A Fantasy Elopement in Redwood National Park

If you’re a fan of all things fantasy and romantasy books like Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, and so many more then you’ll be enchanted with K & A’s fantasy elopement.

When they first reached out to me, they told me that one of their favorite things to do was to cosplay and spend quality time reading fantasy books. There was no setting more etherial for their fantasy elopement than Redwood National Park and The Southern Oregon Coast with towering ancient trees and windswept coastlines, you feel as though you’ve stepped into another world regardless of where you are. K & A decided that they wanted to go all out, wearing full custom fantasy attire created by Jana Ann Couture in San Diego, inspired by a mix of Feyre’s Starfall Gown, little aspects of Violet Sorrengale, and a lot of K & A. Even their guests dressed for the occasion.

Getting Ready

K & A started their getting ready at their Air BNB on top of a mountain where they had a view of the ocean and stayed with their closest loved ones. They spent the morning listening to background noise perfect for meandering through The Shire while writing their vows and getting dressed. The night before their elopement, K took a few hours with her friends and hand made her paper bouquet out of a copy of Fourth Wing. After writing their vows, A headed out to the Redwoods where he waited for K to get dressed with the help of her loved ones.

First Looks

Upon arrival K did a brief first look with her dad then it was time for the big reveal – for K & A to officially see each other all done up and ready. During this time we had their loved ones hang out in the parking lot allowing K & A to start their day in complete and total privacy with a few moments to take in their surroundings and let the anticipation build that they were about to embark on the biggest journey of all together – life.

Ceremony

After their first look, we dove right into their ceremony where K was walked through towering old growth Redwood trees by her dad. To mark their ceremony spot, K & A’s officiant and close friend, places a sword in the ground that marked the place where tow lives would now become one. Their ceremony was full of emotion, lots of happy tears, and plenty of quotes from their favorite books. They finished their ceremony with a kiss and a reminder of To Whatever End. Which naturally had me in tears as well.

Post Ceremony Hike

To keep the fun going, K & A headed over to one of my favorite trails in the park where they, along with their guests, hiked 2 miles truly immersing themselves in the beauty and otherworldliness of The Redwoods. Watching them and their guests all dressed up in fantasy attire checked something off my bucket list that I didn’t know existed – they looked like they fit right in with the etherial ecosystem. This hike was the perfect way to continue to include their loved ones in their day and spend a bit more quality time together. During some of the time K & A walked with their guests and for some of the time K & A hiked either ahead of or behind their guests allowing them them some private time within the trees in addition to allowing their guests the space to meander and make their own memories that they’ll cherish forever.

Post Hike Ramen Picnic

After their hike, K & A said “see you later” to their guests and had worked up quite the appetite and needed to take a break to refuel their bodies while slowing down their day before they headed into the second half of their day on the Oregon Coast. One of their favorite meals to eat was Ramen so K & A ordered lunch ahead of time and packed it into a cooler during the first part of their day where they then set down a blanket, pulled out their food, and shared a meal under giant trees in complete privacy while golden light shone through the trees. They used this time to grab a quick bite, reminisce on the first half of their day, and just spend quality time with each other. While their setup wasn’t anything fancy, it was a perfect segue to the next part of their day on the coast.

Oregon Coast Adventure Time

We packed up their picnic and hit the cars making the 45 minute drive North where K & A would finish their day watching the sun set over the dramatic cliffs of Samuel H. Boardman state Scenic Corridor. Upon arrival, K & A were greeted with the start of an absolutely breathtaking sunset. One thing to know about the Brookings area is that September and October are the months with the most colorful sunsets so if you’re looking for the extra “wow” factor then eloping in one of these two months is highly recommended!

K & A arrived and headed out on a short hike to one of my favorite easily accessible lookouts in Samuel H. Boardman for elopements. The towering sea stacks covered in overgrown mosses, succulents, and trees make the perfect setting for fantasy and bookish themed elopements! We spent the evening cracking jokes and admiring the sunset before it was time to finish off the day in one of the most unique ways – in the dark.

The Ethereal End

When K & A reached out to me and told me about what the envisioned their day (and photos) to look and feel like I had a crazy idea that they were instantly on board with, night photos using the a lake to reflect the glow of their etherial attire. We packed up and headed a few minutes North where we arrived after the sun had gone down for the day. I put on my waders while K & A pulled out their swords, lanterns, and started wading out into the middle of the lake.

The evening had just the right amount of cloud coverage to make us feel like we had been transported to a different world. Complete with capes and lanterns we spent the night grabbing some absolutely out of this world photos.

All in all K & A’s day was breathtaking and unique but most importantly it was a perfect reflection of who they are as a couple and what their values are. Their day was full of tears, laughter, snacks, and just the right amount of chaos. It was nothing short of magical and hands down one of the most incredible elopements I’ve had the privilege of being a part of. Its proof that the golden rule when it comes to planning your elopement is to stay true to yourselves and your relationship, if you do that the rest will naturally fall into place.

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