A Mountaintop Elopement in Laguna Beach, California

Kasey and Cameron

couple kissing on large rock — Kat Braman

Kasey, a wedding planner and florist, and Cameron, an executive chef, grew up in the same small town in Northern Michigan, where they were friendly acquaintances. They connected 10 years later, when they were both out of college and working in South Florida, thanks to their smart phones and a couple of apps. They both found themselves swiping on a dating app when they saw one another's familiar faces, and each texted their friends to confirm it was indeed who they thought. Then Cameron reached out via Facebook and they decided to catch up over a drink. They were pretty much inseparable from there.

Three years later, and now a couple, they were back in their hometown for Kasey's cousin's wedding. With some time to themselves after visiting family, Kasey and Cameron grabbed deli sandwiches from their favorite spot and went to a secluded beach on Lake Michigan. As Kasey was getting out a blanket for them to sit on, Cameron got down on one knee and popped the question.

A year and a half down the line, on Saturday, February 4, 2017, the couple wed with a simple, relaxed mountaintop elopement in sunny Laguna Beach, California, far from their snowy home in Walla Walla, Washington. With only a photographer and officiant present, it was all about becoming husband and wife.

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The Stationery

Julia Rohde Designs calligraphed the stationery with gold ink on white paper. The suite included a Tennyson quote that symbolized the couple's journey together and a "D" surrounded by foliage, short for Davenport, Kasey's last name that Cameron adopted. "We still have a lot of explaining to do when people ask us why the husband took the wife's last name," the bride says. "It just works for us, like eloping did."

Photos of the paperie were included in a slideshow that were sent to family and friends as the couple's wedding announcement.

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Hip Hangers

The outfits of the day were stylishly displayed on custom bride-and-groom hangers by McClaren Made. The couple got ready together as Bob Marley songs played in the beach cottage belonging to the bride's father and stepmother. Cameron even made Kasey breakfast and brought it out to her as she was getting her hair and makeup done on the patio. "It was one of the most memorable mornings I've ever had," the bride says.

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Baking the Cake

Cameron baked the cake as Kasey was getting ready that morning. "Cam doesn't make cakes very often so it's a real treat when he showcases his baking skills," the bride says.

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Readying the Bouquet

Kasey put her own touch on the day. "Creating my bouquet and the boutonniere was a special moment," Kasey says of her favorite moment of the day. "It was a time that I was able to create and think about what the day would encompass."

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The Attire

Cameron looked handsome and himself in a navy velvet Hugo Boss tux jacket with black jeans. Kasey wore an angelic silk chiffon cape by Laurie Haluska of Laila Bridal Studio that was the focus of her outfit. "She just so happened to have made costumes for Return of the Jedi, so she knew how to make a cape," Kasey says. She paired it with a Davie & Chiyo headpiece, a J.Crew sheath dress, and Sam Edelman open-toe sandals.

The bride and groom also donned some sunnies to shield their eyes from the California sun.

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The Bouquet

The bride's bouquet was simple yet impactful, consisting of garden roses, ranunculus, and foliage.

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His Boutonniere

The groom's boutonniere featured two small white hellebores with sprigs of foliage, held together by a black velvet ribbon.

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The Rings

Kasey and Cameron designed their Ring Finger Studio bands together. They wanted something durable since they use their hands constantly at work, so they chose gold. Cameron's has "to the moon and back" engraved in Kasey's handwriting. Kasey's solitaire ring sits between white- and black-diamond chevron bands with "forever and ever" scored in Cameron's script.

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The Location

"We just felt it was right for us," the bride says of their decision to elope on top of a mountain in Laguna Beach, California.

The weather leading up to the big day had been gloomy, but the skies opened up the morning of, staying blue and clear. The mountaintop, known as "Top of the World Park" was green and lush thanks to a bought of rainfall the day before.

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A Special Reading

couple holding hands during ceremony — Kat Braman

Sena Rose, a family friend, served as the couples' officiant, and read "Blessing of the Hands" during their ceremony, which brought the couple to tears.

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Here and Vow

The couple's taupe velvet vow book from Blue Sky Papers held the readings and words from the entire ceremony.

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Picture Perfect

couple holding hands by water — Kat Braman

As the couple was driving down the mountain after the ceremony, they saw some fog near the coast and took advantage of the photo opportunity, snapping a few more portraits by the water. "They turned out a little moody and dark, which was really fun and contrasted our light and airy ceremony photos," the bride says.

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Dinner for Two

"If we could consume these two things every day I think we would," the bride says of their oysters and rosé dinner setup back at the cottage.

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Classic Cocktails

Since they are obsessed with Mexican food and margaritas, the couple drank a light pink version of the tropical cocktail with floral ice cubes and a Himalayan sea salt rim.

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The Cake

The couples' cake was a personal favorite: carrot with cream cheese frosting, made by the groom himself.

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Cutting the Cake

The couple used a gold cake sever by Taudrey to cut their confection. It was stamped with their elopement date and "forever my sweetheart"—both an adorable sentiment and appropriate pun.

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And We're Off!

The couple hung a "just married" sign by Nana Party Simplified and tassel garland by GenWoo on a vintage convertible Volkswagen Beetle before getting hitched. Afterwards, they rode off to their suite at a The Resort at Pelican Hill a few miles away, where they stayed the night.

When they returned to Michigan, their families surprised them with a beach gathering, complete with a BBQ food truck and a cake to reenact their own private cutting.

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