Mount Tamalpais + Muir Beach COVID Elopement » Mill Valley, California

Saatchi and Luvreet originally planned to get married in Luvreet’s parent’s backyard but after seeing some of the outdoor elopements I shot last year, they were curious about Marin. Once I shared some galleries from Mount Tamalpais, they decided to change course and plan an outdoor Marin elopement. We started the afternoon on Mount Tamalpais for some portraits of the two of them among the majestic oak trees and rolling green hillsides. Sweet florals from Charlotte & Daughters added that special bit of warm to their wedding outfits. Afterwards, we headed down to Muir Beach where we met up with Saatchi and Luvreet’s families to hike up to a cliffside overlook for their ceremony. Luvreet’s sister officiated while both of their parents shared poems and words of wisdom with the couple. When it came time to exchange vows, Luvreet surprised everyone with what was essentially a lighthearted roast of Saatchi that got everyone laughing. After exchanging rings and sealing the ceremony with a kiss, they all hiked back down to the beach where everyone celebrate with cake from Butter&, champagne and celebratory flower petal toss.

Intimate Winter Ravenswood Historic Site COVID Elopement » Livermore, California

Melissa and Tom were married on an unseasonably warm January afternoon. Surrounded by a small group of their closest friends with many more tuning in via cellphone Zoom, the celebrated with a tiny ceremony at Ravenswood Historic Site in Livermore. The star of the day was definitely their pup, Janey, who was so excited that her humans were getting married that she couldn’t stay on the sidelines. After the ceremony, we wandered the gardens for some portraits before Melissa and Tom headed off to have a virtual dinner party with their friends. They planned to have everyone pick up a meal from Range Life and then log on together for a Zoom dinner reception where everyone enjoyed their food from the safety of their own homes. Such a sweet and simple way to honor their wedding day!

Marin Headlands COVID Elopement » Sausalito, California

Kimber and Brendan reached out to me with a wild idea. They planned to get married and elope somewhere in the Marin Headlands in a week but wasn’t sure if it was possible. I checked my calendar and said I was up for the challenge and sent them a list of my favorite spots in the Marin Headlands. After a quick scouting trip a few days later, they settled on this beautiful spot on the bluff above Tyler’s Beach. Grey clouds hung low in the air as the evening sunlight played hide and seek along the Northern California coast. Kimber and Brendan and their good friend, Suus, hiked down to the bluff and we set up a cell phone to record the ceremony for friends and family who couldn’t be there. Suus officiated while Kimber and Brendan shared personal vows. Happy tears were shed and a kiss was exchanged before we all celebrated. Afterwards, we headed up the hill to explore the trails overlooking Rodeo Beach before wrapping up our time together over at the Headland Center for the Arts.

// You can read more about Kimber and Brendan’s experience planning their elopement on A Practical Wedding blog.

Goat Rock Beach COVID Elopement » Jenner, California

When Mei-Lani and Luke had to postpone their Alaskan wedding plans, they sought out to find a simpler and safer alternative that still captured their love of the great outdoors. After driving up and down the California Coast, they settled on this beautiful stretch of land at Goat Rock Beach in Jenner. Surrounded by Mei-Lani’s family, Luke’s brother, and two dogs, Mei-Lani’s sister officiated while the tiny ceremony on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Afterwards, we all headed down to the beach where Mei-Lani and Luke had prepared a delicious dim-sum picnic for everyone to enjoy while the sun set beneath the waves.

Mount Tamalpais + Muir Beach Sunset COVID Elopement » Mill Valley, California

Even though Gao and Jose eloped by getting married virtually, they still wanted to mark the occasion and celebrate with a portrait session. We started the shoot on Mount Tamalpais where they wore traditional Hmong wedding outfits as a nod to Gao’s heritage before changing into their traditional Western wedding clothes. Gao carried a DIY bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley, one of her favorite blooms, while we did a first look and some more exploring along the steep hillsides. Afterwards, we headed down to Muir Beach for sunset portraits along the rocky shoreline. We were able to time the day perfectly to catch the prettiest golden hour light right at the end of our shoot. There’s nothing quite like these winter sunsets in Northern California.

Old Mill Park + Muir Beach COVID Destination Elopement » Muir Beach, California

Megan and Jeremy envisioned themselves getting married on a bluff overlooking the ocean but also love redwood forests. So when they reached out to me for their elopement and said “We just want to enjoy ourselves and capture our happy moment in the mystical setting of Northern California”, I knew exactly where to go: Marin. The redwoods in Mill Valley’s Old Mill Park would serve as our first stop for a quick engagement session before changing into wedding outfits. After a few more photos in the grove, we hopped in our cars and drove out to Muir Beach for their ceremony. Together we hiked up to a little overlook above Muir Beach. This spot was the same place where Jeremy had originally planned to propose to Megan but due to an unexpected case of food poisoning, the plans were temporarily abandoned. But on this day, they returned to exchange vows and start the next chapter of their lives together. As it was just the two of them, Megan and Jeremy started their ceremony by reading letters their family sent them, sharing words of encouragement and love. They exchanged vows and rings before sealing it with a kiss and a little happy dance. Afterwards, we walked back down to the beach where Megan and Jeremy celebrated with champagne picnic just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Morcom Rose Garden + Lake Merritt Pier COVID Minimony » Oakland, California

F and I love living in Oakland and when their plans to get married at the Camron-Stanford House had to be postponed, they decided to hold a smaller minimony at Lake Merritt. After exploring the lake, they found the tiny little pier right next to Lake Merritt Hotel that would be perfect for their minimony. I met up with the couple at their home for a quick first look in their backyard before heading over to the Morcom Rose Garden for some portraits among the bright blooms and reflecting pool. Afterwards, we drove over to Lake Merritt where their small group of friends and family were waiting for them. F and I exchanged vows and rings as gorgeous fluffy post-rain clouds floated by. The flock of pelicans on Lake Merritt even made a little appearance during the festivities. As the cafe lights encircling Lake Merritt illuminated for the evening, everyone celebrated with a little champagne toast before heading off to Drake’s Dealership for pizza and beer.

