SAN FRANCISCO SMALL WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
DOCUMENTING THE SF CHAPTER OF YOUR LOVE STORY
From ocean cliffs to redwoods, city streets and stunning landmarks - San Francisco offers a unique elopement experience for couples looking for a mix of nature and urban adventuring.
Alyssa + Zachary
Conservatory of Flowers, CA
EMBRACE LAKE TAHOE’S NATURAL BEAUTY
Center your wedding day around the people you love, not just the favors or table settings. Meg's Marvels Photography captures SF and Northern California small weddings and elopements that celebrate the authentic, adventurous, real moments. Walk away with beautiful, heartwarming photos you can revisit and share with loved ones over a lifetime.
San Francisco area is an incredible elopement spot centered along the Northern California coast. There are so many unique locations in and around the city - from redwoods, coastal bluffs and sand dunes, incredible beaches, city views, and one-of-a-kind landmarks - it’s one of the absolute coolest places to exchange your vows.
And when you think about ‘the city’, it’s not all city streets and traffic. There are SO many beautiful natural gems to explore around the edges of San Francisco and see such a wide variety of backdrops within a few hours of SF.
Think nature & beauty with all the comforts of adorable vacation rentals, 5 star hotels, and gourmet food. Yeah, you can really have it all!
Minhye + Shawn | Tiburon, CA
Devan + Andrew | Golden Gate Park CA
STEPS TO BRINGING YOUR DREAM LAKE TAHOE ELOPEMENT PHOTOS TO LIFE
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STEP 01
INQUIRE
1 | Reach out through my site and tell me the vision for your wedding day (it’s okay if you’re still figuring out the details!). Together, we’ll make sure we’re a great fit and then can work together to finalize the details.
2 | Once availability is confirmed, we’ll set up a time to talk and make sure we connect. Comfort is key to good photos, and I’ll be by your side most of the wedding day, so my goal is to feel like just another friend on the day! :)
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STEP 02
DREAMING UP THE PERFECT WEDDING DAY
It’s time to start brainstorming your dream wedding day. I can help with locations and itineraries to start sorting through what would make for the best day for you! Plus, I’ll send over my planning guide to help you along the way.
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STEP 03
PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN
To ensure stunning photos and an amazing wedding day, we’ll put together a timeline. This can ensure we plan for the best light (aka the best photos) and to ensure the day doesn’t feel rushed. I’ll work with you on the small details to make sure you have a day that is low-stress and you’ll get all the photos you dreamed of.
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STEP 04
PREP FOR THE WEDDING
With week-of packing lists and reminders to the day of the wedding, I’ll be here to make sure you’re set up and ready to enjoy your day.
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STEP 05
YOUR WEDDING DAY
Relax, enjoy, and trust that I’ll capture so many beautiful memories for you both.
HEY, I’M MEG!
I’m an adventurous homebody who loves petting dogs, rewatching The Office more times than I’d like to admit, spending my free time hiking around San Francisco, and listening to Tiny Desk Concerts on repeat. I live with my cute husband and our sassy toy poodle, Teddy.
I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life, but didn’t realize how much San Francisco had to offer until I started going to school in SF. I took full advantage of my time in SF, going on as many adventures as I could to explore all around this beautiful area, falling in love with all the hidden gems and beautiful views from Pacifica to Mt Tam, and everything in between.
The Best of SAN FRANCISCO:
Tips & Recommendations
Food + Coffee Shops:
Verve Coffee Roasters - For those that appreciate a good cup of coffee, this is the spot to go!
Automat - A lovely restaurant and bakeshop for delicious small bites.
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana - Pizza is a necessary food group. Check out San Francisco’s best pizza joint during your stay!
Shuggie’s Trash Pie - This pizza joint highlights ingredients that often go to waste and a wide variety of natural wines amongst an eclectic ambiance.
Abacá - For upscale Filipino dining, head to Abacá! This restaurant combines old family recipes while using Northern California’s best seasonal ingredients.
