How To Elope In Gold Country California
How To Elope In Gold Country California
Range Of Light Wed
Elopements are becoming more mainstream and it’s easy to see why! Planning an amazing elopement is still an unfamiliar process to many people. If you’re wondering how to elope in Gold Country, you’re in the right place! Keep reading for our guide on how to elope in Gold Country with a free elopement checklist to help you in the elopement planning process!
THE VOW GOLD COUNTRY
The Vow Gold Country Magazine was born of two local wedding industry businesswomen who saw a need for wedding inspiration in our picturesque area. The Vow strives to inspire people to host their special events, large or small, in our beautiful area of the world, the Gold Country in California.
Gold Country stretches from the beautiful granite cliffs of Yosemite to the stunning wine country region of Amador County, the mountain areas of Bear Valley and Sonora Pass, and the foothills and ranches of Jamestown.
The Vow Gold Country features the newest trends in Gold Country weddings and the trusted vendors who provide the highest caliber of work. We hope brides gain the knowledge to create their dream wedding on our pages!
You can grab past issues of The Vow Gold Country here, and keep an eye out for our latest issue coming soon!
Let’s get down to it…how can we help you find the best wedding event rentals in Gold Country?
Need help figuring out when to book your wedding event rentals? Check out our Wedding Timeline here.
How To Elope In Gold Country California
Range Of Light Wed
Gold Country Elopement Destinations
Calaveras County
Calaveras County is such a special place to elope. Imagine a vast open space, natural beauty, and quaint small towns. Your Gold Country elopement can be set in picturesque vineyards, or among the towering pines. Elopements are such magical moments that deserve a beautiful destination that will exceed your expectations, and you’ll find just that in Calaveras County.
Tuolumne County
Plan the perfect elopement in Tuolumne County! You have your pick of adventurous and stunning locations in the High Sierras. Choose from destinations like the iconic granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park perfect for your adventure elopement or a rusticly charming town in Gold Country.
Elopement Photography
Storybook Photography
Storybook Photography’s Salisha is here to capture your memories creatively, authentically, and beautifully, preserving your story forever. She has 10+ years of experience as a photographer and has learned how to help you as a couple focus on each other and really stay present in the moment. Salisha loves to capture genuinely candid moments that will feel like you.
Storybook Photography specializes in adventure elopements and provides one-of-a-kind images captured with ease.
Salisha tells us, “I love being able to play a pivotal role in documenting such a special and exciting time in a couples life. I've always been drawn to romantic stories, and I think it's so important that each wedding story gets captured in a way that tells your unique story. As someone who has experienced loss, I know that life is precious and images are all we have when someone is gone, so for me, it's about taking something fleeting and making it into something that can be preserved for all time.”
We asked her what makes Gold Country elopements so special? What sets them apart? Salisha told us, “We live in such a gorgeous area for weddings, and especially elopements! I love helping educate my couples on locations, and finding the perfect spot for photos and even elopements. I even offer a location guide to help my couples choose some popular spots that I've frequently visited and captured at!”
Elopement Service
Range Of Light Wed
The ladies at Range of Light Wed are seasoned wedding professionals who want to support you in your journey to do something a bit different. The biggest goal for Range Of Light Wed is to give you a meaningful experience that feels just the way you want it to.
Range Of Light Wed are Sierra Nevada locals who think nature makes the best venue to say I do! Their elopement packages make planning your intentional day super easy and seamless, so these ladies joined forces to offer you the essentials all at once.
Each Range Of Light Wed package includes:
Elopement planning
Elopement Timeline
On Site Hair & Makeup
6 Hours Of Photography Coverage (with the option to extend), Full Resolution files with printing rights, Online gallery for printing and sharing
Florals For 2 People (with option for more)
Gourmet Picnic
Organic Cake
Complimentary Champagne
NO TRAVEL FEES
Range Of Light Wed Elopement Packages Include The Following Areas:
Sonora Pass
HIGHWAY 108,
KENNEDY MEADOWS
DONNEL VISTA
All our secret spots!
Yosemite National Park
Taft Point
Glacier Point
All Of The Yosemite National Park Favorites
Eastern Sierras
TIOGA PASS
MAMMOTH LAKES
JUNE LAKES
BRIDGEPORT
BISHOP
ALABAMA HILLS
LAKE TAHOE
INYO NATIONAL FOREST
Southern Desert
LONE PINE
MOJAVE
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
PALM SPRINGS
A La Carte Services
Standalone services available in Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, Eastern Sierras, South Lake Tahoe, and Sonora Pass. Inquire for rates outside of these regions.
Range Of Light Wed is dedicated to Leave No Trace principles.
Elopement Hair and Makeup
Braided Blonde Locks
Alyssa of Braided Blonde Locks has been a Bridal Hair and Makeup artist for the past 15 years. She loves to create a timeless, naturally organic look to help you feel your best and most authentic for your wedding day. From formal weddings to intimate elopement adventures, Alyssa creates the hair and makeup of your dream bridal looks.
