Philip and Victoria reached out to me in hopes of doing an elopement while road tripping out to California as they live in Breckenridge, Colorado. They loved the idea of having a Big Sur elopement and sunset wedding ceremony so we of course had to make that happen!
Philip and Victoria have been together for 7 years and have a 3- year old daughter. They met at a nightclub that Victoria waitressed at which Philip coincidentally owned, their love story all began from there! Philip and Victoria wanted their daughter included in the day but they also wanted some intimate moments with just the two of them. They knew early on that they were going to have Victoria’s mom along to help care for their daughter. This is such a great idea for eloping couples who want to have a “just us” elopement, to have either a family member or babysitter help take care of the kids on the elopement day. Philip and Victoria’s daughter was still very much part of their day, but Victoria’s mom did a lot of the heavy lifting like making sure she had her naps, getting fed, etc. This helped Victoria and Philip be able to focus on each other more and have more time for photos!
Big Sur Elopement Itinerary
We started Philip and Victoria’s Big Sur Elopement day at a house they rented in Big Sur. I always recommend renting an Airbnb or staying at a cabin/hotel while in Big Sur as you’ll be spending most of the day exploring and will either have a two-day elopement or full-day elopement! Plus many of the areas you book for your stay accommodations have beautiful redwood groves on their property! While at their rental we captured a few candid shots of Victoria and Philip getting ready and did a first look.
Victoria was wearing a gorgeous bohemian-style lace dress with bell sleeves which were altered from her grandmother’s wedding dress and had also made her daughter’s dress from the leftover material! While Philip wore a tan blazer, some dark khaki pants, and a fedora, both outfits fit Big Sur’s aesthetic perfectly!
Sunset Wedding Ceremony
Philip and Victoria decided to have a sunset wedding ceremony on Big Sur’s rugged cliffside. When it comes to Big Sur, it’s always a coin toss if there will be a sunset or if it’ll be completely clouded over, especially near the coastal views. Big Sur can be very moody and can even become completely engulfed in fog. But we lucked out and had mostly clear skies which is exactly what Victoria wanted, a beautiful sunset and fog on her wedding day!
The sunsets in Big Sur may be one of the best sunsets as they are extremely colorful and vibrant and with a touch of fog in the mountains, it’s breathtaking. Watching the sun set on the rugged coastline while Victoria’s mom started the ceremony off with a poem was so peaceful. Their sunset wedding ceremony was definitely one for the books! I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear as Philip and Victoria exchanged vows with their handmade vow books that Victoria sewed from hand-made paper. Philip got teary-eyed during his vows, and I love capturing that level of emotion! I love when couples write a lot and put a lot of effort into the vows! It gives me a lot of time to take photos from different angles, as well as capture all of the emotions. One of the best things about having an intimate ceremony is that couples can be more open with their vows since they aren’t saying them in front of hundreds of people.
After their ceremony, we took some family portraits with Victoria’s mom and brother who drove all the way up to Big Sur from Los Angeles for their ceremony! Then we ended the day back at their rental where they invited us to have dinner with them. I love when I get to spend time with couples outside of the elopement as I really get to know them and they turn into lifelong friends.
Capturing Philip and Victoria’s Big Sur sunset wedding ceremony was a dream. They were so kind and intentional with everything they had planned out. They wanted quality photography but a low-key day and stress-free experience and I’m so glad we were able to provide that to them. There were plenty of times throughout the day when I put down my camera to give them some space and let them have that “just us” experience.
I hope their Big Sur elopement inspires other couples to do a cross-country road trip and elope in one of the country’s most majestic scenic areas! California has a lot of them! Their road trip was a good three weeks. Seeing couples that take the time to do this for themselves makes me so happy. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I’m so glad our paths crossed and I was able to take part in capturing this amazing milestone in their lives!
If you’re wondering how to elope in Big Sur check out my Big Sur Elopement Guide.
Ready to book your own Big Sur elopement and looking for a Big Sur elopement photographer? Check out my packages and contact me through my website!
