Garrapata Beach Elopement

From Sunshine to Seaside: A Florida Couple’s Big Sur Elopement and Life-Changing Leap

When Camryn and Dean first stepped onto the winding coastal cliffs of Big Sur, they thought they were just here for an elopement. What they didn’t expect was that the magic of this place would soon become their forever.

The couple traveled from Florida—sun-chasers at heart, with ocean water in their veins—for a private, heartfelt ceremony. Dean, a Coast Guard officer, had recently received news of a new station assignment on the Central California coast. The timing was serendipitous. They decided to tie the knot in Big Sur before officially beginning this next chapter of their lives.

They chose a weekday evening in early Spring. The fog gently hugged the coastline, parting just enough to let the light dance across the cliffs. Camryn wore a simple lace gown, hair loose in the breeze, and carried a bouquet of native greenery and dried florals—effortless and timeless, just like the ceremony itself.

We initially planned for their vows to take place beneath the towering redwoods of Glen Oaks, a favorite tucked-away sanctuary for couples seeking quiet beauty. But just days before, a landslide and a bridge collapse cut off access to that part of Highway 1. It was a logistical curveball that could have thrown everything off.

Instead, we pivoted—quickly, thoughtfully—and found a secluded grove of redwoods at Soberanes Canyon, just north of the closure. The trail in was quiet, sun filtering through branches, the forest still damp from morning fog. It ended up being even more intimate than we imagined. Camryn and Dean said their vows with redwood trunks rising around them, as if nature itself stood witness.

Their elopement was intimate—just the two of them, and me (yes! I am officially ordained for couples who want a very intimate elopement), quietly documenting it all through the lens. We explored a few hidden turnouts along Highway 1, pausing to take portraits as the golden sun broke through the fog. Their laughter echoed into the trees, their connection undeniable.

After their ceremony, we ventured to the coastline for portraits, letting the drama of Big Sur’s cliffs and crashing waves frame their joy. Then, tucked into a quiet overlook, they laid out a small picnic—one of the most personal touches I’ve seen.

Camryn and Dean had spent the week before their trip painting their own ceramic plates—simple, imperfect, and beautiful. They added such sweet, personalized details. They unpacked them with care, spread out a blanket, and shared slices of their wedding cake, laughing between bites and toasting with champagne. It was lighthearted, soulful, and entirely theirs.

Now, every time I pass the turnout where they said “I do,” I think about how love doesn’t just change your relationship—it can change your whole life. For Camryn and Dean, Big Sur wasn’t just a backdrop. It became home..

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