Lauryn & Jameson

What if your wedding day swapped walking down the aisle in heels for splashing through a stream in boots? What if your ceremony was attended by two-thousand-year-old trees instead of wedding guests? What if you forewent a reception for popping champagne on a secluded beach?

Well, that’s exactly the kind of wedding day Lauryn & Jameson wanted when they chose to elope in Redwood National and State Parks. These rich redwood forests in northern California are renowned for their majesty. One minute, you can find yourself deep in the groves of ferns and towering trees—while the next you can enjoy the waves, sandy beaches, and ocean fog.

Exploring the Redwoods on Your Wedding Day

An adventure elopement is exactly what it sounds like. A private, personal, and intimate wedding that emphasizes minimalism (when it comes to guest count) and maximalism (when it comes to activities). And as the outdoor elopement photographer, I’m happy to say we packed in a lot of great moments without it feeling overwhelming or too fast-paced.

My husband, Isiah, and I met Lauryn & Jameson at the visitor center. Our couple had driven in from Portland, Oregon, but were familiar with this area of California. We said our hellos and drove further into the grove for our wedding ceremony.

Our couple adores backpacking, so they adorned their packs with wedding placards—which is just the most mwuh vibe. Isiah followed closely behind with his ceremony script, the bride’s dress, and the groom’s suit. Once we got to the grove, our couple changed out of their hiking clothes to put on their wedding attire.

With some careful positioning, we were able to get a first look photo, full of all the teary eyes and smiles you could hope for.

As the ceremony started, you could just feel the love between Lauryn & Jameson. It felt as big as the redwoods themselves. Since there were no guests in attendance, I took advantage of the open space to get photo angles I wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

I always appreciate hearing a couple's vows, but one of Jameson’s lines really stuck out to me that day. He said something to the effect of, “Being here now, I know that this was how we were meant to get married, just the two of us. That we could do it ourselves.”

That’s what eloping is all about, after all. Shifting the focus away from traditions and guest lists, seating arrangements and table placements—and instead giving you and the love of your life space to express yourselves in the purest way possible.

After letting the post-ceremony moment breathe, I took our newlyweds to a few choice locations for photos. The first was a waterfall. Isiah and I had scouted the area the day before, but since Lauryn & Jameson chose to get married on a weekday, there was much less foot traffic. This gave us more time for poses, kisses, and looking for banana slugs.

From there, we drove to the next location, filled with ferns. Did you know that ferns are a very ancient family of plants? Ferns, as a plant family, are 360 million years old—predating the Mesozoic era when dinosaurs lived. Which is probably why parts of the Jurassic Park movie were filmed in the redwoods.

Getting to this area isn’t the easiest. The road is long and bumpy, consisting of a river crossing and more than a few potholes. But once you are there, your senses are simply dazzled by the spectacle. Multiple hues of green, moisture trickling from every direction, and—if you catch it at the right time of day—a perfect ambient glow of sunlight.

Lauryn bravely took her boots to the water, mud, and stone—enjoying the liberty of letting her wedding dress trail as it might. Jameson dipped, spun, and kissed her as they journeyed through the verdant canyon together.

As magical as the canyon was, I knew from planning the wedding with our couple, that Lauryn was especially drawn to the ocean. So, we couldn’t conclude the day without a trip to the beach. That weekday luck struck again, when we barely saw another soul on the shore.

Jameson popped a bottle of champagne, and the cork went soaring; probably due to the variations in elevation during the drive. Isiah chased after it to ensure we kept our Leave No Trace principles.

As Lauryn & Jameson ate pastries and sipped champagne, I hungrily snapped photos of our couple in their element. Last but not least, I took them for a stroll around the beach. A perfect conclusion to an amazing California redwood elopement.

Tips for Your Own California Redwoods Elopement

Interested in eloping in the California Redwoods? Here are some helpful tips to make the most of your wedding day:

This area is remote, so expect longer drives, two-lane highways, and fewer facilities, including gas stations, rest stops, and restaurants.
There aren’t many vendors in the area, so be prepared to drive things in yourself, do it yourself, or pay travel fees for vendors.
The redwoods thrive in wet weather. Prepare yourselves for rain, mud, and cold foggy days in the PNW.
Follow leave-no-trace principles. This is one of the only redwood forest areas in the world, so do what you can to keep it healthy for years to come!
Real flowers are not allowed inside the national park. This protects the local flora from invasive species, pathogens, and other harmful stuff. Choose bouquets and floral decorations made of wood or otherwise synthetic.