How to Elope in the California Redwoods: Permits, Locations, Lighting + Planning Your Day

There is something about walking into the California Redwoods that photographs simply cannot prepare you for.

Everything changes.

The temperature drops. The noise disappears. Ferns cover the forest floor, light filters through trees hundreds of feet above you, and suddenly whatever was happening outside of the forest feels very far away.

It is one of my absolute favorite places to photograph couples — and one of the most incredible places to create an intentional wedding or elopement day.

But planning a Redwoods elopement is a little different than choosing a traditional wedding venue.

There are permits. Different park systems. Location restrictions. Lighting that changes dramatically depending on the time of day. And some of the most recognizable locations aren't necessarily the best places to actually hold your ceremony.

That is where having someone who knows the area becomes incredibly important.

As your photographer, I don't just show up with cameras.

I help you figure out where to go, when to be there, what permits may be required, what happens if a permit isn't available, and how to create a day that actually feels like you.

First: “The Redwoods” Aren't Just One Park

One of the biggest misconceptions couples have when they start planning is thinking the California Redwoods are one single park.

They're not.

The Northern California coast is home to multiple national and state park areas, along with other redwood forests and surrounding lands.

Some of the most well-known areas include:

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Located near Crescent City, this is one of my favorite areas for that massive, old-growth Redwood feeling. Think towering trees, giant ferns, winding forest roads and some absolutely incredible light when conditions line up.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Farther south, Prairie Creek gives you dense redwood forest, fern-covered trails and access to some beautiful coastal scenery.

Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
This area gives you a completely different combination of forest and rugged Northern California coastline.

Redwood National Park
National Park land has its own wedding permit system and several designated or pre-approved ceremony locations.

And then there are other forests, beaches, coastal overlooks and lesser-known areas outside of the traditional ceremony locations.

That last part is important.

Your ceremony location and your portrait location do not necessarily have to be the same place.

Sometimes that is actually how we create the best day.

Redwoods Elopement Permits: Here's What You Need to Know

If you're planning to actually exchange vows or hold your wedding ceremony inside Redwood National and State Parks, permits matter.

And unfortunately, this isn't something I recommend waiting until the last minute to figure out.

The National Park Service currently requires permits for weddings, elopements and vow exchanges within Redwood National Park. California State Parks also requires special-event permitting for weddings within the applicable state parks.

California State Park Locations

For locations within the North Coast Redwoods District, permit applications can currently be submitted up to six months before your date and must generally be received at least 45 days before the event.

Liability insurance is also required.

Current application fees are approximately $250–$300 depending on the requested location, and additional requirements or fees can apply depending on the event.

Redwood National Park Locations

Redwood National Park uses a separate application process.

There are several pre-approved National Park ceremony locations with a current $100 application fee, while other requested locations generally require a $200 application fee, additional review and may have restrictions during busy visitation hours.

Rules and fees can change, which is exactly why I don't expect my couples to become permit experts.

I help you navigate this part.

Once we start planning your elopement, we'll look at the experience you want, your group size, accessibility, lighting, time of year and which locations make the most sense.

From there, I help guide you through the appropriate permit process and requirements.

What If We're Less Than 45 Days Away?

This is one of the biggest reasons I create custom location plans for my couples.

Maybe you decided to elope six weeks from now.

Maybe your original location wasn't approved.

Maybe a park location isn't available on your date.

That does not automatically mean your Redwoods elopement is ruined.

It just means we pivot.

Depending on your plans, we may choose a ceremony location outside of the permit-required park area, hold your vows somewhere else and explore the Redwoods afterward, or build your day around locations where the activity you are planning is legally permitted.

There are also photography situations on National Park land that may not require a separate photography permit when they meet National Park Service requirements — such as using hand-carried equipment in areas open to the public without exclusive use or additional impact. Wedding ceremonies themselves, however, still require the appropriate authorization.

The important thing is that we don't just show up somewhere and hope nobody notices.

Part of my job is knowing the difference between a beautiful location and a beautiful location that actually works for what we're planning.

And I always want a backup plan.

Not Every Famous Redwood Grove Is the Best Ceremony Location

Pinterest and Instagram can make it look like you can simply choose any giant Redwood tree, bring your officiant and start your ceremony.

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way.

Certain areas have higher visitation, tighter restrictions, limited availability or environmental protections that make ceremonies difficult or unavailable.

And honestly?

Sometimes the “famous” location isn't even the location I would choose photographically.

I care about:

• where the light enters the grove,

• how busy the trail is,

• how much space we have,

• what direction the light is coming from,

• accessibility for anyone joining you,

• how the location photographs at your particular time of year,

• and whether we can realistically build the rest of your day around it.

Sometimes a quieter grove you've never heard of will photograph a thousand times better than the spot everyone saved from Instagram.

The Secret to Incredible Redwood Photos: LIGHT

The Redwoods can be dark.

Really dark.

Those giant trees create an enormous canopy, which means understanding light is everything.

Simply arriving at noon because noon sounds convenient doesn't mean we're going to get the best photographs.

