Redwoods Candlelight Walk Elopement with Lanterns

“You have such a shaman vibe when you’re talking about the redwoods. Thank you for taking us here and showing us such a magical experience!”

It was just after a storm rolled through the Pacific Northwest that Emily and Jessey ran away to the redwoods for their elopement adventure. In the wake of the atmospheric river, it left us with pristine partly cloudy skies with the sun remaining low across the horizon. That soft light shone all day and into the evening as the fog started gathering low in the valley among the towering trees and herds of elk in the meadow.

First Look in McKinleyville

I arrived as Shynn from Pacific Brides was finishing up Emily’s hair and makeup (tip: if you want glam waves like Emily, a pro HMUA who tags along on your day is a must). Their first moment of the day came from their love of coffee and quiet moments. These two donned matching flannel shirts with cozy sweats and took in the forest that surrounded their log cabin (that’s only accessible via golf cart from the parking area).

Their first look was a sweet moment on the deck of their cabin, while their families looked on from the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Details

Do not underestimate the small things. Those things can often make a difference in how intentional your day feels, how connected you are to the moment. When in doubt: go for it.

Emily and Jessey love coffee and stealing those moments where you can sink into presence. They made sure to purchase a bag of coffee beans from a local brewery, and I knew exactly how to incorporate them into their details.

Emily’s family heirloom silverware also made an appearance as a nod to her roots, with a grocery store/simple bakery cake from Ramone’s that Emily curated with decor herself. It goes to show that you don’t need something insanely fancy, as long as you’re putting care and intention into the things you’re doing.

Canopy Walk

Redwood trails are magical in the way you can walk the same trail out and back, but have two completely different experiences. Returning on the trail you came can look entirely different. A new perspective is seemingly around every corner in the redwoods, but not many get to see the redwoods from 50 feet in the air. That was Emily and Jessey’s first adventure stop.

The soft light peered through the trees on this quiet November morning. It’s a reminder for all of us to allow ourselves to slow down when the Earth and her rhythms do.

Ceremony Among the Waves

Jessey knew he couldn’t resist exploring nearby beaches, so we made sure to carve out time for a sandy soujourn. This ended up being the perfect spot for a ceremony, no permit required.

Waves were still slightly unpredictable from the storm, so we made certain to stand a bit farther back than the tide. Nevertheless, laughter and smiles erupted when we all had to move a bit higher due to the occasional excited wave.

From their very first sip of coffee that morning, Emily and Jessey had been reflecting on all of the hard moments they’ve experience (and grown from) together. Their vows reflected their dedication to each other and their still-present sense of wonder and excitement about the other person. No Chat GPT vows in sight.

Redwood Candlelight & Lantern Walk

Redwood Parks Conservancy hosts a candlelight walk fundraiser every year in December. It’s often canceled, or issues arise — December is one of the stormiest months around Prairie Creek Redwoods, and the scenic byway can close due to falling tree danger. I’ve attempted to make the trip for this event for 3 years, and have been snookered each time.

Imagine my surprise when RPC announced they’d be moving the event up a whole month this year. And that happened to coincide with the exact dates Emily and Jessey would be in town and getting married. I immediately messaged Emily with the information and an idea that this could be the perfect way to wrap up their redwoods elopement adventure. And Emily and Jessey were 100% in.

The silence and magical mystery that gently blanketed the redwood grove was something I’d never experienced before. Peering up, you could see the stars through the tree canopy, and in lanternlight, the trees took on different personalities.

“This is so magical. What a perfect way to end the day.”

The sun was long-gone, but low-lying fog still clung to the meadows of the area. Emily and Jessey walked back to their car, hand-in-hand, and well-wishers shouted words of congratulations as they passed.

They described their ideal day as romantic, dramatic, organic, and natural. Turns out, those words ended up being woven into even more of the day than we expected.

If you’re dreaming of a day like this, full of intention and connection, reach out, and let’s co-create an Umpqua and Crater Lake elopement adventure together that sets the bar…