Cici + Tom’s Seaside Santa Cruz Elopement
A Perfect Setting
For our couple Cici and Tom there were two important elements that a seaside Santa Cruz elopement brought together perfectly: family and nature. Cici and Tom met in New York City, but have a deep love for California’s natural beauty. They knew they wanted their elopement to be surrounded by the expansive sky, mountains, and ocean, but they also wanted to ensure that Tom’s family in Singapore was able to attend. They found an amazing house through Peerspace overlooking the Santa Cruz mountains for the ceremony where family could virtually attend, then left to the ocean for photos. It was the perfect location for what felt like a private and exclusive elopement, without sacrificing sharing their big day with loved ones.
The Engagment
Under the pretense of a celebration dinner, Tom proposed to Cici at the Rosewood in Palo Alto. When they arrived, Cici and Tom were led through the grounds onto a lawn decorated with a giant heart made of rose petals. Once upon the pedals, Tom dropped down on one knee and popped the question, and much to Cici’s delight, friends were present to join in on the celebration.
An Elegant Elopement
To compliment the stunning setting for their Santa Cruz elopement, Cici and Tom added touches of pink and white throughout their day. In addition to their hand picked flowers, their dog Archie was dressed in the most adorable tuxedo. During the pandemic, Cici had picked up the hobby of going to the SF Flower Market every Saturday to brighten up the house with flowers, so with a last minute venue and arch to decorate it was really fun and special for her to personally pick all of the flowers and put them together.
Favorite Moments
Cici and Tom wrote their vows separately, but both of them shared the same stories and memories. For Cici, it really re-iterated how well they know each other, and it was the highlight of her day. Tom’s favorite moment came at his first look at Cici, sharing that “It was such a special moment during the frantic setup process, and Cici looked so beautiful.”
Are you thinking an elopement might be what you and your partner want? I’ve put together some tips on eloping on my website. Check out my elopement guides to see if this is the right choice for you.
Words of Wisdom
“Planning can be so hectic, but make sure to have time by yourselves (for instance during the first look) and also for your parents: it’s such an important day for them too.”
Cici and Tom used Peerspace to rent out Greg & Patty’s amazing amazing patio overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was the perfect space to have the ceremony and livestream it to Tom’s family in Singapore. After the ceremony, we all went over to Panther Beach in Santa Cruz for dramatic cliffs and amazing beach photos. I love a beach shoot!
Wedding Vendors
Venue | Greg and Patty’s Mountain Space w/ Incredible Views
Photography | Heather Anderson Photography
Flowers | SF Flower Market | selected by the bride
Cupcakes | Sweet Diplomacy
Hair and Makeup | Design Her Image
Bride’s Dress | Riki Dalal
Groom’s Suit | Canali
