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Morro Bay Elopement

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:06:27 GMT

Morro Bay Elopement

50 Money-Saving Tips for Couples Planning Their Wedding

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 03:30:49 GMT

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Morro Bay Small Wedding

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 18:56:12 GMT

Morro Bay Small Wedding

A Romantic Morro Bay Small Wedding in Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay Small Wedding

I n the heart of Morro Bay, with the iconic Morro Rock standing tall in the distance and soft waves brushing the shore, Sophia and Trent celebrated their love with a beautiful Morro Bay Small Wedding. This charming coastal town on California’s Central Coast offered the perfect balance of intimacy, scenery, and serenity—everything they hoped for in a heartfelt celebration. With their sweet dog and a small group of family members present, their day was personal, relaxed, and filled with meaning.

A FIRST LOOK BY THE SHORELINE

Sophia and Trent began their small wedding day with a quiet first look along the peaceful shoreline of Morro Bay, tucked between the water and the rock. The moment they saw each other, everything slowed down.
It was tender, emotional, and deeply personal—setting the perfect tone for a Morro Bay Small Wedding focused entirely on connection, intention, and presence. The bride was even escorted down the aisle by her adorable dog.

A FAMILY-CENTERED CELEBRATION

This small wedding wasn’t just about the marriage—it was about honoring the family Sophia and Trent are building together.

Their little 4 legged fur baby, dressed in the cutest outfit, quickly became the center of joy, bringing laughter and sweetness to each moment. Their dog, full of personality, added charm and playfulness to the day, reminding everyone that love comes in many forms—even furry ones.

THE CEREMONY: SIMPLE, SWEET, AND UNFORGETTABLE

With the ocean as their backdrop and their loved ones gathered close, Sophia and Trent exchanged vows in a simple, heartfelt ceremony that perfectly captured the spirit of a Morro Bay Small Wedding. They had a violinist play for the ceremony along with the sound of waves. Morro Bay’s calm, intimate atmosphere allowed them to have a small wedding ceremony where they committed their lives to one another.

A CELEBRATION THEY’LL NEVER FORGET

After the ceremony, the couple and their family spent the afternoon soaking up the coastal sunshine, sharing laughter, and celebrating the beginning of their new chapter. A few happy barks and wagging tails, warm embraces, and the scent of the sea made the day feel cozy, joyful, and effortlessly meaningful.

Their wedding is proof that small doesn’t mean simple— small means intentional, present, and deeply personal.

WHY A MORRO BAY SMALL WEDDING IS PERFECT FOR INTIMATE COUPLES

Morro Bay is a dream location for couples seeking beauty without overwhelm. With sweeping ocean views, quiet beaches, and iconic scenery, it’s the perfect setting for couples who want a small wedding that feels both peaceful and special.

Whether sharing a first look by the bay or exchanging vows with Morro Rock behind you, a Morro Bay Small Wedding offers a stunning backdrop without the stress of a traditional celebration.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLYWEDS

Sophia and Trent’s Morro Bay Small Wedding was a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful days are built on love, family, and presence. From their first look to the love shared with guests, every moment reflected a love that is strong, grounded, and true.

Congratulations, Sophia and Trent—here’s to a lifetime of coastal sunsets and cherished memories.

Planning your own Morro Bay Small Wedding?
Let’s document every beautiful moment.

There’s something timeless about the Central Coast—the gentle ocean breeze, the rhythm of the waves, and that soft golden light that makes everything feel a little more magical. This small wedding in Morro Bay captured all of that and more.

The couple chose the wide, sandy shores of Morro Bay Beach as the backdrop for their intimate ceremony. With Morro Rock standing tall in the distance and the Pacific glimmering behind them, it was a picture-perfect setting for a day centered around love, simplicity, and connection.

The bride looked stunning in a lace gown that moved beautifully in the ocean breeze, her bouquet bursting with soft pinks, peach, and cream blooms. The groom’s blush suit with a starfish boutonniere added the sweetest coastal touch—proof that even small weddings can be full of personality and style.

One of the most memorable details? Their adorable dog, dressed up and ready to celebrate right alongside them. It’s those personal touches that make small weddings in Morro Bay so special—intimate, meaningful, and entirely unique to each couple.

After exchanging vows by the shoreline, they spent time walking the beach, soaking in the quiet beauty of the moment. With just a few loved ones present, every smile, every glance, and every wave felt more intentional. It was a perfect reminder that love doesn’t need a grand stage—it just needs two people and a place that feels like home.

If you’re dreaming of a small wedding or elopement in Morro Bay, this day is proof of how breathtakingly simple and heartfelt it can be. Between the coastal charm, natural beauty, and relaxed atmosphere, Morro Bay is one of the most romantic destinations for couples who want a wedding that feels true to them.

�� Location: Morro Bay, California
�� Style: Small Coastal Wedding / Intimate Beach Elopement

Taking in the Wedding Day

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:20:02 GMT

Taking in the Wedding Day - How to be more present.

Being Present on Your Wedding Day

The wedding day goes by quickly! You've planned and waited for this special day for months and maybe even for years.

Your wedding day is one of the most meaningful days of your life—but it’s also one of the fastest. So many couples look back and say, “It was over in a blink.” That’s why being present—truly slowing down and savoring the moments—is the greatest gift you can give yourself (and each other) on your wedding day.

These little choices will help you not just remember your wedding, but truly experience it:

1. Start the Day with Intention

Begin your wedding morning with a pocket of stillness. Whether it’s journaling, stretching, meditating, or simply drinking your coffee in quiet, take a few deep breaths and ground yourself. Remind yourself what the day is really about: marrying the person you love.

2. Slow Down

When the day picks up speed, it’s easy to go into autopilot. Be intentional about pausing. Take a look around at your guests laughing, your family smiling, your partner waiting for you at the end of the aisle. Those tiny pauses are where the memories stay vivid.

3. Share Private Moments with Your Partner

While the reception will be full of loved ones, carve out time just for the two of you. Get ready together, if that feels right.

Have a first look before the ceremony. Sneak away during the reception for a champagne toast, sharing what you’ve loved most about the day so far. These little escapes let you reconnect and soak in the fact that you just promised each other forever.

4. Disconnect from Distractions

Consider turning off your phone, or giving it to someone you trust. Notifications and social media can wait—today is about being fully here.

5. Keep a Journal During Planning

In the months leading up to your wedding, jot down the details, emotions, and milestones. On the wedding day itself, you’ll be amazed at how much more meaningful it feels to see all those plans come to life.

6. Stay Organized (So You Can Let Go)

The more organized you are beforehand, the easier it is to release control on the big day. Trust your planner, coordinator, or bridal party to handle logistics. Then, let go of the small imperfections. The tiny things that don’t go as planned? They often become your favorite stories later.

7. Take It All In

Before the night ends, stand with your partner and look around the room. See the people who came to celebrate you. Feel the music, the laughter, the joy that belongs to this one day only.

8. Choose How You Spend Your Time

Your time is precious—so be intentional about who you spend it with. Maybe it’s greeting every guest personally, or maybe it’s choosing more time on the dance floor with your new spouse. This is your day, and you get to decide what matters most.

✨ Remember: The flowers will fade, the cake will be eaten, but the way you felt will last forever. By staying present, you create memories you’ll carry for a lifetime.

Pismo Beach Wedding Cake - Have your cake and eat it too!

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:33:41 GMT

Pismo Beach Wedding Cake - How to have your cake and eat it too!

Looking to celebrate with some cake and a toast after your Central Coast wedding ceremony? Add on cake cutting photos so we can capture those moments with you and your guests.

Why Celebrate Right After the Ceremony?

There's something so special about sealing the deal right after you say your vows. Some couples decide to have a cake cutting and toast instead of a reception or dinner. While guests are waiting for photos, they can enjoy cake and some bubbly.

Cake Ideas

The cake in the photo below is from PK Custom Cakes in Pismo Beach. Our couples have also used Sea Breeze cupcakes in San Luis Obispo. Sea Breeze delivers. We also did a blog on a grocery store cake decorated with flowers and a cake topper.

Here's some reasons why you should celebrate with a cake cutting after the ceremony:

More photos = more memories - Enjoy more moments with your guests and celebrate your wedding day
Makes the Celebration Simple & Personal – No need for a long reception or dinner - celebrate the simple way! with cake and a toast

A Surprising & Fun Twist – Guests will enjoy the surprise of celebrating immediately - who doesn't love cake?!?

Less Stress, More Fun – No stress about a large reception timeline—just cut the cake, raise a toast, and celebrate!

How to Set Up a Ceremony Cake & Toast Celebration

Some of our locations already have a picnic bench. See the photo below for a set up at the Margo Dodd Gazebo.

Other couple have brought in small tables. The couple comes up with the decorations they want to add.

Here's a list of what you need:

Table at the location or bring one in
Table cloth to cover the table
Plates, napkins, forks for the guests
Cups, glasses or champagne glasses for the toast
Cake or cupcakes for you and the guests (some couple do a small cake for themselves and then cupcake for guests)
Cake cutting set
Cake topper or flowers
Sparkling cider or champagne (make sure the location allows alcohol)
Decorations like initials, flowers, etc.

If you have the cake cutting after the photos with guests, we may be able to set up the table for you.

A Celebration That Feels Right for You

Weddings today are all about creating a day that reflects who you are as a couple. If the idea of a long, traditional reception doesn’t feel like you , then celebrating right after the ceremony with cake and a toast might be the perfect alternative. It’s simple, meaningful, and filled with love—exactly how a wedding celebration should be.

We always say - plan your day, your way!

So, as you plan your special day, consider skipping the wait and celebrating in the moment. After all, what better way to start your marriage than with a slice of cake, a glass raised in your honor, and the people you love cheering you on? Let's help you with your Pismo Beach wedding cake.

At an intimate Pismo Beach wedding or elopement, every detail becomes more intentional and meaningful—including the timing of the cake cutting. Choosing to cut the cake right after the ceremony creates a natural and joyful transition from the emotional vows to the celebration that follows. It marks the official start of your new life together in a sweet, symbolic, and visually beautiful way.

For smaller gatherings, a post-ceremony cake cutting also makes perfect logistical sense. There’s no rigid timeline or reception program to follow, and it allows you and your guests to savor a quiet moment of connection before any formal meal or toasts begin. It sets a light, celebratory tone—especially for daytime or outdoor weddings where the energy is more relaxed and personal.

Additionally, cutting the cake right away ensures you capture the moment while emotions are still fresh and the setting is perfect—whether that’s a mountaintop, backyard garden, or city courthouse steps. Your photographer can easily document this tradition without needing a second setup later, and your guests get to enjoy a sweet treat while mingling or toasting with champagne. It’s an elegant, heartfelt way to start the celebration without delay.

The photo above was at the Gazebo locations where there's a table at the location. The photo above was at the Cypress Cliff location were the couple brought in their own table.

Why you should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:23:29 GMT

Here’s why you should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach

Small weddings are the way to go these days! We aren’t just saying that because small weddings have been our thing since we started our business back in 2015. A small wedding can have the same parts of a large wedding - unforgettable moments, celebration with friends and family and the start of the rest of your life together. But, small wedding have a few more benefits like - less stress, less more, and more of the two of you and what you want for your wedding!

We love the scenery of Pismo Beach and the Central Coast for small weddings. There are million dollar views for your wedding day- from your toes in the sand at one of the beach locations, to overlooking the ocean, to shaded eucalyptus trees, and jagged cliff sides.

Small weddings are our favorite because the couple is free to focus on the most important things, like having their day, their way, spending the day with the people who truly matter, and having an amazing day packed with lasting memories. You should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach because it's the perfect place to say I do and celebrate your wedding day.

What Is Driving the Trend Toward Smaller Weddings?

Several factors are behind the increasing trend of smaller weddings. Modern couples are redefining what it means to celebrate love, and in most cases, they focus on quality over quantity.

Small weddings have become for popular and couples embrace fewer guests and find the beauty of intimate gatherings. Changing societal norms and the desire for unique, personalized experiences also make smaller weddings an attractive option.

How Do Small Weddings Create More Meaningful Connections?

Small weddings foster more meaningful connections by allowing couples to spend quality time with each guest, creating an intimate and personal atmosphere. With fewer attendees, conversations feel more genuine, and guests feel truly valued and appreciated.

Some couples will have a few day long celebration for their wedding - starting a few days before the wedding with wine tasting or seeing the sites of beaches around Pismo Beach, then relax on the beach the next day. After some fun in the sun, it's wedding day. The day will end with a group dinner or casual private reception. Then, the guests will leave and the couple has a few more days to celebrate their honeymoon in Pismo Beach or other beach location.

This setting also encourages deeper interactions, making it easier to share special moments, heartfelt toasts, and personal stories. Without the hustle and chaos of a large event, couples and their loved ones can be fully present, strengthening bonds and making the celebration even more memorable.

How Does a Smaller Guest List Reduce Wedding Stress?

Planning a wedding can be quite challenging. It is easier for couples to plan their weddings with smaller guest lists, as this dramatically lowers their prospects of worrying. Incorporating fewer guests into a wedding means that there are fewer logistical elements to take care of, such as catering, seating arrangements, accommodations, and more people to please. This way, couples can spend more time and energy making their special day more unique instead of fretting over accommodating numerous people.

A more personal gathering helps create a homely and calming vibe, giving the couple a chance to make the most of each interaction with their guests. Most importantly, a smaller guest number means that there would be fewer changes needed at the last minute, which translates to lower expenditure and costs. Hence, all attendees, coupled with the couple, can fully enjoy themselves without feeling the pressure of the wedding arrangements.

What Are the Financial Benefits of Hosting a Small Wedding?

Hosting a small wedding can be a cost-effective choice, offering couples the chance to allocate their budget more intentionally. With fewer guests, expenses for catering, venue size, and decor are reduced, freeing up funds for other priorities such as an unforgettable honeymoon or investing in a dream home. This financial flexibility allows couples to create a celebration that reflects their values and vision without overspending.

Celebrate your love story with us!

Small weddings are more than just a trend—they represent a shift in how couples approach one of the most important days of their lives. By focusing on intimacy, meaningful connections, and thoughtful planning, small weddings offer a unique and heartfelt way to celebrate love.

For couples looking to create a stunning and intimate wedding experience, Coastal California Weddings is your simple and stress-free way to plan your wedding. We provide expert guidance and inspiration.

These are all the reasons why you should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach! A more intimate gathering of friends and family is the best way to get married.

Cambria Small Wedding

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 23:44:44 GMT

Small Wedding in Cambria - Cambria Landing Location

Cambria Small Wedding

A Romantic Cambria Small Wedding on the Central Coast

There’s something breathtaking about a Cambria small wedding—dramatic ocean cliffs, windswept coastal bluffs, and that soft Central Coast light that makes every moment feel cinematic.

For this intimate celebration, the happy couple chose the stunning Cambria Landing as the setting for their wedding day. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this location offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and peaceful seclusion—ideal for couples dreaming of a heartfelt, meaningful ceremony by the sea.

With the ocean stretching endlessly behind them, their Cambria small wedding was simple, emotional, and unforgettable.

A FIRST LOOK WITH THEIR LITTLE GIRLS

Before the ceremony began, the bride and groom shared one of the most touching moments of the day—a first look with their daughters.

As the groom turned around and saw his little girls dressed and ready for the celebration, he was overcome with emotion. Happy tears filled his eyes as he embraced them. It was a beautiful reminder that this wedding wasn’t just about two people—it was about the family they are building together.

Moments like this are what make a Cambria small wedding so powerful. Intimate celebrations allow space for real emotion, genuine connection, and memories that last forever.

A CEREMONY OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN

The couple exchanged vows on the large landing overlooking the ocean at Cambria Landing. For small weddings, this elevated bluff is the most breathtaking ceremony space—offering sweeping coastal views and an open, dramatic backdrop.

They were married beneath a romantic wedding arch adorned with white flowers and lush greenery. The floral details framed the ocean behind them perfectly, creating a setting that felt elegant yet completely natural.

With the sound of waves below and their loved ones gathered close, the ceremony felt peaceful, intimate, and deeply personal—the essence of a Cambria small wedding.

A LOCATION FILLED WITH VARIETY

One of the reasons Cambria Landing is such a favorite for small weddings is the incredible variety of scenery in one location.

Couples can explore:

Cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Tree-lined groves with soft filtered light
Sandy beaches just steps away
Expansive ocean bluff views

At this location, couples can get married throughout different areas of the landing, depending on their vision. However, for small weddings, the large oceanfront landing remains the most popular choice for its sweeping views and dramatic coastal beauty.

A Cambria small wedding offers both intimacy and epic scenery—an ideal combination for couples who want stunning portraits without a large production.

A CELEBRATION ROOTED IN FAMILY

Throughout the day, the focus remained on family, connection, and shared joy. Every embrace, every smile, and every tear carried meaning.

The bride and groom’s daughters added sweetness and depth to the celebration, reminding everyone present that love expands beyond the couple—it grows into something bigger.

This Cambria small wedding was not about grandeur. It was about intention. About standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean and committing to forever, surrounded by the people who matter most.

WHY A CAMBRIA SMALL WEDDING IS PERFECT FOR INTIMATE COUPLES

Cambria is one of the most romantic destinations on California’s Central Coast for couples seeking an intimate wedding experience. Not only are the beaches beautiful, but the town is so cute and quanit.

With dramatic coastal cliffs, peaceful groves, and panoramic ocean views, a Cambria small wedding allows couples to:

Exchange vows overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Cambria, California
Have stunning photos in multiple natural settings
Celebrate with close family in a beautiful location
Experience the beach in Cambria without the stress of a large venue

It’s scenic. It’s peaceful. It’s effortlessly romantic!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE

This Cambria small wedding was a beautiful reminder that intimate celebrations often create the most meaningful memories. From the emotional first look with their daughters to their vows beneath a white floral arch overlooking the ocean, every moment reflected love, unity, and joy.

Congratulations to the happy couple—may your life together be filled with coastal sunsets, family laughter, and endless love.

Cambria and San Simeon Wedding

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:27:01 GMT

Cambria and San Simeon Wedding Day

This couple felt a connection to both Cambria and San Simeon. For their elopement, we set up the first look at Cambria, where the couple read a love note to each other. After seeing each other for the first look on the cutes bridge, they hopped in their car and went over the beach in San Simeon and had their own private beach elopement. See a wedding video of photos from their special day.

Pismo Beach Casual Wedding Reception Ideas

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:54:21 GMT

Pismo Beach Casual Wedding Reception Ideas - Celebrating after your wedding, the casual way can be a lot of fun and also less stress!

A beach wedding has a more casual feel to it - so why not celebrate after the ceremony with friends and family with a more relaxed vibe! Also, if you have children or a lot of children as guests at your wedding, you may want to consider having a kid friendly wedding reception. I always tell my couple that there are no rules with planning weddings these days - so planning your day, your way also applies to the wedding reception or after wedding celebration.

I always get inspiration from our Pismo Beach wedding couples and I wanted to share some ideas from real weddings.

Here’s some casual wedding reception / wedding celebration ideas:

Vacation Rental

Finding a vacation rental that allows large groups of people is a great way to bring the celebration back with you to where you are staying. The food can be catered or brought in my friends and family. The kids can be comfy and relax in a larger space than a sit down dinner option. Our couple had a 2 year old and the thought of sitting through a long reception didn’t sound like fun to them. They had the vacation rental for their group of guests and the space for their daughter to nap if she needed to. The vacation rental was the perfect plan for their Pismo Beach wedding reception.

The Rib Line in Grover Beach has a nice take home food package so you don’t have to worry about cooking.

Pizza on the Beach

We had a couple have their wedding at the Pismo Pier View location. They asked their guests to bring their beach chairs and beach towels for the ceremony and stay for pizza on the beach as their after party.

Here’s some favorite pizza places for pick up that are walking distance from the pier:

Dels

Giuseppe’s Express

Pizmo

We also had a couple stay at the Pismo Beach State Parks Campground and order in pizza for their beach reception. I have to say this is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the causal way with family and friend!

Speaking of Pizza…

Pismo has Mountain Mikes pizza parlor 5 Cities that’s available for large parties. They also have a small arcade for kids to play at.

There’s also Blast and Brew where you can make a large party reservation in their semi private space.

Bowling - A Little Friendly Competition

Pismo Beach has a bowling alley and so does Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

Pismo Beach bowling alley info

Cal Poly Bowling at Mustang Lanes

Plan an activity for friends and family and celebrate with a little friendly competition.

Both places serve food and drinks.

A large party reservation in Pismo Beach and other beach cities

This option is the most popular with our couples! When calling about a large party reservation in Pismo, call as soon as possible. Some of these locations may not take large parties over the busy times (summer or holidays)

Here are some Pismo Bach restaurant favorites for large party reservations:

Blast and Brew - Pizza and sandwiches in Pismo *

Brew House - American food in Pismo

Cool Cats - Burgers in Pismo (by the Pier)

Finns - American food in Grover Beach by Grand Ave.

Old Juan’s Cantina - Mexican in Grover Beach *

Rosas - Italian food in Pismo *

Vista - American seafood in Pismo

Mason Bar - American in Arroyo Grande

AJ Spurs - Steak and seafood in Grover Beach *

If there’s a * it means they may also have private or semi private options

Just Eat Cake

We’ve also had a few couples celebrate with just having cake and a toast right after the ceremony. A few ceremony locations have picnic benches so our couples have set up the bench to look really nice and added on a cake cutting.

There’s a few different options for how to celebrate after your wedding ceremony. Being in the wedding business as long as I have I have seen it all from Couple having a reception in a private room to having pizza at the beach. I’m here to tell you there is no wrong or right way to celebrate after your wedding ceremony.

Whatever way you celebrate, consider having a casual Pismo Beach wedding reception and celebrate your way!

Fall Time Small Wedding in Pismo Beach, California

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:11:43 GMT

A Dreamy Fall Wedding in Pismo Beach, California

When it comes to choosing the perfect location for a small, intimate wedding, Pismo Beach, California, is a hidden gem that has both natural beauty and coastal charm. Fall is my favorite time of year for a Pismo Beach small wedding. With fall season, the summer fogs disappears, the sunsets are more colorful, the crowds clear out and you and your wedding guests can enjoy the beauty of the Central Coast.

Here’s why a small wedding in Pismo Beach during fall time might be just what you’re looking for.

1. Beautiful Backdrops

In the fall, Pismo Beach offers stunning coastal views that show off all of its beauty. The weather warms up and the colors seem brighter warm with the deep blue ocean, creating a the perfect setting for your small wedding ceremony. Imagine exchanging vows against the backdrop of golden sunsets reflecting off the water, with gentle ocean breezes adding a touch of magic to the moment. Whether you choose a beachside ceremony or a more secluded spot among the dunes, the scenery will enhance every part of your day.

Head up North on the Central Coast has more beautiful fall wedding ceremony locations. My fall favorites for a small wedding or elopement would be Montana de Oro or Cambria.

2. Milder Weather

One of the little secrets about Pismo Beach and the rest of the Central Coast, is that the weather on the coast is much better in Fall. Unlike the surprises of the cold and foggy summer months, fall offers comfortable temperatures that make outdoor celebrations enjoyable. The crisp air adds a refreshing element to your event, allowing you and your guests to relax and enjoy the surroundings. There’s a few options for having a large party dinner reservation with a coastal view out on the patio. Plus, with fewer tourists in the fall, you’ll have more space to create a less crowded experience.

3. Intimate Atmosphere

A small wedding in Pismo Beach allows for a more personal and meaningful celebration. With fewer guests, you can focus on the people who matter most to you, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pismo Beach has a variety of charming venues perfect for small gatherings, from beachfront restaurants to local wineries. You can personalize your space with autumn-themed decorations, such as warm-colored flowers, rustic elements, and cozy seating areas that invite conversation and connection. No matter what time of the year you choose for your Pismo Beach wedding, a small wedding is always a much better option!

To soak in more of that Central Coast charm, the town of Cambria has their annual Scarecrow Festival where the town in decorated for the whole month of October. Do a little local shopping after your wedding for a remembrance of your fall wedding on the Central Coast.

4. Local Favorites

One of the joys of a Pismo Beach wedding is the abundance of local favorite during Fall. Turn your small wedding or elopement into a celebration by planning fall themed events for you and your guests. For all ages, the Avila Valley Barn is a favorite during fall time. You and your family can take a hay ride to go apple picking or pick up some delicious homemade pies. An apple pie would be a great substitute for a wedding cake. There’s also a you pick pumpkin patch in San Luis Obispo and in Solvang. Head north or south from Pismo Beach for more fall themed local favorites.

5. Beautiful Moments and Pictures to Cherish

With the amazing coastal backdrop let Coastal California Weddings create the perfect setting for your wedding photos. Have your Pismo Beach small wedding or elopement overlooking the ocean or with your toes in the sand. Can’t choose which location - have a little of both with the ceremony overlooking the water and your toes in the sand with photos of just the two of you. All the photos on our website and social are from our talented photographer. We love Pismo Beach and finding the perfect photo location for your small wedding or elopement. Capture not only the beauty of your surroundings but also the joy and emotion of your special day.

6. A Lasting Connection to the Place

Choosing Pismo Beach for your small wedding or elopement gives you a unique connection to a beautiful place that you can revisit for anniversaries and special occasions. The memories created on your wedding day will forever be tied to the stunning landscapes and the warmth of the coastal community.

A small wedding in Pismo Beach during the fall is a magical experience that combines the beauty of nature with the warmth of intimate gatherings. With its stunning scenery, mild weather, and charming atmosphere, Pismo Beach is the perfect setting for couples looking to celebrate their love in a meaningful way. Whether you dream of a cozy beach ceremony or a rustic reception, this coastal haven offers everything you need for a memorable day. Embrace the charm of autumn in Pismo Beach and create a wedding day that reflects your love story.

Pismo Beach Elopement and Honeymoon

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 01:37:07 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement and Honeymoon

P ismo Beach Elopement and Honeymoon

When you are having an elopement, you can plan your day exactly your way! This is one of the fun parts of having an elopement. When getting married in Pismo Beach, there's so many beautiful locations fo You can get married with your toes in the sand or overlooking the ocean. If Pismo Beach is going to be your new special place, why not honeymoon to Pismo Beach after the wedding or spend a few relaxing days before the wedding soaking in the sun. Just make sure it’s not too much sun because you don’t want a wedding day sunburn.

Pismo Beach is located in the area called th e Central Coast. There's miles of coastline in the Central Coast and each town is unique. The towns in the Central Coast have a small town feel with a lot of local shops and places to eat.

The first beach town you'll come to is Oceano. The Oceano Dunes is the only place where you can drive on the beach in California. You may want to check the tides, turn off on Grand Ave. and head West to drive on the sand in Oceano. To check to see if you can drive on the beach in Oceano, click here . If you are looking for a local Mexican food restaurant, visit Old Juan’s Cantina in Oceano.

Turn back on Grand Ave and head East and you’ll be in the cute little town of Arroyo Grande. Looking for some coffee? Here’s some local favorites to check out. Cafe Andreini, one of the local coffee shops is in the heart of the town of Arroyo Grande. So, park close by and walk the streets for local shops and eats. Klondikes Pizza is a local favorite and R ori’s Ice Cream shop is across the street. Pizza and ice cream for a honeymoon - yes please! There’s also a cute little local hotel located in downtown, The Agrarian Hotel that gives you that small town feel . Locat ed next door is a delicious place for dinner, the Mason Bar , with steak, seafood and even lobster corndogs. It’s a great option for dinner.

Head North on the beach and you’ll be in Pismo Beach. Pismo Beach is one of the last quaint beach towns in California. It still has a small town charm to it and history. Pismo Beach has the Southern California feel of a sunny, white sandy beach. The average temperature is 70 degrees and sunny. Most of the town is located off of the Pismo Beach Pier. There’s public parking and hotels with ocean views. Some places to stay that are walking distance from the pier is Inn at the Pier, Vespera, and Sandcastle. There’s also some classic beach motels like the Edgewater and Sea Gypsy. All of the pier hotels and motels will have you steps away from the beach. I’m all about a beach walk and from the Pismo Beach pier you can walk in either direction for a nice nature stroll.

Lunch favorites in Pismo Beach would have to include Splash Cafe for their famous clam chowder. For an ocean view lunch Woolies gives you a pier view. My best friend is all about eating at Brads - it’s a must when she comes to visit.

For dinner in Pismo Beach I have a few favorites - Vista with an ocean view and menu with a variety of food options, Giuseppe’s for Italian food, McLintock’s for famous BBQ with an ocean view, and Oyster Loft for seafood and an ocean view. These four restaurants are also good options for dinner after your Pismo Beach elopement.

If you want to be a bit more active during your stay in Pismo Beach, hike the Pismo Preserve or rent a kayak from Central Coast Kayaks.

When you are staying in Pismo for your Pismo Beach elopement, you may want to take a day trip or two and head North. The locations worth visiting are - Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Los Osos, Cayucous and Cambria.

San Luis Obispo is home to Cal Poly State University. This college town has a fun and funky downtown with Bubble Gum Alley, local mom and pop shops, San Luis Rey Mission, and the Thursday Night Farmer’s Market. Check out Firestone Grill for tri -tip sandwiches, Luna Red for tapas and Lure for a variety of fresh fish dishes. For Thursday Farmer’s Market, they close down Higuera St. (one of the main streets in downtown) and booths are set up with local produce, places to eat, and entertainment. You can walk the few blocks and get a feel for the town and Farmer’s Market.

Avila Beach is another small beach town located next to Pismo Beach. If you bring your furry friend to your elopement, there’s an off the leash dog beach. The beaches here are also more kid friendly since they don’t have as large of waves. Also, on your way into town, stop by Avila Valley Barn. The Barn is stocked with produce, their famous pies, and an ice cream shop. There’s also a few farm animals that you can feed and a spot for lunch. During sometimes of the year there are hay rides and you pics. f you like to bike or walk trails, the Bob Jones Trail starts right next to Avila Barn. The trail is an easy paved trail that you can walk and it leads you right to the beach.

If you love wine, Paso Robles is the place to go with over 200 wineries.

If you want to spot sea otters, head over to Morro Bay. You can spot them on the opposite side of Morro Rock. If the tide is low, you can also collect sand dollars. Stop into town for seafood and shopping. You can also catch a boat and take a tour of the harbor for more sea life to spot.

If you like a little more history, a short drive to San Simeon will take you to the famous Hearst Castle. There are daily tours of the Castle and the Visitor’s Center is also packed with interesting facts about the castle, how it was built and the history.

Venture a little past San Simeon and you’ll find the giant elephant seals.

For more to do in Cambria and San Simeon scroll down to the bottom of this post we wrote here .

If you are traveling to Pismo Beach from Southern California, you may want to stop off for a side trip to Solvang and Buellton. Solvang is a Danish themed town with bakeries and shops to stroll around. Catch lunch at Ramen Kotori for ramen or the best spicy chicken sandwich at Craft by Corque.

If you are a beer drinker, stop off in Buellton at Firestone Brewery. They have over 20 beers on tap and also feature their sour beers. Firestone Brewery also has lunch and dinner.

Best Event Catering Theme Ideas

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:53:50 GMT

Best Event Catering Theme Ideas

by Kimberly Gumera

I t can take a lot of work to host an event, especially when it comes to catering. Guests will remember the quality of the catering until after the event is over. The food and drinks offered may create the mood for the entire gathering.

As a result, choosing the ideal catering theme is essential to any event's success. If you're an event planner, you need to stay on top of the newest culinary trends. Including a catering theme in your event may create a good setting.

Consider some of these best event catering theme ideas to make the wedding or any event memorable for your guests.

Farm-To-Table Theme

This catering theme emphasizes locally sourced, seasonally appropriate ingredients and promotes eco-friendly practices. Offer dishes with fresh ingredients from area farms, and match them with regionally produced wines and specialty drinks.

The farm-to-table concept is commonly related to a styled, informal setting replicating dining on an actual farm. Vintage farm equipment, Mason jar centerpieces, and burlap table runners are possible décor elements.

Winter Wonderland

It's important to be inclusive when planning holiday parties, but choosing a theme party catering may be challenging. You can let your guest wear anything that matches the winter wonderland concept.

Choose typically served dishes like salmon, chicken, tenderloin, or grilled portabellas for a vegetarian option.

The idea of having white color palettes or dazzling jewel tones for decors is perfect. With classic winter decorations like poinsettia plants, fireplaces, and warm blankets enhance the ambiance.

Global Fusion Theme

An innovative and entertaining menu can be made using the global fusion catering concept, which combines flavors and preparation methods from various cuisines worldwide.

This theme is a fantastic option if you want to serve your guests with multiple dishes and flavors they might not have experienced before.

A global fusion catering event's decor and atmosphere could include components from several cultures, including Asian lanterns, African textiles, or South American pottery.

DIY Taco Fiesta

This dish is so good and easy to customize to each person's taste that making it as a catering theme a good idea. Provide a buffet station with freshly prepared meats, vegetables, and taco ingredients so everyone can create their own dinner.

Include chili peppers, colorful ribbons and banners, hot sauce bottles and plant holders as décor accents for a happy and cheerful event.

Brunch Catering

A brunch catering event theme focuses on serving a meal in the middle of the morning, including breakfast and lunch dishes. Brunch is a well-liked meal often associated with informal social gatherings, making it an excellent option for various occasions, including weddings, birthdays, or corporate events.

In keeping with the brunch theme, various foods are often served, including savory and sweet breakfast items, salads, sandwiches, and light entrees.

A brunch catering event may have a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with decorations like fresh flowers, generous seating, and soft lighting. Wedding caterers must be careful and be more prepared.

Circus Theme

All ages will like this corporate event theme because it is family-friendly. Think about leasing a sizable outdoor tent. Or, if that's not appropriate, hang matching materials from the venue's ceiling to simulate the interior of a circus tent.

The best food options are popcorn, peanuts, ice cream, corn dogs, and anything else you'd find at a circus. Fabrics with red and white stripes and images of clowns, jugglers, and magicians can make beautiful additions to the decor.

Cocktail Party

Choose a cocktail party catering theme for an occasion more oriented for adults. Offer a variety of small plates and unique beverages, such as shrimp cocktails, bruschetta, and mini quiches.

A sophisticated and stylish event calls for guests to dress casually. This theme is also ideal for wedding caterers that will host intimate weddings and for the after wedding party.

Fast Food Party

This theme is popular for Gen Z. It is a great theme if you want to provide guests with a memorable and enjoyable experience that honors traditional fast food flavors.

Popular fast food meals like burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, and pizza are served as part of the fast food catering concept and presented in imaginative and entertaining ways.

Fast food restaurants may have inspired the design and atmosphere of a fast food party catering event, using vibrant colors, eye-catching signage, and whimsical embellishments.

The 3 Types Of Catering Services

Corporate Catering

Refers to the provision of food and beverages during corporate and business events. The events could be anything from intimate business get-togethers held on-site to fancy dinners held off-site and may be accompanied by catering restaurants .

While some corporate events are classy, it's important to remember that most corporate events are informal. They provide chances to network, build relationships, and bring coworkers together.

It is essential to employ a catering service that specializes in delivering for corporate events and can guarantee a laid-back ambiance.

Social Events Catering

The catering company must pay more attention to detail because social gathering functions are more intimate. The category includes special occasions like bridal and baby showers, birthdays, retirement parties, and weddings.

Some services that might be included in catering packages for social events include appetizers, décor, bartenders, and servers. Social event catering dishes vary from party to party due to their small size.

Concession Catering

Major sporting events, regular tournaments, and live performances fall under this category. During all of these events, food is typically catered. So make sure you have the ideal meal options for your guests. Careful planning is necessary for these occasions.

The goal is to focus on the most popular meal options and the speed of service rather than offering a wide array of foods to serve.

For catering theme Decor materials, CV Linens has a wide range of decor materials from linens, tablecloths in bulk , charger plates wholesale , table centerpieces to drapes. They offer great deals with a matching finest quality of materials for your catering needs.

San Simeon Beach Elopement

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:57:47 GMT

San Simeon Beach Elopement

Headed north on Highway 1, hugging the California Coast, is the town of San Simeon.

San Simeon is past the quaint town of Cambria and is best known as being the location of the famous Hearst Castle. San Simeon is a popular location for our small wedding and elopement couples who want a more secluded beach wedding. Our wedding couples stay at the Cavalier Hotel and can walk down to their beautiful sandy beach.

Couples are able to have a stress free wedding since they can stay at the hotel, get wedding ready and then walk down for their beach elopement ceremony. Choose a ceremony time close to sunset for photos like these.

Visit San Simeon for your elopement and stay for your honeymoon. Here's some of our favorite things to do when staying in San Simeon after your small wedding.

While you are staying on the central coast, there are many places you might want to explore. One of the best known is San

Simeon, the location of Hearst Castle. Set upon a hill, it was originally known as “Camp Hill” as a spot where family members

and friends of the Hearst family could sneak away from city life and rough it in the surrounding wilderness. But, since William

Randolph Hearst really envisioned more elaborate accommodations, he commissioned architect Julia Morgan to build “a little

something”. Today, that “little something”, Hearst Castle, is one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements. Called by Hearst “La Cuesta Encantada” or the Enchanted Hill, anyone who visits will agree that it is indeed enchanting. Reservations are required for the docent-led tours and options are available. There are tours of the grand rooms, the upstairs suites, cottages and kitchen tours, and even nighttime tours, to name a few. Visit www.HearstCastle.org for more information.

You might also want to explore William R. Hearst Memorial Beach. Across from Hearst Castle, this beach offers 24 picnic

benches to enjoy. Or explore Arroyo Laguna Beach to watch windsurfers and kiteboarders. Or venture down the road to

Washburn Day Use Beach/San Simeon Creek Beach, where piles of pebbles and driftwood abound, not to mention fantastic

views of the Pacific Ocean.

One of my favorite activities is to explore the area by hiking one of the many trails. And, my favorite trail is San Simeon Point

Trail. Starting at Hearst Castle Beach State Park, walk along the beach for about a quarter of a mile. When you see the first trailon your right that ascends the hillside, walk along this path along the bluff. Be prepared for some spectacular views of the

ocean below as you hike along the bluff. If you are lucky, you may even spot some baby birds nesting in the Eucalyptus trees

along the path. If you continue walking, you will come to a spot that offers a broad view of the coastline – my favorite part. In

spring, you may even spot wild flowers along the trail. San Simeon Beach is also a romantic location for an elopement. It's a more secluded beach and has amazing views.

Another fun place to visit in San Simeon is the Piedras Blancas Rookery, the only elephant seal rookery in the world. It is free,

open to the public year-round, and easily accessible. The rookery dates back to the 1700s when the elephant seals along with

other marine mammals were hunted for their blubber. Threatened with extinction, the elephant seals received protected

status in 1920. Today at the rookery, there are viewing platforms and boardwalks for watching the seals and volunteers will

answer questions.

A little farther north on Hwy 1, you might like to visit Piedras Blancas Light Station. Perched above the coastline of the Pacific

Ocean, this historic monument was built in 1875. It once warned sailors of the rocky California coastline. Two-hour tours of the

grounds are offered year-round, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. During the summer months, additional morning tours are available.

If you are up for a little drive, follow Hwy 1 along the coast to Ragged Point Inn . There you can enjoy California dining at their

restaurant. They have a sit down restaurant or one where you can grab burgers. Walk along their paths that offer beautiful views of the ocean and cliffs below. If you want to drive farther north on Hwy 1, please check to make sure the road is open due to past heavy rains and rockslides in the area.

If you want to spend the night in San Simeon, check out the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort . This hotel is tucked away in a seaside

bluff overlooking the blue Pacific. Otherwise, I would suggest returning to Cambria (my favorite spot), just south of San Simeon for a night’s stay and some good food. Try Madeline’s or the Sow’s Ear for some amazing food, or the Sea Chest on Moonstone or Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill for some delicious seafood selections.

Whatever you decide to do on your adventure along Hwy 1, you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

5 Ways to Have a Stress Free Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:22:17 GMT

5 Ways to Have a Stress Free Wedding

We know wedding planning can be stressful, so we've come up with some ways to help couples have a stress free wedding. Here's some of our favorite tips to have a stress free wedding.

Weddings can get expensive and money is one of the main things that couples fight about. Before you even start planning, decide on how much you want to spend on your wedding.

The wedding should be about what the two of you want. When planning your wedding details, check in to make sure it's a reflection of what you and your fiance really want. Others are always there to tell you want you should or shouldn't be doing, but what really counts is doing exactly what you want for your day.

The guest list should include the people who really want to be there. It's easy to let your mother in law talk you into inviting "a few of her friends". or your cousin's new boyfriend she's been dating for a few weeks. Someone will get mad at you, but at the wedding, you'll have those there that really care about you.

Choosing wisely can save you time and money. If you choose a location that has a beautiful, natural backdrop, you don't have to spend more on decorations. If you choose an officiant who speaks about what's important you both, you'll have a memorable ceremony. If you have a wedding planner that gets your vision, you'll have the wedding you've always dreamed about.

Ask for help by those people who understand your vision. Sometimes your maid of honor, mom, or wedding planner are the ones who are supportive of how you want your wedding to be. Ask those people that are important to you for help.

Still need help? Grab our planning guide here.

Pismo Pier View Elopement

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 04:47:22 GMT

Pismo Pier View Elopement

This couple had their elopement steps from their hotel with the view of the pier in the background. This location is also nice since it has some dunes.

Preserving Your Wedding Photos

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 05:35:17 GMT

Preserving Your Wedding Photos

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

The Groom's Role in Wedding Planning

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 20:43:38 GMT

T he Groom's Role in Wedding Planning

The Groom's Role in Wedding Planning

Does it seem like your groom really isn’t that into planning your wedding?

Most grooms just want their brides to be happy. I hear it all the time, the grooms typical response is, “whatever you want,” when his bride to be asks him about the wedding planning process. “Just tell me what to wear and what time I have to show up,” he continues you.

As a wedding planner and former bride, I think it’s ok and it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care!

Grooms didn’t grow up dreaming about their wedding, or playing dress up as a bride. A groom just wants to get married, and most of the time, the small details don’t really matter to him. I’ve heard many grooms say that they trust what their bride will choose.

Before you get too involved in planning the wedding, have a conversation with your groom to find out what parts of the wedding your groom wants to be involved in. Find out what parts of important to him - what he wears, what food you are serving, choosing the first dance song, or maybe the wedding dessert. Our planning guide xx goes into more detail with involving or not involving the groom. A very important part of the wedding to discuss with the groom is the budget. Some other things the two of you can talk about together are the wedding date and other details that the groom may have a say in. If you have one conversation right away, you can cross off a lot on your list while still involving the groom - there’s no need to give him a daily update of the wedding plans!

If your groom just wants you to be happy, then make sure you both understand and communicate this.

If you are more of the planner, your groom may trust you with the decisions of the day. I’ve also had a few grooms plan the whole wedding, without me talking to the bride until the day of! If both of you aren’t big planners, consider a super simple wedding or finding an all-inclusive wedding venue.

Brides, if you need help from your groom then ask for it!

Grooms, if you want to find out more about the planning process, ask!

If it gets too stressful, it may be because you aren’t planning YOUR wedding. There may be way too many people giving advise, the planning make be way to stressful or maybe way too big. If weeks go by and the stress is getting worse, not better, book a call with me. I can help walk you through some ideas before you decide to cancel. (I’ve got a personal story about this one, so I get it.)

Don’t talk bad about your bride and groom to family and friends, instead see if family can friends can lend a helping hand. If your family and friends are the ones causing the stress, then grooms, you may have to have that talk with your mother to keep her options for your sisters wedding or remind your mom that it’s your bride’s day.

Morro Bay Small Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:52:18 GMT

Morro Bay Beach Small Weddings and Elopements

We have 3 Morro Bay wedding locations for our couple to choose from.

Morro Bay Location #1 - The location below, in the video, gives you a view of Morro Rock. This location has pretty rock formations for photos and still gives you the Rock in the distance. This location is best for smaller weddings with up to 15 guests since the parking is limited.

Morro Bay Location #2 - This location is the closest to Morro Rock. It gives you the ocean in the background and throughout most of the year there's pretty grasses for photos. There is a parking lot close by, but the location is more crowded over the summer and for holidays.

View more photos from a Morro Bay Elopement at location #2 here.

Morro Bay Location #3 - This location is between location 1 and 2. This location has plenty of parking and a bathroom. As a bonus, there's a grassy space with some trees for another backdrop for photos. Scroll below to view photos from this location.

Make Morro Bay your destination wedding location!

Head north on Hwy 1 and you will find the town of Morro Bay. You can’t miss this seaside town. Just look for Morro Rock (actually a giant ancient volcanic plug) which rises 576 feet from the ocean. Though you cannot climb the rock, bring your binoculars and look for the peregrine falcons that call the rock their home. Or, you can park in the parking lot near the rock and watch the sea otters at play. If it’s adventure that you are looking for, you can try kayaking, paddleboarding, or even paragliding. For those who want something less strenuous, just stroll the Embarcadero, and peek inside some of the many shops and galleries. Or, head to my favorite, the Garden Gallery, and treat yourself to a souvenir, plants for your outdoor space or add a few new succulents to your home garden. The town has explore one of the many antique and thrift stores for treasures from the past. Another place to check out is the shell shop, if you want to take home some beautiful shells. It’s been a favorite since I was a kid. Every time we’d come over to Morro Bay I’d grab some shells to take back home.

If you visit around breakfast time, treat yourself to crème brulee French toast at Frankie’s and Lola’s. For lunch, try the fish and chips at the family-owned Dutchman’s Seafood House. If you want to sit outside while enjoying your food, stop by Tognazzini’s Dockside Café, where many afternoons you can also enjoy live entertainment. For a more elegant dining experience, try Windows by the Water. And, don’t miss one of my favorites, Dorns’s Breakers Café, for their delicious fish and chips, shrimp Louie salads, fried artichokes, and clam chowder. Dorn’s has been around for years as a favorite! They also have large party reservations so it’s a great place for a late lunch or early dinner after your Morro Bay small wedding.

If you are still up to a little more exploring, get back on Highway 1 and drive a little farther north to the seaside town of Cayucos. If your sweet tooth is calling, head to the Cayucos Candy Counter for the best turtles, truffles, or yummy ice cream and gelato. Or, stop by Brown Butter Cookie Factory for a special treat. Perhaps, you want to walk on the pier. Originally built in 1872, the pier was closed in 2013, reconstructed and re-opened in 2015. But, my favorite activity is to walk the beach and to collect rocks and shells. It's also peaceful to listen to the sound of the wave s and beautiful surrounding around me.

So, take your pick and enjoy your day on the Central Coast. Hike, eat, shop, snap photos, or just relax as you explore the towns around Morro Bay and enjoy!

Pismo Beach Ocean View Dinner

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Fri, 26 May 2023 19:24:00 GMT

D inner with a View in Pismo Beach

If you are planning a wedding a Pismo Beach, you might want to treat yourself to a romantic dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area. And, why not take advantage of one of the best views of the Pacific Ocean on the west coast. Here is a list for you to sample.

I'm going to start with my favorite place for delicious food and a view - Vista Steak and Seafood. When family is in town, this is our go to place! After selecting a cock tail (try the Pain Killer) or a bottle of wine, you might want to try the crab cakes or steamed clams and mussels for an appetizer. Or, maybe try the duck tacos for something a little different, but really yummy. I had the duck tacos the other day for lunch. They also have yummy flat bread s , if you want ed something lighter . Their clam chowder is one of the best in town. If you want seafood as an entrée, try the sanddabs cooked in lemon white wine butter sauce, or try the striped sea bass served with lemon beurre blanc. Rack of lamb, short ribs, and steaks are also on the menu, and quite tasty. One of my favorite dishes is the s hrimp and scallops – a combination of clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, and fish served over linguini in a light sauce. Then, top it all off with creme brulee or mud pie for dessert.

Let’s start at Sea Venture Restaurant. Not only is the view pretty, but the food is delicious. You can start with one of their tapas, like the coconut shrimp tacos or prime rib sliders; or try the crab cakes or crispy calamari. For your main course, try the pan seared striped bass, or the vol au vent (shrimp, lobster, fingerling potatoes, asparagus in a lobster cream sauce in puff pastry, or pork chops, rib eye, and on and on. And don’t forget to add a bottle of local wine to enjoy as you feast on the food and the sunset.

If you are near the pier, make reservations at the Oyster Loft. As the name implies, you can feast on a selection of fresh oysters while you enjoy the sunset. Then, try the roasted Brussels sprouts or beets as an appetizer. For dinner, my favorite is the pan-seared scallops served with grilled succotash, pork belly, sweet corn puree, and potato gratin. The pan-fried halibut with lobster sauce and potato puree is also excellent. For dessert, try the caramel basket – flambeed bananas and Grand Marnier whipped cream served over salted caramel ice cream.

For one of the best views on the central coast, make reservations at Ventana Grill. Be sure to request an ocean view booth for the most spectacular sunset. You can start your dining experience with one of their appetizers with a Latin flare. Perhaps, carne asada nachos, halibut ceviche, or sopas. Or try my favorite – the Pacific nachos. Here sushi-grade yellowfin tuna is served with wonton chips and the best wasabi crème, pineapple salsa, and wasabi yuzu dressing. I’m hungry already. The dinner selections also have a Latin flare, from the salmon to the sea bass, chile relleno, rib eye, or enchiladas suizas, or the al pastor pork chops, to mention a few. If you are still hungry, try the fried patron XO Ince cream for dessert – mocha almond fudge ice cream served with fresh raspberry sauce and vanilla bean whipped cream, or the sailor Jerry Plantains, caramelized with rum and served over ice cream. Yum!

Another fun spot is Marisol at the Cliffs. After you select from their cocktail menu, try the Thai chicken lettuce wraps, clam chowder, bourbon maple glazed Brussels sprouts, or calamari. Their fish tacos are always a tasty treat, as well. From the oso bucco, to the cedar plank salmon, to the halibut or swordfish, their entrees can’t be beat. Try any and enjoy. And, for dessert, try the s’mores mouse tower – a flourless chocolate torte with graham crackers, chocolate mousse, marshmallows, and bourbon caramel. Needless to say, it is delicious!

Or, try Lido Restaurant and Lounge. Start out with one of their signature drinks, like a raspberry lemondrop or a black widow (made with tequila, fresh blackberries, lime and agave). Or, enjoy one of their many draft beers. Then, try one of their “beginnings”, like crispy Brussels sprouts, a roasted beet salad, or clam chowder. From salmon to halibut to filet mignon, you can’t go wrong with one of these entrées. And, if you still want more, enjoy their flourless chocolate torte.

If fish and chips is what you want, then stop in at Spyglass Inn Restaurant for great food plus a view. But, first you might want to start out with their street tacos or the fried calamari. Or, try the coconut prawns, chicken wings, or the avocado egg rolls. But, hands down, the fish and chips with garlic fries are my favorite. The stuffed sole is also very good, as are the lobster and shrimp tacos. If you want fish with pasta, then try the halibut a la gorgonzola. Or, try the linguine and clams – also very tasty. And, for dessert, try the homemade tiramisu.

For one of the best views in town, try Vista Steak and Seafood. After selecting a cocktail or a bottle of wine, you might want to try the crab cakes or steamed clams and mussels for an appetizer. Or, maybe try the duck tacos for something a little different, but really yummy. Or try the funghi flatbread, if you want. Their clam chowder is one of the best in town. If you want seafood as an entrée, try the sanddabs cooked in lemon white wine butter sauce, or try the striped sea bass served with lemon beurre blanc. Rack of lamb, short ribs, and steaks are also on the menu, and quite tasty. One of my favorite dishes is the seafood linguini – a combination of clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, and fish served over linguini in a light sauce. Then, top it all off with creme brulee or mud pie for dessert.

Whichever restaurant you select, you are in for an enjoyable dining experience topped off with a breath-taking view of the ocean and the sunset. Enjoy!

Pismo Beach Cliff Small Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:54:47 GMT

Pismo Beach Cliff Small Wedding

He stands and waits, nervous, sometimes a little more nervous than the bride. For this wedding, the bride's dad was the nervous one. It was so sweet to hear how important walking his daughter down the aisle was. We added in a sneak peak so the dad could see his daughter all dressed up - they both cried happy tears!

Next, the couple was joined by their family and children for the wedding ceremony. It was a special day for all who attend and they were so happy to share their love with their guests at their Pismo Beach Cliff small wedding.

After the ceremony, I talked to the bride's dad and he mentioned how he eloped with the bride's mom. I always enjoy hearing wedding stories - especially when it's an elopement story.

The couple celebrated after the ceremony with cake and cupcakes. The Cypress Cliff location is one of my favorites. It is a large space and you are able to have dessert with your guests after the ceremony. This couple brought a table and the decorations for the after ceremony celebration. The cupcakes were delivered from SeaBreeze Bakery . I grabbed them before the ceremony, put them away for safe keeping and then was able to set them up during the family photos. The guests were able to enjoy a beautiful ocean view room

For the dessert, the couple had their own cake. Then, they got 2 different kinds of cupcakes for the guests to enjoy.

After their Pismo Beach Cliff small wedding, the couple went down to the beach for pictures of just the two of them.

Montana de Oro Elopement

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 20:58:24 GMT

Montana de Oro Elopement

Hidden away between Avila Beach and Morro Bay is one of the most beautiful areas on the Central Coast. A bit of a hidden gem, Montana de Oro combined both old growth eucalyptus trees, groves of wildflowers, mountain trails and ocean views for miles and miles. When I’m feeling that I need to get away for some nature time, I set my signs on a drive to Los Osos and Montana de Oro.

Last year, we started to offer Montana de Oro elopements and small weddings in this beautiful location. Our photographer was more on the modern beach boho side so many of the Montana de Oro elopement photos reflect that style. With the area and location, the beach boho vibe is ideal for a wedding ceremony in Montano de Oro. For weddings and elopements in Montana de Oro, the area requires a permit. Have Coastal California Weddings plan your small wedding or elopement so we can take care of the wedding permit paperwork. In the park, there’s a few different locations for your wedding ceremony and for pictures. I’d recommend the area for a small wedding of 15 guests are less because parking can be a bit tricky.

Exit from sunny San Luis Obispo onto Los Osos Valley Road and you are on your way to a special place called Los Osos.

This sleepy town, with a small town vibe Is packed with beautiful beaches and a forest of eucalyptus and oak trees.

Montana de Ora State Park is the most special place Los Osos has to offer. About 8,000 acres of stunning ocean views each way you look. You are guided under a canopy of eucalyptus trees as you drive to the many turn offs where several trails begin and end. Known across the globe for its mountain bike trails as well as for horseback riding. There are many trails for every hiking level as well. You will have a view of the ocean and the always captivating canyon. If I were getting married on the Central Coast, I would have an intimate Montano de Oro elopement.

Venture around this small town of Los Osos and Baywood Park because it packs a lot of hidden gems inside, you just need to look. Los Osos offers a lot of places listed on Air B and B that are perfect for romantic getaways for two or a much larger group.

The food scene has also expanded, there are many unique places here that are not to be missed. The garden cafe is the best breakfast and right next door to it is a beautiful plant nursery to visit with the hummingbirds and butterflies. No shortage of delicious Mexican food here! If you are planning on feeding a large party for a reception or even small wedding, there is a Mexican market that can cater to that! Hazards has the best Italian food and right next to that you can find the best ramen as well.

The famous High Street deli that originated in San Luis Obispo has opened a second location downtown Los Osos by the beautiful bay. The best Turkey pesto sandwich around. If you have your family in tow, ride bikes down to Beerwood, great outdoor and large deck for a fun outside vibe and room for kids to grab a slice of pizza while they run by! Enjoy a giant charcuterie plate and sunset walk down at the bay right after. If you want hamburgers, check out Sylvester’s. And for hands down the best Thai food to go, Noi’s is the place to go.

From places to just sit have a sip of wine or go out til 2 am, it’s here! During summer time there is concert on the greens at the one and only golf course in town. Night life for adults includes the ever famous dive bar called the Merrimaker, lots of fun especially for karaoke. Sweet Springs Saloon is also a great place for late nights, you may be able to catch a live show or DJ.

If your having a small wedding ceremony and are looking for a bit more of a place to go after your wedding ceremony, consider staying in San Luis Obispo or Morro Bay.

If you are looking for a location for your Montana de Oro elopement or small wedding, reception locations for smaller parties are available all over this stunning portion of the central coast. If your having a small reception 20 people max, look into Dorns Cafe, excellent food with a view that sits above the Embarcadero. The Embarcadero itself in Morro Bay has many restaurants that are right on the harbor and offer enough space to accommodate a large party reservation at The Flying Dutchman, Rosas Bar and Grill and Windows On The Water are just a few great local places you may call call to reserve space to celebrate. All offer great fresh seafood and an epic view of the famous Morro Bay Rock.

For a unique and seaworthy wedding or reception look into the Chablis Cruise, you can get married and have your reception on this two story boat while you cruise around the Morro Bay Harbor. They accommodate up to 65 people and book up fast! However you decide to celebrate your special day, Morro Bay will not disappoint.

A popular way to get hitched in Los Osos is to exchange your vows somewhere along the beach on Montana De Oro and head over to the Red Barn to meet your friends and family to celebrate. The Red Barn a great space for a larger reception where you can do it yourself with catering and entertainment. It is connected to a small park that is a skate park and playground so a great place to keep kids occupied and happy

When you rent the Red Barn it includes, plenty of parking, large BBQs, picnic tables outside and tables and chairs for inside. Do you have a relative that is a BBQ master? Visit the local Morro Bay butcher and Deli for your food and put them to work! You could also hire a catering company, there is no shortage of them 15 minutes south in San Luis Obispo.

Thinking more of a easy Taco bar? Los Osos Mexican market can cater for up to 50 people, call ahead and create your menu. Tacos De Mexico in Morro Bay also does catering for large parties. Be sure to get the spicy salsa, it is the best for those who like it hot.

In such unique places such and Los Osos and Morro Bay, there is no doubt you will find a way to celebrate your day that will be special and full of memories to be remembered always.

There are so many memories to be made here, a place where you will always feel welcomed back, you know what to expect and feel right at home. Get lost and find yourself in beautiful Los Osos!

Cambria Elopement, Just the Two of Us Ceremony on the Beach

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:12:45 GMT

Cambria Beach Elopement

C ambria 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 b each 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.

Pismo Beach Cliff Small Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 01:46:14 GMT

Pismo Beach Small Wedding - Cypress Cliff location

New Paragraph

A Snapshot of Pismo Beach - Written by one of our brides

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 01:29:25 GMT

A Snapshot Of My Pismo - Written by Michelle Williams, one of our Coastal California Wedding Brides

Pismo Beach holds a special place in my heart. I have been visiting since I was a teen, and also got married there! I am now an Arizona dweller, but I was born and raised on the central coast. I had the pleasure of introducing my husband to the beauty of Pismo Beach and all of the surrounding areas. He immediately saw why I adore it so much!

You may be on the hunt for the perfect spot to grab a quick dinner. Papi’s Grill is a local favorite for the most amazing tacos. Don’t forget to grab a refreshing agua fesca for the perfect pairing. If a romantic date night dinner is what you seek, try Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana. You can never go wrong with authentic Italian cuisine. You’ll love watching the kitchen prepare pizzas in the giant wood fire oven. The pomodoro is out of this world, accompanied by their bread and garlic dipping sauce. This restaurant is a must!

If you’re in search of the perfect place to stay, whether its a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure, check out Inn At The Cove. This is where I stayed for my wedding trip!Unforgettable views of the Pacific Ocean await you. They also have their own private rocky beach! Plenty of photo opportunities in this cozy little spot. Another favorite is the nearby Shell Beach Inn. Recently renovated and in high demand. Adorable rooms nestle around the pool. You’re sure to make some new friends during your stay here.

This is just scratching the surface of all there is to do here in this beautiful town! I’m always sure to hit all of my favorite spots during each of my visits, but always try and do something new. Whether you plan to be active, or just sit back and relax, Pismo Beach will not disappoint!

Sunset Image by Michelle Williams

Now, here is her wedding story and why she selected Coastal California Weddings for her Pismo Beach Elopement.

Beach Bride

My husband Mat and I knew right from the start that we didn’t want a big fussy wedding. We don’t have huge families or dozens of friends, this was just for the two of us. Not to mention, we had a tight budget so we had to plan within our means. We were content with a small ceremony. Just us, tying the knot on the beach sounded perfect. Living in Arizona, we were ecstatic to escape the desert for a different view. We tried to price out photography, officiant, the whole works. We came to find these things do not come cheap! We needed to find a company that could do it all for us. We initially booked a package with a company in Santa Barbara for a small wedding at Butterfly Beach. I soon got that gut feeling, it just didn’t feel right. Although we knew it was beautiful, neither of us had ever spent any time in Santa Barbara. We needed a place that was close to our hearts, so I suggested Pismo Beach. Having gown up on the central coast, Pismo just seemed like a warm hug, like going home. We took to the internet and stumbled upon Coastal California Weddings. A small intimate elopement at a price we could agree with. So, we pulled the trigger and booked our big day…again!

We planned for October 12th, 2018, giving us an eight month engagement. Pismo weather cannot be beat in the fall. Natalie at Coastal California Weddings made everything so easy for us, effortless actually. We picked our package, our wedding location and we were set. I picked out and booked our hotel, Inn At The Cove, for our trip. A most excellent choice if I do say so. I found my gorgeous dress and we were all set, nothing left but to wait for our day.

My morning started with a trip to the nail salon where I picked a perfect nude polish to compliment my nude and lace dress. Then, a girl has to get her hair done, so off to Glassbox Salon I went. A beautiful and sleek blowout for a simple and elegant look. Mat was such a sport, and accompanied me during my day of beauty. Back at the hotel, we just lounged until our sunset wedding time.

I slipped on my dress and took a look at myself. I never felt so beautiful in my whole life. A body hugging, strapless lace number that was simple, yet elegant. I put the finishing touches on my make up and walked out to present myself to my soon to be husband. Hand in hand, we headed to the tide pool beach location. My heart was racing with so much excitement and anticipation. It was as if I didn’t want it to start yet, because I didn’t want it to end.

Natalie welcomed us at the entrance to the beach, bearing my incredibly beautiful bouquet, to which she added the special touches I had requested. Down on the sand, Mat, Natalie, and our officiant Linda waited at the waters edge. It was the most picturesque scene of all my life. Not a breath of wind, the sun just starting to lower in the sky, down behind scattered clouds. Perfect streaks of sherbert colors as a back drop for the most special day of our lives. Linda gave us a ceremony that was short and sweet, leaving us wiping away tears of joy. At that moment I thought back to how people kept telling us that marriage was nothing more than a piece of paper. It was actually the most sacred and special bonding experience we could imagine. I now felt whole and complete. And for the record, yes, it does “ feel different” once you are married. It feels amazing.

We then changed our clothes and proceeded with our wedding date night. Mexican food is our absolute favorite, so we went to Zorro’s, naturally. Its our top Pismo restaurant pick, so it was perfectly fitting to enjoy it on our most special day. We then spent the rest of our evening snuggling on the balcony at our hotel, just listening to the waves crash on the shore. I don’t think there was a single thing I would change about this perfect day, start to finish.

A few months later we embarked on our honeymoon…to Disney World! A first for the both of us, and an absolutely incredible experience. So amazing in fact, that we continued a yearly tradition trip ever since. So every year we get to celebrate our anniversary at Disney. Cheers to happily ever after!

How to dress, as a guest, for a casual beach wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 03:37:54 GMT

How to Dress for a Casual Beach Wedding in Pismo Beach

Beach weddings are super popular, because they’re beautiful, yield amazing photos, are a fun destination for loved ones, and can save the happy couple some money depending on where they’re wed. However, if it’s your first time going to a casual beach wedding, you might be a little nervous about choosing the right outfit to wear. We get asked a lot from our couples about what their guests should wear for a Pismo Beach small wedding.

You want to wear something you feel great in that still fits the style of the wedding. Don’t let the casual part scare you. Here’s a style guide that will help you figure out what to wear as a guest at a casual beach wedding.

What should men wear?

If you’re a man, it’s going to be very easy to find something great to wear for a casual beach wedding. You can’t go wrong with a pair of khaki pants . Khaki pants are nicer than jeans, but will still keep your overall look casual. For a more relaxed look, consider wearing capri cut khakis.

When looking for a shirt, a light button-up will go great with your khakis. Stick to summery colors and pastels. Depending on the dress code, you might be able to have a little fun by finding a Hawaiian shirt for the occasion. A Hawaiian shirt can show off some personality, while still looking beachy and casual.

What can women wear?

As usual, women are faced with a lot more options than men. This is both exciting and can also be overwhelming. If you’re a gal that enjoys dresses, this is the perfect time to buy that sun dress you’ve been dreaming about. Although a dress can veer into a fancier category, the material of the sundress can make the look more casual. I like a dress for a wedding. It makes you feel like you are dressed up.

Not much of a dress kind of person? No worries at all! You can find the perfect summer romper for the beach wedding. Rompers are flirty, have pockets, and will let you bust a move at the reception. If you want to split the difference between a romper and a sundress, consider buying a linen jumpsuit for the occasion. You get the pants and pockets, with the silhouette of a dress.

What shoes should you wear?

Don’t forget that you’re going to be walking on sand to and from the ceremony and maybe even dancing on the sand for the reception. As a result, you’re going to want to wear comfortable shoes that will allow you to maneuver through the sand. Some guests even kick off their shoes and go with their toes in the sand.

For men, something like Vans are a great, casual option. For women, sandals or nice flip flops that match your outfit will keep you comfortable, cool, and won’t stick in the sand, like heels.

Should you wear a hat?

Wearing a hat to a casual beach wedding can be an excellent accessory! For men, consider wearing a straw fedora to keep the sun off of your ears and neck. Women could wear a sunhat to keep out of the sun. Just don’t forget to remove your hat for the ceremony!

Once you have the perfect outfit, you’ll be ready to pack your beach bag for that destination wedding. Stay casual and comfortable, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen .

Should you wear jeans?

At our beach weddings, guests have worn jeans. We may have even had a groom or 2 wearing jeans. If you aren't ok with jeans at your wedding, just let your guests know that you want them to dress up a little bit. Sometimes wearing jeans with a nice shirt is a nice option and can be done a little dressier. Just don't wear jeans with holes in them or dirty work jeans. Dress things up a bit for the special day for the couple.

Themed Outfits

This wedding took place around Halloween and the couple had a more. gothic theme for their wedding day. For most guests, it was ok for them to wear black.

Other times, the couples may have a color that they want the guests to wear. For this wedding, they asked the guests to wear pastel colors (to go with the bouquet) or floral prints. These guests also rocked their sun glasses - because it is a beach wedding!

5 Reasons to Have a Small Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:07:29 GMT

5 Reasons to Have a Small Wedding in Pismo Beach

Here's 5 Reasons to Have a Small Wedding in Pismo Beach

These past fews years have been a whirlwind of chaos and surprises. As a result of this pandemic, a lot of couples have had to make the difficult decision to postpone their wedding or convert their big ceremony into something much smaller. The good news is we’re here to tell you that there are several benefits to having a small wedding ceremony! You can still have the wedding of your dreams in the midst of a pandemic—just on a much smaller scale.

The first major benefit to having a small wedding is that it is more personal for the bride and groom. While a big wedding can be fun, it will result in a less intimate experience for the couple getting married. If you have only your closest loved ones present on your wedding day, it will help make your ceremony that much more personal and memorable.

The second benefit to having a small wedding ceremony is that you will have way less guests to worry about interacting with after the ceremony and during the reception. This will give you more time to soak in being newly married with your spouse.

Third of all, a small wedding is typically less expensive. A smaller guest list means less money spent on food, favors and all of the other guest expenses that come along with a wedding.

The fourth benefit to having a small wedding is that there are less details to worry about and plan in advance. For example, a smaller guest list means less invitations to print and mail out and less people to reach out to and coordinate hotel stays with if you are having a destination wedding.

The fifth and final benefit to having a small wedding is that it is far less stressful to plan and execute compared to a big wedding. When you have a big wedding you may worry about all of the eyes that are going to be on you, and you may not feel a close connection to every single guest that is present. However, when you condense your guest list into one that is smaller and more intimate, you will feel so much more at ease as you plan your big day—and especially as you walk down the aisle.

How to have a relaxed wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 19:50:57 GMT

How to have a relaxed wedding

Learn some ways on how to have a relaxed wedding.

A simple wedding also means a more relaxed wedding! When you are relaxing you are enjoying the day more. Your wedding day is an important one and you want to be present and excited not rushed and stressed. Normally, when couples are rushed and stressed are the ones that don’t enjoy their special day.

Here’s my tips on how to have a relaxed wedding:

Stay the night before so you can wake up, relax, then get ready for your wedding day

For your destination wedding or even if you are getting married locally, stay at one of your favorite hotels. Spend a little more on a suite or a hotel you’ve wanted to stay at. This is a special occasion and it’s ok to spend a little more on something for your wedding.

