Third Time's The Charm

Hannah and Paul set their sights on Big Sur as their secret elopement spot. I was so excited to document their day there, as none of us had ever been before. We spent hours upon hours sending lengthy emails creating the perfect elopement day. We had all the main spots scouted, and even several backup options just in case! Permits were received - nothing was stopping us. For us, we just had a quick trip to Chicago for another elopement the week prior, but we would have plenty of time to get to California, grab our rental car and drive up to Big Sur to meet Hannah and Paul for their big day.

Of course, nothing turned out that way. What’s that sentiment - the more you try to make plans the more they go awry?

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A Change of Plans

While we were in Chicago, just a few days before the trip up to Big Sur, we woke up to an email from Hannah: Big Sur was on fire and all the parks were closed. I’d be lying if we didn’t feel a rush of panic in this moment, but knew the only option was to plan something even better. We immediately crafted an email with couple new options for Hannah and Paul and hoped they'd find something in there that resonated with them.

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Secret Oregon Coast Elopement

We quickly decided to go ahead and forge our way to the incredible Oregon Coast. I'm very much of the mindset that the less you try to control things, the better they turn out. This trip couldn’t have been a better representation of that. From traversing through dense rainforest in Ecola State Park, gazing at the ocean from the cliffs of Elk Flats, a ceremony on Indian Beach, and drinking wine and eating fish and chips on Rockaway Beach while watching the moon set over the ocean, Hannah and Paul’s Oregon Coast elopement was, in simplest terms, incredible. And honestly, I think we all agreed at the end that we couldn’t have planned a more beautiful day if we tried.

Hannah and Paul were also nice enough to leave us the kindest review:

Thank you a million, trillion times. Thank you an endless amount. These photos are beyond incredible. You truly captured the love that we have for each other, the laughter, the serious and deep affection, the trust and willingness to go with the flow. These photos are timeless, and we and our loved ones will cherish these moments forever. I don't even know where to begin in describing just how important these are to us! We couldn't have done any of this without you. You were right there with us from beginning to end, and beyond.

Despite having tried to create the perfect day not only once but twice, and having our plans go completely out the window, we ended up with something more magical than we ever could've expected. It was the most uncertain, spontaneous ride, and we're grateful for your flexibility and trust. I still don't know how you managed to dig deep and find the energy and commitment to making our day special and unique, but holy crap, we can't thank you enough. So thank you again for your art— your dedication to beauty and adventure, your eye for details and wonder, and your synchronicity as people, which certainly translates in your work. It was amazing to see again how you collaborate and communicate with each other seamlessly. Just... wow.

This is probably one of the most (if not the most) heartfelt review I've ever received. To say I'm grateful for you both is an understatement at best. Cheers to your love, and thank you for allowing us to capture your journey together.

Scroll through the photographs and film below to view more of Hannah and Paul's Secret Oregon Coast Elopement.

Edit - I'm happy to announce that in recent weeks this blog has been featured by Together Journal, a beautiful blog/publication based out of New Zealand. I'm so grateful for their coverage, and urge you to give it a peek here!

Edit 2 - Hannah & Paul's wedding is now available to view here, as well as their elopement film below.