This is what a wedding looks like when you strip away everything that doesn't matter and keep everything that does.


Sara & Steve's day started at their Airbnb in Carmel-by-the-Sea with the whole family together — hair and makeup happening in one room, the bouquet being assembled by hand in another, everyone in and out, laughing, helping, hugging. These getting-ready hours are some of my favorite to document at intimate weddings: the nerves, the toasts, the quiet moments in between.


Then we walked down to Carmel Beach for the ceremony — just immediate family, white sand, cypress trees on the bluffs, and the Pacific as the officiant's backdrop. No aisle production, no seating chart. Vows, tears, and the kind of presence you simply can't have with 150 guests watching.


If you're planning an intimate wedding or elopement in Carmel, Big Sur, or anywhere on the California coast, this is exactly the kind of day I love to photograph — documentary, relaxed, and completely yours.

 

Elopements & Intimate Weddings
Two men in stylish attire having a conversation, one wearing a denim jacket with yellow collar detail.
People gathering in a cozy room, one person arranging a decorative rug on a sofa while others stand nearby.
An older man helps a young man adjust his tie before a wedding ceremony indoors.
Black and white photo of flowers, scissors, and stems scattered on a wooden floor.
Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with long hair and flowers, holding scissors near her head.
A sage smudge stick on a decorative ceramic dish with turquoise and silver rings on a wooden table.
Young woman with wet hair uses a curling iron to style an older womans long wavy brown hair in a tiled bathroom.
Three young men in matching blue shirts and yellow neckerchiefs sit together on a couch, one holding a drink.
Black and white photo of a man in white shirt and jeans arranging pillows on a couch indoors.
Colorful wedding flowers including pink chrysanthemums and white daisies arranged on a wooden table.
Elegant woman in white lace top holds a floral scarf while standing in a hallway with a mirror reflection behind her.
Close-up of hands pinning a dried floral boutonniere onto a dark tweed suit jacket.
Young woman in white top and floral skirt checking her outfit in a round mirror.
Couple sharing an intimate moment reflected in a decorative round mirror during wedding preparations.
Woman in white lace dress with long brown hair smiling softly, hands clasped, in elegant indoor setting.
Couple in bohemian wedding attire walking down stone steps outside a white cottage surrounded by lush greenery.
Couple walking hand-in-hand on a stone path through a desert garden, wearing wedding attire.
A bride and groom walk down coastal stairs toward a rocky shoreline, surrounded by lush greenery and ocean waves.
Couple embracing near driftwood stump on rocky Carmel Beach coastline with white sand and blue ocean waves.
Bride and groom embrace romantically on rocky coastal cliffs in black and white wedding photo.
Couple embraces while gazing at rocky ocean shoreline, woman in white dress and man in gray jacket, viewed from behind.
Couple standing on rocky beach, man in grey blazer and jeans, woman holding wildflower bouquet, ocean waves behind them.
Couple embracing on rocky coastal shore, bride in white dress holding pink bouquet, groom in jeans and gray blazer.
Romantic couple sharing an intimate moment, bride in white lace dress and groom in gray suit among rocky backdrop.
Couple embraces on rocky coastal shore, bride in white dress holding bouquet, groom kissing her cheek.
Black and white close-up of bride in lace wedding dress holding floral bouquet with groom embracing her.
Bride in lace wedding dress embraced by groom holding yellow bouquet on rocky beach setting.
Couple sharing a romantic kiss under a colorful patterned blanket, bride wearing floral hair accessories.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom adjusting their wedding attire on a rocky beach.
Man in gray jacket tenderly embraces woman in white wedding dress against dramatic rocky boulder background outdoors.
Brown leather cowboy boots with silver buckle detail worn with white lace dress, standing in green succulent garden.
Couple sits together on a green hillside with purple flowers, woman in white dress leaning back against man in plaid shirt.
Bride surrounded by family members smiling and kissing her cheeks outdoors, holding colorful wildflower bouquet.
Bride receives kisses on cheeks from two loved ones while holding wildflower bouquet outdoors.
Bride holding colorful bouquet walks hand in hand toward wedding guests gathered on a rocky beach setting.
Black and white photo of a couple holding hands during an outdoor wedding ceremony by rocky coastal cliffs.
Small intimate wedding ceremony taking place on a rocky coastal shoreline with ocean waves in the background.
Mature couple exchanging vows in white dress and gray suit at a scenic beach wedding ceremony.
Bride tossing bouquet among rocky coastal shoreline with wedding guests watching in background.
Close-up portrait of two women with brown hair smiling warmly cheek to cheek outdoors.
Woman in tie-dye wrap hugging herself while gazing upward on a scenic coastal hillside.
Couple embracing on a sandy beach with rocky coastline and overcast sky in the background.
Couple holding hands and smiling at each other on a rocky beach with ocean waves behind.
Close-up of couple sitting on sand with wildflower bouquet, wearing boots and casual wedding attire at beach.
Couple sitting together outdoors near a tree, embracing and gazing into the distance peacefully.
Couple holding hands walking along a sandy beach with ocean waves, wearing white dress and jeans.
Bride in white flowing dress and groom walking barefoot along shoreline with ocean waves washing over feet.
Couple walking hand-in-hand toward ocean waves on a cloudy beach, woman in white dress.
Newlywed couple running barefoot along sandy beach shoreline at dusk in white wedding attire.