Northern California Wedding Photography
Whether you’re looking to elope in the Redwoods, plan an intimate wedding by the Sutro Baths in San Francisco, or take engagement photos on the rocky coastline of Point Reyes, this page is a resource for all things Northern California! See posts below for everything from city hall elopements to alpine destination weddings.
San Francisco
There are two major international airports nearby: Oakland International (OAK) and San Francisco (SFO) + Sacramento.
Choose from tons of attractions/backdrops - whether you want to stay near the city, head to the coast, summit mountains, or spend time beneath the Redwood trees.
San Francisco is a great location for any couple looking for fun, candid photos with a wide range of scenery options!
Situated in Marin County just a bit north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore here has breathtaking views. It’s no wonder this spot makes a perfect backdrop for romantic engagement photos! The wind turned way UP and the sun came out just right - cue major romance magic!
Read on for information about planning a shoot or visiting Point Reyes, and to see some of my favorite photos from this epic adventurous engagement shoot!
Ashley and Devon got married beneath ancient coastal redwood trees on their one-year anniversary in Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz, California. Immediately after talking with Ashley, I knew she and Devon had something SO special and rare. It was such a beautiful day full of happy tears, and big, big laughs. See some of favorite photos from Ashley + Devon’s wedding day and learn more about the Redwoods in this post!
On a 2019 Spring Day in San Francisco, California, Texas highschool sweethearts Grace and John wed in one of the most iconic spots in the city: Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights Park! Grace + John’s wedding day was absolutely unforgettable - in part because it was their ninth anniversary together! The unique touches throughout the day made it so special - like the custom invitation suite Grace designed herself, the Rolls Royce John surprised her with to chauffeur her to the first look, and the ceremony officiated by Grace’s aunt, with readings + prayers from family members. See photos from their beautiful day + for tips on eloping in San Francisco yourself!
Baker Beach in San Francisco is an absolutely epic, yet convenient, elopement location if you’re considering eloping in Northern California! Whether you’re San Francisco locals, or a couple seeking a destination wedding experience, this easily accessible beach has so much to offer. Baker Beach is about 45 minutes from SFO Airport, and just about 20 minutes away from downtown San Francisco. The mile-long strip of Baker Beach has the perfect backdrop of the Golden Gate bridge, gorgeous California coastline, and massive waves. The serpentinite cliffside meanders above with trails through the trees, shifting to huge boulders closer to the shore. Baker Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which encompasses 80,000 acres across San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. More specifically, this gorgeous beach is part of The Presidio in San Francisco, which became a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area in 1994. The only thing more beautiful than this gorgeous setting? This gorgeous setting WITH an amazing couple, like Stephanie and Sara.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, is a year-round escape. There’s so much to do, no matter when you visit! In the summer grab a kayak + hit the lake. In winter, visit one of the 19 ski resorts! And if all else fails, the casinos of Stateline, Nevada are just a short drive away ;)
Fly into Reno-Tahoe Airport (60 miles away) or Sacramento International (115 miles away), or make a road trip of it from San Francisco.
If you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement wedding that takes place high in the mountains in a cozy cabin, surrounded by tall pine trees and just a handful of family members, you’re going to love Katie + Taylor’s snowy, winter Lake Tahoe cabin elopement! The couple had their first look, ceremony, and first dance at the cabin, followed by an intimate reception at the quintessential Lake Tahoe Lodge: Edgewood Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe has mountains, lakes, and so much greenery - it's the perfect place for an intimate wedding surrounded by nature, especially if you're looking at Heavenly Lakeview Lodge as your wedding venue! This intimate wedding was classic, romantic, and so much fun. Katie and Alex’s ceremony was officiated by a close friend and they exchanged the most heartfelt vows. Their first look was unlike anything I’ve ever seen - it took place overlooking Lake Tahoe’s enormous pines and blue skies. This was such an epic, adventurous intimate wedding!
*second shot for Mindful Media KC
California Redwoods
Throughout California there are groves of Redwoods, but the most well-known is Redwood National and State Park. Located on the California - Oregon border, RNSP spans about 60 miles and is actually a collection of four parks. However it’s not the easiest to get to (roughly 6 hours from a major airport). If you’re looking to experience the beauty of Redwoods without going as far north, you can find them in Big Sur, Santa Cruz, and other places throughout the state!
Depending on which area you’re seeing the Redwoods in you might find flights easiest from:
San Francisco (SFO or OAK)
San Jose International (SJC)
For RNSP and the Redwood Highway, it may be best to check out one of the smaller but much closer airports, like Rogue Valley Medford (MFR) or Humboldt County Airport. The downside is that these options have fewer flights daily and often come at a premium price!
This California Crossings post is a great resource for more information on The Redwoods + nearby airports.
After over a decade together, Morgan and Tyler decided to get married in a place they both absolutely love: beneath the ancient coastal Redwood trees of California. On our first call, Morgan told me that she dreamt of marrying Tyler in a forest location, but never thought bringing the dogs would be possible - until she came across one of my blog posts and realized it IS, in fact, possible!!! One might even say… pawsible. It was quite a journey, as the couple traveled all the way from Arizona to the Bay Area in order to make this forest wedding dream a reality! Dedicated dog parents, their day couldn’t be complete without their rescue pups, Duke, Prinn, and Frasier (a.k.a. Beans) by their side. Morgan and Tyler are both pharmacists by day but spend their spare time fostering dogs – my heart! Together, joined by just two of their friends, Morgan and Tyler exchanged heartfelt wedding vows as the sun peeked between the trees on a beautiful day in northern California.
Ashley and Devon got married beneath ancient coastal redwood trees on their one-year anniversary in Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz, California. Immediately after talking with Ashley, I knew she and Devon had something SO special and rare. It was such a beautiful day full of happy tears, and big, big laughs. See some of favorite photos from Ashley + Devon’s wedding day and learn more about the Redwoods in this post!
5 Tips for Eloping in the Redwoods! These tips are great for anyone planning a small wedding or elopement in the Redwoods state parks, or in the Redwoods in San Francisco, California. There are also super cute pictures of a dog wearing a flower crown, if that’s what you’re here for!
Yosemite National Park
Heads up! Yosemite is undergoing maintenance on major park roads throughout 2022 that may impact your plans. See more here.
Get there from San Francisco (SFO or OAK) or the smaller airport in Fresno (FAT).
Glacier Point is a sight in Yosemite that will leave you absolutely wonderstruck. From Glacier Point, visitors can take in a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country from an elevation of 7,214 feet. Needless to say, it’s a pretty epic location to commit your life to your partner. The National Park System Yosemite page says it best: “Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra.”
After over a decade together, Morgan and Tyler decided to get married in a place they both absolutely love: beneath the ancient coastal Redwood trees of California. On our first call, Morgan told me that she dreamt of marrying Tyler in a forest location, but never thought bringing the dogs would be possible - until she came across one of my blog posts and realized it IS, in fact, possible!!! One might even say… pawsible. It was quite a journey, as the couple traveled all the way from Arizona to the Bay Area in order to make this forest wedding dream a reality! Dedicated dog parents, their day couldn’t be complete without their rescue pups, Duke, Prinn, and Frasier (a.k.a. Beans) by their side. Morgan and Tyler are both pharmacists by day but spend their spare time fostering dogs – my heart! Together, joined by just two of their friends, Morgan and Tyler exchanged heartfelt wedding vows as the sun peeked between the trees on a beautiful day in northern California.