For some couples, choosing between an elopement vs. a wedding can be a difficult decision. While it’s not always possible to have two wedding days, Jen and Chris got to experience the best of both worlds. Keep reading to learn more about how we planned an intentional Big Sur elopement before their wedding day.

How Jen & Chris Decided on a Big Sur Elopement at Glen Oaks Wedding Venue

Like many couples, Jen and Chris had to navigate the uncertainty of wedding planning during COVID. The two got engaged in the summer of 2020 and started planning their wedding for the following Spring.

Of course, they had no idea how long COVID was going to last, and as their wedding date approached, they still did not know if their wedding would be able to take place. They decided to alter their plans a bit and have a Big Sur elopement while they waited to see if their wedding plans would work out.

I loved their approach to their elopement planning. They said, “Whatever the wedding is, it is.” They simply wanted their elopement day to be super intimate and filled with lots of quality time together.

The Difference Between an Intimate Wedding vs Elopement

What is an elopement?

Jen & Chris’ Intentional Big Sur Elopement at Glen Oaks & Soberanes Point

Big Sur has always had a lot of meaning to Jen and Chris and they especially loved the fact that Big Sur had options for both a forest and a beach, so the decision to elope there was a no-brainer! After we talked about their elopement daydreams and vision, they decided to hold their elopement at Glen Oaks wedding venue. Their elopement would be a simple day doing the things they love. A no-stress approach, and time spent enjoying Big Sur as much as possible.

Jen and Chris’ original elopement plan was to include their family, but with the good news that their wedding would still take place, they decided to spend their elopement day with just the two of them.

Even though their parents wouldn’t be attending they decided to include all the traditions they had originally planned on such as vow reading, cake cutting, champagne, first dance, and even a hammock setup and tree planting ceremony. They wanted the day to be relaxed and stress-free, allowing them to enjoy all their time together and reflect on all the many reasons why they wanted to get married.

The morning of their Big Sur elopement, I met Jen and Chris at Glen Oaks wedding venue and they kicked off the day with a champagne toast. They decided not to do a first look and instead, chose to get ready together. Having a first look vs getting ready together is a decision that is unique to each couple. There is no right or wrong way to go. What matters is how you want your day to feel and what you want to experience.

One of the best things about eloping in Big Sur is the variety of scenery! Big Sur has it all from forests, to cliffs, to ocean views. For Jen and Chris’ Big Sur elopement, we started out taking couples photos in the forest which is also where they chose to read their vows.

How to Elope in Big Sur

After the ceremony, we headed back to Glen Oaks to cut the cake and drink more champagne. Jen and Chris also planned a super cool tree planting ceremony which was one of my favorite parts of the whole day! The couple had purchased a baby sequoia sapling when they first started dating and it was now 3 years old. The tree was one of their favorite plants and it created such a special, unique moment for them on their elopement day.

Of course, a Big Sur elopement isn’t complete without a trip to the coast, so after the tree-planting ceremony, we headed to Soberanos Point for more couple portraits. Before we went down to the cliffs though, the couple wanted to take some time to enjoy another relationship tradition. They have a special spot in Big Sur that overlooks the coast and is surrounded by trees. They set up their hammock - something they have done before - and relaxed in the swing together simply enjoying the view. It was such a special moment and a great way for them to re-live memories while adding to the specialness of the day. We ended their Big Sur elopement day with sunset portraits at Bixby Bridge. We photographed into blue hour, soaking in every single moment.

Jen & Chris ended up with the best of both worlds and had their wedding in Temecula the week after their elopement day. Having their elopement day ahead of time made things so much simpler for them. On their elopement, they spent time doing what they loved to do as a couple. On their wedding day, they got to fully enjoy spending time with friends and family. It's not often that couples go with both an elopement and a wedding, but with the special circumstances and up-in-the-air nature of COVID, Jen and Chris truly experienced it all!

Kind Words from Jen & Chris

Will is absolutely a one of a kind photographer. He goes above and beyond and exceeds every expectation to give you the exact type of day you want for your elopement. He was able to design our Big Sur elopement day that included everything we asked for and so many other things we never knew we wanted!!! He strives to make sure it feels like a wedding and not a photo shoot and we definitely got that! It was intimate, purposeful, intentional and so perfect for our relationship! An elopement offers such a personalized and intimate experience with your significant other, and it can be anything you want it to be and Will is an expert at turning that day into exactly what you want! What was especially amazing was not only was the day amazing but then the photos were beyond gorgeous!!! Will has such a timeless style and expert quality for editing. Will was such a pleasure to work with and such a genuinely good person!
I highly recommend Will and you won’t regret working with him!
- Jen & Chris