Santa Barbara bluffs elopement
Was this the wedding they planned? Nope! It wasn’t even Wedding Plan D. But between their incredible personalities, awe-inspiring flexibility, and love for each other, they managed to pull off such an amazingly sweet and intimate elopement on the Santa Barbara bluffs with the help from their friends and family.
Turning a chaotic year into a magical wedding
Cassidy and Garrett were supposed to get married in Big Bear, CA, surrounded by friends and family in a place they both hold dear to their hearts. But thanks to COVID-19 and social distancing regulations, their Airbnb wedding had to be canceled.
Not to worry! They had a back-up plan. They were going to have their wedding at Gold Mountain Manor. With proper social distancing, masks, and an intimate gathering, their dream of getting married under towering redwoods could still be a reality.
But as we’ve all come to know, 2020 is the year of plot twists.
Just two days before their wedding, wildfires raged across the state of California. Big Bear would soon be under evacuation orders, and visitors were being told not to travel.
Wedding planning is stressful enough without pandemics and wildfires! Despite all of these roadblocks, Cassidy and Garrett remained outwardly positive and flexible. They handled every twist and turn with grace, understanding, and love. They knew that at the end of that day, they would be married - and that was the only thing that really mattered to them.
And so, with only one day until their wedding, Cassidy, Garrett, and I met up to scout locations in Santa Barbara for an intimate bluff elopement.
After some discussion, we settled on the Douglas Family Preserve, believing it would provide the best lighting for their mid-day ceremony. The spot is also dog friendly, has accessible parking, and a wide, flat path for older family members to easily traverse. It met all of their needs and truly felt like the ideal spot!
That Friday, we walked along the bluffs looking for the perfect spot for them to say “I do.” And when we found it, we felt a collective thrill of excitement. It was beautiful, secluded, and spacious. Cassidy and Garret would still be getting married beneath towering trees - this time, they’d be eucalyptus.
The rest, my friends, is history.
The two love birds said “I do” surrounded by their loved ones, took the most AMAZING golden hour photos in Thousand Oaks, and danced the night away.
Floods, fires, and pandemics really can’t stop the love these two share. #Carrottnotcancelled
Remember: Your day is about you two and your love
The moral of Cassidy and Garrett’s story is this: During these unprecedented times, your wedding may not be what you planned, but it will STILL be beautiful.
So when it feels like everything is going wrong and the world is ending, there is still hope. Don’t forget why you’re getting married, and celebrate the hell out of your love. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is short.
Are you planning your wedding right now? Check out my blog post on planning a wedding during COVID-19!
Cheers,
Emma
