BIG SUR ELOPEMENT on 35mm FILM

Not only is Big Sur a beautiful place to elope, it also looks fantastic on 35mm film. Big Sur has long been one of my favourite parts of California. The rugged coastline, sea mist and my goodness the smell all combine to make this place magical.

Like many couples, Reanna & Ethan had different wedding plans. An elopement in Big Sur was far from plan A! This turned out to be a day perfect for them in every way. Flying over from the east coast, they’d done a reverse honeymoon. After a road trip down from Seattle, it was time to get married.

We met the day before the autumn equinox, on a foggy afternoon in Garrapata State Park. After practicing the handfasting, I married them in a short and sweet ceremony. It was so cute each time passing hikers stopped to congratulate them.

As soon as they married, the shoes came off and the wild came out. That afternoon we spent a happy few hours exploring Big Sur. We ran to the top of a viewpoint overlooking the whole coast. We climbed stairs, and rocks. Then I took them to my favourite beach. Of course we made sure to follow the principals of Leave No Trace. You can read more about that here.

THE INSPIRATION

Don’t my couple look like a surf advert from the 1950s? I was aiming for Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game video. Despite the freezing cold water, what they created far surpassed anything I’d hoped for. It was such a blast running through the waves and playing in the sand. I’m sure you can see this Big Sur elopement was perfect for the 35mm film.

If you’re thinking of eloping in Big Sur, do it! It’s close to Carmel and Monterey, and you can explore the beauty all the way south towards Santa Barbara. For a perfect elopement, I’d look into the following places:

Post Ranch Inn
Glen Oak Big Sur
Ventana Big Sur

Film stock:
Most of the colour images shot on Kodak Portra 160 and Portra 400.
All black and white images Ilford HP5.

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