Big Sur Cliffside Elopement
Intimate Cliffside Elopement in Big Sur, California
LOVE, LORRAINE ADVENTURE WEDDING and ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
Big Sur, California is an iconic stop along the California coast. One of our favorite things about this area is the diversity of the landscape. The ocean on one side of Highway 1, the mountains on the other, it's a truly magical place. If you have been considering Big Sur for your elopement or wedding, just wait until you get a look at Maddy & Tyler’s celebration.
Read on to learn more about Maddy & Tyler’s Big Sur Elopement and reasons why we think Big Sur is a great place to elope!
I (Travis) am feeling a lot of things while writing this blog post. I have known Tyler for 16 years of my life, and he is one of my best friends. We spent many of those 16 years playing music together, traveling the country and sharing the stage in so many cities. Tyler and I have had an awesome relationship over the years. When I first moved back to Rhode Island, I was entering my junior year of High School and didn’t know anyone at school. He was one of my first friends, and he asked me to be a part of his band soon after. A lot changed over the years, but one thing never changed. We always had each other’s backs, whether it was in music or at work. Eventually, we were playing in a band together that started touring regularly, and we spent the finest years of our 20s living in LA, chasing the lifelong dream.
I eventually left music behind for life on the road with Lauren. Tyler stayed with the band and still actively tours and is a professional musician. We may not have spent as much time together, but as time passed, he found a way to set me up for success again with a great remote job opportunity just ahead of the pandemic. This back-and-forth dynamic is iconic of our friendship, and there is an unwritten trust between us. I am incredibly grateful for my relationship with Tyler, and Lauren and I were so excited when Maddy & Tyler asked us to be a part of their wedding in Big Sur, CA.
Battling with the pandemic, planning this wedding was a lot of work for Maddy & Tyler. Tyler’s dad and stepmother live in Australia, and we knew that getting them to the states would be difficult with travel restrictions. Fortunately, everything worked out in the end and all 12 of their family/guests were able to attend their vineyard wedding. They rented the Hacienda House, a beautiful California Vineyard home easily capable of hosting 14 people. With a heated pool, hot tub, sauna, and an enormous master suite, this place was perfect for hosting a small wedding. Having moved to Los Angeles from the east coast, they knew they wanted to get married in California. Choosing somewhere outside of LA was a decision to treat it as more of a getaway. Big Sur is California’s most iconic coastline. Its rolling hills and rocky cliffs make for awesome views and lots of diverse landscapes. Whether you prefer the ocean waves or getting lost in the redwood trees, Big Sur is the place to be.
Maddy & Tyler decided early on they wanted to do a long weekend elopement experience. Their wedding ceremony ended up being on a Friday, but they chose to start enjoying their time in Salinas, CA on Tuesday. This decision is the ultimate way to plan a relaxing, stress-free wedding. They had plenty of time to relax and even coordinate most of the logistics for their reception dinner. Luckily, we were invited from Wednesday until Sunday, giving us plenty of time to capture all of the details, and to help them. And of course, some relaxing time by the pool!
Friday morning we got up early and started organizing everything for their post ceremony dinner by the pool. Market lights were brought in by a local company along with a long table and chairs. One of Lauren’s favorite things is designing and putting together tablescapes. We spent the morning dialing in on the look of the table and set to work on getting everything setup for that evening. By the time noon hit, we decided to take a slow approach to getting ready photos and details. Both Maddy and Tyler didn’t want to rush, they wanted this day to be slow going and relaxed. Building in all this extra time ensured that it went smoothly. Once these two were ready and looking their absolute best, we did an intimate first look on the property. They read love notes to one another and shared this time alone, together. After some quick portraits around the property, we decided to head to the coast for their ceremony.
Tyler booked a shuttle service to take all of the guests (and us!) to the coast. Maddy and her dad drove separately so that they could “walk down the aisle” together along the trail they chose. On this particular day, the fog was rolling in quickly, which gifted us the most beautiful light during their ceremony. No tourists in sight, the waves crashed hard against the rocks, and these two shared their vows in an incredible landscape. This wedding was everything they wanted it to be, and they were so excited to have conquered this all on their own. No planners, no true venue. Just a great rental property, their closest friends and family, and some good old fashioned planning goes a long way!
After the ceremony, they shared a toast with the rest of the group before heading off with us to explore the coastline and take some more portraits. As sundown quickly approached, we headed back to the shuttle to return to the Hacienda House for dinner and more celebrating.
When we arrived back at the Hacienda, the house chefs were already onsite and getting ready. After lighting the candles and photographing their beautiful tablescape, we all grabbed a drink from the trailer bar (shoutout to Pour Girl!) and had a seat for our meal. This is one of our favorite parts of any wedding with guests. The conversation and stories shared are always incredible to hear from supporting loved ones.
The next day, five vintage cars rolled up the driveway first thing in the morning. Maddy’s father planned for all of us to exchange driving up and down the PCH. After a quick stop in Carmel by the Sea for breakfast, we took off down the coast. It was quite a memorable experience. I’ll never forget Lauren cruising in the ‘58 Porsche we were able to drive, hugging the tight corners as we left the redwood trees in our dust for the rocky coastlines. What an adventure!
