Headed to Malibu a few weeks ago to capture Cameron + Cyrel’s intimate wedding! With moths of planning, and finding the perfect locations, they settled on Malibu, which ended up perfectly. We started with a first look at El Matador Beach, followed by sunset ceremony at Point Dume, which was perfect, as they said their vows overlooking the ocean and at sunset.
Congrats Cameron + Cyrel! Notes from the Bride below—
What was your favorite moment of your elopement and/or trip?
I honestly loved everything about it. A moment that stands out to me though would have to be our first look. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to it and it was such a beautiful moment for the two of us to connect together before the rest of the day started. It felt like time stood still and we were the only ones there on the beach. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget.
Most memorable moment of day?
One of my favorite moments for me was the ceremony. It was such an incredible location that we all discovered the day before exploring the area and I’m so grateful we did. Having the opportunity to exchange our vows in a beautiful spot like that is something that I’ll always cherish. Being there during sunset and surrounded by the ocean was such a magical feeling.
What were you most nervous or excited about?
I was pretty anxious about everything coming together smoothly. We planned our elopement from afar, so all of our decisions were based off of google research and reviews. We had a general idea of what we wanted it to look like but all the details really came together in the weeks leading up to the big day. We did our best to keep everything simple but still special. At the end of the day, I had to remember that this moment was about the two of us celebrating our love and being able to focus on each other.
Did you DIY or add any personal touches to your elopement?
Since we didn’t have a wedding planner, we did almost everything on our own. I set up the dinner table the night before and used these cute place settings from Etsy with everyone’s names on it. It was the little things like that and our personalized wooden ring box that meant a lot to me. I’m not sure if this counts too, but I really enjoyed doing my own hair and makeup and taking that quiet time in the morning to get ready.
What made you choose your location?
Cyrel and I both knew we wanted to get married at the beach. Being from the Bay Area, we knew it would’ve been a challenge planning a ceremony at a local beach in February. We decided it would be best to make the drive down to Southern California since the weather is more reliable that time of year. We actually had a few different locations up in the air at first. A month prior to the elopement, we hiked up to Point Dume in Malibu. We knew in that moment that this was the spot, it just felt right to the both of us.
Any tips/advice for future brides thinking about eloping?
If you’re thinking about it, definitely go for it! The great thing about eloping is that it’s all about the two of you and makes for such an intimate setting. It offers more freedom since you’re not limited to certain venues or planning the day with a big guest list in mind. Looking back, I love that we kept some of the vendors a traditional wedding has – our photographer (Martina of course), florist, officiant, bakery, and caterer all tied everything together for us. It was simple, cozy, filled with so much love, and just “us.”
First look location: El Matador Beach Ceremony: Point Dume Flowers: Sprig & Stem Florals
Planning an intimate elopement? Let’s chat, would love to capture your story!
