Elopements are my thing… specifically nature and outdoor inspired elopements. But this wedding is a special case– Annie is my best friend.

I got to be a guest and a photographer, which is the best of it all for me.

Annie and Jory met in college, which is when I met the two of them as well. We all went to UC Santa Cruz and played volleyball there. Many hours spent in the gym and many many hours spent on the beach. Naturally, they chose to get married in Santa Cruz.

A beautiful Santa Cruz wedding at the gorgeous Chaminade Hotel. Up in the hills, shaded by eucalyptus and live oak trees, the Chaminade looks down at the shimmering Monterey Bay.

I feel extremely fortunate to also know an amazing flower farmer and floral artist in Santa Cruz County, too. I would recommend Frog & Feather Flowers to anyone getting married in Santa Cruz. From their sustainable farming practices, to the choice of blooms they grow, to Charlotte’s incredible artistry… you really can’t go wrong. Annie & Jory chose to buy DIY buckets from them. If that’s your route, they work closely with you to make sure that the flowers they cut for you match your color palette and the general vibe.

I am going to let the photos tell the story…

Santa Cruz Elopement Photographer

Please humor me as I try to convince you to elope in Santa Cruz…

Holy moly, SO MANY AMAZING BEACHES! Beaches for any vibe!

If a chill elopement that ends with a campfire is your thing, beaches like Four Mile, Panther or Shark Fin might be for you.

A Santa Cruz elopement could also mean a fun night at the boardwalk. Rollercoasters, funnel cakes, and free concerts in the summer… I saw Smash Mouth there… a millennial’s dream.

Davenport is a small town a few miles north of Santa Cruz on the beautiful Pacific Coast HIghway, and the beach there is known for towering cliffs and a little makeshift swing… if you search it on instagram, you’ll definitely see the swing. Davenport has an amazing bakery with mouth watering muffins.

Up away from the beaches, there are redwoods to explore, including Henry Cowell State Park, where you can find albino redwoods! The former botany major in me will always get excited about this.

Sweeping oak woodlands and rolling meadows at Pogonip forest are great for hunting mushrooms and wildlife viewing. On more than one occasion I have seen bobcats there.

Now, I am currently based in Bend, OR, but Santa Cruz and the surrounding mountains are where my love for the natural world really bloomed. I got my Naturalist Certification in Santa Cruz. I spent many hours connecting with nature beneath the waves because Monterey Bay has some of the BEST scuba diving in the world. And I worked as an outdoor guide for the first 5 years of my career, fresh out of college

I do believe that these experiences give me a unique take on planning and photographing adventure elopements. Whether you are thinking of eloping in Oregon and the greater PNW, or Santa Cruz and the greater Bay Area, I know these areas like the back of my hand.

If you are curious about my process or have any questions at all about planning an elopement, please feel free to reach out here.