When you think of Redwood forest elopements or weddings, rarely would you ever think of an adventure that brings you from redwood forests to beaches and bluffs. That’s exactly how A + M’s Redwood forest elopement went. We ventured through Redwood forest to the bluffs and collected many memories with A + M’s family. This is the adventure that A + M planned to celebrate their forever.
Their directive was clear: Introduce their family and friends from Michigan to their new home in Northern California where they have found adventures on the coast. As a result, Henry Cowell Redwood Forest was a natural choice. But they wanted to give them all the real NorCal Santa Cruz experience, so they brought them to the bluffs too.
Game Plan
- Ceremony at the Henry Cowell State Park on the Redwood Grove Trail
- A drive through the forest to meet everyone at the Davenport Bluffs
- Champagne and cheesecake on the Davenport Bluffs
- Dinner at Shadowbrook
- Karaoke in Santa Cruz
Elopement Ceremony
M and his son arrive with family to walk down to the grove where M patiently awaits his bride. A arrives with a few of her close friends to take the same walk and meet her groom. On the way, her friends hype A up for a few bridal photos and talk life as they make sure she’s ready to walk down the “aisle.” They take in the sights and shrink amongst the giant redwood trees.
Over the phone and FaceTime, A + M were always very chill and today isn’t any different, although I hear M is a little worried while waiting for his bride. But of course, nothing runs on time for weddings, even elopements, and that’s OK.
When A arrives at their ceremony she stops to have her friend help her get ready for her groom. Once she’s properly primped and poked, she nervously approaches her fidgety groom. Standing amongst giants the rest of the world fades away. Their friends and family look on at the couple with bated breath as A takes a few seconds to gather herself to greet her groom. She walks the path pensively in her Birkenstocks, M smiles in anticipation with his back turned to her. When A finally gets to him, she taps his shoulder, he turns and she throws up the deuces and M is speechless. Who wouldn’t be looking upon that beautiful bride?
Their ceremony begins with them trading places with their guests (the convenience of eloping). No chairs, no fuss, last-minute changes in logistics, no problem. Their redwood forest wedding is off to an amazing start. I instruct them to face each other. While joining hands they share a smile that brings them both the calm they so lacked just a few moments beforehand. And just like that, they remember this moment is for them. Throughout the planning, they were adamant about this wedding day being wholly about themselves and that was the moment they owned it. Their entire personas change, from nervous to comfortable. They read their vows from books they had fervently written all of their ideas down in. M tells A, “You make me a better man,” and those words left a mark on my heart.
The newlyweds take their first photo as a family with M’s son. They send their guests to their next destination while they take a leisurely stroll through the forest together. They’ve been here before. But today they’re determined to take their time and enjoy things they may have missed before. M asks for a photo with his favorite tree, one that twists toward the sky and towers over all its surrounding peers.
We drive through the dense forest and trees make way for sand, sea, and open skies. There’s a dirt parking lot where we meet everyone. You’d pass this treasure quickly on the 101 if you didn’t know it was there, but just behind the dirt lot lies a short trail leading to bluffs overlooking the Pacific. It’s the perfect place for a quick picnic with some cheesecake and champs. It’s the only way to celebrate an A + M union. Their uncle even uses paint left on the jersey wall to mark the occasion, painting A + M 10/1/22. And once their dessert is done, they send their guests to one more magical location…
Shadowbrook Restaurant located in the heart of Capitola is a sweet, historical restaurant on the water. To get to the restaurant you must descend a hill on foot or by elevator gondola. In the daytime, I hear the views are gorgeous, but in the dark, it’s an intimate ride. The ambiance is homey and cabin-like. It’s a gorgeous place. We join the family at the table and I make sure to get a good view of everyone, especially the bride and groom who look really “Don-like.” I get to enjoy the company of their philanthropist uncle who’s come from Michigan to join them and through him, I get to know them a bit better. Their family is tightly knit and love each other deeply. He’s definitely a VIP. Across the table, I catch M and his son in deep conversation. A and her siblings discuss the menu and share a funny story. The beautiful plates silence the hungry adventurers and everyone prepares to meet at the final location – Karaoke! But after a brief intermission.
