Eloping used to mean sneaking off and getting married at a courthouse without telling anyone. That's not what most couples who contact me are looking for. What they want is something different — a wedding day that's entirely about the two of them. No obligation seating charts, no compromises with parents who want 200 guests, no catering minimums. Just the two of them, a location that means something, a photographer, and possibly an officiant.
That's an elopement in the modern sense, and Northern California is one of the best places in the country to do it. Here's everything I know about making it happen beautifully.
Why Northern California Is an Extraordinary Elopement Destination
Most couples who think "California elopement" go straight to Big Sur or Yosemite. Both are beautiful. Both are also crowded, increasingly permit-restricted, and challenging to access without months of advance planning. Northern California offers something those destinations have largely lost: genuine solitude in spectacular landscapes.
Within two hours of Redding, you can be standing in front of a 14,000-foot volcano, at the edge of an alpine lake with no other humans in sight, in a lava field that looks like another planet, beside a waterfall in a moss-covered canyon, or on an open ridge at sunset with 100 miles of valley below you. And in most of these places, on most days, you will be completely alone.
The best elopement images I've ever made weren't in Big Sur. They were on a lava field at 7,000 feet with no one else for miles, in light that turned everything gold.
Choosing Your Location
The location sets the emotional tone for everything. Here's how I help couples think through it:
What do you want to feel? Epic and vast — mountains and open sky. Intimate and lush — river canyons and forest. Wild and remote — volcanic landscapes and alpine terrain. Peaceful and serene — lakeside at sunset. Once you know the feeling, the location follows.
What time of year are you planning? This matters enormously. Mount Shasta locations above 6,000 feet are snowed in from November through May. The Trinity Alps are accessible in summer but can get early-season snow in October. Whiskeytown is accessible year-round. McCloud is beautiful in fall. Your season affects your location options significantly.
How much adventure are you up for? Some of the most spectacular locations require a hike. Castle Lake is a 30-minute drive up a mountain road. Some spots above Bunny Flat require a 45-minute hike. I'm always up for it — but it's worth knowing what you're signing up for, especially in a wedding dress.
The summit of Mount Shasta rising above the clouds — this is what's possible when you choose Northern California for your elopement.
How to Structure an Elopement Day
Most elopements I photograph run 4–8 hours, and the structure is more flexible than a traditional wedding. Here's a framework I use:
Getting Ready (Optional, 1–2 hrs)
Some couples want this documented — the quiet morning, the details, the anticipation. Others prefer to start at the location already dressed. Both are valid. If you want getting-ready coverage, book a local Airbnb or hotel room that has good natural light.
Travel to Location (Variable)
We build travel time into the timeline. If your ceremony location is 60 miles away, we leave with enough buffer. I scout locations in advance so there are no surprises on the day.
Ceremony (20–45 min)
This is the heart of it. If you need an officiant, we have you covered — I'm ordained, and through our Photo + Officiant bundle my partner Jess crafts a fully custom, hand-written ceremony built around your story. We choose a spot within the location that has the best natural backdrop and position you relative to the light.
Portrait Session (1.5–3 hrs)
After the ceremony, we explore. We move through the location — closer to the water, up a ridge, into the trees, back out to open sky. The best elopement portraits happen when there's time to wander.
Golden Hour (30–45 min)
If the timing works, we end at sunset. The last light of the day on your faces, the mountain or lake or forest behind you. This is the window that produces images you'll look at for the rest of your life.
Celebration Dinner (Optional)
Many couples book a dinner reservation in Mount Shasta city, Redding, or even a private picnic at the location itself. Champagne in a meadow at dusk is genuinely one of my favorite ways to end an elopement day.
Permits and Legal Requirements
Getting legally married in California is simple: a marriage license from any California county clerk's office (valid for 90 days), an ordained officiant, and two witnesses. I'm ordained, and if you need a second witness, I can arrange that too.
Location permits vary:
- National Forests (Shasta-Trinity, Lassen): small ceremonies of 12 or fewer people generally don't require special permits. Larger groups do.
- National Parks (Lassen Volcanic): wedding permits required, applied for in advance. A worthwhile process for the access it provides.
- State Parks: permit required from California State Parks. Fees are reasonable and the process is manageable.
- Private land or ranch venues: no permit needed, but you need the property owner's permission.
I help navigate this for every elopement I book. You won't be doing it alone.
What to Budget For
An elopement is almost always significantly less expensive than a traditional wedding — but it's not free. The main costs beyond photography are typically: a marriage license (~$100), travel to location (gas or short flights), accommodations if you're making a trip of it, florals if you want them (a single bridal bouquet from a local florist is usually $100–200), and dinner.
On the photography side, my elopement packages start at a lower rate than full wedding coverage and can be structured around however many hours you need. Check the pricing page for current packages, or reach out and we'll build something that fits what you're planning.
What I Tell Every Couple Before They Elope
Write your own vows. Even if they're short — even if it's just a few lines. The ceremony is the moment everything else is built around. Handwritten vows make it real in a way that borrowed words don't. I've never photographed a couple who regretted doing this.
Don't over-plan the day. Leave room for the unexpected — a herd of deer crossing the path, a cloud formation that turns the sky pink, a moment sitting by the water where nobody's saying anything and everything is exactly right. Some of my favorite elopement images have come from unscripted pauses.
Tell at least a few people. You don't have to invite anyone, but telling the people closest to you that this is happening — even after the fact — usually lands better than complete secrecy. Most parents, once they see the photos, understand.
Northern California is ready whenever you are. Let's start planning.