Table of Contents:
- Where is Big Sur?
- 8 Best Big Sur Elopement Locations
- Where to Stay in Big Sur for Your Elopement
- Big Sur Wedding & Elopement Permits
- Where to Stay in Big Sur
- 5 Fun Big Sur Elopement Ideas
- Big Sur Elopement Photographer
- Big Sur Elopement Packages + Pricing
- More PNW Elopement Resources
Today we’re doing some California dreaminnnn’ and talking all about eloping in BIG SUR, one of my all-time fav elopement locations. Big Sur has it all: sunshine, gorg coastline views, rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, bright blue waters, hikes galore. . . it’s seriously one of the best elopement locations on the west coast for adventurous lovers. So let’s dive into this complete guide to how to plan your Big Sur elopement: the best Big Sur elopement locations, what permits you’ll need, where to stay, and more!!
Where is Big Sur?
First off, where even is Big Sur?? If you’re not familiar with this amazing destination, Big Sur is a section of Cali’s Central Coast that stretches between Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon. It’s best known for its scenic driving route along Highway 1, where you’ll get to enjoy phenomenal views of the coast, and for its super diverse landscapes all the way from redwood groves to sandy beaches. There are TONS of opportunities for outdoor adventure in the Big Sur area, whether you like to hike, bike, swim, take sunset walks on the beach, stare up at massive redwood trees, or camp under the stars. It’s definitely one of the best elopement locations in California simply because there are SO many ways you can customize your Big Sur elopement experience and make it your own!!
8 Best Big Sur Elopement Locations
What are the best places to elope in Big Sur?
Below is a list of my fav Big Sur elopement locations, including all the ‘tails you need to know about getting the right permits, how much it costs to park, and the best hikes in each area!
1. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns is one of of the California state parks that stretchces along the gorg Big Sur coastline, about 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. If you’ve ever seen photos of the beautiful McWay Falls, this is the park where it’s located! This is a great elopement location if you want vibrant blue waters & beaches to explore, massive redwoods, and stunning cliffside scenery.
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit
Permit details:
- Maximum group size: 10
- You may apply for your elopement permit up to 6 months in advance
- Additional fees may apply if you apply within 45 days of your desired date
- Applications within 21 days of your desired date won’t be considered
- Receptions/catered events not allowed
- No seating available
- No exclusive access sites available
Best hikes:
- Overlook Trail to McWay Falls (easy)
- Ewoldsen Trail (moderate)
- Tanbark Trail and Tin House (hard)
2. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (a totally different park than Julia Pfeiffer Burns) sits on the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains and is sometimes called a “mini Yosemite” because of its amazing redwood groves, river banks, hikes, and views of the Big Sur River Gorge. It’s easy to access from Highway 1, and is super close to Pfeiffer Beach (which is where the Keyhole Arch is that I’ll talk about later)!!
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit
Permit details:
- Maximum group size: 10
- You may apply for your elopement permit up to 6 months in advance
- Additional fees may apply if you apply within 45 days of your desired date
- Applications within 21 days of your desired date won’t be considered
- Exclusive access event sites are available
Best hikes:
- Pfeiffer Falls Trail (easy)
- Buzzards Roost Trail (moderate)
- Valley View Overlook (moderate)
- Manuel Peak Trail (hard)
3. Garrapata State Park
Garrapata State Park is the one to choose if you want a little more of an underrated location that usually has fewer visitors than the two previous state parks. It’s a bit more hidden, with two miles of beachfront, tons of coastal hiking opportunities, and amazing views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The park is located at the northern end of Big Sur in Carmel and the rugged cliffs are to die for!
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit – contact BigSurEvents@parks.ca.gov for info
Best hikes:
- Garrapata Bluff Trail (easy)
- South Plateau-Mound Meadow Loop Trail (easy)
- Doud Peak via Soberanes Canyon Trail (hard)
4. Andrew Molera State Park
The fourth state park in the Big Sur area is Andrew Molera, the least developed of the parks with some really great spots for hiking & walking along the beach, as well as a hike-in campground. This park covers nearly 5,000 acres of land and is an amazing elopement location if you want gorgeous views that are a bit more well-preserved!
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit
Permit details:
- Maximum group size: 10
- You may apply for your elopement permit up to 6 months in advance
- Additional fees may apply if you apply within 45 days of your desired date
- Applications within 21 days of your desired date won’t be considered
- Receptions/catered events not allowed
- No seating available
- No exclusive access sites available
Best hikes:
- Creamery Meadows Trail (easy)
- Bluffs and Panorama Trail via Creamery Meadow (moderate)
- East Molera Trail to Post Summit (hard)
5. Limekiln State Park
Limekiln State Park is a smaller park that still has plenty to offer – redwoods, a beach, and a waterfall!! It’s located about 2 miles south of Lucia and has multiple historic sites to explore, various hiking & biking opportunities, and is usually a pretty peaceful place to experience the beautiful scenery of Big Sur.
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit – contact BigSurEvents@parks.ca.gov for info
Best hikes:
- Hare Creek and Limekiln Trails (easy)
- Limekiln Creek Falls Trail (moderate)
- Twin Peak (hard)
6. Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach
Keyhole Arch is an iconic rock formation just off Pfeiffer Beach (AKA “Purple Sand Beach”) that offers gorgeous scenery at any time of year, but is most known for the magical light it casts at sunset during a few weeks in the winter! Pfeiffer Beach confusingly isn’t a part of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park or Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – it’s actually managed by the Los Padres National Forest. So you’ll need to follow the rules & regulations outlined on the national forest’s website when it comes to permits and special events. You only need a permit to get married in this national forest unless you have a group of 75 or more people, so you won’t need to worry about applying for any sort of special use permit!
