Intimate Marin Headlands + Foreign Cinema Dinner Party Elopement » San Francisco, California

K + R wanted to keep it small and simple for their wedding plans having just moved to the Bay Area. After falling in love with the Marin Headlands, they knew those cliffside views were exactly where they wanted to share their vows in front of their families. I met up with K + R on an overcast spring day and after a sweet first look by the ocean, K + R headed down the trail a bit to where a small gathering of their families were waiting for them. They exchanged vows, rings and a kiss in front of their loved ones before everyone celebrated with hugs and champagne. R’s brother share a few words before the families headed back into the city to prepare for their dinner. K + R hung back with me for some portraits along the water as we explored Battery Alexander and Rodeo Cove. We met up again in the evening at Foreign Cinema in San Francisco for their private dinner on the mezzanine level. The crystal chandelier cast surprise rainbows on their dinner as everyone settled in for drinks before a few speeches kicked off their meal. All in all, a simple but elegant wedding celebration showcasing some unique Bay Area spots.

Battery Rathbone-McIndoe Marin Headlands Elopement » Mill Valley, California

Zoe and Tom chose a beautiful overlook in the Marin Headlands for their family focused elopement. They gathered on classic windy spring afternoon at Battery Rathbone-McIndoe for a quick ceremony high on a cliff overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. Tom’s brother officiated while Zoe’s niece and nephew presented the couple with their rings before sealing their vows with a kiss as the fog started to settle in. The families celebrated with bubbles, champagne and apple cider and some fresh picked strawberries from the farmer’s market earlier that morning. While everyone else headed to their celebratory dinner plans, Zoe and Tom hung back to explore the windswept foggy Marin Headlands for some portraits.

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.