Peaceful Elopement with Family at Henry Cowell Redwoods
March 5, 2026
Updated:
Why They Chose an Elopement in Coastal Redwoods
Emma and Luke had their priorities straight: They wanted the day to really be about them and their marriage with no worries about pleasing other people during their wedding. They valued their future marriage and wanted the beginning of it to be strong and set a foundation for years to come.
They had a clear vision of getting married outdoors and including redwood trees and the ocean. Luke wanted to include a beautiful forest because it reminds them both of the college they went to together and how their relationship grew there. Emma wanted to include the ocean because of the deep peace and tranquility it brings her.
They wanted to start their day slow with coffee and the Bible, go for a hike through the forest, enjoy food with their family, and sit by the ocean while they talked about their future life together.
Checkout our full Henry Cowell Redwood State Park Wedding Guide to learn how to plan your own elopement!
Their Elopement Day: From Redwoods to the Ocean
Morning Moments and Getting Ready
Emma and Luke started their elopement by reading the Bible together in front of their river-front cabin, listening to the sound of the babbling creek and looking out at the woods they were about to get married in.
They got ready in separate cabins with their loved ones, they were both exuding peace and joy and it was so beautiful.
First Look in the Redwoods
They had their first look in some redwoods outside of the cabin and Luke’s face absolutely exploded with joy when he saw Emma standing in her dress, the very dress her own mother got married in 23 years prior. They spent the whole time giddy with excitement over each other.
Ceremony in the Redwood Grove
Luke’s younger brother officiated a beautiful ceremony at the Redwood Grove ceremony site in Henry Cowell. The majestic evergreen giants stood in silent witness in this secluded circle of redwood trees as they exchanged their vows in their Converse. Every member of their family took a turn sharing a Bible verse, a note, something they love about them, or all three.
We positioned them so the light filtering through the trees landed right on them, creating that ethereal glow that makes the redwoods so magical.
After an emotional ceremony, we hiked through the forest with just Emma and Luke for them to enjoy their first moments as husband and wife in the serenity of nature.
Beach Picnic and Celebration
Emma changed into her second dress and then we met their family at the beach for a picnic and some cake. They had an joyful time and everyone was smiling despite having to chase napkins down the beach because it was so windy haha!
After saying goodbye to their family, they took some time to slow down and soak in the moment, sitting on a bench with a beautiful view overlooking the beach. Their intentionality to simply be present added to the overall sense of peace that rested over their whole day.
They spent the last moments of sunlight on their wedding day sprinting and frolicking along the beach, spending every last drop of their joyous wedding energy before ending with an intimate prayer over their marriage.
How We Helped Plan Their Elopement
From our first planning call, Emma and Luke knew they wanted redwoods and the ocean, so we immediately started crafting a timeline that would give them both. We created a custom timeline for them that prioritized slow morning moments with coffee and the Bible, their ceremony in the redwoods with family, and private time by the ocean to reflect on their future together.
We scouted a few beach locations for them and chose one for the privacy and beautiful rock formation that would give them the peaceful setting they were looking for. Getting married at Henry Cowell requires a permit, and there are only a few spots where you can hold a ceremony, we walked them through the entire permit process and helped them secure the Redwood Grove ceremony site, one of the most beautiful spots in the park.
June was the perfect choice for their elopement with great weather and lush forests. We made sure every element of their day reflected their vision: peace, intentionality, and a strong foundation for their marriage.
Thinking about eloping? Let’s make it 100% YOU.
“Sammie and Micah made our dreams all come true and we could have not had a more perfect day if it wasn’t for them”
“When we started to plan our wedding, we knew we didn’t want to wait, so we totally took Sammie and Micah by surprise in planning our elopement in under a month. Our biggest fear when we first started planning was getting everything done in a timely manner and making sure we had every little detail from location and timeline of the day under control.
We were blown away by the prompts that Sammie and Micah had us doing to make it feel comfortable and like we were living in the moment, not posing for a photo. After receiving our photos, we were in shock. We had told them in the beginning we wanted to look back on our photos and feel like we were living in the day, and they captured that perfectly and more.
It exceeded everything we ever dreamed. We had family members that we could not have there, and they said they felt like they were living the moments of the day with us! Phenomenal!
Sammie and Micah, you were amazing and immediately felt like best friends. Thank you for making our wedding day so so special!”
– Emma & Luke
Photos From Their Amazing Elopement:
As fellow free spirits, dreamers, world travelers, and roadtrippers – we know that even on a normal day, it’s hard to choose what adventure to take. It’s no surprise that when it comes to the once in a lifetime adventure of getting married, choosing just one path feels nearly impossible.
So… choose two or three. Share your vows privately in Italy and come back to the West Coast to celebrate with your loved ones. Or have your wedding ceremony in Switzerland and then share a honeymoon adventure in Morocco.
As fellow free spirits, dreamers, world travelers, and roadtrippers – we know that even on a normal day, it’s hard to choose what adventure to take. It’s no surprise that when it comes to the once in a lifetime adventure of getting married, choosing just one path feels nearly impossible.
So… choose two or three. Share your vows privately in Italy and come back to the West Coast to celebrate with your loved ones. Or have your wedding ceremony in Switzerland and then share a honeymoon adventure in Morocco.
As fellow free spirits, dreamers, world travelers, and roadtrippers – we know that even on a normal day, it’s hard to choose what adventure to take. It’s no surprise that when it comes to the once in a lifetime adventure of getting married, choosing just one path feels nearly impossible.
So… choose two or three. Share your vows privately in Italy and come back to the West Coast to celebrate with your loved ones. Or have your wedding ceremony in Switzerland and then share a honeymoon adventure in Morocco.
We're a husband and wife traveling photography team who believes
MARRIAGE IS ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST ADVENTURES.
we want you to share experiences that make you feel…
Especially on your wedding day.
as vibrant as the sky at sunset.
as free as the breath moving through you.
as unstoppable as the crashing waves.
as complete as your interlocked fingers.