CALIFORNIA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
CALIFORNIA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
Elope in Stunning California locations such as the Bay Area, Yosemite, Joshua trree, Lake Tahoe, Death valley and more
If you’re here, I’m willing to bet you didn’t grow up dreaming about your wedding day—especially not one where you walk down an aisle in a crowded room. Being out in nature with the people you’re closest to has always felt better than being at a party. And your marriage is about you, so why shouldn’t your wedding day be?
The idea of a California elopement probably sounds far more appealing than performing your vows in front of 200 people inside a wedding hall. You’ve always valued quality over quantity, and you want your wedding day to reflect that—something intimate, meaningful, and that feels like the best day of your honeymoon.
But let’s be real: while eloping feels like the perfect way to prioritize you and your partner, figuring out the logistics can feel overwhelming at first.
Your California Elopement Should Feel Like You
You want to elope in California, but have questions:
My California elopement packages are designed to take you from feeling stressed about planning to feeling ecstatic about creating your dream day. I'll guide you through each step, from finding the perfect Washington location and securing vendors, to creating a timeline that fits your vision for the day. Better yet, I’ll artfully capture your whole story so you can remember the way you chose to celebrate it forever.
Pricing
Your role? Choose what matters most for your day. Mine? Taking care of the planning for you.
Just like you, All of my clients had these same questions and felt overwhelmed at first. But here's the good news.
Everyone has the friend that loves planning the group trips. I’m that friend. From planning cross country road trips, finding hidden gem hikes and campsites, to international travel and logistics. I love planning, all while leaving room for spontaneity.
After planning countless elopements, I have this down to a science, and it feels like second nature. From questionnaires to custom location guides, a 16 page planning checklist, and seamless timeline planning workflows, I will find you incredible locations for your elopement, help you handle the paperwork such as permits and your marriage license, curate an incredible timeline, and whatever else you might need.
Your California elopement photographer
… We chat on the phone so I can figure out where you’re starting from, even if you have nothing planned yet and don’t feel “ready,” this is the part of the process that gets you there. I’ll get to know you and help you figure out the foundations of your plans.
… Once you’re booked, you get questionnaires that will help me find the perfect location for you, plan activities, and curate timelines for you and your partner.
… Finally, when we’ve nailed the big picture, I help you hammer out the details. This includes finding lodging for you and your guests, recommending vendors, and all the small things to make your day stress free and fully planned
Here are the steps:
You see a stranger’s puppy & it takes everything in you not to run up & cuddle it.
Your dress gets dirt on it, and you shrug.
You think ice cream & wine is always an acceptable dinner option. Always.
You LIVE for the feeling of sunshine on your skin & wind in your hair.
You’re already screaming YASSSS WHERE DO I BOOK YOU?
She made such a daunting task much more manageable from the beginning, and was able to provide us with information from her wealth of experience that was such a relief to us while planning our wedding day. Emilee was prompt to respond and displayed a great attention to detail that we very much appreciated during the planning process, including a detailed location guide and timeline that were very helpful. in making time for just us and our family. In fact, the hike we ended up selecting from her list was absolutely perfect, and she kept us on track the day-of to make sure we would get the sunset photos we wanted at the peak. Emilee is not only an amazing photographer, but such a great person as well.
"From our first call, we knew we had found our perfect California elopement photographer."
California Elopement Guide
Joshua Tree Elopement Guide
California elopement guides
Big sur Elopement Guide
I cannot recommend Emilee enough for your photos!! She was there for us in our planning stages, our crazy ideas, our last minute changes, our family needs, etc. She helped us with everything possible and we were so thankful to have such a kind and passionate photographer with us on our special day.
I have never enjoyed taking photos, but Emilee was so great with just letting us be us and reminding us its our day and we can do exactly what makes us us and the photos will come out perfect!
She was there for us in our planning stages
My wife and I always imagined getting married in a remote location, around water, trees, and just each other. After our first phone call meeting we knew that she could make all of our ideas and wishes come true, she made us feel comfortable and understood what we wanted and had envisioned. Emilee provided us with vendors, a list of locations for us to choose activities and the ceremony, and was so honest about the reality of making our desires actually happen. Emilee responded promptly as we planned our trip and was very communicative. Not only was she our photographer but she was also our planner. Our photos were better than we could've ever imagined, Emilee captured the nature, our love, and our personalities. We HIGHLY recommend Emilee for your elopement!