I pay attention to the direction of the sun, weather, cloud cover, fog, season and how light enters a specific section of forest.

Because when everything lines up?

That's when the Redwoods become unreal.

You can get glowing pockets of light, soft fog moving between the trees and those dramatic rays coming through the canopy that make the forest look almost otherworldly.

Morning in the Redwoods

Morning can give us cooler temperatures, fewer visitors and that beautiful coastal fog Northern California is known for.

Fog is never guaranteed — Mother Nature does whatever she wants — but when it happens, it completely transforms the forest.

Afternoon + Evening

Later light can create gorgeous directional light through certain groves, especially when we're intentional about where we're standing instead of simply choosing a trail and hoping for the best.

This is why your timeline is built around light first, not just a list of locations.

The Best Part? You Don't Have to Choose Between Redwoods + Ocean

This is one of my favorite things about eloping in Northern California.

You can have both.

Imagine starting your day surrounded by enormous old-growth Redwoods.

You exchange vows somewhere quiet.

We explore the forest together.

Then you take a break, grab something to eat, change your look if you want to…

…and finish the evening barefoot on the Northern California coast with cliffs, wind, waves and the Pacific Ocean behind you.

Two completely different landscapes.

One wedding day.

This is one of the reasons I love creating Redwoods + Coast elopement experiences.

What a Redwoods Elopement Day Could Look Like

There is no single timeline that every couple needs to follow — and that's kind of the whole point of eloping.

But your day could look something like this:

Slow morning together at your cabin.

Coffee on the porch.

Getting ready without rushing.

First look underneath the Redwoods.

A private ceremony surrounded by ancient trees.

Time to explore the forest and actually enjoy being there.

A break for lunch, champagne or simply some time alone together.

Then we head toward Crescent City or another stretch of Northern California coastline.

You change shoes.

Maybe throw on a jacket.

We explore the cliffs and beaches while the sun drops toward the Pacific.

And instead of spending your wedding day moving from obligation to obligation, you actually experience it.

Can We Bring Family?

Absolutely.

Eloping does not mean you have to be completely alone.

Some couples want it to be just the two of them.

Others want their parents, siblings or a handful of their favorite humans standing beside them.

Your group size can affect what locations and permits are available, so this is something we'll talk about early in the planning process.

If you want a larger celebration, we can also design the day differently — for example, having an intimate ceremony with family followed by time alone exploring and creating portraits together.

Will We Actually Have Privacy?

The Redwoods are public lands, so no photographer can promise that another human being won't walk by.

Permits within Redwood National Park are also generally non-exclusive, meaning other visitors must still be allowed access.

But timing makes a massive difference.

Choosing the right day, starting early, avoiding peak visitation hours and knowing which areas receive less foot traffic can make your experience feel incredibly private.

This is another reason I don't just hand couples a Google Maps pin and tell them I'll meet them there.

We plan around the experience.

What Should We Wear?

Wear something you can actually move in. I highly recommend your wedding attire as the candid shots are bread and butter! 

I always recommend shoes that can handle dirt, roots, moisture and uneven forest floor.

You can always bring beautiful shoes for certain photographs and change while we're moving between locations.

Layers are also your friend.

The forest can be significantly cooler than the surrounding area, and the coast can be windy even when inland temperatures feel perfect.

And if you've been dreaming about an incredible statement jacket, dramatic veil or dress with movement?

Bring it.

Northern California weather loves a little drama.

Can We Use a Drone?

Inside Redwood National Park, drones are not permitted.

California State Park drone use within the North Coast Redwoods District also requires specific authorization and permitting, so it should never be assumed that drone coverage will be available at a particular location.

I plan your coverage around what is legally and environmentally appropriate for each location.

Your Redwoods Elopement Shouldn't Feel Like a Google Search

This is probably the most important part.

When you book your Redwoods elopement with Dezerae Jobe Photography, I'm not sending you a list of the five locations that came up when you searched “best places to elope in the Redwoods.”

We build your day around you.

Do you want enormous trees and moody fog?

Do you want easy access with family?

Do you want to hike?

Do you want privacy?

Do you want forest AND ocean?

Are you willing to wake up before sunrise for incredible conditions?

Would you rather spend the entire day exploring?

Do you want something completely off the beaten path?

Those answers determine where we go.

My couples receive personalized planning help, location guidance, timeline creation, permit guidance and backup options so you're not trying to figure all of this out on your own.

Because being “more than JUST your photographer” means I'm there for everything that happens before I ever pick up the camera.

Ready to Plan Your California Redwoods Elopement?

If you're dreaming about saying your vows beneath trees that have been standing for hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of years, exploring fern-covered trails and ending the day along the wild Northern California coast…

Let's create it.

Your day doesn't have to look like anyone else's wedding.

We'll find the location that speaks to you, build your timeline around the best light, navigate the permitting process and create an experience that actually feels like the two of you.

Dezerae Jobe Photography
Adventure Elopements • Weddings • Couples
Southern Oregon + Northern California Redwoods + Worldwide

More than JUST your Photographer.