Molly and Brian’s Full Day Elopement in Redwoods National Park

Molly and Brian were originally planning a big wedding but due to the pandemic they decided to elope with their two best friends. They chose Redwoods National Park in Northern California for their intimate ceremony. This was a full day elopement experience. They wanted to capture every aspect of their day just like they would have done with a bigger wedding. There is a misconception that you only need a couple of hours for an elopement, but from my experience elopements deserve just as much time as bigger weddings. Just because there are less people doesn’t mean there are less moments to capture!

When I arrived they were just finishing brunch and it was time to get ready. I started with the all the details and captured the ladies helping each other with makeup and getting dressed. The giggles and hilarious antics began and I immediately knew this was going to be a fun filled elopement day. Molly has this carefree, comical way about her and had us constantly laughing. Then I grabbed a few photos of the guys getting ready and sipping on bourbon. They had a first look outside their modern Airbnb, and we were off to the magical Redwood forest!

After getting ready photos and a first look at their Airbnb in Eureka we were off to the Redwoods! When we arrived Molly put on her floral crown and we hiked to the ceremony spot. It was a quiet day and we were the only hikers on the trail. That’s one of my favorite aspects about fall elopements. Most of the summer tourists are gone and you’ll experience more solitude on the trails. Ideal for an intimate experience on your elopement day in California!

After exploring the Redwoods we headed to one of my favorite beaches near Trinidad for sunset. They braved the chilly wind and of course kept laughing and having fun through it all. I love capturing elopements in the forest and finishing at the beach for sunset. It adds a nice variety to your final collection of photos and creates a fun experience!

After sunset on the beach we headed back to their Airbnb. They hired a private chef to prepare a special meal. Bruschetta and the most delish mac and cheese balls were waiting for them when we arrived. They popped some champagne with their buddies and then did a little dancing to finish off the day!

Ready to book your full day adventure elopement in the Redwoods of Northern California?
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