A Beach Elopement in Big Sur 

How did your love story lead you to elope in Big Sur?

Ella and I met back in 2019 through mutual friends in our sorority at Penn State. Our connection started as a strong friendship—one that had an undeniable spark. After spending nearly every moment together during our senior year, we realized our feelings were much deeper. It wasn’t until we left the conservative bubble of Penn State that we felt comfortable fully embracing our love. Fast forward to May, on our two-year anniversary, we decided to celebrate our love in the most intimate way: eloping in Big Sur

What inspired your decision to elope instead of having a traditional wedding?

We always envisioned our wedding day being just for us. We wanted to be completely present with each other without the distractions of a large gathering. That decision felt perfect for our personalities and love story. We still plan to celebrate with family and friends later, but our elopement was about soaking in every moment, just the two of us.

How did you choose Big Sur and Garrapata State Park for your ceremony?

Big Sur felt magical to us—it’s raw, romantic, and private, just what we were looking for. Our photographer, D. Fritz, who also officiated our ceremony, helped us find the perfect locations. They led us to a secluded cliffside at Garrapata State Park with breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains. The spot felt like it was made just for us.

Tell us about your elopement day. What were some of your favorite moments?

The day was a dream from start to finish. We started our morning in Monterey, where we picked flowers from local florists to create our own bouquets. After getting ready together, we loaded our vegan cake from One More Bite Bakery, champagne, and a change of clothes into Ella’s Jeep and made our way to Big Sur.

At the ceremony, we stood on a cliff overlooking the ocean, exchanged vows, and shared our first kiss as a married couple. Later, we set up a cozy spot on the beach to enjoy champagne and cake while watching the sunset. One of our favorite moments was dancing to “Daylight” by Taylor Swift on the sand—it felt like time stopped, and it was just us in the world.

To end the day, we ran into the ocean together. It was freezing, but so much fun. We couldn’t stop laughing and smiling, knowing we were finally married.

How did you personalize your elopement ceremony?

Our elopement felt deeply personal. From writing our vows by hand to arranging our bouquets ourselves, every detail reflected us. We also wanted a ceremony that felt effortless, so we skipped formalities like a first look and helped each other get ready instead. Our photographer played such a big role, quietly capturing moments without interrupting, letting us be completely ourselves.

Who were your vendors, and how did they bring your vision to life?

We found our photographer, D. Fritz, on Instagram and fell in love with their work. They exceeded every expectation, finding locations that felt like hidden gems and blending into the day so seamlessly we sometimes forgot they were there. They even got ordained to officiate our ceremony, making the experience even more special.

For our cake, we worked with One More Bite Bakery in Monterey. They created a beautiful vegan cake that was as delicious as it looked. It was the perfect sweet touch to our celebration.

Did you share vows during your ceremony?

Yes! Sharing vows was one of the most emotional moments of the day. We started drafting them in our Notes app and later wrote them out by hand. It felt surreal to express everything we felt for each other right before officially becoming wives.

Did your family know about the elopement?

Not yet! We decided to keep our elopement just between us for now, telling our families it was an engagement photoshoot. 

We’re planning to share the full story with them in a few years. It felt important for us to have this moment just for us, without outside opinions or expectations.