Redwood wedding & Elopement Photographer 2026 & 2027 Guide & Packages
Photographing weddings on the Redwood Coast since 2018
With a love story as magical as yours, it only makes sense that this next big adventure together should be in a location as enchanting as the Redwood parks. Stretching over 175 miles along California’s northern coastline, the serene old growth forests are a wonderland you can’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re drawn to the foggy giants of Lady Bird Johnson Grove, or the Fern canyons Jurassic scenery, you can find the perfect backdrop for your adventure and create an unforgettable experience. And I’m here to help. With sixteen years of wedding experience and a lifelong love of the outdoors I’ll help you have the elopement you’ve always dreamed of.
Rugged Coastline, ancient giants, and Misty Wonderlands
Why should you pick the Redwoods?
Your love story has always been a grand adventure, so what could be a more fitting destination to tie the knot than the ancient, mist-shrouded wilderness of California’s Redwood National and State Parks? This primeval "Land of Giants" nestled along the rugged Pacific coast has stood as a silent witness to time for thousands of years, captivating the soul with its towering cathedrals of wood, fern draped canyons, and wild, sea-sculpted shores. With ceremony sites ranging from sun-dappled forest floors to dramatic coastal cliffs, whatever you envision, we can find the perfect setting. And with years of experience navigating these emerald corridors, I know all the secret spots where the light hits the moss just right.
But what do you need to get married in the Redwoods?
An elopement among these ancient giants involves a bit of specialized planning to ensure you have the most incredible experience possible. To make the process easy and stress free, my guides are here to help. I’ve taken the knowledge I’ve gained from hundreds of elopements photographed across California over the past sixteen years, and put together everything you need to know for a seamless Redwoods adventure.
To start, you will need a park permit; to secure it, you’ll need to decide which specific grove or coastal bluff fits your vision, which season to visit in, and exactly what time to say I do. Once the logistics are settled, the rest is just an epic vacation! If you have questions and don’t find the answer below, reach out. I’m more than happy to guide you through the trees.
My Art
Your Adventure
Norm is awesome!! I highly recommend using Fifth Photography for your elopement photos, or to be honest, any photography you need. He captured our special day and gave us amazing photographs. It's hard to choose which is our favorites. Thank you again Norm!!
- Stephanie
Norman is absolutely incredible!! His work is amazing!! Worth every single penny and we would absolutely book again!! Normans communication is top tier and he is so so so helpful. Incredible work!!
- Hayley
His knowledge of the area led us to the best spots for pictures across several locations, and he made two not very photogenically inclined people feel very much at ease spending hours in front of his lens!
- Laura
2026 & 2027 Redwood wedding Photography Packages Options
An incredible adventure through the Redwoods begins with the right photography package
Redwood elopements are an ancient, intimate experience unique to every couple. Because of that, a “one size fits all” approach simply doesn't work for your photo packages. Beyond that, your Redwood elopement photographer has to be flexible enough to adapt to the shifting forest light and coastal mists to ensure your dream becomes a reality. They should also provide the on the ground guidance you need to navigate these towering groves and hidden cliffside beaches with ease. Last but not least, the planning experience should be as stress-free—and dare I say, as fun—as possible. For all the above, and more, I’ve got you covered.
All Packages Always Include:
Ultimate Flexibility
Want to split your photo coverage between sunrise and sunset? How about a sunset at Taft Point one day and a sunrise at Olmsted the next? Perhaps you want to, or due to, say, wildfires, have to change locations? Date? No problem. So long as it doesn’t conflict with one of my other bookings, changing things up is not a problem. My goal is to ensure you have the best experience and get the best photos, whatever it takes.
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My planning portal keeps your journey to the giants organized and effortless. With 16 years of experience, I can help you handle the logistics, custom itineraries, and "Plan B" scouting for coastal fog—so you can focus on the fun. Unlimited consultations and expert gear advice are always included.
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Every gallery here features a real couple; no staged shoots. Most of my elopers worry about being "awkward," but as you can see, we keep it natural and fun. I focus on capturing your connection against the massive scale of the Redwoods, resulting in gallery worthy art. After your adventure, I hand-select and meticulously edit every image to ensure your story is preserved perfectly.
Never any travel fees, Upcharges, ever
The package prices listed below represent the total costs. There are never any additional travel expenses or hidden costs. So you won’t have to worry about price changes in airfare or accommodations. Split coverage, change the venue, or switch dates - you can have peace of mind knowing you won’t get nickel-and-dimed.
Your Private Gallery + USB Drive + Print Credit & Release
I never limit the number of photos I deliver, and each and every one is carefully edited to perfection, then uploaded to your private online elopement gallery. And not just for a limited time only, but forever. With no download limits, you can download your images right away, and then again in twenty years. There, you can also order a variety of prints from my favorite professional print lab. Already have a favorite printer? No problem. With a print release, get your prints at your preferred photo lab and share your images to your heart's content. And lastly, all your photos are delivered via a USB drive.
| Package | Price | Coverage | Avg Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Hour | $3,500 | 1.5 Hours | 100 |
| Wayfarer | $4,000 | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Wanderlust | $5,500 | 6 Hours | 300 |
| Grand Adventure | $6,500 | All Day | 600 |
| Expedition | $7,500 | Two Day | 800 |
Popular Options
Harris Beach & Stout Grove
Henry Cowell Redwoods
Example Weddings
Popular Options
Fern Canyon, Golds Bluffs,
Stout Grove, Enderts Beach
Example Weddings
Popular Options
Navarro River Redwoods
Mendocino Headlands
Russian Gulch
Example Weddings
Popular Options
Explore the Redwood coast one day, then head up the Oregon coast the next
Ok but what Photography package do you need?
