A Big Sur Wedding Weekend at Ventana and Henry Miller Library

Madi and Gray didn't just come to Big Sur for their wedding day—they turned it into an entire wedding weekend. The celebration started the night before with their rehearsal dinner at Ventana Big Sur, surrounded by their closest friends and family. I love when couples plan their wedding this way because it gives everyone a chance to settle in, spend time together, and actually experience Big Sur instead of trying to squeeze everything into one day.

On the morning of the wedding, Madi and Gray both got ready at Ventana Big Sur with their wedding party before heading to Henry Miller Memorial Library for the ceremony and celebration. We photographed both of them getting ready at Ventana, which gave us such a beautiful start to the story of their wedding day. Instead of jumping straight into the ceremony, their gallery begins with all of those little moments that happen beforehand—the excitement, the nerves, everyone getting dressed, hanging out with their closest friends, and those last few minutes together before the day really gets going.

Ventana is also such a gorgeous location for getting-ready photos. The architecture, redwoods, natural light, and surrounding Big Sur landscape gave us an entirely different backdrop before heading over to Henry Miller Library. I especially loved being able to photograph Madi and Gray with their wedding party while everyone was still at Ventana. It meant we could capture those photos in a relaxed way before transitioning to the next part of the day. From there, everyone made their way down Highway 1 to Henry Miller Memorial Library, where around 100 guests gathered beneath the redwoods for Madi and Gray's wedding.

Getting Married at Henry Miller Memorial Library

Henry Miller Memorial Library is located right along Highway 1 in the heart of Big Sur, surrounded by towering redwoods.

What makes this venue so special is that it already has so much personality. There are books tucked throughout the property, art, weathered wood, string lights, little pathways through the trees, and all kinds of quirky details that make it feel unmistakably Big Sur. It doesn't feel like a traditional wedding venue—and that's exactly the appeal.

For couples who want a wedding that feels more like an incredible gathering of all their favorite people than a formal ballroom event, Henry Miller Library is such a fun option.

A 100-Guest Wedding Beneath the Big Sur Redwoods

One of my favorite things about this wedding was seeing the library completely come alive with around 100 guests. There was so much energy throughout the property. Friends and family gathered beneath the redwoods, people wandered around the library, drinks were poured, everyone caught up with people they hadn't seen in forever, and the entire space felt full without losing that intimate Big Sur atmosphere.

That's something I think is really important for couples to see when they're considering a Henry Miller Library wedding. You don't necessarily have to have an elopement or a tiny guest list to get married in Big Sur. A larger wedding here can still feel incredibly personal and connected to the landscape.

A Wedding Ceremony Surrounded by Redwoods

There is something pretty incredible about having 100 people gathered beneath towering Big Sur redwoods while you exchange vows. The trees naturally surround the ceremony space, creating an atmosphere that feels intimate even with a larger guest count. And photographically, the filtered forest light is beautiful.

Rather than feeling like you're standing in front of a traditional wedding backdrop, you're quite literally getting married in the middle of Big Sur.

Wedding Photos at Henry Miller Library

From a photography perspective, Henry Miller Library gives us so much to work with without ever leaving the property. Obviously, the redwoods are incredible. But I also love incorporating the library itself, the outdoor spaces, pathways, artwork, books, and all the little details scattered around the grounds. My approach to wedding photography is a mixture of documentary storytelling and more creative, cinematic imagery, so venues like this are especially fun for me.

At a wedding with around 100 guests, there is constantly something happening. Friends laughing together. Parents watching from across the ceremony. People hugging. Kids running around. Drinks being poured. Someone dancing before the dance floor has technically even started. Those little moments are such a huge part of the story. I want couples to look through their gallery afterward and not only see what their wedding looked like, but actually remember what it felt like to have everyone they love together in one place.

Big Sur Coastal Wedding Portraits

One of the biggest advantages of getting married at Henry Miller Library is that you're already right in the heart of Big Sur. That means we can photograph your wedding beneath the redwoods and then sneak away for an entirely different landscape along the coast. Within a relatively short drive, we can go from dark, moody redwoods to enormous cliffs, mountains, rocky beaches, and the Pacific Ocean.

