Top Reason for Eloping?: “We never wanted the stress and attention of a big wedding. We hesitated for a very long time because we knew we wanted something intimate but weren’t sure how to include our families. As soon as we decided to elope just the two of us it took all the pressure off and we planned the whole thing in just 3 weeks.”
When Steff and Brittni reached out to me about their Malibu elopement session, they knew they wanted to elope somewhere local, but didn’t know where. They’ve been together a while, and with covid, they didn’t want to wait anymore and were eager to tie the knot. As soon as they got their blessing from their family, they went for it!
As a Malibu elopement photographer who knows my way around Malibu and surrounding areas I naturally helped them narrow it down and suggested a few adventurous ideas. Steff and Brittni resonated with having a beach elopement and the idea of going to some secluded beach coves. I was so excited when they said this because I happen to be familiar with a string of lesser-known rugged beaches in Malibu that have caves! One of my favorite things about being not only a photographer but an elopement guide is planning on locations where my clients haven’t been before. Steff and Brittni have never been to the beach caves in El Matador beach, Malibu so they were so surprised when they saw how big the caves were! I loved seeing their shocked faces when looking at these beautiful beach caves.
El Matador Beach Elopement Weather
The weather at El Matador beach this day was less sunny than other days and misty but it made for some great photos because we had the beach all to ourselves! I LOVE when my clients are down to go with the flow no matter the weather and Steff and Brittni did just that! They had the perfect attitude toward their elopement day; they weren’t worried about their dresses getting dirty, they had on the right type of shoes (Which by the way had rainbows on them representing the LGBTQ+ community, I was obsessed! How adorable are their matching Teva sandals ?) for walking up and down rugged terrain with inclines to and from the beach, as well as walking around the rocks which can be extremely slippery, they definitely came prepared!
Beach Elopement Attire
Not only that but Steff and Brittni wore matching white lace elopement dresses. They looked so beautiful! Brittni wore an A-line lace beach elopement dress with bell sleeves, the perfect dress for a more edgy or boho look, and Steff wore a long sleeve laced elopement dress which came in handy when it got a little cold plus they brought leather jackets which added onto the edgy vibe! Not sure what dress you want to wear for your elopement? Check out my Elopement Dress Guide here (add in dress blog).
Steff and Brittni’s beach elopement was simple but so intimate and beautiful. They brought vow books that they exchanged in the beach caves, had gorgeous bouquets with white and blue roses, and of course, brought a bottle of champagne to celebrate and get some iconic champagne pop photos.
Perfect Ending to a Beach Elopement
To end their intimate beach elopement they had reservations at Geoffrey’s in Malibu. Geoffrey’s is such a perfect way to end an elopement day by eating a delicious meal while enjoying magnificent views of the Pacific coastline!
This intimate El Matador beach elopement was so much fun for me to plan. I love when I get to show my clients an area that only a few people know about. One of the neat things about eloping in the great outdoors is that couples can revisit the spot where they said their vows on their anniversary, for a date, or just cause!
If you loved this Intimate beach elopement and are looking for a Malibu photographer, get in touch with me to start!
Vendors and more!
Hotel: Malibu Beach Inn
Hair and Makeup: Jana and Co
Shoes: Teva
Dresses: Shein
Bouquets: Bouqs
Dinner Reservation: Geoffrey’s
