BIG SUR SMALL WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
DOCUMENTING THE BIG SUR ADVENTURE OF YOUR LOVE STORY
Gorgeous coastal views, gigantic Redwoods, and lots of adventure - Big Sur offers a unique elopement experience for couples looking for comfort and beauty
Joanna + Nick
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
EMBRACE BIG SUR’S NATURAL BEAUTY
Center your wedding day around the person - or people - you love. Meg's Marvels Photography captures Big Sur small weddings and elopements that celebrate the authentic, adventurous, real moments. Walk away with beautiful, heartwarming photos you can revisit and share with loved ones over a lifetime.
Big Sur is by far one of the most popular elopement spots along the Northern California coast. There are so many unique locations in and around the area - from redwoods, coastal bluffs and sand dunes, incredible beaches, and charming small towns - it’s one of the absolute coolest places to exchange your vows.
There are SO many beautiful natural gems to explore around the edges of Big Sur and see such a wide variety of backdrops within Northern California.
Think nature & beauty with all the comforts of adorable vacation rentals, charming bed and breakfasts, and quality local restaurants. Yeah, you can really have it all!
Kelly & Mitchell | Garrapata State Park, CA
Jess + Sierra | Big Sur, CA
STEPS TO BRINGING YOUR DREAM BIG SUR ELOPEMENT PHOTOS TO LIFE
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STEP 01
INQUIRE
1 | Reach out through my site and tell me the vision for your wedding day (it’s okay if you’re still figuring out the details!). Together, we’ll make sure we’re a great fit and then can work together to finalize the details.
2 | Once availability is confirmed, we’ll set up a time to talk and make sure we connect. Comfort is key to good photos, and I’ll be by your side most of the wedding day, so my goal is to feel like just another friend on the day! :)
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STEP 02
DREAMING UP THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY
It’s time to start brainstorming your dream wedding day. I can help with locations and itineraries to start sorting through what would make for the best day for you! Plus, I’ll send over my planning guide to help you along the way.
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STEP 03
PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN
To ensure stunning photos and an amazing wedding day, we’ll put together a timeline. This can ensure we plan for the best light (aka the best photos) and to ensure the day doesn’t feel rushed. I’ll work with you on the small details to make sure you have a day that is low-stress and you’ll get all the photos you dreamed of.
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STEP 04
PREP FOR THE WEDDING
With week-of packing lists and reminders to the day of the wedding, I’ll be here to make sure you’re set up and ready to enjoy your day.
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STEP 05
YOUR WEDDING DAY
Relax, enjoy, and trust that I’ll capture so many beautiful memories for you both.
HEY, I’M MEG!
I’m an adventurous homebody who loves spending time outside exploring with my husband + our poodle. I’ve been photographing love stories since 2017 and have become obsessed with capturing Big Sur small wedding days that are full of adventure, love, and as little stress as possible for my fellow outdoor enthusiasts, introverts, and fun-loving couples.
The Best of Big Sur:
Tips & Recommendations
Food + Coffee Shops:
Carmel
The Pocket - lovely place for good cocktails, tasty food, and friendly staff. They even have a room rental if you want to stay right in the heart of Carmel.
Portabella, Grasing’s, + Mission Bistro are all delicious spots and great for hosting a small wedding group after a long day on the coast.
Stop by Da Tierra’s Shop in downtown for a lovely wine tasting.
Monterey
Captain + Stoker - adorable place to grab a coffee~ love their chai!
Alta Bakery - delicious place for pastries and an outdoor patio to soak up the sun
Revival Ice Cream - the Bee’s Knees is what it claims!
Big Sur
Nepenthe - gorgeous views of the coast paired with delicious food
Wild Coast Restaurant - delectable farm to table plates. There’s also a 16 course sushi tasting menu! Perfect place to indulge
Places to Stay:
Glen Oaks in Big Sur - with redwoods on property, this is one of best way to get photos in redwoods on your elopement day
Ventana Big Sur - Fancy an all-inclusive luxurious stay - this is a great option!
