A Two-Day California Elopement: Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo + Big Sur Adventure Shoot
Some elopements stay with you long after the last photo is delivered. This was one of them. Two days, two wildly different backdrops, three wedding dresses, and one couple who threw out every rule in the wedding planning book and did exactly what felt right for them. This is the story of a two-day California elopement that started at the iconic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo and ended under the stars in Big Sur, and it is proof that your wedding day can look however you want it to!
Why This Couple Chose to Elope
There were no 200-person guest lists. No banquet hall timelines. No decisions made for the sake of tradition. Just two people who knew what they wanted and went for it. They flew in from Texas specifically for this two-day adventure, and from the moment we started planning, it was clear this elopement was going to be something special. They wanted romance, they wanted adventure, they wanted vintage, and they wanted it to be entirely and unapologetically theirs.
If you have ever thought about eloping but weren't sure if it could feel as meaningful as a big wedding, I want you to read every word of this blog. Because this day, these two days, were some of the most beautiful, intentional, and joyful moments I have ever had the privilege of photographing.
Day One: The Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo
What Is the Madonna Inn and Why Is It the Perfect Elopement Venue?
If you have never been to the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, let me paint you a picture. It is one of the most iconic, eccentric, and absolutely unforgettable hotels in all of California. Every room is different. There are pink walls, kitschy details around every corner, flower arrangements that go floor to ceiling, cupids hanging from the ceilings, and a dining room so colorful and over the top that it feels like stepping into a dream. It is the kind of place where a traditional wedding would feel completely out of place, and where an elopement feels perfectly at home.
For a couple who wanted their day to reflect who they actually are, the Madonna Inn was the obvious choice.
Getting Ready Together in the Hearts and Flowers Room
The Madonna Inn has over 100 rooms, and every single one is different. This couple stayed in the Hearts and Flowers room, and if that name doesn't already tell you everything you need to know, let me help. Think deep red walls covered in a vintage floral wallpaper print. A plush, ornate bed dressed in rich fabrics. Roses and hearts worked into every detail of the decor, from the lampshades to the fixtures to the furniture. It is bold, it is romantic, it is completely over the top in the best possible way. It felt less like a hotel room and more like a set designer had been given an ridiculous budget and told to make something unforgettable.
We started the morning in there, just the two of them getting ready together, laughing, taking their time, no rush, no wedding coordinator with a clipboard telling them where to be. The bride had thrifted every single outfit she brought for the trip, and she had brought multiple looks. Each one was more perfectly her than the last, vintage in every sense of the word, curated with a real eye for style and personality. There is something so magnetic about a bride who knows exactly who she is and dresses like it. Every single photo from that room had a warmth and an intimacy that you just cannot manufacture.
Wandering the Grounds and Vows in the Garden
After getting ready, we wandered out to explore the grounds. And the Madonna Inn grounds do not disappoint. There is so much to discover, winding paths, lush landscaping, whimsical details tucked into every corner. It is the kind of place where you just keep finding new things to look at.
They said their vows in the garden, just the two of them, surrounded by greenery and flowers and the kind of quiet that only comes when you have stripped your wedding day down to exactly what matters. No officiant. No guests watching from folding chairs. No pressure to perform. Just two people looking at each other and meaning every single word. It was one of the most genuine vow exchanges I have ever been lucky enough to witness, and the photos from that moment are some of my absolute favorites from the entire two days.
Dinner at the Madonna Inn
After the vows, we headed to dinner at the Madonna Inn's restaurant, and if you have never eaten there — put it on your list immediately. The dining room is an experience unto itself. Flowers absolutely everywhere. Ceiling-high arrangements in shades of pink and red. Cupids hanging above you. The whole room is warm and glowing and maximalist in a way that feels joyful rather than overwhelming. It is exactly the kind of place that makes you forget the rest of the world exists.
They ordered the famous champagne cake — the Madonna Inn's most iconic dessert, and for good reason. If you have never had it, I will not spoil it. Just order it. They sat together over a long, unhurried dinner, toasting to being married, talking and laughing and just existing in their moment. No reception timeline. No first dances on a schedule. Just a really great dinner with the person you just married.
Ending the Night Back at the Room
After dinner, we made our way back to the Hearts and Flowers room to wind down together. Low light, that gorgeous red wallpaper, the two of them just hanging out — it was cozy and intimate and the perfect way to close out day one. Some of my favorite images from the entire trip came from those quiet moments at the end of the night. Nothing staged, nothing performed. Just two people who had just gotten married, relaxed and happy and completely at ease with each other.