If you and your fiancé want a first look, a suite works well since the bride can get ready in one room and the groom in the other. Some of my favorite places to recommend to our couples are:

- The Inn at the Cove - beautiful ocean view rooms, close to all of our Pismo Beach ceremony locations

- Spyglass Inn - ocean view rooms, spacious, and walking distance to a few of our Pismo Beach wedding locations

- Sandcastle Inn - steps from the Pismo Beach pier, ocean front rooms, fun mid century vibe

If hotel prices are looking a little too pricy, consider another date or season. Summer time and weekends can always be a bit for expensive. We love mid week weddings too! And, Fall time is one of the best times for weather on the Central Coast.

Don’t invite any guests! Or, if you feel you need to have someone there, consider a small wedding. Even better, plan a surprise wedding.

Some guests add extra drama that you don’t need on your wedding day. Remember, this is your wedding, not theirs! If guests are feeling a little overwhelming, talk to your fiancé and reconsider your wedding. Many times, couples come to me and say they’ve planned a big wedding and they couldn’t continue with the plans because it was too much for them. The shrunk the guest list, had a small wedding, and a more relaxed wedding.

When starting the wedding planning, you and your fiancé may just want to elope. A wedding is a celebration of the love you share with your fiancé, not the love that you share with a guest. A just the two of us elopement is that - just the two of you! Many couples return home and have a “we got married” party and invite all the people that they’d invite to their wedding. They share photos, have food, and a celebration of their love.

We’ve had a few couples who’ve had a “surprise, we are getting married” wedding. What is this you ask? It’s a wedding where you let the guests know at the last minute the you are getting married. Imagine planning a wedding for a year…think about all the opinions that you have to hear about…why not just leave those options to a minimum by surprising the guests.

A couple of ours did this.

Their family had a trip planned to Pismo Beach. The couple contacted me and said they wanted to get married, but their family thought they all were just going on their annual family trip. Two weeks before the trip, the couple told their family they were getting married. Two weeks gives family enough time to plan what they are going to wear. Especially if the wedding is causal, the guests don’t have to worry about buying a formal outfit, a fun beach dress is perfect for the guest to wear. And, Amazon, Target, Macy’s and Kohl’s ships out clothes fast. So, your guests can online shop.

I sure wish I could have had a surprise we are getting married wedding or even a just the two of us elopement.

Get married sooner vs later… why wait?

Like I mention above about planning a wedding in a whole year. The more time, the more things can come up. I feel, you can plan a small wedding in about 3 months. I’ve planned small weddings in less time too!

If you have a shorter amount of time, worry doesn’t set it. If you know you only have 3 months for all the planning, you will probably only focus on what really matters, not the fluff parts of the wedding.

A relaxed wedding means you don’t have the extra time to think about the unknown. You have time to only focus on what’s important.

Have a more casual themed wedding

Weddings have really changed! They are not formal, black tie events anymore. It’s ok to have a more causal wedding. I actually think they are more fun and more relaxed!

A more causal wedding creates a more relaxed wedding.

Most of our weddings are more casual. For a more casual wedding, guests can still dress up. A wedding is a special event! But, the dress would be something a little more fancy. I’ve included some photos of guests that I think do a great job of having a more causal, but nice, dress for a wedding.

F or a casual wedding, the bride can still wear a white, lacy dress and the groom can still wear a suit.

Choose a setting that is naturally beautiful - no extra fluff needed

Our ceremony packages don’t include a lot of extras. Wondering why? I believe in the beauty of the natural backdrop. The Central Coast is an amazing setting for a wedding - from sun kissed beaches, to sunsets overlooking the ocean, to waves crashing in the distance.

The natural setting is a free item that’s provided for your wedding day. Why take away from the natural setting with added decorations? Plus, the decorations add to your budget too.

I love the beauty of the Central Coast!

Stay within your budget

One of the biggest things to stress over is your wedding budget. Feeling overwhelmed with the money part can cause you not to have a relaxed wedding.

You and your fiancé need to sit down and talk about how much you realistically can spend on your wedding. Remember, the wedding is just one day out of the rest of your life with this person. Do you want to be in debt over your wedding or do you want to start out financially free of debt with your partner?

Maybe a big, fancy, expensive wedding is not the best for you. It’s hard to realize your wedding dreams might not come true. If you still can’t get that expensive wedding out of your mind, this might be the time to take a few years to save up to pay for the wedding. But, if you think getting married to the person you love and still having most of what you want (on a budget) then now is the time to make it official!

Coastal California Wedding’s packages are affordable! I created the packages because I feel a wedding shouldn’t cost as much as a car. You can still have a beautiful, memorable wedding that doesn’t break the bank.

Venues and food are what seems to cost the most. When looking for a venue, make sure they include extras in the cost of their space. Some places charge you to just put your foot on their ground - they don’t include anything else. Or find a less expensive venue that you can personalize. With food, my favorite cost saving options are to go with a restaurant that has space for your large party. A restaurant already includes tables, chairs, silverware, glasses, napkins and table cloths (plus delivery of these items). These small extras can add up.

If costs are becoming too expensive, consider some of my tips like having a small wedding with close friends and family and then a large party back home to celebrate.

Consider an all inclusive ceremony package

Just like the restaurant example, a ceremony package that includes all the details can add up price wise.

Coastal California Weddings all inclusive packages gives you a discount on all the services that you’d have to purchase separately.

Plus, all inclusive wedding packages help you have a more relaxed wedding because you aren’t having to manage all the wedding vendors. For our packages, we have team meetings and communicate with our team. There’s no need for you to have to manage emails, texts, and phone conversations from multiple people. You talk directly to us and we bring your ideas back to our team.

These are some great tips for how to have a relaxed wedding.

Let me know if I can help plan your relaxed wedding - Love, Natalie

Pismo Beach Margo Dodd Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Mon, 23 May 2022 20:10:16 GMT

Margo Dodd Pismo Beach Small Wedding

Our most popular wedding location is Margo Dodd Gazebo in Pismo Beach. This location is tucked away from Pismo, with amazing ocean views. This couple celebrated with immediate family and included their children in their wedding ceremony.

Tidelands Park Wedding Morro Bay

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:28:01 GMT

Tidelands Park Morro Bay Wedding

Avila Beach Small Wedding

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 02:54:11 GMT

Avila Beach Small Wedding

- Avila Beach Small Wedding

Travel off Highway 1 and head West to get to the little town of Avila Beach. It’s hidden away and right around the corner from Pismo Beach.

When you take the road to Avila Beach, you’ll first pass by the Avila Valley Valley Barn . I’ve been going to the barn for the past 25 years. They have the best homemade pies and scones. There is also a selection of local fruits and vegetables and a gift store packed with more local goods, gifts, and books and toy for kids. Speaking of the kids, the barn also has a variety of barnyard animals that you and your children can feed. The animals include goats (even baby ones!), mini horses, cows, llamas, chickens and more. The Avila Barn is a great place to stop when you are headed into the town.

On the side of the road to Avila you find Bob Jones trail. This trail, along a stream and besides trees, is a nice stroll to the beach. Stop at Woodstone Market for breakfast or lunch. They have a nice outdoor seating space and they are located right next to the trail.

My favorite place for lunch is Merseas . It Is located on the pier that’s near where the fishing boats are. The restaurant is right towards the end of the pier and has outdoor seating and views right on the water.

If you are bringing your fur baby’s to your Avila Beach small wedding, Avila Beach has a dog friendly beach. It’s located away from the main town, but has a long stretch of sand for your dogs to run off the leash.

For your wedding ceremony, we like either the right side of the pier or left side of the pier, in town. There is a permit fee for Avila Beach weddings. We can help with the permit process and advise on the price.

For the right side of the pier, you are close to the Lighthouse Suites and pictures would happen under the pier. For the left side of the pier, the white cliffs and blue ocean become more of the backdrop. We had a beautiful Avila Beach small wedding as our last wedding of 2021. They had their ceremony on the left side of the Avila Beach pier. Read more about their romantic Avila Beach small wedding with close family. Meet Lisa and Ron.

L isa and Ron - Sometimes life gives you a second chance at love. And that is what happened with this sweet couple we married this past December in Avila Beach. They had met in high school, but the timing just wasn’t right. So, their paths went in different directions. Fast forward, and their paths crossed again, and this time fate was on their side. On their first family trip to Cancun, even though the trip was filled with trials and tribulations, the couple was able to wake up smiling and happy to enjoy another day. From that trip, they learned that they could get through anything, as long as they were together.

So, they were happy to seal that togetherness with a small, intimate small wedding ceremony on the beach in Avila. The sky was an amazing blue, with beautiful clouds and warm sun. And, since the wedding took place mid-week, they had the beach all to themselves.

For this secluded wedding, the couple was surrounded by close family members. The bride’s son, with a tear of joy in his eye, walked his mom down the sandy path to her smiling husband-to-be.

To pay tribute to deceased members of the family, the couple decided to give each person attending the wedding a rose to be placed in the spot where the couple said their vows. The couple chose real roses that would be washed out to sea with the tide, returning to nature.

The bride had two adult children in attendance, and the groom had one. To join the families, the couple decided to incorporate a shell ceremony after their vows to represent the blending of the families. The adult children joined the couple and each were given a shell to hold. Each person m ade a wish for their future as a family. The shells were then placed in a glass container to create a keepsake of this joyous occasion.

I really liked the small gathering of family members, the tribute to the family members who were looking down from heaven, and the shell ceremony to signify the blending of the families. And, I especially like the time and effort the groom took to write about the qualities he cherished in his wife. We often encourage the couple to give us information so that we can make the ceremony more personal. Many times, the couple will write a little about the qualities they cherish in their spouse, but this groom went all out. Though he struggled at first about what to say, after some thought (and the threat of being in the dog house), he wrote the sweetest tribute to “his special lady”, and his words were spoken from his heart. From her leadership to her outgoing personality, her qualities as a good listener, an excellent advisor and loving mother, and her ability to be his rock, he was able to express why she is such a remarkable person. The couple also shared a toast at the end.

From the beginning of the guests gathering for this Avila Beach small wedding, to the secluded beach, the cheers from the family as the couple was pronounced husband and wife, the wedding was filled with laughter, tears, emotions, and lots of love – the perfect ending to our 2021 wedding season!

Have a small wedding and save money

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 22:54:41 GMT

Have a small wedding and save money

Y ou just got engaged! It’s supposed to be a very happy time, but it can also be overwhelming when you think about all of the details and planning to come.

Let me let you in on a little secret. Why not have a small wedding or just elope?

For a lot of our couples, they just want to get married. They’ve been happy together for a lot of years and know the next right thing to do is to get married.

Some couples get stressed by the thought of a large wedding, some come from big extended families from states that are thousands of miles away, other just want to sneak away and elope and others had the big wedding before and just want to keep things simple.

Scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram and thoughts of your dream wedding is fun but it all costs time and money.

So save your money and use in on something that lasts longer than one day! You can elope or have a small intimate wedding on a budget without compromising beauty or tradition. Here are a few suggestions on how to have a small wedding and save money:

Venue: Coastal California Weddings has some beautiful ocean front wedding locations. Some have small permit fees, while others are free. These ocean front locations are perfect for a small wedding. Bonus because they are naturally beautiful and you don’t need any extra flowers or other decorations. Mother Nature provides the beauty!

Dress: Take a look at clearance racks at high end bridal stores. Or even some of the bridesmaids dresses may be a more casual option. I got my perfect wedding dress off the sales rack at David’s Bridal - I love it and it was a steal of a deal. Other brides get dresses from Amazon or a quick search on Google of white dresses could come up with the perfect, low cost dress for you. And, again, you will only be wearing the dress once.

Food: Someone I follow on Instagram had her wedding catered by Chipotle . I know...sounds crazy huh?! I t was a glam, Hollywood inspired affair. The bride wore a gorgeous, beaded dress and the venue was an art-deco dream, but burrito bowls were on the menu. RibLine also has options for catering and food to pick up. Another suggestion is a brunch wedding. Breakfast foods are less than dinner and you can include mimosas as a signature cocktail. Go for venues that provide all inclusive options so you don’t have to pay extra for the tables, chairs, linens etc. You could also have a large party dinner at a local restaurant so you are still celebrating with family and friends but aren’t paying large fees to rent out space.

For Chipotle catering click here . They have burritos, salads, and bowls and all come with chips and salsa. The closest Chipotle is in San Luis Obispo. A few of our locations have picnic benches so you can enjoy a meal with family at the same location as your wedding ceremony.

Here the information for Rib Line . Rib Line is located in Grover Beach.

Music: That’s easy nowadays. Come up with your own playlist and have that playing on wireless speakers. One of your guests can gift you a bluetooth speaker as a wedding gift too. If you don’t have a playlist, Youtube has some great music options for free.

Flowers: Coastal California Wedding’s packages include a bride’s bouquet. We source local flowers to save on the cost of bouquets. We also don’t add on extra fees for our standard bouquets. Especially with covid, the price of flowers has gone up and their availability has been difficult at times. We make sure your bouquet is still your wow piece!

Favors: It’s always nice to give a gift to those who celebrated with you. I always love getting gifts. :) For a plant themed gift, let nature do the work for you. I love using small potted succulents. Wildflowers in mini vases are also a lovely favor idea and you can write a special thank you tag around the vase.

Here's how to make the succulent gifts:

Pots - I found these cute ones at Amazon

Succulents - your local hardware store or garden shop should have them. If you want to try a local garden store first, they may give you a discount if you were buying in bulk

Dirt - the same place you got your succulents from would be the place you get the dirt from

Tags - I found that Avery has some printable gift tags

Whatever you decide for your small wedding or elopement, remember that it’s really about the love the two of you share. If you decided to have guests, make those family and friends feel extra special. Think of your wedding more of a celebration of love - have fun, enjoy the special people you invited and don’t break the bank! Hope you enjoyed my ways to have a small wedding and save money.

Pismo Boho Beach Elopement

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 06:48:10 GMT

P ismo Boho Beach Elopement

Pismo Boho Beach Elopement - Tree Grove Location, Elopement in Pismo Beach

Where do you start with planning a wedding? For some couples this can be a difficult tasks - who do you invite, where do you have the wedding, what date is meaningful?

After being engaged for a few years, an elopement, with just the two of you is probably the best way to get married! If you are an easy going couple, who loves the beauty of the beach, and wants to celebrate their love. If planning a wedding sounds stressful, make the event only about the two of you. My favorite weddings are elopements.

Sometimes the couple keeps their elopement a secret with plans to tell friends and family later that night. Other couples decide to turn their elopement into an extended honeymoon. Whatever your plans are, settle on the beautiful California Coast for a boho beach elopement.

This couple wanted a natural, boho feel to their wedding day. They were drawn to the Tree Grove location - the bride was a lover of trees and the groom a lover of water from his years spent surfing.

Drawn to Pismo Beach since it was one of the places they stopped on their first road trip. They had also carved their initials in the rocks of Shell Beach. At that time, they probably had no idea that they’d return to Pismo Beach to be married.

Since the couple wanted a more elegant natural beach wedding, Emily photographed their Pismo Beach elopement. I love the candid photos that she did of the couple. The bride commented that Emily really got them as a couple. There was such warmth and love that showed through in the couple’s photos.

One reason why I love Pismo Beach for elopements is because it’s a great destination to not only get married, but to have a honeymoon at. For our couples, they normally stay a few days after the elopement to enjoy the beauty of the Central Coast.

This wedding was a perfect boho beach elopement. It first started with the joy felt by the bride when she decided that it was time to get married. She’d always known that November was the month she wanted as her wedding date. We planned their boho beach wedding within a few days. How stress less would it be to know that within a matter of days you were getting married. The more time you have to plan, the more overwhelming you can feel. Don’t worry about us planning in a matter of days. I’ve planned a few weddings with a days notice. As long as the legal parts are figured out and our team is available, we can plan a next day elopement.

To plan a beach boho wedding, I feel it’s about the location in a natural setting. In Pismo Beach, my favorite setting would be walking though eucalyptus trees, blue waters, some clouds in the sky and your toes in the sand. We have 2 locations with the boho vibe. Moonstone Beach in Cambria also gives off a beach boho vibe. It has a small sandy beach, rock, and large cypress trees.

Next, would be the outfits for the couple. The bride’s dress for our boho beach elopement was a long, lacy dress with bell sleeves. The groom wore a suit. Other examples of boho wedding dresses would be ones with lace, flowey, easy to wear fabrics, and casual. These dresses are not your traditional form fitting wedding dress with a train. A simple cream wedding dress may be another option for a boho beach elopement.

Another one of our brides went for the boho look with her wedding dress below. It was simple yet elegant.

For the bride’s bouquet eucalyptus is always a go to for boho beach elopements. The shades of darker free, firmer texture and natural flowing look is a must for a boho beach elopement bouquet. There are a few different types of eucalyptus that our floral designers use for boho beach elopements. I like to have the front of the bouquet heavier with colorful florals and the eucalyptus wrapped around the stems and to the sides. Since the boho bouquet is not round, make sure to ask your florist or wedding coordinator where the front of your bouquet is. Make sure that you and your [photographer pay attention to the front of the bouquet and have the forward for photos. Also, since the boho beach wedding bouquet is a little more wild, it’s also important to have the bouquet held lower to your belly. I always tell brides to make sure their thumb is touching their belly button. It’s a good rule of thumb to accent your dress and make sure your bouquet doesn’t take over.

For a beach boho elopement, I feel shoes are not optional! If the bride is wanting to wear shoes, I suggest a cute candle in brown color or some simple flats that you can slip on and off. For brides getting married in the sand, a wedge and hells are really hard to walk in. If you have a longer dress, a cute boot would also work as shoes to wear. In the cooler weather, I wear a boot when coordinating beach weddings. They are perfect for keeping out the sand too.

The bride’s hair would be cute with a side braid with half of the hair up. A flower or greenery crown works well too for a bobo beach elopement. Etsy has some really simple eucalyptus crows. Our bride from this boho beach elopement picked greenery from her garden and added pieces of it to hear up do. Beach waves or soft curls would also be a great hair style for a beach elopement.

To end the special day, I’d recommend adding a blanket and a little bubbly to your wedding bag. Take a walk down to the beach, snuggle up with the one you just said I do to, watch the sunset and toast to a happily ever after.

Pismo Beach makes a great location for a boho beach elopement!

Being a Guest at a Small Wedding

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 23:37:16 GMT

Being a Guest at a Small Wedding

As a small wedding planner, I'd much rather attend a small wedding! It's much more personal and I would feel honored to be one of the few guests invited to the couple's small wedding. My friend Jessica recently attended her brother's small wedding. I wanted her to write more about her experience.

So often wedding magazines highlight huge, expensive weddings. The guest lists for these lavish events are so big that the newly married couple won’t even be able to name half of their guest list at their one year anniversary gathering. Although these kinds of events can be fun, because they’re so over the top, I personally prefer being a guest at a small wedding.

There are many perks of small weddings. Not just for the newlyweds-to-be, but also for their guests. If you’re feeling pressure to throw a big wedding, but in your heart you’d love to have an intimate event, here are reasons you should follow that small wedding impulse from a guest’s perspective.

You get more time with the newlyweds on their special day.

When you go to a big wedding, even if you’re close friends with the couple, you end up getting lost in the shuffle. The married couple is obligated to check in with all of their guests at least once during the course of the wedding and reception. At big weddings, as a guest, you pretty much get to say “hi, lovely wedding, congrats, and bye” in the receiving line.

Small weddings, on the other hand, give guests the opportunity to be a part of your special day. As a guest at a small wedding, I feel special, because I get to be a part of every aspect in a more up-close way, without the stress of being in the wedding party. I get to have more conversations with the new couple, and therefore make more memories. Being a guest at a small wedding versus a big wedding is like the difference between sitting up close at a concert event where you get to shake the lead singer’s hand or back on a balcony behind a pillar.

The food is better at small weddings.

There, I said it. The food is usually better at small weddings! When a couple is paying for hundreds of plates of food—unless the couple is very wealthy–they have to be much more conscientious about price. This means that sometimes the food isn’t as good, because the focus is on quantity, instead of quality.

Also, I would always rather eat food at a small wedding, because you often get a look into the married couple’s favorite types of food. Even if the food isn’t high end, there’s usually a story behind it, like a first date or a favorite childhood meal.

The focus is on the couple.

As an attendee, I feel the day should be more focused on the couple, than herding guests and keeping them happy. It’s really hard to keep 100 or more people happy all day! Small weddings put the attention where it should be: the couple. Small weddings always feel more intimate, even for guests. As a wedding guest , you get to revel in the small details that your friends could afford, like personalized napkin rings or specialty center pieces, because their money wasn't being reallocated towards guests’ comfort.

There’s usually a lot less drama!

Weddings are high stakes events. Emotions run high. When you’re able to limit your guest list, you don’t have to invite your weird third cousin who’s going to creep all of your friends out, and as a guest, I appreciate that!

Also, no one has to worry about “so and so not sitting close to so and so,” because they don’t get along. Being a part of a small wedding means that the guest list is more curated. As a guest, staying away from drama makes the day much more enjoyable.

Small wedding guests are more likely to be in cherished wedding pictures.

At big weddings, unless you’re in the wedding party, you probably won’t get your own picture with the new couple. This can be disappointing if you’re a close friend. At small weddings, you get your picture with the couple, and become a part of their cherished wedding photo album. (Natalie's take on this - Yes, at our weddings the couple gets photos with all the guests! At my wedding I only got photos with my immediate family. I really missed getting photos with more people.)

You get to travel to exciting places.

Small weddings can turn into destination weddings! As a wedding guest, it’s so fun to get to travel to somewhere special, so you get to enjoy the wedding and a bit of a vacation. I’ve been to a small wedding where there were five guests and after the ceremony we all swam with dolphins! It was such a special wedding.

You actually get to eat dessert!

It’s easy to miscalculate cake size with a huge guest list. I’ve been to a wedding where they ran out of cake before everyone got a piece, because they miscalculated! That would never happen at a small wedding. At small weddings, you get your cake and your guests get to eat it, too!

Options for the First Look

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 21:43:40 GMT

Options for the First Look

The first time you see your spouse-to-be on your wedding day all decked out in their dress or fancy suit is a momentous occasion. It’s arguably one of the most memorable parts of the day, and a moment you’re sure to want to share with future generations. Capturing that moment can be done in a variety of ways. There are a few decisions you and your fiancé need to make together beforehand to make it the picture perfect day you wanted. Here’s what you should know when arranging your first look.

What are your first look options?

There are two ways to do your first look: during the ceremony and before the ceremony. There’s no right answer when it comes to which type of first look is better, it’s just important to pick what’s right for you and your future spouse. For our weddings, I'd say 75% of the couple opt to have the first look the traditional way and have it at the ceremony. The rest decide to have the first look between just the two of them. Let's take a look at the benefits of both.

A first look at the ceremony

Traditionally, the first look would be done when the bride walks down the aisle. The groom is up at the front of the ceremony waiting for his bride. All of your friends and family will be there to witness as you and your partner see each other for the first time. It’s a beautiful, emotional moment to share with all of the ones you love. This powerful moment carries nicely into the wedding itself.

We capture this moment with the photos from your wedding. We will coordinate the first look at the ceremony.

Having a first look at the ceremony is the more traditional way for the couple to see each other for the first time.

Can you have a first look if it is just the couple and no guests?

Of course! Many times, for elopements with just the couple, a first look is easily done at the ceremony location. It helps to create an even more intimate wedding ceremony.

What are the benefits of a first look before the ceremony?

Forget what you’ve heard about it being bad luck to see your spouse before the wedding. We've coordinated many happy couples who've had first looks before the ceremony and they’re still going strong. One of the biggest benefits of doing the first look beforehand is that it truly is a memorable moment with just the two of you. If you have guests are your wedding, a first look before the ceremony allows for a private moment between the two of you to experience the surprise of you dressed your best! Some options for the first look include: the hotel where you’re getting ready, at another location, or anywhere with a beautiful backdrop.

If you are having your wedding ceremony overlooking the ocean, consider a first look on the beach. There are a lot of beach front hotels in Pismo Beach where you can get ready and then have a first look on the beach. Since the first look also includes photos of the two of you, maybe choose a first look location with a different backdrop as your wedding ceremony. It's always nice to get a variety of photos on your wedding day.

Doing the first look before the ceremony gives you more time to live in that moment with your spouse. It’s longer than just a few seconds, so you’ll get even more photos of this event. Some couples also use the first look as a time to exchange wedding gifts or even say something to each other. Many times, the couple doesn't want to say something to each other during the wedding because they are nervous, the first look may be a great time to say those words in private.

When it’s beforehand you have complete control over who else is there to watch. If you just want it to be the two of you, that's great. If you want your parents or the wedding party there to witness the first look, that can be done, too. After the first look, you can proceed with more pictures with the wedding party, so all you have to do after your wedding is take a couple of extended family photos and then party at your reception!

Together, I’ll help you pick the first look that makes the most sense with your wedding day schedule and your vision of that all-important moment. I want you to look back on those photos and feel the joy of that moment for many years to come.

Do you have to have a first look?

No, you do not have to have a first look. We also have couples who arrive to the ceremony together.

Here are some first looks from our happy couples.

For this happy couple, they got married in San Luis Obispo. So, for their first look, they wanted some pictures at the beach.

This happy couple wanted to share a first look with just the two of them. They had some photos close to their ceremony location and then walked hand in hand to the ceremony together. And, how cute was the way she came up to her groom for the first look.

Look at this cute expression on her face! She was so excited to see her groom for the first time.

After the first look, the groom grabbed his bride's hand for a sweet kiss!

Pismo Beach North Small Wedding

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 16:22:31 GMT

Pismo Beach North Small Wedding

Pismo Beach North Elopement

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 03:51:20 GMT

Pismo Beach North Elopement

Pismo Beach Elopement by the Pier

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 04:34:20 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement by the Pier

Pismo Beach Small Wedding

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 04:17:42 GMT

Pismo Beach Small Wedding

Small Boho Beach Wedding

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 03:56:16 GMT

Small Boho Beach Wedding

There's a great hidden place in Pismo Beach with trees and views of the ocean. It makes the perfect setting for a beach boho setting. The trees create a natural aisle way that the bride can walk down. The setting opens up to the ocean in the background. The couple and their guests are shaded by the trees. The dunes and the plants create a golden, brown, and green toned backdrop.

Beautiful Beach Elopement in Pismo Beach

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 02:09:31 GMT

Beautiful Beach Elopement Pismo Beach

Plan A Last Minute Elopement Pismo Beach

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 23:10:07 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement - A Casual Day of Love

See the photos below and read more about their Pismo Beach Elopement and how our all inclusive wedding package makes it easy to plan an elopement in one day!

At Coastal California Weddings, we specialize in making wedding dreams come true—no matter the timeline. This couple had a Pismo Beach elopement that didn't include the bride wearing a traditional white dress. And, you know what? I love it when the bride wears something different than white. Once of the reasons why the bride wore a casual green dress was because the groom surprised her! Yep...she had no idea that the two of them were going to get married until they arrived in Pismo. It was a surprise trip! The bride had no problems with the surprise and even was able to do a little shopping at the Pismo Beach Outlets for some "wedding sandals. " We recently had the pleasure of coordinating a stunning elopement for a lovely couple who, with very little time to spare, wanted to say "I do" on the picturesque shores of Pismo Beach. And in just one day, we made it happen—proving that even the most spontaneous wedding ideas can become unforgettable moments.

A lot of couple's ask how long they should wait before they book their wedding. I always say the sooner the better! This couple was lucky that we were available for their ceremony. In most cases, a last minute elopement in Pismo Beach can be planned in a weeks time. For weddings with more guests, we can plan a last minute wedding in a few weeks. If you need to plan your Pismo Beach elopement quicker, just ask and we can see what we can do to help!

The Surprise That Took Everyone’s Breath Away

The bride had no idea what was coming. The groom, with only a few days to plan, contacted us with a simple request: to organize a beautiful, intimate wedding by the sea. He wanted to surprise his bride with a spontaneous beach elopement that she would never forget.

With no time to waste, we got to work immediately, tapping into our expertise and connections to pull together all the elements for a perfect day. The beauty of working with Coastal California Weddings is that we offer an all-inclusive package designed to accommodate couples who don’t have months—or even weeks—to plan their wedding. We handle everything: from the officiant and photographer to floral arrangements and even the details of the beach location.

The groom’s surprise plan began to take shape. While he managed to keep everything under wraps, we ensured that every detail aligned with the couple’s vision, even though the timeline was tight. By the time the bride arrived at the beach, everything was ready: a beautiful arch draped in white fabric and wildflowers, a photographer to capture every moment, and a sound system for the soft, romantic music that played in the background.

Stress-Free Wedding Planning, Even Last-Minute

The key to making this last-minute elopement work smoothly was our all-inclusive wedding package. From the first phone call to the final “I do,” Coastal California Weddings provided full-service coordination, so the couple could enjoy a stress-free day without worrying about a thing.

Our package includes:

Personalized Ceremony Design : We work with couples to create a ceremony that reflects their personalities and love story, no matter the time crunch.
Experienced Officiants : Our officiants are not only legally certified but also passionate about crafting meaningful ceremonies that feel personal and authentic. They’re available at a moment’s notice.
Photography : Capturing beautiful moments is essential, and we have talented photographers and videographers who know how to work with the natural beauty of the coast to create breathtaking shots.
Floral Arrangements : For this elopement, we chose wild, beachy blooms that complemented the ocean breeze.
Location Coordination : Pismo Beach is one of the most beautiful wedding destinations in California, and our team knows the best spots for a private, intimate ceremony. We make sure the location is prepared and set up so couples don’t have to worry about a thing.
All the Small Details : From chairs and decor to permits and beach access arrangements, we handle it all. All the couple had to do was show up and get married.

A Memorable Moment, No Matter the Timeframe

The ceremony was simple, yet incredibly moving. As the groom stood on the sand, waiting for his bride, the waves of the Pacific Ocean created a soothing soundtrack. When the bride arrived, her emotions were undeniable as she realized the surprise that awaited her. With a gorgeous ocean sunset as their backdrop, the couple exchanged vows, surrounded by a small circle of loved ones (and the occasional curious beachgoer).

The photographer captured every moment—each kiss, each smile, each laugh—as the couple celebrated their spontaneous love in the most magical way possible.

Why Last-Minute Weddings Are No Problem

At Coastal California Weddings, we understand that not everyone has the luxury of months or even weeks to plan a wedding. Whether it’s a last-minute decision, a change of plans, or a desire to escape the stress of big wedding details, we are here to make the process simple, efficient, and seamless.

We’ve perfected the art of last-minute weddings, especially for couples who don’t want to sacrifice quality or beauty for speed. Thanks to our all-inclusive wedding packages, we make sure that each wedding feels just as special as those planned months in advance. For couples who are in a rush, we create an intimate, personalized ceremony without compromising on the little touches that make it feel unique.

Conclusion: Your Wedding, Your Way—Even Last Minute

Whether you're planning a spontaneous beach elopement or just need to tie the knot on short notice, Coastal California Weddings is here to help you make it happen. From beachside ceremonies in Pismo Beach to other stunning coastal locations, our team ensures that every couple has a wedding experience they’ll cherish forever.

For those who want a beautiful, stress-free day without the pressure of months of planning, we’ve got you covered. Trust us to bring your dream wedding to life, no matter how much time you have to plan it.

Pismo Beach Dunes Elopement

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:36:43 GMT

Pismo Beach Dunes Elopement

Pismo Beach Pier Elopement

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 16:09:18 GMT

Pismo Beach Pier Elopement

Located in the heart of Pismo Beach, the Pier is the main attraction in the city. It's also where this couple decided to have an elopement with just the two of them. They had a first look on the beach and then the ceremony close to the water. After the ceremony, they went to the pier for photos.

Romantic Pismo Beach Small Wedding

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 18:23:40 GMT

Romantic Pismo Beach Small Wedding

I always love the midweek weddings when the weather is perfect and love is in the air. This morning started out with the clouds over the beach, but as soon as the couple arrived for the wedding ceremony, the clouds cleared and the beach was so beautiful! A morning wedding is also great because the beaches are a little less crowded. This beach was people free, except for the guests who joined them for their Pismo Beach wedding.

The couple also included their boys in the ceremony and did a shell unity ceremony as a keepsake for their family.

Rock Beach Elopement

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:12:08 GMT

Rock Beach Elopement

Gazebo Cliff Small Wedding

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:12:06 GMT

Gazebo Cliff Small Wedding Pismo Beach

My favorite part of this wedding was how the couple involved their cute Corgi in the ceremony! I think including your pets in your wedding is a pretty cool thing! This couple had their dog walk down the aisle first. He had his "human escort" as the bride described him, asset with the walking or more like holding of the leash.

The ceremony was decorated with our rose gold arch with flowers that matched the bride's bouquet.

This couple met during their time attending Cal Poly. As Cal Poly alumni, they knew Pismo Beach was their special spot to say I do. After their Gazebo Cliff wedding ceremony, the couple had their reception in San Luis Obispo at the Granada Hotel.

Tree Grove Ceremony Pismo Beach

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:12:03 GMT

Tree Grove Ceremony Pismo Beach

See photos from their Tree Grove small wedding in Pismo Beach. The couple had their ceremony at the Tree Grove location and then took photos around the wooded area and then they went to the beach for pictures with just the two of them.

Pismo Dunes Beach Wedding

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:12:01 GMT

Pismo Dunes Beach Wedding

See their amazing Pismo Beach Dunes wedding - the fog added to the romance of their day.

Pismo Beach Small Wedding at the Beach

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:59 GMT

Pismo Beach Small Wedding on the Beach

This couple started out their wedding day at the Ocean Cliff location. For this wedding, the guests were standing, with view of the couple and the Pacific Ocean. After the ceremony, they went down to the beach and finished with photos at their Pismo Beach small wedding on the beach.

Pismo Beach Elopement Toes in the Sand

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:55 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement Toes in the Sand

Thinking about eloping? Just the two of you? It's the simplest way to get married. A wedding is about the love that you share between the two of you. So why not just have the wedding ceremony be you and your forever.

These two were married in Pismo Beach with their toes in the sand. They added a shell ceremony to their wedding and even went in the ocean after the ceremony for some very romantic pictures.

Ocean Cliff Small Wedding Pismo Beach

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:54 GMT

Ocean Cliff Small Wedding Pismo Beach

This small Pismo Beach wedding took place on a bright sunny day where the couple was surrounded by love. After the ceremony, they walked to the beach for photos of just the two of them.

Margo Dodd Gazebo Wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:52 GMT

Margo Dodd Gazebo Wedding

A romantic Valentine's Day on the Central Coast and Morro Bay proposal made Pismo Beach the perfect place for this couple to say I do. The couple wished for to have a long lasting and loving marriage and take many journeys across the world together.

Cypress Cliff Wedding

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:50 GMT

Cypress Cliff Small Wedding

This couple had a small wedding for their Cypress Cliff wedding ceremony. This green grassy space is filled with big trees and views of the ocean.

Pismo Beach Elopement

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:48 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement

This couple wished for endless love and happiness. They were joined by the bride's parents and both of their children. The bride's son and daughter walked her down the aisle and then the bride's dad walked her the rest of the way. The bride surprised her groom by playing their favorite song as she walked to him. Their song was “From This Moment On” Shania Twain. It's a classic wedding song and reminded them of their early times dating. The groom's sons stood up next to him for the ceremony and the bride's son and daughter were standing up next to her. It's always so sweet when two families are blended and have the love and support of a new family.

After the ceremony, photos were taken at the Cliff space with the couple's family and children. The bride had wanted photos on the beach, so the couple added on photos at the Ocean Dunes location around sunset time. Look at those happy smiles on the faces of the couple. They had a simply amazing Pismo Beach elopement.

Pismo Beach Dunes Elopement

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:11:45 GMT

Pismo Beach Dunes Elopement

This couple celebrated their love with an intimate beach elopement at the Pismo Beach Dunes. See more photos from our Ocean Dunes location and from their wedding.

Pismo Beach Boho Beach Small Wedding

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:28:46 GMT

Pismo Beach Boho Beach Small Wedding

Pismo Beach Boho Beach Small Wedding - This couple gathered around the Gazebo Cliff space with their guests standing, overlooking the beautiful dusty blue ocean. The bride's bouquet was the perfect addition to their boho beach ceremony. The ceremony was also during the golden hour at sunset, so their pictures had an amazing glow to them.

Ocean View Gazebo Wedding

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:28:44 GMT

Ocean View Gazebo Wedding

Such sweet moments shared for this couple under the gazebo. Their guests were seated around the gazebo and witnessed their special day. The couple went down to the beach for photos after the ceremony.

Margo Dodd Pismo Beach Elopement

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:28:42 GMT

Margo Dodd Pismo Beach Elopement

This couple was joined by 3 guests, including the bride's son who walked her down the aisle. The groom sang a song to his bride during the ceremony. The guests gathered around the gazebo to watch the ceremony.

Margo Dodd Gazebo Pismo Beach Small Wedding

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:28:38 GMT

Margo Dodd Gazebo Pismo Beach Small Wedding

This couple planned the perfect small wedding at Margo Dodd Gazebo in Pismo Beach. The couple said their own vows to each other. The bride's daughter was their maid of honor and the groom's brother was his best man. After the wedding ceremony, the couple had their first dance under the gazebo. They wanted a variety of photos, so they decided to have pictures with the Pismo Pier in the background and under the Pier. See more photos of their weddings below.

How to include your pet in your wedding

coastalcaliforniaweddings@gmail.com (Natalie Jones) — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 04:14:45 GMT

How to include your pet in your wedding

This month we've had more furry friends attending weddings. I thought it's time to again mention that we love dogs at our weddings. My dog was at mine, so I'll do all I can to have yours there. Pets are an important part of the family and should be there where you say I do.

Here are some ways on how to include your pet in your wedding:

Have your dog walk the bride down the aisle - We have brides being walked down by their children, so why not have your dog walk the bride down the aisle. This would be especially perfect if the dog belonged to the bride.
Have your dog as part of the wedding party - One of our couples wanted her brother to walk their dog down the aisle. The two of them were best buddies at the wedding and the brother was in charge of watching the dog during the ceremony.
Have them in the photos - I always encourage couples to make sure to include their dog in their photos. The one below was just of the dogs, but the couple took the dogs to the beach so they all could be included in more photos. I still have the photo of my dog at my wedding up on the dresser. He passed away a few years ago, but it's such a dapper photo of him!
Include them in parts of the ceremony - The most popular way to include a pet in the ceremony is Mohave them be the ring barker. The dog can bring up the rings. Some couples tie the rings around the dog's collar or some couple's have a human assistant walk the dog up while the assistant gives the rings to the officiant. You wouldn't want to lose the rings, so having a human help is always best.
Find cute outfits for them - In all the photos below, the dogs were all dressed for the occasion. The dogs from our wedding were all boys so they had on bow ties and jackets. If you have a girl dog, you could have her wear a dress, tutu or flower crown.
Decorate their leash - Another thing you can do is to decorate the leash for your dog. You can color coordinate the leash with your wedding colors. Other ideas include adding greenery to the least or adding flowers.
Give them flowers too - We've had dogs who've worn boutonnieres and for the girl dogs, you can give them flower crowns.
Get a matching tie - The groom and the dogs can wear matching ties.
Have a dance with your doggie - After the first dance, grab your pooch and have a dance with them.

Other Central Coast Wedding Locations

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:36:00 GMT

We have some other Central Coast wedding locations for your special day.

Montana de Oro

To see more photos from weddings in Montana de Oro click here

Avila Beach

Morro Bay Beach Weddings

Morro Bay - Far end of the beach

Morro Bay - Closer to the rock

Morro Bay - Tidelands Park

Cambria Beach Weddings

To view locations from a Cambria Elopement click here.

Cambria Landing Wedding

Check out the video above of at the Cambria Landing location.

San Simeon

To see our latest San Simeon elopement click here

Check out a video of a Cambria first look and San Simeon elopement here

Bridal Bouquets

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 01:36:00 GMT

Here are examples of our bride’s bouquets. For these bouquets, the bride selects 1-3 colors for her bouquet and the florist designs and hand selects the flowers. If you are looking for a more custom bouquet, you can add that on to your package.

Examples of bouquets from our brides

This style of bouquet tends to have more flowers and less greenery. When there is greenery, it's added to the bottom of the bouquet. These bouquets are normally on the small to medium side.

Also, please look at our Instagram and Facebook pages for more inspiration.

The post Bridal Bouquets appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Pismo Beach Elopement

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 05:24:00 GMT

For this Pismo Beach Elopement the couple met near the wedding ceremony location for a first look. They weren't going to be arriving together to the wedding, but wanted a special moment before the ceremony. They met under the big trees and we captured those moments for the two of them.

They walked hand in hand to the wedding ceremony. When the both arrived, their children greeted them and were so happy to be part of their special day. The couple wanted to involve their children in the wedding ceremony. The bride wanted her children to walk her down the aisle. Then groom's daughter was the flower girl and was supposed to walk down the aisle and sprinkle shells down the aisle before the bride. But, when the daughter saw her dad, she asked if she could walk him down the aisle and sprinkle the shells. It was so sweet to see this!

Some couple write their own vows, but for this elopement, the groom surprised his bride and wrote and sang a song for her. It was so touching to have him preform this song and for him to include such a romantic surprise for her!

The couple also wanted to include their guests in their Pismo Beach elopement. They wanted to have a sand ceremony where they included the guests. The couple had a keepsake container and the guests had small containers of sand. The guests added their sand to the container.

This Pismo Beach elopement was at our Tree Grove location. At this location, the trees make a natural arch. The couple wanted us to add a drape and flowers to the tree arch. I really like how the extra decorations added to the location. The location is a short walk to the beach so the couple was able to walk there for photos on the beach during sunset.

I always love when couples add their special touch to the wedding ceremony.

New Paragraph

The post Beautiful Pismo Beach Elopement appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

How to tell people about canceling a wedding or changes –

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 05:41:00 GMT

How to tell people about canceling a wedding or changes

Because of Covid, couples are left with having to cancel, postpone or change their wedding. We’ve had couples who went from having a large wedding to having to trim the guest list. Here’s some tips on how to tell people about canceling a wedding or making changes to a wedding during covid.

Canceling a wedding

If you need to cancel your wedding, it’s important to let people know right away. Some guests may have had travel arrangements and hotel arrangements that can be canceled within a certain amount of time. Hopefully, your guests can cancel without penalties.

There’s a few ways to tell your guests

By phone – you can pick up the phone, the old fashioned way, and let your guests know you had to cancel the wedding. Explain that you were really happy they had agreed to attend, but because of Covid, you need to cancel.

This way might be the best for your guests who aren’t the best with technology or who you feel you need to explain a little more about what happened with the original wedding plans. Though, most people should be very understanding.

By text – you can text your guests a brief message about having to cancel your wedding. Here’s some things you can say:

Hi, I wanted to let you know that Jonny and I had to cancel our wedding because of covid. This decision was not easy for us, but given the situation of how things aren’t really changing with covid, we felt it best to cancel at this time. We will let you know if the wedding plans change.

If you have a different venue or idea in mind, maybe add that your text. Here’s an example of what you can add: It looks like we will probably have a wedding this year, but it is going to be very small. We plan to have a reception next year and share the photos and memories from our small wedding with you then.

By email – you can send the same text message that you would by email to guests. Email is a great idea if you plan to keep in touch with your guests. For example, you may want to tell your guests you have a small wedding planned and that you would love to update them on the small wedding plans.

If you decide to email your guests, you may let them know that you’d really like the guests to still feel like they are part of your special day. You may want to add these lines – Just because we canceled, we still want you to feel like you are part of the wedding day. We will be sending wedding updates to you can find out what we have planned.

For update emails, you can send an engagement photo to your guests, pictures of the new location you selected, an email the morning of the wedding with a short video (made from your phone) where you and your fiancé talk to the guests about how you are feeling and what you are excited for, and after the wedding some photos highlighting the day.

By mail – a card that tells guests you canceled the wedding might be easier since you already have your guests address.

I found this cute card on Etsy that tells guests you are downsizing.

At the bottom of this card is a link to a wedding website. You can create a website through the Knot or ask guests to follow you on your social media page.

Here’s another cute Etsy card

Other Ideas

Other idea would be to tell your guests you have canceled, are planning a small wedding, and then send out an announcement letting your friends and family know you tied the knot. Announce that you will do a “Happily Ever After Party” once the world has calmed down. In these given times, guests should understand that things have changed.

For your small wedding, invite those guests who you couldn’t see celebrating your day without! For me, that was my immediate family, and two best friends.

Covid Weddings

If you are planning to have a wedding during Covid, ask the venue where you are getting married what their covid policy is. If you are planning the wedding, figure out what your policy should be.

Examples might be – asking guests to social distance, keeping chairs clustered by family and then spaced out 6 feet apart, taking guests temperatures, and asking them to wear masks.

Once you find out the rules of your venue and or the rules that you and your fiancé want, then you can let your guests know. I always like adding an ETC. card that list things like that. On your ETC. card, you can add the address for the reception, gift registrations info, or other information that the guests should know and information that doesn’t go on the invitation.

The post How to tell people about canceling a wedding or changes – appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Morro Bay Elopement

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 18:19:00 GMT

Morro Bay Elopement

There are so many beautiful places on the Central Coast for an elopement. This couple had a Morro Bay elopement during sunset time. They were joined by 10 guests and the bride was walked down the aisle by her dad.

During photos, there was a horse on the beach and the couple was able to sneak in a few pictures with the horse. How lucky were they!

The setting for Morro Bay is one of my favorites on that beach. The ceremony is a distance from the rock, so Morro Rock is the background. There’s views of the ocean in the distance. This couple also waded more into the water for their Morro Bay elopement. The sky was a pretty blue and pink color – these tones happen when you have a sunset wedding.

The area we use in Morro Bay is a little less crowded than other spots on the beach.

Let Coastal California Weddings plan your Morro Bay elopement.

The post Morro Bay Elopement appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Pismo Beach Reception Venues

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 22:40:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Reception Venues –

Money saving tips for a Pismo Beach wedding reception venues

We’ve seen a lot of different wedding reception options with our couples. Some decide to some a group dinner at a local restaurant and others decide to have a 4 course, private dinner. Whatever you choose, here are some cost saving tips.

Having a reception catered is not always the least expensive option

We’ve priced out catering for couples and have found that having a meal catered is not less expensive than going to a local reception venue.

With catering, the food cost may look less expensive, but there are a lot of extra costs to think about – rentals of tables and chairs, staff, plates, silverware, cups, and rental fees.

Not to mention, who is going to be setting up your catered event? You really don’t want to ask you Aunt to go ahead of time and prep the area, move chairs, and make sure the store is heated.

For a more popular reception venue, try for a day other than Saturday

There are some beautiful Pismo Beach wedding reception venues. Many of these places charge premium prices for Saturday events since they know they are going to book larger weddings for these days. If you have a smaller wedding, ask for pricing for a wedding on a Friday or Sunday. For the Spyglass Inn, they offer discounted rates for small wedding receptions booked on days other than Saturday.

Have an later morning wedding and go for an afternoon lunch reception

Pricing for lunch is normally many times less expensive than dinner. If you still want your guests to be together in the evening, consider an activity for the evening. Some couples have done bonfires, some hotels have fire pits where you can host a dessert hour with drink, or go out to a local bar for some late night dancing.

A large group reservation

A large reservation allows all of your guests to be together in one space. Though it’s not a private space, it can save some money since you won’t pay a fee for reserving a room. They will charge a percentage of tip and maybe a service fee for a large group, so make sure to ask. Some restaurants have space off to the side so it would be more of a semi-private event.

Ask the experts

Coastal California Weddings staff has not only eaten at most of the restaurants in Pismo Beach, but we know a lot about the local reception venues. Our staff has photographed and had reception food at local Pismo Beach reception venues so we have our favorites!

Some local restaurants charge a small fee of $150 to reserve a private room for your wedding. Other local restaurants have a food and beverage minimum that needs to be met.

Keep decorations simple

I encourage couples who want to have decorations at their wedding reception to use ceremony decorations at the reception. For example, have hanging flowers in vases down the aisle and then use those vases to decorate your wedding table. Use small lanterns as the centerpieces and then use them at home for decorations.

All of these tips are great to think about when selecting a reception venue.

———————

Sunday reception with a dessert bar, ocean view and dancing!

Taking one of the money saving tips from above, our couple decided to get married at this beautiful Pismo Beach reception venue.

This couple had the ceremony and reception overlooking the ocean. They invited close family and friends and to keep things very simple had both the ceremony and reception at the same location. There is also a beach close by for photos there if the tide is right.

For the reception, the couple had the best idea for dessert – a variety of yummy treats and a small couple’s cake. The wedding dessert was done by my favorite bakery Arroyo Grande Bakery. For the dessert bar, it had a beach theme that matched their wedding colors of teal and white colors. The yummy desserts included: thumbprints, beach cookies with their initials, mini pies, mini eclairs and custard creams.

Here’s some photos from their Ocean View Pismo Beach Reception Venue

Rethink the wedding cake – 5 fun and unique wedding dessert ideas at your Pismo Beach Reception Venues

“What unique thing can we do at our wedding reception to impress our guests?” Engaged couples have asked me the same question more times than I can remember. What do I tell them? Well, everyone knows that one of the easiest ways to instantly impress guests at a wedding reception is with food, but I have an even better idea. How about impressing them with dessert?

It’s true that everyone loves cake, but it’s not your only option. There are other fun wedding desserts that will surely leave your guests asking for more. In a wedding world where casual has gone chic and DIY is delightfully divine, say out with “the bigger the better” wedding cake and in with these fun and unique wedding desserts.

Donuts

This universally loved indulgence (and Homer’s favorite!) is not only a nostalgic Sunday morning treat but also one of this year’s newest and most unconventional wedding desserts. From Krispy Kreme towers to sophisticated doughnut holes hand dipped in gourmet chocolate, this former cheap breakfast sweet has quickly become a dessert buffet must have.

Macaroons

Macaroons are all the rage right now. These pretty French treats are basically meringue cookie sandwiches with a delicate cream filling of ganache, buttercream, or jam. The best part of adorning your dessert table with macaroons is that you can choose from hundreds of flavor and color combinations to fit your wedding theme.

Custom Sundae Bar

If you’re looking for an affordable, whimsical and fun dessert option that your wedding guests won’t be able to resist, why not try a custom sundae bar? You can select your favorite candies, toppings and treats. This way, your guests can pick and choose their own dessert options. It’s also a cost saving tip because some Pismo Beach wedding venues serve ice cream with their dinner packages. So, no need to spend extra on dessert for your guests.

Infused Strawberries

This is a very interesting twist on your typical strawberry bar! Guests can choose from different liquors (Orange brandy, Baileys, Kahlua, Raspberry Vodka, etc.) and have them infused into the strawberry and then dipped in rich white or dark chocolate. To finish this already delicious treat, you can choose from a different selection of toppings (nuts, coconut and sprinkles). Yummy!

Mochi Ice Cream

One of my favorites and worth any ensuing brain freeze, mochi ice cream is a Japanese confection made from mochi (pounded stick rice) with an ice cream filling. With many flavors to choose from (green tea, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or mango), your guests will love this tiny, yet refreshing treat.

Conclusion

If you want to impress your wedding guests with some fun and trending desserts, then serve them one (or all) of these yummy dessert options! Have fun experimenting, and don’t forget to taste test before hand – it’s the sweetest part at your Pismo Beach reception venues.

———————

One bride’s experience with finding a wedding reception venue…

When we first started the search for a wedding reception venue we found one we really liked. But, a long story short, the venue didn’t really specialize in smaller events. They were used to grand events with 100 plus guests. In the end we had to cancel the venue and found a great little restaurant with a private space. It was perfect!

Our menu was one of the last things we thought about. Some of it was easy; there would be a vegetarian (me), seafood eaters and other non-vegetarians, two lactose-intolerant people, and one gluten-free. As the vegetarian in the house, I tend to be overly sensitive to the dietary needs of others. This comes from years of being offered iceberg lettuce with a few slightly dehydrated cucumber slices, and a sliver of a tomato as a garnish as a meal. I also wanted something a little fun and unique for our wedding.

The manager at the restaurant was everything we wanted and expected from a gracious host! The experience was vastly different from the events coordinator we encountered at our original venue (made for large weddings). He was attentive, responsive, and offered ideas and suggestions in a manner that was not pushy. You know the look they give you when you tell them you are on a budget! The manager expressed an interest in our vision for the day. We felt important, even though our wedding was small.

With selecting a restaurant as our reception venue as opposed to a lounge or something similar, we needed to be a bit more flexible with our vision. Initially, we wanted to avoid an awkward sit-down lunch and tried to keep it casual. When we first made our travel plans, we thought a week would be too much lead-time before our wedding. This turned out to be the perfect amount of time for our destination wedding.

Some important things we needed to consider other than the dietary needs of our guests were: Three courses or four? How large are the portions? Is there enough variety? Can we have a special menu for kids? What kind of appetizers can we offer to be passed as we mingle on the beautiful outdoor patio? What would we like to highlight? Since our particular venue is known for its pasta dishes (all made fresh), we decided to include a pasta dish as a course. Each portion was rightly sized for our guests, though several felt stuffed after our delicious lunch! The nature of the restaurant offered us a variety of dishes that would be on the rare side, or at the very least, not likely to be made at home. The menu, though lunch, was special enough for a wedding and very delicious.

An additional bonus was the dessert selection! Not only were the desserts luscious and tasty, but they were also included in the price. This meant, no wedding cake expense! We were able to save at least $400.00 by forfeiting a wedding cake. A wedding cake is nice and traditional, but we found it was not necessary for us.

Trust those who specialize in small events to make your celebration truly amazing! Coastal California Weddings works with great Pismo Beach reception venues that know how to work with small weddings. We have some amazing reception venues that will make your whole wedding celebration unforgettable! To see our packages visit http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/elopement-and-small-wedding-packages/ .

The post Pismo Beach Reception Venues appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Deciding on a Wedding Date –

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 18:54:00 GMT

Deciding on a Wedding Date – When do you want to get married? If you are having a hard time deciding on a wedding date, here are some ideas to think about.

Special dates for you as a couple

When deciding on a wedding date, are there special dates that you have as a couple. Some special dates would be the first day you met, your first date, or the day you had your first kiss. These dates would be more about the two of you and days that are special to you both.

Other special dates could be a date that one of your parents or grandparents got married. We’ve had a few brides who got married on their birthday. Score on getting a really awesome birthday gift! Or fun dates like 2-20-2020 or 7-17-2017.

What are some special dates or fun dates that might work for your wedding day?

Holidays and other holiday type days

I’d probably try to stay away from holidays as a wedding date, unless there was some special meaning involved. When you are deciding on your wedding date, look at a calendar to make sure it’s not a holiday weekend. Some weekends are very crowded and hotel and venue rates could double over holiday weekends. Holiday weekends would be – New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday weekend, Columbus Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day weekend, 4th of July, Veteran’s Day Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Sometimes, special weekends like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekend aren’t the best for the guests since they normally spend those days with their family.

But, maybe a holiday weekend works for your wedding. If you and your family have always celebrated Memorial weekend at the beach, then it might be perfect to have a wedding that weekend since all the important guests will be in town. Or, if your family rents a cabin for Christmas time, consider a white wedding in the mountains.

Would your date conflict with any holidays or holiday type days?

If important guests can make it

This one can really make or break your wedding date options. When planning my wedding I remember getting frustrated that some of my husband’s friends weren’t free when we told them our planned wedding date. He really wanted his good friends there and they were going to be his groomsmen. One lived in Mexico and could only travel during certain dates and the other was on a year long sabbatical to South America. So, it was really difficult coming up with a spring date because they wouldn’t have been able to make it. It got to the point where we both said, this is our wedding day and if George can’t make it to the wedding, and this is the date we want, then oh well he won’t be there. Facebook Live wasn’t available back when we got married, but today it’s there for those who can’t make it to the ceremony. And, the flip side of things is that if someone really wants to make it to your wedding, they will probably rearrange their schedule!

When you are thinking about your guest list, what friends and family members are so important to you that they have to be at your wedding? Let those people know you are thinking of a wedding date and see if that date works with their schedule. But, if planning your wedding date around someone else’s schedule seems too stressful, remember it’s your wedding day and if they really wanted to make it, your friend or family would be there.

What dates aren’t available for important guests?

Events in town

Find out the local events that are happening in the town you are getting married in. If you are thinking of getting married in Pismo Beach, the weekend of the car show is not the best weekend to get married. It’s a really big event for the town and all the hotels in the area fill up quickly. Cal Poly graduation weekend isn’t the best time for a wedding either.

Find out from the local Chamber of Commerce or hotels if there are events in the town you are thinking of getting married in.

What events are in the town you are planning to get married in?

Location availability

It’s best to have a few dates for your wedding. If you are deciding on a wedding date, you may want to have a few options because your venue might not be available. For us, June is a month that books up fast. There’s 2 large local events and Father’s Day in that month. So, that doesn’t leave a lot of dates open.

If your venue isn’t available for your wedding date, that may be a deciding factor for the date of your wedding.

For our beach weddings, many times the tide comes into play with the date. If the couple wants a certain beach location and the tide isn’t low, this could change the date for them.

Or maybe the ceremony location is available and not the reception location. Make sure both venues have your date available.

How does the availability of your location look?

Time of year

Summer is the most popular time of year for weddings. But, other times of the year are something to think about when deciding on a date for your wedding. I think the seasons and the time of year can be helpful for wedding colors. For example, if you want burgundy and blush for your colors or oranges and dark reds, then Fall time might be the time to get married so you can have fall colors for your wedding colors. Or if you love red and green, why not think about a December wedding. If there’s a flower you have to have, then get married during the month they are in bloom. Peonies are available during June. If you love peonies and don’t want to pay the peonies price when they are’t in bloom, then June may be a great time to get married.

If you have children, then summer might be the best time of year to get married since they are out of school. Or, maybe you work at an accounting firm, so tax time is not the best time to get married.

Think about things like work, kids, flowers, and weather when you are deciding on your wedding date.

What time of year would be the best for your wedding?

Weather

Talking about the weather, you may want to think about that when deciding on a wedding date. I recently had a friend attend a winter wedding in Chicago in the middle of a blizzard! Guests were stuck at the airport and didn’t get to make it to the ceremony. Chicago is known for snow and not so great winter weather. Maybe the couple should have considered engagement photos or a bridal session in the snow and then have done a wedding when the weather was better.

Some places are very warm in the summer, so you might not want to have your guests melting because the temperatures are so hot. Or maybe think of a later evening ceremony when it cools off.

How is the weather where you want to get married?

Our Date

Based on the answers to these questions, what are some possible wedding dates for you to consider?

Hope these tips help you when deciding on a wedding date.

The post Deciding on a Wedding Date – appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Creative ways to save on your wedding

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:25:00 GMT

Wondering how to save money on your wedding? Read some creative way sto save on your wedding.

Shop around for wedding invites

I did a quick comparison of wedding invites from Costco vs a popular website for wedding invites.

For just the invitation card the price was $0.70 for the Costco card and $2.79 for the other site. For the Costco card, I picked the more expensive option for printing. Costco has an even less expensive card, but it’s their photo finish one, which I probably wouldn’t use for wedding invites.

On 75 invites, that’s a savings of a little more than $150

DIY your photo booth

Photo booths are really a lot of fun! But, last I checked, they were around $1500. A professional does have a machine that takes the picture for you, so there’s no asking someone to take the photo for you. And, a professional booth prints multiple copies for you and your guests. If you wanted to spend money on something besides a photo booth, consider a DIY option.

Here’s what you need: props (think hats, mustaches, glasses, signs) and an Instamax camera and film. The camera could be something you could ask for as a gift and hope is arrives before the wedding. It would cost around $135 for the camera, props and 60 pictures.

This one is the most fun and creative ways to save on your wedding. Plus, you just got a new camera.

Savings of $1365

Plated vs family style or buffet

Many times, plated meals tend to be a little more expensive than a buffet. Instead of a buffet, ask if your venue does family style. One of my favorite reception locations served family style meals. There was so much food and the idea of passing around food with people created a nice atmosphere. For buffets, there’s always lines and people are getting hungry.

Possible savings of $10 – $20 per person

Host bar vs no host bar

A host bar is a bar that the couple pays the tab for and a no host bar is one that the guests pays for their own drinks. If someone else, the two of you, are paying the bar bill, then people are going to enjoy free drinks. If you are on a budget, the alcohol costs can add up fast. One way to limit the bar charges is to have the guests pay for their own alcohol.

If you don’t want to seem cheap, one way to give guests drinks without the large costs is to include a bottle of wine at each table. Or you couple limit the drink tab and say you’ll be covering cocktail hour and then after that the guests pay.

Possible savings of $500 – $1000

Included dessert vs a wedding cake

Some reception locations include dessert in their food packages. If the venue includes dessert, then save on the big wedding cake for guests.

Wedding cakes can cost around $12 per person, plus a lot of venues charge a cut cutting fee.

I’m all about having your cake and eating it too! So, here’s another way to save on the wedding cake but getting a small grocery store cake and make it fancy! See our blog here on my favorite budget friendly couples cake. This is the most delicious and creative ways to save on your wedding – and one of the best blogs that I’ve written in a while, and I even got to style the cake.

Saving of $250 – $350 for a wedding cake

Ask for kids meals

If you are having kids at your wedding, ask the reception venue for a kid’s meal option. I know for my wedding I saved money by getting the kiddos a different meal than the adults.

Savings could be as much as $40 – $30 per child

Keep decorations simple

Local craft stores, wedding decoration websites like Tableclothfactory.com , garage sales, Etsy, and Amazon have a variety of wedding decorations that are simple but look great. One bride is using wood slices, candle sticks, and flowers from her wedding to add to the reception tables.

Also, if you think of decorations that you can pay for one but use again either for your wedding or at home.

Not so much about saving, but about paying once and using again

Consider artificial flowers

I actually love real flowers, but they can cost as much as $350 for a bride’s bouquet and $100 for bridesmaids.

Consider saving some money by using artificial flowers mixed with real flowers. For one of our brides, she wanted peonies but they were not in season. We added some artificial peonies to her bouquet. Since most of her flowers were real you couldn’t tell me added artificial!

You could also do artificial bouquets for your wedding party and centerpieces. Mix the artificial with fresh greenery.

If you are going to use artificial, make sure you use flowers that look like the real thing. That means teal roses are out! If you need to match a color, use ribbon to wrap the bouquets. Even though the flowers are artificial, use colors that are the same as real flowers.

Here’s 2 real bouquets and one artificial, can you spot the difference?

Possible savings of $50 – $400

For make up, go with a make up brand

My favorite place for wedding make up is MAC. MAC products photography really well! And their artists are able to do more natural looking styles all the way to very dramatic.

The saving money part comes from this…pay a flat fee for a make up appointment and they let you apply your make up fee to free product! So, not only do you get your make up done but you get to choose make up to take with you. I’d suggest a lipstick for applying throughout that day, a blush and shadow color.

If you call the make up stores like Ulta, Sephora, and department stores, they should be able to tell you what brands are similar to Mac. Or next time you are buying your make up, ask them about wedding make up.

This creative way to save on your wedding is not so much about saving, but about paying once and using again

Choose your own stylist for hair or ask around

It’s always a better plan to have a trial run with you hair. But, they can start at around $60-$100. Instead of having a trial, see if your hair stylist would do your wedding hair. The next time you get a color or trim, ask your stylist for a trial or recommendation.

Possible savings $60 – $100.

Morning wedding = brunch prices

Consider a morning or early afternoon wedding because prices for your reception would probably be less for a brunch or lunch.

Possible savings of $10 – $30 per person

Take a taxi instead of a limo

A limo may be a more stylish way to show up to your wedding, but a taxi or Uber would probably be a good way to save some money. The cost on a limo is around $1000 and they have minimums. No one really sees you getting out of the car. Even a black car service for Uber would be around $40 – $50 to pick you up and you might be able to request an Escalade.

Possible savings of $900

Register for more gifts you need and less gifts you want

I admit, this one might be a little boring, but it’s a way for you not to have to spend money on things you need for after the wedding. Some couples will be moving in together and others may just want to get a few new things once they are married. If you make a list of things that you need, and register for those things, that would save you money since you won’t have to buy it.

And, really, do you need that fancy gadget that you probably won’t use. It’s going to stuck in your kitchen cabinet and then you give it away.

Not so much about saving, but about not having to spend money on something you need.

Hope these creative ways to save on your wedding have inspired you!

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Important Wedding Planning Tips

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:45:00 GMT

Here’s our most important wedding planning tips – check out our top 5 tips to get you started towards stress free planning.

I talked to a lot of couples, planned many weddings, and helped couples keep planning stress free. With all the weddings I’ve planned, I think these tips are the most important when you first start talking about your special day.

I’m sure you are wondering what to do now. You just got engaged or are finally ready to plan your wedding. There’s a lot of information out there – from wedding planning binders that are 100s of pages long, inspiration on Pinterest that you can scroll through for hours, and advice from friends and family.

Here’s our 5 most important wedding planning tips!

Budget

I start with this tip because it’s probably not the easiest thing to talk about – money! But, trust me, if you set your wedding budget right away, it makes planning easier.

Before you start looking and dreaming, come up with how much you want to spend on your wedding. There needs to be that number.

No matter how big for small your wedding is, talk about how much you want to spend and how much you can afford to spend.

Why is that you ask?

Well…if you know your budget you will start your wedding search looking for places that fit your budget. Let’s say you fall in love with a location venue, spend hours dreaming about getting married there and are ready to sign the contract.

But, you haven’t talked about how much you are spending on your wedding. Then, the money talk starts and you realize that location of your dreams is way too expensive – you are crushed! Now, if you knew your budget right away, when you contacted the venue for pricing, you would have found out it was too much and moved on.

This tip is probably one of the hardest because it has to do with money and there’s sometimes more to spend money on than you think.

If you are part of Simply Your Day, you will get a free download of our Wedding Budget Worksheet so you can see all the expenses and figure out the costs on each. That way you can see all the expenses and see how much you might be spending on your wedding.

Your Wedding Day Vision

My favorite question to ask couples who are having a hard time coming up how they want their wedding to be is to ask them to close their eyes and think of how they want their wedding to look and feel.

Here’s some words to describe how a wedding can feel:

Also, for the look here’s a great resource that shows you different styles https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-theme-ideas .

Talk About What’s Important Together

If you haven’t figured it out yet, wedding planning can be easier if you both talk about your things together. That means there might be some disagreements at first, but once you are on the same page and know what you both want, then making decisions are easier.

Supporting each other through this process is also key. If planning is becoming stressful for your bride, maybe as the groom you should see how you could help. Also, if a friend or family member is giving their opinion and their opinion doesn’t match your vision or budget, then talk about how you can nicely tell that person to keep their opinion to themselves.

Next, find out what’s important to you both. The two of you are getting married and you both should have a say in the wedding. This is your day and the vision for your wedding belongs to you both.

Make sure you know what parts of the wedding are important to you. Maybe he wants a big party and you want a small ceremony. Ask each other, “so…what does that look like?” If your fiancé says the big party is their family and friends dancing the night away, maybe it’s more about playing some great music finding a great DJ, and dancing. Then, to meet in the middle, you lower the guest count a little so there’s more of the budget to spend on a DJ and a fancy lighting package.

Or another idea would be to have a big party after the wedding and celebrate with a “We Got Married” party. You are still having a party, but just not on your wedding day. This is a perfect idea if you are thinking of eloping with just the two of you.

Not sure what’s important, think about this question – For the wedding day, what 5 things would you say are the most important? For example, would it be your vows at the ceremony, pictures of the two of you, the bride’s dress, spending time with the guests or the food at the reception?

To keep things fair, the groom should choose his top 2 things and the bride should choose her top 2 things. Then, for the last most important thing, maybe it’s something you both want or maybe just let the bride have another most important. If you both have the same most important items then that makes things a whole lot easier!

By knowing what’s important, it will help to focus on those things though the planning process and spend more time on those details.

Along the lines of what’s important also comes the question of what’s important to the groom. Most weddings are planned by the bride. But, the groom may want to be more involved in the planning process or he may say he only wants to be part of planning the reception food and picking out what he wears. Make sure to communicate the important things the groom wants to be involved in. And, if he says he doesn’t care about certain details, as a guy, he probably doesn’t care, lol.

Get Organized

Another one of the most important wedding tips is about getting organized. If you haven’t started to get organized, here’s some simple steps to keeping track of wedding planning details.

Get a wedding email – Go to Gmail and create a unique email address for your wedding. I’ve seen cute ones like smithsareinlove2020 or mrsandmrsjones2020. Whatever you decide to use, having an email address where all the inquires, invoices and planning details will go will save you from searching through your general inbox.

You can also use this email for signing up for promotional emails. Let your wedding email inbox get filled up with “junk” and don’t clutter your personal inbox.

A cute planner

There are going to be a lot of dates out there and you are going to need something to write those dates on. Go out and get a cute planner. One of my favorites is below. Click on the picture to purchase one.

A box for all the wedding stuff

Head over to Target to get a clear storage box to put all of your wedding paperwork, receipts and little things in. This way all of the paperwork is in one spot and your not searching around trying to find your Michaels receipt for lanterns.

