5 Things You Should Know Before You Elope in the Redwoods

The Redwoods is one of my favorite locations in Southern Oregon/Northern California for a few reasons. Number one, I’m a huge Star Wars fan, number two green is my favorite color, and number 3, it’s truly symbolic of the PNW in my mind and so full of beauty.

Quick background if you aren’t a Star Wars fan, the scenes from Return of the Jedi where the Ewoks and Rebels are fighting the Empire was filmed in the Redwoods, and any part of the Redwoods that I go to I can just picture an AT-ST stomping through or a little Ewok poking up through the ferns. So it has this magical, cinematic quality that just seems to permeate every inch of the forest for me. Do I see a Star Wars styled shoot in the Redwoods in my future? Yes, yes I do.

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So having grown up in the Pacific Northwest and my favorite color having been green since practically birth, it makes sense that the Redwoods would be a spot that I would gravitate towards. The trees have a kind of quiet magnetism, almost spooky at times, that draws you in.

AAALL of this to say, these are just a few reasons (if you’re anything like me) to plan your elopement or intimate wedding ceremony here!

So let’s go over a few things you should know when planning to hold your wedding ceremony in the Redwoods!

  • There are different sections of the Redwoods in different areas. There is Redwoods National Park AND there are also Redwoods STATE parks that have different names. For instance the section of the Redwoods closest to me that I primarily shoot in and am familiar with is Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Crescent City, CA. But there are different parks of the Redwoods stretching down into California, so make sure to keep that in mind.

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  • You can only get married in certain pre-approved locations within the Redwoods State & National Parks, so make sure to choose one of them, apply for and receive your permit before sending out invitations or making concrete plans with your wedding vendors just in case you have to change locations or your desired location isn’t available on your date. For a list of those locations, click here.

  • I just mentioned it, but permits. It is so important to go through the proper channels to receive your permit for your wedding date at your pre-approved location choice. If you book with me, I can walk you through the whole process and make sure everything gets done exactly as it should! So don’t stress there. If you’re not booked with me, make sure your photographer knows about the permit process!

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  • LNT - Leave No Trace. This is a set of principles to help minimize our impact on the environment and well, leave no trace of us behind. That means packing out what you pack in, staying on designated trails so as not to disturb the ecosystem, not walking on fallen logs, and so much more. This also means no birdseed, plastic or paper confetti, or dried flowers can be scattered (this is also a rule of most national parks, not just LNT.)

  • This last one might sound silly, but don’t forget to consider the lighting. Because of the rich, green canopy of trees overhead, the Redwoods trails and glens tend to be darker with not a ton of direct or golden sunshine and no open sky. Make sure that fits your vision and fits the style of your photographer/videographer as well! If you do want more sunshiney/open sky photos, consider planning some portraits afterwards somewhere along the coast like Brookings!

Basically eloping anywhere, but especially state and national parks, requires a bit of research to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. As I’ve mentioned here, make sure that whoever you book as your photographer either has this knowledge or is filling to do the research, or that you are willing to do the research yourself.

Happy adventuring! And keep on scrolling for a sneak peak into a beautiful Redwoods elopement!

xoxo, Riley B



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