Why choose a wedding in the redwoods in Santa Cruz County?

 

The towering forests of Santa Cruz County are unparalleled as a wedding backdrop. Santa Cruz redwoods weddings are unforgettable for out-of-town guests in particular. Conveniently located near the coast, the county's redwood forest venues are a great option for destination weddings, as well. If you've decided to tie the knot in the forest, take a look at some of our most commonly asked questions, and as always, feel free to reach out with any additional questions/requests. 

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Santa Cruz Redwoods Wedding FAQs

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What time should we plan to do couple's photos for a forest wedding?

You've probably heard that the best time of day for your photos is within on hour of sunset. The redwoods are a bit different, as they effectively push the sunset up an hour or so. Once you've picked your venue, we will discuss timing based on time of year and location.

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What time should we plan to do family photos for a forest wedding?

Family photos have more time flexibility than couple's photos, because the perfect lighting is less essential. In recent years, we have seen a shift away from the traditional after-ceremony family photos. Many couples are opting to take family photos pre-ceremony so that they can spend more time enjoying cocktail hour and their guests. Are you wondering how that timeline effects the first look? Couples who move family photos to before the ceremony sometimes choose to exchange private vows or do a first look before the photos. However, if you prefer to catch that first glimpse of each other during the ceremony, you may want to stick to tradition and take family photos just after the ceremony.

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What colors look best for bridesmaids dresses, floral color pops, etc for a beach wedding?

Santa Cruz redwoods weddings have a backdrop of deep greens and red hues. California Poppy themes with greens and oranges, jewel tone color schemes, and all green and white color schemes look fantastic in the forest. 

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Will it be windy? Cold? Rainy?​

Santa Cruz weather is known for being a bit... finicky. The coast hovers comfortably in the 70s and 80s, but once the sun goes down there's no knowing how chilly or windy it will be. The redwoods and mountains are often significantly warmer than the coast during the day and cooler at night. We always recommend that you encourage guests to bring a sweater just in case. Luckily, the trees do tend to block the coastal winds. If you do luck into a rainy wedding day, you will likely be pleasantly surprised by your photos. In my experience, rain on your wedding day completely removes that desire for everything to be perfect. Everyone completely relaxes and enjoys the humor and the romance of a rainy wedding day. And the best perk of all? The photos are always incredible! The contrast is fantastic, colors are gorgeous, and the hustle and bustle in the rain creates atmosphere. My rainy weddings have been some of my absolute favorites to document.

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What if it's overcast and we don't get a sunset?​

Everyone hopes for an epic sunset on their wedding day, but it's a little known fact that an overcast day will result in better tones in your photos! An overcast sky acts like a big studio filter, creating flattering lighting for faces and making colors pop in the images. While a beautiful sunset is always welcome, sometimes the tradeoff is welcome! The only caveat is that your couples photos may need to be moved up in the timeline if the cloud cover is too thick to ensure that we have enough lights and can take advantage of that studio light effect. ​​​​