Olema House Wedding in Point Reyes

Aug 30

After ten years together, Michelle and Alex wanted their Olema House wedding in Point Reyes to feel like a celebration of the life they had already built and the next chapter ahead. It was intimate, as they surrounded themselves with the people closest to them and still set aside time together to enjoy a place they considered their own hidden gem, Point Reyes.

Their Olema House wedding in Point Reyes gave them the best of everything that mattered. Not only did they enjoy an intimate celebration with family, but they also spent an evening exploring Point Reyes National Seashore together. Having their ceremony and mini cocktail hour at the Olema House helped them feel tucked away among the gardens and greens. Yet, they were still close enough to Point Reyes to build in time for a private adventure and hike later in the day.

Michelle and Alex also brought a lot of personality into the details of their wedding. Michelle wore a Martina Liana gown from Janene’s Bridal with Betsey Johnson shoes. Alex wore a custom suit from Hall Madden. Le Bouquet created Michelle’s bouquet, with additional flowers from Point Reyes Flowers framing the ceremony arbor.

Ceremony and Cocktail Hour at Olema House

After getting ready, they stepped away for a first look along with private vows before joining their family for the ceremony. Not only did Michelle and Alex choose their own readings for the ceremony, but each of their mothers also selected readings, an especially meaningful detail.

Cocktail hour followed outside at Olema House, with food provided by Due West Tavern. With time to relax and enjoy each other’s company, the environment was laid-back and relaxed. The ceremony and cocktail hour felt easy and social, and it was clear everyone genuinely enjoyed the time together at Olema. It was the perfect way to be present with family and friends before we headed into an evening adventure in Point Reyes National Seashore.

That balance is one of my favorite ways to approach an intimate wedding. Whether it’s at the Olema House in Point Reyes or any elopement destination, I’ve found this to be the perfect timeline structure for an elopement. Allowing space in the timeline means you can have a meaningful celebration with family and still enjoy the private adventure you want to share as a couple.

Sunset Portraits in Point Reyes National Seashore

Having often photographed at Point Reyes, we planned their evening around a few of my favorite locations. The Point Reyes area has incredible spots for portraits, so it was easy to ensure their wedding gallery had variety without spending too much time traveling. We stopped at the Cypress Tree Tunnel for portraits before continuing toward Chimney Rock and the coast for golden hour at sunset.

Michelle and Alex had specifically wanted time to soak in these moments together, and that really came through in the photographs. The earlier part of the day felt warm and celebratory with family, while the evening gave them room to wander, laugh, and enjoy being newly married against the beautiful landscape of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Planning an Intimate Wedding at Olema House

They planned much of the wedding themselves, and I was happy to help structure the day's flow around what mattered most to them. While it’s always recommended to hire a planner for your intimate wedding, Olema House’s on-site coordinator ensured everything at the venue ran smoothly.

Their wedding was simple in the best way. An intimate ceremony, time with family, and a sunset adventure in a place that held meaning for them. If you’re considering something similar for your intimate wedding, get in touch and let’s chat about your elopement or intimate wedding.