Just imagine you’re with the person you love, it’s a stunning location in nature, you’re both having fun, experiencing your romantic and intimate elopement ceremony. You are surrounded by a gorgeous sunset on a California beach or the majestic mountains near Big Bear with a vast forest of evergreen trees and a stunning lake backdrop. Perhaps the singularly unique Joshua Tree National Park with its boulders, trees and occasionally, a surprise patch of wildflowers.
You’re experiencing a “low-stress” adventure with Alan and Heidi as your fun-loving guides, and your award-winning, innovative, photographer and your creative, professional and ordained wedding officiant.
As a husband and wife team who have been involved with elopements and weddings for almost 20 years, they are there to help with planning every step of your adventure, from where to stay, complete marriage license information, picking the best option from the elopement packages, recommending other vendors like hair and make up, videography, and florist, plus finding the perfect spot for your elopement.
Heidi will feel like your “cool” aunt and will help you craft a wonderful, unique, and personal ceremony. We don’t do long and boring, but instead fun, romantic and fits the two of you. Alan is like your favorite uncle in charge of capturing the memories from your day, with his lighthearted personality and “epic realism” style. He’s there to document your story, to let you be yourselves and – once you see your photos – to help you remember just how you felt on your wedding day!
We’re going to have an awesome experience with just the four of us or with a friend of two. In nature, we will respect the beauty and leave it as we found it. Then you both can have a wonderful, romantic, natural and fun photo shoot with Alan. Even if you’re typically camera shy, Alan’s there to help calm your nerves, make you laugh and help you have spectacular photography, that you’ll remember forever.
A benefit that you may have realized already, is that Alan and Heidi work closely as a team, Heidi shares your ceremony to Alan ahead of time so he knows where all the good stuff is! Heidi makes sure your calm and happy, plus she knows you want your personal vows just the two of you, along with the “kiss”, she steps aside so Alan gets that private moment in your ceremony! They work together seamlessly on the most important day of your lives. Many of their couples call them the “DreamTeam”.
The most important gift that Alan and Heidi share with you is their secrets to still being madly in love after more than 24 years together. You’re sharing your day with two people who are best friends, hold hands every day, dance in the grocery store, love nature and want to create that unique and wonderful wedding day just for you!
Message us and tell us the vibe you’re looking for or how we can help you create an elopement that fits the two of you!
Elopement Packages & Options
First, what exactly is an Elopement?
It’s a tiny, inexpensive, and low-stress wedding including just the best stuff! With just the two of you, your officiant and photographer, or maybe just your besties or your parents, in an absolutely beautiful location. It’s romantic, fun, intimate and without all the stress and cost of a wedding.
It is not – set ups, arbor or arch, an aisle, petals on the ground, sound amplification, candles, chairs (we can make exceptions for the disabled or the elderly), or more than 6 guests, etc. We’re not at a venue, or someone’s backyard but in nature. We’re members of Leave No Trace and decor and other things mentioned above could require permits or not be allowed in certain locations.
We absolutely love destination elopements – tell us what you’re dreaming of!
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Intimate Elopement
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$ 1195
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An romantic elopement ceremony matched
with gorgeous photographyUnlimited elopement planning help and advice
Elopement ceremony with up to 6 guests
(Can be extended up to 12 for a fee)Assistance in choosing & writing your vows
1-1/2 hours photography coverage at one location
Edited, high-resolution images with usage rights
Password-protected online gallery with sharing
An emailed copy of your ceremony & vows
Certified mailing of your marriage license
Guidance on changing your last name
No travel charge for many Southern California locations
Monday – Thursday
Add $200 for Holiday or Friday – Sunday events
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Unforgettable Elopement
Our most popular option -
$ 1795
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Almost everything you’ll need to
run away & get married!Unlimited elopement planning help and advice
Elopement ceremony with up to 6 guests
(Can be extended up to 25 for a fee)Assistance in choosing & writing your vows
3 hours photography coverage at one or two locations
Edited, high-resolution digital images
Password-protected online gallery with sharing
Bouquet & boutonnière
An emailed copy of your ceremony & vows
12×16 canvas print of your choice
Certified mailing of your marriage license
Guidance on changing your last name
No travel charge for many Southern California locations, also available for destinations with travel fee.
