Elope Santa Cruz - Where Redwoods Meet the Sea
Love Grows Wild Here - and we know where it blossoms in Santa Cruz!
There’s something utterly magical about Santa Cruz — a place where ancient redwoods stand tall just minutes from soft sandy beaches and the rhythm of the Pacific. It’s a land of contrasts and harmony, where forest whispering through the branches of ancient redwood trees meets the waves as they ebb and flow on a sandy beach at the edge of one of Santa Cruz’s coastal chic towns.
For couples dreaming of a celebration that feels intimate, natural, and deeply romantic, Santa Cruz is pure magic. One moment, you can exchange vows beneath a towering fairy ring of redwood trees, golden sunlight streaming through their branches, and the next, stroll hand in hand along the Pacific shore, your laughter mingling with the calls of sea lions and the playful dance of dolphins skimming over the waves.
Your elopement in Santa Cruz can start with crossing the threshold into marriage beneath the majestic redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park or Fall Creek, then wander to the beach in Capitola for seaside photos in a fun coastal village. End your day with a romantic dinner at the iconic Shadowbrook Restaurant, arriving by cable car as twinkling lights shimmer across the creek.
Our experienced team with Donna Rose Gardner, your heart-centered officiant who brings warmth, joy, and just the right touch of sacredness to each ceremony and Rebecca Stark, your photographer and creative partner in adventure, captures it all with an artist’s eye. Her lens finds the little glances, the wind through your hair, the light in the trees — the essence of your connection and the beauty of the day.
Whether your hearts are set on a quiet grove of redwoods, a hidden cove along the coast, or a cliffside overlook where the waves crash far below, Elope Santa Cruz offers it all — forest, beach, and the sweet charm of nearby coastal towns. Stay for the weekend, sip local wine, explore locally owned boutiques, go surfing, take a hike in the forest and blissfully wake up in the morning for the first time as Married!
This is a place where nature holds you close — where the ancient redwoods bear witness to your love and the sea carries your vows out into the world.
If your hearts are calling for something intimate and uniquely you, we’d love to help you plan your Santa Cruz elopement.
📸 Photography by Rebecca Stark – Big Sur and Santa Cruz elopement photographer
💍 Ceremony by Donna with Honey in the Heart – Big Sur and Santa Cruz officiant