How to Get Married in the Redwoods
And bring your friends
You’ve already considered eloping in the redwoods. After further thought you realized that while you absolutely want to get married in the redwoods, you also want your family and friends by your side. Here’s how to make that happen.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
01 Redwoods Wedding Venues
There are several options for weddings in the redwoods with more than twenty guests. Now is the time to dial in your vision for the celebration. Do you want to camp in the woods all weekend with a side of forest glam? Pamplin Grove or Williams Grove are great places to start. Prefer rustic elegance with an elevated dining experience? There are several venues with stunning grounds, guest accommodations and an easy distance from towering redwood groves.
Redwoods Weekend
Festival Wedding Vibes
Pamplin Grove
This is an extremely popular location for summer weddings in Humboldt with a laid back vibe. The large campsite with proximity to the Van Duzen river makes it an ideal location for couples who want to immerse themselves in the outdoors for a truly laid back redwoods wedding experience. The grove is set well back from the road so receives very little traffic noise.
Williams Grove
Centrally located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park just off of the Avenue of the Giants and a short drive from from the Benbow Inn. The grove may be reserved for a few hours or an entire weekend. Williams Grove is closed from October through May.
Forest fancy
Redwoods Elegance
The Lost Whale Inn
Trinidad ocean front bed and breakfast a short drive from Redwood National Park. The Lost Whale also features a private trail to a secluded beach, perfect for a brief respite from wedding festivities if you are feeling adventurous.
The Benbow Inn
A historic inn tucked along the banks of the Eel River. The perpetually green lawn overlooks an old stone bridge and makes a serene backdrop for ceremonies, cocktail parties and lounging alike. The Inn features numerous rooms and a beautiful outdoor dining terrace to accommodate events intimate and large alike. Located not far from the Avenue of the Giants, this hotel is a great base for Southern Humboldt Redwood adventures.
Humboldt County
02 Dress Code for Guests
Forest formal is a popular redwoods wedding style starter. Mixing sensible footwear with elevated cocktail attire is a signature redwoods wedding look. Trust me when I say you don’t want your guests to twist an ankle but you also don’t want to look out on a sea of fleece and cargo shorts. Do remind your guests that it can get chilly in the forest, more so as the season wears on.
03 Redwoods Wedding Decor
If you are holding your ceremony in the redwoods grove itself, you may opt to let the trees do most of the decor work. However, keep in mind that the large picnic spaces that will function as a reception area are wholly undecorated and honestly a bit drab without a little consideration.
PRO-TIP: creative florals further amplify the beautiful Redwood forest setting.
04 How to Get to Humboldt
Flying
Fun fact: The Arcata-Eureka airport is actually located in McKinleyville. Less or more fun fact depending on whether or not your flight is on time: the ACV airport was built by the navy to test defogging systems and is often shrouded in fog.
Most flights connect through San Francisco. SFO is also notorious for delays and cancelled connections so aim for early (but not too early) flights and cushion your itinerary with the possibility of a layover.
Driving
San Francisco is roughly 6 hours north of Humboldt, exact drive times varying based on your particular destination. Many visitors opt to pick up a rental car at SFO and take a leisurely drive up the coast. A rental car will come in handy either way as the destinations you will want to visit require a vehicle to transport you from point A to B.
If you want
- photographs that are real and sentimental
- a cinematic approach to light and color
- seamless guidance
- to replace pageantry with ritual
- a wedding day that doesn’t feel like a performance