Monday – Thursday
Add $300 for Holiday or Friday – Sunday events
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Extraordinary Elopement
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$ 2895
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For the ultimate
Southern California elopement!Unlimited elopement planning help and advice
Elopement ceremony with up to 6 guests
(Can be extended up to 25 for a fee)Your personal “Love Story” for you and your guests
Assistance in choosing & writing your vows
5 hours photography coverage at up to three locations
Edited, high-resolution images with usage rights
Password-protected online gallery with sharing
Bouquet & boutonnière
Sparkling wine or sparkling cider plus a dessert to celebrate with
An emailed copy of your ceremony & vows
16×24 canvas print of your choice
Certified mailing of your marriage license
Guidance on changing your last name
No travel charge for many Southern California locations, also available for destinations with travel fee.
Monday – Thursday
Add $400 for Holiday or Friday – Sunday events
Please note – We are happy to customize our elopement packages so you get exactly what you’re looking for – if you don’t see what you want, just ask!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your qualifications and experience as a professional Officiant?
Heidi’s an ordained officiant through Universal Life Church and the Humanist Church since 2016. She’s was mentored by two of the top female officiants in California. She’s married over 1100 people and created over 550 unique and personal ceremonies.
What types of ceremonies does she perform?
She does a range of ceremonies from romantic, spiritual, interfaith, interracial, non-religious, non-denominational, Pagan, Agnostic, Earth-based and unitarian. Her ceremonies are always inclusive and LGBTQIA+ friendly. She does not do Religion based ceremonies, but will happily put in a “shout out” to God. Her ceremonies are simple, elegant, intimate, meaningful, fun and stress free.
Why choose a professional Officiant?
Heidi’s an experienced officiant that knows exactly what needs to be done correctly and legally for your ceremony. She’s there to make the process of creating your ceremony easy and fun. She will be the calm one on your wedding day, helping you enjoy this incredibly important moment.
How do we apply for our marriage license?
To obtain your California Marriage License, you both will go to any California County Clerk’s Office with valid government issued photo ID, Monday-Friday. Many counties will allow you to fill out your application online and set an appointment to complete the process.
Once you have the license, keep it safe (don’t let it get bent or wet.) Be sure to bring the license to the ceremony. After the ceremony Heidi will help the witnesses sign, and Alan can act as a witness if you don’t have one. She will complete the form and sign it as well. It is the officiant’s legal obligation to return the license to the same County Clerk where it was issued, within ten days.
Can we customize the elopement packages?
Yes, absolutely! Every couple needs something unique and we’re happy to adjust our elopement packages if you want an option that’s a little bit different from what’s listed here. Just let us know if you’d like to add more time, or another location or your own spin on the day – we’re open!
Does Heidi have backup if she's ill or unable to attend??
She has never missed a ceremony, but has several ordained family members and other professional officiants in her network that back each other up in case of emergencies.
Will you help us find the right location?
Without a doubt! Honestly, it’s one of our favorite parts of what we do. We spend our free time “location scouting” for our couples. We’re happy to share the list of some of our favorite ceremony sites we’ve already been to, as well as another list of places we want to check out and have a pretty good idea that they’d be amazing to elope at.
Southern California has a wealth of gorgeous locations, from a national park elopement or an intimate wedding ceremony on a remote beach trail, we’ll help you find the perfect spot.
We’ve a little awkward and shy around a camera, can you work with us?
The best way to be comfortable in front of a camera, is to actually forget about the camera. Alan’s job is to make sure you’re not just “in the moment” on your day, but that you’re actually enjoying those moments too. He’ll joke around with you two, keeping things light and fun as you know you’d want to be! If you’d like it, he can provide some posing direction, but still keep it natural and real for the both of you. The work on the site here should show that, but he’s more that happy to chat about it with you.
Do you travel?
Definitely!!! We have done destination elopement packages all over the western US and other states too. Heidi is able to perform weddings in 40 states and we both love to travel. Tell us where you want to go and we’ll pack up our Subaru and meet you there!
Do we need a permit for our elopement?
It can be as easy as just getting your marriage license and meeting us at your chosen location. However, some of the more picturesque spots (Certain beaches, National or State Parks, or private locations) may require a permit for the event or the photography, but we can help navigate that for you. Certain locations may also require a Certificate of Liability Insurance, which we are able to provide ahead of time.
How many photos will we receive from our elopement?
Lots! It’s be several hundred of the best moments of the day, beautifully arranged in your online gallery. From the details, to the ceremony, the guests, and finally the romantics of the both of you. Each image is also edited to make sure it looks it’s best and is a cohesive part of your photo story of your best day!
How do we reserve you both for our big day?
After a two-on-two phone call with us to get to know each other, and deciding which of our elopement packages you’d like, we’ll have some paperwork for you to fill out. A non-refundable, but transferable, 50% payment is required at the time of booking to reserve both of us for your date. The final payment is due beforehand, and most credit and debit cards are accepted.