Blue Plate - Nestled in an old San Francisco home, this classic restaurant offers homey flavors in a comforting environment. Make sure to request a seat in the back patio!
Scomas - Along Fisherman’s Wharf, this restaurant is a great place to grab some seafood with a view. There’s also other delicious food vendors along the Pier selling famous SF clam chowder in a bread bowl that are just as delicious.
Andytown Coffee - A personal favorite with locations near Ocean Beach. You have to try their homemade whipped cream.
Acme Bread Company - Visit the Ferry Building and get some of the best bread in the Bay Area. A quick walk around the building and you’ll find some delicious cheeses or jams to pair with your bread.
Views:
Billy Goat Hill - Just off Beacon street, steep switchbacks lead up to a beautiful view of San Francisco.
Twin Peaks - For beautiful views of the city and ocean, take a drive to Twin Peaks. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset over the city.
Coit Tower - A large circular cement building stands predominately along San Francisco’s city line. For just $9, you can take an elevator up the tower and see 360 views of the city.
Hiking:
Hike Lands End - An easy 3.5 miles round trip taking you to a scenic overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hike Dipsea Trail - This trail is a relatively difficult 10 miles round trip hike near Mill Valley.
Stow Lake Stroll - Take a leisurely stroll through Golden Gate Park and pass by Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill.
Experiences:
Rent a RowBoat - For a fun afternoon, you can rent a rowboat at Stow Lake. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Ferry Building by Pier 1 - Roam through San Francisco’s large Ferry Building and grab a to-go meal and eat it outside with views of the Bay Bridge. On Sundays, the Ferry Building hosts Fog City Flea, a makers & merchants market; you can buy great local goods.
Muir Woods - Just a quick drive from San Francisco, Muir Woods is an amazing place to see the gorgeous redwoods. Don’t forget to buy your tickets and make parking reservations before you go!
Palace Games Escape Room - Have friends in town for your small wedding? Get a group together and participate in an escape room at the Palace of Fine Arts
From the Blog
San Francisco Location Guides
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I always want to be transparent and aim to answer all your questions before you even book. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get asked:
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First, fill out my contact form so I can learn all about you two and your wedding day. If you think we’d be a great fit, we can either set up a call to answer any lingering questions/brainstorm ideas OR jump in right away. As soon as you have a date & general idea for the location, I just need a signed contract and retainer to save your date and I’ll officially be yours to capture this awesome adventure.
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I am currently based in Walnut Creek, CA, and I spend a lot of time around Northern California - including SF/Bay Area, Yosemite, Big Sur, Tahoe, and so on. I am always open to traveling outside of this area for weddings + elopements, though most of my sessions take place either around my travel plans or within an hour of Walnut Creek, CA. For information on my travel pricing or travel plans, reach out!
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Besides the fact that I am very goofy and loving and know more Office quotes than are good for me… As a photographer, I go beyond just showing up and taking photos on your wedding day. Not only do I want to create a space that feels comfortable and inviting since taking photos can be outside of most people’s comfort zones, but I’m here to help. From make suggestions, offering advice, answering questions, providing recommendations where I can, and doing what I can to make everything easier on you! While I’m not a full-service wedding planner, I’ve been doing this long enough that I want to share what I’ve learned and keep this process exciting and fun!
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This varies from event to event, but for me, it’s often the intention of the day. The majority of small weddings/elopements I photograph have groups from around 0-60 guests and often focus on what’s important to the couple while skipping traditions that don’t fit.
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While I’m not a full-service planner, I love getting to work with couples before the wedding day and help make the process easier when I can. Most often I help couples with finding locations, putting together timelines and shot lists, bouncing around ideas for itineraries, and answering any questions I can along the way. I also have a pretty in-depth welcome guide that should help out as a reference as you plan!
on the blog
GETTING INSPIRED FOR YOUR SAN FRANCISCO WEDDING DAY
Let’s Dream Up Your Perfect Elopement Day Planning Guide
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Follow along on more adventures
Every love story is unique. To tag along on some of my past photo work, join me on Instagram. @megs_marvels
