Big Sur Elopement at Glen Oaks

I’ve said it before, but an elopement is all about doing whatever the heck you want on your wedding day! When it comes to eloping, there are honestly no set rules so you can plan the day however you want. Many couples chose to elope because it’s such a free way to get married, and for Jimena and Chaelan’s Big Sur elopement at Glen Oaks, they planned an elopement day on the coast that included all the things they wanted to include and made sense them, starting with a steamy intimate hot tub session and ending with sunset photos on the coast! In other words, a perfect elopement day in Big Sur. 

How Jimena & Chaelan Decided on a Big Sur Elopement

Jimena and Chaelan met as coworkers in 2016 and started dating. What started out as a workplace friendship ended with them getting engaged 3 years later in the summer of 2019. 

From the very beginning, Jimena & Chaelan knew they wanted to elope. They didn't feel like they fit the traditional wedding mold and they wanted to create a day that allowed them to celebrate how they wanted to. A day that wouldn’t make them feel restricted or rushed by strict timelines. That vision never changed for them so they decided to elope in one of their favorite California locations, Big Sur!

Want to know how to elope in Big Sur? Check out the link below!

Jimena & Chaelan’s Intimate Big Sur Elopement

The morning of their Big Sur elopement started out with an intimate hot tub session at their cabin. The hot tubs were actually a couple of beautiful old bathtubs located outside the cabin in the most peaceful, serene environment. The morning sunlight filtered in through the redwood trees, creating these gorgeous morning rays, perfect for the start of an elopement morning.

Jimena and Chaelan had never had any professional photos taken together so they were a little nervous, but honestly, they crushed it!! The idea for a hot tub session was a last-minute decision which I personally love because it fits their whole “go with the flow” elopement day. By the end of their relaxing hot tub couples session, they were feeling ready to start the day, get ready for their first look, and get married!

Getting Ready, First Look & Ceremony

They spent the rest of the morning getting ready and taking individual portraits in the cabin before coming together for their first look. First looks are some of my favorite moments and Jimena and Chaelan’s was no exception. Surrounded by Redwood trees these two saw each other in their wedding attire for the first time. The excitement truly started to set in as they realized their big day had finally arrived! 

Their sweet and intimate ceremony took place among the redwoods at Glen Oaks Big Sur and was officiated by their best friend, which added such and special personal touch and made it even more meaningful to them and their day. Glen Oaks is a lodging area in Big Sur that also doubles as a wedding/elopement venue. It’s the perfect place for those looking for a convenient and beautiful place to elope.

Pro tip - When it comes to who can officiate your ceremony, the options are endless. You can choose to hire an officiant or have a friend or family member get ordained so they can officiate your ceremony. You’ll also want to keep in mind how many witnesses you need depending on the state or country you’re in. If you aren’t planning on having any guests at your ceremony, I often act as one of the witnesses for my couples. 

Big Sur Coastal Aventure

After the ceremony, Jimena and Chaelan celebrated with cake and a champagne toast before heading out to the coast for adventure photos. We ran around the beach and explored different cliffs till sunset soaking in all the beautiful views Big Sur has to offer and were rewarded with an awesome cotton candy sunset to end the day.

Jimena and Chaelan’s elopement was the perfect example of couples doing whatever the heck they want for their elopement day. They didn’t let any stress or pressure from other people sway them from planning a day that they’d always dreamed about. For more Big Sur elopement inspiration, check out this other full-day elopement at Alila Ventana Inn in Big Sur. 

Kind words from Jimena & Chaelan

I am so thankful that we found Will! From the beginning, he was helpful in planning when we were making early decisions. We are very lucky to have someone that knew the Big Sur area as well as him. I can honestly say he was basically responsible for planning our elopement. On our day he made us very comfortable despite never having taken couples' photos. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure to meet someone as just genuinely nice as him! He really wants to make it the perfect day. The fact that he specializes in elopements made him the perfect choice. I mean the guy was climbing sides of rocks and hills for the shots. I have absolutely no doubts he will shoot it out of the park for you.

- Jimena & Chaelan

Are You Ready to Start Planning Your Big Sur Elopement?

Big Sur Elopement Vendors

Photography & Planning | Will Khoury Photography

Photography Presets | WKpresets

Videography | Capture Colour

Venue | Glen Oaks Big Sur

Flowers | Big Sur Flowers

Cake | Big Sur Bakery

Makeup | Glowing Denisee

Hair | Bridal Hair by Kelsey

Dress | Calla Blanche Dress

Bridal Boutique | Biancas Bridal

Suit | Men’s Wearhouse & Ralph Lauren

More Awesome Elopement Stories

For Photographers

Editing:

This elopement was edited using WKpresets from start to finish. WKpresets are designed to work in every lighting situation you can think of so that you don’t have to go back and forth between different looks, lots of options to edit from, and mainly, to finish your editing as quickly as possible.

If you enjoy the look of these photos and would like to have the same tones and editing style on your photos, check out WKpresets

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