Redwoods Elopement Photographer
ELOPING AMONG THE GIANTS
Redwoods elopement photography feels almost like memory. The way the light filters through ancient canopy, the hush as the redwood carpet softens the sound beneath your feet. Capturing your day in a cathedral built by time itself is a privilege.
As a redwoods elopement photographer, I’ve witnessed couples exchange vows here in ways that feel wholly their own. Just the intimacy of being truly seen, beneath trees that have stood long before us and will long after. This forest invites a kind of reverence that makes space for real connection.
Why Choose a Redwood Elopement?
Some places don’t ask for attention. They invite stillness. The redwoods do just that. For couples who crave something more intentional than traditional, these forests offer more than a backdrop. They offer meaning.
There is a sacredness in their scale. Trees older than the idea of a wedding itself. The simplicity of it all has a way of stripping away performance and leaving only what’s essential: you, your person, and the truth you’re choosing together.
Your photography should deepen your experience. My role isn’t to choreograph your day. It’s to witness it. To help you stay grounded while I do the noticing.
Best Redwood Ceremony Locations
The redwoods offer so many beautiful places to exchange vows. Each has its own feel. Some are quiet and tucked away. Others easy to find but still quiet.
Here are a few of the redwood forest elopement locations I recommend most often:
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
A winding creek, a wide range of trails, and the occasional traffic stopping elk herd. It’s a peaceful spot with a lot of variety for photos and quiet moments.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
The Avenue of the Giants has numerous groves available for elopement ceremonies. There are also larger campground groves if you want something more crowd appropriate.
Arcata Community Forest
Tucked just above town, this forest is accessible and easy to navigate while still feeling immersive. The trails here are perfect for low-key ceremonies with minimal hiking. Several inclines are a bit of a quad workout so come prepared with trail friendly footwear.
Sue-meg State Park
Technically not a redwoods location but couples may opt to say their vows on Wedding Rock and then travel to the nearby redwoods for wedding portraits.
All but one of these locations requires a ceremony permit, so be sure to plan in advance. Mid spring and early fall are usually the best times of year in the redwoods – quiet, cool but mild, and with less high season traffic.
Guest Capacity
Most redwood groves allow anywhere from 6 to twenty guests for ceremonies, depending on the exact spot and permit. Some areas are best for just the two of you. Others can comfortably hold a small group without feeling crowded or disruptive to the landscape.
What I’ve seen again and again is that fewer people often creates more space not just physically but emotionally. Minus the audience, you can soak up the in-between moments and stay connected to the energy of the day.
Whether you want to bring your closest friends and family or keep it completely private, we’ll find a setting that holds your ceremony with the care it deserves.
Redwoods Elopement Catering & Dinner Options
After your ceremony, many couples choose to host a dinner at a lodge or Airbnb with space to gather. It’s a relaxed way to celebrate without needing a formal venue. These properties often have kitchens, indoor-outdoor seating, and enough room for a small group to feel comfortable.
You can hire a local caterer or private chef to prepare a meal on-site. Some offer family-style service or multi-course dinners tailored to your preferences. It’s a great way to enjoy good food, spend time with your people, and keep things simple.
I’m happy to recommend some of Humboldt’s exceptional vendors who are at ease working in these settings and understand how to create a smooth, thoughtful experience.
FAQ: Redwoods Elopement Edition
“Kate, I don’t even know how to express to you how much these photos mean to us. You captured the laughter, the tears in our eyes. They are just all. so. damn. beautiful. You truly captured the heart of our wedding. “
KATEE & SKY, PAMPLIN GROVE REDWOODS WEDDING
All Elopement Collections INclude
• A place that feels sacred, not staged
Ancient trees hold the kind of quiet that softens everything. Where the air smells like loam and memory, surrounded by cathedral stillness and birdsong.
• An artist who sees you, not just the scene
Your connection, your story, your small glances that speak volumes.
• Photography that feels like time travel
Each image is more than a photo. It’s a sensory portal. You’ll remember how it felt to stand there with your person, mist in your hair or sun warming your collarbone.
• Support that keeps things simple
Help with permits, timelines, and location scouting. Soft structure without creating a schedule that steamrolls the magic.
• The option to be goofy, soulful, or both
Quote Neruda, Nic Cage or recite a grocery list with reverence. This is about who you are, not how weddings are.
• A calm and grounding presence
The calm you didn’t know you needed. Emotional awareness and intuition that helps you feel seen and supported from start to finish.
• A mix of digital and film photography
You’ll receive a curated gallery with a blend of formats. Film adds texture and a bit of magic that makes the story feel even more alive.
• Presence over performance
No need to rush. You’ll move through the forest, through your day, as yourselves. The rest follows.
Last Thoughts: True to Feeling
A redwoods elopement invites you to be present – to take in your surroundings and both the weight and beauty of what you’re choosing. It’s not about grand gestures. It’s about meaning. A quiet ritual that becomes a lasting memory, not just for you, but for whatever comes next.
Photographs from this day become part of your story. Something to look back on when you’re building a life, sharing with future generations, or remembering how it all began. This work is about more than images. It’s about creating something that holds.
Meet Kate
A redwoods elopement photographer, based in Arcata, California – where yes, I can literally see redwoods from my backyard. Living here for ten years means I don’t just work in these forests, they are part of my routine. I’ve run the steep trails with my pups and picnicked in out of the way meadows with visiting family, chased my toddler in pursuit of four leaf clovers. I know how the light shifts hour by hour, which trails get less traffic and what time of day we’re most likely to be alone. I’ve photographed in every kind of rain and double as an impromptu umbrella tree.
If you’re drawn to the idea of being fully present while your elopement unfolds on the redwood coast of Northern California, I’d love to photograph it for you.
“Kate is pure magic. Her skill as a photographer is only surpassed by her kindness and the joy that she is to be around.”