We knew she could make all of our wishes come true
Emilee was AMAZING!!! Made both my wife and I feel so comfortable throughout the day. She really helped us plan out our whole day, and give us a sense of ease. Emilee was very respectful and thoughtful with asking questions and navigating us through this whole process. Her photos turned out incredible and brought our vision to life!
She made the whole process easy
She was professional and so unbelievably helpful from the very beginning, making us feel comfortable and confident in our elopement plans and day-of specifics throughout the entire process - from all the way across the country.
We are so in love with all of our photos and have gotten so many compliments on just how beautiful they turned out. Emilee helped us make sure we had all of the special moments captured forever, can’t thank you enough!
Emilee was so wonderful to work with!
You could spend months scouting possible elopement locations and navigate getting permits on your own, you could create a timeline for your entire day and figure out the best place to be during sunset, or figure out how to navigate a forest road closure and simply hire a photographer to show up for a few hours.
You could, but eloping should be easy and fun, not stressful. I’m going to make this easy for you. I’ll be there from start to finish bringing your ideas to life, helping you with all of the planning steps. Not only that, but I’ll take the time to get to know you, and make sure we’re creating an elopement day experience that speaks to who you two really are.
You could do this without me.
Here’s something I probably shouldn’t say:
let's do it
The uniqueness of elopements comes down to them being about the experience and not just a ceremony. We will work together to come up with activities for your day that speak to the type of couple you are and the way you want celebrate together
I want this
Lodging is important for elopements, not only do we want them to be close to the elopement location, but they are often used for intimate receptions for couples including guests. I will help you find stunning lodging options.
Contact
Other photographers might recommend generic, crowded locations. Did you know 90% of Yosemite Park remains unexplored by guests? I will find you stunning locations that are unique to you and off the beaten path
What's Different about my elopement packages
Inquire here
Let's chat
You don’t need to have a location picked out to work with me—helping you find the perfect spot is part of the process! I provide detailed location options based on your preferences so you can focus on enjoying the experience without the stress of narrowing down a place on your own.
My unlimited guidance calls are here to make planning stress-free. Whether you have questions, need advice, or just want to brainstorm, I’m available to help every step of the way.
The uniqueness of elopements comes down to them being about the experience and not just a ceremony. We will work together to come up with activities for your day that speak to the type of couple you are and the way you want celebrate together
Lodging is important for elopements, not only do we want them to be close to the elopement location, but they are often used for intimate receptions for couples including guests. I will help you find stunning lodging options.
Hidden gem location scouting
Lodging research
Activity suggestions
Unlimited guidance calls
No Location Decision Needed
Where is the best place to elope in california?
Still have questions?
California is massive and diverse. One of the reasons I love California as an elopement destination is because it truly has something for everyone. Gorgeous Oasis lodging to glamping in the desert or an A-frame in the mountains. I will help you find exactly what you’re looking for, this state will not disappoint.
Do we need a permit to elope in california?
Most locations require a permit. Some don’t, and it will always depend on the final locations you decide. Most locations around $50-$250 for a permit.
How many photos are included?
I don’t have an image cap, and deliver all the images that are well composed, in focus, and tell your story. On average you receive around 100 images per hour. I also include day of polariod sneak peeks!
Best time of year to elope in california
California has pretty nice weather year round. Northern California gets much chillier, and it snows in the mountains. A lot of hikes and trails aren’t fully open until mid june to early july. The best time of year to have full access to trails and National Parks would be the end of june through the end of October!
How do we get a marriage license in california?
Marriage licenses are actually very easy too acquire. I will send you the application you need to fill out as well as the steps you need to take. You will pick it up in person. The waiting period is 3 days, but that can be waived so long as we call in advance!
How many guests can we have at our california elopement?
Elopements normally cap at around 25 people. Although, this doesn’t mean you can’t have an adventurous small wedding. I’ve worked with couples who have had up to 50 people included in their day and still avoided the stress of having a big traditional wedding!
How much does it cost to elope in california
Couples spend between $5,000 to $20,000 to elope in California. This includes lodging, permits, decor, vendors, food, flights, attire, and everything you need to have the experience you want. Your budget will be determined by how lavish or simple you’d like your day to be!
Still have questions?
I can answer any questions you might have over my complimentary phone consull! Just send an inquiry and let's chat.
count me in!