This box will also come in handy closer to the wedding since you’ll probably load it with everything that needs to go to the wedding.

Checklist

A wedding planning checklist is a great way to make sure you are keeping up with the planning. All of our Coastal California Wedding couples gets a time line checklist.

Enjoy Being Engaged

Take some time to let it sink in. If you just got engaged, don’t think about planning the wedding right away. Just because you are engaged doesn’t mean you have to start planning the wedding the day after you have a ring on your finger. When you have that talk about what’s important to you and your fiance, see if you want a long engagement or a short one.

Take some time to let it all sink in. I’m sure you may think this is still a dream. If you want to start to celebrate plan a little party to tell everyone the news. Or, if your families haven’t met, plan a brunch. Brunches are more casual and easier to make!

Take time and be in the moment. Think back on your first date and how things were at the start of your relationship, then look at where you are today and what happened along the way. This really is an exciting new chapter in your life!

I hope you enjoyed reading our most important wedding planning tips. These tips start the foundation for stress free wedding planning. And, it’s always nice to know what the other person is thinking and how much you should spend on a wedding. Really, these tips save couples from having arguments that really don’t need to be had.

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Valentine’s Day Gifts

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 06:21:00 GMT

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts

If you forgot or don’t have any time to get a gift, here’s a few really simple one!

Date Night In

Get that special someone an Amazon gift card and invite them for a special date night in. Buy or rent that movie you two have been wanting to see and let that special someone know you will be cooking them a special meal. Or instead of cooking, you can order in for the night. To make the night even more romantic, have dessert ready and your favorite bottle of wine or drink.

Love Coupons – Instant Download

A cute way to gift that special someone a fun gift is to give them love coupons.

Here’s the link for where to buy the instant download.

If you just got married here’s a great gift to give.

Our Wedding Day Frame

This is such a cute way to display all of your favorite photos from your wedding! It’s also easy to attach the photos with the mini clothes pins that the give you. The frame would be the best Valentine’s gift for couples who were newly married also!

For the person who cherishes special times

Shadowbox with Keepsakes

This elegant looking shadowbox hold the perfect treasures! Add your favorite photo from the two of you along with something you treasure – think the last time you went to the beach and caught a selfie and found some shells on the beach. Then write your love a card about that trip and how you want to take many more together!

For that one who loves everything Disney!

Minnie Earrings plus tickets to Disneyland (if you are feeling really in LOVE)

For that Minnie fan in your life, grab her some cute earrings. Also, if you really want to show some love this year, make a coupon that says you two will be having a trip to Disneyland soon.

Good morning sunshine

How about getting up a little early and making them breakfast in bed. Start with coffee or hot chocolate, waffles with strawberries, and cookies to go. Top it off with a card with a sweet message.

Oh no, I have no time…

If you are waiting until the very last minutes, like on Friday on your way home from work, here are some ideas:

BevMo

Stock up on a bottle or can of their favorite beverage.

Think flavored sodas, chocolate wine, or a hoppy IPA.

Target

For that special guy – nice tube of shaving cream, man soap, and some aftershave (yummy, you smell so good)

For that special lady – nail polish, good smelling lotion, and some accessories like a necklace or earrings

Hope these Valentine’s Day gift s make your special someone extra happy!

Coastal California Weddings participates in Affiliate Programs. Some of the links in this post may be part of an Affiliate program.

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Pismo Beach Pier Wedding

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 17:32:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Pier Wedding Location – We love wedding photos under the pier! There’s something about those pictures.

For the Pismo Beach Pier location, the weddings are closer to the pier, with the pier in the background. The Pismo Beach Pier wedding location is close to hotels so our couples can walk to the wedding ceremony.

This couple stayed at a vacation rental and the bride and groom walked over to the ceremony. They were joined by their children, friends and family. After the ceremony, we took the couple to the Pismo Beach Pier for pictures. Then, they celebrated with pizza back at the rental. It’s was a great small wedding ceremony in Pismo Beach.

We do not recommend weddings at this location in summer because of parking and way too many people at the beach (and in your photos). Also, this location requires a permit and we can let you know about those details.

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Pismo Beach Wedding

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 06:16:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Wedding – Planning a wedding can be both an exciting, yet stressful time in your life. I’m going to share some real weddings from our couples who had a Pismo Beach wedding. Find out more about how they made their weddings stress-free and how you can have a destination wedding.

It can be so easy to get caught up in all of the details of wedding planning that you forget to enjoy the process – that special time that you are engaged and can use the word fiancé.

Meet Morgan and Kevin, who had a Pismo Beach wedding. They drove a few hours to get to Pismo Beach to celebrate their special day.

Here is Morgan’s story of her wedding planning journey and why she decided to have a Pismo Beach wedding:

Two years ago, my husband and I found ourselves extremely overwhelmed when we were in the middle of planning our wedding. Less than a month after getting engaged, we started touring local venues and ended up booking with the first venue we toured. We loved the venue we chose, however due to some unforeseen circumstances and health issues in our families, we came to the realization that we wanted a smaller, more intimate wedding. Our original wedding venue would have held up to 150 guests; which was excellent in theory, but overwhelming in reality. This venue was also turning out to be quite costly for us.

We then started to research destination weddings in California. Before we began dating, the first place we felt a spark with each other was at Pismo Beach, so we set out to find a venue that did small weddings in that area. During our search we came across Coastal California Weddings. I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful locations and the options that were available. My husband and I knew right away that this was a more budget-friendly, feasible route for us to take. Another huge bonus of booking with Coastal California Weddings was that it was at our favorite beach!

Although we knew this was the best option for us, we also recognized that this would not be convenient for our guests. Many times a destination wedding can become stressful for anyone attending. We accepted that this may mean some family members would not be able to come to our wedding at all. Overall, we had the support of our friends and family when we expressed to them that we planned to have a destination wedding. A majority of our guests chose to book a hotel room nearby, and some decided to drive home after our reception since they lived a few hours away. We also had some guests fly in from Texas, Oklahoma and Oregon. Our guests loved our ceremony location, the fact that it was a place that was sentimental to both of us and the fact that they could walk down to the beach at our Pismo Beach wedding reception.

With all of that being said, I cannot imagine planning my wedding any other way than the way Natalie did, and I am so thankful we chose to have a destination wedding. Going from having a wedding with 150 guests to a wedding with less than 30 guests truly allowed us to be present at that moment. I don’t regret anything about our decision to have a destination wedding—and if it meant marrying my husband again—I would choose to have another destination wedding in a heartbeat.

Morgan had all the important people at her wedding. She celebrated her day with her ladies right by her side and even had a wedding reception in Avila Beach.

Just because you have a small wedding, does not mean you have to forget about things like cutting a cake, having a first dance and having a best man and maid of honor.

Meet Ashlee and Trey who traveled all the way from Missouri to have their Pismo Beach wedding. They took a car and plane to get to Pismo .

Here’s Ashlee’s story:

We flew from Kansas City into Los Angeles. We stayed in Solvang for two days before we drove up to Pismo. We were spending a 2 week vacation in California and wanted to see a variety of sites.

For my wedding, even though it was small, I wanted a traditional wedding dress. My dress was from Emily Hart Bridal and the designer was Casablanca Bridal.

Since I had to travel on an airplane for my Pismo Beach wedding, I had to think about how to pack my dress. I actually put my dress and Trey’s suit in a carry-on suitcase. My bridesmaid brought a travel steamer and worked her magic on all of the dresses and suits. It’s crazy how easily the dress fit into the suitcase, because I stressed way too much over that. I literally put all of our essentials inside a carry-on and it never left my sight. Everyone thought I was nuts for not carrying the dress on in a garment bag, but I didn’t want to lug it in and out of hotels and the rental car in a bag.

Most of the guests flew from Kansas City, but we had guests from Omaha, Chicago, Houston and Lubbock. Trey is a Texas boy!

The bridesmaid dresses came from Azazie-which is an online dress shop. It was pretty easy to pick out their dresses, considering my bridesmaids live in different states. I picked the color and let them choose the dress.

The best part about it being a destination wedding was being able to have a vacation wrapped into a wedding celebration. Most of the people who came out had plenty of notice and made a trip out of it. Instead of stressing about decorations and details, we experienced California. It was considerably more affordable compared to what it would have been if we would have had the wedding at home. Plus, it was a fun adventure and honeymoon! We stopped in Big Sur, drove up to Sonoma and spent a few days in San Francisco for our honeymoon.

The fact that 32 of our friends and family flew across the country to sit in the rain to watch us tie the knot is pretty awesome. As much as I am a controlling planner…I learned you can’t control everything. And it all turned out perfect just the way it was.

We were able to have the perfect wedding within the budget we were comfortable with, with very little stress. We were also able to see the beautiful state of California. I have heard countless friends go through the stress of planning a big wedding, and I knew I never wanted to experience that. Natalie made it easy for us and we created lifelong memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Meet Chelsea and Brian who traveled 5 hours to get to their Pismo Beach wedding.

Here’s Chelsea’s story:

When deciding what our wedding was going to look like, we had a lot of factors to think about, but time was our biggest. My husband’s step-mom was in the middle of her fight with cancer. It meant a lot to both of us that she was there and that his dad would get to have a special memory like that with her. She was truly the love of his life, their love story is epic and we wanted them to be there and be part of our wedding. So with this in mind, we decided it had to be summer 2019, giving myself 4.5 months to plan it. Crazy? Probably.

But nothing in our relationship has ever been orthodox to say the least. The next factor was where we could make this happen without it completely crushing my hopes of having my dream wedding. I have always envisioned my wedding being outdoors, though the backdrop has changed a few times, my request has always been that it be outdoors. I love trees and the ocean. My husband and I are from Sacramento, so the closest ocean is the Bay Area and beyond. I had attempted to plan it all myself when we picked our date, but was stressing myself out trying to get permits. Getting permits for a wedding on the beach is confusing when you don’t know the rules for the area.

I had a lot of high expectations for my wedding on a pretty low budget, so eventually I had to get real and talk to my fiancé about finding somewhere that would do it all for us. I told him that with the time limit and my high expectations I needed to put it all in someone else’s hands. I got lucky with Coastal California Weddings being the first site I looked at. They had everything I needed, including my dream location, a Eucalyptus grove. I tried to overdo the extra decorations at first and sent Natalie a boatload of extra decor that I wanted to bring myself, and all this extra stuff that would add more stress to my plate. She gently reminded me that I sought them out for someone to provide it all and to trust that. (Note from Natalie – the backdrop of the ceremony location was really pretty! It really didn’t need anything extra. )

Our day wound up being even more wonderful than I imagined, and all of this came to fruition through simple emails. From answering any and all of my questions, to calming my nerves the day of, this team and company are heaven-sent, to say the least.

So there you have it, 3 different brides with 3 different stories. They all had a simply amazing wedding in Pismo Beach. Some traveled a few hundred miles by car and others a few thousand miles by plane. Pismo Beach is the perfect little beach town for a wedding. It’s located halfway between LA and San Francisco.

To view our locations click here.

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Top 10 Amazing Wedding Favor Ideas

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 20:43:00 GMT

Everyone wants a unique wedding and, in the process of trying to make everything perfect, we sometimes forget to enjoy the moment. Here are some top 10 amazing wedding favor ideas.

These ideas came from our friend Emma over at Vow to Be Chic.

Brides always try to make their guests feel welcome, and wedding favors are considered an important part of what people are left with after the event is over.

Wedding favors have to say “thank you for being with us today”, so we totally understand the pressure of making the right choice.

If you’re out of ideas, here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Key to Happiness Bottle Opener

Product photo from amazon.com

When you think of bottle openers, you probably have a very dull image and mind, but if you’re thinking that’s not even a wedding favor, it’s because you haven’t found stylish wedding ones.

This is literally the cutest form of thanking your wedding guests for being a “key” part of your lives. There are plenty of different designs for these key bottle openers, but also chromatic variations if you’d prefer a copper or a golden finish instead of a silver one.

Product photo from groomsmengiftideas.com/

When it comes to weddings, pretty much anything can be turned into a favor IF the idea is correctly executed. Take shot glasses, for instance. They might seem like a terrible idea for a wedding favor, but what if you engraved them with your initials, or a memorable message, or the date of your wedding?

Would that make more sense as a gift? You can get really playful with the engravings, plus they’re a favor that makes total sense since the wedding is a party and where there’s a party, there’s alcohol.

Product photo from Amazon.com

Can you ever go wrong with candy? It’s been as a wedding favor for years and years, and the trend is not going to disappear anytime soon. If you can find heart-shaped candy, even better.

Giving your guests a yummy treat they can take home will be appreciated and enjoyed by people of all ages. Of course, you can go wild when it comes to sweet wedding favors. It can be lollipops, muffins, chocolates, or whatever you think might satisfy your guests’ sweet tooth.

Product photo from Amazon.com

The thing about giving candles out as wedding favors is that your options are basically unlimited. They can be simple, white, colored, in glasses, with messages, without messages, tall, short, or whatever you think might serve as a better trinket for your guests to remember this day.

It’s not uncommon for coupled to go with glass candles with love quotes because what is a wedding if not a celebration of love?

Product photo from Amazon.com

If you’re not a collector of fridge magnets yourself, then you surely know at least one person who has their entire fridge decorated with souvenirs from all corners of the world. A fridge magnet makes the perfect wedding favor for a million different reasons.

Everyone owns a fridge, they can be attached to other appliances in the house, they’re colorful, can be extremely customizable, they last forever, they’re unique, and they always stay in sight. What more could you ask for?

Product photo from Amazon.com

We’ll try not to make this description about the awesomeness of lavender and how it’s one of the most therapeutic aromatherapy plants in the world.

Let’s just stick to the fact that everyone loves the scent of lavender and that it can make a great wedding favor, especially if you have an outdoor summer wedding planned.

You can purchase prepackaged sacks of lavender or buy the sacks and the lavender separately and make them by yourself.

Product photo from Amazon.com

Everyone loves a cute-looking keychain, which makes these potential wedding favors a great idea to consider. There’s plenty of customizing to be done with this idea. Keychains can be made from metal, wood, plastic, and other materials.

They can be unique so that each guest will own a different one. The greatest part about choosing wooden keychains is that if you have a pyrography pen, you can actually burn them yourself, and what a wonderful handmade wedding favor it would make!

Product photo from Amazon.com

Do you know what would make a great wedding favor? Soap! In all shapes, sizes, colors, and scents, soap gives you plenty of space to work with customization as well. You can carve plenty of different things in a soap bar, and there are hundreds of cute packaging or boxes that you can choose for them.

If you want more versatility and uniqueness, you can choose a soap bar with a different scent for each particular guest, which would be a real hit if you knew everyone’s preferences when it comes to scents.

Product photo from Amazon.com

Bubbles wands make excellent wedding favors, and they will surely be a hit with your younger wedding guests. Even after the content is gone, people can mix water and dish soap to refill the bottles and hold onto these wedding favors for a long time.

You can create personalized wedding bubble wand bottles with your names, the date of the wedding, the name of the guest it goes out to, a love quote, an inspirational message, or whatever you think makes more sense.

Fair warning: if you have a lot of children at your wedding, there are high chances those bottles will empty before people actually get to leave the restaurant.

Product photo from Amazon.com

For the longest time, we’ve heard love being associated with sweetness. When you think of it this way, giving our miniature jars of honey as wedding favors, makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Honey can be preserved for a very long time, and you can label each jar with whatever text or message you feel is more appropriate.

But you don’t have to limit yourself to just honey in a jar: you can opt for jam, peanut butter, cocoa spread, miniature candy, or other treats that you think your guests would love to take home.

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Find the Wedding Dress You Love

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 02:02:00 GMT

Your wedding dress is one of your best accessories for your wedding day! Most bride’s stay it’s one of the most important parts of their wedding. Read more about the wedding dress and how to find the wedding dress you love!

The shopping process

Shopping for my wedding dress was a highlight of the whole wedding planning process for me.

I went to one place and tried on a few dresses until I found “the one.” For me, I didn’t want to feel the pressure of having to buy a dress. I didn’t want a boutique because there wasn’t a certain designer that I had to wear or must have style.

For the style of the dress, I had looked in some magazines and thought I wanted something with lace. I don’t even think I knew the types of wedding dresses when the sales lady asked the style I wanted!

The lace dress, I thought I wanted, looked terrible on me. I was surprised by the dress I ended up loving and I went with a champagne colored, classic, strapless, mermaid style dress. Once I tried it on I knew it was the one! So, for me, finding the wedding dress I loved was easy.

I was lucky to have a sweet gal help me with my dress. Having someone you click with also makes finding the dress a much better experience.

My mom and sister went shopping with me and this was really special. And, it helped having someone there who knew me and would give their honest opinion.

How to find out the style of wedding dress you like?

Like with my experience, you need to try a variety of styles. You may love the style you first try on or you may have to change your expectations.

If you know the style of your wedding then your dress can match that style. I wanted more of a classic and timeless wedding dress with a splash of personality. My dress my classic but I wore purple shoes, a veil and sparkly sash.

The owner of Hey Gorgeous says, “try on styles that you didn’t think you would want because you never know what you are going to fall in love with.” I think that’s some of the best advice on how to find a wedding dress you love.

Here’s how Morgan, one of our Coastal California Weddings bride and her story on how she found her her dress.

Finding my wedding dress was both an exciting and overwhelming experience for me. My husband and I had originally booked our wedding with a local venue in May of 2019, however at the last minute we realized we did not want to have a big wedding and that we wanted something more intimate with our closest family and friends. We then contacted Natalie from Coastal California Weddings, and in a span of two days canceled with our current venue and booked with her. This date change meant that rather than having several months to find my dress, I had about a week if I wanted it to be altered in time for our July 2018 wedding. I had dreamt of that moment where I would see my dream dress and know it was “the one”, however due to our time crunch I decided to go on David’s Bridal’s website in search of my perfect wedding gown.

Originally I thought I wanted a mermaid gown adorned with lace, however immediately a different style dress on David’s Bridal’s website caught my eye. It was ivory with a beautiful beaded bodice, thin spaghetti straps and an a-line silhouette. Imagining myself in it made me feel like a princess. I looked at several wedding dresses after that and forced myself to give many of them a chance, though I knew the dress I loved most of all. After trying on two wedding dresses at David’s Bridal, the time came for me to try on my favorite dress. As soon as I put it on I knew that it was exactly what I wanted to marry the love of my life in. I loved every detail adorning it and could not imagine myself in anything else.

David’s Bridal was able to get my dress made and altered so that I could have it in plenty of time before our wedding day. I am so thankful to them for the amazing service they provided me with. My wedding dress is still the dress of my dreams and I will certainly hold onto it forever.

Here’s some pictures of her and her wedding dress. I loved Morgan’s dress on her! The lace on the top added the romantic touch and the a line brought out her long, lean figure and make it seem as if she were floating on a cloud!

What are the styles of dresses?

The Bridal Guide does a great job showing different types of wedding dresses. See the different types here.

David’s Bridal also has an interactive guide with the different types of dresses.

Where are some places to go dress shopping?

Bridal Boutiques

Hey Gorgeous, a local boutique

This local boutique specializes in a variety of dresses for brides, bridesmaids, and even the mother of the bride. She carries dresses from $100 – $1200 and everything in between. She can work with brides on a budget and has a lot of dresses available to order in a variety of styles.

Click on this link for their website with contact info

Most cities have a bridal boutique or two so do your research to see what your town has available. You can also go on a shopping trip to look for your wedding dress.

When doing your research for your wedding dress, here’s some things to find out from boutiques:

David’s Bridal

David’s Bridal is a popular bridal shop. They have a variety of dresses in a variety of price ranges.

Azazie

My favorite concept is from Azazie, an online store. They have a try at home program where you buy sample dresses to try on. Then you can see if you like the dress. If you do, order it in your size. If you don’t like the dress, just return it…that easy! This is genius. They have casual all the way to fancy dresses with long trains. This company is also located in California so the shipping time isn’t that long and you know you are getting a dress from a reputable company.

Click here to see Azazie’s website

Say yes to spanks and undergarments

I’ve seen it all! Dresses that don’t fit right, straps from bras showing, opened back dress with the whole back of the bra showing, see through outfits, you name it.

I can’t stress how important it is to wear the right kind of undergarments. Try the dress on with your undergarments and see what works and what doesn’t. You don’t want straps showing, your thong peeking showing in a see through dress, or your bra peeking out from the top of your dress. You are going to not like those photos.

Here’s some examples of undergarments from David’s Bridal.

Please allow for room in your budget for the right kind of undergarments!

How the dress fits

I’d say to buy the dress in the size you are that day. Yes, it sounds great to say you are going on a diet, but in reality rock the body you have!

Be cautious of eating better and exercising while you are engaged. Instead of a diet think of it like toning up or being the best you. If you lose some weight that’s an extra bonus and you will probably feel better about yourself.

Accessories

Here’s some wedding dress accessories that you can get for your special day:

When you find the wedding dress you love, also find the accessories that you love too!

Let’s find out what other brides have done and get some advice from them…

A few brides have gotten their dresses from JJ House. It’s online and ships from China. Some say their size was correct and others say they had to get it altered.

Alterations can cost as much as the dress!

One bride changed her wedding style because it didn’t match her dress.

Some brides have found their dresses on Amazon. One spent $12 on her dress.

I found mine at the local thrift store. It was the third one I tried on.

I found my dress in Colorado shopping with my sister. The store didn’t have my size so I couldn’t get it. I was lucky to find the same dress in another state that fit.

I’m a small person so it’s not easy finding dresses that fit. I found one on sale one day and was like…well, I’ve not had much luck finding anything else so I guess it’s this one, lol.

I had a serious boyfriend though high school and thought we’d get married. I fell in love with a Maggie Sottero gown. I ended up breaking up with this boyfriend, but always loved the dress. When I finally got engaged, I thought the dress would be discontinued. But, to my surprise, the boutique I looked at ended up having the Maggie Sottero dress.

I already had it in my mind what I wanted. When I picked it off the wall I knew it was the one because it matched exactly what I had pictured that I wanted. I tried on a bunch of other dresses to make sure it works, but nope, the first one I grabbed was the one I end up with.

My piece of dress advice…if you don’t find the dress you love keep on shopping girl!

Hope you find the wedding dress that you love!

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Simple Thanksgiving

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Simple Thanksgiving Planning Checklist

I love cooking for the holidays! As a planner, here are some tips for creating a simple and stress free holiday.

I think a lot of the stress free part comes from planning ahead. This list can easily be started a week before Thanksgiving. Also, give other people tasks like bringing a side dish, or having your children help with the cleaning, or putting your husband in charge of the grocery store list.

Here’s 14 tips on how to have a simple Thanksgiving.

1. Decide what you are going to cook – come up with your list of your favorites

2. Decide if you are going to have your guests bring something – if you are putting someone in charge of a dish, it’s probably best to ask them to make something rather than say “bring whatever you want”

3. Here’s some ideas on food categories for Thanksgiving:

4. Make the grocery list – once you plan out what you are making, look up the recipe and come up with your shopping list

5. Don’t forget the extras – when you are making your grocery list, make sure to have things stocked like water, drinks, toilet paper, extra toothbrush (always a great thing to have on hand with guests)

6. Clean the house – get the house ready for guests, make the beds, and roll out the air mattresses. My secret to cleaning is to get a big tub or box and add all the misc things in that. Then sort through that box once guests leave.

7. Defrost the turkey – this part is important if you want to make sure you have a main dish to eat

8. Clean out the fridge – it’s important to make room for the food and turkey

9. Set out the cups, plates, etc. – prepare the other items you will need for the festivities

10. Set the table – this can be fun with adding pumpkins, small vases filled with flowers, or colorful placemats

11. Start prepping – I like to prep a few days before, this means cutting up things like onions, celery, apples or making the cornbread for the stuffing

12. Make it fun – this can be making a Thanksgiving playlist, come up with a craft for the kids, or find out when the games are playing

13. Confirm the guest list – make sure to double check the guest list and remind people on the times they should show up

14. Relax, and take some time to reflect on the true meaning of Thanksgiving and what you are thankful for

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Simple Thanksgiving – Food Organizer

Here’s some help with the cooking!

You Fill in the Blanks

Here are some ideas (and probably my list)

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Budget Friendly Wedding Cake

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:10:00 GMT

Budget Friendly Wedding Cake – Guess what?!? There can be a solution to the expensive wedding cake. Don’t get me wrong…a wedding cake can be a great thing to spend money on. But, if you are having a small wedding or wedding where dessert is included in your tasting menu, then I’m going to tell you how you can have your cake and eat it too!

Why write this piece of advice about a budget friendly wedding cake?

I thought about writing this blog when I had a bride tell me about her wedding cake experience. She had a very small wedding – her fiancé, and 2 friends. She wasn’t really on a budget – she was smart with her spending. She paid extra for a wedding arch, wanted dinner at a nice restaurant and to have a few days honeymooning in Cambria. I had asked her about her wedding cake and she laughed. Her friend then said, “We actually got it from Vons and you should see it.” I was a little unsure what to say next – was this a good you should see it or a not good you should see it. Then, her friend went on to say…it looks amazing! Ok…I could breathe!

See, here’s how it went – she wasn’t really too excited to spend $200 for a cake from the restaurant or even $85 from a local bakery. I’d have to agree with her, since her wedding was only her fiancé and 2 guests. I’d spend that money on something else for the wedding. At Vons she spent $10 for a small cake!

That made me think, why not let couples know about selecting a cake from the grocery store? Could a store bought wedding cake be a budget friendly wedding cake that can be as beautiful and tasty as one from a private bakery? You have something to cut and something to throw in each other’s face, you also have something for photos.

Also, many restaurants for reception locations have dessert included in their meal prices. Because of this, many couples don’t want to serve their guests boring old wedding cake. At the last wedding I went to, they had salted caramel cookies and churros and chocolate sauce to dip.

I did purchase my wedding cake from a private bakery. It was delicious and very pretty! The sad part was that my photographer didn’t even get a great photo of the cake and monthly later the bakery went out of business because the owner retired. So, I can’t really remember what it looked like and I can’t even have a slice of cake from the bakery! My wedding was a little larger than just 2 guests so it went with the budget to have a wedding cake.

Cost of a store bought cake

The cost of a wedding cake is around $6 per person from a private bakery. Even the smallest size 8 inch wedding cake, that feeds 24 people, costs around $150 for that cake. The private bakeries sometimes require you have a cake stand or rent one from them to put your cake on. The rentals are around $25 – $75 and many times they require you bring the rental back to them.

I went to our local Albertson’s and find out this information about their cakes:

Our local Albertson’s charges $17 for an 8 inch cake. That’s less than $1 per slice. They also have a mini cake that is 6 inches for $7.

You could purchase a couple’s cake for the two of you and then add on a sheet cake for your guests. At some restaurant we work with for receptions, their dinners come with a dessert. So, the cake would really only be for the two of you.

They have also have 1/2 sheet and 1/4 sheet cakes than can be sliced and offered to guests.

The flavors of the cake are vanilla, chocolate, marble and red velvet. Frosting can be cream cheese, butter cream or chocolate whipped cream.

Fillings like chocolate, lemon, and strawberry can be added to the cake also.

The bakery needs 24 hour notice to make your cake. For some local bakeries

Here’s the challenge

Fast forward a few months and a bride asked me, “Do you really need a wedding cake?” So, could I come up with a budget friendly wedding cake? My answer was yes, you need something to cut, but let me see if I can put something together for you.

Here’s the challenge – Can I make a store bought cake look like a wedding bakery cake?

One couple took me up on this offer! And, I think the store bought cake looked pretty awesome!

I think decorations can make anything look better. So, I took a simple cake and added a little pizazz to it.

For the couple’s cake above, I bought the cake topper from Rawkrft , a store on Etsy and got a few extra flowers from the florist. I loved the cake topper!! It was perfectly packaged in a wood case that fit the topper perfectly. The part that goes into the cake was long enough so you could see the topper and still have room for flowers. The cake topper is made in California, so it shipped really fast. For the flowers, they were just a few springs that were extra from the florist and the greenery came from their table flowers. But, if you really wanted, you could take a few flowers and greenery off your bouquet. I added the flowers on myself, which many times is easy enough for the bride or a friend or family member to do.

For this cake, the gold “plate” came with the cake…added extra bonus for a grocery store cake lol.

I’m not sure anyone would have guested that this cake was $7 from Vons, had a $14 topper and free wedding flowers on it. It was a $21 wedding cake. I’d have to say it was a beautiful, budget friendly wedding cake.

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Flower Girl Dresses and Accessories

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 03:13:00 GMT

Flower Girl Dresses and Accessories – Last year my daughter wanted to be a flower girl. I decided to set up a mini-anniversary session at the place where we were married. It was a really fun way to celebrate and have our little one be part of our celebration. I made her a bouquet and found her a dress. I wore white and my husband wore the shirt from our wedding. It meant a lot to me!

At our weddings we love to have the couple personalize their ceremony! That sometimes looks like having a flower girl at the ceremony. Last week we had a flower girl and ring bearer all in one. She walked down the aisle with a bouquet, stood up next to her mom and then presented the rings. Her mom found her a cute little pink sparkly purse.

Here’s some of my favorites for flower girl dresses and accessories.

Blush pink sequin dress

This dress came from Amazon and you can buy it here . I actually bought this dress for my daughter’s holiday photos. It fit really well and was cute on her. It also comes in purple.

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Purple and white dress

This dress also came from Amazon and you can buy it here . I’ve seen this dress in a lot of places and thought it was cute. It was a little big and had to be taken in a little. I think if your flower girl is going to wear it once it would be a good option. Just take a little needle and thread to the back of the dress and it will make it fit better. You don’t have to be a seamstress because I sowed it up and it worked well.

The nice thing about this dress is that it comes in different colors like white, blue, and blush.

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Shoes, shoes and more shoes

I found this great website called Pink Princess – perfect for little ladies! They have a nice variety of shoes at a really good price point. https://www.pinkprincess.com/girls-dress-shoes.html

They also have same day shipping from LA which is perfect for last minute requests!

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Flower girl personalized robe

She can look like one of the big girls with her own robe! This is adorable! It has a cute floral print and comes in toddler sizes and can be personalized.

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Here are some other ideas for flower girl dresses and accessories for online shopping.

Nordstrom

Shopping online can many times be easier than taking a little one to the store! I searched Nordstom and they have a nice selection of dresses and shoes for flower girls. I found a nice selection of ones that were $40. See the pictures below. Nordstom is a nice option because they offer free shipping and free returns. You can order a variety of dresses and then return the ones you don’t like.

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Macy’s

Macy’s is another online option. They have more of a selection online than in the stores. And, if you don’t like what you purchased, you can return it to the store instead of ship it back.

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Costco

During Easter and Christmas time Costco has a nice selection of dresses. For my wedding I actually purchased my flower girl dresses from Costco.

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Flower Girl Headbands

Sweet Valentina is a shop on Etsy that sells headbands for flower girls. They also sell dresses, but they seem a little expensive to me.

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Flower Girl jewelry

It’s always sweet to get your flower girl a gift. And, jewelry makes the perfect girl!

Here are some favorites:

Pearl and initial bracelet

This pearl bracelet can be customized with your flower girls initial. It came from Etsy and can be ordered here.

Flower charm and initial bracelet

Here’s another sweet option for a gift. This bracelet comes with a customized initial charm and flower. The flower is available in a few different colors.

Order this bracelet here

Hope you have some ideas for flower girl dresses and accessories

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Pismo Beach Elopement Sunset Ceremony

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:56:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement Sunset Ceremony

For this couple, trying to find the time to get married was a bit of a challenge with the schedule they had. The bride worked nights and he worked days. They had been wanting to get married and planning and schedules was making it too stressful. The bride called me and said they had a few days where their schedules were free and they were just wanting to get married! It was a midweek elopement of just the two of them for their Pismo Beach elopement sunset ceremony.

The day was a perfect celebration of their love. It really was about the two of them expressing their love for each other, in front of each other. This couple traveled from out of the state to get married on the shores of the Pacific for their Pismo Beach Elopement Sunset Ceremony. They had never been to Pismo Beach but fell in love with the beauty of the dunes with the trees and ocean in the back drop.

The ceremony was inside at a romantic gazebo where the ocean was the perfect wedding backdrop. To add to the romance of the day, the bride added on wedding photography at a different location. She wanted some greenery and some photos on the beach. We were able to spot a pretty greenery location where the sun had a perfect glow through the trees.

And the bride brought along a few props for the photos like the date she was married and wanted to draw hearts in the sand. I always encourage my couples to select a few inspiration photos that they love. Even though I’m the photographer, I like to find out what the couple wants too. Sometimes the photos the couples like turn out to be my favorites! I think that’s because those photos match them and their elopement style.

We said goodbye on the beach since the two also wanted to share some alone time, just the two of them!

In conclusion, they loved everything about their Pismo Beach Elopement Sunset Ceremony.

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5 Wedding Day Myths

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 16:10:00 GMT

5 Wedding Day Myths You Can Ignore

Are you in the middle of your wedding planning and find yourself confronted with all sorts of customs and beliefs that go along with weddings? Understand that while some of these ‘traditions’ really do make sense; others are just outright ridiculous and can totally be shrugged off.

Here are five such wedding day myths that you can toss aside.

Wedding Myth 1: You cannot be officially engaged without a diamond ring

Uh, yes, you can! You can be officially engaged with a sapphire ring, a ruby ring, a plain band or no ring whatsoever! Some couples can’t afford a diamond ring, and there are even a few women out there (a very few!) who just don’t wear jewelry. We know that ring is a symbol of the engagement, but the only thing necessary to make it official is the bride saying “yes” when her boyfriend asks her to marry him.

I’ve seen some beautiful rings that aren’t made of diamonds. One of my favorite rings was a black pearl with small diamonds added to it.

Wedding Myth 2: Weddings need to be grand

Your wedding is going to be one the most special day of your life so far. After all, it’s the day you get bound with the person you love and you’re doing this in front of people you care about the most. Your focus, therefore, should be on celebrating your union and not on making a spectacle out of it. Coastal California Weddings focuses on simple weddings. When we say simple it’s not all the fancy decorations, it’s not 14 bridesmaids standing up with you. It is celebrating the love you share with close friends and family. If you want a big affair, more power to you. But there may come a point where the glitz and glam overpowers the genuineness of what’s meant to be the beginning of a new life for you.

This is why many brides today are choosing a destination wedding instead of an extravagant union and you can certainly take the same route. This can be wrapped into a honeymoon where the couple travels around California or a beach themed wedding where the couple lounges on the beach, surfs in the water, and takes a ride on the beach, you get the idea!

Wedding Myth 3: The wedding dress can only be white

This one has to be the most popular of all the wedding day myths around. When it comes to wedding dresses, few people will actually think about anything other than a white wedding gown. The decision to wear white or not was often literally tied to a bride’s wholesomeness in the past. In fact, a white wedding dress has been the symbol of purity since Queen Victoria chose to wear one for her wedding in 1840. But that was almost 180 years ago. Today, you’re free to wear your gown in any color of your choosing. Choosing a blue, champagne, pink or even a black wedding dress is a matter of your personal taste and preference. Even if you don’t want to go all out with the colors, you can still pick a trendy gown (like a mermaid wedding dress) in ivory or pearl white.

For this wedding, the bride wore blush pink and cream http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/forest-beach-wedding/ . I love this look for a boho themed wedding.

Wedding Myth 4: Bridesmaids should wear matching colors

Your bridesmaids are individuals, each with her own unique sense of style and taste. While attendants may be expected to wear the same bridesmaid dress, the truth is that they would prefer styles which are similar but not identical. It’s best that you go for convertible bridesmaid dresses in the same color for your girls that they can wear however they like. This will keep the look of your wedding uniform, while also keeping your girls happy. That’s a win-win in our books.

For this wedding, the bridesmaids wore floral pastel colored dresses http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/inn-at-the-cove-wedding-in-pismo-beach/ .

Wedding Myth 5: The parents of the bride pay for the wedding

This certainly used to be true, but it’s no longer the case. These days, there are very few weddings that don’t involve any financial contribution from the bride and groom. There’s no right and wrong; it’s more a matter of who’s willing and able to contribute what. Often the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom will chip in and pay for it together. Sometimes the couple will contribute as well, or even pay for the whole thing themselves. This is often true for couples who have established careers.

People get all sorts of ideas in their heads about weddings. What is right, what is wrong, what you simply “must have” or what you should never do. And if you are engaged, you have probably had plenty of well-meaning people tell you all about how you should plan your wedding. Well, not all of that advice can be true, and it certainly isn’t. So, instead of freaking out and giving in to what other people demand is “right” for your wedding, do what you think is right!

The post 5 Wedding Day Myths appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

How to choose a wedding bouquet

Sat, 22 Jun 2019 16:36:00 GMT

Consider the shape and size of your bouquet

When choosing a wedding bouquet, consider the shape and size of the bouquet. The bouquet should fit the style of the wedding and fit the bride. Here’s what this means: if you are a smaller, petite bride going for a more traditional wedding look, then a smaller to medium size round some whispy bouquet would fit your wedding. If you are a bride going with a boho style dress and barefoot on the beach, then I’d go for a bouquet that is boho and a little more wild style. Then, for a curvy bride, a larger bouquet would be best to balance out the look of your dress and drawn your eye more towards your flowers and make things look more proportional.

If you aren’t sure what size bouquet you want, grab an artificial bouquet or a few groupings of flowers from your local grocery store. Arrange the flowers like a bouquet (grouped together) and see how the size looks on you.

Trust your florist

Just because a bouquet looks pretty online, it might not fit your style, budget or have the same flowers that your florist can get. It’s like the dress – it may look good in a magazine but once you try it on, it might not be for you. Be open minded to choosing a bouquet that fits your personality and style. Your florist might see a different style for you that you might not have thought about. The florist might also see the whole vision of your wedding – the location, your dress, and the colors you want to use. If you want your bouquet to be a showcase piece, then a larger size is better or one with more unique flowers and greenery.

Select seasonal flowers

When choosing a wedding bouquet, find out what flowers are in season for your wedding day. The Knot does a great review on all the flowers and the season they are available. See their post here for flowers, with pictures, and the season they grow. I will have to say that even though you will find a flower that you love, that says it grows during the season of your wedding, that flower might not be available or might not look like the photo you saw on line. Here’s a great example – I love the super large, Cafe O’le dahlia. It’s color can vary from blush pink to a peach color. Its size can be as largess your hand or as small as a fist. The size and color can change based on the plant, weather, and variety. So, just because you saw a picture of a flower you love, doesn’t mean you will get that same exact flower.

Your florist should be able to match the look and feel of a bouquet that you love. Just know, that getting a certain flower might mean paying a high price or change your expectations and trust that you will get a beautiful bouquet with the flowers that are growing from local growers this season.

For our bouquets, most of our flowers come from local growers. We try to select fresh stems that don’t need to be shipped in. By selecting locally grown flowers we can help support local farmers, reduce the transportation cost and have the freshest flowers available.

Selecting the color of your flowers

The colors of the bouquet should probably match the colors of your wedding. If you are lost and don’t know where to start with colors, Fifty Flowers has a great resource for looking at flowers and greenery by color. Here is the link for that resource.

It’s great to see what flowers you are drawn to and see what colors are available. A popular color for weddings is blue, but there aren’t a lot of blue flowers. When looking at turquoise colors on Fifty Flowers, most of the flowers are dyed blue flowers. Your florist might advise on your flowers being another color to accent the turquoise color. See the example below, for going for a white or ivory bouquet.

White or ivory flowers- With an ivory or white wedding dress, a bouquet with the same color is very traditional. I really like the simple bridal bouquet for the beach weddings. One of my favorite bouquets was the one with the open garden roses in the ivory color mixed in the another rose variety. It’s a little softer and romantic. The greenery would be eucalyptus and dusty miller for a green grey color.

Peachy pink and hint of blue and grey flowers – For a bride with the turquoise color, her bridesmaids were wearing different shades of ocean blue. She wanted blue roses, but the died version doesn’t really speak natural bouquet. She trusted the florist and she created a very pretty peachy pink bouquet with a hint of blue and greenery. The groomsmen and groom wore a royal blue vest and the bridesmaid wore a turquoise dress. Here’s a photo of her bouquet and wedding colors.

Select flowers that have meaning to you. Are there certain flowers that you love? Maybe you have always loves star gazer lilies or light pink roses. Are there flowers that mean something to you in your relationship? Maybe your fiancé gave you sunflowers for your first date or anniversary. If you still aren’t sure about what flowers you like maybe stop by your local florist and take a look at some flowers there.

Some brides will wrap in memory of keepsakes around their bouquets. Here’s one from a bride who lost her dad. It also had her something blue on the ribbon with her dad’s picture.

Bouquet Wedding Charm

Something Blue Bouquet Charm

Yes, you can keep it! Enjoy your beautiful bouquet and remember you don’t have to toss it. For my wedding, I went to Michael’s and grabbed a small purple bouquet to toss. The funny thing is that my husband’s nephew caught the bouquet, didn’t want it, and then I ended up with it. It’s actually in my box of treasure as a remembrance of the wedding. Maybe my daughter can toss it at her wedding…lol! You could also ask your florist to make you a smaller bouquet to toss if you wanted to use real flowers like your bouquet.

Cute idea for throw bouquet from Amazon

To keep your flowers fresh after the wedding ceremony, follow these tips: 1. Keep flowers in a vase at the reception and when you get home. Using your bouquet on the sweetheart table also lets you pay once and use twice. 2. Keep the flowers in a cool place and cut the bottom of the stems. When I got home I took photos of the bouquet with the small top of our cake. Then I dried a few and kept them in a memory box. My best friend kept her bouquet and then gave me the dried flowers as a keepsake ornament for our first Christmas as husband and wife.

When choosing your wedding bouquet, you can have a way to keep it for a very long time!

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10 Cute Gift Ideas for the Engaged Couple

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 01:20:00 GMT

10 Cute Gift Ideas for the Engaged Couple –

I remember the joy of being engaged! It was around the holidays, so spending our first holidays with a fiancé was a pretty special thing. We were surrounded by family and friends who shared in our joy, celebrated us, and were excited to plan our wedding day. Here’s some cute gift ideas for the engaged couple!

Why not share in the joy your friends are feeling and send them a little happy engagement gift to keep their excitement going.

1. Glass Bowl Filled with Your Favorite Goodies $24.95 for the bowl

This bowl is one of my favorites and I use it every time I have a party. Crate and Barrel is such a classic store filled with a ton of goodies for the home. If you happen to live close to one, pick up this bowl at your local store or have it shipped to you. If you are in their store, grab a few goodies to add to the bowl. Or if you want to give the couple to be a little energy to help with the wedding planning, add some yummy munchies from your local Trader Joes – chocolate bars, chips, dips, a bottle of wine or craft sodas, and you can even grab a cute 99 cent card from there also.

2. Glass Champagne Flutes $24.99

These modern looking flutes come in a set of 2. They are sleek looking and would be great for the couple to celebrate their special day. The flutes can be engraved for an extra price, or you could add your favorite bottle of bubbly with the glasses for a little more fun.

3. A Cute Frame $14.99

Now that the couple is engaged, they are probably going to want engagement photos. Why not get them a cute frame for their engagement photos. Add a little note saying how excited you are for them along with the frame. If you have a favorite photographer, maybe recommend them to the couple (less stress with having to find one).

4. Customized Frame

Another idea for a frame for the couple would be this personalized one. It has the couple’s name, date and fun saying. It actually say engaged so it’s a great gift for the engaged couple.

5. Wedding Countdown Blocks

These blocks help the couple count down how many days until they are married. What a great reminder for the countdown to the special day. The item also comes from Amazon, so if you are a Prime Member then you get free shipping.

6. Amazon Gift Card and List of Favorite Wedding and Romantic Movies

The best gift for the engaged couple is an Amazon gift card. We think it’s awesome because you can print it at home!!! Ok, so I know you have those moments, because I have them too, where life just got busy and you didn’t have time to get a gift. Select the dollar amount and print the gift card at home.

Click here for the Amazon printable gift card

One Small Hitch

Bridesmaids

The Wedding Date

My Best Friend’s Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Wedding Crashers

The Proposal

Maid in Manhattan

What are your favorites? Email me so I can add them to our list.

7. Custom Address Stamp

Now that it’s official, let the couple announce that with their invites and letters other letters they send. You can select pre-inked stamp in black, blue, purple, red, orange, brown, pink or green or you can do the self inking option and add an ink pad in a favorite color of the couple.

8. Engagement Box $58

This box comes shipped in a cute designed box, congratulations card, ring dish, set of 2 vow notebooks, rose gold pen, and gold confetti poppers. This gifts for the engaged couple is priced at $58, but shipping is free. They will also customize your gift buy including a hand written note to your pal if you are shipping the gift directly to the bride to be.

9. An Item by Coastal California Weddings – Coming Soon

We are happy to announce we are working on a great gift for newly engaged couples. We plan to launch this item by Fall 2019. Stay tuned!

10. A Invite Over to Your House for Dinner to Celebrate

Sometimes it’s just taking time out from your busy day to let your friends know how special they are. Send them a cute e-vite from Paperless Post inviting them over to your house for a dinner to celebrate their engagement. They have probably over 100 different party e-vites. I found this cute one to send.

Cook one of your specialities – mine is shrimp scampi or meatballs. For either of these meals I’d make a nice green salad with some toppings and homemade dressing, garlic bread and then store buy something for dessert. You could even add a goodie bag for the couple filled with some wedding themed items from the Dollar Store (nothing needs to be fancy since it’s the thought that counts), gift card for a pedicure, or bath items from Bath and Body Works.

I like to decorate the table with flowers and give the flowers to the guest to take home with them. I’d probably also want to do a few extra fun touches for the dinner.

The post 10 Cute Gift Ideas for the Engaged Couple appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Simple Beach Elopement

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 05:02:00 GMT

When the bride first contacted me she wanted a simple beach elopement with family. She wanted someone to not only help with the wedding but offer suggestions on places to stay and ideas for a small reception. And guess what…we did all of that and more! The more part came when she was in a panic about her hair. She decided she wanted it done so I connected one of our awesome hair and make up gals. She squeezed her in and I even was there for a few getting ready pictures and even the first look. Event hough you are having a simple beach elopement , you can still have all the great parts of a wedding. When couples are stressed with wedding planning, I always like helping brides take away the stress and come in to help.

To make the trip extra special, the bride surprised the groom with first class tickets for their trip to California. This extra touch was a great start to their simple beach elopement . The couple drove from SouthDakota to Denver to catch a flight into LAX airport. From there, they spend few days exploring La La land and seeing the sights. I then picture them in a convertible cruising the coast up to Pismo Beach – top down, sun in their face and love in their hearts.

I connected with the bride once she made it to town. She’d already checked out a few local places for food and drink. One of her favorite places to eat was the Cracked Crab in Pismo Beach . She was feeling great and excited for the wedding.

The couple had their 1st look at the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach. This hotel is one of my favorites – amazing ocean view, newly remodeled rooms, and a path to the beach. After getting some 1st look pictures with palm trees in the background we strolled down to the beach so they could seal their love this a kiss! It was a beautiful sunny day for a simple beach elopement, the bride walked bear foot on the rocks as the waves splashed on the rocks. The family stood around the couple and shared in their special day.

After the ceremony, Spyglass Inn set up a small reception for the guests. Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach has an awesome view of the Pacific blue ocean from their reception venue.

It was the perfect simple beach elopement !

If you are looking for a simple beach elopement, check out our packages here.

The post Simple Beach Elopement appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Fun, All Inclusive Destination Wedding

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 15:32:00 GMT

How to have a fun, all inclusive destination wedding –

We love sharing the Central Coast and Pismo Beach with couples! We’ve had wedding couples travel all the way from Scotland and Turkey and as close to home as Fresno and Bakersfield.

So, what does the word destination really mean? Cambridge Dictionary says destination can be an adjective meaning worth making a special journey for. A destination wedding, is a wedding that is worth making a special journey for. For us, that journey can be a few hours by car or quite a few hours by plane, train and/or automobile.

All inclusive destination weddings are perfect for couples because they:

Are Less Stressful

All inclusive means pretty much everything you need is included. If CCW plans your wedding, you have one person who coordinates your whole ceremony! Think was less emails, way less to keep track of and way more time to plan the fun part!

It’s not always easy to plan a wedding from far away. So, having one person, who knows all about weddings, helps you to have a stress free destination wedding. How to have a fun all inclusive destination wedding starts with having a stress free experience.

Costs Less Than a Traditional Wedding

If CCW plans your wedding you have a wedding planner, officiant to marry you, photographer, and florist all available to you for one affordable price!

When shopping around for weddings, you might see one price or a starting at price, but many times there are hidden costs. All inclusive destination weddings list out all that’s included. With CCW, there’s no fine print! What’s listed on our website is what you get. If you want extras you can add them.

Destination weddings tend to cost less because you can keep the guest list smaller. Not all your friends and family want to travel out to California. If you have a weekday destination wedding, that also keeps a wedding small because it’s not always easy to get away from work.

(This couple traveled from Florida for their fun all inclusive destination wedding in Pismo Beach. To see their beach elopement video click here )

If you are worried about important people not being able to make it to your destination wedding consider these tips:

Celebrate your destination wedding before you leave and let guests celebrate you! Think of it like a bon voyage party wishing you good luck luck on your journey or best wishes for your travels.

For your party have a fun theme to it. Maybe host the event at Dave and Busters or park. Keep it casual and fun! You can dance, a toast, and even have a cake. Guests will want to know about where you are getting married so make sure to have a few pictures of the location.

I know I’ve used the word fun a lot, but weddings should feel fun. They are about the love you and your fiancé share and the wedding ceremony is the time to be serious. The days before the ceremony, the reception and the honeymoon should all be fun!

Make it more about family and friends

A destination wedding is all about the people you really want to celebrate with. It’s not about having to invite someone because you feel obligated. It’s about having someone at your wedding who truly means something to the both of you.

Are more intimate

Because your destination wedding is smaller, it means it’s more intimate. To me, an intimate wedding is less than 50 guests. I had an intimate wedding so I know first hand about this! Even with 50 guests, it was hard to spend time with all of them, do all the reception duties, and spend time with my new husband. I think we sat together for a few minutes during the toasts, dinner and then danced together. There’s a lot to do and you don’t want to feel like you didn’t get to hang out with your guests.

Spend time with important people before or after the ceremony. If you get married on the Central Coast, you could plan a wine tasting the day after the wedding or hike to the lighthouse in Avila Beach and then breakfast the day before the ceremony.

Other fun ideas to keep things intimate and make it a fun all inclusive destination wedding might be: a tour to Hearst Castle, a boat cruise in Morro Bay, cruising the streets in San Luis for Thursday night Farmer’s Market, or pizza night at Klondike’s in Arroyo Grande.

If there are important guests who you want at your destination wedding but you know it’s going to be difficult for them to afford consider paying for a portion of their trip or getting a vacation rental for family and friends to share.

(This couple traveled from Missouri to have their fun all inclusive destination wedding in Pismo Beach)

Here are some things to think about when planning a fun all inclusive destination wedding:

Choose a location

You can have your destination wedding pretty much anywhere that your heart desires! I’m bias to California since I live in this beautiful state.

Pismo Beach has sandy beaches, cliffs and rocks, and trees with the ocean in the background. There’s a variety of options to choose from when having a wedding. We also have a winery location for vineyard views.

No matter where you get married, certain locations have restrictions for weddings so it’s always important to find those out before you plan your trip. For example, if you want a fun all inclusive destination wedding in Yosemite, you should find out the rules about having a wedding there. Most places require a permit fee to have a wedding or a site fee for the use of the location.

For locations, you can plan a fun destination wedding in a town that you always love to visit or try visiting a new town and make memories there.

When planning to location, think about logistics of how to get there. Many of our couples who have destination weddings will fly into LA, spend a few days exploring there, drive up the coast to Pismo, relax on the Central Coast, and then explore other cities like Carmel, Big Sur, San Francisco, and Yosemite before they head on home.

Don’t wait to book travel

When looking at wedding dates, also look at travel prices. Holiday weekends could be more expensive to travel and many times Fridays are the most expensive dates to travel. Once you find out your wedding date is available, check flights, hotels and rent a cars.

Travel is normally less expensive if you book it in advance. In Pismo, hotels are less if you book during a non-summer month. Think about using other ways to get around like your feet – it may be less in the long run if you stay near downtown vs having to drive to dinner. A vacation rental with a kitchen is also a great option to save money! Why spend $13 on breakfast for the day when you can spend $13 at the store and get breakfast for the week. You could also share the cost of a rental with friends and family and then splurge on a hotel the day before and night of the wedding.

Also, let friends and family know ahead of time so the can book travel and take off the time.

Hire someone who has experience planning destination weddings

We know how to do destination weddings! That means we understand the bride who has never been to Pismo or the bride who doesn’t have the time to come plan her wedding. We have a ton of tips and tricks to help plan a destination wedding.

I remember a bride from South Dakota emailing me saying she really needed someone to help plan because she had never been to the area, wouldn’t have time to visit, and wanted a ceremony, reception, and place to stay (all packed into one). She said if I could do that for her she’d book that minute! I made a few phone calls and was able to set her up with a stress free destination wedding.

Research the destination and plan for fun

Your probably wanting a destination wedding because you want to explore cool places. Do your research and find out where you want to visit and what you want to see.

If you are traveling to the central coast, a few favorites from our couples include: chilling at the beach, Thursday night Farmer’s Market in San Luis Obispo, atv rentals at the dunes, kayaking in Morro Bay, touring Hearst Castle, going wine tasting, checking out the local places to eat and just enjoying the small town vibe.

Roll your wedding and honeymoon into one

I think the best way to have a fun all inclusive destination wedding is to celebrate your wedding AND honeymoon all in one trip. Travel to a destination, get married, and then honeymoon! To me, that’s the best way to get married. You are already in vacation mode, so why not just extend it a few days.

So, pack your bags, travel to California, get married an explore our awesome state!

(This couple traveled from South Dakota to have their fun all inclusive destination wedding)

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One of our brides writes about here experience with how to have a fun all inclusive destination wedding.

Although we live on the east coast, we both have connections to California, and we knew, almost from the start, that California would be our choice. We didn’t consider saying we were having a destination wedding. We just simply said, “We’re getting married in California.” Then I started adding, “It’s going to be a small wedding,” emphasizing “small.”

Each time the topic of weddings came up, I began to feel more and more overwhelmed. As you may imagine, there was no shortage of opinions on what we should do for our wedding. The very idea of an extensive guest list nearly sent me into a panic. I couldn’t and wouldn’t spend time on making the list of guests, worrying about offending people, leaving people off the list by accident, or thinking who could or couldn’t afford the wedding.

It did not take long for us to decide that a small wedding was indeed the way to go for us. Our list of how we wanted our wedding to be looked like this: no big crowds, not on the east coast because of the humid summer weather, and it had to be on the beach. These were the initial ideas for our wedding, and we started the search for destination elopements in California.

Here is my list of things that needed to fall into place as we moved ahead with planning our destination elopement in California:

1. Our wedding day is our wedding day! It is not about anyone else.

2. Before I was ready for marriage, my idea of elopement was running off to Las Vegas for a whirlwind weekend and not telling anyone we were getting married. As a romantic, running away sounded like a good idea. But, as someone who wanted something meaningful this did not really appeal to me once I thought it through. Elopement does not necessarily mean, Elvis is going to marry me. In fact, it can be the completely opposite. I could plan special details and I could make the ceremony more my own.

I emphasize that I had to redefine what a destination elopement meant to me. I had grown up with the idea that elopements happened because everyone, or at the very least, one party’s family or parents, were against the union. My fiancé and I are definitely not in that category.

3. We talked a lot about the size of the wedding for a few months. We are both involved in several activities together and independently of each other. For us, the hard decisions involved the feelings of other people. If we invited “Karen” from social group X, then we have to invite “Keith” from that same group – whom none of us like, but we would have to invite him if we wanted Karen there. Stop the madness right here. “Close family only.”

But, how firm was that list? We both decided that we would each include one of our closest friends that mattered on a number of levels for us: experiences with that friend, reliability, and a sentimental/spiritual connection. They had to meet those criteria at the minimum. We each have that one friend and their spouses coming. Our count so far: 25 – and that number has not changed since we decided.

4. It’s totally ok to be on a budget! Of course, every ad you see is going to have the picture-perfect bride with super white teeth, a flowing gown with sparkles and tutus, and the reception will be held in a setting that makes it looks like lifestyles of the rich and famous. According to The Knot, the average wedding costs nearly $30,000. They list Manhattan as the most expensive place to get married at a cool $87,000 – average. Sound reasonable? No, not to me either. Being cost effective is okay, and a small wedding is a great way to do that!

It’s ok to say no to some of the extra details. It’s ok to say yes to wanting a marriage more beautiful than your wedding!

I did not want to feel bad into spending more money on my wedding. Of course, I want our day to be unique, but I do not need to be at a 5-Star hotel and rent a limo to make it special. Sometimes, figuring out what I do not want helps me figure out what I do want.

One day, I may think it is perfectly reasonable to spend a month’s salary on flowers. My fiancé may think a string quartet is reasonable. Sure, these are all reasonable requests, but are they necessary to express our love and values? We have set up a shared document with costs, ideas, and vendor contacts that we can both update. Some items were crossed off the list immediately if we did not feel those people, places, or things reflected or shared our values. Our process of weeding things out was simple: if it does not feel authentic, it is off the list. In the words of Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.”

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How to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach

Fri, 31 May 2019 02:31:00 GMT

*How to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach –

Pismo Beach is a beautiful, quaint California beach town. It’s located half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles on highway 101 and highway 1. The beaches have a variety of backdrops – golden sandy beaches, darker sandy beaches, tide pools and cliffs. There are also forested beach locations. Depending on the ocean backdrop you’d like for your wedding, Pismo Beach has it all!

Here are some tips on how to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach.

Enjoy the beautiful backdrop

For a beautiful backdrop, with a lot of variety, have your wedding in Pismo Beach. Many of our locations were selected because of their beauty. If you are getting married at the beach with your toes in the sand, ocean in distance, and bright blue sky, all those decorations are free for your special day! They are natural and beautiful so don’t try to hide the natural beauty by adding a lot of decorations. To keep things simple, a shell and driftwood aisle is a great way to keep the decorations minimal, but still create a space for the bride to walk down and guests to be on either side. Or consider large lanterns. The large lanterns will finish off the look of the beach and be an anchor for where to stand during the ceremony. A wedding arch is a nice touch also, but consider making that the focal point of the wedding ceremony.

You wanted to get married at the beach so enjoy the backdrop and have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach.

As an extra tip – I always say that the location is already beautiful enough so why spend extra money on decorations.

I’ve been seeing some really pretty options for beach wedding colors.

My favorites are ones like below.

For the lilac color, it also creates more of a romantic beach feel. Also, for the purple tones, different shades of purple can be added to the bride’s bouquet for contrast. For the wine and raspberry colors, they add more of a pop of color and make the wedding a little more dramatic. The wine/ sangria color stands out in a good way against the backdrop of the ocean.

But, my favorite beach wedding color was a juniper green color that a groom wore. His bride has red hair, so I think the green, red of her hair, and cream of the dress, cream and dark green colors. It all went so well together with the colors and style. To see their look click here watch highlights of their wedding. They traveled from Florida to have an awesome beach wedding in California.

However, when I got married, the Tiffany teal blue color was in. I had really loved that color and wanted to coordinate it with a fuchsia color. I was going for the more colorful theme. I didn’t end up going with those colors and am pretty happy I didn’t.

My bouquet was going to be traditional with shades of white and I wanted mercury glass vases and candle holders. I later nixed the teal and fuchsia colors. If you are curious of the direction I went in…here’s a little hint…it was a fall wedding and I selected a color and my fiancé got to choose his color. The colors also matched the Spanish theme of the ceremony and reception location. I wouldn’t have changed those colors at all!!

Get married a little before sunset

Our favorite time to have a wedding on the beach is around 3 hours before sunset. This is the best time for a wedding for the photos. The golden hour is 1-2 hours before sunset. If you want to still have that soft glow of the sun in your photos, have your wedding 2-3 hours before sunset.

If you want those silliotte photos where the sunset is coming through and the two of you darker, then go for 1-2 hours before sunset. It’s also romantic to have the last wedding photo taken right as the sun goes down.

If your reception has a view of the ocean and you want to enjoy the sunset from your reception, then talk with your wedding coordinator about finding locations for photos where the sun isn’t as harsh. There’s a great beach we like to use where the rocks hide the sun and it creates the perfect natural shadow.

The sun can be harsh and sometimes not flattering for photos. If you want to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach AND awesome beach wedding photos, then have the sun on its way down. Below is an example of a photo during the golden hour.

Stay and celebrate with an ocean view

If you are coming all the way to the beach for your wedding, why not celebrate with an ocean view hotel room and reception venue.

We work with some really awesome Pismo Beach reception venues and hotels. If you are curious about those, just ask!

A wedding is a special occasion so spend a little extra on certain things like an ocean view room.

My favorite ocean view reception location is at a local hotel. So, it makes it even easier to stay and celebrate all in the same space.

Don’t overdo the beach theme

Having your wedding at the beach doesn’t mean all the wedding details need to be beach themed. Pick 3-4 of your favorite beach wedding ideas and use those at your wedding.

Here’s a few fun ones:

Keep it casual

Above all, if you are going to have a beach wedding, think about having the dress code be a little more casual. Think beach chic for your guests- women in flowery sun dresses and men in shorts and a button up shirt. No shoes on their feet – think barefoot in the sand for everyone (including yourself). This is the beach chic. The couple can be a little more dressed up – suit with a tie for the groom with the bride in a longer white dress.

Or even the bride in a short white dress and the groom in khaki linen pants with a white linen shirt. Whatever style you choose, make sure the two of you match. This means you want to match each other’s style. So, if the bride wants to be more dressed up the groom should also. It always looks funny when the bride is in an elegant white dress with a veil and the groom has on a white shirt with pants on, like he’s just going out on a nice date.

If you are thinking you want a little more elegant wedding, consider a location where the guests can be dressed up a little more, sitting on chairs, and enjoying the view of the ocean. For this location, the gazebo or gazebo cliff location at Margo Dodd gazebo would be my favorite location. This is more of an elegant wedding location for our couples. Then the two of you can go to the beach for photos.

Find out about beach permits

Find out if your beach location requires a permit and even allows weddings on the beach. The Central Coast beaches all have different agencies who are in charge of the beaches and permits. Each beach has different requirements, permits, and fees. Knowing the rules before you set up a wedding will save you from having to cancel your wedding because the beach patrol shuts it down because you didn’t have a permit. Also, if a couple has paid for a permit and you set up your wedding there, it could ruin it for the couple who paid for the permit. Imagine your guests crashing the other couple’s wedding.

But, for a wedding in Pismo Beach, a beach permit is required to get married on the beach there.

If you hire Coastal California Wedding, we know all about the local beach permits in Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and Morro Bay.

Having a permit and knowing the right way to get married on the beach allows you to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach.

Choose the right time of year

For a wedding in Pismo Beach, the best time of year for a beach wedding is surprisingly not during the summer. The secret is that May, September and early October is the best beach weather for an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach.

For example, get married in May, September or October to have an awesome California beach wedding. Why these months? Here are some reasons why a California beach wedding in May, September or October is awesome:

A lot of couples want to get married in the summer. It sounds great – the kids are out of school, you can do a summer vacation and wedding at the same time, and going to beach let’s you escape the hot weather where you live.

But, in reality, a summer beach wedding isn’t really ideal in Pismo Beach. Here’s some reasons why we don’t really love summer beach weddings:

In conclusion, if you are ready to have your awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach Coastal California Wedding is here to help you.

A Pismo Beach wedding where there are only a few people on the beach because it’s off season.

The post How to have an awesome beach wedding in Pismo Beach appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Pismo Beach Family Weddings

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 23:32:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Family Weddings –

It’s all about family! A lot of our couples want to have the wedding ceremony be about their family. We love to make wedding ceremonies for our couples more about family. What’s better than a Pismo Beach Family Wedding!

For the new year I was thinking a lot about our weddings and the special celebration of love. With the holidays, I focused more on family this year. I’m sure my friends didn’t like me, but it was really about memories with my husband and our daughter. I even snuck in a girls trip with my mom and sister and big birthday celebration for my dad. It was those moments with family that I enjoyed. I took tons of pictures and even asked questions about my family history. So, it was all about family for me.

As this year is starting, I’m wanting to encourage our couples to embrace the term “all about family.” Now, this could mean different things to different couples.

We will share some of our favorite weddings where the couples include their children in the ceremony. Read a little more about our Pismo Beach family weddings where it is all about family.

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A wedding we did in late summer is a perfect example of a ceremony where the bride involved her daughter. The bride told me that having her daughter at the wedding was really important to her. I loved the special ways the little cutie pie was part of the ceremony!

To feel almost as important as her mom, the daughter got her hair done. She wore a lacy white dress and carried a basket of petals as the flower girl. The part that touched my heart was when the daughter walked her mom down the aisle. This is such a lasting memory. Then, during the middle of the ceremony, the groom gave his step daughter a ring showing his promise he is making to her.

At the end of the ceremony, the 3 of them celebrated with a champagne and apple cider toast and got to have dessert before dinner and share in a cake cutting.

For their wedding ceremony, it was just the 3 of them!

We’ve had couples who like to customize their wedding ceremony. This couple asked if we could include a unity cord ceremony for the children, bride and groom to take part in. The groom actually made the wooden structure the cords were attached to. During the ceremony, each member of the family braided the cords together – showing that even though each cord was separate, they are now one. The wedding ceremony also was about family and the love of this new family being one.

The couple was also joined by their immediate family. And to make the celebration even more special, the bride was married on her birthday!

This handsome young man not only stood up during the wedding ceremony, but he also carried a sign down the aisle. He even had on the most dapper looking outfit!!

This couple wanted a simple boho ceremony with a romantic beach feel. The wedding took place at the gazebo cliff location. They had an arch and lanterns lined the aisle way.

The flower girls were daughters of some of bride’s nearest and dearest friends.

It’s so sweet when the couple has their children being part of their Pismo Beach family weddings ceremony. One warm day in July a bride’s son shared with me that he was a little nervous to walk his mom down the aisle. It had just been his sister, mom and him for so long! He was the man in charge and now was passing his mom off to another man. The son had happy tears because he was full of joy that his mom found her special someone. The bride wanted her daughter to have a small bouquet in the wedding colors so she could feel like a bridesmaid. The couple also had a shell ceremony so the 4 of them could make a wish for their new future together.

Another elopement was celebrated in Pismo Beach family with just the couple and their children.

A true example of love for her step daughters shined through in this ceremony! At the end of it all I was crying happy tears after the words shared about being a mom to the two girls and a family hug as the sunset went down.

When we were planning the wedding details the bride said how excited the girls were to be in the wedding. One girl had wanted to be the bling bearer and the other daughter wanted to be a flower girl. The flower girl made her flower basket and the other carried a bouquet. All 3 ladies decided to get their hair and make up done! Then, before the ceremony, the whole family did a first look – 1st the girls with their dad and then the bride and groom.

This Pismo Beach family wedding was celebrated with the couple and their children only.

Watch a video from their wedding here.

Another wonderful example of love was between a soon to be step mom and step son. The step mom shared that she’d been part of the son’s life since he was an infant. It was important for the two of them to have a special moment at the ceremony. The bride wanted to give the son a watch and the step son gave the bride a ring. They both promised to be in each other’s lives and to share their love as a new family.

This Pismo Beach family wedding was celebrated with the couple and close family.

These are just a few examples of weddings that involved family. There are a lot more great examples of Pismo Beach Family Weddings. Enjoy the love and family that you have!

The post Pismo Beach Family Weddings appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Pismo Beach California Elopement

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 19:12:00 GMT

Pismo Beach California Elopement – Simply Amazing!

Located along the beach in Pismo is the Tree Grove location. It’s such a unique wedding location – with the variety of trees, ocean in the background, and sand at your feet. It’s a tucked away little spot, that a lot of people don’t know about. I love the trees that create the perfect natural arch to have a wedding ceremony under. There is a small walk to the location, but I normally grab some photos along the walk. Any chance to grab a picture with a pretty backdrop for a couple’s Pismo Beach California Elopement I take it!

For this couple, we planned their Pismo Beach California Elopement in a few weeks. When it’s just the couple, it’s easier to do the planning in just weeks. The couple knew they wanted the Tree Grove location because the bride loved the trees. As you can see, we also go some pictures of the ocean behind them. The walk for their Pismo Beach California Elopement started where there were some pretty green eucalyptus trees. This location is nice too because the trees hide the sun. It’s always nice for photos when the sun isn’t really direct. It makes a photo more romantic when the sun just peaks through the pictures. After our short walk, we found the location and the couple got to select the exact spot where they wanted to get married.

