Cambria Beach Elopement

Cambria Elopement and Honeymoon

This couple had their Cambria Beach elopement with just the two of them. They chose the Moonstone location with the cliffs and rocks as their backdrop.  They also had a first look on the beach where the bride and groom saw each other right before the ceremony started.

If you are planning a wedding on the central coast of California, then there are many quaint beaches to have a quiet, beautiful beach wedding. One of my favorite little beach towns one the Central Coast is Cambria. Not only is it perfect for a small beach wedding, but Cambria is also perfect to stay for your honeymoon.

For a small beach wedding or Cambria elopement, we love a location on the beach or overlooking the ocean. For a small beach wedding in Cambria, you will need a permit. The permits in these areas can get a little tricky, but with Coastal California Weddings planning your special day, we take care of the Cambria wedding permit details.

The locations can be planned where you can do a first look on the beach and walk right from your hotel room, or if you were wanting a different backdrop a short car drive away will have you getting married with your toes in the sand. 

I always thinks its easiest to get ready in your hotel room and then walk over to your wedding location for an old fashion first look! Cambria is such a romantic location for a beach elopement. 

After your wedding ceremony, you can explore the town and grab a meal.There’s plenty of delicious places to eat at - from ocean views to blooming gardens.  

Let’s explore one of my favorite Central Coast beach locations – Cambria. Whether you decide to explore the beach, walk one of the many trails, enjoy some delicious food, do some wine tasting, stroll through the unique shops in town, or watch as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean, you will fall in love with this picturesque spot.  

In this quaint little town hidden among the Monterey Pines, you can explore art galleries, gift shops, boutiques, antique shops, and several cute garden shops. Also, Cambria has some of the area’s best restaurants., many featuring seasonal offerings and farm to table delights.  If you like unique, seasonal food, stop by Robin’s, or make reservations for a night of fine dining at Madeline’s (their duck and their lamb shanks are so good) or the Sow’s Ear.  For fresh seafood, you can’t go wrong at the Sea Chest on Moonstone Drive. Or, visit Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill for views of the ocean while you enjoy their delicious fish and chips or fish tacos. For the best pies in town, stop by Linn’s and enjoy their famous olallieberry pie (a cross between a blackberry and a youngberry), or one of their other delicious treats. Or visit the French Corner Bakery for some delicious pastries. Or, check out one of the local cafés located downtown, including the Café on Bridge Street, and Creekside Gardens. 

If walking in nature is your thing, then head to Fiscalini Ranch Preserve and walk one of the many trails. The most scenic is the Bluff Trail, less than a mile long, but giving you beautiful views of the area. You will wind along the bluffs, high above the crashing waves, with spectacular views in all directions. This area has an abundance of wildlife, from sparrows, blue jays, warblers, and woodpeckers on land to the raptors and sea gulls that soar overhead. You might even spot deer, ground squirrels, and fluttering butterflies.

Perhaps, you would rather spend some time closer to the ocean. Along the beach you might find seals and sea otters, as well as wildlife and sea birds, including brown pelicans, Western gulls, spotted sandpipers, and snowy plovers, to name a few. Or explore the tidepools along Moonstone Beach and discover sea life including sea urchins, sea anemones, sea stars, snails, mussels, barnacles, and crabs. Maybe, sit on the beach and search for sea glass and moonstones, agate, jade, jasper, and other small rocks polished by the pounding ocean waves. Or, just stroll along the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, a 1.5-mile walk, with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and craggy cliffs, and watch the ocean crash onto the rocks. Several paths along this boardwalk lead down to the beach and the tidepools which are exposed at low tide. If you are lucky enough to visit in the spring, you will see the trails covered with yellow and purple wildflowers. Or, you may even be fortunate enough to spot the California Grey Whales as they make their southern migration from December through February, and their northern migration in March and April. Or, just relax on the beach or on a bench along the boardwalk and watch a spectacular sunset.

If wine tasting is on your list, downtown offers several wine tasting rooms. Of you can plan a tour of one of the local wineries. Bassetti Vineyards, located on Green Valley Road offer tastings by appointment, as does Stolo Family Vineyards, located on Santa Rosa Creek Road.  

If you visit during the month of October, check out Cambria’s scarecrow festival. Look for the displays in vacant lots or individual scarecrows in front of local businesses. And, don’t forget to vote for your favorite.

Visiting in December? Then check out the Cambria Christmas Market. You will see over two million twinkling lights on display as well as artisan vendors, live music, food, and, of course, you can visit Santa in his workshop. 

But, whenever you visit, I’m sure you will always remember this little seaside village, tucked away in one of only three native Monterey pines forests in California, as one of your favorite spots.   



If you get married in Cambria, make sure to spend some extras days there for your honeymoon. Relax around town or hop in your car for a short drive up to Hearst Castle or the Big Sur area.