure to double and triple-check the location of your elopement venue to ensure that you are indeed eloping in California and not across the border in Nevada, where you’ll need a marriage license issued by the State of Nevada rather than California.
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! At Simply Eloped, we thoroughly vet every person who joins our team to ensure they match our values, standards and are the best of the best in the industry!
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 [insert venue url] 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 [insert venue url] might just be the perfect elopement option. Big Sur elopements offer 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.
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.
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 the 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.
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.
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 a 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!
1. We don't believe a wedding has to be stressful. There is far less to coordinate (and we take on most of that planning anyhow), and your realm of responsibility consists of making a few decisions and getting your marriage license. It's hard to beat a wedding that is actually...wait for it...relaxing!
2. Cost-conscious: Let's be honest, there is so much uncertainty right now! Economic recession? Inflation? Rising cost of living? Save your money for a honeymoon or buying a house and still have a ceremony you'll remember for the rest of your lives.
3. A Ceremony should be About YOU and YOUR LOVE: When did a wedding turn into a party for everyone else? We personalize every aspect of your experience – from the vendors to the vows. We'll even cry real tears with you. We're here to celebrate the core of what makes a wedding ceremony special: you making a lifetime commitment to the one you love. That's a big deal – and we treat it as such.
1. Flowers by Palette We have arrangements based on a color palette, which means the types of flowers may not be exactly as pictured, but the colors and arrangement style will match. You can explore our options for Flowers by Palette here (excluding Hawaii).
2. Hawaiian Arrangements Hawaii is a unique destination, and we have our stunning tropical arrangements for ceremonies taking place in Hawaii. You can view these arrangements here. Please note that these arrangements are only available in Hawaii.
As soon as you book our services, we get to work! We'll immediately introduce you to your Personal Elopement Planner, who is kind of like your best friend between the date you book and the day you elope! Your Pep will be ensuring every step of the process is smooth and delightful. They will introduce you to your team, answer any questions you have, put your schedule and invoice together, and much more!
We'll also begin the process of personalizing. You'll work with your officiant to ensure your ceremony matches what you envision and dream of. Your photographer will ensure they understand the kind of shots or photos you're hoping for. Your hair & makeup artist will inquire about the style you're going for with your hair and makeup. Your dashboard is also customized to meet your needs.
We offer many tools to help you feel at ease about your decision to book Simply Eloped, including your personalized Elopement Checklist, your marriage license guide, your Wedding Page, and more! You can even make installment payments on your invoice at 0% APR. Weeks prior to your ceremony, we'll send your itinerary with all the details you and your guests need. Your team will meet at your ceremony site, and the rest, as they say, is history.
First off, know that every moment of your elopement day, we are available to you for whatever you need! We're very prompt on timing with floral delivery, hair & makeup, etc.
Your team will always meet at your venue prior to your ceremony time to ensure everyone is collected, introduced, and ready for a gorgeous ceremony right on time. Your officiant will kick off your ceremony and ensure that all of your requests are beautifully exhibited in your personalized ceremony. It's important to note that your dedicated Personal Elopement Planner will not be present at the ceremony, but will definitely be accessible by phone or text for your day-of needs.
Ceremonies generally last 15-20 minutes, which will then kick off into your portrait session with your photographer (if you booked one with us). The main task you need to be mindful of on your big day is bringing your marriage license, and we do the rest! 🌼👰🤵
We wish we could control the weather, but alas, there are some things quite simply out of our realm of power.
In our experience, most weather passes quickly, and we can be flexible about timing. However, we do have recommendations or options for indoor venues, and if worst comes to worst, we can move your ceremony to another day. We'll work with you individually in the case of poor weather.
Pro tip: Though weather can be daunting or scary, some of our FAVORITE ceremonies happen in thunder, rain, or snow storms. Being open-minded about ""undesirable"" weather can create an extremely memorable ceremony. Sometimes it's all about perspective.