After the ceremony, we took pictures around the Pismo Beach California Elopement location. This couple had met through the bride’s brother. The groom had been best friends with the groom’s brother for years. There had always been a little chemistry between the two of them! They decide to make it official with their Pismo Beach California Elopement with just the two of them. They spent a few days in the area and brought their little doggie with them. I made a few recommendations for places in the area. Our local guide is a great way to find out about the area. For a breakfast recommendation there was Zorro’s in Shell Beach and for a famous place for steak, there was McLintock’s . Come and celebrate your Pismo Beach California Elopement with Coastal California Weddings!

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Casual Pismo Beach Wedding

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 23:46:00 GMT

Casual Pismo Beach Wedding

The bride wanted to capture all the moments of the wedding ceremony. She had getting ready photos with her sister and daughter. Then they added on extra photo time after the ceremony so they could spend more time at the beach. Having a casual Pismo beach small wedding was just what the couple had wanted.

The getting ready photos were the sweet moments captured of the bride with her daughter and the bride’s sister. This photos will be treasured for years! The getting ready photos are some of my favorites since they document those moments before the beauty of the wedding ceremony – the dress before it’s put on, the bride before her make up is on, the calm (most of the time lol) before the storm.

The couple was joined by their children for the casual Pismo Beach wedding ceremony. The groom and his son wore matching cowboy hats, which was so cute! The colors for the wedding were lavender and white. The bride had a matching bouquet with her daughter. It was important for the couple to involve their children in the ceremony so they added the shell unity ceremony. It was such a caring and tender moment to have the children part of the unity shell ceremony. During the wedding, the guests stood around the couple and watched them exchange their vows. The couple even had their dog at the wedding ceremony, to join them for their special day.

The Ocean Dunes location is a great venue since the ceremony is up on the dunes. The location is not where you can drive on the beach and you can’t hear any of the noise from the dunes. We just call the location the Ocean Dunes because there is a view of the ocean and the ceremony takes place up on the dunes. The location has an even more amazing view away from people on the beach. Being up on the dunes is best for pictures so there aren’t a lot of people in your photos. The ocean dunes is a favorite for a casual Pismo beach wedding ceremony.

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Pismo beach elopement by the Pier

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 04:58:00 GMT

Pismo beach elopement by the Pier

Meet a few of our happy couples who eloped to the Pismo Beach Pier. We also have couples getting married with their toes in the Pismo Beach sand, overlooking the ocean or with the Pismo Beach dunes in the background.

Make sure to visit our locations page to see more of our beautiful Pismo Beach elopement locations. We also provide wedding ceremony services for small weddings and elopements in Morro Bay and Cambria. Our packages are all inclusive to so that means we do a lot of the work for you so you can have a stress free wedding planning experience. Book your wedding package with us today!

This couple stay at the Inn at the Pier, which is steps from the Pismo Beach Pier. Pismo was their special place she they went on their first vacation up the coast and landed in Pismo. When the time came for them to get married, Pismo was the place they had to say I do in!!

We met the groom at his hotel and placed him on the beach for the first look. I zipped up the brides dress for her, gave her a wedding day hug and coordinated their first look in the sand. First looks are always such sweet moments, especially during elopements.

After the ceremony, the couple had photos with the pier in the background and then under the pier. Since The Pismo Beach sign is pretty new to town, I knew the couple had to get pictures in front of the popular sign!

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The couple started off in Disneyland and spent a few days at the happiest place on earth. I think it was great that they had a little fun time before the wedding. I met the groom, dressed in his pink vest and captured some details for a few getting ready photos. Then, the groom headed off to the ceremony location. The bride added her finishing touches and thought a little nervous, headed off to the beach to make it official with her groom. It’s normally during this time that the wedding starts to feel more real and I could see her happy smile the minute she laid eyes on him on the beach! I always enjoy seeing the happy smiles from the couple during this time. The couple added more photo time for getting ready pictures and first look pictures and ended at the Pismo Beach pier. The weather is always perfect in Pismo Beach - clear, sunny and 75 degrees. We are so lucky on the Central Coast to have sandy beaches, hilly sand dunes, cliffs and rocks all within a 15 minute drive. We had a wonderful time capturing the beauty of the day and going around to different locations for wedding photos.

For the bride’s bouquet, she selected a boho bouquet style with colors of blush pink and cream. The bouquet was the perfect accessory!

I loved getting Pismo beach elopement by the Pier photos of the couple. The pier had just been redone so the bottom of the pier has a new look to it. This photo is actually featured in the City of Pismo Beach’s information guide to having a Pismo Beach wedding. I was so honored to have my photo featured there. When the tide is low it’s best for getting some awesome wedding photos under the Pismo Beach pier. The photos with the couple are so romantic looking and some of my favorites!

After the wedding, the couple was going to explore some near by cities since they hadn’t been to the area before. I had suggested Morro Bay for kayaking and clam chowder. Morro Bay is another favorite beach location for weddings. Here’s some information on visiting Morro Bay .

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Why have a small wedding

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 03:49:00 GMT

Elopements or small weddings are the way to go! They allow the couple to have an intimate, meaningful ceremony and focus on the importance of their commitments to each other. The ceremony is the promise you make to each other. Elopements used to be secret weddings where couples would run away to an Elvis drive-in to get hitched. Now, they are much more.

It is great to have an elopement or small wedding because:

-There is less pressure to plan the event.
There are no extra details like selecting wedding favors for guests, juggling life and wedding planning, deciding who wants beef or chicken, or listening to people’s opinion even though you didn’t ask for their advice.

You can focus your energy on what’s important.
Being married is the important part, not really the show you put on for other people.

-You will have more money in your pocket.
Weddings can be pretty expensive, with the average cost of about $100 per person. I’m sure you and your fiancé can think of better ways to spend those big bucks! How about a nice honeymoon, down payment on a house, or pay off some bills?

-You can get married more quickly.
There is no need to schedule things in advanced or work with friends’ and families’ schedules. You are engaged; you love each other; get to it, already!

-You can still have a party!
Yes, you can still have a party….and still get gifts. This was my husband’s biggest reason for not liking the idea of a small wedding. In order to share your celebration with others, plan to have something before or after the special day. For party planning ideas, see our blog .

If you are considering having a small wedding read some tips on how to cut your guest count:

When we were first planning our wedding, my husband and I wrote down a list of everyone who we wanted at our wedding. That initial list was about 150 people. It included distant relatives, junior high school friends, and people who we just started hanging out with. We knew we had to cut the list since we were on a budget and wanted a more intimate wedding. In the end we ended up having 45 guests at our wedding and it was perfect!!

I’m sure some of you are thinking 45 guests, how are we going to cut our list down to that little of people!! Below are some tips that helped us:

Relatives – We all have those relatives who we hardly ever see. They may live far away or be the ones you only see on holidays. These relatives may be the ones to think twice about inviting. I’m sure there are some relatives you spend more time with – we saw my Uncle a few times during the year and my cousin and I email a few times a month. Those relatives were ones that were on my list.

Friends – Picking the friends to put on our list was the hardest part of the guest list. The last thing we wanted to do was hurt a friend’s feelings. I chose the friends that meant the most to me – those whom I couldn’t imagine not having at my wedding. These were the friends who I knew were going to be in my life 3 or 5 years from now, those friends who actually took the time to call me on my birthday rather than just posting a message on my Facebook wall, and those friends who called to check on me when I was down in the dumps. This list takes some time because you really need to sit back and think about those different types of friends. Search from within and think who you really want at your special day.

Family member’s friends – Your parents may want to invite their friends to your wedding or your sister may want her best friend at your wedding. The problem is that it is your wedding and each person someone else invites is someone who you have to cut from your list. You can stick to your guns and be up front with them and tell them you are sorry but you can’t add extra people since you both want a small intimate wedding or you can tell them they can choose one couple/ person to invite to the wedding.

Hurt feelings – You will probably have a person or two who is mad you didn’t invite them to the wedding. Sometimes, people just do not make it on the list. If you are feeling bad about not inviting someone, consider calling them or next time you see them explain that it was really hard to pick who to invite to your wedding and that you decided to have a small wedding and are really sorry you couldn’t invite them. Some people just might not make it on your list.

Split the list – If you are still having problems with the list, divide it up between the two of you. If you only want 50 people and your list is at 70, then you get to chose 25 people and your spouse gets to chose 25 people. This way each of you are allowed to nix the people off your own list and there are no hard feelings if your wife cuts your friend from childhood. You are the one in control over who makes it on the list and there are no arguments.

Back up list – This is another plan once people start rsvping. If you start asking around early if friends can or cannot make it and find out someone can’t make it, then you can send an invite to someone else on your back up list. The trick is in the timing so your back up guests don’t know they are on the back up list. This list can be a little tricky, so maybe only put a few couples on that list.

When we asked our friends who had 100 plus guests at their wedding, if they would recommend having a large wedding, they said definitely not. For us, we were able to enjoy the guests who were at the wedding. I felt like we could mingle and say hi to the guests and thank them for coming. Our small wedding allowed us to save some money on the wedding, while having a great celebration with the people who really meant something to the two of us.

All these reasons hopefully answered your questions as to why have a small wedding

For reasons to get married on the Central Coast see our blog .

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Cayucos – Day Trip

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 03:48:00 GMT

Cayucos – Day Trip

If you are looking for a short day trip to enjoy after the excitement of your wedding, this is the spot for you. A little bit retro, a little bit quaint, a little bit sleepy, this charming town north of San Luis Obispo is a must-see if you are checking out the California Central Coast. Only 3 ½ square miles in total area, it boasts a pier from which fireworks are set off every Fourth of July. Wander into one of the many surf shops and antiques shops and take home a memento of your trip. Each spring the town hosts an annual sea glass festival, and on New Years’ Day the Polar Bear dip sends brave souls running into the Pacific Ocean, and running just as quickly back to dry land – and an awaiting towel.

One of my favorite spots in Cayucos is Brown Butter Cookie Company. Started in 2008 by two sisters who love to bake, one step into this shop and you are hooked. The smell of browned butter and baked cookies is as tempting as the plate of samples they offer. Watch the cookie rollers hand roll each Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie. If that is not tempting enough, try their cocoa mint, expresso, almond, or gluten-free lemon poppy seed, just to name a few. And, if you are hungry for more when you return home, just go to their website and order away.

If you are feeling hungry, and want more than cookies, you can get some tasty chowder at Schooners Wharf Restaurant. Another spot for chowder is at Duckies Chowder House by the pier. Or maybe you’d like to sample their tuna melt calamari strips. If smoked fish tacos are more to your liking (some folks say they are the best on the planet), head over to Ruddell’s Smokehouse. For a garden setting, try Hoppe’s Bistro and Wine Shop. Open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, The Sea Shanty Restaurant has some very yummy homemade desserts.

Surrounded by ranchland with grazing cattle, and rolling hills peppered with oak trees, Cayucos got its name from the Chumash Indians who inhabited the area. The name means kayak, and refers to the small canoes that the Aleuts used to hunt sea otters in the 1800s. The area was settled in 1867 by Captain Cass who built a pier in the area he thought would be perfect for a shipping port. Soon, sailing ships and steamers were frequenting the area, carrying dairy products from the area to larger cities along the California coast. The old Cayucos Tavern became the hangout for seafarers and gambler alike. Now, the town is the hangout for people who want to step away from the hassle and bustle of city life and enjoy the cool ocean breezes and walk the streets of this beach town. Hope you enjoy your visit. And, don’t forget to sample some cookies. Or maybe even a whole pie from Pieman Pies. My favorite is their peanut butter cream, or maybe the lemon meringue. Now I’m hungry!

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Stress Free Wedding Day

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 04:26:00 GMT

By having a wedding planner or the services of Coastal California Weddings, we help to prevent as much of the wedding stress as we can! We’ve found some simple things that the couple can do months and weeks before the wedding to make sure they have a stress free wedding day.

Here’s some tips and tricks we found for having a stress free wedding day!

Those last few weeks tend to be the most stressful. All those last minute things on your to do list, calls from friends and family, travel plans and packing.

To keep yourself from pulling your hair out and have a stress free wedding day, don’t worry about the little things! Take that list and cross of the things that don’t really need to get done. Yes, take that list out right NOW, along with a pen, and cross off the unnecessary things that aren’t really that important but are adding to your wedding to-do list.

For me, I remember not doing a few things for my reception. For the little things, answer this questions, “how important is it to me and my wedding if I don’t do that item on the to do list?” If getting a mani and pedi are on the list, don’t scratch that one off. You will relax a little and feel a little more like a princess on your special day. But, if getting a wedding garter is on your list, maybe cross that one off. These things are so hard to find. Other ideas may be to ask friends and family for help. If your sister is going to Michael’s for a few extra things, ask her to grab a few of the items on your to do list.

Here’s some example of that question “how important is it that you…”.

If your list talks about getting a few more wedding props for your photo booth and what happens if you don’t get a few more props for our photo book? If you already have props it’s not that important to add a few extras. But if your question is something like, how important is it for me to write my vows, this may be something more important to my fiancé. I remember I had a bride who was stressing about getting colored table cloths for her reception. The reception venue already had white ones on the tables, so we both decide it would be a lot easier for her just to use the white ones and add a little color with flowers on the tables. There was no need for her to drive 2 hours away to get colored table cloths.

Ok, you know what the little things are, and what really doesn’t matter on your wedding day. I hope a few things are crossed off and you feel less stressed.

Unnecessary Worries – written by a bride after her wedding

Here’s what Erin, a bride who had a simple elopement in San Francisco. She tells about the story of her wedding day and what was truly important. She shares some tips for a stress free wedding day. It’s just a good read!

Somewhere along the line, I am positive I was reassured that I should not stress out over the details for our wedding day. I either wasn’t listening or thought that it did not apply to me. How wrong I was! After everything was over and done with, I realized I had spent so much time worrying about things that I shouldn’t have. I lapsed into moments of tears when people forgot things, got consumed with timing and I forgot to enjoy the moment and had a meltdown over people not behaving the way I wanted them too. I distinctly remember sitting at a table with my now-husband having coffee and starting to sob because I tried so hard to get our families to do something together and realized that most simply were not interested in doing anything.

Looking back, I would have done a few things differently. Here are some lessons learned from a bride on the other side of wedding planning:

First and foremost, I would have relaxed more! Things just were not that big of a deal as I made them out to be. I wish I had come to the conclusion earlier that most people who travel for a destination wedding would appreciate some time to do things that they want to do. For example, my brother and his children had never been to San Francisco. Why force them into events if they would prefer to go exploring the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz? With so many vendors and friends and family telling me it was “our day,” I forgot to let other people enjoy themselves too.

The only person that is going to care about your wedding as much as you is your groom – and even then, he will come in second. Admittedly, there were moments during the planning stages of our wedding when I wondered if my groom would even notice that we didn’t have any flowers. This was deranged thinking of Bride Brain, an overstressed mind obsessed over small details. Of course, he would have noticed.

Floral arrangements, other than the bridal bouquet, will only be noticed briefly. I worried about the centerpieces for our lunch reception and for the bistro tables only to find that the arrangements were only admired briefly. I absolutely loved our flower arrangements; our florist put a lot of effort into arranging our centerpieces and my bridal bouquet. I can stare at flowers all day long, the average wedding guest is most likely too distracted to note every detail of the flower arrangements. It was halfway through our reception that I realized we had nowhere to bring these beautiful arrangements. We couldn’t drive down the coast with a trunk full of centerpieces and a bird-of-paradise ikebana display. I brought along my bridal bouquet, and that was it.

Micromanaging would not have been appreciated or relaxing at all. In most situations, I do not appreciate being micromanaged so why would I expect other people would enjoy it? This goes back to my first lesson learned: relax! The vendors we worked with are professionals and know what they are doing. That is what makes them professionals! In hindsight, I wish I had just left everything to them and let go of trying to force pre-wedding activities. I wasted so much time thinking about these things that I was not able to enjoy the moment – several times!

Remember, this is a day you will cherish forever. Keep sight of the things that are really important – you are about to marry the love of your life and family and friends have traveled to see you get married. What else can one ask for? Relax, spend time together, write a gratitude list, and spend some time reflecting on the real importance of getting married.

2. Don’t be rushed on your wedding day

Make sure to plan out all the activities of the day and give yourself plenty of time.

I’ve seen brides who use hair and make up people who aren’t experienced with wedding days and the getting ready time lasts too long. The gals we use travel to your room for getting ready to make things a lot easier with the timing. This makes the day easier for you and creates a stress free wedding day. Put a family member or guest in charge of the time line and following it.

For the day of, don’t decorate or think you will finish up last minute activities. The day of your wedding day should be for relaxing, enjoying and celebrating.

I’ve seen a lot of brides decorating their reception venue on the day of the wedding. Things don’t go as planned at the reception venue with the decorations and then the bride is spending way too much time decorating instead of getting married. One bride brought in a large table name sign and the sign didn’t fit into the reception space so it had to be taken down and reassembled, then the note cards were left at the hotel and there was no time for her to get her make up done.

3. Stay the night before in town, don’t arrive on the day of your wedding to get ready.

That also goes for you and also other important guests.

We’ve had to wait 30 minutes for a groom’s parents to arrive to the wedding. This gave the couple only 5 minutes with pictures of the 2 of them. Yes, maybe it’s expensive to get a hotel room, but in the long run having enough time for photos and for the ceremony will make for a better wedding day.

4. Do a trial run with your dress, shoes, and accessories.

No matter what you are wearing on your wedding day, try it on and see how it looks. Walk around in it, jump around with it on, and check yourself out in the mirror.

Read below about some outfit malfunctions and why it’s important to do a trial run. Stay calm and celebrate!

It’s sad when I see couples who aren’t happy about their wedding day because things were way too stressful with all the extras they decided to add. This doesn’t happen much, but when it does I realize the bride took on way too much of the wedding details. This is where my dislike of Pinterest comes in – it’s those couples who want a Pinterest wedding but don’t have the team or budget it takes to get a Pinterest wedding. It’s also the expectations that extra “stuff” makes a wedding more special. It’s those elopements of just the couple that many times are the most special and truly about love. Now, if you are planning a small wedding with guests, don’t email me right now and say you want to just elope. I’ll just say no, lol! But, if you are feeling like that, I’m happy to talk you down…that’s what I’m here for. Yes, weddings can be stressful, and yes you are going to have a few butterflies, and yes, someone isn’t going to like something you are doing. Just remember this is about the love the two of you share and pledging that love to each other. So – stay calm and celebrate!

I’m not going to share the stories of couples who had little snags along the way with the day. But, I’m happy to say all of our couples were happy couples who had a simply amazing wedding and a stress free wedding day.

Tips to Prevent Outfit Malfunction

Here’s some more information about outfit malfunction on your wedding day and why doing a trial run is so important. Not to mention, it will help you have a stress free wedding day.

Gals

Guys

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Example of a Love Letter

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 20:33:00 GMT

Here is an example of a love letter. The love letter can be read to each other at the ceremony.

“From the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you – your smile, gentle ways, and the way you looked at me with your big blue eyes. As we spent more time together, I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my life with. Not only did we share the same values and think alike, but we were both able to push each other to be the very best. Today, here we are, ready to say I do and be married. I am so happy.”

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Pismo Beach California Destination Elopement

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 04:25:00 GMT

Pismo Beach California Destination Elopement

This couple spent most of their time at the beach for their trip to Pismo. They rented an AirBnB and stayed a few blocks away from the ceremony location. After explaining a little about the tide, they decided to get married at the gazebo location and then go down to the beach for pictures after the ceremony. The tide was washing up during our photo session, but I just loved how the bride put on her Nikes, waded through the waves, and got on the rocks for some amazing photos! I think it’s great when couples let me take them on an adventure to get photos. I know the beach area and getting pictures was important to this couple – they had never been to the beach so the beach was their special place. The tide was coming up, but we were careful to cross the rocks and get up to higher ground when we needed to.

The bride made sure to tell me the location and photos were very important to her. Knowing a little more about what the couple wants helps out a lot when working with them.

Because of this couple, I started a guide of favorite things to do in Pismo Beach . So many couples come here and I want to share with them all the awesomeness of the Central Coast. The guide has my favorites, along with favorites from other couples.

Pismo Beach California destination elopement

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Celebrate Your Blended Family Wedding in Pismo Beach

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 04:23:00 GMT

Including both of their children was one of the main things this couple wanted their wedding ceremony to include. I remember the happy, excited smiles and group hug right after the wedding ceremony was over. This couple included each of their children in their wedding ceremony and made the children feel extra special! Each child held up signs as they walked down the aisle.

I especially loved the colors that the bride chose as her wedding colors. She wanted her bouquet to have teal, orange, and pink colors in it and be a little more tropical. Her bridesmaids wore teal dresses and carried umbrellas. I always say a wedding ceremony is unique to each couple and encourage couple’s to customize their ceremony. The bride had her mom be her maid of honor, which I thought was super special! Because moms really are a girls true best friend! The other bridesmaids were sisters to the bride.

The wedding ceremony took place on the gazebo cliff location . To keep the first look of the bride and groom a secret as long as they could, the groom was blind folded until the bride was steps away from him. Then the best man took off the blindfold and the groom welcomed his bride with a big smile of happiness!

After the ceremony, the tide was low enough to go down to the beach that was close by for photos.

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Ocean Front Gazebo in Pismo Beach

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 04:22:00 GMT

Ocean Front Gazebo in Pismo Beach

I remember the bride telling me that she knew she was going to marry her groom when she was 16. After some years, the couple decided to have a small wedding in Pismo Beach at the popular gazebo in Pismo Beach location. What’s not to love about an ocean front gazebo in Pismo Beach with million dollar views!

This couple had 50 of their closest family and friends attend their ocean front Gazebo wedding in Pismo Beach. Before the wedding, the bride and the groom had getting ready photos. During the getting ready photos, the bride gave the groom a special gift and note, and the groom gave the bride a special gift and note. It was so sweet to capture those moments with pictures. The getting ready pictures are also nice to get all the extra details before the wedding ceremony.

The bride was walked down the aisle by her dad and step dad. I always encourage bride’s to make their wedding ceremony personal by adding their special touches. Other ways the couple made this wedding more personal was to have their first dance, father daughter and mother son dance in the gazebo. After the dancing, we did pictures with the guests and a lot of fun photos with the wedding party. They were a great group that were easy to pose. After the wedding ceremony, we finished with photos of the couple down at the beach.

Gazebo in Pismo Beach Location

Gazebo Cliff Wedding Location

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High School Sweethearts Get Married at the Pismo Beach Gazebo

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 05:04:00 GMT

This couple had known each other for about 10 years, meeting while they were in high school. They shared a lot of memories together and stayed together as a couple transitioning from teenagers to adults. Since they had been together for a long time, they decided the next step would be to get married at the Pismo Beach Gazebo and start a new life together.

They were a pretty busy couple, so having Coastal California Weddings plan their wedding made it very easy for them.

The couple had known each other for over 10 years, so getting married was the next big step in their lives. They decided to get married on the date that they 1st met, July 7th. So their wedding anniversary and day the 1st met are the same date!

For the wedding ceremony, the couple was joined by immediate family and close friends. The wedding ceremony took place in front of the Pismo Beach gazebo The couple was joined by a small wedding party of the bride’s best friend and the groom’s brother. The bride carried a blush pink bouquet with roses and dahlias. Family pictures were taken at the gazebo cliff. Then I took the couple down to the beach for photos of just the two of them. After the wedding ceremony the couple had a large reception in San Luis Obispo where they were joined by more family and friends.

Get Married at the Pismo Beach Gazebo

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Getting Ready for Getting Ready Photos

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 19:42:00 GMT

Here’s some tips for getting ready for getting ready photos.

Getting ready photos are the pictures that are taken before the wedding. They include pictures of the bride and sometimes the groom. Getting ready photos capture those moments before the wedding – when the bride has just finished getting her make up on, the small details like the jewelry and the flowers, the dress hanging up, the bride putting on her dress, and special moments with the bride and her family and friends.

For my wedding, I really enjoyed the getting ready photos and they are some of my favorite ones! The include my mom, sister and I doing some pre-wedding celebrating with champagne, my best friend giving me my something borrowed ( a brooch that belonged her grandmother that she wore on her wedding day), and some great pictures of just me before the wedding started.

THE BRIDE

Have all the extra details laid out in one place, easy for the photographer to get to.

These items include:

Your wedding invitation

Letter or vows to your fiancé

Jewelry you are wearing that day – necklace, earrings

Veil

Rings – both his and hers

Dress – ready for photos (tags off and ready for pictures)

Your shoes

Other accessories like something borrowed, blue, old and new

Other wedding details you’d like captured

Bride’s photos include:

Bride putting on jewlery

Bride putting on shoes

Bride reading a letter or note by groom

Bride with her bridesmaids

Bride with family and friends

Wedding party getting ready

Hair and make up (depending on timing)

Bride’s dress hanging

Details of bride’s dress

Bouquet and other flowers

Bride putting on her dress

Depending on what details the bride wants and the location of the ceremony, getting ready photos of the bride take around 20 minutes to 1 hour.

THE GROOM

Have all the extra details laid out in one place, easy for the photographer to get to.

These items include:

Your shoes

Tie or other accessories that goes with your outfit

Shoes

Notes or gifts

Groom’s photos include:

Boutonniere

Someone putting on the boutonniere

Putting on a jacket or tie

Photos with friends and family

Photos of the groom dressed and ready

The getting ready photos of the groom are not as long as the bride. Depending on where the groom is staying, getting ready photos of the groom takes around 15 – 30 minutes.

It’s ideal for the bride and groom to be getting ready at the same location if you wanted both bride and groom getting ready photos.

Enjoy the getting ready photos and make sure to take it all in!

If you are a private person and don’t want to get dressed in front of the photographer, just let us know. We can still get pictures of you being buttoned up or putting your shoes on.

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Any Day But Saturday, for a Wedding

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 05:11:00 GMT

Any Day But Saturday, for a Wedding

Note from Natalie: I’ve been seeing more of a trend for small weddings taking place on any day but Saturday. Small weddings aren’t like traditional wedding sand the couples like to do things differently. Having a wedding on a Monday or Wednesday is unique! Other times, like with Erin, she selected a date that meaning to it. That date happened to fall on a day that wasn’t a Saturday. For a lot of hotels, the room price goes up on a Saturday. Guests can extend their stay by a few more days if they maybe aren’t paying a Saturday price. For destination weddings, having the wedding on a non-Saturday also lowers the guest count. You can tell guests the wedding wasn’t big since you had it during the week. Then, you can plan a big party with family and friends, in your hometown, on a Saturday!

Here’s a little more about Erin’s adventure for not having a wedding on a Saturday…

One of the more obvious decisions for us to make was when to get married. We decided to get married in June, and as much as I hate to admit it, the idea of getting married in June brought back memories of receiving wedding invitations in the past. When I would see June for a destination wedding, or any summer month, my eyes would roll as if it were an involuntary movement. “June for a destination wedding,” I’d exclaim. “Could they pick a more expensive time?” I’d think, feeling guilty. Yet here I was looking at the calendar with my fiancé and weighing our commitments and deciding on June for our destination wedding.

Friends, family, and wedding industry professionals had warned us that our destination venue was a bit of a bridal factory, as in churning out married couples by the hour. The City Hall in San Francisco has become a favorite spot for a variety of weddings, big and small, extravagant and low key. “They have weddings on the hour all day long,” we were warned. I am happy to report; I did not feel as if I were in a Bridal Factory during our wedding! The thought of that was slightly off-putting to me as I imagined the summer wedding traffic, but we wanted our wedding to be held in a place that had little to no chance of going away in our lifetime. A resort or hotel by the beach or at the foothills of the Sierra’s has the possibility of being sold or left to ruin. A little dramatic perhaps but by selecting a historic city hall in a city we visit frequently means there is a higher chance that we could return to the site of our marriage. This is a romantic idea that was passed on to me from my parents, who took my brother and me to the church where they were married in Palos Verdes overlooking the Pacific during the summers of our youth.

Once we selected June as our month, we both thought about what day would be special for us. For me, the day practically jumped off the page to me: June 21st. June 21st is the Summer Solstice and summer is my favorite season. My fiancé also loves summer, though, at heart, he’s an all-seasons guy. I could do without winter. I have never understood why people living in a warm climate declare to “miss the seasons,” which includes winter in my book.

The Solstice happened to fall on a Thursday, which helped with our decision. But we had other things to consider. Since ours was a destination wedding, we wanted to be considerate of our guests and their travel dates. Asking people to fly during the summer is already putting a heftier expense on our guests and adding weekend prices to the travel and lodging would be, in our eyes, an extra burden. The search for venues and receptions also clued us into the price differences between a weekend and a weekday wedding. The difference between a weekend and a weekday wedding ceremony was as much as $1,300.00 in some locations we examined. The most dramatic difference we came across was a Tuesday afternoon wedding for $1,300.00 and a Friday or Saturday night wedding for $3,900.00. These are a few things to keep in mind if you do not have a specific day chosen for personal reasons or if you want to be more cost-effective.

Since we settled on the Summer Solstice relatively early in our planning, we were able to give our guests who traveled plenty of time to make arrangements. My brother and his family were able to plan a vacation to Tahoe after our nuptials took place. They enjoyed four nights in San Francisco; explored the Golden Gate Bridge, the Fisherman’s Wharf, and strolled through Japan Town before devouring a bowl of ramen with us. In essence, giving your guests as much notice as possible will make things easier for everyone. They might even be able to make a mini vacation of their own after your ceremony.

Any Day But Saturday, for a Wedding

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The Margo Dodd Gazebo Pismo Beach

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 23:30:00 GMT

There are so many beautiful locations on the Central Coast to get married! We’ve scouted beaches, wineries, and other spots to find that perfect location for our couples where the backdrop is picture perfect. Year after year, the gazebo cliff and Margo Dodd gazebo in Pismo Beach location is still our favorite location for our wedding packages with guests.

Here’s why the Margo Dodd Gazebo Pismo Beach is our favorite location:

1.) Beautifully romantic backdrop

Located on the cliffs with the bright blue ocean in the background, the Margo Dodd gazebo in Pismo Beach has an amazing ocean view. Getting married in the Margo Dodd gazebo or on the grassy area with the gazebo in the background adds to the romance of your wedding day. Special touches like flowers, lanterns and an arch are decoration options that make your wedding day more beautiful. Before the wedding, guests can even see the whales in the water, catch a glimpse of dolphins jumping, watch seals swimming, and do plenty of bird watching. There are large rock formations and distant cliffs of Pismo that are pretty for pictures.

2.) Exclusive use of the space

The Margo Dodd gazebo area and side space are all reserved for you and your guests for the wedding. This means you are the only ones in the space! At locations like the beach, it’s public property so you might have a sun bather in your photos or a big blue pop up tent in the background. For the gazebo, the only people in the space are you and your guests. There are areas for large group photos and plenty of space for your guests to gather.

3.) Sandy beach for photos

Since your wedding is at the beach, why not have your pictures taken on the sand. After the ceremony, unwind at the beach with couple’s photos. Kick off your shoes and let the tide wash up. This sandy beach has 2 caves, neat rock formations, tidepools and plenty of sand. The beach is a nice place to escape from your guests and think about your special day while taking photos. And, it is just a short walk from the gazebo.

For weddings with guests who might have trouble walking on the sand or long distances, the Margo Dodd gazebo is a very short and easy walk from the street parking. Sometimes a wedding on the beach is a concern for couples with parents or grandparents who have difficulty walking in the sand. We’ve seen a few people stumble on the sand, so the gazebo has a nice walk way and grassy space for guests.

5.) Plenty of parking

Finding parking can always be a challenge. But at the gazebo, there is plenty of parking. We’ve had 50 guests at weddings and no parking problems. Parking is free, unlike some local beaches.

6.) Away from the busyness of the pier

Pismo Beach is still a favorite beach to walk on or take the kids to play in the sand at. But, sometimes near the pier it can get a little crowded. I like the gazebo since it’s a few miles away from the pier. You actually can see the pier in the distance. The Marg Dodd gazebo is in Pismo if you want to stay in that area, but far enough away that you and your guests can still feel like you are at the beach, but not have the crowds surrounding you.

7.) The guests love the million dollar view

Everyone loves the views from the cliffs. From the gazebo, there is a 180 degree view from Point Sal to Pismo and Avila. You will always spot sea life from birds to dolphins and even whales in the late summer. Your guest will be stunned by the ocean view and think you chose a hidden gem to get married at this beach location.

8.) You can add extra decorations to personalize things

The gazebo location is beautiful the way it is, but you have the option of adding extra decorations like flowers, lanterns and an arch.

9.) We take care of it all for you

This is actually what we do! We take care of all the planning so you can worry about the fun things.

Let us plan your gazebo wedding today!

For a video at the Margo Dodd Gazebo Pismo Beach Cliff location see https://vimeo.com/254956624.

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Having your children at your wedding

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 06:33:00 GMT

Having your children at your wedding- Deciding how involved you want your little kiddos to be at your wedding

I’ve seen a lot of meaningful weddings where the couple’s children were part of the ceremony. If you look at our video on the Palm Cliff location you’ll see the cuties kids at their parents ceremony. They were all well behaved, walked down the aisle, and were so happy to be part of their parent’s ceremony.

But, sometimes, having your children at your wedding can be rough. Here are some tips for handling your little ones at the wedding.

If the wedding ceremony photos don’t turn out the way you thought with your little one, come back and see us for a family session

If the day doesn’t go as planned for having your little one in photos, focus on the two of you and your pictures! Plan to come back in 6 months or do a holiday photo session at the beach or plan an anniversary photo shoot. Make a date for a special time for the whole family to enjoy pictures with no other holiday stress.

Something to think about…Having your children at your wedding might sound like a great idea, but remember it is your day – with you and your fiancé. It’s really ok if you two decide just to elope and have the wedding ceremony be just the two of you. You can be selfish, because it is about you. :).

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The good, the bad, the ugly of Pinterest

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 23:15:00 GMT

The good, the bad, the ugly of Pinterest

The other day, a groom asked me if Pinterest has made my job easier or harder. This was a tough one to answer since his bride gave me a board full of pictures she loved and wanted to double check that we could get all those photos.

I recently heard a fellow photographer say Pinterest is someone else’s adventure, find your own unique style and don’t be a copy cat. With that said, it’s great to get ideas, but in reality it’s pretty hard to duplicate something 100% And, wouldn’t you want something that is your own, not borrowed from another bride’s wedding?

The good

The bad

The ugly

How to use Pinterest

The good, the bad, the ugly of Pinterest

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Trust Your Wedding Planner

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 02:24:00 GMT

Trust Your Wedding Planner

Today I had the pleasure of meeting with a couple who traveled from Las Vegas. They are getting married in a few months and wanted to finalize some things. We had gone over some details and they asked me some great questions. Half way through, the groom looked at me and asked, “well, you have been planning weddings for awhile, so we trust your opinion.” These are honestly the best words I can hear from a couple!

I do enjoy it when the couple adds their own special touch. But, when half of the wedding guests have assigned seats, the wedding party has to start walking at exactly 20 seconds into a song, or there are 20 Pinterest photo examples the couple wants, this might not be the type of wedding planning we do. I like to keep things easy. I actually had a bride tell me that she wanted her wedding to be casual and fun. I think these are also good words that describe what we do. Trust Your Wedding Planner!

I need there to be a level of trust. So, trust that I’ve seen a lot of weddings and know what is best for the couple.

So here are a few “trust me” things:

We’ve done a lot of weddings and are happy to give you wedding day advice. Trust your wedding planner

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How to Book Your Wedding

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 04:23:00 GMT

Thanks for landing on this page, it looks like you are interested in learning more about Coastal California Weddings.

Wondering how it works? Here’s some info on how to book your wedding with us.

We love small, simple, Central Coast weddings! That means we take care of the ceremony planning so you can worry about the fun stuff.

Here are some things to think about to make sure we are a perfect match for you.

What package do you like?

All of our packages are all inclusive, that means they provide pretty much everything you need to get married. Some packages have more extras and some have chairs as an option. We’ve created a variety of packages for our couples – ones for just the 2 of you, some that are more casual for a beach wedding, and others that are more fancy with chairs and a little more private.

All locations have a beautiful backdrop of the ocean or vineyards.

Some extras can be added to your package and extras include things like an arch, flower decorations, more photo time and wedding party flowers.

We provide everything that is included in ALL of our wedding ceremony packages. That means you get a wedding coordinator and planner, officiant, photographer, florist, and even a few more people helping with your wedding. Our team has an amazing energy and have worked together on many weddings. Having our team at your wedding makes sure you have the best experience possible! For this reason, we don’t work with couples who want to bring their own officiant or photographer – they are more than welcome to be part of the ceremony and take pictures as a guest.

How about a location?

Most of our location are in Pismo Beach and Shell Beach. Some package have a location with them and for some packages, you can choose your location.

Some packages are for certain locations. For example, our Winery Elopement package is for a winery in Los Olivos, our Gazebo Love package for the gazebo in Pismo Beach, and the All Your Need is Love package for the Ocean View location in Shell Beach.

For other packages, you can choose your location.

If you liked another Central Coast location, there is Avila Beach, Morro Bay, Cayucous, Cambria and Santa Barbara available for an additional fee.

Do you have a wedding date?

Let us know if there is a date that you want to get married on.

If you are having a hard time finding the date, some ideas might be to decide what month you want to get married, or a special date, or number that you like, or a time between your 2 birthdays.

Some weeks are busier than others, so it’s best to have a few dates in mind. Also, make sure to check with the important guests to make sure they are free for your wedding.

Couples ask me the best times of the year to get married and my answer is April, May, September and October.

How many guests?

Our package are for 0 guests all the way up to 50 guests. We specialize in small weddings and elopements.

Do you want to keep your wedding simple?

Having a simple wedding means you want the wedding planning to be easy. You and your fiancé just want to get married and have a beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony.

You want someone else to take care of most of the planning details and trust Coastal California Weddings and our team of experts. If you want someone to help with a stress free wedding, then we are the place for you!

Let Coastal California Wedding plan your wedding! Contact us today.

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Central Coast Favorite Places to Visit

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 01:01:00 GMT

Central Coast Favorite Places to Visit – Planning a wedding to the Central Coast, here are favorites from our couples and from us.

Central Coast Favorites

We’ve put together this awesome little guide with things to do on the Central Coast. It’s divided into areas, with our favorite things. Get ready for your wedding and adventure to the Central Coast!

We define the Central Coast as San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County. The area is located half way between LA and San Francisco.

For local airports there are:

Santa Maria – weekly flights to and from Las Vegas

Santa Barbara – daily flights to and from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle.

San Luis Obispo – daily flights to and from Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle.

If you wanted to fly into a larger airport and rent a car, try these airports:

Los Angeles (around 3 hours)

San Francisco (around 3.5 hours)

San Jose (around 3 hours)

Here are some ideas for a Road Trip

Road trip from LA to the Central Coast

Here are some places to stop along the way:

Road trip for San Francisco to the Central Coast

If you want to see Big Sur

If you want to see Yosemite

If you want to go to Las Vegas

Central Coast Cities – Our Favorites in the Central Coast

Santa Barbara

Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is a large city with miles of beaches. The weather is normally warm and there is plenty of shopping, and sight seeing. Santa Barbara is located 90 miles from LA.

Things to do:

Places to stay:

Near the Beach or State St. (different price ranges)

Places to eat:

Casual

Fancy

Buellton

Foodie Stop

Industrial Eats

– One of our favorite local places to eat

Brewery

Firestone Brewery

Camping and Glamping

Flying Flags Resort

– RV park with glamping

Solvang – Quaint Danish Village

Los Olivos – the mecca of Santa Barbara wine country

Los Alamos – foodies paradise

Check to make sure the spots below are open, hours are limited

Pismo Beach

Nice places to stay for the wedding

A little more budget friendly

Hotels that may offer room blocks

*Hotels will probably not give room blocks or discounts during summer months or holidays

Places to eat after the wedding if you wanted a nice dinner and weren’t having a private reception

*There is always San Luis Obispo for more nicer places to eat.

Looking for a casual place in Pismo

Famous Clam Chowder

Almost as popular as the BBQ, clam chowder is pretty famous!

Here’s a list of the favorites:

The beach towns around Pismo

Arroyo Grande

The other side of Grand

Grover Beach

Here you can access the area where you can drive on the beach

Shell Beach

A small little beach town right next to Pismo. You can stroll the streets and pick out your dream house.

Avila Beach

A little calmer waters and more kid friendly beaches.

San Luis Obispo

My favorite little town! It has a mix of old charm, mixed in with some newness. When driving, there are one way streets so sometimes best to park in the larger parking structures and walk around. Most of the time I venture into San Luis Obispo for a special occasion meal or for a shopping day.

Here’s a few more favorites

Marriage License – if you need to get your married license locally, it would be from San Luis Obispo or Atascadero.

Morro Bay

If you are looking for a little slower paced beach town, head over to Morro Bay. Grab some fish and chips or bowl of clam chowder in Morro Bay. You will also have a view of Morro Rock when you enter town. When the tide is low, stop by any of the beaches to collect sand dollars. This would also be the place for kayaking or taking a boat tour around the bay.

Cambria

Located North of Pismo Beach, this town has more of a Northern California beach feel. They have tide pool beaches and pine trees. They have 2 Main Street locations with shops and places to eat. Venture a mile away from Main St. and head to Moonstone Beach drive for an ocean view and walk along the beach on their boardwalk path.

Located 15 minutes from Cambria is San Simeon. It’s a pretty drive up Highway 1. You can stop at Hearst Castle and drive farther to see the elephant seals. Past San Simeon in Ragged Point, which is the start of the Big Sur area. Check the roads to make sure Big Sur is open if you want to drive through.

Paso Robles

If you are looking for over 200 wineries, Paso Robles is the place to visit! Most wineries are located right on the vineyards. You can explore the grapes on the vine and taste the many varieties of grapes. This region is know for it’s Zinfandel.

In the downtown area of Paso Robles, there is plenty of shopping and places to eat. Here’s some favorites:

Sandwiches – Red Scooter

A mix of mexican and fresh fish – Fish Gaucho (casual and fun)

Italian – il Cortile (nice dinner place)

American food – Paso Robles Inn (great steaks)

Central Coast Favorite Places to Visit – Things to do by Category

Hikes

Beach hikes

Mountains to hike/ climb

Wind Caves Hike, outside Goleta (Santa Barbara)

Historical Stops

Cold Springs Tavern – An Old Stage Coach stop

San Luis Obispo Mission

Hearst Castle

Kid Friendly Activities

Breweries

Slo Brew – downtown San Luis Obispo, serves food, on the creek

Tap It – outdoor venue in San Luis Obispo

Figuero Mountain – Arroyo Grande and Buellton (has outdoor space and kid friendly)

Firestone Walker – Buellton and Paso Robles

Check out the brewery website for other places visit CentralCoastBrewersGuide.com .

Wineries

The Central Coast is surrounded by wineries in all directions!

For the closest vineyards right outside of Pismo, visit Talley Vineyards or Letetica in Arroyo Grande.

For a few more wineries, head to San Luis Obispo – Claiborne and Churchill specialized in German type sweeter wines, Baileyana and Tangent has a nice grass area for a picnic and nice drinking wines, or Edna Valley for their famous views of the valley.

If you are wanting to visit towns with more wine, head over to Paso Robles or Los Olivos.

Here’s the websites for each of the wine country towns www.DiscoverCaliforniaWines.com .

Santa Maria Style BBQ

If you haven’t heard about it, Santa Maria BBQ is tri tip cooked over oak. There’s a few different restaurants that specialize in Santa Maira BBQ.

Here’s the favorites:

Pet Friendly

If you wanted an off the leash beach, try Dog Beach in Avila Beach.

Most of our locations are dog friendly, as long as they are on a leash.

Hope you enjoy our guide packed with Central Coast Favorite Places to Visit .

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Cypress Lookout Wedding

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 19:26:00 GMT

Cypress Lookout Wedding

Now, fast forward to the wedding day. This wedding took place on a grassy area, at the cypress lookout wedding location. There were yellow wildflowers on the lawn, cypress trees and the guest had a view overlooking the ocean. It was a clear day, with bright sunlight making the water sparkle – such a beautiful accent to this special day.The bride decided to have her colors be maroon, blush pink, and grey. It actually was such a nice color choice for the wedding day and style of the wedding. The couple wanted to involve their children in the ceremony so we added a shell ceremony to the wedding.

I love it when the guests treat a wedding as the special occasion it is. And these guests sure did! The bride’s colors were grey and maroon, with the best man and groom wearing grey suits and maroon vests and ties. The bridesmaids wore long maroon dresses, as well. Not to mention, all the bridesmaids were the bride’s sisters and her brother walked her down the aisle. To match the color theme, all of the guests wore either grey or maroon attire. I love when the guests take the time to dress up and look pretty for a wedding – it is a special occasion ! The chairs were tied with maroon sashes. And, of course, the bride carried a bouquet accented with maroon flowers, blush pink, and ivory.

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Indoor Ocean View Location

Wed, 23 May 2018 15:28:00 GMT

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Ocean View Location

Wed, 23 May 2018 14:59:00 GMT

Ocean View Location

To keep things easy, they had the wedding ceremony at the Ocean View location since they were staying there for the week. The couple wanted to include their daughters in the wedding ceremony and the bride wanted her dad to walk her down the aisle.

The Ocean View location is right on a cliff so you have views of the hills and ocean. There is a nice sandy beach close by, for pictures on the beach. Just make sure the tide is right and you can add on extra photos with your toes in the sand. This location is a little more private than other locations we have. It also make wedding planning easy since you are able to stay at the wedding location. That means the bride can get ready in her room and walk right out for her grand entrance.

There is also a beautiful reception view location that can be book through the venue. If you want to keep both the ceremony and reception in one location.

Let us plan your Ocean View wedding location today!

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Remembering Someone Through Flowers

Fri, 18 May 2018 15:56:00 GMT

Here’s a look at Erin’s experience with wedding flowers. For her bouquet she wanted something that reminded her of her grandparents. I’ve seen bride’s remembering someone through flowers by wanting a certain flower in their bouquet to remember a family member, one bride tied a ring from her grandma around her bouquet, and some bride have pictures of family members in lockets that they tie around their flowers.

For our bouquets, we don’t offer as specific a design, like what Erin is looking for, but we do want the brides to select the style and colors that represents her. Most bouquets are included in the price of the package. Our all-inclusive packages helps with brides to stay on budget.

Remembering Someone Through Flowers – The Sentimental Search for Flowers

Planning a small destination wedding can be a challenge, especially when it comes to selecting which vendors to use and a venue. The most stressful part of our search was finding a venue in California in June, possibly the worst time of the year as far as ease goes! Since the timing and other variables did not work in our favor for a beach wedding in Pismo or Santa Barbara, we decided to expand our search further north. If I were a true California Gal, I would be in the southern camp. My husband-to-be is truly a mix of the two, which is both confusing and rare as I usually find people to be in one camp or the other. We looked at Monterey and even the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, Yosemite National Park, and the John Muir Woods. All of these would have been beautiful settings, but in considering our guest list, we determined that a number of relatives would not have appreciated hiking through some trails, some with young children in tow, standing for our ceremony, and hiking back.

We decided on the City Hall in San Francisco. This checks a lot of boxes for us, which keeps our authentic selves in our plans, and accommodates our entire guest list –that extensive list of twenty-five people! What attracted us to City Hall initially was the historical grandeur and the location. We have family that either live in the Bay Area or close by and those family members who are traveling from the east coast would have plenty of things to do while we are busy with wedding items. It puts our minds at ease knowing that we do not have to entertain the entire time we are there. In fact, we are planning an excursion with just the two of us for a little peace before the wedding! More to come on that.

For some reason, the thought of flowers did not immediately cross my mind! At times I get into the mindset of: put the most significant item in place (in this case the venue), and everything else will fall into place. The first thing I will say about selecting a florist is that the price tags are shocking. I am by no means a scrooge, but I consider myself to be (mostly) fiscally responsible. We do not live an extravagant lifestyle, and I refuse to go into any debt just to get married. My initial search for a florist almost convinced me that we would have to take out a small loan! Here is what I wanted: I wanted to select a florist that would be able to celebrate the spirit of my Japanese American (Nisei) grandparents who are deceased. Once I decided what I wanted the flowers to represent, I was able to narrow my search down.

I selected an Ikebana florist to design our centerpieces and my bouquet. Ikebana is the Japanese art form of flower arranging. Its roots are centered in the Shinto religion of Buddhism and emphasize spirituality and oneness with nature. Balance, minimalism, and graceful lines are the elements of Ikebana. I chose this to honor my grandparents for a few reasons: my grandfather was a landscaper and loved his garden, they were both Buddhist, and I just love the style! It is slightly more than I would like to spend on flowers; however, it is important to me to have my grandparents honored and represented during my special day. True, I am a sentimentalist and may be going over the top on this one. Flowers are an excellent way to keep authenticity in our wedding and reception and to have a spiritual reminder of loved ones with us. To me, this is more meaningful than going with a bouquet that is gorgeous but holds less sentimental meaning.

Balancing the vision of our wedding day, planning from a distance, and staying conscious of our budget is a challenge. For us, it is a matter of determining what is important to us. This requires communication between the two of us, which is essential as I mentioned in a previous post. The lesson I am learning while planning a destination wedding is that communication is key in order to keep our authentic selves and meet our sentimental and spiritual needs. Our specific flowers have not been decided on as of this writing, but I am exchanging photos with the florist as ideas come to mind. I find this to be a great way to help get ideas flowing because I do not know the specific names of most flowers and this gives me a better idea of the color scheme. Exchanging ideas and sending photos of flowers that are appealing is a suggestion the Natalie and the team at Coastal California Weddings, one that I highly recommend if flower selections are important to you – it has worked well for me!

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Protected: Wedding Extras – Pricing

Tue, 08 May 2018 15:02:00 GMT

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Beautiful Small Wedding

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 04:41:00 GMT

The couple met almost 10 years ago. They were introduced through some mutual friends. They enjoyed every moment that they had together and decided it was time to get married. Their sweet daughter joined in the ceremony and even walked out into the aisle right after the 1st kiss. It was so cute! They wish to have a future full of love and always be happy.

After the family photos at the wedding ceremony location, we took them for photos on the beach. This sandy beach also has some pretty tide pools and rock formations. I love the contract of the rocks, sand, and the happy couple. You had such a beautiful small wedding.

Thank you for letting us celebrate your Pismo Beach Wedding with you!

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Pismo Beach Destination Wedding

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 18:43:00 GMT

They met through the love of their children during the Wine and Chocolate Festival in Hanford. They both grew up in a small town, but their paths hadn’t crossed until that perfect event. They always knew we were going to get married but life sometimes gets in the way, thinking of who to invite with a large family and the amount of planning. They decided to plan a Pismo Beach destination wedding and elope with their daughters immediate family and seven of their closest friends, who are like family. The bride’s brother and only sibling was leaving for the US Marines and she couldn’t get married without him! A Pismo Beach Destination Wedding, in the area they both grew up visiting was the perfect option!

Their daughters were both very important to them and wanted them to be part of the ceremony – their 1st date was a play date with their children. Fast forward 5 years to the wedding day, and their precious daughters were front and center for their wedding ceremony. They even presented them both with rings during the ceremony.

The couple had planned to have their wedding ceremony outdoors, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I am always checking the weather during the Winter. January we had warm 75 degree weather and March we had a little rain. Why can’t the rain skip Saturdays, lol?!? We did have a plan b location and ended up moving the wedding to an ocean view indoor location. The venue looked so pretty – decorated with a garland of seeded and silver dollar eucalyptus and lantern lined aisle with matching greenery. The bride carried a bouquet of ivory flowers and a mix of greenery. The couple’s daughters had smaller matching versions of the bride’s bouquet, along with baby’s breath crowns.

After their Pismo Beach Destination Wedding ceremony we spent sometime outside, under a few umbrellas, for the family photos. The rain stopped and we were able to get some photos of the couple with the ocean in the backdrop. There is also a lush garden area with trees and bougainvillea that created a pretty backdrop for photos.

—

They gave me such a sweet wish for their future, I turned it into a poem:

A Wish for Your Future

Strive to love each other more today than yesterday

Keep your minds open to reason and your hearts full of understanding

For the spark of your kiss to forever stay bright

To hold tight to each other’s hands, held in good times and in bad

And to guide each other with kindness on this new adventure

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Perfect Beach Wedding Dress

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:42:00 GMT

Perfect Beach Wedding Dresses –

Through the years, brides have shared their wedding dress stories with me. I always like hearing about that wow moment when the bride found the dress she loves!

Sometimes finding a dress can seem like a bit of a challenge. Maybe you don’t want the traditional long white dress from the local bridal shop, or maybe you want a short white dress with a little sparkle. Here are some ideas to find that perfect beach wedding dress!

Local Places for the Perfect Beach Wedding Dress

Shop Online for the Perfect Beach Wedding Dress

Another tip would be to shop for bridesmaid’s dresses in white or ivory for a more casual look and better price tag.

Not wanting the spotlight on you when trying on a dress? Have a dress party! Order dresses from online stores and invite special people over to try on your dresses. Make sure your hair and make up look nice so you feel pretty when trying them on. Order some shoes to go with the dresses too from Zappos. Make sure the online stores have an easy return policy.

There are a lot of bridal websites online. Some of them send dresses from out of the country and have different shipping requirements and return policies. Shop these sites with caution. I’ve had a bride get the perfect fit from one website and another bride find the perfect dress that needed alterations from another website. Just read the fine print and make sure you order in enough time.

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Destination Elopement

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 21:59:00 GMT

Destination Elopement by Erin

After we became engaged, my fiancé and I had a few hours to ourselves and let things sink in before we had to attend a family event, which is when we announced our engagement. We discussed our overall vision of our wedding day before letting others know our news. It did not take long for us to decide on a destination elopement in California. Although we live on the east coast, we both have connections to California, and we knew, almost from the start, that California would be our choice, though we briefly toyed with the idea of Maine because it holds a special place to us. We didn’t consider saying we were having a destination wedding. We just simply said, “We’re getting married in California.” Then I started adding, “It’s going to be a small wedding,” emphasizing “small.”

Each time the topic of weddings came up, I began to feel more and more overwhelmed. As you may imagine, there was no shortage of opinions on what we should do for our wedding. The very idea of an extensive guest list nearly sent me into a panic. I couldn’t and wouldn’t spend precious free time on considering a colossal list to whittle down, worry about offending people, leaving people off the list by accident, and sorry, I didn’t want to think about that many dietary restrictions.

It did not take long for us to decide that a small wedding was indeed the way to go for us. No crowd, not on the east coast, and the beach. These were the initial ideas for our wedding, which lead us to a search on elopements in California, by the beach, if possible.

Here is a non-comprehensive list of things that needed to fall into place as we moved ahead with planning our elopement in California:

The most critical piece for us has been to keep communicating with each other. Yes, we want a special day that is meaningful to us. We frequently communicate to keep the other in loving check. Panic is sure to arise throughout the process. One day, I may think it is perfectly reasonable to spend a month’s salary on flowers. My fiancé may think a string quartet is reasonable. Sure, these are all reasonable requests, but are they necessary to express our love and values? We have set up a shared document with costs, ideas, and vendor contacts that we can both update. Some items were crossed off the list immediately if we did not feel those people, places, or things reflected or shared our values. Our process of weeding things out was simple: if it does not feel authentic, it is off the list. In the words of Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.”

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Simple St. Patrick’s Day Pismo Beach Wedding

Tue, 03 Apr 2018 05:12:00 GMT

Simple St. Patrick’s Day Pismo Beach Wedding –

The groom was dressed in his dress blues and looked very dapper! Being a military wife, the bride was able to have her dress provided by ——. Since the wedding is on St. Patrick’s Day I knew our florist had to do a bouquet with extra special flowers and maybe even a pot of gold and leprechaun! The bouquet included tulips, ranunculus, bells of Ireland and decorative kale. Vases with hanging flowers that matched the bride’s bouquet were added to the front rows.

The guests arrived and were seated with an ocean view. The bride was escorted down the aisle by both dad and stepdad, and her grandpa gave her away. During the ceremony, the children had a special moment with the bride where they said their own vows to each other. I always love it when the couple customizes the ceremony to be unique to the two of them.

After the simple St. Patrick’s Day Pismo Beach wedding we took a group photo with all the guests. One of my favorite photos was of if the bride and her grandpas! What a special photo to have that she will cherish for the rest of her life.

Trust us to work our wedding magic or lucky leprechauns for a simple St. Patrick’s Day Pismo Beach Wedding .

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Santa Barbara Winery Elopement

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:34:00 GMT

So, it was appropriate that their ceremony include a quote from the Florentine poet Dante. The Florentine poet Dante described writing the following words in his diary upon meeting his beloved Beatrice for the first time: “A new life begins, and from then on, I swear that Love dominated my soul.” Dante conceptualized this life as a journey and pathway, and they n are committed to walking that path together

As a special way to share their love, the groom gave him bride a necklace to show his commitment for her. They exchanged their own vows and pledged their love to each other. Their Santa Barbara Winery Elopement took place the weekend right after Valentine’s Day. The vines were still a rich burgundy and yellow color and the hills were starting to get green – it was such an amazing backdrop for a wedding ceremony. We ventured around the winery property and found a few more old oak trees as the backdrop for their wedding photos.

After the wedding, they enjoyed a wine tasting and took back a bottle of wine to enjoy. I’m guessing they took back the Sangiovese. It is one of my favorite wines and it reminded the couple of their journey through Italy drinking Chianti.

The couple will be spending some time in California, before they return back home.

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Pismo Beach Destination Elopement

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:24:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Destination Elopement – Traveling all the way from Colorado, this couple wanted to experience all California had to offer. They flew into San Jose and drove down the 101 to Pismo Beach for their Pismo Beach destination elopement.

It could not have been a more beautiful day for the couple’s special elopement ceremony! They were staying at the Dolphin Bay hotel so we coordinated a wedding ceremony steps away on the beach and then photos over looking the ocean after the ceremony. The tide was great that day for an ocean ceremony with their toes in the sand. The bride wore a beautiful modern, sleek satin dress with labradorite earrings. For her bouquet she wanted them in blue, green, lavender and ivory. The bouquet was the perfect accent to her wedding dress with white Cala lilies dusted with purple, dark maroon greenery, purple roses, and accents of blue.

Before the ceremony, we coordinated a first look where the groom was waiting on the beach for her bride to be. We were able to get a few photos of the bride before she walked up to surprise her groom. It was such a sweet 1st look where the bride and groom embraced each other and spoke words of affection. During the ceremony the ocean was a bright blue color and the couple were able to have a special, private ceremony. Peter and Sarah shared with the officiant qualities they liked in each other and a wish for their future. I always love it when couple have such sweet words to say about each other. All the qualities they shared reminds me of a quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browing, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” There were so many ways in which the couple loved each other. (On another note, I actually looked up the whole poem and have included in this link.)

The couple was going to be spending some more time in California during their Pismo Beach Destination Elopement and decided to take a drive up the coast, North of Pismo Beach. After Pismo Beach, on Highway 101, you will get to the next beach town called Avila Beach. Avila Beach is a cute little beach town with a hike to the lighthouse, restaurants serving fish and chips and calm waves. From Avila Beach, travel through San Luis Obispo to Highway 1. In San Luis Obispo, visit mom and pop shops and eat at local places for famous tip sandwiches at Firestone Grill or stop off for tapas and drinks at Luna Red. Next, on Highway 1, you will se Morro Bay in the distance. You won’t miss the big rock! A quaint little downtown serves up seafood and little shops carry shells, local crafts and even a variety of succulents in their garden shop. There are a few more stops on Highway 1 up to Big Sur. Just enjoy the ocean view and stops along the way!

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Beautiful Pismo Beach Elopement

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 03:58:00 GMT

Beautiful Pismo Beach Elopement

Josh and Amy Tree Grove Beach Elopement

Coming all the way from Michigan, this couple enjoyed the beauty of the Central Coast and the stress free celebration of an elopement. They both said they had a lot of family members and the cost of a wedding was getting out of hand. They also found out they were expecting a little one, so a beautiful Pismo Beach elopement sounded like the perfect thing!

After the date was saved, we talked on the phone about the plans for the ceremony location. There was a beach the couple liked, but the ceremony would have to be earlier in the morning to work with the tide. They both agreed that they weren’t morning people, so they decided to go with another beach location – the Tree Grove location. Sticking with a bit of tradition, the couple did a first look at the hotel they were staying at. The first look was the chance for the groom to see the bride all dressed up and surprise each other! For elopements, many times the bride and groom as staying in the same room. The groom gets ready and then sneaks out so the bride can finish up wth her hair and make up. Then, the dress goes on, and the photographer works wth the groom to coordinate the 1st look location. The bride walks up to the groom and the groom sees the bride for the 1st time in her dress. It is always a special moment and I wish I would have done a 1st look! Then the couple arrive to the ceremony location together. Other times, we have done a 1st look at the ceremony location, where the groom arrives 1st and the bride second. For a first look they’ve used a car service or taxi for the 1st look at the ceremony site.

The bride and groom arrived at the Tree Grove location and had their wedding ceremony. The bride said she loved that her groom was a kind, hardworking, levelheaded, funny, dependable, creative/artistic, and good man. The groom wished for their future to live a life of happiness, having the freedom to enjoy each others company and find happiness in life even in the greatest of struggles.

After the ceremony, the couple had pictures at the Tree Grove and then went down to the water for some sunset photos for their beautiful Pismo Beach elopement.

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Wedding Ceremony Details

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 00:06:00 GMT

Wedding Ceremony Details

We provide our couples with a customized ceremony. Here’s a little bit about Coastal California Wedding’s Wedding Ceremony Details .

Length

Long, average, or short

Type

Traditional, modern

Religious or not

God or no God

For the ceremony you can have it mention God or not mention God.

Shell and sand unity ceremony

Plant ceremony

Vows

Rings

Children

Kiss

These are the basics for the Wedding Ceremony Details.

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Ocean Dunes Beach Elopement Wedding Celebration

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:50:00 GMT

Ocean Dunes Beach Elopement Wedding Celebration

I love it when couples travel all the way from another state or country to get married on our beaches! We really do have some amazing skies, water, trees, and ocean for a wedding ceremony. Indi and Jayton traveled from New Orleans to say I do and get married with their toes in the sand for their Ocean Dunes Beach Elopement Wedding Celebration.

The couple said it was probably love at first sight when they met at their work many years ago. They became friends first and their their relationship grew. They had a great time when they went out on their first date. Their first date was in New Orleans. They had a fun night in the city and danced all night.

The groom said his bride has the most inspiring motivation to better herself and her family every single day. Her unbelievable ability to be 100% genuine every second of every day is the greatest quality he could ever see in a life partner and especially a mother. The bride said her groom is the kind of guy that would literally give up his life for you. He is compassionate and dedicated. As a couple what we wish for the future is to love unconditionally, raise a Texas-Cajun family, and to make their families proud.

The couple exchanged their own wedding vows.

For their Ocean Dunes Beach Wedding Celebration, it was just the two of them.The sky could not have been more amazing that day. The beach location also had the trees in the background, ocean in the distance, and hills.

Ocean Dunes Beach Elopement Wedding Celebration took place in January.

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Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:17:00 GMT

WE ARE NO LONGER DOING WEDDINGS AT THIS LOCATION - Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach –

Having a romantic beach wedding was what this couple had really wanted for their wedding day. It was important to have as many family and friends at their wedding, but they still had a small wedding in Pismo Beach . It was an Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach.

The location for the wedding ceremony is so pretty! There are panoramic views of the ocean for the guests to enjoy. An Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach is one of my favorite hotel locations.

The couple stayed at the hotel for their Pismo Beach elopement so it was easy to get ready there and then walk out to the wedding. The bride added some getting ready pictures before the wedding. Since we were waiting for a few guests to arrive, we set up a first look with the bride and her dad. It was going to be a very emotional moment for her dad, so thought having that private moment with the two of them would be really sweet! Then the bride was ready to walk down the aisle for her Pismo Beach wedding.

For these two, they have been together for almost 10 years since our senior year of high school. They said, it really doesn’t seem like that long at all! On their first kiss they saw fireworks, literally, because it was at the Fourth of July fireworks show.

The groom loves the way his bride smiles – rain or shine, how she pushes herself so they can have a better life together, and how caring she is. Most especially, she’ll lick all the the chili off the Mexican lollipops so her groom can have the sweet part.

The bride loves how patient his groom is. He is understanding without judging, and knows how to cheer his bride up with a hug.

The couples loves everything Disney! The groom would gladly spend all day at Disneyland, from the minute it opens to the second it closes just because he knows how much his bride loves it. No matter how hot it is or how tired he is or how many days they have already been there

As a couple, they want to continue to be happy no matter what life brings them. They want happiness and strength. Strength for the toughest days and happiness for all the other days. Also many more trips to Disneyland and maybe a dog or two.

After the ceremony, pictures were taken of their Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach with family, friends and the wedding party. The bridesmaids wore such pretty dresses that were perfect for spring time. The couple even got to have some pictures on the beach with just the two of them.

An Inn at the Cove wedding in Pismo Beach is one of my favorite hotel locations!

Check out the Inn at the Cove here https://www.innatthecove.com .

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Pismo Beach Pier View Wedding Ceremony

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 22:41:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Pier View Wedding Ceremony

At Coastal California Weddings, we love weddings that are small! We keep our guest list small for a lot of different reasons. One reason is, we believe a wedding should be filled with the people who are truly important ones! When this bride first contacted me, she said she wanted a wedding with close family and then a big celebration back home. It was the perfect plan!

The couple loved the beach and bride said she was a bit of a hippy so pictured herself barefoot on the beach. She knew she wanted a Pismo Beach Pier View Wedding Ceremony. The couple enjoyed the beach and it was their happy place. Getting married in Pismo was a good option since it was the half way point for the bride’s dad and bride and groom’s children.

Before the ceremony, the couple decided to have a 1st look and do pictures with their children before the ceremony. The 1st look and family photos took place at a hotel with a view of the ocean. It was very important for the bride and groom to include their children and get family photos with all of them.

For decorations, the couple added on a simple arch with a garland of baby’s breath. The bride carried a bouquet with dahlias, pink roses, and light pink calla lilies. For the bride’s dress she selected the most perfect beach wedding dress! It was a high low white dress that was beautiful on her! It had a little sparkle on the top, a little longer and sheer in the back and then shorter in the front. The bride’s dad walked her down he aisle and he was very excited to do that. As a way to invoice the couple’s children, we added a shell ceremony to the ceremony.

To celebrate after the ceremony, the couple invited their guests to dinner with an ocean view.

It was the perfect Pismo Beach Pier View Wedding Ceremony.

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Central Coast Elopement

Sat, 20 Jan 2018 00:29:00 GMT

Central Coast Elopement –

Morro Bay was the couple’s happy place! They loved to go kayaking and Morro Bay has some great spots to do that in the bay. The couple knew they wanted to sneak away to Morro Bay for their Central Coast elopement.

This couple eloped in the true meaning of the word, “run away secretly in order to get married.” No one, besides the couple fur baby, knew they were getting married! I love the mystery and romance of a true elopement!

The couple said I do on the bluffs of Morro Bay overlooking Morro Rock. The couple exchanged their own wedding vows and couldn’t keep smiling about how happy they were to be married.

After the ceremony we were able to get some photos of the couple down by the beach. Their dog got in some family photos, but in true dog fashion, she really wanted to chase birds!

The couple enjoyed a few days of honeymooning in Morro Bay after their Central Coast elopement.

I am not a great kayaker, not have enjoyed going kayaking in Morro Bay because the waters are more calm. Here’s a company that does rentals http://www.kayakhorizons.com . It’s always fun to walk the beach at Morro Bay too! During low tide you can find tons of sand dollars on the beach. There’s also sea otters in the bay if you take the road out towards the rock. When the surf is good, surfing near the rock is a popular spot.

Take a look at another Morro Bay elopement here.

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Palm Cliff Wedding

Sat, 06 Jan 2018 21:13:00 GMT

I really do understand when brides email me saying they just want a simple wedding! Many times brides get overwhelmed with the planning of a large wedding or there is extra family stress and pressures. I remember my first phone call with Rina, she was so happy to have found a small wedding venue where she could have a beautiful small wedding ceremony and get married. She had planned a large wedding and in her heart it wasn’t what she wanted. I actually went though that same experience and know exactly how it feels!

The couple wanted a Palm Cliff wedding because it had an amazing view and large grassy space. They also wanted to have photos on the beach that is close by to the ceremony location. The chairs were set up with the palm trees on either side of the couple. The bride made the vases for the hanging flowers and the flowers were selected by our designer to match the bride’s bouquet. She wanted a pink bouquet with greenery and a little pop of white. The groom looked handsome in his suit. The couple’s children were all smiles and tears of happiness knowing their parents were getting married. The couple’s son was the ring bearer and daughter was the flower girl.

After the ceremony, the couple had their reception at one of my favorite venues. I was lucky enough to get a plate of the food and oh my gosh was I in heaven! Music played as the guests ate and the couple had a 1st dance to celebrate. Then the delicious strawberry cake was cute.

In the end, it was a beautiful small wedding ceremony that involved her sweet family. It truly was a day of love!

Click here to see our Pismo Beach Elopement packages.

