Big Sur refers to a giant, beautiful, and wild stretch of coast line in central California known for its dramatic cliffs, tall redwood trees, and scenic ocean views. The landscape is uniquely stunning with many famous landmarks throughout like Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeffer Beach, and a bunch of other state parks for hiking, camping, and enjoying the scenery.
If you’re looking to get married on a cliffside with windswept hair, or in a forest surrounded by Redwood trees, or a mix of both, then Big Sur is the perfect spot. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about eloping in Big Sur from the weather in each season, what permits you need, the best spots for a ceremony, what activities you can include on your elopement day, and more.
When to elope in Big Sur
There is no right or wrong season to elope in Big Sur for the most part. The weather doesn’t change too drastically, and there is a lot of fog and overcast coastal weather patterns that can pop up in any season. There are a few differences to note between the seasons though that could sway your decision.
Winter: The winter months bring cooler temps (usually hovering around 40s-60s) with rain and storms most common from February to March. This can sometimes cause issues like mudslides and road closures so this is something to keep in mind. There is only one main road that goes through Big Sur so if there are closures you might need to pivot and change plans last minute – but if you hire me as your photographer and planner I will have back up plans at the ready so you don’t have to worry too much about this! The winter will be by far the least crowded season though so you’ll be more likely to have privacy and open spaces to yourself. Travel costs will also be lowest in the winter.
Spring: The spring months bring beautiful wildflower blooms all along the coast and better weather. April and May are some of the best months to elope in Big Sur as the crowds are thinner than in the summer but the weather is warming up. The weather can still be a little moody and unpredictable at times with chances of rain and mud, but the further into spring you go the nicer it will be.
Summer: If you’re looking for a warm and sunny beach elopement then summer is your best bet. Temperatures are most often in the 70s and sometimes 80s further inland. However, fog or moody/overcast vibes are still possible in the summer, most notably in the mornings and evenings with afternoons usually bringing sunny skies. You’ll also have more daylight for more activities in the summer months. Crowds will be at their highest though, and travel costs will be higher as well.
One thing to note about summer is that wildfires are possible, especially in the late summer months. Early summer is a safer bet if you want to avoid the possibility of wildfires, which can also bring mudslides and closures like in the winter. This is another element that I will have multiple back up plans for if I’m planning your Big Sur elopement!
Fall: The fall is pretty similar to summer in Big Sur, except there are less crowds which means more privacy if that’s important to you. September and October can actually be the warmest months along the coast and there are more bright and sunny days. Rain and cooler temps become more likely in November, so I would recommend early fall over late fall.
All in all, each season has its pros and cons, but eloping is possible in Big Sur year round!
Where to have your ceremony in Big Sur
Big Sur is a pretty big region so there are a lot of different places you can have your ceremony from state parks/beaches to redwood forests, private venues, and more. Below are descriptions of some good ceremony spots in the Big Sur area.
Beaches:
Big Sur has some beautiful beaches and cliffs overlooking the ocean that are perfect for tying the knot! Read below for some of the best beach locations in Big Sur.
Garrapata State Park: This is a great spot for easy beach access and coastal trails along Highway 1. There are beautiful cliffside overlooks that are perfect for exchanging vows, and a big sandy beach as well if that’s more your speed. You can have up to 25 guests at your elopement here and a permit is required which I will go into more detail about later in this post.
Andrew Molera State Park: Getting to the beach here requires an easy 1 mile hike so it is a little bit off the beaten path. This beach is a popular surf spot with beautiful ocean views. You can only have 10 people maximum for a ceremony here and a permit is required.
Pfeiffer Beach: Another beautiful beach with rock formations and interesting scenery. There is no permit required to elope here, however ceremonies are only allowed from mid October to mid March so it is mostly a winter elopement spot. Please be aware that flooding is pretty common here in the winter months as well so I would highly recommend eloping here as close to mid October as possible for the best weather.
For Ocean Views But No Beach:
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: There is no beach access here, however there are beautiful ocean views, access to Mcway Falls, and redwood forests. This is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a mix of the most iconic Big Sur scenery. A permit is required to elope here and you can have up to 10 guests with you.
Forest Locations:
Limekiln State Park: Lots of beautiful trails through redwood groves and one of the best spots if you like to hike. A permit is not required to elope here – it is actually the only state park in the region that does not require a permit for elopements and there are no guest limits either. There are some ocean views accessible here and a small rocky beach as well.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: This park is known for its redwood groves and there is no beach/ocean access here. This is probably the most developed park in the region with lodges and campgrounds. A permit is required for an elopement here and you can have up to 10 guests.
