Cliffs, Coastlines, and Redwoods: An Elopement That Refused to Choose Just One View

If you’ve ever dreamed of a wedding that’s completely your own, be sure to bookmark Lex and Jackie’s scenic elopement, set among the Jedidiah Smith River Trail and the tide pools of Crescent City, California. Their day was intimate, emotional, and entirely untraditional, proving that love doesn’t need a guest list to make an impact.

“We met funnily enough working a haunted house,” they share. After 11 years as best friends, their relationship grew into something more. “It took a few minutes and some crayons for me to realize their ‘I love you’ was not just platonic.”

The proposal was just as meaningful. “Lex decorated our bedroom with our favorite colors and candles and a whole playlist of their favorite moments,” says Jackie. “It was purely magical, just thinking about it makes me tear up.”

For this pair, choosing a wedding location wasn’t about trends, it was about the experience. “The Redwood Forest was a bucket list for both of us,” they explain. And with neither having seen a true ocean before, the California coastline became the perfect setting for their vows. “We could not pass up the opportunity to go to such a gorgeous place.”

So off they adventured into nature, where towering redwoods met the rugged beauty of pebble-strewn shores. No décor could compete with that.

In a bold and intentional move, Lex and Jackie opted for a wedding with zero guests. Just the two of them, their photographer, and the vast, open landscape. Choosing to have no guests allowed the couple to fully embrace the moment.

Their ceremony centered around deeply personal vows. “For both of us, the writing of the vows really stands out. We wrote them separately, in secret, in separate books, however the theme matched. We both chose lyrics from songs that meant a lot to both of us. The wording was on point. Not a dry eye on that rock that day.”

After exchanging vows, they shared a first dance on a rock to, fittingly, Brandi Carlile’s On the Rock. “That was probably the defining moment that day,” they share.

But of course, what’s a wedding day without a few hiccups. “From our original shooting location being inaccessible due to a park closure to climbing all over [rocks] like mountain goats,” they laugh, the spontaneity only adding to the magic. And some incredible photos.

Even without a traditional setup, their wedding was rich with thoughtful details. Their vow books featured a sun and moon motif, symbolizing balance and connection. Jackie carried a bouquet inspired by the one Lex used during the proposal, complete with a hidden lemon that served as tribute to a friend of theirs.

Their faux florals were a creative mix of wood flowers and silk arrangements from Michael’s in shades of navy, off-white, and purple. Lex wore a gray suit while Jackie stunned in an ivory Azazie bridal gown with a navy wrap, each look a true reflection of their identity.

Instead of a traditional reception, the couple embraced the natural beauty of pebble beach before celebrating with a relaxed lunch. Their favorite moments say it all: “Splashing through the surf,” “all of the laughing, all day,” and simply “getting the freedom to be ourselves.”

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