It’s hard not to fall in love with Santa Cruz. Here, you can find a laidback coastal vibe, witness breathtaking sunsets or sunrises on a cliffside, explore old-growth redwood forests and beaches, and so much more. A Santa Cruz elopement promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
I had the chance to photograph Alison and Taylor’s fantasy elopement in Santa Cruz. Together, we ventured to a couple of different beautiful spots throughout Santa Cruz to explore, take photos, and admire all that this city has to offer.
Let’s dive into my top recommended spots for your Santa Cruz elopement and take a behind-the-lens look at Alison and Taylor’s magical Santa Cruz elopement!
Top Elopement Spots in Santa Cruz
There are so many great locations around the area where you can plan your dream elopement – here are some of my favorites for you to check out:
Natural Bridge State Beach
Natural Bridge State Beach has a gorgeous beach, a grove, and a large coastal area of coastal scrub and grasslands. They also have first-come, first-serve picnic tables if you want to plan a picnic before or after your elopement with your partner or guests. Fun fact – for nontraditional couples, you (and any guests) can go tide pooling if the tide is low enough.
Henry Cowell State Park
Henry Cowell State Park is a redwood forest with old-growth redwood trees. Inside the park, you’ll find babbling brooks, ferns, and large red tree trunks with the scent of pine and moss lingering in the air.
If you want a forest backdrop for your celebration or for it to feel like a woodland fairytale, this might be the elopement location you’ve been searching for. If you do want to elope here you will need to get a permit, which you can learn more about here. Inside the park, there is a designated, reservable spot for your ceremony.
Also, if you want a more traditional wedding venue, and want to invite more than a few guests, be sure to check out Roaring Camp. You’ll take a steam train and cross a covered bridge to get to this unique location and you’ll find it nestled within the valley of the Redwood Forest in the Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains.
Capitola Beach
Capitola Beach has colorful rainbow houses, a wharf, palm trees, bright florals, and a panoramic beach scene. Also, if you want more privacy for your ceremony you can head over to Hooper Beach – it’s the same beach but you’ll find it on the other side of the wharf. You and your partner can even stay inside one of the colorful houses on the beach! If that sounds like something you want to do you’ll want to look into Capitola Suites to book your stay.
Kennolyn Events in Soquel
Kennolyn Events in Soquel is a summer camp where you can plan your non-traditional wedding. You have two experiences you can choose from either the Weekend Wedding Retreat or the Hacienda Wedding Day. You and your guests can stay in cozy cabins and enjoy acres of outdoor activities including a swimming pool, ropes course and, trapeze. This is a great spot if you want to do something memorable and unique for your celebration.
Waterfall Lodge
Waterfall Lodge is a beautiful venue in Ben Lomond in the Santa Cruz mountains that blends classic old-world charm and new-world amenities. You and your guests can stay in cabins, relax amongst the redwoods, explore the lush forest, and so much more. They also have different ceremony spots you can choose from including The Redwood Cathedral which is a clearing surrounded by the redwoods or The Mother Tree at High Meadow Camp.
Airbnbs
If you want something that is totally private for your ceremony, booking an Airbnb can be the perfect option. Obviously, you want to be upfront with your host and let them know what you are planning on doing (and if you are going to have anyone else come to your elopement).
But, there are so many cool Airbnbs in the area, whether you book one right on the water, in the mountains, or one that has a unique aesthetic. You really get the best of everything and you don’t have to worry about forgetting something or having to carry a whole bunch of things around all day!
Lesbian Fantasy Elopement in Santa Cruz
I met Alison and Taylor when they were guests at one of my 2023 weddings, which was Taylor Swift-themed. If you’re curious, check out what a Taylor Swift-themed wedding looks like here.
Fun fact: Alison and Taylor both met during the COVID lockdown, so their first date was on Animal Crossing! They knew they wanted to get married before the inauguration, so they came all the way from DC to Santa Cruz.
Alison and Taylor’s day was full of emotional and intimate moments, from their first touch to their vow exchange. One part of their day that I thought was incredibly romantic was that they decided to have a first touch and first look.
Many couples usually choose to do either a first look or a first touch, but Alison and Taylor decided to do both! After they saw each other in their fantasy-inspired outfits for the first time, they had a handfasting ceremony at an Airbnb in the Santa Cruz mountains. Then, they decided to do a “first joint” instead of a first dance.
Once their ceremony was over, we went to the eucalyptus grove at Natural Bridges State Beach and finished the afternoon on West Cliff Drive with cinematic photos and a perfect sunset.
Alison and Taylor’s elopement truly felt like you had stepped into an enchanting fairy tale – from their beautiful, flowy floor-length gowns to the woods surrounding their Airbnb, to their cliffside sunset photos. Everything about their day was magical and I’m grateful I got to be a part of it.
Ready to Plan Your Elopement in Santa Cruz?
I hope you found this guide helpful and that you’re excited about the possibility of planning your elopement in Santa Cruz.
One of my top reasons to choose Santa Cruz is that there are endless ways to celebrate your elopement here. This could look like spending your elopement in the redwoods, spending time next to the ocean and having a beach bonfire, exploring a beach cove, or something different that aligns with you and your partner’s elopement vision.
And If you’d like to work with a queer elopement and wedding photographer like me, let’s talk! I’d love to bring your vision to life and celebrate your love story. Most weddings I photograph are in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I’m happy to come wherever you are!
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