Sami + Mike | Carmel, CA Elopement
From Canada to Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Last November, I had just gotten home from South Dakota after going out of state for quite a few weddings in a row. I came home and said to myself, “Phew, time for a break.” Now don’t get me wrong, I love being an elopement photographer. But sometimes life is tiring!
Anyways, the next day, I get a call from this glorious couple - “Can you be in California in 10 days?”
“Yup, sure can!”
Sami and Mike actually met on the border of Canada and the US while they were out during their free time enjoying the local night life.
Sami fell in love with Mike for his kind-hearted-ness (which I can confirm; such a sweet couple) and they ended up getting married about a year later.
And that’s where we come in!
They got ready in different suites (see the epic floor to ceiling window where we hung the dress below), we took off to do portraits at the beach, and then they had a sweet balcony ceremony with the beautiful sunset.
So why elope?
Sami + Mike are the sweetest blessing of late last Fall. With little notice, they set up their elopement at the Hyatt in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, got everything planned out, flew in everyone from out of state (and country), and we were all there to celebrate them.
I think one thing that a lot of couples mistake is that when you elope, you don’t have to leave family and friends behind. You’re supposed to celebrate with the ones closest to you, and that’s exactly what this couple did. It doesn’t matter if that’s just you and your hubby, or if that’s you and 20 other people. Part of our job as elopement photographers is making sure you enjoy your day and have help where you need it.
Eloping is about YOU BOTH and you want to make sure you look back on your day and remember the time you spent together doing whatever you wanted to do that day, not what everyone else wanted to do that day, or spending time feeling the need to thank every single guest of 300 people for coming.
Weddings are about YOU - so if you want a large wedding, do it! If you want a tiny one, do it! Or if you want both, DO IT!
A Surprise From (Carmel-by-the) Sea! (see what I did there??)
As I said, we went to a nearby beach to do portraits before their ceremony, after their private first look at the hotel.
We did portraits on a cliff, on the bridge, and then finally made our way down to the actual beach. As I was taking photos for them I saw something in the ocean.
It was a diver!!
During our portrait session a diver came from the ocean, like literally FROM the bottom of the ocean.
He swam up, beached, and gave the couple a seashell from the bottom of the ocean.
HOW. COOL. IS. THAT.
Day-After Session - 17 Mile Drive
So you may be wondering why there’s photos of them on the website that they aren’t in their wedding clothes.
Well, the day after their wedding we decided to go explore 17 Mile Drive on Pebble Beach for some more portraits!
The drive was GORGEOUS and featured many beaches, woods, and more.
Overall, their Carmel wedding was super rad, and I hope to do more over this way! We used to live in San Clemente, after all (and I’ve been to San Francisco several times). So now you can say I’m a California elopement photographer for real!
If you’d like to see their full wedding, click here. Below are some of my favorite highlights.
