Intimate Elopement at Spooner's Cove in Montaña de Oro

Lots of Hands
and sandy toes,
lots of love
at Spooner’s Cove

December 28th was a day I was looking forward to nearly all year. I knew in my heart that Kailyn and Eric’s wedding was going to be exceptionally special. I love these two, and not because we share the same hometown, favorite coffee shop, favorite day-trip location, love for The Office, or profession, but because in addition to all of that they just are the most genuine, most sincere, most kind, thoughtful, wonderful, caring, enthusiastic set of humans you ever met. They are wonderful beyond words and they told me they wanted their wedding to feel “reverent” and “significant” early on. On December 28th, and now in re-living the memories of their wedding day, it feels absolutely true to say that their wedding day was nothing short of reverent.

Kailyn and Eric’s wedding was to be set at Spooner’s Cove in Montaña de Oro State Park along the central coast of California. Their ceremony was nestled in the shade of the cliffs with the most gorgeous sweeping rock-face with striations of yellow and orange. With light and soft foraged pampas grass displayed in opaque blue vases, and a Persian style rug woven in hues of aqua and blue, the ceremony spot was so picturesque! The weather was particularly warm and sunny for late December and the day felt absolutely perfect for a wedding!

After getting ready with family and friends nearby at a home in Morro Bay and sharing a first look and gift exchange, Kailyn and Eric met their immediate family at the parking lot of Spooner’s Cove while the rest of their family and friends gathered at the ceremony location awaiting the bride and groom. When it was time, Kailyn and Eric walked with their immediate family members out together across the beach to the spot they picked out together to have their ceremony! Seeing everyone arrive together was such a unique and personal way to start their ceremony!

After greeting their guests, Kailyn and Eric took their spot on their wedding rug with Eric’s father, who had the joy and honor of marrying his son and his son’s bride! During their wedding ceremony, their guests gathered in a half circle, standing around them closely to witness the union! Communion was passed around the audience, followed by worship and prayer. Eric’s father spoke about how Kailyn and Eric wanted their wedding day to feel imbued with Christ - from the ceremonies and their union, to also the gorgeous setting made by our Creator. Everyone took a moment to take in the day and the setting, as two friends played guitar and sang worship music in the background of the ceremony.

As the time came, the two of them exchanged rings and vows to one another. Then, Eric’s father asked all their guests to come in close and lay hands on one another or the bride or groom if they were in reach. Their closest family and friends prayed over their marriage and all their life to come. After the last amen, Kailyn and Eric had their first kiss as husband and wife! Kailyn and Eric both threw their arms up and afterwards, Eric swept Kailyn up while still simultaneously cheering! As newly husband and wife, the couple walked through their guests towards the ocean. They walked into the sand where the waves were gently crashing to share their first dance on the beach. The danced with one another with their whole family watching and that might have been one of my top moments of the whole day. Seeing them sway with all eyes on them in the gorgeous setting of Montaña de Oro was nothing short of beautiful.

After many words of congratulations, hugs, tears, and kisses, all their friends and family hurried into San Luis Obispo for a dinner reception while Kailyn and Eric got to soak in their marriage together! We explored Spooner’s Cove, the beach, and actual cove, cliffsides, dunes, and lookout points taking in all the beauty and the gorgeous weather of their wedding day. As the sun fell lower towards the horizon, the most vibrant and warm yellow glow illuminated the air as if it was gold itself! It was so beautiful I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! One of the last photos we took before heading to their reception, where much home-cooked pie was waiting for them, was of them with Morro Rock in the background. This felt so special and personal (like we had come full circle), because what always stood out to me from our first conversation was the fact that we both loved Morro Bay so much, and I have never met anyone else who has loved this place in the same way!

Generally when I go to write my blog posts, recounting all the beautiful and wonderful parts of my client’s wedding days, I am not at such a loss for words. While I may have recounted their wedding day as it happened, there are so many moments and places that still stand out in my mind and make their day overwhelmingly special.

Moments like during their first look when Kailyn gave Eric a leather journal she had been filling up over the course of their relationship with written entries and washi taped polaroids of them. And the most astonishing part was that the first written entry in that journal was of Kailyn confessing her love to Eric - before they were even dating.

Moments like when Kailyn told me her wedding bouquet was compiled from dried bouquets of important moments she has collected throughout her life. Flowers from bouquets Eric had gifted her, flowers from bouquets as a bridesmaid in her friend’s weddings (who stood as her bridesmaids that day), and flowers from National Parks and adventures and all the places in-between.

Moments like when we took their bridal party photos how we jokingly recreated a photo moment that reminded us of The Office.

Moments like where their guests wrote them love notes and endearing messages across their car windows for them to drive around town with and away from their reception during their grand exit.

Moments like when we were leaving the sand dunes and Kailyn ran full speed down the hillside, Eric said “YES” then ran after her, meeting her in an embrace at the bottom of the hill.

Moments like when during speeches, Eric’s mother recounted a story of when she proclaimed that Kailyn would be Eric’s wife before they were even dating.

Moments like when after the speeches were done, and they asked if anyone had anything else they would like to say, Kailyn’s little sister was first to say yes and say how happy she was for Kailyn over and over.

Moments like when during the reception there was a few rounds of trivia to decide who got to choose a slice of home-cooked pie first and somehow I scored in first (with the help of having dad on my team - to be fair).

There is something I cannot put my finger on that makes it so difficult to know what part of this story I should recount, because there are no favorite moments. Every moment from Kailyn and Eric’s wedding was as wonderful as the next. Every moment and memory feels so especially special. This day felt significant and wonderful and it will not be soon forgotten.

Kailyn and Eric, all of my love goes out to you both! Congratulations on your marriage and I am so glad to have been a small part of your big day!