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Forest Beach Wedding

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 19:28:00 GMT

Forest Beach Wedding

Please click the links to find out more about our Elopement Ceremony Location or, you can see our Wedding Elopement Packages here.

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Gazebo Cliff Wedding Ceremony

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 04:49:00 GMT

It was one of those right places in the right time kind of love stories. A coworker of the bride was on maternity leave so she filled in for her. Robert and Marilou crossed paths and their friendship started to grow. As family told stories about the love the two shared, I was touched about Robert’s kindness and compassion when Marilou’s sister was in the hospital and Robert checked on her and little baby for over a month. Then, I got to see the love the bride had for the groom 3 boys. They were so happy to have a new mom in their lives.

I remember the smiles from the couple during our first meeting at the gazebo cliff wedding ceremony location. I can most of the time tell those forever together kind of moments. The two were excited to look st the gazebo location for their wedding. Their little dog joined them the day we met and was front and center on the wedding day.

The couple also wanted to include the groom’s children in the ceremony so we added the shell unity ceremony and did a special blessing over the family. They also wanted their fur baby to be part of the ceremony. I always love having dogs at the wedding ceremony and most of our locations are dog friendly.

Marilou, Robert and I arranged to have a quick couples portrait session on the beach after the wedding but before the reception. It was perfect! I always encourage couples to take some time as a couple, just the two of them and without any guests to enjoy each other and the moment. The photo session was done in Pismo Beach near the pier.

After the gazebo cliff wedding ceremony, the couple had their reception at one of our favorite places. This reception location has a private room for 30-50 guests. Couples can customize a menu and offer guests up to 6 options to select. The venue has a rustic theme and serves guests a lot of food ( they will not go away hungry)! Menu items range from oak pit BBQ items like steaks and chicken, fish and burgers.

The couple had all the fun of a reception and invited us to be there to photography the reception. Marilou and Robert did their grand entrance walk to Can’t Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake. After dinner they did their first dance and surprised the parents with a father daughter and mother son dance. A little music played while the guests did some dancing and then cut their cake. It was the perfect beach wedding at the Gazebo Cliff Wedding Ceremony, Pismo Beach California!

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Simple Beach Wedding

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 04:09:00 GMT

A simple beach wedding was what this couple was looking for. The bride had childhood memories of spending summers in Pismo and loved the beaches there. She knew she wanted to get married on the beach with her toes in the sand. After talking about the best location for the wedding, she chose the sandy area of the beach close to sunset time.

The couple wanted to have a traditional ceremony and not see each other before the wedding. I met the bride, her mom, grandma and daughter before the wedding. We were able to take some photos of the bride and capture some great moments of 4 generations of women! Those photos are memories that will be passed on from generations to generations. We try to find those special moments and make sure to capture them on film.

The guests gathered in the sand and stood while the couple said their vows to each other. We had Jason, our guest minister preform the ceremony for the couple.

After the wedding, we took a group photo of all the guests and then individual family photos and finished right at sunset with photos of the couple.

The ocean dune location has the sandy beach, water in the background, and pops of green from the plants growing in the sand. I like this location because you can have a wedding here without having to worry about the tide.

The ceremony was performed by our guest minister Jason.

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Married on the Central Coast

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 03:31:00 GMT

For some couples, getting married on the Central Coast is their first time to the area. For this couple, flying into San Luis Obispo from Portland was an easy trip for them! I think the hardest part was for the bride to find her perfect dress! I remember our emails about her dress search and how the first place she went was a bust, but once she found her dress on the 2nd try she was so happy! Once she found the dress, we were able to talk about colors and styles for her wedding flowers. Sometimes, the dress draws the inspiration for the wedding theme and colors. I thought having burgundy and light pink would go very well with her dress – she was happy to go with those colors, not just because they matched her style, but they were the colors of the Hungarian flag. The couple was Hungarian and met after moving to Oregon. The funny thing was that they actually lived very close to each other in Hungary and even studied the same field. It look traveling all the way to the US to meet and fall in love.

As a special surprise to the groom, the bride had letters from the groom’s family. They were sad they couldn’t be at the wedding, but knew their letters of good wishes for their future would be a great blessing to them.

After the couple was married on the Central Coast. The bride also wanted to surprise the groom by having a champagne toast after the photos. Since the area of the beach they got married at allows alcohol, I set up the toast for them. It was a bottle of local champagne too!

The couple promised me they would come back to the area to celebrate their anniversary.

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Santa Barbara Beach Elopement

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 03:04:00 GMT

Traveling all the way from the Netherlands sounds like an adventure! I always enjoy marrying couples who live in another country. It is great to show them the Central Coast, give recommendations for road trips up and down the coast, and tell them about the local places that I enjoy. This couple not only had a wedding, but they had a baby moon! It’s so exciting to hear about their love stories and then see the love they share for each other. As a special surprise, the couple was going to reveal if they were having a boy or girl after their wedding ceremony. I thought the bride was going to be having a girl, but it turned out to be a baby boy! What an exciting day – to get married and learn if you are having a boy or girl.

The couple got married at the beach location right outside of Santa Barbara with the beautiful cliffs in the background. It was a pretty sunny day for their Santa Barbara beach elopement and the sky was the perfect blue color. I loved how the bride decided to wear a beachy blue dress (I probably should have guessed the baby would be a boy since she wore blue!).

Since the couple was from the Netherlands, there was a special document that was needed for showing the marriage was legal in their country. We’ve married couples from other countries before and there have been no problems with our California wedding license. This couple needed a document issued by Sacramento. The officiant and I helped the couple by going to the Santa Barbara Courthouse for the apostile document. I couldn’t miss an opportunity to take pictures at the courthouse. It is one of my favorite historical buildings in the area. I love the Spanish style architect. I also had a few photos of my husband and I snapped at the Santa Barbara Courthouse when we were married.

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Los Olivos Winery Wedding Vineyard View

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 02:33:00 GMT

Sometimes it’s just better with only the two of you! A lot of our couples who get married at the winery location say this.

For this couple, they enjoyed a few days in town and then set out to the winery for their wedding ceremony. They traveled a few hours to Los Olivos and Santa Ynez. For the first night of their wedding adventure, they decided to spend it at the Chumash Casino. The next day the drove a short drive to Los Olivos for their winery wedding.

The bride wanted to do a simple wedding, but add some personal touches to the ceremony. She surprised the groom with a lock and key -the key was added to the groom’s boutonniere and the heart shaped lock was added to her bouquet. The bride carried a off white bouquet with hints of silver and grey greenery.

At the end of the ceremony, the couple had a cake set up for their wine tasting. The groom actually was more a fan of wine than beer so he had his special brew. Also special to the groom was his custom made suit, because every man should have a custom suit!

Santa Barbara county has a nice selection of breweries in the area. In Buellton (close to Los Olivos) there is Firestone Brewery and Figuroa Brewery, in Solvang there is Solvang Brew and Santa Maria has Santa Maria Brewery.

Congratulations on your Los Olivos Winery Wedding Vineyard View!

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Winery Elopement Locations

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 06:28:00 GMT

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Other Central Coast Beaches

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:07:00 GMT

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Forest Grove Location

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:04:00 GMT

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Tide Pool Beach Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:58:00 GMT

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Tree Grove Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:58:00 GMT

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Rock Beach Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:57:00 GMT

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Pier View Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:55:00 GMT

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Ocean Dunes Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:55:00 GMT

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Palm Cliff Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:54:00 GMT

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Ocean Cliff Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:47:00 GMT

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Gazebo Cliff Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:46:00 GMT

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Gazebo Location

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:46:00 GMT

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Ocean View and Gazebo Wedding Ceremony

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:53:00 GMT

The couple didn’t have the traditional first look. For their Ocean View and Gazebo Wedding Ceremony they took family photos first. This is always nice since the couple looks their best before the tears start during the ceremony. It’s also a more casual way to start the ceremony. Photos with the couple’s children was important to them so we made sure to get all the right pictures of the children before the ceremony started. To coordinate the ceremony a little more, the couple’s children wore teal. The getting ready photos were at one of my favorite local hotels. The hotel has a really pretty ocean view and path leading out to the ocean. The path is right on the water and there are green plants, colorful bushes and a full ocean view right along the path. There are many places for extra photos.

After the pictures, the ceremony started and the couple was married inside the gazebo. The gazebo is one of our favorite locations and I like it when the couple is the only ones in the gazebo getting married. It makes the ceremony more intimate for the couple. The guests were seated around the gazebo and they witnessed the ceremony. There were a few tears shed during the exchange of rings. The tears of happiness just showed that this couple were truly excited to get married and start their new life together! After the ceremony, we took the couple down to the beach for pictures. I really love how the yellow colors pop against the rocks of the gazebo. The couple had some candid moments together and I caught them whispering about how happy they were to be married.

Ocean View and Gazebo Wedding Ceremony – Married in Pismo Beach

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Shell Beach Getting Ready Photos

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 23:34:00 GMT

Shell Beach Getting Ready Photos – I always like the getting ready photos of the bride. It is, here special day and why not capture more photos of her! The getting ready photos show the details – the shoes, the flowers, the rings, the dress, the finishing touches of the make up and hair, the special times with those who mean a lot of you – bridesmaids, sisters, and mom. A lot of the times, the black and white images of the bride getting ready show what’s going on, before the actually wedding ceremony. The black and white images show that the getting ready photos were a little different than the actual ceremony.

For this bride’s Shell Beach getting ready photos, she had her hair and make up professional done before Julie arrived to take her photos. It is always nice to have a professional be in charge of pampering you for your special day! She didn’t put on her dress, but stayed in her robe until a little before the ceremony.

The photographer can get the happy moments with the dress and the detail photos of the bride putting on the dress and other people helping her. Some photos can be taken of the bride and her bridesmaids.

Getting ready photos are not just for the bride, the groom can have getting ready photos also. But, more time is spent with the bride with her photos.

To prepare for the getting ready photos here are some tips:

Sometimes, having a first look is part of getting ready photos. The bride gets ready and meets her groom at a location outside or near their hotel. Click here for some information about the 1st look.

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Morro Bay Elopement

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 04:09:00 GMT

Morro Bay Elopement –

I love sharing this beautiful area, I call home, with couples. My favorite is when we have couples who have never been to the Central Coast, amazed by our beautiful coastline who contact Coastal California Weddings and trust us with their special day. This happy couple traveled 6 hours by plane and 3 hours by car to land on our beaches. The couple was from the East Coast of Canada and came out to California to get married. They were drawn to the rocky coast line and large rock called Morro Rock. This beach area is pretty amazing with the large volcanic formation. When the couple arrived to town, the did a little exploring and found this great off the beaten path location to get married at. It was like a private ocean front garden.

One of the cutest things was when the bride texted me that they arrived early to the ceremony location because they were so excited to get married! It made me even more happy to be part of their special day.

Unique to the Morro Bay elopement ceremony, the couple wanted to exchange letters to each other during they ceremony. They were then going to read the letters after the ceremony. If you know you want to say something to your fiancé during the wedding ceremony, but don’t think you can speak the words without getting emotional, the letter idea is perfect! It also gives you a keepsake that you can add to your box of special items that you can collect as a married couple.

We have a lot of couples that like to turn their wedding into a wedding and honeymoon trip all in one. This couple landed in LA, did some sight seeing there, traveled up the coast for their Morro Bay elopement and then drove over to Yosemite to finish off their vacation holiday. Morro Bay is located about 3 hours from Yosemite. Other locations that are close by are Big Sur and Carmel area. Morro Bay is the at the start of Highway 1, on the way up to Big Sur. You can easily access Highway 101 to go up to Carmel or even San Francisco. Morro Bay has a large popular of sea otters than you can view from the shoreline. Other activities include kayaking the in bay, walking along the beaches, and collecting sand dollars.

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San Luis Obispo Winery Small Wedding Ceremony

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:24:00 GMT

San Luis Obispo Winery Small Wedding Ceremony- Located just a few minutes outside of San Luis Obispo sits this beautiful, private winery and ranch. It is the perfect location for you and your guests to enjoy the beauty of nature with the mountains, rolling hills and vineyards. This couple chose the winery since it was a half way point for the groom’s family, who was from the Bay Area, and the bride’s family, who was from Southern California. The area was new to some of the guests so it was fun to explore the local sites, eat in downtown SLO, and relax at the beach. The couple’s nieces and nephews joined them in the celebration and acted as flower girls, sign holders, and ring bearer. The wedding took place in July so the vines were a bright green color. The bride was walked down the aisle by her dad. Around her burgundy, pink and white bouquet, was wrapped a rosary that belonged to her grandmother. Instead of exchanging rings in a traditional ceremony, the couple had a ring warming ceremony where they passed around the wedding rings and the guests held the rings and make a wish for their future. This was a special touch to the ceremony. After a few tears and laughs, the couple sealed their love with a kiss during the San Luis Obispo winery small wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, photos were taken with family and guests and the couple ventured into the vines to get some photos there. Then, all the guests enjoyed dinner in San Luis Obispo at a local Italian restaurant.

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Stories of Love

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 05:39:00 GMT

Sometimes, as wedding coordinators, photographers, and ministers, we get to hear incredible stories of how our couples met. And, sometimes, these stories stay with us for a long time.

Recently, we married a couple that had been neighbors since the third grade, but didn’t know each other. They officially met each other in eighth grade. Their lives went in different directions; they married other spouses, had children, and divorced. Then, one day while each was working at Kaiser Permanente, they ran into each other, reconnected, and got married.

For another couple, the groom had known the bride since they both were in kindergarten. He would gaze at this beautiful little girl, but could never gather up the courage to talk to her. He felt she was too pretty to look at someone like him. This feeling of admiration from afar continued until finally he approached her in junior high. They started talking and he found her so easy to strike up a conversation with. They continued as friends, but still he could not gather the courage to ask her out. They drifted apart, each marrying someone else. He had two boys and she had two girls. Then life dealt each a blow and they each divorced. But, one day on Facebook they reconnected. We were privileged to be a part of their beach wedding, and were touched by their love story.

Another couple had such a touching story. The groom’s first wife suffered an untimely death 20 years before. The bride divorced from a 27 year marriage 15 years ago. These two met 12 years ago, but neither was ready for a serious relationship at that time. The years passed. Two years ago they reconnected. As the bride told us: “We now look back and regret those lost years of not being together.” They waited a long time to find the next chapter of their life. We were so happy that they finally could spend their days together as husband and wife.

Several weeks ago we married a couple whose lives continued to cross paths. For their story about love, h e first spotted her at the gym where they both worked out. Then, he spotted her at a photo shoot and he snuck passed the barriers that said “no admittance”. That didn’t stop him from sneaking onto the area where she was being photographed and he even took a few shots of his own. Then, their paths crossed again when he was viewing a perspective house to live in and he spotted a picture of a beautiful lady who looked familiar. On closer inspection, he discovered her to be the girl from the gym he had admired many years before. Finally they met, and he told her he even had a picture of her from her photo shoot, and he retrieved it and showed it to her. At the time, she was divorced and raising her daughter as a single mom. That was her focus, and she was not interested in a relationship. Fast forward….Her daughter is now grown. They reconnected and this time, and the guy got his girl. They made the cutest couple, and he could not stop smiling during the ceremony and photos after.

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Gazebo Cliff Location

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:41:00 GMT

The bride loved the groom because he was a caring person with a big heart. The most important qualities was that he was down to earth, loyal, and trustworthy. The groom said his bride is kind, caring, compassionate, gorgeous, Loving, supportive, free spirited, independent, hard working, smiles often, her beautiful blue eyes, my best friend, great mama material! I loved how the groom explained that the this was a special day for the bride and he wanted their wedding to be perfect. They decide to get married at the Sea Cliff location. It held a special place in their heart because the bride’s brother was married there too. The bride always thought the Sea Cliff was her magical place when she got married. As a wish for their future, they wished for our future to be one full of health, life, and love. They wanted to continue to be blessed by God with all that we have in order to live well through thanks and praise. They also wish on their wedding day to continue living a compassionate lifestyle and impacting the world in a positive way and being role models to those around us. And to add a little humor, they hoped to have a few healthy vegan kids that grow up in a home full of optimism, lots of hugs and kisses, and life building experiences.

To add to the beach theme, the bride was barefoot for the ceremony. The couple enjoyed photos down by the beach. For their reception they celebrated at a local Italian eatery.

For this wedding, the ceremony took place at the Gazebo Cliff and then pictures on the beach after the ceremony. If you want beach photos, please let us know so we can make sure the tide works for that day!

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Small Wedding Pismo Beach

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 02:45:00 GMT

Small Wedding Pismo Beach –

Some times it takes a while to find that special place where you want to get married. I know for me, I searched for months, all the way from the top of California to the bottom of California. I’d get so excited when I found a venue that looked like it would fit our wedding. Some were a good fit, others never emailed me back, and the worst was when the venue fee alone was as much as the wedding budget.

Some couples know they want a small wedding Pismo Beach because Pismo Beach has special meaning to them. For this couple, they had an even more special love story! They actually grew up together and have photos of the two of them as babies...fast forward many years and they were given a second chance at love. Pismo was somewhere they went for special trips together and having a small wedding in Pismo Beach was the perfect place for their ceremony.

The bride was walked down the aisle by her daughter. The groom waited for them and their cute little dog was watching with rest of the guests. The couple's ceremony was up on the dunes, overlooking Pismo Beach. There was a tree lined aisle way and trees for a natural backdrop. The couple walked around the beach for more wedding pictures during their Pismo Beach small wedding.

It was a beautiful Pismo Beach small wedding.

Here's one couple's story about how they found Pismo Beach for their small wedding - The couple had been looking for a venue for about 1 ½ years, when they discovered Coastal California Weddings on the internet. After looking at the website and the pictures of the beautiful Central Coast, they knew they had found their special place. So, they traveled from Redding, CA to seal their love and take their vows. This wedding took place at Pismo Beach, on the sand, surrounded by tidepools and gentle waves. I am sure the couple will return often to their special place, and re-live the joy of this day. Surrounded by family and friends, many wearing blue attire, the couple had their perfect “toes in the sand” small wedding Pismo Beach.

The groom was a little nervous before the ceremony, so he and the minister chatted to calm his nerves. He even told the minister that he might cry during the ceremony. I love it when our groom shed their tears of joy. It is especially heartwarming to see men touched with emotion.

The bride was escorted down the stairs to the beach by her dad. Then, the groom turned to see her for the first time. The smile on his face said it all. And, yes, she was as beautiful as he had imagined. She wore a stunning mermaid gown, with a fitted bodice adorned with beading and accented with tulle. As her father kissed her and handed her over to her groom (with a hearty handshake and a smile), her groom lifted her veil. Before the ceremony, he asked if he could lift the veil when he first saw her. I explained that, traditionally, the veil was lifted at the end of the ceremony, before the kiss. But, I said that today, there really are no rules, and if he wanted to see her face during the entire ceremony, that would be fine.

The skies were blue, the sun was out, and the beach it was nice and warm. The bride’s mother said that she had prayed for a sunny day, and she certainly got her wish.

I think our groom got his wish, too. After they were pronounced husband and wife, he lifted up his hand and showed off his new ring. Yes, he was finally married to the girl of his dreams, and his wish had come true!

These are just 2 of our wonderful couples who we have married through the years. Let us help you with your wedding dreams.

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Spring Gazebo Wedding in Pismo Beach

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 05:26:00 GMT

I remember meeting the groom before I met the bride. The bride had to work, but was very excited to start planning her wedding. The groom helped with the initial planning and helped to give his feedback on what details were important to him. I do love it when couples are both involved in their wedding day. Since the bride and groom lived just around the corner in the beach community of Arroyo Grande, we were able to do some engagement photos. The engagement photos gave the 3 of us time to get to know each other, talk a little more wedding details, and feel comfortable in front of the camera. They also used one of the engagement photos for their wedding invitations.

For the wedding date, they chose to get married on April Fools’ Day. Because they did not want any April Fools’ jokes to interfere with their wedding, they decided to have a rehearsal the day before their April 1st wedding.

As a special request, the bride’s father wanted the traditional question to be asked: “Who gives this woman in holy matrimony”? But he wanted to recognize all the people who were responsible for getting our bride to this point in her life. During the rehearsal, he just wanted to acknowledge these people. But, on the wedding day, he added a little something. He called all the people up to the front to recognize their contribution. What a special touch to thank all those who made this dream come true. Special touches like that add so much to a wedding.

The bride and groom had chosen yellow and navy blue as the colors for their wedding, and many of the guests also were dressed in corresponding colors. The chairs were tied with navy bows and the aisle chairs were tied with sunflowers which were also used in the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets.

After the wedding ceremony, they all celebrated their wedding reception. The reception took place at one of my favorite venues. The guests enjoyed delicious Italian food, a celebration of love and even some dancing.

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Ocean Cliff Beach Wedding

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 05:12:00 GMT

When I first talked to the bride, she knew she wanted a wedding on the beach! It makes things a lot simpler when the couple knows exactly what they want!! Her family lived on the Central Coast and she was visiting them during Spring Break. I also have to say that I loved how this bride would comment on Facebook when I posted a picture of the beach – wanting to get married at that special beach location. The bride had a date she wanted to get married. Sometimes, things all fall into place and the couple can have everything they need. For this bride, she got photos on the beach after the wedding and during sunset. But, because of the tide that day, I wasn’t too sure what the tide would be doing. I’m glad I didn’t chance it with the tide because there were a few times during the photo time that the tide did come up. We’ve had a few brides get splashed with the waves and that creates a fun photo.

The colors for the wedding were purple. This is one of my favorite colors for beach weddings. The bride had wanted to add hanging flowers in vases and a wedding arch with glass balls holding flowers and shells. The decorations were so pretty. Another touching part of the ceremony was the bride including her daughters as her bridesmaids. They all looked so pretty and were so happy for their mom.

The couple traveled from Nevada so we helped them with the wedding license for California. We had such a great time with the bride, she contacted me a few weeks after the wedding to talk about doing a trash the dress for their 1 year anniversary!

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Beach Boho Wedding Pismo Beach

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 05:20:00 GMT

Boho Beach Wedding Pismo Beach – This couple traveled from Los Angeles for their perfect beach boho wedding in Pismo Beach. The bride wanted to keep the wedding simple, but add some elegant touches. I loved her color choice of peach with grey accents. The colors from the bouquet, the groom’s suit and ocean in the background were the perfect touches to bring the elegance to their wedding.

The ceremony took place at our Gazebo Cliff location located in Pismo Beach. For a beach boho wedding vibe, the bride wanted to add the rose gold arch to the backdrop of the ceremony. The aisle was lined with rose petals, lanterns, and flower bouquets. The bouquets were then used as centerpieces at her wedding reception. To save some money I tell brides to pay once and use twice – pay once for the wedding flowers and use them 2 ways (once at the wedding and once for the reception).

The couple’s son was the official ring bearer and he proudly wore a sign that read, “daddy, here comes our girl.” There were 4 flowers girls and they held a special place in the bride’s heart since the flower girls were children of her two best friends! The bride was escorted down the aisle by her dad. The couple exchanged their own vows. The groom planted an awesome 1st kiss on her bride (see the photos of that).

After the ceremony, photos were taken of the guests, some with the couple’s son, and finished off with photos of the two of them by the beach. If the tide is right, the beach near the location is amazing for just married pictures. Beach Boho Wedding Pismo Beach

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Anniversary Photos Pismo Beach

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:32:00 GMT

I had a blast with this couple, who we married last year, during their anniversary photo session in Pismo Beach.

What is an anniversary photo session?

It is a way for the couple to enjoy their photo experience a little more. With the rush of the big day, many times the couple is spending their photo time with family and friend pictures and don’t get the extra time for themselves. Or the couple feels they need to rush off to the reception. The anniversary pictures are a way to get those pictures you really wanted. This couple was married on a very hot day in July at around 4 pm at a location where the tide was high that day. So, this wasn’t the best conditions for on the beach photos. Their anniversary photos were taken at sunset, during low tide, and during a cooler evening. The couple selected the perfect outfits for the day! The bride wore the same salmon color as her wedding colors.

The anniversary session can be done with more casual clothes or a chance for the couple to go a little dressier with a beach dress, add a flower crown or even a smaller bouquet with the same flowers as she had on her wedding day.

Anniversary session are also perfect for couples with children. Many times, on the wedding day, the children are not as happy as they normally would be – didn’t sleep well in a hotel, didn’t eat a lot because they were in a new surrounding, or didn’t have time for their naps. For the anniversary session you can select the best time where your child will be more themselves.

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Avila Beach Wedding

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 00:20:00 GMT

Avila Beach Wedding – Kimberly and Dave – As the saying goes, “Love is like the wind; you can’t see it but, you can feel it”. On a very windy day in Avila, these two were married. And, love was certainly in the air. This couple decided to have an Avila Beach Wedding. Tt is where they had their first out of town date. So, the location had special meaning to them.

The ocean was a bluish-green, with crashing waves and plenty of sea spray kicked up by the winds. The waves gave the perfect backdrop for some great pictures.

This couple met seven years ago, but their paths had crossed for the last twenty years. They just were not destined to meet back then. But, finally their paths crossed, they fell in love, and had an Avila Beach wedding. To represent the once-separate paths that have now become one, they decided to have a sand ceremony. They were each given a container of colored sand, each representing the separate journey they were once on, as well as their own set of friends and family. As they poured their individual containers into one larger container, the sand was blended, representing the coming together of their family and friends, through marriage, into one. And, their once solitary journey will now be one of companionship, as they walk a single path together into their future.

Before the wedding, it was nice to stand at the top of the stairs and look out at the beach below. The chairs for the wedding were tied with colorful sashes that blew in the breeze. While the aisle chairs were tied in Tiffany blue, accented with a starfish, the remaining chairs were tied with coral. Two vases of twigs with coral and white flowers were at the end of the aisle, as was a table containing the vessels for the sand ceremony. It was nice to pause for a moment before the festivities began.

The weather was beautiful (no rain, as predicted), the groom was so handsome in his buff-colored jacket, and of course the bride was stunning with her up-do and beautiful gown. They were surrounded by the groom’s daughters, family members and friends who came to celebrate the occasion. Love was truly in the air during their Avila Beach wedding!

April 14th

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Extra Wedding Flowers

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 22:27:00 GMT

Here are some examples of extra flowers we can add to your package:

Flower crown

Bridesmaids bouquets

Groomsmen boutonnieres

Father of the bride boutonnieres and Mother of the bride and mother of the groom corsages (wrist or pin on) can also be added

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Dog Friendly Beach Weddings

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 17:29:00 GMT

Dog-Friendly Shell Beach Elopements

This weekend was the perfect time for our small, dog-friendly Shell Beach elopements. Though it rained the night before, and even sprinkled the morning of these weddings, when the time came for the ceremony, the clouds had cleared and the sun even broke through to reflect on the water. Such a beautiful time on the central coast, with turquoise blue water and crispness in the temperature, and love in the air.

And, this was the weekend to involve the cutest dogs. For one of the weddings, the three dogs wore the cutest tuxedoes with deep pink bow ties. One even served as the ring bearer (or should I say, ring barker). He pranced down the aisle with a little pillow on his back which held the rings. The other two dogs were the attendants. During the ceremony, they were very well-behaved, and posed for some adorable pictures.

For the other wedding, the dog wore a white dahlia, as she walked down the aisle. She was even mentioned in the ceremony!

Both dogs were important members of the family and therefore were included in the wedding party. Not many churches allow you to bring your dogs to the ceremony, but we at Coastal California weddings realize that dogs are important to our brides and grooms. And, we love to include them in the wedding. Besides, they create great photo opportunities. Why shouldn’t they be involved in this important day?

Thanks to both couples who brought their dogs to their dog-friendly Shell Beach elopements. We wish these couples, and their dog friends, many years of happy memories.

Dog Wedding #2

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Garden Wedding Pismo Beach

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 15:54:00 GMT

Located right outside of Pismo Beach, this garden setting is tucked away. Picture yourself getting married in your own secret garden setting. The garden space is a private space so you and your guests are the only ones there. The couple who we married at the garden setting also had a reception after the ceremony at the location.

The couple really wanted a location where the ceremony and reception could be in one place. They wanted more of an intimate setting with friends and family. The couple’s children traveled to be part of the wedding and they had family make the journey for their special day.

To fit the them of the garden setting, the bride chose a coral color as the accent color for the wedding. She wanted both dark and light coral colors for the bouquet and flowers. For centerpieces, she used cactus lanterns. For the food, the couple used a local caterer who did a buffet style of salmon, rice pilaf, vegetables, and kabobs for a Mediterranean meal. For the dessert, the couple had cupcakes for the guests to enjoy. Music played and guests danced as the celebration came to a close.

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Pismo Beach Wedding Permit

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 22:44:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Wedding Permits

To get married on the beach in Pismo you need a permit. There are also 2 sets of rules for weddings on the beach, depending on your location.

Both places won’t issue permits on busy holiday weekends or when other major events are happening.

Pismo Beach Wedding Permit Requirements #1

If you are looking at the ocean and facing the Pismo Beach pier, to the right and the left of the pier, the rules are:

Pismo Beach Wedding Permit Requirements #2

A little farther down the beach, near Finns and Grand Ave. the rules are:

We know the Pismo Beach wedding permit requirements! Hire Coastal California Weddings and we will take care of the permit paperwork for you.

Thinking about other beaches?

Avila Beach, Cambria, Morro Bay, and Santa Barbara all have guidelines and permits for getting married.

Fees for weddings change, but here are the averages:

Avila Beach $450 (from 0 guests to 50)

Cambria $150-$200 (depends on the beach)

Morro Bay $65

Santa Barbara $65

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Gazebo Wedding in May in Pismo Beach

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:20:00 GMT

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Scottish Wedding Traditions

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 00:49:00 GMT

Scottish Wedding Traditions

Recently, we had a couple and their friends and family travel all the way from Scotland to have a wedding on the central coast of California. The bride loves to travel to the States and enjoys visiting the West Coast. For the groom, it was his first time to the West. The couple stopped off for a trip to Disneyland, over to Pismo to get married, and then off to San Francisco, Napa, and What a thrill for us to see the bride’s dad and also one of her family friends, all decked out in their traditional Scottish kilts.

So, I decided to hunt around for some of the history surrounding the kilts. Though King George II tried to ban the wearing of kilts by the Scots, his attempt backfired. Instead, the Scots continued to wear it in protest to the King of England. Therefore, it became more important to the patriotic Scots. Even to this day they wear it for special holidays and ceremonies (like the wedding today).

The bride’s father also wore a boutonnière of heather. Yep, I decided to find out its meaning; and here is what I discovered: Heather flowers mean admiration, good luck, and protection. Because of her admiration for Scottish lore and traditions, Queen Victoria popularized the meaning of heather. During Victorian times, heather may have been associated with good luck because it was so scarce, similar to the way we consider four-leaf clovers to be good luck due to their scarcity. So, the bride’s dad was showing his admiration for his daughter, and wishing her good luck for her future.

Both guests’ kilts were of different tartan fabric, closely identified with the particular Scottish clans they identified with. The belts they wore, made of leather, are also a part of the attire. The sporran, a small belt-pouch made of leather or animal hide, is where a man traditionally keeps his keys, money, wallet, etc. The kilt knife is a small knife with a decorative bone handle and a leather sheath. The kilt pin is worn on the front panel of the kilt. Hose are knee-length socks. The shoes, known as Ghillie Brogues, are sturdy, leather shoes with laces. And, yes, the two guests wore all of the accessories. Such a nice, traditional touch and a nod to their heritage.

The bride and groom were also given a lucky horseshoe that says, “May your happiness be as deep as Loc Ness and your troubles as scarce as the monster.”

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Central Coast Winery Weddings

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 03:40:00 GMT

Coastal California Weddings provides couple’s with all inclusive elopement and small wedding ceremonies at different wineries. The winery locations we use depends on your the day you want to get married, location, and budget. Some wineries are in Santa Barbara County and others are outside of San Luis Obispo. These locations are for weddings with up to 30 guests.

Santa Barbara County – winery wedding

Click here for more photos from their wedding

In the hills of San Luis Obispo – winery wedding

Click here for more photos from their wedding

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Oak Tree Winery Elopement

Sat, 03 Jun 2017 01:51:00 GMT

After going to her friend’s wedding in Mexico, the bride really wanted something simple and beautiful for her wedding. These two met when the bride went into the groom’s work. She thought he was cute and he never thought a girl as beautiful as her would fall for him. Well, one date sealed the deal for this couple and they knew it was a sure thing.

For the ceremony, the couple chose an oak oak tree with a vineyards in the background. There are a few oak trees on the property. It was so cute when the groom lifted up the bride right after their kiss. He was so happy to be married to her.

The bride wore a causal, white, flowey dress and the groom was handsome in slacks and a button up shirt. Her white bridal bouquet was a nice accent with her dress. We had fun taking pictures with the couple sitting in the grass. After the ceremony, they enjoyed some wine tasting and took home a bottle of wine.

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Afternoon Elopement Los Olivos

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:32:00 GMT

Afternoon Elopement Los Olivos

Some times a wedding is more special when it is just the two of you! The groom’s mother wanted to attend the ceremony, and the bride thought about inviting her brother-in-law, who introduced the couple. But, in the end, they decided that they really wanted an elopement without any guests. During the photos, the couple said their ceremony could not be more perfect for them.

Most of our couples who travel to the Central Coast select a beach location for their elopement, but this couple wanted a more intimate setting, away from the madness of the beach during spring break. So, they chose one of my favorite settings – a peaceful winery in Los Olivos. Since we had rain the night before, everything was a fresh and green. You can also tell from the photos the sky was a beautiful shade of blue, with puffy white clouds blown by the breeze. The couple selected a pond area for their afternoon elopement in Los Olivos. There were oak trees in the distance and weeping willows that had just begun to leaf out. After the ceremony, they wandered the vineyard to find the perfect spot for their photos.

The bride wore a long, ivory chiffon strapless gown with a soft beaded bodice. The bride wanted a custom bouquet and provided us with a photo a bouquet that she wanted. Our florist was able to create a customized bouquet similar to the photo with a mix of white peonies and roses, accented with white astilbes. Luckily, this was a spring wedding and our florist was able to get the peonies featured in the photo.

Some couples have such a special bond, and, with this couple, it was quite evident. They both wept as they exchanged rings and pledged to be a faithful partner to one another.

During the ceremony, the bride mentioned that the groom was her rock – the one who she can always count on. She said that she really admires the way he protects and provides for her and her two children. And the groom paid tribute to her as a mother with a special type of love for her children. As a wish for their future, they included how they wished to always supply their children with the tools to become strong, independent, and kind individuals.

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Wedding Ceremony Planning Questions

Sun, 28 May 2017 00:47:00 GMT

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Now that You are Married

Sat, 27 May 2017 03:29:00 GMT

Congratulations…you are now officially married! Now that you are married, here are some details on what happens next.

Here are some details about the wedding license, photos and other details.

Your Photos

How long will it take to get my photos?

It can take up to 30 days to get your photos. We take our time to edit your photos and probably have other weddings to finish up also. You will receive a link to an online gallery to view the photos and send to family and friends. If your package includes a flash drive, that will be mailed out once we confirm your mailing address.

Can I download the photos?

Yes, the online link allows you to download the photos – all of them on them individually. There will be a photo at the top of your photo gallery. Can you click on the arrow and line button to download all the photos.

Can I order a flash drive?

Yes, if your package didn’t come with a flash drive you can order one.

Marriage License

What happens to the marriage license?

On your wedding day, you gave us your unofficial wedding license. The officiant will take care of making the marriage legal by filling out the license paperwork and filing it with the county you got the license from. The officiant has 10 days to file the license. By law, the officiant has to file the license.

Do we need to do anything with the license the day of the wedding?

No, there isn’t anything the two of you need to do the day of the wedding.

Here’s the marriage license details and how to get a copy of the official license.

What do I need to do to show proof of marriage or change my name?

Your official marriage license, provided to you by the County you got the initial paperwork from.

What are the steps to change your name?

Places to notify about name change

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Wedding Ceremony and the Minister

Thu, 18 May 2017 16:33:00 GMT

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What is a first look?

Wed, 03 May 2017 05:02:00 GMT

What is a first look and how does it work?

A first look is an intimate moment for the bride and groom to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Many times, a bride doesn’t enjoy the pressure of having guests looking at her, she feel she might be super nervous about walking down the aisle, or maybe the couple just wants some time to themselves before the rush of the busy day. The first look gives the couple a private moment to share with each other.

See some examples of photos from 1st looks below and a little more about how it works.

How does it work?

The first look starts with the groom arriving before the bride. Photos are taken of the groom as he waits. The photographer sets up the groom and then goes to meet the bride. The bride makes a slow entrance to meet the groom.

The groom can be seated on a bench for the first look, or standing with his back turned, or be facing the bride with a blindfold. There are different ways to do the first look. Favorite photos are close ups of the groom as the bride is walking towards him, that surprise moment, a hug and kiss, or that special look. It’s that “wow, it’s you!” moment.

What should we do during the first look?

For the first look, embrace each other, hug, kiss, cry…all of that is ok! Just act like the photographer is not there taking pictures and be in the moment.

After that first look, photos are taken with of just the couple. The first look is more of the fresh look of the couple – make up done, hair perfect, no tears (yet!).

How long should a first look last?

A first look should be between 45 minutes to 1 hour. An hour is nice since the photographer can take some getting ready photos of the bride.

(Below is one of my favorite photos of the bride before the 1st look – she is so happy!!)

If you are still thinking about a first look, here are some more benefits:

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Los Olivos Winery Wedding

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 03:46:00 GMT

I always tell couples that there are no rules to wedding these days. I believe in having a unique, personal experience with the wedding day and love when then couple is able to customize their wedding to be their own. When I first talked to the bride, there were a few things on her must have list. I’m always a little hesitant to hear what those are, but so happy to hear this bride had simple requests. Her main request was to have her 2 fur babies at the ceremony and the second was that she wanted to have pies and pizza at her reception.

The wedding date was the day before Earth Day so the outdoors Los Olivos winery wedding had the perfect backdrop with the large oak tree, green grass, and vineyards beginning to bloom.

Not all weddings involve flowers. In fact, for this wedding, the bride selected a bouquet of greenery, highlighted with seeded eucalyptus. Similar arrangements accented the aisle, tied with sage green ribbon. The bride wore a garland of greenery, and her two dogs also wore matching garlands to celebrate the occasion.

After the ceremony, the guests were able to enjoy the grounds as they mingled and enjoyed a selection of white and red wine. While the guests celebrated, the couple were able to sneak out into the vineyards for some photos, after enjoying some family shots. For the Los Olivos winery wedding package, the couple had extra time for photos. I thought this was perfect since the guests could enjoy wine and the couple could go around the property for photos. The winery and vineyards had so many places to take photos at. It is really a photographer’s dream to have a ton of options for beautiful winery wedding photos.

Since the only people who were locals were the bride and groom, the guests enjoyed the weather and views of the vineyard. Guests traveled as far as the East Coast and as close as Washington state.

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Why have a small wedding

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 04:41:00 GMT

It is great to have an elopement or small wedding because:

You can focus your energy on what’s important.
Being married is the important part, not really the show you put on for other people.

-You can get married more quickly.
There is no need to schedule things in advanced or work with friends’ and families’ schedules. You are engaged; you love each other; get to it, already!

If you are considering having a small wedding read some tips on how to cut your guest count:

I’m sure some of you are thinking 45 guests, how are we going to cut our list down to that little of people!! Below are some tips that helped us:

For reasons to get married on the Central Coast see our blog . Hope you found some tips on why have a small wedding.

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Wedding photography services

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 19:01:00 GMT

Wedding photography services include:

Wedding Photography

Our photographers enjoy capturing the moments and freezing those times through pictures. Our style is that of a storyteller, where the pictures tell the story and each image links the events of the day. The whole day is a special one and photos are the lasting memories of that momentous occasion.

All of our packages include some type of photography. If you are looking for just elopement or small wedding photography, we can provide you with a quote. Please email us for more information.

All photography includes:

Additional Photography Services

Sometimes you want extra pictures of special wedding events – engagement photos, rehearsal dinner, photos of the bride putting on her wedding dress, photos of groomsmen and bridesmaids before the wedding, good times at the reception, or the day after photos.

We can provide additional photography at an hourly rate or we can customize a package to fit your budget.

We provide photography in San Luis Obispo, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Nipomo, Oceano, Los Olivos, Santa Maria, Santa Inez, Los Alamos and Santa Barbara.

Learn more about our photography services:

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Wedding Ceremony Music

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 04:11:00 GMT

Wedding Day Music

Before the Ceremony, Prelude Songs (When the Guests Arrive)

These are played while your guests are gathering, before the ceremony actually begins. These songs set the tone for your wedding. Decide if you want just instrumentals or if you would prefer songs that are sung by famous artists. Many brides like instrumentals that are either contemporary or traditional, but if you would rather have jazz or country, the choice is yours.

For this music, please let us know the type of music you like and if there are 2-3 songs you want us to add to our play list.

Here are the types we have:

If we are missing a type we’d be happy to add something news.

Walking Down the Aisle, Processional Music (Bride’s Song)

This is the music that is played as the wedding party and bride enter. You can either select the same song to be played for both or select a separate song for the bridal party and another song for the bride.

For a good selection of instrumental piano favorites, go to http://www.pianobrothers.com/music/ADayToRemember/weddingcd.asp

Here are a few you might like to check out:

For a few more modern songs see https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/music/20-processional-songs-that-cue-all-the-tears you can listen to the songs at the bottom of the page too.

For 100 more songs see the Knot’s list here https://www.theknot.com/content/ceremony-processional-selections you can listen to the songs also.

Walking Up the Aisle, Recessional Music (Mr and Mrs Song)

This is the triumphant music that you and spouse will use as you joyously exit the ceremony. According to The Knot, these are the tunes that will make your guests want to stand up and cheer. Here are their top 35 selections:

Traditional/Classic Recessional Wedding Music

1. Allegro Maestoso (from Water Music Suite), (George F. Handel)
2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, Allegro, (Johann S. Bach)
3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, Allegro, (Johann S. Bach)
4. Coronation March (from Crown imperial), (Sir William Walton)
5. Fugue in E-Flat Major (from St. Anne), (Johann S. Bach)
6. Hallelujah Chorus (from The Messiah), (George F. Handel)
7. Hornpipe (from Water Music Suite), (George F. Handel)
8. Ode to Joy, (Ludwig van Beethoven)
9. Spring, Allegro (from The Four Seasons), (Antonio Vivaldi)
10. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, (George F. Handel)
11. Toccata (from Symphonie 5, opus 42), (Charles-Marie Widor)
12. Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony, (Henry Purcell)
13. Tuba Tune in D, (Craig Sellar Lang)
14. Wedding March (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream), (Felix Mendelssohn)

Contemporary Recessional Wedding Music
15. Beautiful Day, (U2)
16. From This Moment On. (Cole Porter)
17. Linus & Lucy (Peanuts Theme), (Vince Guaraldi)
18. Oh! You Pretty Things, (David Bowie)
19. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, (Stevie Wonder)
20. Sunshine of My Life, (Stevie Wonder)
21. The Long and Winding Road, (The Beatles)

Religious/Sacred Recessional Wedding Music

22. Oceans, Hillsong United
23. Joy, (George Winston)
24. Now Thank We All Our God, (Johann S. Bach)
25. Psalm 19, (Benedetto Marcello)

For more selections, see http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-songs or http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Recessional-Songs-Weddings-34778185#photo-34778185

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Off Beaten Path Beach Location

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 00:03:00 GMT

Exclusive Location – Off the Beaten Path

A lot of couples ask about a private beach for getting married. I sure wish I owned a piece of property that had a private beach! All of Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, and Oceano beach are public property so that means that any one can use it. We have found a few spots to get married that are off the beaten path. Here are some photos of one of those beaches in Pismo. This location requires a beach permit so make sure to tell us this is the location you want.

A nice path leads you to the tree grove.

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Wedding Ceremony Details

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:53:00 GMT

Types of wedding ceremonies include:

Google is full of wedding ceremonies. You can take a little look at the ceremony, but trust that the officiant will create something meaningful for you!

Here are some questions couples have about their wedding ceremony.

Can we write our own vows?

Yes, you can! We invite couples to write their own vows or add a personal touch to the wedding with a reading or poem. Vows would be something like I take you for better, for worse. They are read by the couple. A love letter expressing your love is a little more common than vows.

How long is the ceremony?

The length of the ceremony depends on how long you want it. It can either be short and sweet or longer and more detailed. For example, if you wish family members to do a reading, this would make the ceremony longer. If you are having an elopement, the ceremony is normally shorter since it is just the two of you or not as many guests.

Do you have sample wording, ceremonies, and readings to show us?

No, each wedding is different so there is not a script that we follow.

Can we say something during the ceremony?

Yes, if you want to recite your vows or have some words prepared for your bride or groom, this is ok by us. Just let us know ahead of time so we can make that part of the ceremony.

Can we add a unity ceremony?

Yes, you can add a shell unity ceremony. A sand ceremony doesn’t work too well and a candles are not permitted in the locations we use. If there is another unity ceremony you are considering please let us know.

Can we involve our children or friends?

Yes, you can. Involving children is a great way to include them in your special day. Children and friends can play a musical instrument, sing, read a poem with special meaning, or as a couple read a written letter to the children letting them know how important it is to have everyone be a part of the family.

What if we have different faiths or are not religious?

No problem. We are open to other religions and understand that some couples may not be spiritual. We perform all kinds of ceremonies. The ceremony is unique and special to the two of you and is customized to reflect your relationship and life moving forward.

What does the officiant wear to perform the ceremony?

Our ministers normally wear a dress or nice pants and a shirt. We make sure our ministers are professionally dressed. If there is a certain thing you want our ministers to wear, please let us know.

What if we have our own minister to perform the ceremony?

It is perfectly ok if you want to use your own minister to perform the ceremony. Just let us know ahead of time and we can change your wedding package.

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Small Wedding Photography

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 01:06:00 GMT

Each wedding package comes with a certain amount of photography time. Here is some information about our ceremony photography to help with your wedding day.

What photos are normally captured during the time of the ceremony?

We like to start with the entrance made down the aisle. That may start with the groom or with the bride walking down the aisle. The normal images include walking down the aisle, close ups of the couple, exchange of rings, couple looking at each other, and the kiss (make sure it’s a good, long one!). After the ceremony, we do photos with the guests, wedding party (if you have one), and finish with photos of just the two of you.

How many images do we get?

Each wedding is different so we can’t guarantee the amount of photos. The amount of photography time depend on the time you have in your contract.

On average:

Other things that effect the amount of picture you get is:

More guests = more photos

Each guest that is at the wedding will want to take pictures with you. If you want more pictures of the two of you, limit the number of guests you want photos with, or add on more photo time

If you want individual photos, consider adding on photo time. Individual photos would be the bride and her Aunt, the bride and her uncle, the bride and her cousin vs the bride with aunt, uncle, and cousin.

If the ceremony starts late because guests are late or the bride or groom is late, that takes away from the total photography time. Make sure to arrive in time.

We are really good at organizing group photos! But, it still takes time to do this and most of the time two of us to make it work. It takes about 10 minutes to organize guests for a group photo.

For one of my first wedding I photographed on the Central Coast, the bride told me her husband did not like pictures taken. She let me know that he would probably only last for a few family pics and about 7-10 couple photos. For another wedding the groom had enough photos taken, but we had 15 minutes left. The bride still wanted more pictures so we did a trash the dress. Sometimes the groom doesn’t like getting his photo taken or the couple is ready for the reception. We understand this and try to make the most out of your photo time.

If you want to go to the beach or walk to another location for the ceremony, sometimes that takes extra time to get to the location. There might travel charges for to going to different photo locations.

Most ceremonies take 15-20 minutes, if you have a longer ceremony there will be less time for photos

Are you looking for more photos? Here are some ideas:

– Have a first look

A first look is a more intimate opportunity for the couple to see each other before the ceremony. I recommend having the first look at a hotel or other scenic location. There are a few location hotels that have a really nice backdrop for a first look. The first look allows the couple to see each other for the first time, all dressed up, before the ceremony starts. Then the couple will arrive to the ceremony together. Click here for more information about the first look.

– Have getting ready photos

These photos go over some of the extra details and capture the moments before the ceremony. Getting ready photos include close up shots of the rings, flowers, dress, the bride getting ready, and also some photos of the bride in her dress. This is also an opportunity to capture memories of the bride with her mom, sister, and bridesmaids, Getting ready photos can also be for the groom. Getting ready photos for the bride takes about 30 – 45 minutes and the groom would be around 15 – 20 minutes.

– Have family portrait photos before the ceremony

This is perfect for couples who have older children and want to get more family photos before the ceremony. The couple will do a first look, but have their children there to be part of it. Then we would do family photos with each side and everyone as a new family together. It is also nice to do this since it gives us more variety for the background of photos. If the family portraits are at a hotel, there is a different background here and then there will be another background for at the ceremony

– Add on time after the ceremony for more family/ guest photos

Even adding on 15 minutes of photos will allow us more time to get through more guest photos.

-Add on more time after the ceremony so the two of you get more photos

More photo time for the two of you is always nice because you get a variety of photos for you both to enjoy!

How do we make sure to have great images?

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Shell Beach Cliff Side Wedding

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 22:07:00 GMT

Shell Beach Cliff Side Wedding

The sign the couple held up really summed up their winter wedding – Weathering Life’s Storms Together. We had received a record amount of rain in the days before their marriage. In fact, the wedding time was even pushed back the start time of their wedding, in the hopes that the rain would leave and the sun would shine. What should have been a 2 hour drive for their guests turned out to be 4 to 5 hours due to closed highways and detours.

The groom grew up in Washington state and the bride lived there for 30 years, but finally she decided to escape the rain and move to sunny California. Then, 2 ½ years ago, the groom moved to California to be with the love of his life. Since both love the water and sunshine, it was especially fitting that they wanted to stand together overlooking the Pacific Ocean and pledge their love and commitment to each other, in front of family and friends. But, they had no idea the Washington rain would follow them here.

The bride wore a perfect beach wedding dress in ivory and carried a bouquet of white and pale peach flowers. The same flowers decorated the arch. I love the fact that this couple’s wish for the future was to spend many happy hours together enjoying their grandchildren. So sweet.

The bride’s sister made the signs and the couple was joined by friends and family who drive from Washington and Bakersfield to share in the couple’s love.

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Santa Barbara Winery Elopement

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 04:20:00 GMT

Santa Barbara Winery Elopement

This couple traveled from Pasadena to the secluded hills of Los Olivos for a wedding in a picturesque vineyard – far from the hustle and bustle of a major Los Angeles suburb. They were jointed by the groom’s father and sister, and the bride’s family. After the ceremony, they all gathered at the winery for a private toast and wine tasting – a perfect ending to a beautiful day.

Sheltered by a huge oak tree and nestled among the green grasses, this couple said their hand-written vows to each other. In the background, rows of vines covered the landscape, and in the distance we could see the green hills dotted with live oak trees. This was a perfect day for a winery elopement in Santa Barbara, especially with everything so green and bright!

The bride was able to put on her dress in one of the guest houses on the property. That way, her groom did not catch a glimpse of her until she joined him for their wedding. Her niece sprinkled the ground with rose petals. Our bride wore a lovely wedding dress that laced up the back and was adorned with lace. At just the right moment, the groom turned to see her for the first time in her gown. And, of course, he smiled. I was so touched at how affectionate he was during the entire ceremony, holding her hand and gently stroking her thumb.

After the ceremony, our bride gave us many compliments for helping to make her dream wedding a reality. With tears in her eyes, she expressed how meaningful the words of the ceremony were to her, how her bouquet exceeded her expectations, and how beautiful the setting was for this late winter Santa Barbara winery elopement.

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Wedding License County Clerk’s Office

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 17:12:00 GMT

Both you and your fiance need to go to the County Clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license. You will need a government issued identification (driver’s license or passport work). If you were divorced less than 90 days ago, bring a copy of the divorce decree. You can get your marriage license from any of the County Clerk’s offices below. Each office has different fees for the license, hours and locations.

Alameda County www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/change_ml.htm

Alameda

Albany

Berkeley

Dublin

Emeryville

Fremont

Hayward

Livermore

Newark

Oakland

Piedmont

Pleasanton

San Leandro

Union City

Alpine County http://alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?nid=318

No Cities

Amador County http://www.co.amador.ca.us/government/recorder-clerk/clerk-s-office/marriage-license

Amador

Ione

Jackson

Plymouth

Sutter Creek

Butte County https://clerk-recorder.buttecounty.net/clerk/marriage.html

Biggs

Chico

Gridley

Oroville

Paradise

Calaveras County https://recorderweb.co.calaveras.ca.us/web/wizard/WIZARD201S1

Angels Camp

Colusa County http://www.countyofcolusa.org/index.aspx?NID=190

Colusa

Williams

Contra Costa County http://www.ccclerkrec.us/clerk/applying-for-a-marriage-license/

Antioch

Brentwood

Clayton

Concord

Danville

El Cerrito

Hercules

Lafayette

Martinez

Moraga

Oakley

Orinda

Pinole

Pittsburg

Pleasant Hill

Richmond

San Pablo

San Ramon

Walnut Creek

Del Norte County http://www.co.del-norte.ca.us/

Crescent City

El Dorado County http://www.edcgov.us/CountyClerk/Marriage_License_Issuance.aspx

Placerville

South Lake Tahoe

Fresno County http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=14635

Clovis

Coalinga

Firebaugh

Fowler

Fresno

Huron

Kerman

Kingsburg

Mendota

Orange Cove

Parlier

Reedley

Sanger

Selma

Glenn County http://www.countyofglenn.net/dept/clerk-recorder/welcome

Orland

Willows

Humboldt County http://humboldtgov.org/245/Vital-Records

Arcata

Blue Lake

Eureka

Ferndale

Fortuna

Rio Dell

Trinidad

Imperial County http://www.co.imperial.ca.us/Recorder/index.asp

Brawley

Calexico

Calipatria

El Centro

Holtville

Imperial

Westmorland

Inyo County http://clerkrecorder.inyocounty.us/p/marriages.html

Bishop

Kern County http://www.kerncountyclerk.com/en/Marriage/Information.aspx#.WL4EgU1-vmI

Arvin

Bakersfield

California City

Delano

Maricopa

Mcfarland

Ridgecrest

Shafter

Taft

Tehachapi

Wasco

Kings County http://www.countyofkings.com/departments/general-services/assessor-clerk-recorder-elections/clerk-recorder/marriage-licenses

Avenal

Corcoran

Hanford

Lemoore

Lake County http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/AuditorController/County_Clerk/Marriage_License.htm

Clearlake

Lakeport

Lassen County http://www.lassencounty.org/dept/clerk-board-supervisors/lassen-county-clerk

Susanville

Los Angeles County http://lavote.net/home/county-clerk/marriage-licenses-ceremonies/general-info/eligibility

Agoura Hills

Alhambra

Arcadia

Artesia

Avalon

Azusa

Baldwin Park

Bell

Bellflower

Bell Gardens

Beverly Hills

Bradbury

Burbank

Calabasas

Carson

Cerritos

Claremont

Commerce

Compton

Covina

Cudahy

Culver City

Diamond Bar

Downey

Duarte

El Monte

El Segundo

Gardena

Glendale

Glendora

Hawaiian Gardens

Hawthorne

Hermosa Beach

Hidden Hills

Huntington Park

Industry

Inglewood

Irwindale

La Canada Flintridge

La Habra Heights

Lakewood

La Mirada

Lancaster

La Puente

La Verne

Lawndale

Lomita

Long Beach

Los Angeles

Lynwood

Malibu

Manhattan Beach

Maywood

Monrovia

Montebello

Monterey Park

Norwalk

Palmdale

Palos Verdes Estates

Paramount

Pasadena

Pico Rivera

Pomona

Rancho Palos Verdes

Redondo Beach

Rolling Hills

Rolling Hills Estates

Rosemead

San Dimas

San Fernando

San Gabriel

San Marino

Santa Clarita

Santa Fe Springs

Santa Monica

Sierra Madre

Signal Hill

South El Monte

South Gate

South Pasadena

Temple City

Torrance

Vernon

Walnut

West Covina

West Hollywood

Westlake Village

Whittier

Madera County http://www.madera-county.com/index.php/county-clerk/marriage-license

Chowchilla

Madera

Marin County http://www.marincounty.org/depts/ar/divisions/recorder/marriage-license

Belvedere

Corte Madera

Fairfax

Larkspur

Mill Valley

Novato

Ross

San Anselmo

San Rafael

Sausalito

Tiburon

Mariposa County http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=253

No Cities

Mendocino County https://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/acr/MLicense.htm

Fort Bragg

Point Arena

Ukiah

Willits

Merced County http://www.co.merced.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=217

Atwater

Dos Palos

Gustine

Livingston

Los Banos

Merced

Modoc County http://www.co.modoc.ca.us/departments/clerk/marriage-license

Alturas

Mono http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/clerk

Mammoth Lakes

Monterey County http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/assessor/clerk/marriage-test-page

Carmel-By-The-Sea

Del Rey Oaks

Gonzales

Greenfield

King City

Marina

Monterey

Pacific Grove

Salinas

Sand City

Seaside

Soledad

Napa County http://www.countyofnapa.org/Recorder-Clerk/MarriageLicense/

American Canyon

Calistoga

Napa

St Helena

Yountville

Nevada County http://www.mynevadacounty.com/nc/recorder/Pages/Public-Marriage-License-Requirements.aspx

Grass Valley

Nevada City

Truckee

Orange County https://cr.ocgov.com/marriageappointment/

Aliso Viejo

Anaheim

Brea

Buena Park

Costa Mesa

Cypress

Dana Point

Fountain Valley

Fullerton

Garden Grove

Huntington Beach

Irvine

Laguna Beach

Laguna Hills

Laguna Niguel

Laguna Woods

La Habra

Lake Forest

La Palma

Los Alamitos

Mission Viejo

Newport Beach

Orange

Placentia

Rancho Santa Margarita

San Clemente

San Juan Capistrano

Santa Ana

Seal Beach

Stanton

Tustin

Villa Park

Westminster

Yorba Linda

Placer County https://www.placer.ca.gov/departments/recorder/marriage%20licenses

Auburn

Colfax

Lincoln

Loomis

Rocklin

Roseville

Plumas County http://www.plumascounty.us/Search/Results?searchPhrase=marriage+licenses&page=1&perPage=10

Portola

Riverside County http://www.cityapplications.com/marriage-licenses/CA-California/mrg-Riverside.html

Banning

Beaumont

Blythe

Calimesa

Canyon Lake

Cathedral City

Coachella

Corona

Desert Hot Springs

Eastvale

Hemet

Indian Wells

Indio

Jurupa Valley

Lake Elsinore

La Quinta

Menifee

Moreno Valley

Murrieta

Norco

Palm Desert

Palm Springs

Perris

Rancho Mirage

Riverside

San Jacinto

Temecula

Wildomar

Sacramento County http://www.ccr.saccounty.net/Marriage/Pages/ApplyForLicense.aspx

Citrus Heights

Elk Grove

Folsom

Galt

Isleton

Rancho Cordova

Sacramento

San Benito County http://sbcvote.us/county-clerk/marriage-licenses/

Hollister

San Juan Bautista

San Bernardino County https://www.sbcounty.gov/ARC/Main/RecorderClerk/MarriageInformation.aspx

Adelanto

Apple Valley

Barstow

Big Bear Lake

Chino

Chino Hills

Colton

Fontana

Grand Terrace

Hesperia

Highland

Loma Linda

Montclair

Needles

Ontario

Rancho Cucamonga

Redlands

Rialto

San Bernardino

Twentynine Palms

Upland

Victorville

Yucaipa

Yucca Valley

San Diego County https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov/Pages/marriage-licenses.aspx#appointments

Carlsbad

Chula Vista

Coronado

Del Mar

El Cajon

Encinitas

Escondido

Imperial Beach

La Mesa

Lemon Grove

National City

Oceanside

Poway

San Diego

San Marcos

Santee

Solana Beach

Vista

San Francisco City & County http://sfgov.org/countyclerk/marriage-general-information

San Francisco

San Joaquin County https://www.sjgov.org/department/reccoclk/marriage_licenses

Escalon

Lathrop

Lodi

Manteca

Ripon

Stockton

Tracy

San Luis Obispo County http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/clerk/Marriage_License_and_Ceremonies.htm

Arroyo Grande

Atascadero

Paso Robles

Grover Beach

Morro Bay

Pismo Beach

San Luis Obispo

San Mateo County http://www.smcgov.org/search/site?search_api_views_fulltext=marriage%20license

Atherton

Belmont

Brisbane

Burlingame

Colma

Daly City

East Palo Alto

Foster City

Half Moon Bay

Hillsborough

Menlo Park

Millbrae

Pacifica

Portola Valley

Redwood City

San Bruno

San Carlos

San Mateo

South San Francisco

Woodside

Santa Barbara County http://cosb.countyofsb.org/central.aspx?id=2054

Buellton

Carpinteria

Goleta

Guadalupe

Lompoc

Santa Barbara

Santa Maria

Solvang

Santa Clara County https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rec/Marriage%20Licenses/Pages/Applying-for-a-Marriage-License.aspx

Campbell

Cupertino

Gilroy

Los Altos

Los Altos Hills

Los Gatos

Milpitas

Monte Sereno

Morgan Hill

Mountain View

Palo Alto

San Jose

Santa Clara

Saratoga

Sunnyvale

Santa Cruz County http://sccoclerk.com/CountyClerkHome/MarriageLicenses/PublicMarriageLicenses.aspx

Capitola

Santa Cruz

Scotts Valley

Watsonville

Shasta County http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/clerk_index/marriage_services.aspx

Anderson

Redding

Shasta Lake

Sierra County http://www.sierracounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?nid=211

Loyalton

Siskiyou County http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/content/clerk-marriage-information

Dorris

Dunsmuir

Etna

Fort Jones

Montague

Mount Shasta

Tulelake

Weed

Yreka

Solano County http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/ttcc/county_clerk/marriage_license.asp

Benicia

Dixon

Fairfield

Rio Vista

Suisun City

Vacaville

Vallejo

Sonoma County http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Clerk-Recorder/Marriage-License/

Cloverdale

Cotati

Healdsburg

Petaluma

Rohnert Park

Santa Rosa

Sebastopol

Sonoma

Windsor

Stanislaus County http://www.stancounty.com/clerkrecorder/clerk/how-to-obtain-marriage-license.shtm

Ceres

Hughson

Modesto

Newman

Oakdale

Patterson

Riverbank

Turlock

Waterford

Sutter County https://www.co.sutter.ca.us/doc/government/depts/cr/cr_marriage_license

Live Oak

Yuba City

Tehama County http://www.co.tehama.ca.us/marriage-services

Corning

Red Bluff

Tehama

Trinity County http://www.trinitycounty.org/index.aspx?page=28

No Cities

Tulare County http://tularecounty.ca.gov/clerkrecorder/index.cfm/marriage-licence-and-records/

Dinuba

Exeter

Farmersville

Lindsay

Porterville

Tulare

Visalia

Woodlake

Tuolumne County http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/index.aspx?NID=611

Sonora

Ventura County http://recorder.countyofventura.org/county-clerk/marriage-information/marriage-license/

Camarillo

Fillmore

Moorpark

Ojai

Oxnard

Port Hueneme

Santa Paula

Simi Valley

Thousand Oaks

Ventura

Yolo County http://recorder.countyofventura.org/county-clerk/marriage-information/marriage-license/

Davis

West Sacramento

Winters

Woodland

Yuba County

Marysville

Wheatland

The post Wedding License County Clerk’s Office appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Winter Gazebo Weddings

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:09:00 GMT

Winter Gazebo Weddings

With the storms that hit the Central Coast this winter, we had to find a plan b for a lot of our couples. They had planned to get married on the sandy beaches, with the sun overhead. But, the rain came and we had to find cover! We had a special winter gazebo wedding for these couples. But, for some weddings we were greeted with 70 degree weather. It’s been an interesting winter so far!

These lovely couples were married this winter at our gazebo location. That location was perfect since everyone was under the shade of the gazebo. Thankfully, the rain stopped for a few minutes and we were able to get photos on the beach and on the cliffs overlooking the water.

Hope and Edwin

This couple traveled together from Southern California to the Central Coast of California for their February wedding. They had never been to Pismo Beach, but knew they wanted a special place to celebrate their wedding. The raindrops did not dampen the spirit of this couple, who were so much in love as they looked at each other and exchanged their vows. In fact, they loved the Gazebo, overlooking the ocean and surrounding landscape. The bride carried a delicate bouquet of pink and white flowers and wore a beautiful lacey wedding gown, with a fashionable slit up the side. And, she wore a ring of flowers in her hair. And, her groom looked so handsome in his white slacks – perfect attire for a California wedding.

Emilee and Nick

This couple knew they had wanted to get married for a long time. But, life just seemed to get in the way. Finally, they made a pact and drove over to the beach for their wedding. They had a special get away with 2 close guests. The bride wanted to remember her mom and asked for a purple and lavender bouquet. The beautiful purple flowers created such a pretty contract against her white dress and the ocean.

Camila and Devin

“Hey let’s get married in Las Vegas! ” This was a thought that crossed the couple’s mind. But, when friends and family heard the couple wanted to do this, they decided to have a beach wedding instead. For this couple’s wedding, the skies were still sunny. I loved the lace on the brides dress. I think it was a perfect choice for a wedding at the beach.

Jeannie and Ken

My favorite part about this wedding was how the bride remembered her parents by having a cameo wrapped around her bouquet with photos of both of her parents. The groom’s parents had front-row seats inside the gazebo. Even though the bride’s parents had both passed away, they were remembered at the beginning of the ceremony. The bride’s sister read a brief note to lovingly remember them, and the bride’s two nephews tied cameos with their pictures onto her bouquet. During the ceremony the bride’s sister read something special about her parents, the groom’s sister read a poem, and the bride’s nephews tied the cameos around the bouquet. This couple really personalized their wedding by selecting family members to be part of the day. The ceremony itself also reflected their faith in God: they began the ceremony with a prayer, and concluded with a prayer.

Makara and Michael

From Lynda, the minister: The bride was from Cambodia, and so her future mother-in-law wanted to welcome her into the family. So, as the minister, I made sure I included Christian elements into the ceremony to represent the groom as well as several Buddhist elements to represent the bride. After reading the 1 ^st Corinthians’ verses about love being kind and patient, I then read from Buddhist Scripture, giving advice to the new couple: “Do not deceive, do not despise each other anywhere. Do not be angry nor bear secret resentments; for as a mother will risk her life and watches over her child, so boundless be your love to all, so tender, kind and mild.” Also, before their vows, I offered a Buddhist Wedding Prayer. And, then I closed the ceremony with a Christian blessing. I think it is very important to blend parts of both faiths when the bride and the groom have different beliefs.

The bride wore a satin, beaded wedding gown, with a long, flowing train with appliqued flowers and carried a bouquet of blush and white flowers. The gazebo where the couple wed was draped in tulle and bouquets and blush sashes were attached to each of eight pillars, adding a special softness to the setting. The groom wore a grey suit, and his grandmother commented that he looked so handsome that she didn’t even recognize him.

The post Winter Gazebo Weddings appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Winery Destination Wedding

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 22:18:00 GMT

Winery Destination Wedding

I not only loved how colorful this wedding was, but the love and support that circled around Matt and Angelo on their wedding day. It was so cute to see the caravan of guests pulling up and a stylish LA crowd setting up for this couple’s special wedding day! One of their friends was a set designer and she schlepped large vases and flowers for a journey for the wedding day. The couple’s family and friends joined them as they sat around the pond with the vineyards to their backs. There were a lot of laughs for the ceremony – my favorites were that the groom had vowed to take care of his husband even when he was old and gross and when the groom did a yoga pose as part of his wedding vows. There were tears of happiness and tears of laughter during this wedding celebration. After the ceremony, the guests had a toast and cupcakes (from my favorite Enjoy bakery!).

A lot of couples ask me when the best time to get married in the vineyards of Santa Barbara Wine Country , but I really like every season. This couple decided to get married in February, around the time they first met. The vines were not in bloom yet, but the sky was blue, the weather was warm and the love was in the air! The winter time shows a nice contrast of the brown trees and natural earth against the colors of a wedding day. In Spring, the green is coming out on the vines, hills, and grasses. If I had to choose, this would be my favorite time of year at the winery. Next is Summer, the warmer months. The vines are in full bloom and you will probably we able to catch grapes on the vines. The grapes are perfect for close up shots of ring photos. Either early in the day or around closing time would be the ideal time for a winery destination wedding at the vineyards. No matter what time of year, this winery location is private and peaceful for guests to enjoy the surrounds.

Winery Destination Wedding – Santa Barbara Wine Country

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Spend time with the one you love

Sat, 18 Feb 2017 04:51:00 GMT

You are getting married! This is a very exciting time. But, as one bride told me, it is bonding experience. It is also a time when you two will be making decisions that will effect your future together – there might be a little tension, a few disagreements, some laughs, and some give and take. Take these next few months to learn more about each other. You are now starting to make decisions for the TWO of you, as a new family. Make some time and spend that time with the one you love.