These are some of the best and most well known elopement spots in Big Sur, however if you book with me I can also share some spots that are a bit more off the beaten path! There are so many interesting spots in Big Sur if you’re willing to hike and adventure a bit.
Private Venues:
Instead of eloping on public land you can also elope at one of many private venues in the Big Sur area. A list of some venues are below:
Glen Oaks: A rustic resort with a mix of lodges, cottages, and cabins right next to the Big Sur River. This is a great spot for both small elopements and larger weddings or celebrations. This resort is tucked in the redwoods and perfect for a beautiful forest wedding.
Loma Vista Gardens: This is a beautiful property with landscaped gardens and multiple event spaces. This venue also offers elopement and micro wedding packages for intimate celebrations.
Henry Miller Library: This is a community center whose mission is to support the arts in Big Sur with a bookshop, an art gallery, art installations, and a beautiful outdoor event space.
Ventana Big Sur: A beautiful luxury resort in Big Sur and one of the best private venues in the area with beautiful forest and ocean views. There are multiple different spaces available for a ceremony depending on how many guests you would like to include. Please keep in mind this is definitely one of the pricier options for eloping in Big Sur.
Wind and Sea Estate: A very unique venue in Big Sur, this private estate is absolutely beautiful with mesmerizing views of the ocean from a cliffside that will make your elopement unforgettable. This estate comes with many rooms, patios, a sauna, soaking tubs, a gazebo, and more. Like Ventana, it is definitely on the pricier side to have your elopement here.
Permits For A Big Sur Elopement:
As outlined above a permit is required to elope at many of the state parks and beaches in Big Sur. Since Big Sur is such a large area that is made up of different state parks and private lands that are operated by different offices you might need to do some research to determine who to reach out to. If you hire me as your elopement photographer and planner for your Big Sur elopement I will handle the logistics of this for you so that you don’t overwhelm yourself by keeping all of these details together.
Some general information about Big Sur permits:
A permit for Big Sur generally costs around $400. If you work with a photographer/planner like me who already holds an annual permit with the park then your permit will only cost $75 and you won’t have to do any of the paperwork or outreach yourself!
Big Sur State Parks: Permits for the state parks in Big Sur are handled by the special event permit office who can be reached by email at [email protected] or phone at 831-667-0507. You can apply for a permit up to 6 months in advance. Please note that permits are only given for weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and they only allow one permit per location per day so it is best to reach out early!
Garrapata State Park: This park is a bit of an exception to the information above. More than one elopement permit can be granted per day here and you can also get a permit for a weekend date. They also allow permit applications up to a year in advance. To get a permit here you will need to reach out to Fleccia at [email protected].
Activities for your Big Sur elopement
In addition to photographing your big day, I also help plan and design a unique elopement experience for each couple that I work with. Below are some activity ideas that you can include in your Big Sur elopement:
- Hiking: there are hundreds of trails around the Big Sur area and lots of opportunities to get lost in the forest or along the coastline.
- Enjoy a celebratory meal at a beautiful restaurant like Coast Big Sur, Nepenthe, or The Sur House.
- Drive up and down Highway 1 taking in the views (Highway 1 is the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH).
- Have a picnic, champagne toast, or cake on the beach.
- Go whale watching or take a sunset cruise.
- If you like water sports you can kayak, surf, paddleboard, or even scuba dive.
- Have a campfire, roast smores, and enjoy the stars once the sun sets.
- Enjoy some time at a spa at a luxury resort.
Tip to keep in mind for your Big Sur elopement
Eloping in Big Sur can be a once in a lifetime adventure but there are a few important tips to go over to make sure you have the best experience possible.
Keep an open mind and embrace the weather.
The weather can be unpredictable at times especially along the coast so it’s important to keep an open mind and go with the flow. If you’re the type of couple that is able to have fun no matter what gets thrown at you then Big Sur is definitely the place for you.
There is very little cell service in the area.
Please prepare to not have any cell service while you’re adventuring in Big Sur. This means you will have to make an effort to plan designated meeting spots and times with any guests and vendors and stick to them. Once you’re away from any wifi it will be hard to coordinate or get in touch with anyone. You can also download offline maps to help you navigate once you are away from any service.
Be mindful of the environment.
It is always best to follow Leave No Trace principles while in Big Sur in order to best respect the environment. Applying for the correct permit is also super important as management of events and crowds helps keep the environment healthy as well. You should refrain from throwing any glitter, confetti, sparklers, etc and make sure to not bring in any invasive plant species in a bouquet of flowers.
If you’re thinking of eloping in Big Sur and you’re not sure how to get started please feel free to reach out to me here. In addition to photography I also offer planning services for every couple who books me. I can help you design your perfect elopement day and then capture it all so that you can remember it forever.
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