Jheydee & Chelsea's
REDWOODS ELOPEMENT PLANNING GUIDE
Jheydee & Chelsea's
REDWOODS ELOPEMENT PLANNING GUIDE
WELCOME TO YOUR ONLINE PERSONALIZED PLANNING GUIDE!
In your guide, you'll find your photography timeline, packing list, vendor recommendations, and location recommendations! You'll have access to this guide throughout your elopement planning process and you can conveniently reference it anytime and anywhere as long as you have internet access! By the way, this is a live document so it will change overtime once we nail down all the details & vendors! If you have any questions or need more assistance, feel free to reach out via email! I'm here to support you and help make your elopement a stress-free experience! Happy planning!
In your guide, you'll find your photography timeline, packing list, vendor recommendations, and location recommendations! You'll have access to this guide throughout your elopement planning process and you can conveniently reference it anytime and anywhere as long as you have internet access! By the way, this is a live document so it will change overtime once we nail down all the details & vendors! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email! Happy planning!
xo Sheryl
xo Sheryl
Hey Jheydee & Chelsea!
Hey Jheydee & Chelsea!
option 1: Elopement Day Photography Timeline for wed, sep 2, 2026
option 1: ELOPEMENT DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE FOR Wed, sep 2, 2026
UP TO 8 HOURS OF COVERAGE: 1:30pm-9:30PM
JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS ADVENTURE
1:30-2:00pm First Look & Couples Photos
2:30pm-2:40pm Hike Stout Grove Trail in Jedediah Redwoods
2:40-3:00pm Private Vow Exchange by the River or in the Forest!
3:00pm-3:30pm Couples Photos in the Forest and by the River
4:00-5:20pm Celebratory Picnic in the Redwoods or at Airbnb with cake cutting & early dinner
SECRET BEACH ADVENTURE
5:30-6:30pm Drive to Trailhead
Start Hike 6:40pm-7:10pm
7:10-8:00 Secret Beach for Sunset Photos & First dance
8:00-9:00pm Lantern & Star Gazing Photos
9:00pm-9:30 Change & Hike back
PROS:
- Secret Beach has bigger rock formations than the beaches in Trinidad
- Pretty river running through the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, but not the Prairie Creek Redwoods
CONS:
-Drive from Airport to Jedediah Smith Redwoods is 1 hour
-Less options in the area, including vendors & spas (most are near Trinidad due to proximity of Humboldt/Arcata towns)
-Secret Beach is more well-known and is an additional hour north of Jedediah Smith Redwoods.
Note: This is a draft timeline that will be reviewed together and approved by you two when ready! Feel free to provide feedback via email! We will have a timeline review prior to your elopement. Also, I will manage your photography timeline to ensure we stay on schedule so you don't need to worry about keeping track of time (:
Note: This is a draft timeline that will be reviewed together and approved by you two when ready! Feel free to provide feedback via email! We will have a timeline review prior to your elopement. Also, I will manage your photography timeline to ensure we stay on schedule so you don't need to worry about keeping track of time (:
Elopement Ceremony Trail Recommendation: STOUT GROVE TRAIL IN JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOODS
permit information
- You will need a Permit Form and the Endangered Species Addendum. I will provide it to you via email!
- In addition to the forms, the park requires a Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI); I will provide an example of how it should look via email as well. Here is more information from the park below:
- "All Special Events, including weddings, require a Certificate of General Liability Insurance. This is due to the fact that these events are considered beyond the normal scope of regular park visitation. You can check your homeowner’s insurance to see if it covers events like weddings because some of them do. Your insurance company should be able to point you in the right direction if they can’t do it themselves. CA State Parks will need to be indicated as an “Additional Insured,” and the total combined single limit (CSL) needs to be $1,000,000. The address you need to use is: CA State Parks, PO Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001."
- NOTE: You can get a COI for pretty cheap and easily online, ranging from $100 to $400! Here are two options I'd use: https://www.protectmywedding.com/ OR https://www.wedsafe.com/Pages/home.aspx
- Email the completed forms & your COI to ncrd.permits@parks.ca.gov. Once the park receives your application, a temporary hold will be placed on the location pending receipt of your non-refundable permit fee of $200. Unfortunately, they do not have an electronic payment method, and you will need to send the check or money order to: CA State Parks Attn: Permit Coordinator PO Box 2006, Eureka, CA 95502. You can make the check out to Department of Parks and Recreation, or DPR. Please ensure you submit an original and 2 copies of the completed forms, all with original signatures, with the check/money!
This is the trail I recommend for your ceremony. Here is a link to AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/stout-memorial-grove-trail
Note: We do not need to walk the entire loop, just the portion from the parking lot to the river. But we can definitely explore it if you both want to!
