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. 

WONDERING WHAT A MID-DAY, BRIGHT SUNNY WEDDING LOOKS LIKE? CHECK THIS OUT.
​
Nicci and Johnny's beautiful Malibu wedding is proof that you CAN get married and take beautiful pictures in the middle of the day! Most couples tend to plan their wedding for evening, in order to capture golden sunset light and a evening-to-nighttime party. But Nicci and Johnny aren't most couples! They're active and beachy SoCal kids (not night owls), so they opted to have an early afternoon outdoor wedding with a casual lawn reception with tacos and games. Their timeframe included a family-only ceremony at 1pm, couple photos at 2pm, and their friends arrived for the reception afterward at 3pm. In photographer-speak, this meant shooting couple photos in the middle of the bright afternoon sun (in late July)! Technically this is usually a photography no-no, but I made sure they understood what kind of look their photos would have—sunlight-drenched with strong shadows and bright blue water—and they were all in! Though these photos are non-traditional, we were still able to work with the angles of the sun and what shadows we had to shoot evenly lit family pictures and gorgeous sunny couple photos that Nicci and Johnny are thrilled with. 

Ceremony location: Malibu Gathering 
Family portraits: Malibu Gathering
Couple portraits: Point Dume, Malibu 
Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 

Are you planning a wedding? I love capturing weddings of all sizes and styles. I am based in both Austin, TX and Malibu, CA, so if you're planning a wedding anywhere in central Texas or southern California, I have local availability and rates (no travel cost) for you. Please reach out to talk more! >> [email protected] or you can learn more about Wedding Photography Packages and Rates here >> 

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.) 

This adventurous couple lucked out and got to shoot their engagement photos at the beach in Malibu at Point Dume's secluded hidden cove. The tide doesn't always cooperate but this time it did and we got to shoot among the rocks (and the beautiful salty spray) at sunset. After playing in the water, we hiked up to the top of the cliff for some extra special sunset views of the coastline together. Then we had a little time to finish off the shoot with some fun silhouettes with the orange and blue sunset. *chef's kiss!* 

So excited for Kari and Eric to get married! 

What a dream to shoot Raquel and Danny's engagement session at Point Dume and get the beach all to ourselves (helped to shoot on a dreary weekday in October)! These two have such a mellow and sweet connection and I'm so excited to document their beautiful wedding day in the new year (this pandemic can't keep us down!) Click "Read More" to view the whole gallery of Raquel and Danny's Point Dume State Beach engagement pictures. 

Here's an awesome idea: shoot photos the day before (or the day after) your wedding, with no time pressure and the option to move the shoot to a truly epic natural location. That's what Josh and Andy did and the results are amazing! These two guys planned their backyard wedding at home on a Sunday and their portraits with me in Malibu the day before. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know them and begin their celebration a day early. These guys leveled up the style factor of their Point Dume wedding photos by renting a vintage car to incorporate in the shots. 

Holy moly these Point Dume maternity photos knocked my socks off! Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say.... that sunset light situation takes it all to the next level, and it's true. But Darin and Christy made it oh-so-fun with these whimsical stripes and playful outfits as they count down the days until they meet their firstborn son. 

And If you take family portraits during COVID, you have to cue the obligatory mask photo! 

Daniel hit the ball out of the park with this Malibu proposal to Erica. Under the ruse of celebrating her college graduation, he bought her a new dress and made plans for brunch in Malibu and a fun day out. The one thing he left out? A clifftop proposal at Point Dume. She was surprised but held it together long enough to say YES, as I kept snapping photos in the bushes. Congratulations, Daniel and Erica, on this beautiful moment and big decision to spend the rest of your life together! 

Lara and Allen's Malibu engagement photo session brought out their fiery passion and playful friendship that makes them such an inspiring couple. I'm so excited to see what these two powerhouses do together!