Eloping in California can cost anywhere from $500 to $15,000 or more — it just depends on your preferences and priorities when creating your wedding celebration. This includes things like flights, transportation, lodging, photography, and customized experiences like a private chef, hot air balloon ride, and private vineyard tours.

My wine country elopement experiences start at $8,250 for a full-day elopement and $6,100 for a half-day.

What's Included in Your Sonoma Elopement Investment:

My elopement packages include everything you need to design and document your day — I'm not just your photographer, I'm your elopement experience architect. You can see detailed package information and what's included on my main pricing page, or we can discuss your specific needs on a discovery call.

You can absolutely visit multiple locations during your elopement — and most of my couples do! Wine country's beauty is that you can experience incredible diversity, from Russian River Valley vineyards to Dry Creek Valley's family wineries to Healdsburg's upscale wine country charm. A typical day might look like: morning portraits in coastal redwoods, ceremony in a vineyard, golden hour on the Sonoma Coast. I'll help you create a timeline that feels unhurried while still letting you see multiple landscapes.

No, permits are usually only required on public land like regional and state parks. For private vineyards, most family-owned wineries in Sonoma and Napa are happy to host intimate elopements — some charge a small site fee, others just ask that you purchase wine or book a tasting. I'll help you navigate exactly what you need based on where you want to go.

Sonoma County can be crowded, depending on the day of the week and the time of year that you're visiting. It's important to consider timing when choosing your elopement date: weekdays are a good option any time of year; early spring and fall are your best bets for the middle of a Venn diagram with ideal weather and minimal crowds.

During our planning process, I'll ask you how important privacy is to you and recommend locations accordingly. If "no other humans in our photos" is non-negotiable, we'll build your day around private vineyards, off-the-beaten-path redwood groves, and strategic timing. 

The short answer: you'll have the clear umbrellas and body warmers I keep on hand for couples to keep you warm and dry; beyond that, some of the fun and magic lies in embracing what Mother Nature has to offer.

The long answer: if you're eloping in a season with a higher risk of wet weather, during our planning process we'll identify both your ideal locations and backup options that work in wet weather: covered areas at wineries, redwood groves that provide natural shelter, or even beautiful home rental properties if you want to pivot entirely.

If weather makes you anxious, we can also talk about seasonal timing when choosing your wedding date (late spring through early fall has the most reliable weather).

I recommend booking your Sonoma elopement 6-12 months in advance, especially if you're planning for peak season (May-September). That said, I've worked with couples who planned everything in 4-6 weeks, so if you're on a shorter timeline, reach out anyway. The bottom line: the earlier you start planning and contacting your vendors, the less stress and more options you end up with.