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: No permit required for groups of under 75 people
7. Soberanes Point
Soberanes Point is technically a part of Garrapata State Park but I thought it deserved its own section. So you’ll just follow the same requirements mentioned in the Garrapata State Park section above! It’s a 2-mile loop hike that takes you along amazing views of the coast near Carmel-by-the-Sea, and is most known for its GORGEOUS wildflowers that bloom in the spring!!
Entrance fee: $10/car/day
Elopement permit: Special Event Permit – contact BigSurEvents@parks.ca.gov for info
8. Bixby Creek Bridge
Last but not least, Bixby Creek Bridge is a great spot to stop for some elopement portraits, as it’s a very aesthetic & highly photographed bridge in the mountains of Big Sur. It’s def worth a stop along Highway 1 and is super easy to stop at on your drive!
Entrance fee: None
BONUS: Random pull offs
And if you’re STILL looking for more location options, there are soooo many pull offs along Highway 1 that you can spontaneously stop at if you like the views! Seriously, the views are amazing everywhere you look, so you don’t even need to stop at an official park or viewpoint for gorgeous elopement portraits – just find somewhere where it’s safe to pull over. I recommend including some extra time in your elopement timeline & your trip itinerary in case you decide to make a few stops!!
When to Elope in Big Sur
When is the best time to elope in Big Sur?
Generally speaking the best time to elope in Big Sur is from late spring to early fall, from around April-October! This is when you’ll have beautifullll weather, amazing colors along the coast (whether you want the bright foliage of spring or the amazing shades of fall), and during the summer you’ll obviously have the most light + the longest days. Keep in mind, though, that because this is the best overall time to visit, there will be many other people visiting, and the popular spots can get pretty crowded at certain times of day.
If you elope in Big Sur during the summer, I recommend finding random pulloffs for your photos, or picking less popular spots so that you can avoid crowds as much as you can. And if you’re able to elope on a weekday instead of a weekend, that will help you avoid a lot of the tourists too!
If you want to elope in Big Sur at a time where you’ll get great weather and slightly fewer crowds, I would elope between September-November ish. The evenings will be a bit cooler and the days will become shorter, but most tourists won’t be visiting during these months since there aren’t any major holidays that people have off of work. You’ll get the gorgeous fall colors and will still hopefully get gorgeous sunsets and sunny days!
Make sure to also pay attention to extreme weather conditions at the locations you’re considering for your elopement, such as wildfires – unfortunately California gets a lot of wildfires in the summer that often close off certain roads, trails, and sections of parks. So it’s important to monitor the conditions and watch for any closures at your elopement location in the weeks leading up to your trip, and to make multiple backup plans!
Big Sur Wedding & Elopement Permits
What permits do you need to elope in Big Sur?
This depends on the exact location where you’re having your Big Sur elopement ceremony. If you have your elopement ceremony at a state park in Big Sur, you’ll need to get a California State Park Special Event Permit & follow the rules of the specific park. Usually you won’t be able to have more than 10 people attending and you’ll need to apply for your permit between 45 days & 6 months of your desired elopement date. Below are the links to permit info for each of the state parks in the Big Sur area!
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Wedding & Elopement Permits
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Wedding & Elopement Permits
- Andrew Molera State Park Wedding & Elopement Permits
For info about wedding & elopement permits for Garrapata and Limekiln State Parks, you can contact the wedding special event coordinator at BigSurEvents@parks.ca.gov.
Remember, you’ll also need to pay the entrance fee for the elopement location you choose – the entrance fee for California state parks is usually $10 per car per day, and for any other locations, you can typically find fee info wherever you park your car.
Where to Stay in Big Sur for Your Elopement
Big Sur is well-known for its AMAZING landscapes & scenery, so you bet there are tons of places to stay where you can wake up to these incredible views. Whether you want to stay in a rustic yurt or a spacious home, a luxury resort or an upscale treehouse, a glamping campground or a traditional tent campground, there are sooo many options for everyone! I def recommend staying with or near your guests if you’re having any, because it’s so fun to be able to spend that quality time with your friends if you’re all at the same Airbnb, resort, or campground.
Here are the best Airbnbs, hotels, resorts, lodges, & campgrounds to stay at for your Big Sur elopement!
Airbnb’s
- Guesthouse in Carmel Valley
- Home in Big Sur
- Home in Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Yurt in Big Sur
- Carmel Oceanview Charmer
- Big Sur Stone House
Hotels, Lodges, & Resorts
Campgrounds
- Big Sur Campground & Cabins
- Fernwood Campground & Resort
- Treebones Resort
- Kirk Creek Campground
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground
5 Fun Big Sur Elopement Ideas
I highly recommend spending as much time as you can in the Big Sur area and having a few extra days to explore, because there is SO dang much to see. Trust me, you won’t want to just leave immediately after your ceremony!!
Here are 5 fun ideas that you could incorporate into your Big Sur elopement, or that you could add to your travel itinerary for the days before/after your elopement.
1. Take a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) and stop at all the pretty pull offs
2. Check out the redwoods from the Redwood Deck at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
3. Hike to Jade Cove
4. Explore the short Bird Island Trail in Point Lobos State Reserve
5. Walk through the adorable coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea
Big Sur Elopement Photographer
That’s me!! Let’s start planning your dream Big Sur elopement and I’ll let you in on all my best tips that I’ve gathered from past Big Sur elopements I’ve photographed. Contact me here when you’re ready to do this thang 😉
Big Sur Elopement Packages + Pricing
Wanna talk money, honey?? Let’s do it – you can check out my Big Sur elopement packages on my website here!!
Wow! This is incredible! Will definitely be using this guide the next time I head to Big Sur!!!
What a great guide!
My friends got their wedding photos done by you and they came out beautifully!! Loved every single one of them!
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