As you get ready for your wedding ceremony take some time for the two of you as a couple.

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Last Minute Wedding Planning Tips

Sat, 18 Feb 2017 02:22:00 GMT

Last Minute Wedding Planning Tips

Over the years I’ve been asked to plan larger weddings in about 2 weeks notice. These tips might help couples who are thinking of doing this.

The post Last Minute Wedding Planning Tips appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Tide Pool Beach Wedding Chantell + Ramon

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 19:51:00 GMT

Tide Pool Beach Wedding Chantell + Ramon

This beach had a very special meaning to the couple. They had called me and asked about beaches that were a little less crowded. The tide pool location is one of my favorites for a quieter beach. When the couple scouted out the location, they found a heart shaped rock at the beach – which was the sign they were looking for! They called me the next day with the news and we spent the next few months planning their special day.

The bride was very active in planning the details of her special day, and everything went off without a hitch. It was important for her to include both her Dad and Stepdad with walking her down the aisle. Dressed in a beautiful, white gown, the bride and her wedding party descended the stairs for this wedding on the beach. She was escorted by her Stepdad and her Dad, and the bride and groom’s two children were the flower girls for the wedding. Her two best friends were her bridesmaids and wore beautiful blush pink dresses.

The aisle was decorated with shells, bouquets of white hydrangeas, and grey dusty miller and white lanterns. And, the wedding arch was also decorated with fresh flowers. As the bride and her wedding party approached, family and friends gathered on either side of the aisle. This couple traveled from the central valley along with special friends and members of their family for this very special wedding. During the ceremony, the couple had the minister read letters that they had written to each other. For me, this is always a special touch to any wedding day. As the minister read the letters, both the bride and the groom had tears in their eyes, as did many of the guests.

After the ceremony, the couple’s daughter found another heart shaped rock on the same beach. I think someone was tell them this wedding was meant to be!!

In fact, the rain that had fallen an hour before the ceremony, blew in a different direction, and the couple was left with a perfect sunset wedding, with pinks and pale oranges accenting the clouds. I’m sure you can imagine the beautiful photos that captured this occasion.

The post Tide Pool Beach Wedding Chantell + Ramon appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Gazebo Elopement Janet + Christopher

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 11:11:00 GMT

Gazebo Elopement Janet + Christopher

This Gazebo Elopement in Pismo Beach had a special place in Janet and Christopher’s heart. They love to come over to the central coast for a quick getaway from the central valley of California and have been visiting the beach for many years. They actually told me, the beach where they had their pictures on was their special beach they visit every time they come to town! So, when they decided to get married, this was the perfect spot for them, and their obvious choice for their special day.

I was so excited to hear the couple wanted their two dogs to be part of the wedding. Sometimes, furry friends are part of our family and must be included in the major events of our lives – even our wedding day! I know I would not have left my Jack Russel Terrier at home on my special day. Instead he wore an orange tie, and was part of the celebration.

For our bride and groom today, they brought their two dogs to the ceremony. Luna, the girl dog, wore a fancy color with pink flowers. And, Apollo, the boy dog, had a handsome black harness. They sat on the bench as the couple was married, and even were part of the pictures after the ceremony. So cute!

This happy couple selected one of our most popular sites for their wedding – the Gazebo in Shell Beach. After the ceremony, they escaped to the beach below for some beautiful sunset photos. I do LOVE sunset photos! I love them so much that this couple has made it to our home page that features some of my favorite photos that represent the beauty the central coast has.

The post Gazebo Elopement Janet + Christopher appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Winery Elopement Anthony + Aracely

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:42:00 GMT

The post Winery Elopement Anthony + Aracely appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Budget Saving Wedding Invitation Tips

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 06:19:00 GMT

Here are some budget saving wedding invitation tips.

I just got an email from a bride who was shocked by the cost of printing out 20 wedding invitations. Yes, it can be a lot to print invites. It is also a lot to send them and not to mention postage on the RSVP cards back. Guess what? Stamps are increasing again so buy forever stamps!

Here are a few tips to save on invitations:

Hope these budget saving wedding invitation tips will help you!

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Let’s Get Married

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:41:00 GMT

If you want to have a stress free, simple, small wedding, then we are the perfect match for you! We specialize in all inclusive, small weddings. Maybe you just got engaged or maybe you’ve been with your significant other for a long time and have finally decided to tie the knot.

Whatever the case may be, we plan weddings that focus simply on LOVE!

Our beach locations include: Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Avila Beach, and other nearby beaches in Santa Barbara and Northern San Luis Obispo County available by special request. Our winery locations are in Santa Barbara County and outside the hills of San Luis Obispo.

Here is how it works:

My favorite way to describe our services is that we take care of all the planning so you can focus on the fun things like finding your dress and picking the perfect bouquet.

We specialize in all inclusive, small weddings.

Small weddings – anywhere from just the couple to up to 50 people.

Click here to learn about how we keep it simple.

See our frequently asked questions

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We keep it simple!

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 20:02:00 GMT

Here is what a simple wedding means to us.

Our couples say our weddings are simply amazing!

The post We keep it simple! appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Gazebo Wedding Jacqueline + Francisco

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 19:22:00 GMT

Shell Beach Gazebo Wedding Jacqueline + Francisco

Most of the time, a wedding on the Central Coast has the added beauty of a blue ocean and a turquoise sky. But, not today. Instead, the waves were wild, the water was a steel grey, and a mist covered the land. But, nothing could dampen the spirits of the guests and the bride and groom. This was their special day, and they were ready to enjoy every moment.

The bride incorporated her two adorable daughters into the wedding, and that brought a smile to all the guests – especially when, mid-way down the aisle, as the younger daughter followed her older sister (who, by the way distributed rose petals with perfection), the younger daughter decided to dump the rose petals in the middle of the aisle. It was a perfect, spontaneous touch of humor.

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her dad and her mom. Before sitting down, her dad lifted her veil, gave his daughter a kiss, and then shook hands with the groom.

Tulle draped the gazebo and was accented with lilac sashes, and bouquets with lilac and purple flowers and grey dusty miller.

We always encourage our brides and grooms with children to include them in the ceremony. Not only were these darling little girls used as flower girls, paving the way for their beautiful mommy, but we also invited them to join us at the end of the ceremony for a family blessing. This is a beautiful way to ask a blessing upon the new family. It is always a special moment for all at this Shell Beach Gazebo Wedding.

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Reception Music

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 06:56:00 GMT

First Dance Music

This is the music that you will use to celebrate your first dance together as husband and wife. Let it reflect your personality and make it something special to the two of you. Even if your wedding is “just the two of us”, you can still share a first dance together. Load a selection on to your phone, find a secluded location (perhaps a little-known section of beach with a beautiful sunset in the background) and enjoy the moment together.

Mother/Son Dance

With the selection of this song, a son can honor his mother and say thanks for all of her support throughout the years. Perhaps mom has a favorite song – something from your childhood even.

Father/Daughter Dance

Here is the bride’s opportunity to share one last moment with her dad. Traditionally, it is transition from childhood (think Daddy’s little girl) to adulthood (think wife). It is also a way for the bride to offer her thanks to her dad for all he has done for her through the years.

Anniversary Song

This is a time when you can ask all the married couples who are attending your wedding to join you in a dance to celebrate their own marriage.

Last Dance

This is the final dance of the evening and can send the couple off on their new life together. Or use this song as a thank you to all of the guests who shared in your special day. Whether celebratory or subtle, this signals the end of a very special day!

The post Reception Music appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Small Beach Wedding: Kristy + Noel

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:51:00 GMT

Small Beach Wedding: Kristy + Noel

For a lot of our brides, the first time I meet them is during the wedding day. We have a lot of couples who make Pismo Beach a destination beach wedding location. But, for this wedding, I was able to meet with bride and her mom. We had such a nice visit over coffee and then were able to take look at the ceremony site.

The bride had a pre-wedding celebration with her family and gal friends at the Dolphin Bay hotel. We captured her glittery celebration. Her dress was a perfect new year celebration dress. This dress was a perfect example of choosing something that is you for your wedding day! I remember the bride’s mom told me Kristy was always glittery – and her dress sparkled! The bride’s family friend provided her with a wedding bouquet and the couple tied a special knot as their unity ceremony.

Close friends and family joined them on their special day. The sealed their love with a kiss as the sun set over the horizon.

*Flowers and knot ceremony provided by the couple.

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Reception Timeline

Tue, 03 Jan 2017 22:16:00 GMT

Reception Timeline

Not sure what goes into a wedding reception? Here is a short timeline that details the wedding reception.

If you are having a DJ, they would be great to ask to set up your timeline. We can also help with reception coordination by helping you follow the timeline, get the music started for your reception, and create a timeline for you.

5:00 Reception start time

Guests grab drinks and appetizers (if having them)

*Cocktail Hour Playlist

5:15 The couple arrives

Announce the bride and groom

*Entrance Song

5:30 Dinner Welcome

This is a great time to thank the guests for coming

You could also do a prayer before dinner

5:45 Dinner Starts

*Dinner Playlist

6:30 Toast

Best Man

Maid of honor

Other people can be invited to come up

You can have champagne served then or the guests can cheers with the drinks they have

6:45 First Dance

*First Dance Song

Other dance ideas:

Father Daughter Dance

Mother Son Dance

7:00 Dancing

*Dance Playlist

7:15 Cake Cutting

Dessert and cake cutting

*Cake Song

7:30 Garter Toss

*Garter Song

7:45 Bouquet Toss

*Toss Song

8:00 The party continues

* Party Songs

The post Reception Timeline appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Reception and Dinner Packages

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 07:34:00 GMT

Once you save your date

Our Top 3 list

For this guide, we have featured a variety of reception locations in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Arroyo Grande, and Grover Beach. The guide lists out features like atmosphere, price, food, location, name of the venue, and options for private space. If the guide is not included in your package, we can provide this for you for an extra fee.

Still need more help?

We provide:

Please contact us for pricing.

The post Reception and Dinner Packages appeared first on Elopements And Small Coastal California Weddings .

Gazebo Wedding

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 20:35:00 GMT

Our beautiful gazebo wedding location on the Central Coast, with an ocean view.

When I first started the conversation with the bride about the wedding ceremony, she was a little unsure about the officiant. The couple had been together for over 10 years, and finally wanted to have a Catholic Gazebo Wedding and have their commitment to be very special and traditional to them. At first, they had requested a male minister, because sometimes our couples think a male minister is a little more traditional. Actually, Lynda is very good doing all sorts of wedding ceremonies. In the end, the bride left this comment to me after the ceremony:

“I thought it was perfect ! I have one special request is it possible to get from Lynda the pages she read , we thought it was wonderful and wanted to include it in our album !! she was PERFECT !! and so was everyone on your team !!

Thank you again ! I will highly recommend you !!”

Lynda did an amazing job on their ceremony. The couple had a request to have the ceremony be a little more Catholic gazebo wedding since that was the faith of the bride. I love getting special requests from couples about how we can make their ceremony unique and special to them.

Adding more special elements to the ceremony, the couple involved the groom’s children in the ceremony and his daughter even walked the bride down the aisle! Then, during the ceremony, this couple was joined by the groom’s grown children. You see, this couple had met eleven years ago, and fell in love very quickly. But, during those eleven years, the focus of this single dad and the love of his life was on raising his children. As the years passed and the children reached adulthood, the bride and groom felt the time was right to focus on their life together, serving God through honoring their marriage. So, this special wedding had a deep, rich meaning for the two of them.

Lynda writes, “As the minister, I was able to talk with the bride several weeks before the ceremony to discuss the ceremony and to get to know their touching story. It was a privilege to marry them and to see the love that had grown during their eleven year journey, conquering challenges but still staying deeply committed to each other over all that time. We discussed various bible readings, religious touches to the ceremony, and other traditional elements. When the bride and I discussed the vows, she became a little teary-eyed. But, during the ceremony, her eyes were focused on her groom – and she had a beautiful smile that revealed how truly happy she was to be getting married. Her groom’s delight was also written all over his face. In fact, all of the guests were delighted to see this couple united in holy matrimony.”

Even though there was a breeze, we were able to have a unity candle ceremony. The groom’s son lit the two candles and then the bride and groom lit their unity candle that was in a decorative hurricane holder filled with shells – so appropriate to this location. The two candles represented their separate paths leading up to this day. As they lit the unity candle, their separate paths were symbolically joined as one, as they expressed their willingness to walk life’s path together. The bride also carried a rosary during the ceremony.

After the blessing, the pronouncement, and the first kiss, the couple walked down the aisle as husband and wife. As music played softly, the photographers were able to snap group pictures as well as family photos. A festive note was added when the guests blew bubbles during the group photos. After well-wishes by the guests, the photographer and the couple slipped away to a private beach for more pictures. The fog still hugged the coast, but it did not dampen the mood of this special occasion. As the groom and his beautiful bride, dressed in an elegant lacy white wedding gown and carrying a bouquet of red roses, disappeared for their private photo session, love and joy still continued to linger in the air.

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Beach Wedding Wear

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 18:45:00 GMT

Beach Wedding Wear

When it comes to beach inspired weddings and outdoor parties in the sand, bridal beach wear should really go with the flow. From sundress options and playful shorts, there’s something for every beach style wedding when it comes to saying “I do” in the sun. We’ve got the coolest things the bride and groom can wear to a beach wedding below!

Beautiful Bridal Options

Feeling Flirty in a Sweet Short Dress

If you’re looking to wear something flirty and fun for your beach wedding, consider keeping it simple with a sweet short dress. You’ve got a ton of options, and most of them are incredibly budget-friendly. Here are a few suggestions:

Check out A Star Is Born Embellished 3D Applique Dress from ASOS. Perfect beach bridal wear with flair!

The best beach vintage chic is The Exchanging of Wows in White Dress from Modcloth . Perfect for the girl who wants cool, casual and comfortable.

If you want to bring some glamour to a short dress, consider something elegant like this chic sheath by GUESS – the Studded Strappy Halter Sheath Dress .

Here’s a short dress from one of our brides and groom going a little more casual:

Love in a Long and Flowing Sundress

Modern brides can rejoice in H&M’s stunning Bandeau Dress in Chiffon . This elegant maxi-style dress is just the right amount of “classic meets casual” for beachy brides who want something that flows.

For something a little borrowed in blue check out H&M’s Long Chiffon Dress in Mint . You’ll be the quintessential tall drink of water, and you’re sure to turn some heads when you glide down the wedding aisle at sunset on the beach.

Fun and Funky Pantsuit Party

When else do you get to rock a romper at the best party of your life? This adorable Lace Halter Romper by Misguided is absolutely perfect for an afternoon wedding – or to change into for a night of tropical celebration!

For something a little more elegant (but still super fun), try out this Thalia Sodi Lace Belted Jumpsuit for the big day!

Good-Looking Groom Options

Suited Up and Looking Sexy

Get suited and booted on the beach with this great look from Perry Ellis. The Portfolio Men’s Tan Slim Fit Suit from Macy’s is just the thing for the groom who wants to look tailored next to his bride.

Another fantastic option is the quintessentially cool linen suit which always looks timeless and classy. If you’re in a warm climate on the beach, a white linen suit looks effortless and only slightly dressed up. Check out the Perry Ellis Linen Suit for a winning look at a great price.

Shorts and Button Up

For the casual groom who wants to keep it cool on the sand, go with a killer pair of linen shorts from Wedding Tropics . Then match it up with one of their sweet, breezy linen shirts for the groom and his guys! With tons of styles to choose from you, can’t go wrong with Wedding Tropics for beach wedding wear.

Here is one of our grooms in shorts and a button up and bride in a fun flirty dress:

Tux

For the more formal groom, keep it semi-casual with your bride and go tieless in a timeless tan tux from Ebay . Gently used can be your something borrowed when it comes to your wedding day. Why not still look smoking hot and save a few bucks.

Matching Styles

The best part about Beach Wedding Wear is matching each other’s style. This is simple. You don’t have to go all out with color either. You can match it up just by putting a boutonniere on the groom that matches your bouquet. Give the groom a pop of color with a solid tie that is the same color as the flowers in you bouquet.

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Small Wedding Photography

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 06:25:00 GMT

Sometimes it is nice to step out of the coordinator role, relax a little and focus on wedding photography. I really like the challenge of photographing weddings in a setting I haven’t been to before. I like the opportunity to look for backdrops and different ways to pose the couple.

I ended 2016 with this wedding at a private house in Cayucos. We sometimes venture outside of Pismo Beach to do weddings – South to Santa Barbara or North to Cambria.

I was able to take some photos of the bride as her excitement for her special day started. She gave her groom a special gift and he opened on the ocean view patio. Next, she spent a few special moments with her son and then she wrapped her arm around her Dad and tears of joy came down her cheek.

For the wedding in November, the sun was warm and sunny and the day was filled with love.

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Photo Books

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:56:00 GMT

Let the photo books tell your first story of love!

Our Photo Books:

8x 11 or 11 x 8 Photo Book

Large Photo Book

Thick paper design

$120 Hard cover

$145 Linen Cover

$165 Leatherette Cover

8 x 8 Photo Book

Small Photo Book

$55 Thick paper cover with thin paper pages

$85 Hard cover with thick paper pages

$110 Linen Cover with thick paper pages

$130 Leatherette Cover with thick paper pages

Cover Options

Linen Examples

Leatherette Examples

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Large Hotel Wedding Pismo Beach

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:22:00 GMT

Large Hotel Wedding Pismo Beach

With more than 95 family and friends gathering on the grassy area of a local hotel, this couple pledged their love and commitment to each other under a white arch. It was a beautiful fall day, with large waves crashing along the cliffs below this shoreline area. Friends greeted each other with hugs and enjoyed the fantastic view from this large hotel venue.

The attendants wore soft, flowing lilac colored dresses and carried bouquets of white carnations and lilac colored roses. They were escorted down the aisle by handsome gentlemen wearing black suits and black patent leather shoes.

For the processional, the minister led the way, followed by the several sets of grandparents, then the parents, the attendants. Finally, the couple stood before their guests, ready to pledge their love to each other.

The journey of love for this couple began in 2012 when they were both in high school. After a short time, they realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

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Cambria Beach Elopement

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 21:51:00 GMT

Cambria Beach Elopement

One of the most romantic spots on the Central Coast of California is the seaside village of Cambria. Nestled between tall pine trees and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, along Highway 1, it is the perfect spot for a wedding on the beach.

One of the best time for photos is a few hours before sunset. During the golden hour, this couple ventured onto the sand for their Cambria elopement.

Sometimes it takes couples a little more time to get married. The bride had waited 6 years, and said that when she first met her groom, she knew it was a forever kind of love. And, as the two of them got to know each other better, they knew it was well worth the wait.

The beach creates its own beautiful backdrop for photos. There is not need for extra decorations when you have Mother Nature joining you for your wedding ceremony. Since the couple was married in Fall, the bride selected a seasonal bouquet with fall colors. Colors say a lot - the color yellow means friendship, happiness, and joy. We wanted to add a little more happiness to their day with the pop of yellow in the bride's bouquet and in the groom's pocket square flowers.

Before the ceremony began, we arranged a first look for the couple on the seaside cliffs. After the ceremony, the couple walked to the cliff where the photographer caught some touching moments and after the ceremony, the couple went down to the beach for some more photos of the two of them.

When I sent the bride a few photos from the ceremony she said, "Thank you so much for everything, it was exactly what we wanted!"

The ceremony began as the sun was making its descent. During the ring ceremony, the groom paused as he placed the ring on his bride’s finger and pledged his faithfulness. This heartfelt moment was then repeated, as the bride placed a ring on his finger.

Several times during the ceremony, the couple prayed to God, who had led them to this moment. The first blessing was to thank God for their love for each other and to ask His blessing as they exchange vows and pledge their love for each other. The second blessing was during the ring ceremony, praying that the rings be a symbol of their true faith in each other and always remind them of their love for each other. Then, a final blessing was given for their new life together as husband and wife. During this final blessing, they closed their eyes, put their heads together and prayed.

At the end of the ceremony, they sealed their love with a kiss, just as the sun slipped behind the clouds and cast a magical glow over the sand and the water. What a beautiful backdrop for their final pictures!

As they return to their home in Texas, may they think often of this special moment on the Central Coast of California, where they exchanged their vows and pledged their love and faithfulness to each other. Our wish is that their love grows stronger with each passing day and that they remain in each other’s embrace ‘til the end of time at their Cambria Beach Elopement.

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Shell Beach Morning Elopement

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 20:02:00 GMT

On a fall morning, we met our bride and groom, and their adorable baby, in Shell Beach. As we walked down the stairs to the beach, the tide was rising, but we had just enough space to perform this toes in the sand Shell Beach morning elopement. We had to make sure the tide was low and the wind wasn’t blowing.

The baby in his carrier watched as his mommy and daddy took their places. They were so happy to be getting married. Moments before we began the ceremony, they kissed each other. And several times during the ceremony, their shared several kisses. These two were so in love and present in this beautiful moment.

It was so sweet that their little son was the only guest that shared in this special day.

And talk about beautiful – our bride was glowing in her lace and beaded wedding gown with a laced up back and slight train. She wore a soft veil and carried a bouquet of pink roses and lisianthus. And her groom was equally handsome in his dark suit. And, of course, the baby wore long pants and a long-sleeved shirt for the occasion.

The elopement ceremony was short and simple, with the addition of a hand ceremony. The couple was asked to join hands and concentrate on the gift that their hands were to each other – hands of their best friend, strong and full of love for each other, hands that will work together to build a future, hands that will wipe away tears and tenderly hold children, hands that give strength and support and encouragement to pursue any dream, and hands that will give tenderness throughout the ages.

The couple then had pictures – some with their two month old baby boy and some without. Their love continued to glow as the photographer captured some happy, playful moments. Love was truly in the air!

I have a feeling that this couple will be as much in love 50 years from now, and I hope that they continue to exchange soft kisses many times a day.

Best wishes to this couple as they continue to surround each other in love.

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Lovely Ladies Beach Elopement

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 03:46:00 GMT

Lovely Ladies Beach Elopement

Originally, this elegant elopement was to take place in the sand, with the Pismo Beach cliffs in the background. But, nature had a different plan. As the guests arrived, the waves got closer and closer to the cliffs, until there was no sandy spot left for the guest and the couple to have their beach wedding. So, we all gathered on a grassy area above the water. As the waves crashed below, all were ready for the ceremony.

The couple had a friend playing the ukulele as one bride waited at the alter for the other bride to be escorted by her son and dad down the aisle.

For this elopement, the couple not only wrote their own vows, they wrote their own ceremony. It was very important to them to let their guests know how important they are to the couple. Today was not only the joining of two hearts, but the joining of two families, as well. They told the guests that family mean everything to them. As they said so well, “You have been chosen to be here, and although others are missed, those standing here in this circle where there is no beginning or end and which is symbol of everlasting love, are truly loved, respected and appreciated by the two that stand before you.”

After they read their vows to each other and pledged their love and loyalty, the couple asked the guests to also take vows to help the couple, from this day forward. The guests were asked to promise to encourage the couple, love them, and give them guidance and support in keeping the promises the couple made this day. The guests then voiced a resounding “I do”. What a special way to have the guests affirm and support this union. As family and friends who were had gathered for this joyous occasion, they were asked to help the couple keep the commitment for these lovely ladies beach elopement to each other from this day forward.

May the couple be blessed by the love and support of those guests gathered together to witness this elegant elopement and may they live in harmony, unity, love and happiness forever. May they remember every moment of this day, as a good life is a collect of happy moments. And their collection of memories begins with this joyous gathering.

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Enchanting Winery Elopement

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:25:00 GMT

Enchanting Winery Elopement

I was a little worried the morning of the wedding since the fog was really thick. As soon as we arrived at the winery, the fog seemed to clear for the couple’s special day. Yes, this enchanting winery elopement took place on the 100-acre estate of a Santa Barbara County winery. It is not only the beauty of the green vines that I love but all the beauty of a winery itself – with its gently sloping hills covered in grasses, wildflowers, 200 year old oak trees, 130 year old olive trees, pepper trees laden with pink peppercorns, large sycamore trees, and even weeping willows.

The setting for this enchanting winery elopement was under a gnarled old oak tree, with lush vineyards in the background. It was a perfect secluded spot, steps away from the tasting room and from the cottage the couple stayed in. Dressed in a beige lace vintage-style dress and carrying a bouquet of cream gerberas and various blue and purple wild flowers, our bride surprised her groom with a first look at the pond on the property. The pond was the perfect background for the 1st look, especially since it was surrounded by weeping willows and sycamore trees. What a beautiful setting to capture the moment.

To further carry out the vintage theme, both the bride and the groom exchanged vintage-style wedding rings that came straight out of the 1920s. And, the photographer took pictures of the rings in a stemless wine glass, and with a cork and leaves as accents.

Both the bride and the groom wrote their own vows, in which they expressed their love for one another. They are both runners, and the groom had always felt very comfortable running alone, until one day he decided to join a group of runners as they trained. He got hooked, and as an extra bonus, met the girl of his dreams. Very quickly he realized the rewards of running with someone he cared so deeply about.

Since the couple also stayed in the guest cottage on this picturesque estate, so they were able to further explore the property. They also took a day trip into Los Olivos for dinner and wine tasting.

May our bride and groom continue to find many new adventures together, running all over the world together. Hopefully, they will return often to this site of their enchanting winery elopement to remember this special day!

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Vineyard Elopement San Luis Obispo

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 21:29:00 GMT

Vineyard Elopement San Luis Obispo

Most of the time, when couples think of a wedding on the central coast of California, they think of a toes in the sand wedding, or a wedding on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean. But, the central coast has so much more to offer than beautiful beaches. Another romantic option to a beach wedding is a wedding at a vineyard. Surrounded by rolling hills covered in wine grapes, and hills studded with oak trees in the background, a vineyard is a perfect backdrop for a wedding. And, spring and fall are the ideal months to consider for a wedding at a winery. In the spring, the surrounding hills are covered in green grass and the leaves on the vines are a new green color. Likewise, in fall a certain beauty shows through as the vines are laden with bunches of grapes and the vines are just beginning to change color. And the hills and the vines are so pretty in photos. How can you improve upon nature when it is so beautiful!

For this particular vineyard elopement in San Luis Obispo, the early rain of the morning had cleared, but misty clouds covered the surrounding hills. I have to say the weather added to the beauty of the couple’s special day. A hush had fallen on the land as the guests arrived. Under an old oak tree, chairs were set up and the low rock wall and short pillars were decorated with white pumpkins and lanterns surrounded by eucalyptus branches and white dahlias. To start the wedding, the groom escorted his mom down the aisle. He even had his own special wedding song. As the traditional wedding march played, the bride made her entrance escorted by her brother. She wore an ivory lace grown accented by a sparkly sash and a veil edged with rhinestones. Her bouquet was made up of blush spray roses, white dahlias, and white gerbera daisies with large pink centers. The flowers were accented with seeded eucalyptus branches. As the groom saw his bride for the first time, he smiled sweetly.

After the ceremony and photos of the family and the happy couple, the guests gathered in the barn – just in time, since a light rain had begun to fall. As a special surprise, the groom’s Aunt had made them a cake. After the cake cutting, the couple had perfect plans for their guests. For their reception, the guests were given box lunches and taken in a small bus to various wineries in the area for wine tasting. The bride and groom joined the guests, but they were driven in their own limo, to spend some private time together as husband and wife, after their vineyard wedding.

Cheers and best wishes to this happy couple, as they begin life together!

We also have other winery locations in North Santa Barbara County.

For the San Luis Obispo wine area see http://www.slowine.com .

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San Luis Obispo Mission Elopement

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 03:42:00 GMT

One of my favorite places on the Central Coast is in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo is the main town full of shops, yummy places to eat, breweries, and Cal Poly. This favorite spot is the Mission in San Luis Obispo. The Mission is in the center of town and has these large, old eucalyptus tree that frame it. The couple that got married today asked to have their wedding near the Mission and have pictures take down by the creek.

It had rained most of the day, but the rain stopped as this San Luis Obispo Mission Elopement began. A few friends had gathered at the base of the mission steps. The bride and groom selected a perfect spot in a small amphitheater near the creek, for their wedding. The guests spread out on the steps for a birds-eye view of the ceremony. The time had finally arrived for these two to tie the knot, as some of the guests commented that it was about time.

You see, they had been together for ten years. During the vows, the groom expressed how his bride was always by his side, and he promised from this day forward to faithfully be by her side. He said that every day he realizes what a lucky man he is to have her by his side. She said that she never expected to find anyone, but ten years ago he came along. And, today they were declaring their commitment to each other and exchanging rings as a seal of the promises they each said to each other in handwritten vows.

For her bouquet, the bride selected a perfect autumn combination of sunflowers, red roses, and deep peach roses, accented with the blossoms of seeded eucalyptus. The flowers coordinated perfectly with the deep peach shawl that she wore over her white handkerchief-hemmed dress.

I love it when couples express how they didn’t expect to find a soulmate. But, all of a sudden, a little bit of magic happens and they find each other. They seemed so happy to be together, and their guests were equally thrilled to see this couple marry.

After photos with their guests, the couple went down to the creek for a few photos. Then, they joined their friends for a celebration of good food, good company, and well-wishes at a local restaurant close by.

I am so happy they found each other and I want to wish them a lifetime of happy memories, surrounded by good friends. May then return often to this spot to remember their San Luis Obispo Mission Elopement.

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California Beach Elopement

Sat, 22 Oct 2016 03:52:00 GMT

California Beach Elopement – On a beautiful, autumn day, on a bluff overlooking some of the most beautiful white water on the central coast, this couple said their “I dos”, exchanged rings, and asked for God’s blessing.

I asked our minister, Lynda, if she could write about this couple. She had such a bond with them.

When I read what this couple had written about what they admired in each other and when they told their love story, I knew they were very special. So, when I sat down to compose their ceremony, I wanted it to truly reflect their love for one another and their deep belief in God. After meeting them and marrying them, I feel honored to have been part of something so special.”

You see, they met twelve years ago, but at the time, neither was ready for a serious relationship. Ten years passed and they reconnected two years ago. This time, they were ready to make a commitment to one another. But, they said that now they look back and regret their lost years when they could have been together. As she said, they both have waited a long time to find the next chapter of their life together. And the groom said that he had waited twenty years but now has found the right person for him to spend the rest of his life with. In fact, he said that she is everything he could wish for in a wife. Together they look forward to a long and happy life together “‘til death do us part”.

For their California Beach Elopement, the sky was a bright blue, the sun was shaded by the beautiful, old cypress trees, and the couple looked at each other with warm smiles and heartfelt tears. The bride, with her flowing blond hair, wore a lovely, lacey grey dress and carried a bouquet of blush pink roses and ranunculus accented with grey dusty miller – a perfect accent to her grey dress. And the groom was very dapper in his black suit. But, what was most touching was the time they had waited to find each other and fall in love. And now, they were marrying.

They had traveled from Florida to California and had already toured San Diego, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and Santa Monica before arriving on the central coast for their Shell Beach elopement. They are now traveling up the coast for some more stunning scenery along Highway 1, before making their way to Portland, Oregon. What a nice road trip, especially this time of year. Hopefully, they will continue to travel and find new roads to explore and new adventures to experience so that they can fully enjoy this chapter of their new life and make up for the years they were apart.

May their rings always be a symbol of their love for each other. May their hopes, dreams, and promises for the future come true. As God has led them to this day, may He shed His grace upon them and also follow them on their journey as husband and wife. And, may their hearts stay full, their spirits connected, and may they love long and happily in each other’s arms. We, at Coastal California Weddings, felt privileged to be a part of this love story. It still brings tears to my eyes as I remember their story and their love for each other.

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Pismo Beach Destination Elopement

Thu, 20 Oct 2016 04:51:00 GMT

Nicole and Christian – Toes in the Sand Pismo Beach Destination Elopement

This couple traveled all the way from England to be married in sunny California. So, on this very warm autumn day in September, they walked down the stairs to a small, secluded spot in Shell Beach to say their vows and exchange their rings. Since both the bride and the groom removed their shoes, this really was a toes in the sand Shell Beach elopement!

The blond, blue-eyed beautiful bride wore a stunning white dress and carried a contrasting bouquet of red roses. She smiled so sweetly, as she gazed into the eyes of her groom.

I was able to incorporate into the ceremony some of what they had written about each other. I really appreciate when the couple takes the time to tell me which qualities they admire in each other. The groom wrote that he knew his bride was his soulmate from the moment he saw her. She is his best friend, and makes him complete. She loves him for just being who he is, and she is always willing to give him love and support.

Likewise, the bride says that her groom completely understands her and accepts her for all that she is, and that he is her best friend and soulmate. Since friendship is the basis of any lasting relationship, this couple has a solid foundation on which to build their future. They wrote that they share the same outlook on life and they have the same ambitions for their future together.

May they continue to share many magical moments together, traveling together, enjoying each other’s company, and making each other happy for the rest of their lives. May they always remain loyal to one another, providing strength and love to the other for all eternity. And, from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day.

We, at Coastal California Weddings what to extend our blessing upon this couple. Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day in Shell Beach. And, we hope you enjoy your travel in the United States as you explore the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. And, maybe you will return to this special spot and remember your toes in the sand Shell Beach elopement. Our very best to the two of you!

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Small Wedding in Cambria

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 03:15:00 GMT

Thelisa and Jamie

Small Wedding in Cambria, CA

Sometimes we travel a little ways up the coast to our neighboring towns to do small weddings. This time we were lucky enough to visit our favorite town in Cambria!

The couple really wanted to get married in Cambria because it was their special spot! The groom had proposed to the bride there and she really liked the coastline. I will say that Cambria has more of that Northern California feel to it with bigger trees, rugged coastline, and a little more fog rolling in…which is perfect for the evenings when you can light the fireplace!

After scouting out some locations for a beach wedding in Cambria I stumbled upon one that I thought would be perfect. It had some rocks and cliffs in the background and an old tree to set the stage for the ceremony. The groom was busy planning the wedding and since he lived out of town I checked in with him by email and over the phone. He said his bride to be would be so excited that the wedding was taking place in Cambria.

The couple brought their minister from home since he had developed a bond with the couple. He showed up in the perfect beach wedding attire and preformed a simple and sweet ceremony. The couple wanted to involve all the guests in the ceremony so they did a sand ceremony for everyone that was there. They really wanted to show how they were blending all the love of two different families into one family.

The small wedding in Cambria was a perfect day for the couple and their families. As soon as the couple said I do, the fog was rolling in for the pictures with the couple. I really like how the fog adds a romantic touch to wedding day photos. Not to mention the lighting is the best on those overcast days!

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Decorating Options for Beach Weddings

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 02:30:00 GMT

Wedding Extras

Flowers Around the Gazebo

Add flowers around the gazebo for ceremonies where the couple is inside or standing outside of the gazebo. Flowers match the style of your bouquet.

Arches

You can select from the two arches below. The arches with white flowers are made with artificial flowers. The other arches, where you can select the color of your choice, are made with real flowers. For the arches with real flowers, you are able to take the flowers with you, after the ceremony, to use for your dinner or reception.

Arch A - White drape and white flowers

Arch B - White drape and colored flowers (color of your choice)

Arch C - White drape and white flowers

Arch D - White drape with white flowers

Arch E - Real flowers, of your choice, no drape

Tree Grove Drape and Flowers

Matching drape in color of couple's choice and matching flower garland.

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Love at First Sight

Sat, 15 Oct 2016 06:14:00 GMT

Love at First Sight

I’m sure you hear me say this a lot but I love this couple’s love story! It actually was one of those love at first sight moments for the groom. The bride went into his shop and as soon as he saw her BOOM it was like something stopped him in his tracks – maybe Cupid shot him with his arrow!

After meeting with the bride I knew she was going to be super fun to work work. Not only did I like her spunky personality I thought she’d look like a mermaid with her long red hair and flowing wedding dress. She was so happy to have her son and daughter in the wedding. Her sister was also part of her wedding party along with her nieces. The man who stole the show was her nephew who was the Ring Security for the day. He carried his briefcase that “protected” the rings. For the ceremony, the chaplain for the organizations she worked for officiated the ceremony.

The tide was perfect for this beach wedding and I think the couple feel in love all over again during the ceremony. As the sun was setting we got some great photos of them on the rocks.

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Ocean View Elopement

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 05:23:00 GMT

Ocean View Elopement

The first days of autumn can be very warm on the central coast, and today was no exception. Most couples thing that getting married in June is the best weather here – I think the warm Fall days are perfect! This ocean view elopement took place in the shade of a giant cypress tree, on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. And, since the groom is a lover of nature, this was the perfect spot for this ocean view elopement.

The bride looked so pretty in her knee-length lace dress, accented with a sparkly sash. She carried a bouquet of made by her Uncle who is a florist. It was such a sweet gift for her to have on her special day. She even wore a sparkly hair adornment. And her groom looked equally handsome, in his suit and matching boutonniere.

During the ceremony, the couple expressed their love for each other. The groom said that he loves the fact that his bride is hardworking, understanding, and has a good sense of humor. And, the bride loves her groom’s kindness, tenacity, and thoughtfulness. They were reminded to never take each other for granted and to treat each other with tenderness, kindness, and respect in the days ahead.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom had photos taken under the cypress tree, with the ocean and Avila Beach in the distance. They were traveling north to Cambria for their honeymoon, a favorite spot that they visit often.

May this just be the start of many happy days travel to favorite destinations as well as faraway places. And, for future anniversaries, maybe they will return to the spot under the cypress tree to remember their ocean view elopement. Our best wishes to the two of you!

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Santa Barbara Beach Wedding

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 02:39:00 GMT

Santa Barbara Beach Wedding

For this Santa Barbara beach wedding, our team traveled to the sunny south coast. On this autumn day, family members gathered to celebrate with our lucky bride and groom. Under an arch draped in tulle, with the ocean in the background, the couple said their “I dos” as everyone watched. The bride looked so beautiful in her white wedding gown and carrying a bouquet of baby mauve roses, white lisianthus, pink heather, and dusty miller, standing beside her handsome husband.

As I wrote their ceremony, I was especially touched when the couple asked to have me express how incredibly blessed and delighted they were to be awaiting the arrival of their daughter. They wrote: “We are overjoyed to have her coming into our lives and words cannot express the amount of love we feel for her or the amount of gratitude we have that God blessed us with the greatest gift – a daughter. As we embark on our new journey through life, we couldn’t be more grateful to be doing this together. Our lives together are now complete in the fact that we now have her.”

What a touching tribute to their expectant daughter and to their future together as a family!

No wonder this bride had tears of joy during this ceremony. She had much to celebrate. Not only was she marrying an extremely sweet, loving and caring man, she even found someone who was accepting of things he wasn’t normally accustomed to – like their English Bulldog. But, on a more important note, the bride said that her groom makes it a point to let her know how much he loves her on a daily basis and repeatedly tells her how happy he is to have found her. Likewise, the groom says that he is so thankful to have such a loving, caring person in his life. In fact, she is all he ever wanted in his life.

Their wish for the future is to grow as individuals, learning from one another. They want to raise a happy, united, and supportive family, where their children can learn love and respect by watching them, as parents and role models. They hope to travel and experience life’s adventures side by side.

Today was just the beginning of those memories. Our photographer was able to capture some unique shots of the couple with the Santa Barbara beach and palm trees in the background. Hopefully, they will continue to add to their collection of photos as the years go on.

May all their hopes and dreams come true, and may they make many memories to cherish for the rest of their lives. The staff at Coastal California Weddings wishes them much happiness!

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Sunset Gazebo Wedding in Shell Beach

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 02:48:00 GMT

Sunset Gazebo Wedding Shell Beach

Our bride chose fall colors for this sunset gazebo wedding in Shell Beach. The chairs were tied with peach sashes and the gazebo was tied with champagne bows. Music played as the guests gathered. Before the ceremony, the groom’s mother pinned a boutonniere on his vest. You see, this was her first of three sons to be married, so today was a special day for her, as well.

As the bride got out of the car to meet her groom, the she wiped a tear of joy from her eye. All guests stood as she walked down the aisle into the gazebo. Dressed in a soft, lacy gown with a flowing train, and carrying a bouquet of peach and champagne flowers, the photographer captured the bride as the groom turned to catch his first glimpse of his future wife. In fact, they had not seen each other during the entire day. This was a simple, traditional touch, and it made this ‘first glimpse” very touching.

As they said their ‘I dos” and exchanged rings, they whispered “I love you” and squeezed each other’s hands. Their love and devotion to each other was very apparent during the entire ceremony. They even incorporated a quote into their ceremony that represented their wish for the future. The quote is from the movie Shall We Dance and it says: “We need a witness to our lives… In a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things… all of it, all of the time, every day. You’re saying ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness’.”

To further express their love and commitment to each other, they decided to incorporate a Love Letter Ceremony during their special day. They each wrote love letters describing what they truly admire about the other person, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. During the ceremony, the letters were then placed in a box and sealed with a wish for the future. The box is to be opened and the letters read on their first anniversary, to recall the wonderful memories they had made over the first year of their marriage.

May your marriage always be a testament of your love and devotion for each other. And may your love grow more deeply with each passing day. Cheers and best wishes to both of you.

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Bohemian Style Pismo Beach Wedding

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:04:00 GMT

Bohemian Style Pismo Beach Wedding

Sometimes a couple comes along that represents all that love should be. And, today, that happened.

I remember our first meeting. The couple was so happy to be getting married. The bride hadn’t been to the Central Coast but the groom had gone to the dunes many times growing up. He knew he wanted to get married at the beach so his dreams came true!

The groom had such love for his bride. On the day he met he asked about bridal salons so he could surprise his bride and take her dress shopping. During the planning of the ceremony, the groom made several calls to Coastal California Weddings to make sure all details were covered for their special day. The day of the wedding, the groom was at the location, putting together a birch branch arch secured with heavy rope that he had made – now that is LOVE! At the reception location, the bride had decorated the site with mint green and lace table cloths to carry out her bohemian theme. And the head table was decorated with pink and mauve roses and jasmine leaves.

To show his more playful side, the groom had made bean bag toss games for the guests to play before the wedding, and several of the guests tossed a football as they awaited the bride and groom.

For this Bohemian style Pismo Beach wedding, the chairs for the wedding were tied in lace sashes, with the aisle chairs in lavender sashes. The arch was draped in tulle with a bouquet of lavender and pink roses and trailing jasmine leaves. The chairs and arch were set up to take full advantage of the spectacular view of the white water below, the blue sky, and the tip of Avila Beach. As the sun made its descent, and shade fell upon the site, the time had arrived for the magical moment. As music played in the background, the bride’s mother was escorted by the bride’s brother, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen followed. Then came two darling ring bearers, who almost stole the show. That is, until the bride, escorted by her dad, was ready to make her appearance. All rose as she walked down the aisle. Her dad then kissed her and shook hands with the new man in her life.

During the ceremony, this couple pledged their love to one another with hand-written vows. (Hers even rhymed!) They gazed into each other’s eyes and smiled during the entire ceremony. Their new, fresh love was so present in those looks.

During the shell ceremony, their moms were invited to join the groom and bride. The bride’s mother handed them the shells so they could make a wish for their future together. The groom’s mom held a vessel filled with sand into which the shells were placed, symbolizing the joining of their two separate lives into one. I am so glad we included the mothers in this part of the ceremony because their parents were so important to this couple. In fact, they gave the perfect tribute to their parents. When I asked them to write their wish for the future, they responded by saying: “We want to create a family with values that our own parents have taught us; ie. honesty, hard work, love, kindness and charity… our wishes are to have a home ﬁlled with happiness and fun with two or more children…” What an expression of gratitude to their parents to acknowledge the part their parents played in their lives, and the values they hope to instill in their own future children.

After the ceremony, family and guests gathered under the cypress trees, overlooking the ocean, for pictures. The bride’s beautiful, beaded strapless dress with its flowing train was accented by her softly curled blond hair and radiant smile. And her groom, clad in a tan suit, with his sparkling blue eyes, was enjoying every moment of this special day.

After the photos, the guests gathered for the reception at a famous Pismo Beach spot. And, the celebration continued. Everyone was so thrilled to be a part of this special day, and all joined in the fun. And, the groom’s playfulness continued at the reception, as the bride and groom posed on mopeds on the street beside the venue. So cute!

Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your very special celebration. May your Bohemian style wedding in Pismo Beach be only the beginning of a lifetime of joyful memories. With the groom’s playfulness, I’m sure this couple will have an adventure of a lifetime together. Congratulations and best wishes!

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Elegant Gazebo Wedding

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 20:05:00 GMT

Elegant Gazebo Wedding in Shell Beach

Sometimes it happens that when couples visit the locations in person they are drawn to a certain spot. When I first talked to the bride she had really wanted one of our smaller locations, but after going over their guest list, they had to move the ceremony to a larger location. In the end, the couple ended up adding on extra photos at the location she initially loved. It turns out that taking the couple away from their guests for pictures creates a much more relaxed and romantic atmosphere. I really dislike it when the guests are hovering over the couple as they exchanges kisses and passionate glances!

For this wedding, the bride chose silver and plum as her wedding colors. These colors were one of my favorites for weddings this year. Because the couple wanted to be closer to the ocean, the wedding ceremony was on the landing overlooking the ocean. They added one of our arches that was draped in silver and plum and decorated with flowers. Many of the guests wore colors to complement the silver and plum theme. Several gentlemen had light plum shirts or ties, and the bride’s beautiful mother wore a beautiful sequined silver dress.

The children in the wedding party wore dresses made of white tulle, accented with plum, and carried signs announcing the coming of the bride. So cute! And the ring bearer was adorable in his pale grey suit and tie. Then, the groomsmen escorted the bridesmaids and maid-of-honor down the aisle. The bridesmaids looked so elegant in their long plum chiffon gowns and carried bouquets of plum carnations and baby’s breath. This truly was an elegant Shell Beach wedding!

Finally, the moment had arrived for the breathtaking bride to make her entrance. She was escorted down the aisle by her stepfather, as music played in the background. How beautiful she looked in her ruched wedding gown, adorned with beading. Her bouquet carried out the color scheme and contained roses, anemones, and ranunculus in shades of plum and burgundy and accented with Queen Anne’s lace.

The couple personalized the ceremony by reciting handwritten vows to each other. They even incorporated a verse from Proverbs into their ceremony: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” They plan to let this verse guide them through life, as they grow in love for one another and for God. To make the ceremony even more personal, they incorporated a Shell Ceremony that symbolized the joining of their lives. They were reminded that before they met, their lives were on different paths, heading in different directions. But, those paths crossed, they fell in love, and were standing together today, to be wed.

After a blessing, the couple was pronounced husband and wife. They then sealed their love with a kiss. Finally, the minister announced them as husband and wife for the first time and they walked hand in hand down the aisle. As the wedding party walked down the aisle after them, I heard some of children say that now they could start the party!

After photos, the guests were treated to a celebration in Avila Beach. The party included food, music, dancing, and cake – a perfect ending to this elegant gazebo wedding.

We, at Coastal California Weddings wish this couple days of endless joy, surrounded by family and friends. May they remember always this perfect start to their new life together. Cheers!

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Sunset Beach Elopement

Tue, 20 Sep 2016 05:34:00 GMT

Sunset Beach Elopement

Growing up across the continent from each other, these two never imagined that they would be saying I do right when the sun set over the mountains of Avila Beach. So happy to commit their love to each other and get married, this happy couple exchanged their own heartfelt vows. One of them even kept the card the other had given them on their first official date as a couple.

I have to say that I loved how they had matching suits, watches, and even shoes! They did make things different with the ties and the beautiful rose gold bands they exchanged during the ceremony were unique to the two of them.

Their first official visit to the Central Coast started their life as a married couple. This area will have an special meaning to the two of them. I hope they come back to have many more memories here, that their love continues to grow and that they bring their children back to the same beach where they spent one of the happiest days of their life.

For this ceremony, the couple was married at the Cypress Lookout location. After the ceremony, photos were taken at one of the beaches that is a short distance away.

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Sunset Elopement at the Pismo Beach Pier

Sat, 17 Sep 2016 21:52:00 GMT

Sunset Elopement at the Pismo Beach Pier

On this Sunday afternoon, as the sun was sinking low in the horizon, this couple walked in the sand to a perfect spot for their Sunset Elopement at the Pismo Beach Pier. Though the waves were approaching, we finished the ceremony before any toes were wet. And there was plenty of time for the perfect photos as the sun began to set, giving the sky a beautiful orange hue.

I loved that this couple had each written something for the minister to read before the vows. The bride mentioned that she was marrying her best friend, faithful partner, and one true love. She promised to encourage him and inspire him, as well as love him in good times and bad. And the groom mentioned how grateful he was that the bride had entered into his life. He promised to love her, to cherish her, and to give her his heart. He pledged to always be by her side, with her hand in his. He then pledged to remain with her always. As tears gently slipped down their cheeks, they gazed into each other’s eyes with warmth and affection.

It was especially touching when the bride expressed that her groom was everything her dad had taught her a man should be, and everything her mom ever wanted for her in a man.

After the exchange of vows and rings, the couple received a blessing and were pronounced husband and wife. They then had pictures under the Pismo Beach pier. Slowly the sun set on this perfect day. But, the sparkle in their eyes continued to shine.

We, at Coastal California Weddings would like to add: Now though you are two people, there is one life before you.

And there, in that life, may you always find love. Love and blessings to you both.

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Pismo Beach Gazebo Elopement

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 19:50:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Gazebo Elopement

Today, under brilliant blue skies, this couple tied the knot, with family and friends to witness the joyous event. This couple traveled from the Bay Area to have the ocean as their backdrop for their Pismo Beach gazebo elopement. The couple was looking for a small elopement at the beach. During the summer months, the fog can drift in. But, for this ceremony the fog lifted in time to get a beautiful ocean view.

This elegant bride wore a stylish white gown and carried a bouquet of lavender and white roses. She also had lavender flowers added to her hair to create the perfect beach wedding look! The wedding took place on a grassy area in the gazebo in Pismo Beach. As quiet settled over the area, the guests gathered around the couple and sat inside the gazebo for a birds-eye view of the ceremony. I really like our small wedding packages were the guests can feel like they are really part of the ceremony.

As they pledged their love and loyalty to each other, this couple gazed into each other’s eyes and smiled. They mentioned that they both shared some important qualities that they can call upon in the days ahead – their thoughtfulness, their kindness, their affectionate and loving ways, and their sense of humor. They also mentioned that they are both spiritual and have a belief in God.

After the ceremony, they were able to pose for photos with their guests and then some shots of just the two of them. These pictures can remind them of the excitement of this special day.

Our wish for this couple during their Pismo Beach gazebo elopement is that they be blessed with many happy times together,. Also, that they may they learn more about each other with each passing day. Pismo Beach Gazebo Elopement by Coastal California Weddings

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Toes in the Sand Beach Elopement

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 05:10:00 GMT

Toes in the Sand Beach Elopement – This happy couple wanted to get their special day started first thing in the morning! They wanted all the time they could do spend the day together as husband and wife eating pizza and hanging out on the beach. The groom was one of the happiest I’ve seen in a while – skipped down the stairs to the beach and having a grin on his face through the whole ceremony. He was so happy to be getting married and had the biggest smile on his face. I know that there two were so happy to have found each other! No nerves and no jitters on this day for him.

At first, the groom selected a sandy stretch of beach for the toes in the sand beach elopement , but then he spotted another area that was just perfect. It was a rocky area, with green moss clinging to the rocks and tide pools between the rocks. In fact, as he looked closer he was able to spot several sea creatures moving in the water. As he waited for his bride to make her entrance, his brother snapped some shots of the area. Rocky cliffs were in the background, Avila and the surrounding hills were in the distance, and small waves broke over the rocks. Wispy clouds hung in the sky, with patches of blue overhead. The sun hid behind the clouds, but offered warmth to the setting.

The groom wanted to be surprised and didn’t want to see his bride until she made her entrance. So, his back was to the staircase. He was joined on the rocks by his family and his bride’s family. All the guests wore lavender – a perfect touch for this intimate wedding. Finally, he was able to turn around as his bride appeared. She wore a beautiful lace wedding dress, purple flowers in her hair, and she carried a lovely bouquet of purple and lavender flowers. As they joined hands, they recited their vows to each other, as their family looked on.

Peeking from underneath her wedding dress, the bride wore the cutest lacy Tom’s. And, of course, the groom had his black Tom’s – so casual and cute for this beach wedding!

Certainly, this couple will sprinkle laughter into their marriage, if the groom’s happy spirit on this day is any indication. May they remember to never go to bed angry, for now they are able to spend each day with the person of their dreams, and when all else fails – go out for pizza! All the best to you two!

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Toes in the Sand Pismo Beach Wedding

Sat, 20 Aug 2016 15:47:00 GMT

Toes in the Sand Pismo Beach Wedding –

Such a sweet couple for this toes in the sand Pismo Beach Wedding, and such a darling baby who was front and center for this special day. They had a way of putting a smile on our faces at Coastal California Weddings, and reminded us why we love what we do to make dreams come true for our brides and grooms.

On an overcast Sunday afternoon, family and friends gathered for this toes in the sand Pismo Beach wedding. As the guests descended a small hill, they got a glimpse of the ocean, gentle dunes rising around them, ice plant growing in patches in the sand, and the setting for this wedding.

Lanterns and shells lined the path for the bride’s entrance. Tall vases held curly willow branches and white hydrangeas and were tied with pale pink bows. The scene was set for this toes in the sand Pismo Beach wedding.

As the guests gathered around, the groom joined the minister to await the arrival of his beautiful bride. As he awaited her appearance, he held their darling young son. Both wore khaki colored slacks, white shirts, and suspenders – very cute! As the bride appeared, escorted by her dad, they turned to have their first look at the bride. She then gave her dad a kiss and took her groom’s hand. Of course, their baby smiled at the sight of his mommy.

The bride wore a beautiful, lace dress and carried a bouquet of white roses, pink dahlias, and grey dusty miller. The groom wore a single rose boutonniere. Such a handsome family.

This couple thanked us several times for helping to make their dream toes in the sand Pismo Beach wedding come true. They seemed so genuinely thankful for our help and it made us at Coastal California Weddings smile. We love making dreams come true, especially when the couple is so sweet. A little magic dust, a sprinkling of sea mist, soft sand, ocean breezes, and special friends make for a magical wedding.

As the groom kissed his bride, the guests began to clap. Some onlookers who were enjoying the beach beyond, began to cheer and clap also.

Then, group and family pictures were taken, with the baby all smiles for all of the photos. Then, the bride and groom shared some private moments for photos among the surrounding trees – such a beautiful backdrop for pictures. As the bride and groom walked away to join their guests for dinner, the photographer was able to snap one last picture.

We at Coastal California Weddings want to thank this couple for selecting us to complete the details for their special day. We were so happy to share this exciting moment with you. Our wish for you is that your love deepens through the years. May you be blessed with a lifetime of love and joy – and cute babies!

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Cypress Lookout Small Wedding

Sat, 20 Aug 2016 04:48:00 GMT

For this August wedding, the day started off warm, but cool breezes came off the water as the sun made its descent. The guests had arrived at this picturesque spot overlooking the ocean and the point of Avila. I remember the first time the groom called me. He was so excited to find the perfect spot for the two of them to get married. After a quick trip to look at the location, they called to say they found their special spot.

When the ceremony started, the bride started her walk down the path while the groom turned away until his bride was a few steps away from him. Her niece, dressed in a fancy pink dress, scattered pink rose petal on the sidewalk as the bride approached. Finally, the groom turned to see his radiant bride, ready to become his wife.

The bride wore a beautiful ruched bodice dress with a long train and carried a bouquet of pale pink peonies. The groom looked very handsome in this light grey colored suit.

Before family and friends, they exchanged their vows. They then sealed their vows with the exchange of rings. After the blessing, the moment had arrived and they were pronounced husband and wife. And, then, the groom was able to kiss his bride!

Group photos followed, with the evergreen trees and the ocean in the background. More shots were taken of the families. Then, photos followed of just the two of them. The groom had hoped for a few shots as the sun was setting. Luckily, before the sun sank behind the clouds, the photographer was able to snap some photos of the couple with the sunset behind them.

As a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has a fondness for the area, and a strong connection. And, the central coast is a great place for these central valley residents to escape the heat of summer. Hopefully, they will be able to spend many happy anniversaries at the resort, and walk the few steps to their wedding spot. Then, they can re-create their sunset Shell Beach wedding.

We at Coastal California Weddings wish this sweet couple a lifetime of happiness. And, from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day. We love Cypress Lookout Weddings!

PS – I was HAPPY to marry our first Cal Poly Alumni! It is such a magical place to get married on the Central Coast. Even though it has been years since I attended Cal Poly, the school and town has some great memories! GO MUSTANGS!!

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Beach Wedding at Pismo Beach

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 23:49:00 GMT

Beach Wedding at Pismo Beach – It was love at first sight, at least that was what the groom thought! Many years ago, as the bride drove past the groom, he said to himself, ” I am going to marry that woman!” Years past, time went by and then one day guess who ended up living right next to each other? Today these two were able to seal their love with a kiss and call each other husband and wife.

The wind was blowing teal and pale blue sashes tied to the chairs, set up for this “toes in the sand” beach wedding. The stage was set, soft music played in the background and the guests were seated. The groom appeared in his white linen suit and blue shirt and tie. This was the perfect outfit for a beach wedding! The bride was escorted down the aisle by her Uncle and the groom patiently waited for her arrival. As she approached, the guests stood to get their first glimpse of the bride. She wore an elegant white lace dress and carried a bouquet of hydrangeas, white tulips, roses, and dahlias with delicate blue accents and wispy greenery. And her groom smiled! You see, from the first time he caught a glimpse of this lady, he knew he would someday be with her. And, his time had finally come!

There beach wedding at Pismo Beach included a shell ceremony, in which the bride and groom each held a shell and made a wish for their future together during their beach wedding at Pismo Beach. Each shell represented their separate paths that, this day, would be joined as one. They then placed their shells in a container on a bed of sand – a remembrance of their important day for them to keep.

As the wedding concluded, the minister pronounced them husband and wife, and the groom kissed his bride. As if on cue, about 30 sea gulls that had been gathered at the shore, soared into the air and over the crowd of guests. I guess they were saying “congratulations” as they squawked overhead and flew away into the distance.

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Beautiful Gazebo Elopement

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 06:03:00 GMT

Beautiful Gazebo Elopement-

The fog hovered at the horizon line for this evening wedding, but on shore the sun shone with all of its brilliance. No fog dampened the glow of this central coast elopement. Waves crashed on the rock and our favorite friend the seagull who watches over most weddings announced the arrival of the couple. It was the sweetest thing to see this couple walk up hand in hand as they approached the beautiful Shell Beach gazebo for their elopement. The couple had their first look at a nearby cliff with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The bride wore a cream-colored satin wedding dress (and the cutest blush-colored shoes!!!) and the groom was handsomely clad in a pale grey tux. For her bouquet, the bride selected her favorite flowers – hydrangeas. The hydrangeas, with a touch of blush along the edges, were combined with cream roses and fashioned into a perfect bouquet.

I love it when the bride and groom take the time to write their own vows. This couple went to the extra effort of saying their vows without referring to notes. They truly spoke from the heart as they addressed each other. The bride expressed how a spark was ignited when they first met and how that spark continues today. That same spark seemed to glow in the bride’s eyes as she looked into the eyes of her groom, and as a tear ran down her cheek. And the groom promised to love and protect his bride faithfully. As they said their vows and slipped rings onto each other’s finger to seal the promises made in their vows.

The couple asked that their favorite quote from Anna and the French Kiss be incorporated into the ceremony: “For the two of us, home isn’t a place. It is a person. And we are finally home”. Yes, they were truly home in each other’s embrace as they exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife.

May their life together be filled with endless love for each other and for their expectant daughter, and may love encircle them as they become one loving family. And may today be just the beginning of a life filled with joy and happy memories at their beautiful gazebo elopement . Best wishes!

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Summer Avila Beach Wedding

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 23:34:00 GMT

Sunny Summer Avila Beach Wedding

Summer is a busy time in Avila Beach, as vacationers flock to the spot to enjoy the waves and the cool ocean breezes. But, luckily, we were able to find a stretch of sand to set up our chairs for this sunny summer Avila Beach wedding.

The couple enjoyed a private first look under the Avila Beach pier before they said I do. I really like the first look since it is a great opportunity for the couple to have some private time together before the wedding ceremony.

The chairs were tied with teal sashes and melon-colored bows as the guests gathered on the sand for this special wedding. Before the bride made her entrance down the stairs to the beach, the groom’s sons, followed by the bride’s son and daughter descended the stairs, as Bless the Broken Road played softly in the background. Then, the moment had arrived for the bride to make her entrance, escorted by her dad. After giving her dad a kiss, she joined her groom.

The bride wore a cream-colored lace gown and carried a bouquet of mixed flowers, including melon-colored roses, pale peach spray roses, white carnations, stock, eucalyptus leaves, and wildflowers. Her daughter, wearing a long melon-colored dress, carried a smaller version of her mom’s bouquet. The groomsmen and the groom all wore white shirts and tan pants – and they were barefoot (so appropriate for a toes in the sand wedding).

Before the wedding, I was able to chat a bit with the groom, who seemed to not be at all nervous. When I commented on his calm demeanor, he said that this was the day he had been looking forward to for a very long time. The weather was perfect, he was surrounded by family and friends, and he was marrying his best friend.

To make the children feel part of the wedding, they stood next to the bride and groom during the ceremony. After the vows and the ring exchange, they were included in a shell ceremony in which they each held a shell and made a wish for their life together as a new family. They were also included in a family blessing at the end of the ceremony.

And, finally, after the bride and groom were pronounced husband and wife, and after they shared a dance together, the children were invited to dance. The groom danced with his bride’s daughter. The bride danced first with her son, and then with the groom’s two son. As My Wish continued to play, the children danced with each other, and the guests joined in the dancing.

Family photos followed. Then, with the permission of an Avila Beach lifeguard, the couple was able to climb the lifeguard tower for some unique shots. So cute!

We at Coastal California Weddings, want to wish our sunny summer Avila Beach wedding couple the best in the years ahead. Let us borrow from their marriage mission statement to wish them the best for their future: “…to be teammates who remain in love, laugh, and build new dreams together.”

Wedding on the beach 1st week of August on a Saturday

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Summer Gazebo Elopement in Shell Beach

Sat, 06 Aug 2016 01:58:00 GMT

Summer Gazebo Elopement in Shell Beach

Sometimes we have couples who compose their own vows, but rarely do we get a couple who will write the entire ceremony. But, for this summer gazebo elopement in Shell Beach, this couple, who traveled here all the way from Washington, did just that. And, their ceremony was just perfect for them.

They told us that, even though they were a little older, they had never been married before. But, after many years, they had met, fallen in love, and were ready to make a lasting commitment to each other.

As the beautiful bride walked up the path to the gazebo, dressed in an elegant lacy dress, carrying a bouquet of roses, her groom had his back turned so that he would not see her. Suddenly, he was asked to turn around, and he got the first glimpse of his beautiful bride. And, he smiled!

Their ceremony started with a prayer, thanking God for the love that they both share and asking His blessing as they exchange their vows and seal their promises. We asked God to surround them with His grace and to live within their hearts from this day forth.

Their ceremony went on to remind them that all of their moments together have led up to this exchange of vows and prepared them as each other’s lifetime partners. They were about to share a most special gift, one that had been carefully nurtured and polished to give to each other.

As several family members gathered, this couple pledged their loyalty to one another. They asked for the patience to listen, the capacity to understand, the compassion to give comfort, and the joy to laugh and just to be together. But, most importantly, they asked that their marriage be a home where neither person is a stranger.

Then, together they repeated:

I will share my life openly with you.
I will walk hand in hand with you.
I will grow with you, not away from you, in each of our discoveries.
I will support your strengths with love and honest,
and protect you, as we go forth together into this world as two yet one.

After the ceremony, there were group photos and then the bride and groom escaped to a secluded beach for some more pictures of just the two of them. What a perfect ending to this summer gazebo elopement in Shell Beach.

May the two of you continue to be as happy as you are today, and may you continue to thank God for the precious gift of your love for one another. Our best wishes to you both!

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Ocean Front Gazebo Wedding

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 18:49:00 GMT

Ocean Front Gazebo Wedding

One of the things we do really well is putting together last minute weddings. I had talked to this couple on the phone and they wanted to get married in 2 weeks. They were a little concerned with the timing, but I said, “no problem!” We pulled off their wedding in 2 weeks and everything was perfect.

The couple traveled from the Central Valley and celebrated with family and friends. All the guests were wowed by the beautiful ocean views and I saw a lot of selfies being taken. The couple wanted to blend their Spanish tradition and had parts of the ceremony in Spanish. As a special send off for the couple, the groom’s mom wanted to give the couple a special blessing on their wedding day. After the ceremony, photos were taken of the guests and then with their special friends.

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Palm Cliff Wedding

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 07:10:00 GMT

Palm Cliff Wedding

As the bride prepared for her walk down the aisle to meet her groom, she wrapped a rosary around her wrist. You see, this was the rosary she got when she sang for the Pope. What an amazing treasure to have on her wedding day!

But there were other treasures present at this wedding – the two children who would be a part of this family. One served as best man, and the other as the most adorable ring bearer.

The bride, who wore a white gown and carried a bouquet of white roses and blue delphinium, was accompanied down the aisle by her grandmother. And, she was given away by both her grandmother and mother. Her sister was her bridesmaid.

For her Shell Beach wedding celebration, this bride chose a traditional religious ceremony. The reading reminded the couple that If you love someone, you will be loyal to them, no matter the cost. You will always believe in them, always expect the best of them, and always stand your ground in defending them.

The first prayer asked that the radiance of joy on this special day, overflow with peace and harmony throughout the rest of their life together as husband and wife. It also asked that peace and harmony continue to expand, bringing joy to their families and friends and to all others who enter their home and circle of life.

To commemorate their beautiful family relationship, the couple and their children participated in a shell ceremony. They were each given a shell to hold. The shells symbolized their lives to this moment, unique and individual. They symbolized their separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. As they held the shells, each person was asked to make a wish for their future together as a family. In this way the different paths were joined together into one.

Next, there was a final prayer for the couple. We asked for God’s blessing upon them as they journey down the path of life. Then, the moment had arrived for them to be pronounced husband and wife. Finally, the family cheered, and the couple walked down the aisle.

After the family members congratulated the couple, photos were taken on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The couple joined hands and enjoyed their first moments as husband and wife as they had some private photos taken on the beach.

This cliffs wedding celebration was a perfect way to incorporate a traditional ceremony designed for a very special couple. May they continue to grow in love and respect for one another .

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Toes in the Sand Elopement

Thu, 28 Jul 2016 23:12:00 GMT

Toes in the Sand Elopement – For this toes in the sand elopement, the bride and groom selected a secluded stretch of beach with the pier in the distance, but far from the hustle and bustle of the pier area. After a little hike through a eucalyptus grove, and several photos along the way, they arrived at their special spot and chose a small sand dune on which to have their ceremony. The bride looked so pretty in her long, lacy cream-colored wedding gown and the groom was equally handsome in his dark suit. Her bouquet had white dahlias, bright pink baby roses, and splashes of her favorite color – bright yellow. And, of course, the groom’s boutonnière was also yellow.

All day the clouds had looked dark and threatening, but as we approached the beach, we saw how the clouds had lifted from the horizon and were layered overhead, giving a soft glow to the evening. Faint rays of sunlight were in the distance, illuminating the hills and the ocean. The waves were gently lapping on the shore and a stillness settled over the area. Shortly after the ceremony ended, the sun broke through – as if to say “congratulations” to the happy couple.

Brian and Kristine expressed their love and commitment to one another by reciting their own vows – a personal message to one another in which they expressed how fortunate they were to find each other. After being together for eight years, they were finally committing their faithfulness to one another. Their friendship and mutual love grew during those years and today the groom got the girl of his dreams. They had truly found their soulmate. Each talked about the life they would live together and how they would push each other to be the best each could be. As they held each other’s hands and looked into each other’s eyes, their love was so evident.

May that love continue to grow through the years. May they grow together as individuals and closer as a couple through their mutual love and enduring friendship. Best wishes!

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Dog Friendly Beach Elopement

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 23:58:00 GMT

Dog Friendly Beach Elopement – Two very important members of the family were front and center for this Shell Beach elopement – a very handsome German Shepherd and an equally cute tiny Yorkie. They were both attired in cute neckwear and even joined the couple for some pictures after the ceremony. And, as is customary at this location in Shell Beach, we were joined by several seagulls, who gave their approval.

The story of this couple began years ago, because both families were close when these two were growing up. As time went by, each married someone else, but they still stayed in contact with one another. In fact, the bride said that whenever the groom would come home to Louisiana to visit his family, he would also visit her family. In fact, her mother would make a big deal of the occasion and cook so everyone could get together and visit.