We are so grateful to work with couples that work hard to make their day entirely unique. Maddy and Tyler had a vision for their day from the jump, and they absolutely rocked their wedding day. The weekend itself was an experience we will never forget. At Love, Lorraine, we truly believe that you (and any guests) should feel this way about the way you choose to celebrate your love! You don’t need a fancy house and vintage cars to make your day memorable, but we can help you dial all of this in if it suits your fancy. However you envision your wedding, we will be there to capture it and help you along the way.
Why Big Sur is a great place to Elope
Big Sur, California
The Views
Big Sur offers some of the best views on the California Coast. Take in the Pacific Ocean all while enjoying the rolling hills, wildflowers, and crashing waves. One thing that always stands out in Big Sur is the feeling that you’re close to the mountains but also right along the beach. It closely mimics some tropical island vibes in a way, but also benefits from having an overall mild climate year-round! Big Sur is home to some incredible beaches that are easily accessible if you dare to jump into the Pacific. Last but not least, the Redwood trees are right along Highway 1, rounding out some of the most diverse landscapes you can get within a fairly small radius. Redwood trees, the ocean, rolling hills, and mountains, Big Sur has a ton to offer!Rocky Coastline
Rolling Hills and Wildflowers
Unreal Beaches
Redwood Trees
Carmel & Monterey
Carmel and Monterey are both just north of Big Sur’s iconic coastline. While planning for a Big Sur Elopement, Carmel and Monterey will serve as civilization, in case you need a trip to the store or a night out on the town. Much of Big Sur along Highway 1 isn’t built up, and the locals like it this way. Gas stations, food, and rest stops are all far and few between. Carmel offers a charming small-town vibe that is addicting; shopping, coffee shops, and food experiences galore. Monterey has more of a small city vibe, although it still is small enough that it won’t be overwhelming. Monterey offers some incredible breweries and the famous boardwalk Old Fisherman’s Wharf.Small towns
Shopping, Breweries, and Wineries
Driving distance from SF/LA
Big Sur is conveniently located just south of San Francisco, only around a 2-hour drive away. The drive is a breeze, just avoid rush hour along Highway 101. From LA, Big Sur is about 5 and a half hours north when taking Highway 5. If you have extra time along your commute, we recommend taking the famous Highway 1 the entire way.Close to SFO for travel, or for family
A bit further from LA, but still driveable
Highway 1 - The Drive
This famous highway offers one of the coolest drives in the country. We highly recommend taking this route any chance you get. If you are coming from the south, the drive is awesome as you head north out of Los Angeles and make your way towards Ventura and Santa Barbara.The famous highway!
Bixby Bridge
Waterfall
Unforgettable views along the drive
Roadtrip Opp
You can turn your commute for your elopement into a road trip! Go on a road trip ahead of your wedding, or you can go on a mini-moon after and make the most of your drive along the coast. There are so many great stops to make along the California coast.Turn your elopement destination into a road trip
Want to learn more about how to make your wedding more authentic?
How to include your family in your Elopement
There are a lot of great ways that you can include your family in your elopement! Remember, when you choose to elope, you are making your own unique experience. There are no rules!
Here are some common ways to include your family in your elopement:
Rent an Airbnb and invite everyone to stay with you for a few days.
Ask someone in your family to officiate your wedding!
Have family members help you when it comes to organizing and executing logistics to make your dream day come to life.
Family members that aren’t present can write you letters in advance that you can then read on your wedding day!
Maddy and Tyler were both very close with their families, and so they chose to include them in all aspects of their wedding weekend. Tyler’s brother Dylan was the officiant at their ceremony. The property they chose easily housed all 14 people for 4 nights, and it felt like a small family vacation. In addition to hosting their wedding celebration dinner, their guests were able to sit by the pool, play games, share meals, and even have a movie night on the lawn as a group. It was an incredibly intimate experience for all. Everyone chipped in when it came to making meals happen and cleaning up. It was amazing how much we were able to DIY at their wedding with so many helpful hands!
If your family can’t be present at your elopement, or if you choose to elope without them present, and you still want to involve them somehow, that’s great! We love when couple’s find creative ways to include their family members from afar. You can have your family send you wedding day cards with handwritten notes congratulating you. You and your partner can read them to one another as a part of your celebration. You can then write them back after your wedding to let them know how epic it was!
Pro Tip: Once you have access to your photo gallery, print a few photos and send them to your family members! They make a great gift (birthday, Christmas, etc.) and they are a great way to thank them for their support in your choice to elope.
Kind Words From Maddy & Tyler
“We were so lucky to have Lauren and Travis shoot and coordinate our wedding day! Travis and Lauren are the most talented and kind human beings. They were there for us every step of the way with planning our day. We had several zoom calls leading up to our wedding - they helped us bring our ideas and vision to life from a customized Love, Lorraine creative direction package, to help sourcing items for our reception tablescape, all the way to timeline planning and day of logistics, and of course shooting our ceremony and reception.
Lauren and Travis made our day completely effortless - they helped us coordinate vendors on site, styled our tablescape, and were available to help with anything last minute things we needed. This really took the pressure off, and allowed us to really be in the moment and enjoy our day - 100% stress free. We had so much fun shooting in Big Sur with Lauren and Travis. Their natural and approachable style made us feel totally relaxed while shooting, and it definitely showed in the photos. Every single photo came out amazing! Everything was above and beyond what we could have dreamed of, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Love, Lorraine!” - Maddy & Tyler
Are you ready to start planning your Big Sur Elopement? Reach out and let’s chat about your dream elopement day!