A road trip vacation inspired their elopement location! Colleen + Chris fell in love with the beauty of Garrapata State Park, so when it came time for them to exchange their vows, finding the perfect spot was easy. They planned a misty and romantic Big Sur elopement, complete with a vintage-inspired bouquet, an eco-friendly wedding dress and the sweetest picnic on the beach. C shares more about the location and why it’s so special:
We’re from Toronto, Ontario, but we first visited Big Sur on a road trip in 2016. We both fell in love with the wild beauty of the towering redwoods, the rocky coastline and the fresh, herbaceous fragrance that occurs when the two meet. At one point we took a short hike down into what appeared to be a deserted beach, referring to it in the following years as the “secret beach”. We had always felt like we didn’t get to spend enough time there and we had the idea in the back of our minds that it would be the perfect place to get married. So when we got engaged, it was an easy decision to go back.
Ready to see the breathtaking pictures Kelly Brown Photographer captured? Let’s go!
Bridal Style with a Hint of Vintage
How to make an elopement super special? Include meaningful details into every moment. C shares about her wedding day jewelry:
My grandmother passed these clip-on earrings down to me, they’re so simple but one of my greatest treasures.
Big Sur Elopement
Sherilyn Russo officiated C + C’s intimate elopement on the edge of these stunning cliffs and ocean views. We can see why this spot is so inspiring!
C’s bridal style was all about mixing sustainability, vintage style and comfort. Her adorable puff sleeve gown is from Kara Thoms, her shoes are Salt Water Sandals, and her straw hat is Mango. We’ll let her share the details:
I was set on finding a simple, ethically made dress in a natural material. It was harder than I thought, but when I saw the Bellflower dress from California designer Kara Thoms, I knew I found the one. These tried-and-true, water-friendly sandals were perfect for traipsing through the water, sand and trails.
Vintage Vibes
Eothen designed C’s gorgeous elopement bouquet. We’re loving the mix of muted, dried foliage as well as soft blooms in shades of ivory and dusty rose.
Exchanging Vows
Seriously so sweet!!
Newlywed Portraits
These views cannot be real!! If this doesn’t inspire you to plan your own Big Sur elopement, we don’t know what will!
California Convertible
C + C knew they wanted a California staple for their wedding day, so they rented this convertible from Monterey Touring Vehicles and cruised down the coastline.
Another sweet treat? C + C are sharing their Spotify playlist from the day!
We always make a playlist for our road trips, and this is the one we made for our Big Sur elopement adventure. Some of the songs are more like inside jokes between the two of us to keep us entertained on the road, some were really popular when we were dating, and some are just great for driving. If we could choose one song from the playlist that embodied the whole experience, it would be I Found a Reason by The Velvet Underground.
Picnic on the Beach
After their newlywed photos, C + C cruised down the coast to their “secret beach” and shared a picnic meal together while enjoying the views of sand and surf.
The picnic was everything we could have dreamed of. With epic waves crashing in the background, we celebrated with cake, sparkling wine and a toast to the most amazing day of our lives.
We wanted our day to reflect our personalities, be an intimate celebration of love and, above all, to feel like an adventure. What we couldn’t have imagined was that everything and everyone would come together in such a harmonious way.
Congratulations Colleen + Chris! Your Big Sur elopement is beyond dreamy! We are wishing you both a beautiful marriage and life together.
Did you love this day? Check out this other stunning cliffside ceremony in Big Sur for more elopement inspiration!
photography: Kelly Brown Photographer // venue name: Garrapata State Park, Big Sur, California, USA // florals: Eothen // wedding dress: Kara Thoms // hairpiece: Mango (hat) // bride’s shoes: Salt Water Sandals // tabletop rentals: Eothen // officiant: Sherilyn Russo // car rental: Monterey Touring Vehicles