The couple met up again, this time in California, when the bride moved here to help her daughter who had two small babies and whose military husband was sent to Afghanistan for 10 months. This time neither of them were married. So… He became her knight in shining armor when she injured her knee while taking care of the two babies and packing up her house before her move to California. At this point, they were communicating daily. He came to her rescue, helped her pack, and flew back to CA with her, with two babies.

But, today is a joyful day as they are come together to celebrate their dog friendly beach elopement and express their love and commitment to each other and to finalize that commitment with their vows and the exchange of rings.

Knowing their story and witnessing their intense love for each other as they held each other’s hands, gave me an overwhelming feeling of joy for them as they said their vows. I love officiating at all weddings and truly feel it is a privilege to be a part of such an intimate, meaningful occasion. But, there was something truly special about this couple. And, as the bride wiped away tears of joy during the ceremony, I also wiped away a tear, for their love was so touching and heartfelt.

My wish for them is that they continue to be blessed with a love that grows deeper with each passing day, as they conquer all challenges ahead. May their future be filled with love, joy, health and laughter. And may their wish for the future be granted – that they will be able to go home to Louisiana to be with their family, children, and grandchildren.

What a great way to celebrate their dog friendly beach elopement! May they always remember the gift they are to one another – a gift given to comfort the sorrows of life and to magnify life’s joys.

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Margo Dodd Gazebo Small Wedding Pismo Beach

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 23:45:00 GMT

Margo Dodd Gazebo Small Wedding Pismo Beach –

For this beach wedding at the gazebo, the bride selected peach and mint green as her color scheme. So, the chairs were tied with peach sashes and the entire gazebo was draped in white tulle, while the posts were tied with mint sashes. The tulle softened the structure of the gazebo and added a special touch. The colors were delicate and pretty, with the blue waters of the Pacific as the backdrop. Likewise, the bride carried a bouquet with peach roses as the dominant color, sprinkled with white dahlias, small bush roses, and baby’s breath as filler. Mint green satin ribbon accented the bouquet and carried out the color scheme.

As the bride made her entrance, she was accompanied by her three children. What a special way for them to feel part of their mom’s special day. Later in the ceremony, the bride’s children and the groom’s children joined the happy couple under the gazebo to take part in the shell ceremony. The children, as well as the bride and groom, were given a shell to hold for a moment while each made a wish for their future happiness as a family. Unfortunately, the groom’s daughter was delayed because of an accident on the highway, but her brother held her shell along with his own and made a wish for her. The shells were then placed in a container on a bed of sand, as a keepsake for the bride and groom. At the close of the ceremony, the children were also included in a family blessing.

While soft music played in the background, the couple had photos taken with family and friends. (And, yes, the groom’s daughter did arrive in time for the photos.) After the group photo of all of the guests, the bride and groom headed down the stairs to the beach for some private photos. Certainly, the photographer got some good shots, for this groom was even beaming before the wedding started. His smile was so warm and sincere. Many of the guests lingered at the wedding site and took advantage of the cool breezes and the spectacular view of the blue ocean below, before heading to the reception in Pismo Beach.

All of the guests at this wedding seemed so happy for the bride and groom. It is very touching when special friends and family can enjoy the excitement and joy of the moment. Certainly, these friends and family will continue to be a part of this family and offer love and support to this couple in the years ahead.

We, at Coastal California Weddings, want to wish this happy couple many beautiful memories, with their children and their dogs joining in the fun. May they always respect each other’s differences and remember why they fell in love with each other. And, thank you for letting us share in your special day!

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Beach Wedding Decoration Ideas

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 04:52:00 GMT

Brilliant Ideas for a Beautiful Beach Wedding on a Budget

There are so many reasons to have a beach wedding, not the least of which is that it’s really budget friendly! You can find a beautiful waterside location with a stunning view where you can say your vows without spending a fortune, and then you can focus your budget on the décor. Here are some awesome ideas for decorating a beach wedding without breaking your budget.

Simple bouquets tied in sea blue ribbon is always a beach wedding favorite. Also, ask to add a seashell to the handle of the bouquet to add that touch of of the beach. Then you can have a keepsake from your wedding day.

If you have palm leaves handy, those can be laid down the middle of the table to create a natural and beautiful table runner, setting the beach theme.

On top of that tropical base, you can place an assortment of shells, driftwood, raffia bows, candles in seashells (or seashell-style votive holders). Another idea is to use real fishnet on top of a table cloth in your wedding colors. These 5’ x 7’ real fish nets are only $8.99 each or 3/$24, which is super-affordable!

A sea urchin shaped ceramic tea light holder is perfect for setting a beach mood for an evening reception, and these are just $1.79 each . Does it get much better for an adorable beach themed wedding than candle in the same of sea creatures?

This distressed wood signage can be created for your beach-themed wedding with minimal effort and to maximum effect!

There are a lot of signs for weddings, but this beach-specific one about sandy kisses is just absolutely perfect.

Speaking of signage, if you plan to use table numbers, consider sending a message in a bottle! You can put pictures of each of you at the age indicated by the table number or just have pictures of you in bottles beside the table number. Either way, it’s affordable and adorable

Instead of having signage pointing guests in the direction of your wedding ceremony, what about decorating the path with colorful burlap bunting? You could also use this idea to decorate chairs at the ceremony and reception. You can choose to add on a sign from one of our add ons.

Who doesn’t love a delicious wedding cake? You can incorporate your beach theme into your dessert as well. Add seashells to your cakes decorations instead of using flowers, or top it with a sweet pair of cute beach chairs that show you’ll enjoy the beach together, forever.

These beach-theme cupcakes are also sure to please!

Lighting is exactly what sets the mood for any party, and having a beach themed wedding means you get to use a lot of playful ideas. Candle holders hanging from rope, tiki torches and paper lanterns would all work perfectly to set the beach party mood. Send off the bride and groom by giving the guests small beach balls to toss at the couple as they walk down the aisle.

Lastly, don’t forget the easiest ways to incorporate the beach theme into the reception – with the food and drink selections! Keep your food very tropical in nature with lots of fresh fruits along with whatever you would normally want to serve.

These cute drink umbrellas a perfect way to make sure every drink looks festive and fun. Just $4.79 for 144 of them is a steal and adds such a fun touch to the drinks!

Lastly, don’t forget to do something super-fun for your wedding exit! These small beach balls instead of flower petals are a great idea to toss while the two of you leave the party:

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Destination Beach Elopement

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 05:42:00 GMT

Destination Beach Elopement- Alex and Elizabeth

After leaving behind 13 inches of snow in Cheyenne, Wyoming, this couple chose a perfect spot for their wedding – the sandy shore of Shell Beach. The sun was warm, the waves were crashing, the water was a beautiful bluish-green, and orange California poppies bloomed on the cliff above the wedding site. The beautiful bride carried a bouquet of Dutch iris, purple stock, carnations, and touches of pink spray roses. The groom was coordinated with his purple shirt, white pants, and boutonniere. As they said their vows and exchanged rings, they were joined by their parents – also in coordinating colors.

When asked to describe what she likes about her groom, this bride said that he is not only her best friend, but he is an absolute charmer who makes her weak in the knees. Just one look at his smile and anyone can see why she describes him as a charmer. Not to mention these two could not stop kissing each other!! Together they made a beautiful couple who smiled during the entire ceremony at their destination beach elopement. Together they will share many adventures, I am sure. They already took a road trip from San Francisco to the Central Coast and stopped along the way at a few sites.

In one of their photos, they drew a heart in the sand. As the groom said, this was the perfect spot for a wedding. The only beach that could have been better was possibly Hawaii. But that would have been an additional 6 hour flight. Personally, I think this was the ideal spot!

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Afternoon Elopement in Avila Beach

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 02:21:00 GMT

For this afternoon elopement in Avila Beach, the groom wore a white shirt (barefoot, of course) and the bride wore a beautiful ivory lace dress, with a long train and lacing in the back. She carried a bouquet of pink roses as she and her groom headed down to the beach, hand in hand.

The groom had always wanted to get married in Avila Beach. He had memories of the town since he was a kid and would come to visit from the Valley.

As the ceremony began, a few onlookers gathered on the cliff above to witness the ceremony. Naturally, they lingered until the couple was pronounced husband and wife and the groom kissed his bride. Then, all the onlookers and the beachgoers enjoying a day in the sand, began to clap and cheer. All were joining in the festive moment.

Someday this couple will have a story to tell their children. You see, we received a call from the groom shortly before the wedding. He and his bride were stuck in traffic. There was an accident that had closed the road and they were re-routed. They had to retrace their steps and take a different route to the coast. But, they made it in time for their wedding, even if it was a little late. But, as the saying goes, better late than never.

After the ceremony, with the sun overhead, and a stray dog joining in, the couple had pictures taken on the beach, with moss-covered rocks in the background. Such a happy couple, and such a pretty setting for this summer afternoon elopement in Avila Beach.

*To get married in Avila Beach you need a beach permit.

Avila Beach is a quiet little destination for a beach wedding. One of my favorite spots was this cove that is away from the main section of the beach. When the tide is right, it creates a nice backdrop with the rocks and the boats. Avila Beach is between Pismo Beach and Morro Bay. The town was rebuilt about 15 years ago and has more of a coastal charm to it. There are a few local places to have fish and chips – my favorite lunch spot is MerSeas (http://www.merseas.com/) located at the end of the far pier. You can enjoy eating out on the patio and watch the sea lions play in the ocean.

Other activities in Avila include:

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Romantic Beach Elopement

Sat, 16 Jul 2016 18:17:00 GMT

Romantic Beach Elopement – Necmi and Feliz

This romantic couple traveled all the way from Turkey to say their vows along the California coast in Shell Beach. They decided to get married in a secluded cove. During the ceremony you could hear the waves in the distance and even some playful sea otters were in the water. The beautiful bride had an elegant white dress, wore a crown of flowers in her hair and carried a matching bouquet. Her maid of honor wore a flowing yellow dress and a crown of flowers in her hair, as well. The groom looked equally handsome in this linen suit – all smiles for his bride. Surrounded by friends and family, they joined their hearts together and vowed their love for one another.

Because they are from different religious backgrounds, we tried to incorporate something for each of them into the wedding ceremony. Since the couple mentioned that they believed that one of their strengths was their understanding and compassion for each other. We felt that blending that feeling into the ceremony and representing both of them was important. So, we not only read from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, but also added several Middle Eastern quotes that spoke about marriage.

The first one states that the successful marriage is not when you can live in peace with your wife, but when you cannot live in peace without her.

The second quote is that a good husband wipes away his wife’s tears, but a great husband listens to the story of why she cries.

The third quote states: “And, may your marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm. May your marriage be full of laughter; every day, a day in paradise. May your marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. May your marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky.”

The couple also mentioned that, if there is a disagreement between them, they try to understand each other and remind each other that they are from two different backgrounds and therefore they must be understanding with each other. This is good advice for any successful marriage!

After the ceremony and some pictures of the happy couple and their guests, the bride and groom and their guests shared a wedding dinner that a private chef prepared for them. With penthouse views of the ocean as the sun sank into the horizon line, this beautiful day came to a perfect end.

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Simple Beach Wedding

Fri, 15 Jul 2016 23:34:00 GMT

Simple Beach Wedding – I knew from the first time I was contacted the couple they just wanted a simple wedding – really to pledge their love for each other in front of close family and friends. I sure wish sometimes, couples really sit back and think what their wedding day is about. It is not about putting on a show for people, or seeing how much money they can spend, it REALLY is about LOVE and committing to that person in front of family and friends. And to top off this simple beach wedding, I LOVE how the couple kept their shades on for the ceremony! Perfect beach touch.

For this simple beach wedding, this happy couple was surrounded by love in the form of their family members. They had travelled from the California central valley, where the temperatures were in the 100s, to the central coast, with 70 ° temperatures, a cool ocean breeze, white-capped waves, and a gentle sun to warm the day.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and they were all wearing BLUE! What a fun way to coordinate this wedding. In fact, the bride even wore a blue and white dress and her bouquet of white flowers was tied with blue satin ribbon.

To complete the beachy theme, our bride even had a petite starfish necklace – in blue, of course. It was the ‘something new’ that she had purchased for her special day.

This couple joined not only the mutual affection and love that they share, but also their hopes, dreams, and promises for their future together. But, more importantly, for this small toes in the sand beach wedding, the couple also joined their two families together – the bride’s three children and the groom’s two children .

The couple wanted to make sure that their children were included in the ceremony so that the children would know how important they are to the couple. So, the minister included a blessing for the blended family, asking God’s protection over the blended family.

After the groom kissed his bride, the couple had pictures with their family and then some pictures of just the two of them, before heading up the stairs. I loved the huge smile that the groom wore as soon as he had kissed his bride. Happiness circled around this family on this special day!

Our wish at Coastal California Weddings is that God continues to watch over and protect this couple and their children, helping them to create a happy, warm, and loving home for God, their children, family and friends – and their animals. We hope that they share many more happy moments together and that they always remember the vows they promised to each other during their small toes in the sand beach wedding. Best wishes!

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Pismo Beach Ocean View Wedding

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 02:58:00 GMT

This Pismo Beach ocean view wedding took place on a cliff overlooking the blue Pacific in Shell Beach. As the summer breeze softly rustled the yellow sashes that were tied to the chairs and the melon-colored sashes that decorated the pillars, the guests arrived, some in colors matching the salmon and yellow theme. One guest traveled all the way from San Diego to attend this wedding. Since she had been friends with the bride since they were six years old, she said there was no way she was going to miss this special event. The bride and groom added a special touch to the front row of seats to honor the deceased members of the groom’s family who, even though they were not present, surely looked down from above to witness this special occasion.

Finally the moment had arrived for the bride to make her entrance. Escorted by her father, the bride walked down the path wearing a beautiful white wedding dress and veil and carrying a vibrant bouquet of yellow and orange roses. When she was midway down the path, the groom turned for his first glimpse of his beautiful bride.

As the couple joined hands and faced each other, they pledged their love to one another with vows that they had each composed. The groom vowed to love his bride when life seems easy and when it becomes difficult. He promised to be true to her and to himself so that their love can grow and flourish through the years. The bride promised to encourage and inspire her husband, to laugh with him and comfort him in the happiest times and the most difficult times. She also promised to be his closest friend, his best cheerleader, and his faithful wife, always by his side.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom posed for group photos with various family members before they escaped to a private location for pictures of just the two of them. The guests lingered and chatted a while before heading to the reception for more celebrating.

Our wish for this couple is that all their dreams come true.

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Summer Shell Beach Wedding

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:22:00 GMT

Summer Shell Beach Wedding

For this summer Shell Beach wedding, our bride and groom selected a grassy area overlooking the Pacific, as waves crashed on the rocks below.

As guests arrived at this summer Shell Beach wedding, they were directed to the wedding site by signs that showed the way. At the entrance to the venue, the bride and groom set up an area where guests could sign their guest book. Then signs directed the guests to their seats.

We had tied the chairs with black satin bows. Set up at the entrance to the seating area, the bride had set up wine barrels decorated with baby’s breath and ivy, and accented with a cowboy boot. An arch was also set up with white twigs decorating it. Lanterns and a cross dangled from the top of the arch. And baby’s breath bouquets decorated the rows of chairs.

As a tribute to her deceased father, the bride had a picture of her dad occupying the seat where he would have sat. In that way, he was present during her entire ceremony, smiling at her as she said her vows and exchanged rings.

Many of the guests were dressed to carry out the theme of the wedding. Many wore cowboy boots and most were dressed in black.

The groom’s grandchildren were the first to walk down the aisle. Some of the girls carried signs that read “Papa, Here Comes Your Girl” and “Here Comes the Beautiful Bride”, followed by the ring bearer and the flower girl. Then the bride’s sons and the groom’s daughters entered and assembled on either side of the arch. Finally, the moment had arrived and the beautiful bride was ready to make her entrance. Escorted by her brother, she wore a white wedding gown, with feathers along the bottom. And, of course, she wore cowboy boot!

The couple also added a Seashell Ceremony to their wedding. To show their appreciation to all of the family and friends who attended this special ceremony, each guest was handed a shell. Shells were also given to the bride and groom and to their attendants. The minister then asked that each person give a special blessing or wish to the couple. The shells were then collected and placed in a glass jar as a keepsake for the happy couple.

After their “I dos”, the couple walked down the aisle as husband and wife, as the guests cheered. What a perfect ending to this summer Shell Beach wedding ceremony.

But, wait. That was not the end of the story. No way. The party continued. The guests were then invited to a reception and dinner to celebrate the occasion.

Our best to this happy couple as they start a new life together.

*Couple provided their own decorations for the ceremony.

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Small Cliff Wedding Pismo Beach

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 04:44:00 GMT

Small Cliff Wedding in Pismo Beach

In front of family and friends, Gabriel and Sierra spoke their own hand-written vows to each other – vows in which they professed their love for each other and their commitment to their future together. Incorporated into their ceremony, the minister read their favorite quote: “Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The way to retain love is to give it away.” To this, the minister added:

For though your hands may touch, it’s your hearts that hold. When you hold love within your heart, you radiate a light which shall brighten all the days of your life and beyond. Everything we truly love becomes a part of us forever. So take your time with each other. Let your love’s seed grow and mature with the seasons, to provide you with warmth, serenity, joy, and acceptance throughout all the years of your marriage.

The bride described her groom as her rock and her biggest supporter. She said that he constantly keeps her laughing and that he makes sure she has a smile on her face. She says that he is a genuinely caring person and that he has an amazing heart. But, most of all, she says she has never met anyone who makes her as happy as he does.

And, the groom says that he loves the way is bride is there for him 100% of the time. He says that she always brightens his days, especially when he is covered in darkness. He says that he cannot go five minutes without her making him smile.

This tradition bride wore a long, ivory dress with a train and walked down the aisle with her face covered by a beautiful lacy veil. I loved the detail of the veil! She carried a bouquet of red roses, while her handsome groom dressed in a black tuxedo, awaited the girl of his dreams. She was preceded down the aisle by two adorable ring bearers, a darling flower girl who scattered rose petals down the aisle, and the maid-of-honor and the best man. As she entered the aisle, all the guests rose as Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major played in the background.

After the ceremony, the happy couple was joined by family and friends for some group photos. Then they stole away to a beach location for photos of just the two of them. As the waves crashed and gulls called overhead, they were wrapped in each other’s arms for some private photos of their small cliff wedding in Pismo Beach.

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Summer Beach Wedding

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:52:00 GMT

June weddings on the central coast many times mean fog and mist. This summer beach wedding was no exception. As the fog drifted in and then floated away for patches of sunlight, this couple expressed their love for one another. The groom and his groomsmen wore grey tuxedos while the bride wore a beautiful white wedding gown and her bridesmaids wore a sandy beige – very appropriate for the beach location of this wedding. Before the father of the bride walked her down the aisle, her bridesmaids and little flower girl walked down the path, followed by her ring bearer. The couple recited their vows to each other as many family members and guests looked on.

The setting was perfect for this wedding – the gazebo in Shell Beach, overlooking the ocean. Each chair was decorated in white lace, and the aisle chairs had bows of burlap and lace. The gazebo entrance was also decorated with burlap and lace. The bride also carried a bouquet tied in burlap and made of delicate garden roses.

During the ceremony for this summer beach wedding, the couple expressed their love for each other. In his vows, he said that he felt fortunate to have found her and pledged his loyalty to her. He also said that she is the sweetest, most caring and down to earth person anyone could meet. And, she loves the way he becomes so playful and childlike when he’s around children, making her realize that someday he will make an amazing dad. They also mentioned that they both understand one another without judgment and that they are able to express anything to each other. And, even more importantly, they are best friends. How important that is, since true friendship is the cornerstone of any lasting relationship!

A shell ceremony was included in this wedding after the rings were exchanged. The couple each briefly held a shell in their hands and made a wish for their future. Then, the shells were placed in a container in a bed of sand, as a memento of this day.

May this couple have many happy times together as they begin their new life as a married couple.

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San Francisco Elopement

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:28:00 GMT

San Francisco Elopement

Natalia and Oliver traveled all the way from the UK to celebrate their special day! That morning I had thought they may have brought the rain with them to the city as the dark clouds started to roll in. But, by the time their ceremony started the clouds parted and the sun was shinning.

When we arrived at the beach for their wedding ceremony, the groom had set up a Go Pro to document their elopement. Being the techy guy that he is, the camera was rolling just as the bride made her way to surprise him. The minister recited a verse from the famous Jack Johnson song that had meaning for the two of them. They sealed their love with a kiss with the Golden Gate in the background.

Later, during pictures Natalia was very brave and jumped right into the water of the cold Pacific Ocean. While Oliver slowly put a toe in and then decided he was ok with the cold water so the couple could grab an amazing photo on top of rock with the tide rushing in.

San Francisco is such a romantic city for elopements. There were so many great photo opportunities with this couple. We were also lucky enough to be the only people on the beach that day. Natalia and Oliver will have such great memories of San Francisco and every time they see photos of the Golden Gate bridge they will think back on the day they celebrated their love and said I do!

As a side note…I have to say that the groom’s outfit is my favorite outfit of all the grooms that I’ve worked with!! His suit had a hint of blue pinstripe down it and the light blue printed shirt went so well with his boutonniere. Way to go Oliver!!

Please contact us for more information about a destination elopement.

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Pismo Beach Toes in the Sand Elopement

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:04:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Toes in the Sand Elopement –

On a very windy day in Pismo Beach, this couple pledged their love to one another in an evening wedding ceremony. The bride’s daughters wore blue dresses that floated in the wind and the groom’s son wore a blue plaid shirt, just like his dad’s. The bride was escorted down the stairs to the beach by her dad, while her mom and stepmom looked on. She exchanged a kiss with her dad before she took her groom’s hand. During the wedding, you could feel the love between this couple, as they looked in each other’s eyes. And you could see the joy in the smiles of their children and the bride’s parents. But, it wasn’t until after the vows that their story was revealed. They both wanted to say a few words to each other after the vows. And, that is when their story emerged. They first met when they were five years old (in kindergarten)!! The groom had loved her since then, but never believed they would find each other. As so often happens, their lives drifted in different directions. They reconnected briefly again in junior high. Time passed; they both married and had children, and time passed some more. But, as fate would have it, they found each other again…this time to reconnect in marriage.

The couple had planned to be married on the warm sands of Florida, but after a move across the country they landed on the cool shores of the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach. The couple celebrated their elopement in Pismo Beach with their toes in the sand. The sun set perfectly that day to capture some beautiful pictures of the newly married couple.

Their love has continued to grow for all of these years, deepening with each passing day. Some things in life are immediate, but others take time to happen. We are so happy for this couple, that they are finally united and can enjoy life as a couple. Hopefully, they will return often to the sandy shores of Pismo Beach to re-create this moment in their long history together. All things do come to those who wait – as the saying goes.

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History of Wedding Traditions

Fri, 20 May 2016 15:32:00 GMT

History of Wedding Traditions – Here are some fun facts about why we do what we do at a wedding.

Bride on the Left, Groom on the Right

Though you may decide that your guests can sit wherever they want at your wedding, some couples are very tradition and want the bride’s family and guests on one side, and the groom’s on the other. But, you may wonder where such a tradition got started. For that answer, we need to travel back to medieval times and the days of knights in shining armor. In those days, many times the groom had to fight off other men who might want to steal the bride. Since most men were right-handed, the right arm was considered the sword arm. In order to protect his bride, he would hold his sword in his right hand, and his bride with his left hand. To this day, many couples follow the “bride on the left, groom on the right” rule. This means, that when facing the altar, the bride stands on the left side and the groom on the right side.

Another explanation might be that your heart is located on your left side, so the bride stands under her groom’s heart.

Yet another has the family members of the bride on the left and the family members of the groom on the right because, in ancient times, before the couple married, tribes of the bride were hostile to the tribes of the groom. Therefore, they were seated on opposite sides of the aisle to prevent bloodshed.

But, remember, this is just a tradition. In many modern weddings, guests are asked to sit where they would like. It is your wedding, so you can make the rules!

The Dress

There are several reasons why the bride wears a white wedding gown.

The reason the dress is white is because white represents purity. The first white dress was worn by Anne of Brittany in 1499 when she married Louis XII of France. Before that, women usually wore their best dress, whatever the color.

Another reason might be that white was once considered the color of mourning. Since the bride was leaving her family behind to start a new life with her husband, many brides were sad.

In Roman times, white symbolized a joyful celebration, and that seems to be what we most associate with a white gown today – happiness and joy.

The Veil

Traditionally, a veil was worn to symbolize innocence and modesty. It also meant that the bride was protected by her husband. In some cultures today, it even represents male dominance. So, for a bride to lift her own veil may symbolize that she is an independent woman. In the United States, when Major Lawrence Lewis (aide to George Washington) caught a glimpse of his fiancée as she was standing behind a gauzy curtain, he commented on how beautiful she looked. The story goes that in order to maintain that same beauty on her wedding day, she decided to wear a veil for her wedding ceremony. And a fashion trend was started!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

This sweet tradition actually dates back to the Victorian era. The “something old” part indicates the link the bride has to her past and her family. “Something new” symbolizes good fortune and the hope the bride has for the future with her new husband, family, and friends. “Something borrowed” traditionally came from a happily married female who would then pass on some of her happiness and married bliss on to the bride. This was also a reminder to the new bride that her family and friends would support her in times of need. “Something blue” represents faithfulness and loyalty, two important qualities of marriage.

Bridesmaids

Tradition has it that in ancient Rome, the bridesmaids were dressed like the bride to confuse evil spirits who might try to kidnap the bride. Another job of the bridesmaids was to defend the bride against unsuitable suitors. Or, some believe that the bridesmaids looked like the bride to fool mortals who wanted to bring an evil curse upon the couple.

The Best Man

In ancient times, when the bride’s family did not approve of the groom, the groom would forcibly kidnap his bride-to-be from her family. When the male members of her family put up a fight, it was the best man who would help the groom fight for his girl. During the ceremony, the best man would remain by the groom’s side to assist him in case the bride’s family would try to get her back.

Giving Away the Bride

In ancient times, women were considered to be the property of the males, and hence, daughters were the property of their fathers. In marriage, therefore, the father had to relinquish ownership of his daughter to the groom – in other words, “give her away”. In modern society, the father is merely giving his blessing to the marriage.

The First Kiss

In many cultures, the bride and groom are forbidden from showing affection before they are married. In fact, in some cultures, the groom does not even see his bride before the wedding. Hence, the first kiss means more than affection shown between the newlyweds. Instead, it represents a token of bonding in which spirits are exchanged between the groom and his bride. It is said that each sends a part of his/her soul into the soul of the mate, where it remains for all of eternity.

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Budget Weddings on the Central Coast

Wed, 11 May 2016 23:07:00 GMT

Budget Weddings on the Central Coast

When I first started to look for wedding venues, after I got engaged, I was shocked to see these amazingly decorated venues that charged $5000 just to step on the property. I understand weddings are an important part of people’s lives and certain venues are charge a hefty price tag but at the same time spending a large chunk of your budget for a barn setting with an old oak tree is a little much folks!!

So how much is too much…Well that’s a discussion for the bride and groom over a few margaritas.

Why I love Coastal California Weddings and why we do what we do…for LESS!

When doing wedding planning for my wedding, my husband and I knew we wanted something beautiful, memorable for our guests, and unique to the two of us. We always joked that we have champagne taste on a craft beer budget. I searched high and low – all through California, Oregon, Washington, and even Hawaii for the perfect wedding spot. Most of the time excited about what I saw online but then disappointed when I started doing the math in crunching the numbers. I was very very lucky to stumble upon our wedding ceremony and reception location. I also had extra time to plan our wedding since the job I was working at the time was in its slow season.

What you see is pretty much what you get! There are no hidden fees, there are no staged weddings (like what you see in The Knot and a ton of other wedding journals and Facebook pages, and our photos are of real weddings and couples. What that means is that we didn’t go out and spend $500 on extra decorations to make the picture of the ceremony location look amazing or hire models. What you see is what is included in the package. Some brides do an add on of an arch or extra decorations (with the add ons costing about an extra $100). We don’t charge an extra fee for weekends or charge extra if by chance your Cousin Charles didn’t RSVP but wants to attend the ceremony.

When I say budget wedding I don’t mean you can’t have all the extras of a typical wedding. Just because you have a budget wedding doesn’t mean there are things that get neglected. For example, with your budget you still can have a first dance and father daughter dance and chance for your guests to dance without having a DJ. Many dinner/ reception locations allow you to bring in a small speaker and set up your iPod. You also can arrive in style to your ceremony in a black town car driven by an Uber car driver rather than paying for a limousine. (Or you can be like me and show up in a yellow taxi!). Or if you are a car person why don’t you think about spending money on renting a classic car that you can get pictures of the two of you in.

I give you tips on how to save extra money for your wedding. Instead of getting a custom cake for all of the guests, the couple can get their own small 4 – 6 inch cake to cut at the wedding and then do a sheet cake for the guests or cupcakes.

Our wedding reception options are as affordable as the ceremony. AND as an added bonus the serve way better food than the typical chipper chicken served at most weddings. If you choose our All You Need is Love package, I give you 3 of my favorite options for food. Or if you want a list of about 15 more places you can purchase our reception guide. Since I’ve lived on the Central Coast for over 20 years I know which places are better than others and which ones I’m thinking about going to for my next birthday!

My team and I take the time to find out the couple wants and customize a ceremony that is unique and special for the couple. The wedding day is special to each couple! This is your special day! If you want to walk down the aisle alone, with both parents or with your children on either side then I will arrange that! If you want to plan a Metallica song as the couple says I do then I’ll make that happen. If you want to have a Mariachi band playing then I’ll research that. If the couple wants advice as far as how guests should sit then I will give it and provide pictures. If there is a certain pose you want for your wedding pictures send over the example and we will make that happen. If you want to recite your own vows then the minister can make sure to add that into the ceremony. We are here to help you create your wedding day vision, for things to be set up and organized with no stress to the couple, and to put out whatever fires I need to!!

We can provide couples with a ceremony and nice dinner reception for about $2500 for 25 people!!

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Pismo Beach Elopement

Wed, 11 May 2016 16:44:00 GMT

When I got the phone call from Jonah he laughed a little and asked if we could plan a wedding in 4 days. He explained that it was last minute but all they wanted to do was get married! The next day, as I spoke to Veronica the bride, I told her yes, this was something we could do! But, the most important thing was that they get their wedding license the next day. She told me…”well that isn’t a problem. We’ve had the license for about a month now and it’s been traveling around with us in the car!” They were ready to have a Pismo Beach elopement.

This couple, who exchanged their vows and celebrated their love for one another, actually went on their first date seven years ago from the date they were married. So, this day had special meaning to them – the beginning of the love that has brought the two of them together and which has already given them much joy and meaning. The two of them met back in high school. Jonah was the one that first noticed Veronica, but it took him some time to get the courage to ask her out. Their love has grown into the commitment to one another expressed in their marriage vows they wrote to each other. They chose a perfect spot on a grassy area in Pismo Beach for their elopement. We had just begun the ceremony, when I stopped to let them know that a ladybug had just flown onto the groom’s left shoulder. At the end of the ceremony, that same ladybug was still on his shoulder!

A little history about ladybugs – During the Middle Ages, the story is told about farmers whose crops were being destroyed by aphids. But, the farmers’ prayers were answered when swarms of ladybugs appeared, destroyed the aphids, and saved the crops. Since then, ladybugs have symbolized safety, love, joy, and good fortune, as well as abundant blessings – fitting wished for this sweet, newly-married couple.

May God continue to bless them as they enter their new life together as husband and wife and from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day. And most of all, may Jonah get his wish of the two of them to grow their family and have 10 kids!!

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Pismo Beach Small Wedding Brittney and Neil

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 22:55:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Small Wedding – The weather is sometimes unpredictable on the central coast. It can be pouring one day, and bright and sunny the next day. This was the case this March. The day before their Pismo Beach small wedding ceremony, we had quite a storm. But, the day after the rainstorm, this couple was able to celebrate under blue skies, with no rain in sight. Instead, they exchanged their vows and celebrated their love for each other on a breezy day, overlooking the blue Pacific.

The journey of love for this couple was a very special one. Neil had a love-at-first-sight moment when he took Brittney out for their first date to a sushi restaurant. Going out for sushi became one of their favorite things to do. Neil even proposed to Brittney after going out for sushi! She thought she was just going out for the evening, but little did she know that when they got back to Neil’s that he had planned proposed to her on one knee – in front of both of their families!

On the other hand, Brittney took a little longer to fall in love with Neil . For Brittney , she describes that she fell in love the way you fall asleep – slowly, then all at once. But, once Brittney fell, she says that she cannot remember a day when she did not love.

Surrounded by family and friends who are very special to this couple, they decided to incorporate a shell ceremony involving all theirs guests. Each guest was given a seashell and asked to make a wish for the couple. The shells were then collected and placed in a vase as a memento of this day.

After the ceremony, the couple and their guests enjoyed dinner and dancing at one of my favorite restaurants in Pismo Beach . To coordinate with the color scheme, the pastry chef made a beautiful cake such a special addition to the celebration! This was a special day for the two of them and will remember Pismo Beach and their wedding.

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Margo Dodd Gazebo Small Wedding

Sat, 16 Apr 2016 15:06:00 GMT

Margo Dodd Gazebo Small Wedding – Brian and Dawn

All weddings are very special, but this one had an added touch that was so meaningful to both the bride and her mother. You see, her mother played the flute as the bride walked down the aisle. This bride actually learned to play the flute while in middle school, using her mom’s flute. So this added a very personal note, as the melody drifted in the air.

The groom was so handsome, dressed in his Navy dress blues as he awaited his bride. The bride was equally stunning in her ivory dress and her beautiful strawberry blond long hair, as she approached the gazebo, escorted by her father. And neither of them stopped smiling throughout the ceremony and the photo session – though a tear did slip down her check as she said her vows.

Another special touch was when the bride’s nephew brought the rings to his Aunt Dee Dee, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. So sweet!

This couple’s wish for their future is that they continue to grow closer with each day, and that they continue to make many new memories in their future. They someday want to have their first home together, surrounded by children, and to grow old together. My wish is that they continue to make new memories, sprinkled with both laughter and tears and continue to create stories together based on all the adventures they will share.

The couple had one request for their special day. They asked that the minister express their heartfelt appreciation to their parents for the wonderful lives their parents have given them, for the hard work and guidance they have provided, and for their everlasting love, support, and encouragement. They said that it is from their parents that they have learned the true meaning of love, friendship, and family.

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Sunset Beach Wedding

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 05:14:00 GMT

Sunset Beach Wedding

What a beautiful location for a wedding! With the sun descending, slate blue ocean, white caps, and a beautiful blue sky, this Pismo Beach spot is becoming my favorite site for a wedding. The golden hour shined with the sun behind the couple as they celebrated their day as husband and wife.

This beautiful bride was escorted down the aisle by both her mother and her father during the sunset beach wedding. Her father then gave her hand to her groom, while friends and family looked on. While chatting with the bride’s mother, I learned that this was a dream-come-true for the bride who had always wanted a wedding at the beach. So, with the perfect setting, this beautiful bride got her wish – and her perfect husband. You could see the joy on their faces as they looked into each other’s eyes and said their “I do’s”.

The bride wore a beautiful cream-colored wedding dress and carried a bouquet of cream roses and blush-colored spray roses, which was the perfect accent. The groom had a matching boutonniere pinned to his shirt. And they both wore smiles throughout the entire ceremony.

And, from this day forth, may their worries be few, may their joys be many, and may their love grow more abundantly with each passing day. We even captured some fun photos with the bride’s brothers in their sunglasses.

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Wedding in Pismo Beach

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:12:00 GMT

Wedding in Pismo Beach – Dianne and Robert –

Not only was it a bright, sunny day at the beach, but the location for this wedding was dressed up with yellow chair sashes, shells and starfish marking the path, an arch with yellow sunflowers and touches of white and yellow accent flowers. The bride chose a bouquet of sunflowers, feverfew, roses, and mums. This fairytale wedding was over a year in the making, so the bride had time to plan all the extra touches that made her day so special. Her darling niece, also dressed in yellow, was her flower girl and her adorable nephew was the ring bearer. Accompanying her down the aisle were her both of her parents, as the groom waited for her under the arch. One of the most important photos for the bride was for the groom to see her reaction. I could tell that under those sunglasses he shed a tear of happiness – for this was the start of their new life together.

This intimate wedding with family and friends was so very special, as the guests shared in this joyful, happy occasion. The bride’s brother traveled all the way from Texas for this happy day. A few passersby who were strolling along the beach stopped their beach walk and paused to watch as the wedding took place in the sand at Pismo Beach, with the pier in the background.

After the wedding, the couple joined their family and friends for a luncheon at one of Pismo’s best seafood restaurant – a perfect ending to a memorable day. Hopefully, the couple will return here often to recapture the moment when they said “I do” and exchanged rings. In the meantime, they can always look at their photos and remember all the events of the day – from the walk down the aisle, to the first glance, and finally to the first kiss.

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Party Planning

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 23:36:00 GMT

My brain has been in the party planning mode for the last month or so. I have had to switch gears a little and do party planning for my little one’s 1st birthday! It is such an exciting time and I want to have all the extra details for her party.

For all party planning there are some tips to remember.

Well now it is time to do a little crafting for the party!! Happy party planning!!

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Beach Elopement + Pet

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 23:09:00 GMT

Thuy and Tyler – Beach Elopement +Pet –

A wedding is more than a celebration of the love which lives in the hearts of the bride and groom. It reaches into the future and proclaims their intentions of what tomorrow will hold. A couple who wed are joined not only by the mutual affection and the love they share, but also by their hopes, their dreams, and their promises of what will be. The promises and vows they make on their wedding day will guide them into their common future together.

Little did these two know that when they met in Las Vegas they would be sharing a life together. For this couple, they expressed their own hand-written, heart-felt vows for each other and sealed the vows with a kiss. Their expectant child was clearly a part of this wedding as the groom placed his hand on his bride’s tummy and gave the baby a tender kiss.

And, there was another important participant at this wedding – their dog BeBe. And how adorable he looked, all dressed up in his bow tie and tuxedo! He was dressed quite appropriately for the occasion, and looked so handsome. He not only shared in the festivities of the day, but he really added an element of “cuteness” to the day. And, the photo ops were endless.

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A new way to look at wedding planning

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 22:11:00 GMT

A new way to look at wedding planning – When I look back on being a bride I was a big planner. I had to do list for the to do list! It seemed that my to do list kept on growing – even on the day of the wedding there were a lot of things that just didn’t get done. I think too many nights on Pinterest was a HUGE downfall. I wanted every little cute details that other brides were having for their wedding. Sometimes I think the days before we had internet were the best! Many times I feel that I am on information overload!! I recently came across an article about wedding planning and it brought up some great points.

I want my couple to learn a new way to look at wedding planning.

Here is my favorite quote…”the most magical moments of your day will be the ones you probably didn’t plan.” By having this attitude you won’t be bummed if the place cards didn’t match your invitations or if your didn’t have a chance to pick a signature drink. Go with the flow, leave most of the planning to me, and let whatever happens happen!!

So now that you know some new ways to look at wedding planning, maybe some of the wedding stress can be taken away.

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Cambria Beach Elopement

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:42:00 GMT

Cambria Beach Elopement

This couple, who live in Oregon, outside of Portland, had a very special request. They asked that we travel to San Simeon for their elopement. Originally, we were going to hike to a secluded spot that they had chosen several months before. It was up a winding path, above the beach, and nestled in the trees. But, the couple ended up with a Cambria Beach Elopement, surrounded by cypress trees, on a bluff overlooking the oceanThe ocean was a sparkly blue as was the sky, and clouds floated by on this bright, sunny day. Though the location had changed, everything was perfect.

The couple had requested a religious ceremony, with some Catholic elements, since the bride is Catholic. I always love to personalize the ceremonies, so for this couple, I not only added a special prayer at the beginning of the wedding, but also a blessing of the rings, in addition to a final blessing. And, since we were surrounded with such beautiful scenery, I made several references to our surroundings.

The couple had composed letters to each other that they read before saying their “I do’s”, mentioning that their relationship began with friendship, then love, and then devotion, leading up to their commitment to each other today. Their words to each other were so intimate and personal, as were the smiles and kisses they exchanged throughout the ceremony. They were so much in love!

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Ocean Elopement Pismo Beach

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 23:51:00 GMT

Ocean Elopement Pismo Beach – Aurora and Ted

My favorite part about this elopement was after the ceremony the couple embraced their children in a group hug! Blending two families can sometimes be difficult – but you could feel the love that this family had towards each other. I was especially touched when I asked the bride if she wanted a picture with her daughter only and she said, “they both are my daughters.” While the girls shared a touching moment, the groom and the boys opted for a silly pose showing their “guns.”

This ocean elopement in Pismo Beach was the perfect location for this new family! The bride’s granddaughter even was able to join in the happy celebration. As a surprise to the Aurora, after Ted recited his vows to her he sang her a song. It was so beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Though most weddings bring tears to my eyes!!

The couple made the long journey from Los Angeles to celebrate their ocean elopement in Pismo Beach. Under an old cypress tree the couple recited their own vows and pledged their love to each other on their special wedding day.

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Wedding Ceremony

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:53:00 GMT

Wedding Ceremony – Felicia and Eli –

When these two decided to go out one night for a little dancing, I’m sure they had no idea that they would meet the person they were going to marry. Eli made a little remark that caught Felicia off guard. She wasn’t too sure about this man at first. But then, when he showed he was a true gentleman by walking her to her car and texting to make sure she got home ok, Felicia knew there was something special about him.

Early in January, these two tied the knot overlooking the beaches at Pismo. Their wedding ceremony took place at a local hotel with a panoramic ocean view from Point Sal to Avila Beach. Close family witnessed their wedding ceremony and celebrated their special day. After the wedding ceremony the couple went down to the beach to capture the wedding day with the ocean in the background. Along with the wedding ceremony celebration the couple had dinner at one of my favorite Italian food places. Eli had not been to Pismo Beach before so Felicia was able to show him around and enjoy their wedding day exploring a new city. Pismo Beach and the area around has a very nice small town feel to it. It is perfect for a get away since it is close to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

These two were a great start to our wedding season for 2016. I was so happy to be part of their special day. I know they will have a happy life together and come back to visit Pismo to celebrate their anniversary.

To view their video click here

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Wedding Invitation Wording

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:34:00 GMT

Wedding Invitation Wording – The way wedding invitations are worded have changed a lot over the years!

I just came across this great website, Invitation Consultants that had a TON of ways to word a wedding invite. Where was this information when I was crafting mine?!?!

I think that it is ok to have a fun, informal wedding invitation. The days of Mr. and Mrs. Cook invite you to share in the wedding of their daughter Emily Cook to Mr. Robert James is a little too formal for me.

I like “Please join in celebrating the marriage of” and then including the couple’s name.

I also like, “Together with their families” as a way to start the invitation.

One of my favorites was, “Charles, Nicole and Mark are pleased to announce the marriage of their mother Phyllis Rose Wilson to Josh Gilligan.” I love how the couple included their children in this invitation.

The basics that should be included in the wedding invitation are:

Here is a simple example:

Please join in celebrating the marriage of

Jennifer Sue

and

Richard Jacob

Saturday April 19, 2016

at one o’clock in the afternoon

Ebb Tide Park

Pismo Beach, CA

Dinner reception to follow

So the wedding invitation is just one piece of paper that needs to be included in the envelope.

Other things that need to be included are:

Does this sound like a lot of paper? Take a look at my blog on using Paperless Post an e-vite invite service http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/wedding-invitations-paper-vs-evites/.

Wedding invitation wording can be tricky so always have someone proof read the invitations for you before you have them printed.

Here are some other examples that I liked from Invitation Consultants.

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Up Themed Beach Wedding

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:51:00 GMT

Up Themed Beach Wedding – As a special request, Cassandra and Leonard asked for a bunch of balloons for their wedding day. They eloped at Pismo Beach and wanted and Up themed beach wedding. Since this was an elopement, the couple was planning a party with family and friends. Cassandra told me that for their reception party, they were doing a Disney Pixar UP theme and wanted some pictures with balloons. I was so excited with her request! I had noticed balloons being used in wedding pictures when I looked around Pinterest. I thought, wow…it would be so much fun to have a couple who wanted to do that. I got my wish and had so much fun with Cassandra and Leonard. I have to say that Cassandra had the best smile! You could tell the two of them had a true love that will last a lifetime.

These two said their own vows with sand and surf at their feet. Plus, w ho could help but smiling when seeing the happy couple holding a multi-colored array of balloons.

The wedding is suppose to reflect the personality of the couple. I was lucky to be part of this special day with the couple and see how their fun loving personality shinned through. They sure were up in LOVE!

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Dog Friendly Beach Wedding

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 22:42:00 GMT

Dog Friendly Beach Wedding –

Are you thinking of having your 4 legged friend be part of your wedding ceremony? Your pet is one of the family and deserves to be a guest at your special day. Many times your pet is also part of the wedding ceremony.

On the Central Coast, there are quiet a few dog friendly beaches. One beach in Avila is actually called Dog Beach and dogs are allowed to run, jump, and swim at this beach. Avila Beach is a nice location to get married at. It does require a beach permit to get married and we can take care of that for you. In Pismo Beach dogs are also allowed on the beach. Here the dog will need to be on a leash.

Some ideas for how to include your pet at your dog friendly beach wedding:

– The ring barker – Instead of a ring bearer why not have the dog have the rings tied around their neck or carry a pillow on their back with the rings

– You can designate a child to be in charge of walking the dog down the aisle and the dog can wear a sign that says “here comes the bride”

– Have the pet wear matching clothes. I found a dog tie on Etsy for my pup. Since our colors with purple and orange Skip had an orange tie.

– Take photos with the dog in them

If you are bringing your dog to the wedding here are somethings to remember:

– Bring a kennel or crate for the dog. If the dog happens to misbehave or bark a lot, a friend or family member can put the dog in the crate and off to the side

– Make sure to bring water, food, and snacks

– Always have a leash, even if dogs are allowed without a leash it is best to have one just in case you need to keep the dog close by

– If your dog is not the most social, make sure you tell friends and family that before they go to pet the dog

– If it is a warm, sunny day be sure to have shade for the dog. Maybe a small beach umbrella would work to bring shade

Our dog wasn’t allowed at the ceremony, but we snuck him in his crate. He then some how managed to be placed under our table at the reception. So he pretty much was with us the whole time! We have some great pictures of him while I was getting ready in the hotel room, pictures during the reception and then some of the three of us.

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Elegant Beach Elopement

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 02:40:00 GMT

As a couple who loves road trips, it was only fitting that this couple would travel from Canada to California to be married. While on a road trip to Detroit, they realized how special they were to each other and that they could picture a life together. So, on a beautiful fall day on the central coast, with toes in the sand, they pledged their love and faithfulness to each other. They also pledged their commitment to their children who will become an important part of this newly blended family.

For their honeymoon, since they love exploring and getting in the car and just driving to find new and fun things to do, they were headed up Highway 1 to explore a most scenic stretch of the California coast – just the start of many more travel adventures!

How important relationship, family, and love is blended family so commitment is to each other and to the children that will become part of this newly blended family.

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Winery Elopement

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:57:00 GMT

Winery Elopement

Ashely and Jason – November Wedding

It was love at first sight for this couple as they spotted each other during the first day of an Air Force training course. Today they were joined by the bride’s parents to mark the beginning of their new life as husband and wife. With a hint of autumn coolness in the air, a bright blue sky above, and surrounded by vineyards in shades of golds, yellows, and tans, this couple pledged their love and faithfulness to each other from this day forward.

This setting held special meaning to the bride, who used to come to this very spot with her dad when she was little. They would select old wine barrels that he would then turn into works of art. But, today they were here for a different occasion – one that brought tears of joy to the bride and her dad. After the ceremony, they were treated to a special wine pairing with cheeses and meats, set up outside the barrel room, with the sun at their backs and the road to their future ahead. Cheers to this special military couple!

This couple was married as part of our winery elopement package . We have winery elopement packages located in Santa Barbara County on California Central Coast .

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The search for a beach wedding location

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:49:00 GMT

The search for a beach wedding location

I’ve been busy meeting with couples these past few weeks. It has been fun to take them around to each of the locations and see their excitement when they’ve found that special beach wedding location.

It takes me back to my search for a wedding location when I was planning my wedding. I remember looking up and down the state for a wedding location. My husband and I had friends and family all over the state and even out of the country. Because of this, we were ok with a destination wedding spot. We considered Portland and Hawaii…talk about destination wedding! When we toured each of the places I was excited to see what they had to offer. All of the locations were great ones with some nice features. Since I had found the majority of the locations online, it was important for me to make sure the pictures matched the real location. One of the spots I found had a lot better photos than online, while another one was so much better in person. There was this one location that still stands out in my brain today…it was located past Santa Cruz. It was surrounded up these tall trees with the ocean far off in the distance. The ceremony would be outside in their garden and the reception in an old historical home. My husband and I knew right then THAT WAS THE SPOT! Well, it actually didn’t turn out to be our spot. The location was amazing, but the lady couldn’t give us a price on the food or what the food selections would even be, the hotels in the area were going to be expensive for our guests since it was summer time, the location wouldn’t do a no host bar, and the destination was a little too far away from where we were living so planning was going to be tough (AND they didn’t have a wedding planner to help coordinate the details). I have to admit my heart sunk. But my search continued!

I am happy to say I found the PERFECT location for my wedding! I was lucky to get a great off season discount on a roof top reception spot in Santa Barbara. The view of the city lights, the delicious food, the dancing, a place on budget, our signature drink, and the most important part – saying I DO.

So, if you have your heart set on a location, just know there are other spots out there for you. I am happy to take you on a wedding location tour around the Central Coast. Pismo Beach and Shell Beach are some very beautiful places to get married. There are also some of my favorite places to eat around here. Let us help you with your search for the perfect beach wedding location!

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Protected: Reception Location

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:36:00 GMT

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Winery Elopement Package

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:36:00 GMT

Winery Elopement Package

$1250

Fall Time at the Vineyards

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Cliff Wedding in Pismo Beach

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:05:00 GMT

Cliff Wedding in Pismo Beach

On a beautiful windy fall day, high upon the cliffs of Pismo Beach , this couple was united in marriage. This small elopement wedding was especially touching, since the bride and groom had waited 10 years for this momentous day.

Before they met, their lives were on separate roads, going in different directions and leading to different destinations. But, somewhere along the way this couple met, fell in love, and today they found themselves standing together at the entrance of a new path that will forever join their once separate journeys into one. To symbolize this blending of two lives, this couple chose a sand ceremony to incorporate into their wedding day. And as the sand was blended into one container, they were joined together and they began to walk hand-in-hand along the path of their marriage, inseparable as the grains of sand. The bagpipes played Amazing Grace as this couple were married.

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It is a New Year! Is it time to say I DO?

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:02:00 GMT

Happy New Year! I can’t believe how fast 2015 went by. I think it went quicker than I thought because of our new baby. She celebrated her first Christmas so 2015 was a very special year. Along with following the wedding trends for 2016 I am thinking of planning our little one’s first birthday. I think I am spending too much time on Pinterest…ha!

We have been in full swing with weddings for 2016 and even 2017. Summer and fall are still the most popular times to get married. We’ve started out the year with some rain so I’m not sure about El Nino. I’m excited to have a small wedding next week at one of our indoor locations. We will be trying out a new wedding arch so let’s cross our fingers that it will work! Our arch last year didn’t do so well with the windy beach weather.

If you are one of those brides who has been wanting to get married for a few years and are too stressed we have some great new packages to help you. The Just the Two of us wedding package is perfect for the couple who is wanting to get away and say I do. Our other packages are for weddings with some guests. We believe is keeping our weddings small and intimate so that means that the largest wedding we coordinate is 50 people. We can help with larger weddings but there can sometimes we challenges with permits. I think I am a pro at planning the smaller weddings because I had 45 guests at my wedding. When I look back all of our true friends and family were there. It really didn’t seem like a small wedding to me – it seemed like the PERFECT wedding.

Let us help plan your small beach wedding today!

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Customer Service

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 18:49:00 GMT

With Christmas less than 10 days away I am anxiously awaiting deliveries of presents. This year I did a lot of my Christmas shopping online. With online shopping comes delays in processing, shipping, communication and delivery. I am sure I am not the only customer who wants to know where their package is. I can understand that businesses must get a lot of emails this time of year.

I’ve encountered some great customer service and some not so great customer service. As I am on the end as a customer I am reminded how my couples must feel when they are going through the process of finding the right place to have their wedding. I try to provide couples with top customer service – responding back to emails within a certain amount of time, answering questions (even those questions that may seem small to me but are important for the bride to get an answer on), and being positive and helpful whenever I can! By being a customer this holiday season I am reminded of what not to my clients and how I shouldn’t treat them.

For my shopping I used Etsy to buy a lot of things. I like how the gifts are unique and one of a kind. I worked with a lady who didn’t have a lot of sales but great feedback for an ornament. She was so nice to work with! She answered all of my questions (even the ones she probably thought were not important), got back to me right away, and shipped out the item quickly. For another gift I used a shop with a lot of sales. This shop didn’t provide great customer service and wrote back an email quoting their policies and didn’t add any holiday cheer to their message. It didn’t really make me think that I wanted to buy from them in the future. Great customer service can set a shop (or business) apart from another. One of my goals is to make the bride and groom’s wedding experience positive from the first email they write to me to the last email I send to them.

I hope you have had some great customer service experiences and let the business know what a great job they did!

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How to add a little sparkle to your wedding ceremony

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 04:29:00 GMT

How to add a little sparkle to your wedding ceremony

The holidays make me think about things that sparkle. Adding a little sparkle to your wedding ceremony adds a little glam to your special day. Here are some ways to add that extra shimmer to your day.

Decorations

Accessories

Reception

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Giving gifts with meaning

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 04:17:00 GMT

This is the time of year to give gifts. Everywhere I look something is on sale or there is an email telling me I am going to save 50% off if I purchase by midnight. This year I am trying to really think about the gifts I give to people. In years past I would make a mad dash to the store and buy things just because I had to. Then, when the time would come to open the gift I was a little disappointed because I thought I really should have put more effort into the gift and thought about what the person would really want. A few years ago, I thought I’d be Martha Stewart. I went on Pinterest and found all these holiday crafts I was going to make as gifts. I then went to Michael’s and purchased a lot of paper, glitter, glue, and wood. Turns out I am not Martha Stewart and it really is better to leave the crafting to people on Etsy!

With 2 more weeks until Christmas I feel that I have taken the time to give gifts that mean something. The other day I was out with my mom and she saw a sweater she really likes. I made a mental note to get that sweater for her. It is now under the tree (I hope mom is not reading my blog!!). Since this is my daughter’s first Christmas I am also doing something special for family that involves her. For her Christmas gift, we are getting her an Elmo book that is personalized with her name on it. I just love books! I still have a lot of my books from my childhood and it is so special to read them to my little one now.

For my first Christmas with my husband I got us an ornament with Mr and Mrs on it. He got me a framed picture of one of our wedding photos. That was really all I wanted – especially since we had a lot of frames around the house with no pictures in it.

So this year, when out buying gifts, consider the meaning in the gift. Just don’t give a gift because.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:47:00 GMT

We just got our Christmas tree today so I am in the holiday spirit! I have Pandora playing holiday tunes and I am singing songs to my little one. Tonight Rudolph is on TV and I am planning to watch Christmas Vacation this weekend. For our couples who were married this year, this holiday is your first as a married couple. Many times the holidays can bring on stress – blending of two families. But, take some time to come up with traditions for your new family – the family as husband and wife.

Maybe start a tradition of going shopping for a tree on a certain date with hot cocoa in your hands. I LOVED Christmas Tree Lane in Fresno!! This may be a fun thing to do with family and walk the lane on the nights it is closed to cars. Or in Bakersfield, take a drive around all the houses that are decorated. I remember driving around West Chester when I was a child. Other traditions could be about cooking a certain meal. My husband and I took my tradition of a chile egg cheese puff and his breakfast tradition of tamales and blended the two together to get a chile egg tamale puff!

Another great idea is to pick up holiday ornaments for your tree. When decorating the tree tonight I remembered each ornament and the meaning it had. We had one from Colorado from our honeymoon, one with the Chipmucks on it from a trip we took to Disneyland, and my most favorite was our ornaments we got the year we started dating from Olivera Street in LA.

Wishing all of you a happy holiday season!!

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What I’m thankful for

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 22:54:00 GMT

I am thankful that I have an opportunity to bring love and joy to the hearts of the couples we marry. I consider myself a people person and like to interact with others and put a smile on their face. So many brides are stressed out from the planning of their weddings. I remember one bride say she had a large wedding planned and had to cancel it because of the pressures of family, I had another couple travel from across the US to get married because they wanted to escape everyone telling them how their wedding should be, and I had another bride tell me she knew she wanted to get married but didn’t know where to start. One of the reasons why I have this business is because I can understand where the brides are coming from. I planned a friend’s wedding on a limited budget and short time frame, plus I planned my wedding, which turned out being a large event to us finally saying I do with a small intimate wedding (so much better!!).

I am also thankful for my wonderful staff! Without them, I would not be able to give the couples the wedding they dream about. Lynda, our minister takes time to put together a ceremony that captures the couples hopes for their future. Julie provides lifelong memories with the photos. Adrianne make sure the ceremony details and put together before the guests arrive. So, team, I am THANKFUL for you!

Finally, I am thankful for all the couple out there who trusted Coastal California Weddings to coordinate their special day.Thank you to all the couples!

I look forward to next year and making more couple’s wishes come true.

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Pismo Beach Pier Elopement

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:11:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Pier Elopement – Under the pier in Pismo Beach, where this couple had their first date, these two recited their vows.There is an old song entitled “I Only Have Eyes for You”, and that is exactly how it was for this couple. These two had know each other for years, but their life was always going in a different direction. After years of seeing each other, they reconnected and it was like time had stood still. These two caught up on the beaches of Pismo, walking for hours in the sand. They soon realized that their love had grown and it was time to make a commitment to each other. As the bride read her vows they both started to cry and realized that there wasn’t anyone else in the world they would want to spend the rest of their life with.

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LOVE is a wonderful thing!

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 18:12:00 GMT

Today I am reminded about my wedding day. Tomorrow will be my anniversary. I remember the day before wedding jitters, excitement, and nervousness. But most of all, I remember the commitment my husband and I made between to each other. As I wrote in a past post, the vows we made to each other were and are our foundation for our life together. Each day our love continues to grow. But each day also brings new challenges, new memories, new smiles, and new adventures. We were so lucky to welcome our little girl into the world this year and to grow our family.

I wish I could have stopped time for a few minutes because the wedding day will go by very fast! I remember sitting on the stairs with my husband during the reception and reflecting on what we had accomplished that day and letting him know how much I loved him.

A few months later, a friend of mine was getting married. I gave her this piece of advice: “Take a few minutes before the wedding ceremony to take it all in and remember that this is ONE day, in the many days to come, you will share with your husband. Then at the wedding reception…sneak off with your husband and take a few minutes to sit back and take it all in. Also, on that day, don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or thinking or not having fun or having fun – JUST WORRY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SPECIAL DAY!”

So really, your wedding day is about the two of you – the love you share, the start of a new foundation, and the vows you make. I’ve seen many brides get wrapped up in the details of the wedding, expectations of others, and hurt feelings. I encourage brides who may be feeling like the wedding isn’t about them to consider having a small wedding or eloping. YES, someone will get their feelings hurt, but come on….the DAY IS ABOUT YOU!!

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A little down time

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:28:00 GMT

Last week was a very busy week! There were more weddings that normal that we coordinated. It was a great week and all the weddings were beautiful. There was Fall in the air and in the colors of the bride’s bouquets. All guests were sharply dressed and helped the couple celebrate their I dos. As the year comes to an end I am taking a few days to sit back and reflect on the weddings of the year. When I do this, I think about 2016 and start planning to marry more happy couples.

I first started with a little down time for me. I treated myself to a relaxing foot massage. I sure needed that with all the walking, moving, and shaking I did last week. I was also able to clear my mind and focus on L-O-V-E. I had been wanting to change the logo a little. I played around with some new fonts and worked with my designer to create a new, modern logo design. I kept the starfish since that is a perfect image of what we do – love by the beach! Next, I focused on the photos on the website. I really wanted to showcase all the beautiful weddings. I wish I could have posted pictures of ALL of the couples but there were certain photos that really spoke to me this year. With a lot of our couples coming from out of town I needed to show them the beauty in our coastline. My next task is to take a look at our packages and what we offer. Stay tuned for new and exciting things happening in 2016. I’ll share that I’m thinking about offering a music package with the larger weddings. Music always helps to create the mood and why not help to create a romantic mood from the start.

I’m looking forward to Halloween and dressing up my daughter in her first Halloween costume. Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays. I liked getting dressed up in costumes and how the air always turned crisp the night of Halloween. I just hope I don’t break into the bag of candy I just bought – I sure hope I have will power!!!

Next week I’ll tackle the last part of website with the packages and give things one more look. This little break has been nice and will get things going on the right foot for next year. The holidays are the best time for engagements. I would know since my husband proposed to me right before Thanksgiving.

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Tips for Writing Your Own Wedding Vows

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 02:26:00 GMT

Tips on Writing Your Own Wedding Vows/Letter of Love

Writing your own wedding vows can seem like a huge task, but, with a little planning, you can write the perfect vows. You can also use these guidelines to help compose a letter to your spouse that you might read during the ceremony.

Remember to make what you recite meaningful to you both and make the words suit your relationship and the future you’ll build together. Here are a few things to consider.

Start Early

With all the planning that goes into a wedding, carve out some time to work on your vows. Waiting until the last minute can cause too much stress, so get to work as soon as you can.

Do Your Research/Find Inspiration

Read sample vows; collect quotes from books you have read or favorite authors. You might even use lines from favorite movies. Now you can incorporate small parts into something that is original. Use you bits of research as a jumping-off point. But, in the end, make it your own.

Here are some examples: https://apracticalwedding.com/wedding-vow-examples/

Jot Down More Thoughts Than You Will Use

Spend some time reflecting on your spouse and on your relationship together. Here are some questions you might answer to get you started:

What made you decide to get married?

What are some of the storms or difficult times you have weathered together?

What do you want to accomplish together? (maybe travel, start a family, start a business)

What about your relationship makes the two of you such a good pair or match?

What did you think when you first saw your fiancé?

When did you realize you had fallen in love?

What do you most respect about your partner or what quality do you most admire?

How has your life gotten better since meeting your mate?

Why are the two of you good for each other?

How has your partner made your life more complete?

What do you miss most about them when you’re apart?

Decide on the Tone

Do you want this to be an emotional, romantic moment or would you rather insert a little humor into your vows? Decide on the tone with your spouse. If you can’t agree, there is no rule that he can’t be a little more humorous than you. Remember that these are your vows and this is your wedding. Do decide if you want to write them separately or together. Maybe you both want to say the same thing, but you each want to add a separate sentence or two at the beginning of the vows.

Create a Framework Including Several Promises

These are your vows or promises to each other. Be sincere and speak from your heart.

Sample Template:

Your vows are normally divided into two parts: your declaration of love and your promises.

Declaration of Love

Make a statement about who your spouse is to you. You might say something like “You are my very best friend, the person I want to be with forever”.

Say a few things about what makes your spouse so perfect for you. For example, “You always bring a smile to my face, even when I have had a really bad day”. Or, “You brighten my life; each day is a new adventure”. “When I am feeling the worst, you always surprise me with an amazing lasagna dinner”.

Now, say you love your mate. “You are best thing that ever happened to me, and I love you so much.” Or, “I love you so much and I cannot believe that we will be spending all of our tomorrows together as husband and wife I feel so fortunate that you have chosen me to be your friend, your love, your spouse”.

The Promises

Make promises about what you will do for your partner. How will you support your spouse through the good times and the stormy times? If you are religious, you’ll probably also want to include language about your faith.

“In front of God and our family and friends, I promise to forever love and support you, making each day better than the one before.” Or, if children are also involved, you might include them in the vows by mentioning that you will not only love your spouse but that you will also support and encourage the children.

You might also want to talk about the things you will do with your spouse. You might say: “We have already been to some amazing places. May we continue to explore new places and find new adventures”. Or, “Together we will surround our family with love”.

Promise to be supportive in good times and in bad. You might say: “I promise to comfort you when you are sad and share your joy when you are happy”.

End with a length of time, like “for all of your tomorrows”.

Write Your First Draft

Now that you have collected some information and given some thought to the tone of the vows and what you want to promise each other, write the first draft. Remember that this is just a start and you can revise it as many times as you wish.

Re-read and Revise

This is the time to read out loud what you have written. Take out anything that doesn’t fit the occasion. Make sure the vows sound like you and reflect your relationship. Time what you are saying to about 2 or 3 minutes.

Practice Out Loud

Remember to stand up tall and practice looking into your spouse’s eyes. You do not need to memorize your vows if you do not want to. The more you practice, the more natural your voice will sound and the more natural your delivery will be.

Make a Clean Copy for Yourself

Do have the vows written in final form, on an index card or paper that matches the color scheme of your wedding. You might even write them in a small, decorative notebook that you can keep in a keepsake box with other mementos from your wedding. As you walk down the aisle, you can tuck your vows or letter into a pocket, carry it with your bouquet, or let one of your attendants hand it to you when needed. If you plan to memorize your vows, give a copy to your maid of honor or best man, just in case your mind goes blank. That way someone will at least have a copy for you to read.

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Writing your own vows

Wed, 14 Oct 2015 18:46:00 GMT

This past Tuesday I had the pleasure of marrying a couple who had a second chance a love. Both of their spouses had passed away and through Facebook these two had reconnected. Their first date was in Pismo so it was perfect for them to elope there. When talking to the couple, the bride was not wanting to write their own vows, but right before the ceremony she pulled out a piece of paper where she had written some vows. It touched my heart when the tears began to flow as she read the vows to her husband to be.

A wedding is a special time. The words that are said are the foundation for years to come. When planning your wedding, consider writing your own vows. It could be something as simple as what your responsibilities are as a spouse – I promise to love you, to respect you, to make you laugh, to watch football with you even though it is not my favorite! Or it could be a poem that you came across – you brought me sunshine when I only saw rain, you bought me laughter when I only saw pain. Or you could be something that is not written down that you decide to say the day, on the spot.

If speaking in front of people isn’t something you are good at, you could always write vows and then have the minister speak them at ceremony.

For some tips on writing your own vows or a poem see http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/tips-for-writing-your-own-wedding-vows/ .

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The Meaning of Some Popular Wedding Songs

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 22:35:00 GMT

The Meaning of Some Popular Wedding Songs –

Below are some popular wedding songs and the meaning of the songs.

Traditional/Classical Interlude Songs

Arioso from Cantana BWV 156
Artist: Johann Bach
Genre: Classical

Soft melodies fit the general theme for wedding interlude songs – Arioso is a classical piece that fits this perfectly. Many classical songs can be shortened without any real notice in change from beginning to end.

Prelude No. 1 in C Major
Artist: Johann Bach
Genre: Classical

From “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, Prelude No.1 is another soft, classical piece that fits well with any interlude transitional period for the ceremony. The series has many other pieces that you may be interested in – this one is just a personal favorite.

Consolation No. 3 in D-Flat Major
Artist: Franz Liszt
Genre: Classical

The Consolations are solo piano pieces by Franz Liszt. Again, these types of pieces are easily shortened in order to meet your timing needs for the interlude.

Amazing Grace (Instrumental)
Artist: Various
Genre: Christian Hymn, Classical Era

While not traditionally considered classical, Amazing Grace (in its various varieties) is a wonderful song to compliment an interlude. We’ve chosen instrumental for the fact that this song’s lyrics may not translate well to an interlude transition.

Ode To Joy (Violin)
Artist: Beethoven
Genre: Classical

Traditionally played on a piano, Ode To Joy sounds much softer and calming when played on strings. Many versions of this piece has been played in modern film and television.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Solo Guitar)
Artist: Johann Bach
Genre: Classical

Even if the theme of your ceremony music is classical, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring sounds very unique and beautiful on a guitar. To us, the guitar version feels lighter and suits the interlude better than the traditional version.

Contemporary Interlude Songs

From This Moment On
Artist: Shania Twain
Genre: Country Pop, Adult Contemporary
Release: 1998

“From this moment, life has begun. From this moment, you are the one.” Perfect lyrics for wedding interlude music. Shania Twain provides beautiful vocals in this well-known 90’s love song.

River Flows in You
Artist: Yiruma
Genre: New Age Instrumental
Release: 2001

Yiruma is an extremely gifted South Korean pianist. River Flows in You is one of his most famous pieces and is a PERFECT interlude choice for someone looking for an unforgettable piano solo.

Princess Bride
Artist: Roy Todd
Genre: Miscellaneous Instrumental
Release: 2012

Growing in popularity for weddings, Princess Bride is a beautiful piano piece that would work well for any interlude. The album from which this song is from, “ The Wedding Bride’s Piano “, has a wide variety of piano-based melodies that would work well for many portions of your ceremony.

