this intimate celebration on the beach in mendocino was a sign of hope during the difficult first year of the covid pandemic. emily and tom were determined to marry in 2020, so they decided to elope with only their siblings as officiant and witnesses. though it was heartbreaking to see parents who could only watch their children’s wedding ceremony on zoom, these small ceremonies were such beautiful acts of perseverance and commitment. watching these five souls sing and celebrate together was definitely one of the highlights of a long and scary year. it was joy from start to end.
elk beach (aka greenwood state beach) is a breathtaking stretch of sand along highway 1 on the Mendocino coast. it’s about midway between point arena and little river, and definitely worth stopping for the short hike down to the shore.
for more coastal elopement ideas: katja + nick in the headlands // maddie + phil in point reyes