I love building a little time into a Henry Miller Library wedding timeline for the couple to step away from the celebration and explore the coast together. It's also one of the only times during a busy wedding day when the two of you actually get a minute alone. Well…mostly alone. I'll be there too. Whenever possible, I like to plan coastal portraits around the best evening light. But Big Sur doesn't always give us golden sunshine—and that's part of what I love about photographing here. Fog, wind, clouds and changing weather can make the photographs even more beautiful. Some of my favorite Big Sur wedding photographs have happened when the weather did something completely unexpected.

Planning a Larger Wedding in Big Sur

Planning a wedding for around 100 guests in Big Sur requires a little more logistical thinking than planning a wedding in a city. Big Sur looks small on a map, but Highway 1 traffic, construction, limited parking, tourists and drive times can quickly affect a wedding-day timeline. Cell service is also extremely limited in many areas. That's why I always build some breathing room into Big Sur wedding timelines.

I never want my couples spending their wedding day watching the clock or feeling like we have to rush from one location to another just to fit everything in. When I'm helping couples plan photography coverage, I take into account where they're getting ready, ceremony timing, family photographs, travel time, coastal portraits, lighting and when they actually want to be present with their guests. The goal isn't to spend your entire wedding taking photographs. The goal is to create incredible photographs while still allowing you to actually experience your wedding.

Why Henry Miller Library Is Such a Unique Big Sur Wedding Venue

There are some incredible wedding venues throughout Big Sur, but Henry Miller Library has a personality all its own. It's artistic. It's quirky. It's surrounded by redwoods. And it doesn't feel overly polished or manufactured. For the right couple, that's exactly what makes it perfect.

You can bring 100 of your favorite people to Big Sur and still create a wedding that feels relaxed, personal, creative and completely different from a traditional venue wedding. Add dinner beneath the trees, string lights overhead, great music and the Big Sur coast just down Highway 1, and it's pretty hard to imagine a more memorable place to celebrate.

Henry Miller Library Wedding Photographer

I've spent years photographing weddings and elopements throughout Big Sur, and knowing this area well makes a huge difference when you're planning a wedding here. Big Sur weather changes quickly. Roads and locations can close. Cell service is limited. Coastal conditions can be completely different just a few miles apart. And some of the best places for photographs aren't necessarily the ones you'll find from a quick Google search. That's why my job starts well before the wedding day.

I help my couples plan the photography portion of their experience—from creating a realistic timeline to figuring out locations, logistics, travel time and where we'll have the best light. My photography style blends documentary storytelling with cinematic, editorial imagery. I want to capture the huge Big Sur landscapes, but I'm equally interested in everything happening between those photographs. Your parents watching you exchange vows. Your best friends losing it on the dance floor. The wind coming through the redwoods. Someone laughing so hard during a toast that they can't catch their breath. The way your partner looks at you when nobody else is paying attention. Those are the photographs that tell the full story of your wedding.

Planning Your Own Henry Miller Library Wedding?

If you're planning a wedding at Henry Miller Memorial Library and looking for a Big Sur wedding photographer, I'd love to hear what you're dreaming up. Whether you're inviting 20 people or 100+, your wedding doesn't have to feel like a production just because you have a larger guest list. With the right timeline and planning, you can have a full wedding celebration beneath the Big Sur redwoods, spend time with everyone you love, and still sneak away together for incredible photographs along the coast. I've photographed more than 200 weddings and elopements throughout Big Sur, and after spending my entire life on the Monterey Peninsula, this coastline is home to me. And somehow, photographing weddings here still never gets old.

Vendors

Photographer

JAMIE LEMAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY

Venue

HENRY MILLER LIBRARY

Accommodations

ALILA VENTANA

Planner

DANA CARNAZZO

Hair and Makeup

MALINA TERRA

Florals 

BIG SUR FLOWERS

Caterer

CHEF HYSON EPSTEIN

Baker

LAYERS

Live Music

WAYWARD JERRY

Musician

HOT BOX HARRY