Before DeRon + Paloma got married, they attended 12 weddings together as guests. And long after their big days, 11 out of 12 of those couples later told them they wished they had eloped. Wanting to avoid putting on a “show” of a wedding, DeRon + Paloma knew without a doubt that it was best to go their own way and elope! And they brought along the sorts of unconventional details we LOVE. Like a rad boho wedding dress paired with a bridal halo crown and boots, a striking burgundy suit, an overgrowth of beautiful flowers to frame the day! Here’s Paloma with the story of how they came to elope in Big Sur:
The inspiration for the day definitely was like the theme of our entire relationship: adventure. From taking flying lessons together, sailing, skydiving, backcountry hiking, and moving across the country together! We’ve always been a couple that loved to do things that were a bit off the beaten path and daring. So naturally, we wanted the first day of our marriage, which was also our 5 year anniversary, to embody that. With that said, “What could be more of an adventure than eloping cliffside?”
They brought along photographer Tessa Tadlock to capture all the stunning moments, from the first look to the sunset over Big Sur. Let’s have a look!
The Boho Bridal Elopement Look
How do you find a wedding dress when you don’t actually LIKE wedding dresses? We love a good dress story, and Paloma’s took even her by surprise:
Confession: I’ve never really liked wedding dresses. I’ve always thought they looked a bit ridiculous. When I set up the appointments with six different stores, I was honestly more excited to get to spend time with my family during the process. I was completely dreading the idea of not finding anything that “spoke to me.”
However, I was pleasantly surprised that out of the 54 dresses I tried on I actually enjoyed the majority of them. Kelly’s Closet in Atlanta was the last bridal shop we went to, and when I saw The East Gown by Rue De Seine I fell in love with it! I was enamored with the uniqueness of the train and the fun of the sleeves. It felt classic, and yet bohemian. It was the one that was perfect for me.
Oh, our hearts…this first look!! His face says it all!
Crying, this is so beautiful!
The Ceremony + Vows
Definitely the vows. We both have a habit of using each other as editors for all of our writings, everything from grad school papers to work-related content. We both wanted to surprise each other with our vows, so peer review was out of the question this time. We both ended up being surprised to find out new things we adored about one another that somehow we hadn’t been able to express over the last half a decade. Coming to find out some new quirk that only your partner realizes about you was definitely a highlight of the day!
How good is this? Love how they wrote their own vows and kept them secret! PS: if you want to write your own vows but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a primer.
The Bridal Halo + Accessories
This photo is amazing for SO many reasons…the least of which is a closer look at that incredible celestial bridal halo crown by Carbickova Crowns and snake earring by Meesha Farzaneh!
Are you not obsessed with the florals from the day?! If you’re going to elope in Big Sur, Rogue & Fox Floral Co is where it’s at. They’ve also got a marketplace that’s so perfectly curated with the loveliest items!
The sweetest small cake!
Big Sur Elopement Sunset Views
A stunning portrait of the beautiful bride! Paloma’s hair and make-up were prepped to perfection by The Queens Bees.
Research, invest in and be kind to your vendors. Since March 2020, we witnessed small business owners be devastated by the pandemic. With that in mind, we wanted our spending power to align with our ethics and values as a couple. We had two main objectives in creating the dream team for our elopement: Support Black & Native American businesses and support women-owned businesses. Having an elopement during a global pandemic was certainly nerve-wracking, but we found great comfort in knowing that whatever happened on the “big day” would be fine. Whatever mishap may occur wouldn't matter because, in the end, we would be marrying our best friend and supporting a woman entrepreneur’s dreams.
Just a stunning day! And if you’re considering an elopement, DeRon + Paloma offered a few parting words of encouragement:
While we completely understand that eloping is not for everyone, it’s vitally important to do what YOU and your partner want to on that day, and not get wrapped up in everybody’s opinions, expectations, and desires. Even if people don’t initially understand the vision. Believe us, snake earrings, white boots, a burgundy tuxedo, and a celestial bridal crown definitely raised a few eyebrows, but people were thrilled by it when they saw it all play out and the vision come to life!
photography: Tessa Tadlock // venue name: Big Sur, California, USA // florals: Rogue & Fox Floral Co // wedding dress: Rue De Seine // wedding dress boutique: Kelly's Closet // hairpiece: Carbickova Crowns // hair stylist: The Queens Bees // makeup artist: TheQueensBees // earrings: Meesha Farzaneh
That headpiece is to die for!!! Love this so much.