Big Sur, California Wedding
Redwood Forest Wedding
Jenna and Brian planned their dream elopement day among the Redwood Trees just south of the Bay Area in California. A remote, beautiful venue hosted their closest family and friends for a day of celebrating their love story. And that was just Day 1. On Day 2, they adventured further south into Big Sur for a mini-moon and portraits along the Pacific Coast!
Jenna and Brian’s Redwood adventure wedding was something out of a dream. Everything was uniquely them; from the venue within the redwood trees, hand tossed pizzas for dinner, and emo songs during their reception. They chose to pursue a multiple day experience that looked a bit like this:
Day 1: Wake up and take it slow. Start in the afternoon. Celebrate with family and friends at their epic venue among the Redwoods. Ceremony, Dinner, and a Reception in the barn.
Day 2: Brunch with their guests and family. Brian’s dad’s birthday celebration.
Days 2, 3 & 4: Big Sur mini moon! And an Adventure session along the coast.
5 ways Brian & Jenna made their day authentic
They brought their pup Bixby to enjoy the festivities!
Handmade Pizza Buffet, including an experience for guests to try spinning their own dough!
A horse trailer turned bar
A VW bus as a photo booth
Emo songs late at night to remember their favorite tunes from the Myspace days
J and B have been friends of ours for years now. We are lucky to have built an incredible relationship with these two in only a handful of in person visits. Our time together is always filled with adventure and excitement. Brian is an incredible astrophotographer, and Jenna works for Hipcamp, both pursuing work in travel, the outdoors, and nature. Talk about a power adventure couple!
This venue was their dream come true. Brian loves redwood trees. Even his ring has a redwood tree in it! The day started slow, with friends and family enjoying each other’s company. The whole day had a relaxed feel to it, which is exactly what these two hoped for. It was important that they built a lot of extra time into their wedding day to allow for things to come up and stay flexible! The perk of having extra time came in handy multiple times throughout the day, and it allowed them to enjoy the natural flow of the day rather than rush around. Being present on your wedding day is important! It is one of the best ways to ensure you enjoy your day to the fullest and also have lasting memories of your day of experiences.
How to plan a Redwood Forest Wedding
First and foremost, we have to make it clear that there is no right or wrong way to get married among the Redwoods. Maybe you’d like to elope in the forest with no one else around. Brian and Jenna chose to invite their family and friends to celebrate with them. No matter which route you choose, the Redwoods are calling!
Redwood Tree Venues:
Waterfall Lodge and Retreat, Ben Lomond CA
The Island Farm, San Gregorio CA
Ventana, Big Sur CA
Sparrow Valley Retreat, Aptos CA
Glen Oaks, Big Sur CA
Remote Redwood Tree Elopement Locations:
Redwood National and State Parks
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Southern Oregon Hiking Trails
The most important part when planning an elopement among the Redwoods is to find a photographer that is familiar with the areas that are home to the Redwoods. We work with our couples to craft their perfect wedding day from the ground up, that way you have expert planning advice and don’t have to sacrifice anything you choose to be important! And remember, always practice Leave No Trace when exploring the outdoors, especially among the Redwoods. To learn more about Leave No Trace visit www.lnt.org!
Sunset Adventure Session along the California Coast
A few days after their wedding celebration, we met back up with J & B along the coast of Big Sur for an epic sunset portrait session. Brian brought his Hasselblad camera and took some photos of Jenna looking out over the coast. We feel very lucky to have captured these two in their favorite places. We love when couples consider multiple locations over multiple days, to add to the celebration of their love. No longer do you only get one day! You can have as many days as you want to celebrate together. Want to learn more about multiple day elopements?