Bless the Broken Road
Artist: Rascall Flatts
Genre: Country
Release: 2004

This song was originally written by Marcus Hummon, but the Rascal Flatt’s version is by far the most successful and popular – it was #1 on the Billboard country music charts in 2005. As romantic country songs go, this is definitely worth consideration for your ceremony.

At Last
Artist: Beyonce
Genre: Soul Blues
Release: 2008

A very familiar song by Etta James – Beyonce adds a contemporary and refreshing twist to the classic with her cover. This song was included on the soundtrack for the film Cadillac Records which released in 2008. The lyrics and melody of this song are very appropriate for an interlude.

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Artist: Bryan Adams
Genre: Soft Rock
Release: 1991

Seven whole weeks at the #1 spot on Billboard Hot 100 – this very popular 90’s song has powerful lyrics and lulling melody that’s perfect for an interlude. The song was released for the soundtrack of the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves .

The Wedding Song
Artist: Paul Stookey
Genre: Folk
Release: 1969

Obviously titled to fit the occasion, The Wedding Song has been used in many weddings throughout the last few decades. Stookey wrote this song paraphrasing the text of Genesis 2:24.

I’ll Always Be Right There
Artist: Bryan Adams
Genre: Soft Rock
Release: 1997

Bryan Adams has a knack for producing tear-jerkers, and this song is no exception. The lyrics and tone for this song make it another great fit for any interlude playlist.

A Moment Like This
Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary
Release: 2002

Kelly Clarkson sang this song as her final performance with heavy emotion after the announcement that she had just won American Idol: Season 1. The song topped the charts and is very recognizable even over a decade later.

– See more at: http://www.foreverweddingmusic.com/wedding-interlude-songs.html#sthash.TA41EOPa.dpuf

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Sometimes you buy it yourself…

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:33:00 GMT

Sometimes you buy it yourself…I was catching up on some reading of Bride’s Magazine, checking out the trends, and came across an article about getting married at an older age. I had to laugh when I read. “At some point, you just suck it up and buy the La Cruset yourself.” I’m not really sure I would have splurged to buy the brand name cast iron pot, but I sure did buy the TJ Maxx cast iron pot for myself. Not to mention, I also bought the silverware, cups, every day dishes and towels for myself. I find that a lot of people are getting married at an older age and they already have the traditional items most couples register for. I don’t know if it is because we are enjoying our career, freedom and independence a little too much or if it takes a little longer time to find the right person. I was married in my early-thirties and YES…it took me a little longer to find Mr. Right!! When you get married later on in life you buy all the household items like pots, pans, dish towels, food processor, blender – you know…most of the things you register for and get as gifts.

I recently had a bride tell me that she lives with her husband-to-be and asked what is the nice way to ask guests for money for a honeymoon. This becomes a tricky thing…you don’t want to be greedy and have guests think all you want is money…but money would be an easier gift. (I still have Macy’s gift cards from my wedding that took place a few years ago!)

Ideas for “registering” for money instead of traditional household items:

– Hint around to family that money would be a great gift idea since you two wanted to plan a nice honeymoon or save up for something special.

– Find a few household items and register for those to make it easier on guests who don’t want to give you money. I’m sure your would like a matching set of bath towels or a new set of dishes without chips on them would look nice in the kitchen cabinet.

– Check out Honeymoon Fund for a neato website for asking for money for gifts and way for guests to see what you will use the money for. http://www.honeyfund.com/how-to-ask-for-cash

– Think outside the registry box by letting guests know you have registered at Home Depot. Chances are guests will not buy you a shovel, but they probably will get you a gift card to Home Depot and you can use the gift card for a new washer and dryer or home improved items.

– Be honest and just let guests know you want the money. Honesty is the best policy? Be polite about asking for money. For example, if you are saving up for a new couch, include a card that has a picture of the couch on it and say something nice like – We are saving up for this fluffy, comfy couch so we can relax and watch movies on it once we are Mr. and Mrs.

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Beach Wedding Ceremony

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 20:09:00 GMT

Beach Wedding Ceremony

How wonderful to see two people so much in love surrounded by their family and friends. Classical music played in the background as the guests arrived. Then, the bride emerged on the arm of her father. Both shed tears of joy as she was softly kissed by her dad and then given to her husband…such a touching moment.

The couple also celebrated a lasso ceremony. For this ceremony, a rope is placed around the bride and groom’s shoulders. The bride’s Aunt and Uncle were invited up to place the lasso over the couple’s shoulders in the form of the number 8 so it looks like the infinity symbol. This ceremony signifies their everlasting union. The couple wore the lasso throughout the remainder of the ceremony.

The waves crept up on the sand as this couple recited their vows and exchanged their rings. Their joy was apparent as they committed their love to each other and asked for God’s blessing as they begin their new life together.

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Tips for the Wedding Guests

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:20:00 GMT

Tips for the Wedding Guests –

Are you attending a wedding soon? Here are some tips for you, the wedding guest.

For most weddings, invited guests are close family and friends who are close to the couple and part of their life. The couple really wants you, the invited guest to be part of their wedding ceremony and special day. Here are some tips for wedding guests.

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Wedding Guests

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:56:00 GMT

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the nicest wedding guests at the last wedding we did. They were so thoughtful, welcoming, respectful and HAPPY for the couple!! I have seen some guests that I am not to happy with over the years (including some from my wedding who got a little out of control with a bread knife and a table!). I have a hard time understanding why guests think jeans are ok to wear to an event like a wedding. I even had a guest wear a baseball hat! Guests should behave, dress well, give gifts, and be respectful of the couple. This mean do not talk to each other when the minister is speaking, arrive on time, bring a gift or nice card, and limit the use of the cell phones. Remember, you are an invited guest. You are someone who the couple wants to share in their special day.

Check out my tips for guest here http://coastalcaliforniaweddings.com/tips-for-the-wedding-guests/

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Historical Sites In San Luis Obispo To Visit

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 22:02:00 GMT

Historical sites in San Luis Obispo to Visit –

Here are a few places you might want to check out if you are a history buff:

Butterfly Grove – Without fail, every year thousands of Monarch butterflies visit Pismo Beach where they seek shelter and relief from freezing northern winters. From October to February, they make Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, and Pacific Grove their home. Look up into the limbs of the eucalyptus trees in Pismo State Beach and you will see clusters of these orange and black colored butterflies suspended from the branches. If you want more information about the butterflies, visit the Natural History Museum in Morro Bay.

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa – This mission is the 5 ^th in order, founded in 1772, by Father Junipero Serra. Docent-led tours are available daily. This mission has an excellent museum filled with Chumash artifacts. The front façade of the building has three suspended bells that ring every day at noon.

Mission San Miguel – Another one of California’s historical and cultural treasures, this mission boasts beautiful old adobe buildings with foundations laid more than 200 years ago.

Point San Luis Lighthouse – May through October on Wednesdays and Saturday year round, tour the lighthouse in Avila Beach to learn its history and to get a glimpse into the life of a lighthouse keeper. At the historic Light Station Park, you can enjoy views stretching from Vandenberg to Avila.

Piedras Blancas Lighthouse – Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this lighthouse located in San Simeon is open to the public daily. This is a piece of our nation’s past and it played a vital role in maritime safety.

Pedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery – Here about 17,000 seals come to this rookery for birthing, breeding, molting, and resting. Come and take a peek.

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Pismo Beach Elopement – Samantha and Harry

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 21:16:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement

An elopement ceremony on the beach, with waves just steps, away is such a perfect setting for a wedding in Pismo Beach. Combine that with a glowing bride, a smiling groom, and a special guest to witness the occasion, and you have the beginning of a new chapter in life.

This couple sealed their love with a sand ceremony in which they placed rocks and sand in a jar, symbolizing the coming together of their two separate lives into one. The rocks represent the big thing in life (family, partner, health) and the grains of sand, gathered from this very beach where they were married, are all the other things in life (job, chores, small things that make up life). Marriage is a mix of both, but if you spend all your energy on the small things, you will not have time for the more important things that really matter in a marriage. This couple expressed that they want to continue to grow together and have a happy life by never getting so caught up with a career that they lose sight of everything that made them fall in love. They seem to have their priorities straight by focusing on the rocks!

This adventurous couple took a road trip all the way from Missouri to get married on our beautiful beaches!! Driving to stop in Las Vegas and Venice Beach, the couple was amazed by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. They were going to finish their road trip wedding/honeymoon up in Napa.

The bride’s mom made their flowers for them – so sweet! Plus,they can keep their wedding bouquet to take home with them.

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No Stress Wedding

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:03:00 GMT

My favorite of the week is how to have a no stress wedding. When thinking about my favorites for the week, I thought about my week. It was a pretty stressful week – there was way to much to do and not enough time to do it. I had a nice family vacation, but when I came back it was like I needed a vacation from the vacation! Not to mention the piles of laundry and house to clean for guests that were coming this weekend. Thank goodness my Mom was there to help with the little one and provide 2 extra hands to deep cleaning…thanks again Mom!!

Amidst the busy, I did make some extra time for me – time to destress! I don’t remember the last time I finished a book. A few weeks ago I stopped off at the Dollar Store and picked up a very good book (not to mention it was $1!). I actually have time to read this good book. I would unwind my mind at night at read and I even decided not to clean the house one day while my daughter was napping and read. When I finished the book I not only felt like I accomplished something, but I felt a little more rested. So many times my mind is on a million and 1 different things, but reading a book really relaxed me and helped me to destress.

Then, to top it off…I got a foot massage this week!! Talk about total relaxation!! It was nice to shut off my brain for an hour and to day dream about being at the ocean soaking up the sun. Soaking up the ocean with the ocean in the background is my happy place to go to. I think I slept so much better that night since I had a massage.

My favorite for the week is relaxation and being stress free. I remember when planning my wedding it was a very stressful time. There was always something to add to my to do list. I thought I could take it all on myself. I wish I would have make the wedding a little more simple. I try to help all the brides to simplify their weddings with our all inclusive packages. I think an elopement is an even better way to have a no stress wedding. Plus, I take care of a lot of the planning and provide a variety of resources for my couples. Life is stressful enough…let us plan your wedding on the Central Coast. Pismo Beach is a beautiful place to have a wedding!

For all your brides out there, please take some time for yourself. To relaxing maybe read a magazine, go to get a mani/ pedi, or take a nap one sunny Saturday outside. Take the time to turn things off and you will feel more relaxed and recharged.

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Love Letters

Wed, 05 Aug 2015 22:40:00 GMT

Love letters are my favorite for this week. I not only like getting love letters but I like writing them. A hand written letter is really a lost art! When is the last time you received something in the mail, with a stamp on it, written by someone? I still try to handwrite my notes. When my daughter was born I asked friends and family to write her a handwritten note. I think a hand written note is really one of those things to treasure. I keep all my cards and notes in a box in the closet.

I especially like hand written notes from my husband. He is a man of little words. So, when my birthday or our anniversary comes he takes the time to hand write a card to me. This is his love letter to me. The really make me cry because they are so sweet and sentimental.

We recently had a bride who hand wrote a note to her husband during their wedding ceremony. She took a lot of time and put her heart into the words she wrote. Writing things down on paper to express your love during your wedding ceremony is a great gift to give to the one you love. This letter can also be something you can give to your husband/ wife on your anniversary. Or better yet, you can write a note to your husband/ wife to be on the day of your wedding and save that note to give to them on their 1 year anniversary. In the letter you can put how excited or nervous you are, what your hopes and dreams are for the future, and what they mean to you.

A love letter doesn’t have to be to your husband or wife. The letter can be to your children, mother, father, brother or sister. Next time you are at the store, stop by the card aisle and pick up a blank card and write someone a love letter. I’m sure they will appreciate it!

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Plus of Planning a Small Wedding

Wed, 29 Jul 2015 23:20:00 GMT

Smaller sometimes really is better! I got started thinking of this idea of smaller things when I looked through my Facebook feed today and came across pictures of tiny homes. You know…those homes that are anywhere from 200 – 500 square feet. Some people put them together on trailers and others pack a family of 4 in them. I’ve always liked the idea of living with the essentials. Do we really need that much stuff? I always seem to be giving away or donating boxes of stuff because I just have too many things around. As Americans I think we like stuff and define ourselves by how much stuff we have or how big our storage unit is or how much we pack in our garage (and don’t use it to park a car in).

(Tiny house by http://wheelhaus.com/)

After I looked at some really cool tiny houses I started thinking more about the wedding business. I really enjoy planning small weddings! I think this is mostly because I had a small wedding of 45 people. Our initial list of invited guests was 150 people…not small! Then we started talking about the cost of a wedding that size and thought that we didn’t want to start out our future in debt. Another reason for shrinking the list including having a more intimate party/ reception. I wanted to be able to talk with each guest and personally thank them for showing up. Also, my life was full of stress back when we were getting married so I didn’t want to add more stress by having a large wedding and have more planning to do. As it was I planned the wedding details, decorations, flowers, guest gifts and other details that were involved for 45 people. I couldn’t imagine making 150 wine cork place cards.

So my vote is to have a smaller wedding! I have a lot of couples get married on the Central Coast since it is a destination wedding spot. That means they don’t feel obligated to invite all their cousins, extended relatives, or friends they don’t talk much to. If you two feel like you would leave out friends and family here is a great idea – have a small, simple beach wedding on the coast in Pismo Beach or Shell Beach, then plan a party at your house or a family member’s and invite everyone you would have to your large wedding. The party can be a celebration of the marriage. You can play a slideshow of wedding pictures and have fun with guests.

So brides and grooms…do you really need a big wedding? Let Coastal California plan your small wedding.

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Pismo Beach Elopement

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:49:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Elopement

Though this couple has said that they have weathered many storms together, today it was clear sailing for them – a perfect morning for a wedding. The ocean as a backdrop, gulls in the air, and cresting waves providing music in the background made the perfect setting for a “toes in the sand” elopement ceremony. And, to top that, this bride and groom were entertained with a display of fireworks from the Pismo Beach pier at dusk, as their wedding day drew to a close.

Yes, they were married on the 4 ^th of July! And what a celebration they had. By looking at the beach, you would think it was an ordinary day in Pismo. But we got up early for a morning elopement with this couple. The tide was perfect for a wedding on the beach here. It was a very special ceremony for the two of them as they exchanged their vows and pledged their love to each other.

Their commitment to one another coupled with their love and friendship will surely help them to honor their wedding vows so that the days ahead will be filled with happiness and contentment. May they continue to value, comfort, and respect each other and appreciate even the little things in life. And, may God continue to bless them as their love grows stronger with each day.

I will have to add that the bride and I had a ton of fun doing a trash the dress photo session after the ceremony! She was even daring enough to get up on a rock with the tide coming in so I could get a picture of her there. It still is one of my favorite photos today!

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Married in Pismo Beach

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 03:05:00 GMT

Married in Pismo Beach

A beach wedding is always a magical thing! With the sand at your feet, the waves crashing and the beautiful glow of the ocean. This young couple was happy to be celebrating their love and be married in Pismo Beach.

For a lot of us, Pismo Beach has memories of childhood – going to the beach for spring break, stopping by Splash, boogie boarding on the beach. But for a lot of our happy couples, Pismo Beach also brings love.

A gentle breeze, family and friends, roses and baby’s breath, a bride and a groom both wearing white – what could be more perfect for a wedding on the beach. And, as this married couple left the site after the ceremony, the cheers and applause from by-standers on the beach greeted them.

For their wedding pictures, the photographer took them under the pier. I always like the photos with the pier in the background or under the pier since it is so Pismo like. If you have a special connection to Pismo Beach, getting married with the pier in the back is always special. But, make sure to get married when it’s not the middle of summer! This couple was lucky since there were not a lot of people on the beach.

Weddings are such a special time to reflect upon what has led up to this moment and what the future holds for the newly-married couple. It is especially meaningful when loved ones can share in the moment and continue to encourage and support the couple. And, surely, this couple will receive plenty of support and love. Here’s to a happy life together!

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Wedding Rings

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 16:04:00 GMT

This week I was thinking about favorites with my wedding. I think I started thinking about this because I looked through our wedding photos last weekend. Photos are a great way to remember the memories, but most of all I like looking at the expressions on my face and my husband’s.

I love my wedding ring! I could not be happier with my ring! Now I know it is just a piece of jewelery, but it represents the vows that we took as a couple, in front of family and in front of God. Every time I look at my finger, I think of the vows we took or I think of the love we share or I think of the memories we’ve had, or challenges we’ve overcome. Then my mind wonders about our proposal and how my husband was so excited to propose to me and how I took that ring right from the box and put in on my finger (probably without saying yes yet!). Not only does my engagement ring have sentimental value, but my wedding ring (the ring that was put on my finger the day we said I do) belonged to my grandma Mimi. My grandparents had the love that I want for my future. My grandpa was so kind to my grandma. I remember when she was sick he would get up in the morning and bring her coffee in bed. I love their love story about how they snuck away to get married and about how they met in a grocery store. So my wedding ring has been blessed with their happy story of love. I can’t wait to sprinkle on more love to my ring for my little girl to have it on her special day!

When thinking of your engagement ring or wedding ring, think about what you want for your future. Don’t think about the biggest and blingish ring. Ladies, please don’t have your boyfriend go into debt buying you a ring. This may not be the best way to go into a future together. And men, please ask the girl you are going to propose to what rings she likes, or ask her best friend, mom, or sister for advice on what to buy. This ring is something that we will both be wearing for the rest of our lives!

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Honeymoon Spot – Monterey

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:51:00 GMT

Honeymoon Spot – Monterey

Less than 150 miles from San Luis Obispo, Monterey would make a good destination for a honeymoon after your central coast wedding. A “must-see” is the Monterey Bay Aquarium with its interactive exhibits as well as an up-close look at marine life. After your trip to the Aquarium, stroll along Cannery Row (named in honor of John Steinbeck), stop for lunch at one of the restaurants, sneak into one of several art galleries, stop for a bit of wine tasting, or just leisurely walk the streets. If a little more adventure is to your liking, rent a bike and petal along Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail, or scuba dive or kayak in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Next, travel to Fisherman’s Wharf for a walk along the wharf where you can stop at one of the restaurants with a menu featuring fish from the bay or venture to wharf 2 where commercial fishing boats are unloading the catch of the day. You might even be lucky enough to photograph sea otters as they splash in the harbor. For a closer look at marine life, you can take a glass bottom boat into the harbor or even go whale watching. A short distance away is the famous 17-Mile Drive, weaving its way through world-renowned gold courses, the Del Monte Forest, and past scenic views of the coastline. You might also consider Monterey as your hub and plan day trips to Carmel, Big Sur, or Pinnacles National Park (more on these spots in future blogs).

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Capitola – Honeymoon Destination

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 17:49:00 GMT

Capitola – Honeymoon Destination

If you are in the Santa Cruz area, take a side trip to Capitola, a laid-back beach town where summer seems to last forever. Stroll along the brightly colored cottages that may remind you of a coastal village in Italy, or sip an expresso while watching the sun rise. Capitola is one of the oldest resort towns in California, attracting surfers to catch the perfect wave.

If you forget your beach gear, just drop by Sea Level Boutique where you can find flip-flops, beach towels, cover-ups, and sand toys. Capitola Village, the shopping and dining district, is also the place to sample some of the local faire. Try the fettuccine and lobster at Caruso’s Tuscan Cuisine. Or, maybe Geisha Japanese Restaurant and Tea House with the best selection of sushi may be the adventure you need. For breakfast, the bear claws and warm muffins are worth waiting in the line at Gayle’s Bakery and Rosticceria. While you are there, you might also grab a made-from-scratch pie or pastry for later. You can also sample old-world style brews at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales.

If you are in the area during the summer, catch a concert at Esplanade Park. Or, enjoy the Capitola Art and Wine Festival. During Labor Day weekend, the town hosts the Capitola Begonia Festival. The highlight of the festival is the parade of rafts decorated with flowers, floating down Soquel Creek, and the sand castle contest at the beach.

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Favorite Etsy Wedding Items

Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:01:00 GMT

I use Etsy a lot to find unique, hand crafted items. I really like to give gifts that are made by crafters and not factory workers in foreign countries. A personal touch is always nice! I look on Etsy to find unique and affortable items that my brides might like to add to their wedding. After a quick search of Etsy items below are a few I’d like to share this week.

Photo Booth Props

This first Etsy find is a TON of wedding photo booth props. I really like the variety of props they have. You can use this kit and add a few fun hats and boas from the Dollar Store and you have yourself some fun additions to your pictures.

In Memory of Sign

I always think it is special when a couple wants to remember someone near and dear to their heart that has passed away and couldn’t make it to the wedding. This sign is a great way to remember them and can be placed on an empty chair.

Bridesmaid Gifts

I like something unique as a gift for the bridesmaids. These can be personalized with the girls names on them. AND they are a great price too and includes a pearl!

Personalized Hanger

It is always fun to have a personalized hanger to hang your wedding dress on. Plus, the hangers are always a nice addition for pictures of your dress before you slip it on and say I DO!

Table Decorations

There is nothing like something with a pop of color to light up your wedding tables. These table runners can add the color you need.

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Beaches on the Central Coast – Avila Beach

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 04:10:00 GMT

Beaches on the Central Coast – Avila Beach

While enjoying your honeymoon on the central coast, you might enjoy checking out some of the local beaches. For the next few blogs, I’ll be highlighting some of the beaches in the area.

AVILA BEACH

With some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the area, Avila Beach is a must-see. Surrounded by gently sloping hills, this harbor has three piers, two that are open to the public and ready for you to explore. You can even dine on the pier – either grab a fresh shrimp cocktail from one of the little stands or enjoy a more elegant meal at the Olde Port Inn for fresh, seasonal seafood. While strolling on the pier, you may catch glimpses of elephant seals and sea otters swimming in the water or basking in the sun. While walking along Front Street, you might stop at Custom House for breakfast, lunch or dinner, either served inside or outside on the patio. If you are just looking for salads, sandwiches, wraps, or smoothies, you might try Hula Hut. Or, if you are wanting some coastal California food from local farms and fisheries, you might check out Ocean Grill, also on Front Street. If you are just in the mood for coffee, try Joe Momma’s and order a pastry to have with your coffee. My favorite is the lemon blueberry scone, hot from the oven. For a yummy breakfast, try Fat Cats. On Friday nights, April through September from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, enjoy the Avila Beach Farmers’ Market, with food, local produce, live music, and more. Or, venture down See Canyon for some wine tasting. Try the award-winning apple chardonnay wine at Kelsey. It is delicious! For some walking or jogging activity, you might stroll the Bob Jones Trail which follows the San Luis Obispo Creek. If you get hungry while walking, just go into Woodstone Marketplace for a delicious wrap, homemade soup, or salad. (They even serve half-potion dinners between 4:00 and 5:30, if you just want a light dinner.) Or, take a tour of Port San Luis Lighthouse.

If you are interested in a little history, steamboats from the bay area used to bring newlyweds from Los Angeles and San Francisco to the area to stay in a honeymoon hotel built around 1850. In the 1990s, Unocal excavated the town to clean up decades-old oil seepage that caused a massive oil spill under the town. After removing 6,750 truckloads of the contaminated material, the area was rebuilt using clean sand from the Guadalupe Dunes.

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Walking Up the Aisle Celebration

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:25:00 GMT

Back when our parents were getting married, it was a tradition to throw rice when the couple was walking up the aisle or leaving the wedding reception. The reason why people threw rice was because it would mean the couple would be to bless the couple to have children. Today, rice is not the best thing to have mark your celebration since it is not environmentally friendly for our feathered friends.

Some ideas that we like for celebrating include:

– Birdseed

– Confetti

– Or better yet…biodegradable confetti! (search biodegradable confetti on Etsy)

– Rose petals or other mix of flower petals

– Bubbles (get these from your local Dollar Store)

There are also some creative ways to display your flower petals or confetti. Ideas include using little holders or plastic tubes. For examples see below.

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Pismo Beach Wedding

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 18:08:00 GMT

Pismo Beach Wedding

As Fredrich Nietzsche once said, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages”. This couple said that their relationship is based on an incredible friendship. Friendship is being able to communicate with just a glance or laughing over the little things. Such a friendship is the solid foundation upon which a lasting marriage is built.

The groom proposed to the bride during a trip to Disneyland. You know it is the happiest place on earth! As a extra detail of the wedding, the bride wore adorable Mickey Mouse earrings. For another adventure, the couple was going to be traveling to Las Vegas for a honeymoon and to have a helicopter ride around the town.

For their Pismo Beach wedding in June, the fog did roll in. This is pretty normal for June, but from a photography standpoint, the fog makes for great lighting for photos. The groom’s family traveled all the way from Georgia and the bride’s family traveled all the way from Colorado. Both families were enjoying their time on the Central Coast. Surrounded by family, this couple joined their hearts and their hands together as they recited their “I dos”. As a special touch, their darling children were involved in the ceremony, one as the cute flower girl and the other as the precious ring bearer. This truly was an event filled with love!

This happy couple celebrated their marriage in Pismo Beach. They had a beautiful Pismo Beach Wedding

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Sunset Wedding Shell Beach

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 21:24:00 GMT

Sunset Wedding Shell Beach

Magically, a pelican flew overhead as the bride walked to meet her groom during her sunset wedding in Shell Beach. Suddenly the waves were hushed as the ceremony began. With a heart drawn in the sand, waves quietly splashing on the rocks, a garland of flowers marking the path, and surrounded by family, this glowing couple exchanged vows and rings and pledged their love and commitment to each other at a sunset ceremony in Shell Beach. And, just as magically, the sun broke through the clouds shortly after the ceremony was completed.

The old saying goes: “Never mix business with pleasure”, but for this happy couple, mixing business and pleasure was the perfect combination. In fact, they were both working a case together when he found out that she was single. Not wanting her to slip away, he quickly asked for her phone number. And, she, recognizing that he was an ideal candidate for a relationship, graciously supplied the number. At the beach for his birthday, they talked for hours, listened to classic rock music, and realized that they had an incredible chemistry together. While one is an extrovert and likes to be the center of attention, the other is more introverted and more of a homebody. But, their characteristics complement each other. She describes him as a sweetheart, caring and protective, and very goal-oriented. He says she is compassionate, empathetic, and continually challenging herself to grow spiritually, professionally, and personally. As a couple, they say they are unstoppable.

The bride said that her groom treats her like a princess, and surely she married her knight in shining armor this day.

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Wedding Day Photography

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 00:12:00 GMT

WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY – Photographs capture your wedding day so you can have memories for a lifetime. But, with all those pictures how do you choose which ones you want to display around your house and put in a photo album?

Here are some wedding day photo tips:

Getting to know your style

With our couples, we like to find out what photos you want more of – ceremony, family, or ones of the two of you. We ask questions to our couples to find out their photo style, pictures they like, and who they want to have photos with. We make sure to get all the important photos like the ones of the bride walking down the aisle, the couple looking at each other, the rings, and the kiss.

Photo time

The photo time for each package is outlined in your ceremony contract. It is important for you and your guests to show up on time so the wedding can start at the scheduled time. Sometimes the wedding ceremony can last 20 minutes. If your photography time is only 45 minutes, then you have about 20 minutes for family photos, guest photos, the wedding party and the two of you. If you love photos, you might want to add on some photo time.

Practice

I know it sounds funny but you should practice your smile for photos. A natural smile is always nice to have. I also recommend smiling where we see your teeth! For some pictures the photographer might ask you to close your eyes, relax and not smile while other photos might be candid pictures with you two laughing.

Engagement photos are also another nice way for the two of you to practice photos. It makes you feel more relaxed when you have already been in front of the camera. You will know more about posing too.

Another way to practice for photos would be to have your hair and make up done as a wedding trial. This way you can take selfies and make sure you like the look of your hair and make up. It is important for you to have a natural look to you and you recognize who the person is in the photos!

Who you want pictures with

This is an important thing to think about if you have a large wedding party. If you have a lot of family members and guests, think about who you want photos with. It is your special day so adding on photos might be worth it in the long run.

Another question would be who should not be photographed together. In families where parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles are divorced, it might be best not to have Aunt Sue with Uncle Jeff. Or even in families where people don’t get along – it would be best not to have those people in a picture together.

Your wedding photos also make great holiday cards! Friends and family can see photos from your wedding and enjoy your happy time.

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Unity Ceremony Shell Beach

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:03:00 GMT

UNITY CEREMONY IN SHELL BEACH

They say that a great place to meet your future spouse is at a wedding – and that is what happened to this fortunate couple. They had originally met casually years ago, but that really doesn’t count. Then, eleven years later, on the groom’s brother’s wedding night, they met again, and this time they exchanged numbers and that was the start of this magical meeting. They knew they had truly fallen in love when they realized that could not spend time apart from each other. As a couple , they describe themselves as silly, fun, and outgoing, so it is no surprise that their first date was a wild night on the town.

On a windy day with the blue Pacific as a perfect backdrop, surrounded by family and friends, this couple pledged their love to one another and to their family as they recited their own words of commitment. With her warm heart and huge smile, and his happy spirit and dedication to family, they have the qualities for a lasting love.

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SIDETRIP TO LOS OLIVOS

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 20:29:00 GMT

SIDETRIP TO LOS OLIVOS

If you or your guests are looking for a short getaway while you await the big day, I have the perfect spot for you – Los Olivos. This tiny town, tucked in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, offers quaint shops, tasty restaurants, art galleries, and plenty of wine tasting.

Whether you are looking for unique handcrafted jewelry, wood carvings, soft watercolors or oil paintings of the surrounding countryside, Gallery Los Olivos at 2920 Grand Avenue is worth a stroll into their gallery filled with the works of local artists.

Another interesting spot to visit is the Los Olivos General Store located at 2900 Grand Avenue. Once the first gas station in California and still sporting a vintage gas pump in the front, it houses a good collection of housewares, locally-made jams and jellies, flavored vinegars and cute notecards and stationery.

For another piece of history, go to Mattei’s Tavern at 4350 Railway Avenue, which was a stagecoach stop in the late 1800s. Now it is a dinner restaurant with a sophisticated, local menu. Choose from seabass with dried apricots, beef with melted shallots, duck breast with turnips, or albacore with jerk spices.

For a delicious lunch or dinner, with indoor as well as outdoor seating, visit Los Olivos Wine Merchant Café , located at 2879 Grand Avenue. From their flatbread to their baked brie and their cheese plate for appetizers and their varied selection of pizzas and hearty entrees, you will not be disappointed. A mix of California and Mediterranean flavors, it also serves a delicious Saturday or Sunday brunch.

Just want a sandwich for lunch? You might consider Sides Hardware and Shoe , located at 2375 Alamo Pintado Avenue. Located in a building that was used as a hardware and shoe store over 100 years ago, brothers Matt and Jeff Nichols have created an eatery with people lining up to sample their tasty food. From pastrami to fried pork tenderloin sandwiches, bacon burgers with smoked shallot marmalade, or a wide assortment of salads, you will not be disappointed. Or, for dinner try their salmon, lamb sirloin, mussels, or scallops.

Maybe your sweet tooth is calling you about now. Not to fear, Enjoy Cupcakes to the rescue. Located inside Saarloos and Sons (2971 Grand Avenue), you can enjoy your cupcakes paired with selected wines. Or, just enjoy the cupcakes on their own. Choose from Chocolate Blackberry Syrah, Salted Brown Butter Cinnamon Maple, Triple Vanilla Bean, Black Bottom, Mississippi Mud Pie, Strawberry Rosemary Chardonnay, Peanut Butter, or Fried Banana Espresso, or whatever other delectable treats are available on the day of your visit. You will not be disappointed.

Visit Pumacasu , located at 2948 Grand Avenue, Suite A, if you want a short history (and nice selection) of antique corkscrews. Carlos, the proprietor, will give you a brief history, while his wife, Christina, will show you her beautifully crafted selection of jewelry made from semiprecious stones in the style used by the Mapuche Indians of Patagonia.

Looking for new items for your garden? Stop by J. Woeste Treasures , 2356 Alamo Pintado Avenue, and take home planters, clocks, pots, succulents, plants, and garden art, or just pause for a second and listen to the wind whistle through the trees, creating music from the huge windchimes handing from the trees.

Located at 2450 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang (although it is really located in Los Olivos) and opened Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 to 4:00, plan a visit to Global Gardens . There you can taste and buy some of the best Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Balsamic Fruit Vinegars (the pomegranate and lemon-basil are two of my favorites, but I also love the blood orange and the raspberry and strawberry varieties this time of year), and purchase Spice Blends, Mustards, and Marinades to remember your trip to Los Olivos.

Pictures: Lunch from Sides, Saarloos Winery, and cupcakes from Enjoy

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Having an Unplugged Wedding

Thu, 28 May 2015 05:47:00 GMT

HAVING AN UNPLUGGED WEDDING

I’ve really had a hard time with this one! I watch a lot of weddings and see a lot of things. Recently, I’ve been really annoyed by guests and their cell phones. This past weekend, a guests cell phone actually rang during the ceremony! NO JOKE!

I understand that it is great to capture pictures of the couple or a video of them kissing, but video taping the whole wedding from your cell phone or snapping way too many photos should not be allowed. A guest should sit back and enjoy the wedding, listen to the minister, and vows the couple wrote.

At another wedding, there were 40 guests who had their cell phones out and 10 guests who didn’t. That was a lot of guests with cell phones. One of the reasons why the couple hires a photographer is for us to take photos. With our elopement and small wedding packages, we even send the couple an email link to photos so they can share them with friends and family. Iphones are great for taking pictures, but chances are, the professional photos we take with our cameras are probably a lot better than cell phone pictures.

Guests can be a distraction to our photographers if they are standing out in the aisle taking photos. I’ve had to ask guests numerous times to please move so I could get a picture. As a couple, you probably do not want one of your guests, in your photos, standing in the aisle as you two walk down it.

Our minister can nicely explain you are having an unplugged wedding and ask that the guests not use their cell phones and keep them in their pockets.

So all you happy couples out there, you may want to rethink cell phones at your wedding.

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Shell Beach Elopement

Thu, 28 May 2015 05:37:00 GMT

SHELL BEACH ELOPEMENT

What could be more perfect for a wedding day than blue skies with puffy white clouds drifting in the sky, gentle breezes softly blowing, and waves crashing against the rocks, as you hold the hand of your one true love. Under the branches of an old pine tree, on a cliff overlooking the ocean, this couple became husband and wife.

Friendship came first in this relationship, as the couple got to know each other better on various road trips. That friendship grew into the love that this couple professed on this beautiful day in May. Hopefully, their future will be filled with blue skies and new adventures as they wake each morning and fall in love all over again. May they continue to be each other’s best friend, teacher, listener, and companion as they travel down new roads together.

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Having Mom Walk the Bride Down the Aisle

Mon, 18 May 2015 20:14:00 GMT

This week’s favorite –

I’ve really started to throw tradition out the window! Who says you need a formal wedding invite on paper – send an e-vite; who said the bride’s friends need to sit on one side and the groom’s on the other; and who said the bride’s Dad has to be the one that walks her down the aisle.

This past weekend our bride had her mom walk her down the aisle. I LOVE this…mostly because my Mom and my Dad walked me down the aisle. My mom raised me so she is as, if not more important than my Dad. My Dad is a part of my life and knew it was special to have him walk me down. I didn’t want to not have either of them missing out on walking me down the aisle! Our only concern was that the aisle was wide enough for all of us (including my long dress) to fit. Thankfully, the chairs moved and we could take off one row and fit perfectly.

Don’t be afraid to break the wedding traditions. And like I always say…whose wedding is this anyways?

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Incorporating Children into the Wedding Ceremony

Thu, 14 May 2015 21:50:00 GMT

Incorporating Children into the Wedding Ceremony –

If your children will be at the wedding, you might want to consider incorporating the children into the ceremony. But, always be sensitive to the wishes and the feelings of the children and never force them into doing something that is uncomfortable to them. Some may be excited about the wedding and may want to have an active role while others may be shy or even less than enthusiastic about the marriage. Respect their wishes.

For blended families, this may be a time to show then they are part of one new family. It is a time to share your love for one another, hopes for the future, and the beginning of a new life together. But, if they would like to participate, here are a few ways to include them.

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Shell Beach Wedding Ceremony

Tue, 12 May 2015 00:23:00 GMT

Shell Beach Wedding Ceremony –

This happy couple were introduced by the Pastor’s wife at the church they attended. The wife had a feeling this happy couple would hit it off together. She arranged for them to meet and the rest was history! They both share a love of animals and the bride’s dog was part of the surprise engagement the groom set up. It was a beautiful day on the beach when these two saw each other during their first look. He was speechless when he saw her and when he could speak he let her know how beautiful she looked. The both joined in aa tearful embrace .These two wrote their own vows and pledged their love in front of God, family, and friends. The bride’s Aunt coordinated a dessert reception right after the ceremony. The day was a windy one but the ocean was a pretty blue color – it was another perfect backdrop for a special day!

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Healthy Eating

Sat, 09 May 2015 00:58:00 GMT

This favorite isn’t really a trend or something we like about weddings. This fav has to do with eating healthy.

Recently, I’ve been so busy that I ignored eating well. For my dinner meals, I at least like to have meat, chicken or fish, veggie and finish it off with a carb. For some reason I like to see 3 things on my plate. But my meals have consisted of In and Out twice in one week, 10 chicken nuggets, and even nothing one night.

Once I get off track with eating right it is really hard to get back on track. Last night I set my mind to making a healthy dinner. It really only took 45 minutes to prep and cook the meal. Here is what I had: salmon with honey bbq sauce, bulgar pilaf, and zucchini and tomatoes. For the salmon I buy the frozen filets at Costco. They defrost quickly and take 20-25 minutes to cook. The bulgar is a better option than rice since it is a whole grain. Bulgar is a Mediterranean food so you may find it in a speciality store. Cut up mushrooms, add 1/2 cup bulgar and 1 cup chicken broth and cook for 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven. For the zucchini, I just cut them up, add cherry tomatoes, a splash of chicken broth and season with garlic salt.

I’m really glad to get back to healthy eating. For all of the brides out there who have become so busy with planning, take a day to recharge your eating habits. Sit down and make something healthy and fresh, or plan out a grocery list and go shopping with your spouse to be. Eating health is just one way to get in shape for your wedding .

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Pismo Beach Clam Chowder

Sat, 09 May 2015 00:53:00 GMT

Hungry for Chowder?

After watching the sunset and sinking your toes in the warm sand, you may be getting a bit hungry. And what better way to enjoy your time on the Central Coast than to have a bowl of clam chowder. So, I’ve listed for you some great places to savor this delicious thick, creamy soup. Whether you enjoy a bowl with crumbled oyster crackers on top, or go all out for the big sourdough bread bowl-filled delight, you are sure to enjoy.

But, first, a little about the origins of the dish. First, the word chowder is derived from the French word for caldron or pot, chaudière. In the days of ships and sailors, seamen would throw their catch of the day in a large kettle and cook the fish and shellfish with bits of potato, bacon, celery, and onion. Depending on the region and the catch of the day, some areas were known for their lobster chowder, some for seafood chowder, some for a tomato-based stew, and others for the creamy white version served here on the Central Coast. So, now that you are hungry, where should you go to try this local favorite?

Splash Café – Serving more than 30,000 gallons a year, this place has the best, creamiest, richest clam chowder in the area. Not only are they award-winners, but magazines like Gourmet and Bon Appetit have requested their recipes. Splash has three restaurants to serve you: 197 Pomeroy, Pismo Beach, 1941 Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and 893 Higuera in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Steamers – If you want to dine with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, head to 1601 Price Street in Pismo Beach. Their clam chowder is thick and tasty, with plenty of clams – and great views of the sparkling ocean below.

Custom House – Located at 404 Front Street in Avila, this restaurant offers indoor or outdoor seating while you enjoy your bowl of clam chowder.

Giovanni’s Fish Market – If you want to grab a bowl of clam chowder and head to the beach in Morro Bay, try Giovanni’s. Their chowder is rich and creamy, and especially yummy if you order it served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant – For an informal spot in Morro Bay, you might try this bustling restaurant which serves good, hearty clam chowder.

Dorn’s Original Breakers Café – If you want something a little less informal, head to 801 Market Avenue in Morro Bay. This family-owned restaurant has been serving a rich, creamy clam chowder with views of the bay for years.

If your wedding guests are arriving to town before the wedding ceremony, make sure they stop off at one of the places above for a hot bowl of clam chowder!

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The Wedding Ceremony- Walking Down the Aisle

Wed, 06 May 2015 18:52:00 GMT

Walking Down the Aisle Basics

Nowadays, there is really no right or wrong thing to do with weddings. It is pretty much up to the couple to choose how they want their wedding to be. This article will outline what is traditional for weddings and what is an alternative way to do things.

Choosing Sides

Traditionally the bride’s family and friends sits on the left side and the groom’s family and friends on the right side. Groomsmen many times escorts guests to the either side. The family sits in the front rows on both sides.

Now, you may see that guests can sit on any side that they’d like. We like to do the choose a seat not a side and save the front rows for immediate family.

Walking the Bride Down the Aisle

Traditionally, the father of the bride walks the bride down the aisle.

Now, you can have anyone who is special walk you down the aisle – brother, uncle, cousin, your children, your sister, you Maid/ Matron of honor, or maybe even both parents.

Wedding Party Entrance

The officiant is at the front waiting for the wedding party to walk down. All the guests are seated, including the groom’s parents, and then the bridal party makes its way down the aisle. (If you are not having chairs, everyone will be standing, instead of seated.)

The order for walking down the aisle is below:

All the guests are seated, included the bride’s mother (except if she is walking with the bride) and the groom’s parents are seated. (If you are not having chairs, everyone will be standing, instead of seated.)

The groom and groomsmen will already be at the front waiting for the bride. Many times, the groom will have his back to the bride and then turn around to see her for their first look when she is making her way down the aisle.

Then, the order for walking down the aisle is below:

If there is something unique to the two of you for walking down the aisle, please let us know.

Here’s a few different ideas to think about also:

Bride’s Mother – maybe joining her could be the bride’s brother or other person in the family so she doesn’t walk down the aisle alone.

If you want to include your family more:

If there is no bridal party:

If there is a large bridal party:

Standing Up Front

Traditionally, the Bride, Groom and Minister are in the middle, and the bridal party is around them, in the reverse order they walked down the aisle. For example, the Maid of Honor would be the last person in the bridal party before the bride, she would stand right next to the Bride and the first bridesmaid to walk down the aisle would be on the very last person on the end.

You may want to have the bridal party take their seat and only have the Best Man and Maid of Honor up front.

Walking After the Ceremony

The Bride and Groom are the first to walk up the aisle after the ceremony. From there it is who ever is next to them that walks as a couple – for example, the Maid of Honor and the Best Man.

You can pair the two of them to walk up the isle or have them walk individually.

However you choose to have the bridal party walking down the aisle, Coastal California Weddings helps their couples coordinate the order of the bridal party. Also, since we coordinate the day of the wedding, we will be in charge of working with the order of the bridal party.

Coastal California Weddings provides all-inclusive weddings and elopements on the Central Coast. Have your wedding overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, or Avila.

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Wedding Hair and Flower Crowns

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:02:00 GMT

For this weeks Favs, I am sharing some stylish looking wedding hair and flower crowns. A different take on curly hair is the braid and curls in the hair style below. When deciding on your wedding style, hair is one of the many things that bride’s need to think about.

As a bride, will you be doing your own hair or having it professionally done? If you are having it done, make sure to have a trial run with your stylist to make sure your hair is the way that you like it. If you need a haircut or want to color your hair, make sure to do that around 2 weeks before your wedding, that way if the cut it too short or the color is something you didn’t really like, you have time to fix it.

The flower crown is another special accent to add to the way you look on your wedding day. Flowers in the crown can match the flowers that you carry when walking down the isle. Flower crowns can also be used for bridesmaids or flower girls.

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DIY Wedding Artwork

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 23:45:00 GMT

DIY Artwork

If you are thinking of crafting your own wedding invitations or thank you notes, there are SO many free design templates or low cost artwork out there. I came across these colorful spring blooms artwork. The one below is from Etsy and they have TONS of downloads for you. The one below is only $5.

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Music, Shoes, and an Open Bar

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:42:00 GMT

Music

This Friday one of my top favs for the week has been listening to some great instrumental music on Pandora that has a Latin flare to it. One of the artist’s name is Blank and Jones. This music takes me away to the beaches of Spain with a Sangria in my hand! I also have been listening to Pandora on my phone which I notice doesn’t break for a lot of commercials.

This type of music would be something that you couples might consider for the cocktail hour or during the dinner portion of your wedding reception.

Quote for the Week

“Every woman’s heart has different instructions… They’re written through her eyes, in her smile, through her actions and in her tears.. She just has to find someone who cares enough to read them.”

Shoes

What women doesn’t love shoes? I love these shoes!!

The bows add a little bit of girly-ness. These would be perfect with a short or long wedding dress.

Wedding Beverages

When budgeting for a wedding the cost of alcohol can add up quickly! Some venues charge to set up the bar and then a per drink fee. If you are paying for your guests to drink and drinks are $7/ cocktail and every guest has a drink you are looking at $350. I’m sure every guest isn’t going to drink one drink so let’s double that to $700 for just the drinks.

For some ideas to save on the cost of alcohol, why not consider having guests pay for their drinks, but you provide a signature drink or have a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine at the dinner table for your guests to enjoy, complements of the happy couple.

If you have an open bar, guests can many times get a little out of hand since they are drinking on someone else’s tab. So, you may want to think about your guests and what kind of party you want.

For information on how to stock your wedding bar click here .

For some tips on saving money on wedding beverages see our Pinterest page here .

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Family Photos Avila Beach CA

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 16:08:00 GMT

This cute family had a great time taking family photos in Avila Beach. There little girl is almost turning 3 and she has grown up so fast! She looked adorable in her brightly colored dress. We were even able to sneak in a cookie run to the near by store which gave her a little more energy for us to go up to the bridge in Avila for a few more photos. Avila is a perfect place for photos since you have the greenery of the mountains and trees, trails, and beaches close by.

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Montano de Oro – An easy activity for your wedding guests

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:24:00 GMT

Montano de Oro – An easy activity for your wedding guests

Are you looking for a nice, easy walking trail along the ocean? Montano de Oro is one of my favorite spots. Located on the end of Los Osos Valley Rd., in the small town of Los Osos, this State Park is on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean and is full of a variety of different trails. Trails either lead to some great beaches like Hazards and some mountain trails where you can get a panoramic view of the coast line. My favorite trail is just past the Visitor’s Center. You will spot cars parked on the side of the road and a trail to the right. This trail takes you to Corallina Cove a great beach for exploring the tide pool.

During our walk in March the fields were filled with yellow mustard plants and California poppy’s. As we made our way from the car, we hugged the coast and could see Morro Rock in the distance. Once we got to cove we were able to see crabs, sea urchins, and sea anemone’s. You never know what the weather will be like in Montano de Oro so pack a sweatshirt, comfortable shoes, and some water.

If you are looking for a group activity for your wedding guests, organizing a hike is a great idea. Maybe catch some breakfast in San Luis Obispo or lunch of fish and chips in Morro Bay after your hike.

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Best Burgers – San Luis Obispo CA

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:22:00 GMT

Not sure where to make recommendations for your guests on places to eat? Try some of these favorite burger spots in SLO County.

The best burgers in SLO County

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10 easy ways to get in shape for your wedding

Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:28:00 GMT

Make sure you are eating enough. I know it is easy to not eat during the day or think that if you don’t eat a lot of food (eat less calories) that you can keep the weight off. Actually, starvation is not a quick fix to weight loss. I’m telling you to pick up your fork and grub! Start by making sure you are eating breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, and dinner. Rev up your metabolism and get your body ready to burn calories.

Look for ways to add a few extra steps to your day – park farther away from the shopping center, walk around your office building during your 15 minute break, or dust off your treadmill in the morning before work. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Did you know that you can break up the 30 minutes into 3, 10 minute sessions? Now exercising seems easier to do. It is also as easy as walking. You don’t even need to get a gym membership, just a comfortable pair of shoes.

Weights help to increase your metabolism so your body is working harder to burn calories. If you are wearing a sleeveless dress, easy arm exercises can help to shape things up.

You probably know the difference between what is healthy and what is not.

Some examples of unhealthy options and healthier solutions are below:

If you are like me and have a sweet tooth, try not to even have the sweets in your house. When at the store, don’t be tempted to buy a bag full of candy or chocolate. If you can’t resist, buy the smallest bar of chocolate you see and break it up into bite size pieces to eat for the whole week. If your fiancé likes to go out for ice cream or to keep cookies at his house, ask him if he can help you with your healthy choices and hide the cookies or not have them in the house for the next few months.

This can be confusing but very helpful with portion control. Turn over a bag of chips and read the label. If it says, blank servings per bag, this means that there are x number of servings to equal the calories, fat, sugar, etc. A large size bag of chips may say the bag contains 2 servings, so if you finish the whole bag you will have eaten the calories amount listed in the nutritional panel times 2. Sometimes I like to grab the serving amount and put the bag back in the cabinet so I don’t eat the whole bag. If a bag of pretzels is 100 calories for 16, then I take out 16 pretzels, put the bag back in the cabinet, and then start snacking. Also, read the label for the amount of sugars and fats. If you are trying to decide between 2 different yogurts, turn both of them over and go with the one with less sugar and fat.

When you start to have that full feeling, put down your fork. A few extra bites equals extra calories. These extra calories can add up each day. If you are hungry after your meal, try a healthy snack like fruits or vegetables or a low sugar (less than 7 g of sugar) granola bar.

Keep up the good work you are doing. Even if you don’t see the weight change on the scale, know that you are making positive choices now. Look at losing the weight like a seed you plant in the ground. You can’t see what the seed is doing in the ground, but you still water it and fertilize it, and then one day, after all of your hard work, you start to see a little green leaf. So, keep doing all the work because eventually you will see results.

You can easily decrease the amount of calories you consume by watching what you drink. Try to stay away from sugary soda, juices, and coffee drinks. During the time you are engaged, go for water, iced tea, or only try to have a soda once a week. With juice, look for something that doesn’t have sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or sucrose in the ingredients. Many juices have natural sugar because sugar is in fruit. If you like naturally sweetened juices, try mixing half juice and half water. Also, watch the amount of alcohol you drink since alcohol contains calories too. This is an exciting time and friends and family will want to take you out to celebrate. Just think about the extra calories and how you will look on your wedding day if you only have one glass of wine instead of two.

10. Get the size dress that fits

So this really isn’t a tip to stay in shape, but it is something that will help with your weight loss journey. Think realistically about what size you will be when you order your dress. It is ok to say that you will only lose 5 pounds vs 15 pounds. If you are realistic about your goals, then you will be happier weeks before your wedding when you realize that your wedding dress fits perfectly!

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Shell Beach Wedding

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:26:00 GMT

It was a beautiful sunny day in Shell Beach when Monica and Tim were married. These two had always know about each other – Monica’s sister married Tim’s best friend. The two always crossed paths but there had never been thought about dating each other, until one day they did and couldn’t be apart from each other! Their love is genuine and their family was so happy for the two of them.

They were married in Shell Beach, CA at Dolphin Bay Resort. They wedding ceremony took place outside and the reception was at Lido, at Dolphin Bay. They had a small wedding of 50 people.

Shell Beach is location in San Luis Obispo County. It is between Avila Beach and Pismo Beach. Dolphin Bay offers suites and vacation rentals for guests, a full service restaurant, pool, and spa services. Activities in Shell Beach include surfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking.

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What is a Bridal Photography Session

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:03:00 GMT

With the stress of getting ready for your wedding, sometimes you can be rushed before the ceremony. If you schedule a bridal photography session or getting ready photos before the wedding. Many times, the photos of the bride by herself are cherished more than photos with bridesmaids and groomsmen. At times, a rushed bride can look stiff and not relaxed when she gets her photo taken.

Coastal California Weddings offers bridal photography sessions.

What is a bridal photography session?

A bridal photography session is photos taken of just the bride either a few days before her wedding, an hour before her wedding, or after her wedding. Bridal photos are always part of the wedding and ceremony, only a bridal photography session allows the bride to be more relaxed and get more photos of just her. The bride wears her wedding dress and sometimes adds another dress if the photo session taken places after or before the actual wedding.

If the bride is just getting ready with a few family members and friends, the bridal session can be fit into the wedding day schedule. Just allow for time for hair and make-up on top of the time for the bridal session.

If the bride wants the bridal session before the wedding, this time may allow for a trial run of hair and make-up. Many time hair stylists will do a preliminary session to style hair before the big day. The bride may also want to try out a smokey eye with their make-up artist.

A bridal session after the wedding is a great time for a trash the dress session. (Ok, I really don’t like trashing a dress…those things are not cheap!) Consider purchasing the extra preservation kit if a trash the dress session is something the bride wants.

I find that photos after the wedding show a happier, more relaxed bride and even groom. Maybe consider having a bride and groom session after the wedding. It gives the two of you time to enjoy what just took place. I know at my wedding I was rushed and kept watching the clock since my photographer was available for a limited time. It would have been nice to know that I had another opportunity for photos a few days later.

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Wedding Budget 101

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:25:00 GMT

Bride’s Magazine reports that 69% of couples pay for part or all of their wedding. If you are one of those couples this article will provide you with some wedding budget 101 tips on how to create a wedding budget and start planning your wedding.

Where will the money come from?

The average wedding costs $30,000. If you don’t have that kind of money here are somethings that you shouldn’t do:
– Don’t go into credit card debt
– Don’t take out a loan
– Don’t get sad

Your marriage is about making a commitment to each other in front of friends and family, and not about going into debt to throw a big party.

If the money is not growing fast enough on your money tree:

Reprioritize the important things

What things are important to spend money on and what things are not that important?
For example, maybe you want a name brand dress, or maybe you want an expensive bridal bouquet. These could be things you don’t want to save on. But, you may be open to e-vites instead of paper ones or a DJ instead of a live band or take Uber car instead if a limo.

See what items are pushing you over your budget

Does having a no host bar add an extra $12 per person? Do away with it and have 1 signature drink per person that you pay for. Are the bridesmaids bouquets almost as much as yours? Shrink there flowers to be smaller and cost less. Is your photographer charging more since you want them there for 6 hours? Find a less expensive photographer who will stay the whole day. Could inviting less guests help balance the budget? Consider who you want to invite to your wedding.

Shop around to avoid hidden fees

Don’t settle on your first option for the wedding ceremony and location. Take the time to shop around and see what services other venues are offering. Some packages have hidden fees or extra charges. Try to avoid these fees by asking what is extra. Extra fees include taxes, service fees, parking fees, charges for bartender or bar service, set up and delivery fees, cake cutting fees, or postage.

Think creatively with spending

Some places offer discounts or specials. Our indoor ceremony location gives a room price break if you book the reception there. Some venues offer lower prices for Sundays or mid-week weddings. Pay once for an item and use it twice – this can be done with arch flowers where you use them on the arch and then take them to the ceremony.

See what you can sell

This sounds silly, but it’s a great way to come up with a little extra cash. We had a yard sale before our wedding and got rid of things we really weren’t using. Plus, we were able to make an extra $500 for our honeymoon.

If the budget is still not adding up, consider having a small, intimate wedding or elope with a few close friends and family.

Budget benefits of a small wedding or elopement:

Let CoastalCaliforniaWeddings.com plan your small wedding or elopement.

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Spring Wedding Flowers

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:54:00 GMT

Spring Wedding Flowers

With the arrival of spring comes a wide selection of seasonal flowers for spring

weddings. Brides can select from pale pinks of roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, tulips,

and peonies, to the blues of delphinium, Dutch iris, hydrangeas, and lisianthus, to

purple hues of anemones, hyacinth, and lilacs. Or, they can choose flowers in shades

of ivory and white, selecting from a wide array of blooms. Or brides can select spring

flowers based on their sweet, pleasant fragrance. Freesias, roses, stephanotis, stock,

sweet peas, and hyacinths emit a delicate fragrance perfect for a wedding.

With the abundance of spring flowers, especially bulbs, prices of spring blooms can

be very reasonable. With the variety of flowers, from modern tulips and calla lilies to

Victorian flowers like hydrangeas and lilies of the valley, brides can create that perfect

bouquet. Another nice touch is to add spring branches, like cherry, forsythia, and

dogwood to table and altar bouquets.

Spring is the time for fresh, new beginnings, so it is only fitting that brides select spring

for their big day. Whether they want soft, muted, romantic bouquets or more vibrant,

color-filled bouquets, spring is a perfect time to get that special look.

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Reasons to Get Married on the Central Coast

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 03:29:00 GMT

Thinking about having a wedding in San Luis Obispo County? Here are 5 reasons to get married on the Central Coast.

There are a variety of places to tie the knot
You can get married with your toes in the water, in a Spanish style garden, or in a field of grape vines. Choose the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. There are a few spots right on the sandy beach, on the cliffs of Shell Beach, or in an oceanfront gazebo. The garden settings make for pretty pictures with historical buildings in the back and lush gardens around you. There is also groves of eucalyptus trees surrounded by green country clubs. Or maybe a tranquil zen garden to host your small wedding. The Central Coast also has some amazing wineries for a wedding ceremony or reception.

There are a lot of activities for your guests
If the Central Coast would be a destination wedding or weekend getaway, there are plenty of activities to keep them busy. Wineries are in all directions – head to Paso Robles, Edna Valley in San Luis Obispo, or Los Olivos. Go shopping in quaint little local stores in Orcutt, downtown San Luis Obispo, or downtown Paso Robles. In the mood for some outdoor hikes? Montana de Oro is a beautiful spot right on the ocean for a nice easy hike or a more advanced one into the coastal mountains. San Luis also has Bishop’s Peak for a longer, more strenuous hike. Or plan a trip up north to grab lunch in Cambria before heading up to Hearst Castle and then going to see the elephant seals.

We do all the work
Coastal California Weddings provides couples with budget friendly options for their wedding ceremony or reception. Our wedding ceremonies are all inclusive so we provide everything you need to get married. This is great for couples since they can leave the planning to us and have a stress free wedding day. Our trained minister gets to know each couple and personalizes the ceremony. Pictures are taken by our professional photographer who documents all parts of the ceremony and pays attention to each detail. Our florist hand crafts each bouquet with flowers reflecting the needs of the couple. Additional details like decorations, hotels, and transportation can be arranged. Plus, we also have all inclusive reception packages for small groups.

The weather is perfect!
We have perfect weather all year round. Temperatures in October and November can be 75 degrees and sunny and the beach is normally the warmest in September. You don’t have to worry about snow in the winter or hot heat in the summer. Most summers cool down nicely so guests would only need a light sweater for evening receptions.

Have a destination wedding while honeymooning in California
Instead of having a wedding in your hometown, have a destination wedding. For our out of town couples, either 2 hours away or across the US, you can get married and have a honeymoon in California. San Luis Obispo county is within hours of Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.. Venture a little further away to Yosemite, San Francisco, or San Diego.

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Elopement Party Ideas

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:11:00 GMT

If you are considering eloping and feel like you will miss out on a party, check out some of our elopement party ideas for having a party before or after you elope.

Before you elope- If your elopement is not a secret or you have explained to family and friends you are having a small wedding, plan to throw a getting married or bon voyage party. Send out announcements asking friends and family to wish you well and send you on your way.

After you have eloped- Send out a “look what we did, come and celebrate our marriage” announcement. Host a party celebrating what you did and that you want to share your happiness with friends and family.

Party ideas

-If you and your fiance or the fun, playful type consider renting a room at Dave and Busters, or planning a carnival with corn hole toss, croquet, three legged race, gourmet hot dogs, adult snow cone station and cotton candy.

-If you want something a little more elegant, you could choose a nice restaurant and host a cocktail party with appetizers. Give the party a glitter and gold theme and ask the guests to dress up a little. Or theme it to be a Great Gatsby party where guests dress up in the era and party like a New York millionaire. During the party toast with champagne and cake. If you are on a budget, consider having the party on a Thursday night since most places give a weekday discount.

-Or how about a food themed dinner party. You could do an Italian food themed part with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, spaghetti feast, garlic bread, salad, and plenty of red wine. Or try a Mexican food fiesta with a margarita bar, enchiladas, rice, beans, and live entertainment with a mariachi band.

For either event you can still have all the features of a wedding reception guest book, photo booth, party announcements, place to wear a fancy dress and get your hair done, a photographer to capture the events of the day, and a cake to cut. You may also decide to register for gifts or just allow friends and family to give you a present if they feel like it instead of being obligated.

As a word of warning, there will probably still be people who don’t approve that you eloped. But there is always someone who doesn’t like something about what you do or don’t do. Either way, relax, have fun, and celebrate the love you share for your partner!

Pictures from an elopement party we planned .

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Santa Barbara Elopement

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:47:00 GMT

I love it when couples involve their dogs in their Santa Barbara elopement! I think I especially like it since my dog was part of our wedding. These dogs even had their very own tuxedos and diamond leashes. This couple was married on the cliff over looking Butterfly Beach. It was a bright sunny day when the couple said their “I Do’s.”

I can still remember the smiles from both the bride and groom. They were so excited to be married. The bride had a smile that day that never went away.

After the elopement ceremony, we crossed the street to the Biltmore Hotel in Montecito. They have some amazing gardens with view of the ocean horizon in the distance. The couples 4 legged friends joined us for some photos.

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Types of Unity Ceremonies

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 02:39:00 GMT

Types of Unity Ceremonies

Unity ceremonies are used to unite or bring together two different individuals. They symbolize the joining of two different people to become one.

Coastal California Weddings provides a variety of unity ceremonies to incorporate into your wedding.

The Unity Candle

For this ceremony, there are 3 candles – two small candles and one large candle. The bride takes one of the small candles and the groom takes the other. The minister or a friend or family member lights the candles. Then words are said and the bride and groom light the larger candle together from their individual candles, and then extinguish their candles. The symbolism is that the two will now burn as one.

Sand Ceremony

Each person getting married picks a color of sand they’d like. Two bottles or vases are filled with the selected color of sand. The bride selects one vase of sand while the groom selects the other. Each vase is then poured into a single vase by the two people, merging the sand colors and creating the sand as one, new creation.

Love Letters

Before the couple gets married, they each write a love letter to each other. During the ceremony, the letters are gathered and put into a special box. The box is not opened until the couples first anniversary as an reminder of the love they shared on their wedding day.

Shell Ceremony

Each guest is given a shell when they arrive to the wedding. They are asked to hold the shell and to make a wish for the couple. The shells are then collected during the ceremony and the couple are given sand and pebbles to mix with the shells.

Salt Ceremony

I like this ceremony since it is a little unique and has to do with cooking. The bride takes salt from her own bag of salt and the groom takes salt from his bag of salt. Then the salt is poured into one container. The salt is to be used to sprinkle a pinch of love over the food the couple prepares. The pinch of salt symbolizes as extra pinch of affection added to bring the couple closer together and deepen the love they share.

Tree Planting Ceremony

A tree, soil, and container is provided for the couple to plant together. The tree symbolizes the couple’s love that needs to be cared for, fertilized, watered, and pruned, in order to grow into a healthy marriage.

Unity Flowers

Flowers for the guests are placed in a large vase. When the time comes, the guests are asked to select a flower and then make two circles around the couple with the flowers – one circle around the bride and one around the groom. The circles should be touching. The unity flowers are around the couple for the rest of the ceremony and symbolize how two families are joined together.

The 13 Gold Coins

The groom gives the bride 13 coins to symbolize that he will care for and provide for her. The bride accepts the coins and pledges to put her trust and confidence in her new husband. The coins are a Spanish tradition, signifying the groom’s support for his new bride. The coins represent Christ and his 12 apostles.

Breaking of a Glass

The couple breaks a glass during the ceremony and the number of pieces the glass is broken into is supposed to signify the number of years the couple will be happily married.

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Wedding Tips for the Groom

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:42:00 GMT

Grooming the Groom for His Big Day!

The groom has to look equally as handsome as the bride for their wedding day. Here are some wedding tips for the groom to help him look extra handsome.

Make sure his suit or tuxedo is ironed – You may need to remind him to take his outfit to the dry cleaners a week before the ceremony.

Hair – If your groom is thinking of going with a new haircut, make sure he tries it out a few months before the big day. You’d hate to have him have to buzz cut his hair since the new do didn’t fit him. If he wants to stick with the same do, make sure he makes an appointment a week before the wedding to get a haircut.

Facial hair – I’ve seen some wild eye brows on some men! Now I’m not saying they need to go get those things waxed, but at least take a scissors to the brows and give the hairs at the end a little cutting. If there are some strays that are creating a unibrow or unruliness above or below the brow line, encourage him to tweeze those things. Trim all nose hairs and ear hairs the day of the wedding. If your man has a beard talk about cleaning it up or maybe shaving it off the day of the wedding.

Good smells – This is a given, but he should shower the day of the wedding and spray on some nice smelling cologne. Also, a good teeth brushing and flossing before the ceremony will guarantee a nice first kiss as a married couple.

Hands and feet – Ok, I had to go here…please go get a mani/pedi! There is no need to tell your friends you did this if you are embarrassed. AND no, you don’t need to get clear polish or any other polish for that matter on your toenails or fingernails…unless you want. You will now be looking more at that ring on your married finger so you want your nails to look nice. Plus, rough feet are not sexy in bed. Get those feet smooth and toenails cleaned up.

Help to organize him with his must haves – Make a groom box filled with all the things he will need for the wedding. If your groom is like my husband, sometimes they don’t have the best of memories! Take time to make a list of items he needs and start collecting those things in a tub or box. Then all he has to do it grab the box the day of the wedding and he will have all he needs. You can put his shoes, tie, copy of the vows, and a few man products in his box. This may also be a good place to add a little note for the groom to be or one of your favorite pictures together.

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Marriage License in California

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:53:00 GMT

Are you ready to get married?

To get married, you will need to apply for and obtain a marriage license. You can get your marriage license in any County in California. You do not need to get your marriage license from the County you are getting married in.

Here are the requirements for getting a marriage license in California.

Once you have your license from the County Clerk, we can marry you! Within minutes of receiving your paperwork or within a few months, you can be pronounced husband and wife! Please check the County requirements for getting your license or contact us to help with license information.

Below are some frequently asked questions.
Where do I apply for a marriage license?

Licenses are issued by the County Clerk’s office. For the County Clerk near you Google “County Clerk” and then type in the county in California you live in. If you don’t live in California, contact us and we can provide you with the information needed.

If I live in San Diego County but want to get married in San Luis Obispo County, do I need to get my license from San Diego County?

No, you can get your license from any city or county in California.

What are the requirements to apply for a marriage license?

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must apply for your license and paperwork at the County Clerk’s office.
Must provide identification – driver’s license, military ID, passport, state identification card
Must be unmarried – if previously married, you must have the final dissolution papers or divorce decree to apply for a new marriage license

Your marriage license from the county is valid for 90 days

Do I need a witness at the wedding ceremony?

If you have a friend or family member attending the ceremony, they can act as your witness. If you do not have anyone joining you, you can have our photographer act as the witness to the marriage.

How soon can I get married after I get the license from the state? You can get married within minutes! But , you have up to 90 days to get married once you get your license.

Do I need a blood test to get married?

No, it is not required.

Do I have to be a resident of California to get married in the state?

No, you can be from anywhere in the world, just as long as you have a marriage license.

Can I be from another state or even out of the country to be married in California?

As long as you have a marriage license issued in the state of California and are in the country legally, we can perform your ceremony.

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Wedding Flowers

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:24:00 GMT

We work with you to select wedding flowers that fit your vision for your wedding. There are so many choices with wedding flowers – choose an extra pop of color against a white wedding dress or create a more elegant look by going with an all-white bouquet. And that’s just the start. There are also bridal party bouquets, table arrangements, corsages, boutonnieres and other flower decorations…and the list goes on.

Some things to consider when choosing your wedding flowers are: your colors, your style, the setting for the event, the season, and your budget. We are here to help you with your selections.

Colors- If your dress is an off-white color like cream or ivory, and you want a white bouquet, consider going with more off white colors to match your dress. You can add a little touch of green or sparkle a bouquet with a broach. If you want to be a little more fun with your flowers, choose a color for your bouquet. If your colors are purple and pink, the bride’s bouquet could feature different type of purple flowers. Then the bridesmaids can carry purple and pink bouquets.

Style and Setting – There are so many different styles of the bouquets to choose from. The style of the bouquet should fit the style of the wedding and the style of your dress. If you are having a rustic wedding in a barn, you may want to go for a more organic, flowing bouquet. Sunflowers would be an example of a more rustic bouquet. If you are having an elegant candlelight ceremony, you may want to have a more elegant looking bouquet. For this look, you could choose more delicate, textured flowers.

Season – Each season has different flowers that are in bloom. To help with ideas and colors for flowers take a look at our articles for flowers for each season.

For Fall flowers click here

Budget – Depending on your budget you can choose the flowers, colors, style, and size of your flowers.

At Coastal California Weddings we provide beautiful wedding bouquets for our brides. All the bouquets you see our real couples having and bouquets on social media are all part of our bouquets from our packages.

“Love is the flower you have got to let grow” – John Lennon

Coastal California Weddings provides the following flowers to our couples:

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