Coastal Sunset Cavallo Point COVID Minimony » Sausalito, California

Like many other plans that had to be altered this year, Keely and Sam’s larger party was put on hold but they still wanted to honor their original wedding date with a tiny family celebration. When the opportunity for Sam’s parents to stay at Cavallo Point Lodge, Keely and Sam decided to switch their minimony plans from a backyard ceremony at Keely’s parent’s home in Oakland to Golden Gate Bridge views in Sausalito. As luck would have it, the air quality and smoke from California wildfires cleared in time for their sweet celebration. It was a warm and sunny September evening, when I met the couple and their families at their lodge. After a few portraits, we headed over to Battery Yates where we chose a spot with sweeping Bay views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. A close family friend officiated while Keely and Sam shared poems and exchanged vows just as the prettiest golden hour sunset lighting illuminated everyone. Afterwards, everyone congratulated the couple with hugs and cheers before heading back to their lodge for a few more portraits before dinner. With all the never-ending changes of this year, it’s been heartwarming to see how DIY wedding plans create wedding moments that are so much more meaningful and magical in their own humble ways.

Tiny Calistoga Ranch COVID Minimony » Calistoga, California

2020 is the year where we take nothing for granted. On warm autumn Friday, Mads and Brad were married with a tiny ceremony at Calistoga Ranch. Just me, Brad's good friend Jason who officiated, and the couple. (And of course, friends and family tuned in via video chat.) They shared a poem with each other and exchanged vows and rings on the balcony of their little forest lodge. It was sweet, lovely and the perfect way to honor their original wedding date. Afterwards they celebrated with champagne and wedding cake before we went out to wander the grounds a bit and visit the lawn where they had planned to have their wedding next year. And yet, only 48 hours later the Glass Fire burned through the valley and destroying most of the property. I have never been more grateful to have had that afternoon with them. And so grateful they enjoyed a bit of their original wedding plans despite the devastation that followed. My heartbreaks (again and again.) Celebrate with your people now and hold them tight. We never know what tomorrow may bring.

Venue: Calistoga Ranch // Wedding Planner: Bella Notte DC // Floral Design: Charlotte & Daughters // Cake: Flour and Bloom // Mads’ Shoes: Bryr Studio // Brad’s Slides: Gucci

Childhood Backyard COVID Wedding » Foster City, California

Cara and Eliot’s original plans had to be put on hold due to COVID-19 so they swapped their large wedding plans for a smaller, more intimate one in the backyard of Eliot’s childhood home. The guest list was narrowed down to Cara and Eliot’s immediate families, a good friend of Cara’s and of course their beloved dog Gordie. Unfortunately, Eliot’s sister Barbara (who’s the reason behind how Cara and Eliot met!) was unable to fly in from New York so she attended via Zoom call and got to mingle with everyone and watch the festivities. When Cara was done getting ready with her mother and mother-in-law, she walked down the street to meet Eliot for their first look at the park where he spent childhood playing. We shot some portraits beneath the lush green trees that lined the park before doing another first look with Cara’s father and then heading back to meet the rabbi and cantor. After signing the ketubah, Cara and Eliot were married underneath the chuppah in their backyard surrounded by their families. They shared wine, exchanged rings, broke the glass, and kissed, all the while glowing with happiness and excitement. Afterwards, everyone celebrated with a catered dinner and sweet toasts before wrapping up the evening with some wedding cake.

Wedding Planner: Brick & Belle Events // Catering & Rentals: Toast Bay Area // Cake & Desserts: Mazzetti’s Bakery // Cara’s Bouquet: DIY by Cara // Videography: Slow Fall Cinema

Tiny East Bay Backyard COVID Elopement » El Cerrito, California

Matthew and Rob were planning to get married in April but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Bay Area, they knew they didn’t want to wait to get married. The party itself could wait, but their love couldn’t. So they reached out to their friends who have a gorgeous backyard in the El Cerrito hills to have their tiny ceremony on a warm spring evening. It also happened that their friend who owns the home is also a minister so he officiated the whole thing and helped Matthew and Rob make it legal. Just as the ceremony began, a family of deer appeared behind the couple to watch before trotting back into the trees. Shakespeare poems were read while the couple’s friend’s next door neighbors who happened to be sitting on their porch enjoying the sunset, watched on with love and excitement for Matthew and Rob. It was a sweet DIY celebration: the flowers were sourced from another friend’s yard and the couple brought their own champagne to toast in celebration when all was said and done. It was quick little ceremony but the intention and heart behind it runs deep and helped buoy me during these turbulent times. I adore these two and their determination and love.

Lands End Labyrinth COVID Elopement » San Francisco, California

Emily and Akshai knew they didn’t want their original wedding date to pass by without some sort of celebration. In honor of the day, they invited their immediate families and a few close friends for quick ceremony at the Labyrinth at Lands End in San Francisco. What normally is often a cold and foggy time of year, this June afternoon was sunny, warm and very windy. After a brief hike over to the cliff, we found a spot for their ceremony overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Their close friend officiated while everyone, including their pup, Jasper watched on with excitement. After the ring exchange and kiss, there was more celebrating with throwing rose petals which promptly blew away in the high coastal winds. We snapped a few more portraits along the cliff before hiking back home. It wasn’t the day they had originally planned but it was just as special.