Monterey Plaza Hotel on Cannery Row
Portola Hotel - walking distance to Alvarado Street (lots of great food + a wonderful farmer’s market) + nearby historical sites, great walking trails, and right at the heart of Monterey
Or check out one of the beatiful luxury home rentals nearby Carmel or along Highway 1. Beware of long-term bookings since many start at 30 days.
Hiking:
Try a hike in Andrew Molera State Park Beach & Coast - An easy 2-2.5 mile round trip on the Creamery Meadow Trail out to the beach (though the footbridge out is only placed seasonally from June-October OR if you’re looking for a longer adventure, considering following the loop along the bluffs for an 8 mile adventure with beautiful views the entire way. Check out hike details on AllTrails - Creamery Meadows Trail + Beach to Bluff Trail
Walk out to McWay Falls - Just a small walk out to views of McWay Falls, this is a heavily trafficked trail that is less than 1.5 miles and can be pretty busy, but a must see as you drive through Big Sur!
Hike in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Buzzards Roost Trail - Located in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you’ll hike through redwoods through a moderately steep trail that lands with an overlook of the surrounding hills and (on a clear day) the ocean.
Point Lobos Loop Trail (right before you head along highway 1 to get into Big Sur proper, right by the South end of Carmel-by-the-sea) - this natural preserve has a fairly easy and flat trail that snakes all around the coast for beautiful views of the rocky coast and if you’re lucky you might even some sea otter floating out in the water The full loop is just under 7 miles, but you can do smaller sections of it as well! Just beware that parking is limited and does fill up quickly.
Experiences:
17 Mile Drive - For some sightseeing along the coast in Pebble Beach, take a drive on this 17 mile road - Admission is just over $10 and you can pull off to some of beautiful rocky beaches.
Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Walk Along Cannery Row, & Eat some Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl
Drive Along Highway 1 through all of Big Sur - pulling off along the way at beautiful views and to get a better view of the Bixby Canyon Bridge and views of McWay Falls
Go wine tasting up in Carmel Valley or eat amazing food in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
Stop by Little River Inn to dip your toes in the river while sipping on snacks and drinks.
From the Blog
Big Sur Elopement Guide
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I always want to be transparent and aim to answer all your questions before you even book. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get asked:
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First, fill out my contact form so I can learn all about you two and your wedding day. If you think we’d be a great fit, we can either set up a call to answer any lingering questions/brainstorm ideas OR jump in right away. As soon as you have a date & general idea for the location, I just need a signed contract and retainer to save your date and I’ll officially be yours to capture this awesome adventure.
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I am currently based in Walnut Creek, CA, and I spend a lot of time around Northern California - including SF/Bay Area, Yosemite, Big Sur, Tahoe, and so on. I am always open to traveling outside of this area for weddings + elopements, though most of my sessions take place either around my travel plans or within an hour of Walnut Creek, CA. For information on my travel pricing or travel plans, reach out!
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Besides the fact that I am very goofy and loving and know more Office quotes than are good for me… As a photographer, I go beyond just showing up and taking photos on your wedding day. Not only do I want to create a space that feels comfortable and inviting since taking photos can be outside of most people’s comfort zones, but I’m here to help. From make suggestions, offering advice, answering questions, providing recommendations where I can, and doing what I can to make everything easier on you! While I’m not a full-service wedding planner, I’ve been doing this long enough that I want to share what I’ve learned and keep this process exciting and fun!
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This varies from event to event, but for me, it’s often the intention of the day. The majority of small weddings/elopements I photograph have groups from around 0-60 guests and often focus on what’s important to the couple while skipping traditions that don’t fit. Big Sur is ideal for elopements or groups of 8 or less.
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While I’m not a full-service planner, I love getting to work with couples before the wedding day and help make the process easier when I can. Most often I help couples with finding locations, putting together timelines and shot lists, bouncing around ideas for itineraries, and answering any questions I can along the way. I also have a pretty in-depth welcome guide that should help out as a reference as you plan!
on the blog
RECENT BIG SUR WEDDING DAY INSPIRATION
Let’s Dream Up Your Perfect Elopement Day Planning Guide
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Follow along on more adventures
Every love story is unique. To tag along on some of my past photo work, join me on Instagram. @megs_marvels
