Ritz-Carlton Laguna Beach Elopement | Intimate Coastal Wedding in California
Who Knew that being from Virginia and an instagram DM would lead to getting to capture this beautiful elopement in Laguna?!
Juliette first reached out to me on Instagram about capturing their elopement. The original date she had in mind was one I was already booked for, but since I was going to be out of state photographing a wedding in Dallas, I asked if she had any flexibility to shift it by a few days.
Thankfully, she did—and everything fell into place from there.
From Virginia to Laguna Beach
Juliette and Parker are actually from my hometown in Virginia, which is how she originally found me.
But one of their favorite places to visit together is Laguna Beach—and when it came time to decide where to get married, it just made sense.
They had briefly considered doing something bigger, but ultimately decided they wanted the exact opposite.
Something simple. Intentional. And as relaxed as possible.
A Weekend Away From Their Everyday
Both Juliette and Parker are neurosurgeons (which still blows my mind), and it turns out they work at the same hospital I used to work at years ago.
Because of their schedules, getting time off isn’t easy—so they flew out just for the weekend.
At one point, they thought about incorporating horseback riding into the day since it’s something they love doing together in California, but in the end, they decided they didn’t want to feel rushed or tied to anything.
They just wanted to be present.
Getting Ready Together at the Ritz-Carlton
They got ready together in their room at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, which set the tone for the entire day.
It was quiet. Easy. No pressure.
Before Juliette put her dress on, Parker stepped out to the pool area for their first look.
The Ritz has this iconic tiled pool deck, and it ended up being the perfect spot for that moment.
As soon as he saw her, he teared up immediately.
It was simple and emotional in the best way—no distractions, just the two of them.
At one point, a few hotel staff members walked by and started cheering them on, which made the whole moment feel even more fun and real.
Exploring the Ritz & Coastal Portraits
After their first look, we spent some time walking around the property capturing photos.
The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Beach has so many beautiful corners—from the ocean views to the architecture—so we kept things really relaxed and just moved with whatever felt natural.
Nothing overly posed. Just letting them be together.
A Secluded Beach Ceremony in Laguna
From there, we headed down to the beach to meet their officiant.
We found a quiet, more secluded spot along the coastline in Laguna Beach, away from the crowds.
Their ceremony was incredibly intimate.
No audience. No distractions. Just the two of them.
And again—lots of tears.
It felt personal, emotional, and completely true to who they are.
Champagne & the Simplest Ending
After the ceremony, we made our way back up to the hotel, stopping along the way for a few more photos as the light shifted.
Once we were back in their room, they popped champagne, took a few final photos, and just… relaxed.
And that was it.
No timeline to follow. No expectations.
They had the rest of the day to do whatever they wanted—together.
Why This Elopement Worked So Well
What made this day so special wasn’t just the location or the views.
It was how intentional it felt.
They chose to slow everything down. To remove the pressure. To focus on what actually mattered.
And because of that, every part of the day felt real.
Planning a Laguna Beach Elopement?
If you're dreaming of an elopement at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel or anywhere along the Laguna Beach coastline—and want it to feel relaxed, personal, and true to you—I’d love to be part of it.
→ Inquire here to begin your elopement photography experience.