How to Elope in the Redwoods
There is not a more beautiful, intimate, and wild place to elope or get married than the coastal redwoods of California.
Towering redwood trees stretching out of sight into fog. Crystalline streams and rivers racing down fern covered hillsides to the ocean. Dramatic sea side cliffs overlooking the rocky coastline.
It really doesn’t get any better than that.
The redwoods have been deeply inspirational to me and my work since I first visited them seven years ago. I drove through the night with friends from Salt Lake City, and saw my first redwoods as the sun came up. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was about to undergo some major life changes. But through all this change and upheaval, I always came back to this place, whether it was physically or mentally. Soon, I came back with the man who I would write and exchange vows with three years later in this powerful place. We wrote our vows in a beautiful and serene grove, and hiked those vows down to an intimate beach we had all to ourselves.
This is the experience I want for all my couples, whether in the redwoods or anywhere else you find inspiring, personal, or drawn to.
Luckily for anyone wanting to wed in the redwoods, the process is actually pretty simple!
One of my jobs as an elopement photographer is to walk you through these steps and make sure everything is done properly and planned out, so you can enjoy your day without a hitch.
Lets go through the steps to get hitched in the redwoods!
Pick a spot! - Probably the most daunting task of all is picking the perfect place for your wedding. If you don’t already have a spot in mind, I will prepare a location guide for you to look through. It will include information such as closest cities, travel times, and what permit you will need to have your ceremony there.
Get your permit - Almost all weddings happening on public lands require a special use permit. For the redwoods, the national and state parks fall under the same umbrella of management, and you will go through that entity to secure your special use permit. They have pre approved locations inside the parks that allow for wedding ceremonies. More information about special use permits in the redwoods can be found here. Take into consideration your guest count, time of year, and popular travel times for the area. Luckily it is easy to find privacy for your ceremony without worry of hikers passing through, even during busy seasons!
Find a place to stay - There are plenty of fun and quirky places to stay along the coast! From airbnb and VRBO to local seaside lodges, there is something for everyone. If you plan on getting ready there, make sure there is plenty of space and light for beautiful photos, as well a areas for any important people to hang out when planning for the day. Airbnb has recently cracked down on the types of activities at airbnbs, so if you are planning on also using the space for dinner, cake, or dancing with guests, make sure the host is aware of your plans so you don’t incur fees later. Fun features to watch for could be outdoor showers/tubs, a fire pit, or a hot tub! All of these make for a fun stay and even better photo ops.
Secure your marriage license- Marriage licenses are obtained at the courthouses for the county you are getting married in. Some places you can just walk in and out, other places you need to fill out forms online and schedule an appointment. Make sure you are familiar with the process for the county you are getting married in! For the redwood national and state parks, you would be getting married in Del Norte county.
Don’t be afraid to plan things outside the norm. Maybe you want to swim in the ocean on your wedding day. Maybe you want to surf or kayak or paddleboard or do yoga with your friends and family. Maybe you want to end the night eating dinner ad drinking wine around a fire on the beach. The bottom line is this day is about YOU! Don’t be afraid to get a little unconventional.
I hope you found these tips to eloping in the redwoods helpful and caused some excitement about the process! This is a great starting point to creating your best day ever.
