 How are Europeans always so effortlessly chic? (asking for a friend)
Check out this epic set up: Frederik and Julia are German and they have been together for 20 years (what?!? were they 5 when they started dating?!?) and they decided 2024 was the year to tie the knot. Only they decided to jet off to Malibu for a just-them-and-the-officiant-and-me beach elopement. Julia brought a chic but surprisingly low-maintenance dress from Lulus.com (in my opinion, the smart girl's elopement dress shop) and Frederik brought an impeccably tailored tuxedo. They said their vows in a private pocket beach at El Matador State Beach, then we had the rest of the evening until sunset to document this grand adventure of theirs. What a dream! This is what I love about elopements: light on the planning, heavy on the beauty and serendipity.
Congratulations Lexie and Ryan on your beautiful Malibu elopement! What a special moment to share with your immediate family and celebrate the beginning of this new chapter in your life.
 Lucas and Lindsay's breathtaking Point Dume elopement had just the right amount of coastal breeze to lift her veil and provide a dramatic backdrop to their intimate vows. It also helps that Lucas is French and therefore showed up with a PER-FECT-LY tailored suit and the most suave demeanor. It's no wonder Lindsay is smitten with him. The two said their vows to love and cherish one another forever at the beautiful cliffscape state park of Point Dume. This is a wonderful choice to elope because there isn't much foot traffic so they had the whole coastal view to themselves.
Blessings to you both as you begin the adventure of your life together. (Read more to view the full gallery from this fantastic Malibu elopement.)
Bishoy and Sara were giddy like a couple of kids! Their beach elopement was all giggles and poetic vows and stolen kisses before the officiant even said, "You may kiss the bride!" These two are clearly twin flames who share so much love and passion for life and for one another. Bishoy and Sara, may your love burn ever brighter as you travel through the years together.
Malibu Beach Wedding Photography | El Matador Elopement Photography with Stephanie and Sean1/16/2021
 Malibu is a truly beautiful place to get married, and one of the most breathtaking of these locations is El Matador State Beach. With the statuesque cliffs and rock formations and crashing waves below, it is the perfect setting for an intimate vow ceremony or elopement. Please note that Stephanie and Sean's wedding and photos occurred at low tide. These exposed boulders are not always visible at every hour of the day. (Click "Read More" to view the full gallery of Stephanie and Sean's beach elopement and photos afterward.)
Karina and Pat's backyard COVID wedding was every bit as meaningful as it was laid back. They both got ready in Karina's mother and step dad's home, and said their vows in the backyard, then proceeded to dine and toast and laugh the night away in the spacious dining area (furniture moved out of the way to accommodate tables for the feast). What a delightful celebration of love and family and laughter and commitment this was, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. I'm so grateful to have be part of it! 
Alex and Abdul's Cambria elopement photos are beautiful because their wedding day was so special and full of meaningful family moments. On a sandy beach, in a circle of parents and siblings, the two of them pledged the rest of their lives to one another. And the rest of the evening was a better-than-Thanksgiving homemade feast shared on the back deck of their house overlooking the sunset and it was pretty much the greatest thing ever. Check out more Southern California elopement photos and small family weddings here >>
Weddings don't have to be complicated. They can be barefoot on the sand with just your family within easy hugging distance. They can be no-music, no-fuss, just the basics, with Dad officiating the vows and brothers passing little jars of champagne. They can be on the sand of a public beach, with strangers walking by and offering their well-wishes. They can be simple. And beautiful. At the same time.
Erin and Andy did just that. These east-coasters celebrated their vows on the beach in Southern California, but they managed to avoid the 5-figure venue price tag by opting to gather their families on the sand at El Matador. On a sunny fall day, with a sprinkling of Angelenos enjoying the sunset nearby, Erin and Andy and eighteen family members circled up on the sand and shared a moment of new beginning. . After a quick set of family and couple photos, the whole crew piled into cars to share a candlelit farm to table meal together at the iconic Malibu Pier. . Simple, meaningful, and beautiful all rolled into one.
Does something look a little different about Ilse and Louis' gorgeous elopement photos at El Matador Beach? That's because we did the shoot at sunrise! That's right, this awesome couple got ready and met me at the beach at 6:45 am for sunrise (which turned out to be perfectly cloudy and all pastels all morning long) and it was totally worth it to have the WHOOLLE beach to ourselves! If you've been to El Matador, you know that it can be challenging to have a clean background due to other people enjoying the beach (who can blame them? It's stunning.) But a sunrise session at El Matador meant we were alone with the beautiful light, freshly smoothed sand, and expanse of rocks to climb all over. It was a dream come true!
Though based inland, Ilse and Louis wanted to snap elopement photos at El Matador because they getaway to the beach any chance they have (and I can totally see why!). I'm so thrilled they found me online (yay Google!) and we got to spend these special moments together making some truly frame-worthy images to commemorate the beginning of their life together.
Junya and Yuki eloped in Los Angeles, but they wanted some photos to commemorate the start of their married life together. They picked El Matador—smart choice—as the backdrop to these sweet sunset portraits, which they will treasure for years to come.
Location: El Matador State Beach |
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