Braided Blonde Locks embraces your natural beauty to help you feel like the best version of your true self, which is perfect for your elopement!
Alyssa offers specialty elopement hair and makeup services that allow you to relax. Services are completed with enough time for you to get dressed and off to your destination. Adding hair and makeup just polishes up this spectacular moment for you to be set for a day to remember.
To inquire about having Braided Blonde Locks, please visit Alyssa’s website for all the details you need to know.
*Braided Blonde Locks is part of the Range Of Light Wed elopement service (see above).
Elopement Florals
Sweet Lilacs Studio
Susan and the team of Sweet Lilacs provide relaxed, airy, casual, and romantic florals for your elopement. Sweet Lilacs loves using texture and sweet fragrance to envelop brides in their bouquets.
Sweet Lilacs love the combination of peonies, ranunculus, open garden roses, berries, mixed foliage, and, of course, lilacs. Susan and her team are passionate about providing the best work in floral art design for every event. Sweet Lilacs have strong attention to quality, detail, texture, color, space, balance, and unity.
Susan has been part of thousands of weddings and has been a florist for over 13 years. She loves a challenge! Elopements present just that, but she absolutely loves designing florals that compliment the nature that surrounds you on an adventure elopement.
*Sweet Lilacs Studio is part of the Range of Light Wed elopement service (see above).
Elopement Rentals
Sweet Little Lilacs
As a subsidiary of Sweet Lilacs, Sweet Little Lilacs specializes in elopement florals and rentals for micro weddings and elopements of up to 20 people.
They offers limited rentals including:
Creative boards for table seating charts or guest favors. Let’s chat about ideas!
Hanging wood chandeliers with greenery
Rental of handmade pottery vases (Handmade Pottery Collections)
Rental of handmade table numbers
Rental of disco balls with pin spot lights
Rental of uplights and market lights
Rental of white welcome sign board with flower box
Sweet Little Lilacs handmades are their gems. They personally make these items themselves and take great pride in their artwork. Aside from event floral design, they love to show off and share their other talents. Sweet Little Lilacs puts their unique artistic touches into these special items and personalizes them just for you. These items are available by pre-order only, and orders are limited.
Handmade Vow Books
Handmade Guest Books
Small Handmade Signs
Handmade table numbers (rental only)
Sweet Little Lilacs is the perfect event rental for you if you’re looking to elope in Gold Country!
*Sweet Little Lilacs is part of the Range Of Light Wed elopement service (see above).
Elopement Dresses
The Bridal Vault
Photo By: Range Of Light Wed (above)
It’s time to shop for your elopement dress! How exciting! You want to find a gown that fits your personality as well as your body. Let’s face it, we are all different and unique when it comes to our personal styles, and your bridal style is no different.
At the Bridal Vault, Kelsey and her team genuinely care about you, your wedding, and your future. The Bridal Vault family is a fantastic group of women who were once little girls who had big dreams and became women living those dreams! They want your wedding to be nothing short of perfection.
The Bridal Vault consultants make it their mission to guide brides to find their dream wedding gown. They go above and beyond to help the bride with everything they need, from fabrics and silhouettes, to helping you find the perfect veil to go with your dress.
Their one-of-a-kind location provides a one-of-a-kind experience. The spacious salon is in historic Jamestown, California. They offer a spacious dressing room in the vault and a semi-private viewing area so your family and bride tribe can enjoy seeing you in each gown. You will absolutely love visiting The Bridal Vault!
The Bridal Vault carries Martina Liana, Stella York, Lillian West, and more.
For Your Elopement You’ll Need To Know How To Travel With A Wedding Dress and Advice For Grooms On Wedding Day Attire.
Tips For Picking An Elopement Dress
Photo By: Range Of Light Wed (see above)
Choose Comfort Over Fashion
The number one thing to consider when choosing an elopement dress is comfort. Most of your elopement day will be spent in this dress and the last thing you want is to feel weighed down by it feeling too restrictive or heavy. You’ll likely be doing some sort of exploring on your adventure elopement day and choosing a dress that feels comfortable will make those activities a lot more enjoyable.
Choose The Right Fabric
On your elopement day, depending on the locations you choose to explore, you could be exposed to all kinds of weather conditions and terrain. Choosing a fabric that can withstand any conditions is key to a comfortable elopement day. You’ll want to consider the climate and location of your elopement. If you’re saying “I do” in a hot climate, a lightweight, breathable fabric would be a good option, and if you’re eloping in a colder climate, you may want to consider something heavier.
Choose A Durable Dress
We recommend choosing a dress that can stand up to the rigors of an outdoor elopement. Look for fabrics that are durable and can handle a bit of dirt or mud. Also, if you’re eloping in a climate that has a high chance of rain or you’re doing an activity that involves water, check to make sure your dress won’t weigh you down if it gets drenched on your elopement day.
While preparing for an elopement can feel like an easier task than a traditional wedding, it can still be helpful to work from a checklist! Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you prepare for your elopement and ensure that every detail is taken care of.