It is the kind of thing you do not get at a traditional wedding reception, where the night ends in a blur of goodbyes and a rush to the getaway car. This ended slowly and sweetly, on their own terms. Exactly the way it should.
Day Two: Big Sur Adventure Elopement
The Drive Up and What to Expect
The next morning, we packed up and headed north toward Big Sur. If you have never driven Highway 1 with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Santa Lucia mountains on the other, put it on your list immediately. It is one of the most dramatic and beautiful drives in the world, and it just keeps getting better the further north you go.
Big Sur is one of my most-photographed locations, and I have created a full planning guide that I send to all my clients who want to shoot here. It covers the best locations, vendor recommendations, timeline examples, packing lists, and more. I know this stretch of coastline well, and I love every second of being out there with my couples.
The Red Dress on the Cliffs
For the Big Sur adventure day, the bride wore a bright red lace dress that she had thrifted, paired with a long red veil to match. I want you to picture that for a moment, a red dress and flowing red veil against the wild, dramatic cliffs of Big Sur, with the Pacific stretching out behind them. It was breathtaking. The color popped against the landscape in a way that felt bold and romantic and completely unforgettable.
This is exactly why I love encouraging couples to wear whatever actually excites them. If a white dress doesn't feel like you, don't wear a white dress. The best wedding outfit is the one that makes you feel like yourself, and this bride knew exactly who she was.
The Cliffside Picnic
They brought a picnic with them, including the famous champagne cake from the Madonna Inn, because of course they did. They set up on the cliffside and just enjoyed being together, watching the ocean, taking it all in. It was one of those slow, unhurried moments that only happen when you build a day around what you actually want rather than what you feel like you're supposed to do.
Sunset on the Cliffs
The golden hour in Big Sur is unlike anywhere else. The light comes in over the mountains and the water and turns everything warm and glowing and perfect. We spent the last hours of daylight wandering the cliffs, laughing, holding hands, exploring. The kind of afternoon that feels longer than it actually is because you are so present in it.
Staying for the Stars
Here is the part I get excited about every single time: we stayed after the sun went down.
I always encourage my couples to add a night photography session if they can, and this is exactly why. Most people pack up at golden hour. But if you are willing to stay a little longer, something magical happens. The sky goes deep blue, the stars start to appear, and the whole world gets quiet. That night in Big Sur, the stars came out in force. The Milky Way was stunning. The photos were some of my absolute favorites I have ever taken in my career.
Star photos in Big Sur are not always guaranteed, sometimes there are clouds, sometimes there is marine layer. But even on those nights we can create something beautiful using lanterns and the ambient light of the coastline. And on the nights when the stars do show up the way they did here? There are no words for it.
What This Elopement Taught Me (And What It Can Teach You)
Your Day Can Be More Than One Day
This is the thing I want every couple to hear: your wedding does not have to happen in a single afternoon. If you dream of getting married at a particular venue but you also dream of adventure photos somewhere epic, you can do both. Add a second day. Drive somewhere beautiful. Make it a trip. You will come home with two completely different galleries that tell the full story of who you are as a couple, and you will have memories from both days that you will talk about for the rest of your life.
You Can Wear Whatever You Want
A white dress is a beautiful choice, but it is one choice. If it does not feel like you, do not wear it. Wear the thrifted red lace. Wear the vintage find you have been obsessing over. Wear multiple outfits if you want to. Your wedding day is the one day where you have absolute permission to lean all the way into your own style, and the photos will be better for it because they will look like you.
Your Guest List Is Yours
Your elopement can be just the two of you. It can be two of you and your dog. It can be you, your partner, and your four closest friends. It can be a micro wedding with immediate family only. There is no rule. The size of your celebration does not determine its meaning. This couple had no guests at all, and their day was one of the most meaningful and joyful I have ever witnessed.
Elopements Are Not Smaller Weddings
They are a completely different kind of celebration. One that is built entirely around what you actually want instead of what tradition says you should do. One that gives you time to be present instead of running from table to table. One that lets you wake up the next morning and think: that day felt exactly like us.
Ready to Plan Your Own California Elopement?
I would love to help you create something like this. Whether you are dreaming of the Madonna Inn, Big Sur, Yosemite, the California coast, or somewhere entirely different, I am here to help you plan a day (or two days, or three) that feels completely and unapologetically yours.
I work with couples who want to elope in California and beyond, and I bring the same care, creativity, and planning support to every single session. If you are ready to start dreaming, head to the contact page and let's chat! Reach out here to get started!
📍 Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California 📍 Big Sur, California
Want to Check Out Some Other Elopements I’ve Shot?
Here are a few other incredible elopements I’ve been blessed enough to document! Check them out for some inspiration for your own big day (or days!)