Garrapata Beach Elopement
Claudia and Avery Eloped this week in Carmel, California, with both their best friends, all the love in the world for each other, and nothing but laughter. We met at a local Airbnb downtown, and I captured them both through their getting ready and first look among their friends. We adventured to the cliffs where their friends led them through heartfelt vows; they celebrated with a champagne spray and shots. We then said goodbye to their friends and had an hour to explore Garrapata Beach for couples portraits and their first dance on the beach. They had the most beautiful, heartfelt day and I felt so lucky to be a part of it.
Learn how to plan an elopement timeline that feels natural, romantic, and stress-free. Includes real examples for Big Sur, Carmel, and forest elopements.
If you’ve been dreaming of an elopement that feels both nostalgic and wildly free, a vintage car beach elopement in California might be exactly what you’re looking for. There’s something undeniably cinematic about the combination of salt air, windswept cliffs, and a beautifully restored classic car—it transforms your wedding day into a story that feels like it’s been lived a hundred times before, yet entirely your own.
As a California elopement photographer, I’m seeing more couples lean into this blend of retro romance and coastal adventure, and it’s easy to understand why.
If you’re wondering what to do for your engagement photos—you’re not alone.
Most couples come in saying:
“We want something natural… but we have no idea where to start.”
The truth is, the best engagement sessions aren’t built around poses.
They’re built around experiences.
At Flora Gibson Photography, I approach engagement sessions like a quiet story unfolding—something you step into, not perform.
Here are ideas that will help your photos feel like you.