Photo of Secret Beach
Here is more information on AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/secret-beach-trail
option 2: Elopement Day Photography Timeline for wed, sep 2, 2026
option 2: ELOPEMENT DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE FOR Wed, sep 2, 2026
UP TO 8 HOURS OF COVERAGE: 1:30pm-9:30PM
PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS ADVENTURE
1:30pm-2:20pm First Look & Couples Photos
2:30pm-2:40pm Hike Circle Loop Trailhead in Prairie Creek
2:40pm-3:00pm Private Vow Exchange
3:20pm-4:30pm Celebratory Picnic at the Redwoods with cake cutting & early dinner
FERN CANYON ADVENTURE
4:30pm-6:00pm Explore Fern Canyon & Gold Bluffs Beach
LUFFENHOLTZ BEACH ADVENTURE
6:20pm-7:00pm Drive to Luffenholtz Beach
Start Hike 7:00pm-7:10pm
7:10pm-7:50pm Sunset photos & First dance
7:50pm-8:40pm Lantern & Star Gazing Photos
8:50pm-9:00pm Drive back to Airbnb
9:00pm-9:30pm Campfire Photos at Airbnb
PROS:
- Drive from Airport to Trinidad Town is 10 minutes
- More vendor & spa options
- Luffenholtz Beach is 10 minutes from Trinidad & Prairie Creek Redwoods is 30 minutes from Trinidad (shorter drive after elopement day)
- More Adventures OR Relax Time throughout Elopement Day
CONS: Rock formations not big as Secret Beach, but still STUNNING!
Note: This is a draft timeline that will be reviewed together and approved by you two when ready! Feel free to provide feedback via email! We will have a timeline review prior to your elopement. Also, I will manage your photography timeline to ensure we stay on schedule so you don't need to worry about keeping track of time (:
Note: This is a draft timeline that will be reviewed together and approved by you two when ready! Feel free to provide feedback via email! We will have a timeline review prior to your elopement. Also, I will manage your photography timeline to ensure we stay on schedule so you don't need to worry about keeping track of time (:
Elopement Ceremony Trail Recommendation: Circle Trail in Redwoods National Park
permit information (SAME APPLICATION PROCESS)
- You will need a Permit Form and the Endangered Species Addendum. I will provide it to you via email!
- In addition to the forms, the park requires a Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI); I will provide an example of how it should look via email as well. Here is more information from the park below:
- "All Special Events, including weddings, require a Certificate of General Liability Insurance. This is due to the fact that these events are considered beyond the normal scope of regular park visitation. You can check your homeowner’s insurance to see if it covers events like weddings because some of them do. Your insurance company should be able to point you in the right direction if they can’t do it themselves. CA State Parks will need to be indicated as an “Additional Insured,” and the total combined single limit (CSL) needs to be $1,000,000. The address you need to use is: CA State Parks, PO Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001."
- NOTE: You can get a COI for pretty cheap and easily online, ranging from $100 to $400! Here are two options I'd use: https://www.protectmywedding.com/ OR https://www.wedsafe.com/Pages/home.aspx
- Email the completed forms & your COI to ncrd.permits@parks.ca.gov. Once the park receives your application, a temporary hold will be placed on the location pending receipt of your non-refundable permit fee of $200. Unfortunately, they do not have an electronic payment method, and you will need to send the check or money order to: CA State Parks Attn: Permit Coordinator PO Box 2006, Eureka, CA 95502. You can make the check out to Department of Parks and Recreation, or DPR. Please ensure you submit an original and 2 copies of the completed forms, all with original signatures, with the check/money!
- RESERVATION REQUIRED FOR FERN CANYON- Click here!
This is the trail I recommend for your ceremony! Here is a link to AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/big-tree-via-circle-trail
Here is a photo of Fern Canyon: Reservation Required
Here is a photo of Luffenholtz Beach!
FLORIST
HAIR & MUA
CAKE
adventures for your adventure session
caterer
VIDEOGRAPHER
picnic planner
- Kayak Rentals: https://kayaktrinidad.com/
- Horseback Riding: https://www.redwoodcreekbuckarettes.com/
- Sailboat Cruise: http://www.sailhumboldt.com/Services.html
VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS
places to stay
spas
PACKING LIST FOR YOUR redwoods ELOPEMENT
WEDDING NECESSITIES
OTHER TRAVEL NECESSITIES FOR YOUR TRIP!
- Dress
- Wedding Veil
- Suit and Tie
- Garment Bags to put dress and suit in.
- Hiking Shoes with good traction and stability at ankle, waterproof is best!
- Vow Books
- Rings
- Jewelry
- Sunglasses
- Light Rain Jacket (just in case)
- Nippy covers or bra insert for wedding dress
- Water bottles
- Champagne and glasses
- Wedding Cake and utensils
- A bag to put everything in on elopement day!
- Headphones
- Light jacket
- Phone tripod (for your own personal photos or videos)
- Any medication you may need
- Phone chargers
- Portable Chargers
- Tooth Brush & Toothpaste
- Hat
- Underwear
- Socks
- Make Up / Make Up Remover
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap
- Sun lotion
- Lip balm
- Perfume / Cologne
- Hair Brush
- Hair Ties
- Face Wash
- Shaver
- Q Tips
- Flying into ACV Airport
- Renting a Car
- Why Uber Isn’t Reliable