Example elopement and wedding itineraries
How much photography coverage do you actually need? While six hours might sound like a long time in front of the camera, adventure elopements include travel, hiking, and spontaneous adventures that make the day fly by.
To find your ideal package, use this formula: Plan for one hour per location + hiking time + drive time + a 20% buffer for delays (like traffic or wildlife).
Pick the package that fits your total adventure time so you never feel rushed on your wedding day. That’s the last thing you want while strolling through the Redwoods after having said I do.
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1 Hour
for ceremony & family/friends photos in the Redwoods
2 Hours
at with a little hiking In Stout Grove
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1 Hour
for ceremony & family/friends photos at Zig Zag 2 Trail
1 Hours
of drive time to get between locations
3 Hours
split between Fern Canyon and Gold Bluff beach with a little hiking
1 Hour
Prairie Creek redwood photos
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3 hours
Casual sunrise hike and coffee at Enderts beach + drive back.
1 Hour
Getting ready & first look
1 Hour
For ceremony & family/friends photos at Schmidt Grove
1 Hour
Stout Grove stop
A lunch break & travel time mid day
3 Hours
in the afternoon split between locations and hiking close to sunset
or
Hike into the backcountry or do several longer hikes my wedding day record is 15 miles so far!
HAVE A QUESTION? READY TO BOOK? SEND ME A MESSAGE AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY.
About Me and my Experience
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I'm Norm Roberts the Fifth, an artist, backpacker, cyclist and nature lover who has been perfecting the medium of light for well over a decade. Whether it requires long hikes, 3am drives down a winding coastal road, wading through streams, or climbing the rocks of Agate Beach, I will go above and beyond to find the shots we envisioned. There shouldn’t be any cutting corners when it comes to your elopement photos. I’m always happy to help with planning your adventure to ensure it is the once in a lifetime experience you dreamed of.
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With countless camping trips, and hikes through the many groves of the coastal Redwoods I can say I know it well. The northern California coast is among my favorite places on earth to explore and years of trekking through them have helped me to find many locations just perfect for intimate elopements. Just let me know what you envision for the backdrop of your adventure and I can find you the perfect destination.
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Here are some things I don’t offer. Arbitrary limits on the number of photos. I select out any duplicates, test shots and the like but other than those you get every photo we create together. There’s no unedited photos here. Every shot you recieve is edited to look its very best. No extra fees for light retouches. So don’t worry about that awkward van gleaming in the sunlight in the background, or the surprise pimple on your wedding day. Your photos will look their best. And as added peace of mind, your online gallery will be up forever so you can always download the original high resolution photographs when you want. And just to be extra safe I keep two backup copies of them as well.
Check out my latest Redwood elopements on the blog
California Coastal Redwoods elopement planning Resources
What are the three things you need to get Married in the Redwoods?
Marriage licenses This depends a bit on what Redwoods you elope to. For the Northern coast they are most conveniently acquired from the Humboldt county clerk’s office located in Eureka. Both spouses must be present with valid IDs to pick up the license.
A Wedding Officiant is the last thing you’ll need for your ceremony. They’ll be the ones to officiate and sign your license. You can hire a talented professional to handle things, or you can have a friend or family member get ordained online in just a few minutes. I am also ordained if you want to do your own vows and have someone sign the license.
A Special Use Permit is required by Redwood national and State parks for all wedding ceremonies taking place inside the park regardless of the size. It costs about $200 and is a relatively straight forward process. Permits cover a two hour time slot for the ceremony, and only one is given for each location during that period. It is first come first served for the permits and you can apply up to a year in advance.
When to get married in the redwoods
The Redwood parks are accessible year round. It can be cold and wet in the winter but the lushness of the forests can really make up for it. And it’s less crowded to boot so that's a win win. That said, if you're planning to do a lot of hiking, May to September might be the best time.
How’s the Weather?
Bring layers, the northern coast has diverse weather. It can be cold and foggy in the morning, warm in the afternoon and rain in the evening. And there’s always the chance of rain.
Where should you have your Ceremony?
The National Park service has created a list of pre-approved ceremony locations for wedding ceremonies in the park. Other locations can be chosen but are subject to approval by the park. I can help with narrowing down the amazing options the redwoods has to offer.
Where are the best places to stay
You can fly into Arcata-Eureka Airport and find accommodations in numerous hotels there, or head further north to Crescent City depending on which Redwood park you’d like to visit. Or check out AirBnB for some fantastic cabins in the woods.
Eureka
Crescent City
Mendicino
What to do
With three state parks and a national park in the area there are no shortage of amazing hikes through the woods. High up on my list of places to check out would be Fern Canyon and the Enderts Beach!
Let’s Elope!
Now that hopefully you’re full psyched for your Redwood elopement let's plan it! I offer resources to help plan the best elopement possible. If you still find you have questions feel free to fill out my contact form and send me a message!
