Andrew and Shanna always found themselves taking romantic hikes and camping trips along the West Coast shoreline. So, having a destination wedding in Big Sur, California fit the couple’s personality best. “Andrew loves the ocean and I love the forest, so we felt Big Sur was the ideal location to satisfy both our loves for nature,” says the bride. The outdoor space for the ceremony was on a cliff overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. Shanna also mentions, “In my opinion, I thought it had better views than the resorts along Big Sur.”

The couple was fortunate to have family and friends who were more than wiling to travel for their union. “They did not expect the view to be so incredible and neither did we,” says the couple. Since the ride to Point 16 was a bit windy and narrow, the couple felt providing transportation was a good idea and luckily there were no problems.

When it came to planning their destination wedding, the couple took full advantage of Skype and Google Chat to communicate with vendors. Their wedding coordinator made a list of recommended vendors, making it easier for them to narrow down their decision. “Make time for the planning, luckily we did not have high expectations, so it was easier for us,” says the bride. They also used Wedding Wire to map out all their finances and created an Excel sheet to help organize all the tasks. Pinterest boards were created to help get their vision across to the vendors as well. The couple added, “We had great [communication with] Point 16 who helped us navigate where to stay, eat and hold gatherings.”

Andrew and Shanna said they did spend more money by choosing a wedding away from home because there were several unexpected factors that jumped in last minute. “The space allowed us to keep an intimate setting with those who have shared our journey, which I do not think we could have achieved if held anywhere else,” says the couple.

We asked the newlyweds to give advice to any future couples looking to have a destination wedding. “Embrace it all. The day is quick and there is so much richness that can fly by. We decided to have a sweetheart table and have five-to-ten minutes of alone time after we said our vows to share a space as husband and wife.”

Vendors: Photographer: Ashley Strong, Ceremony/Reception: Point 16, Florist: Big Sur Flowers, Stationery: Vista Print, Cake: Patisserie Bechler, Hair: Salon Bravissimo, Makeup: Triple Twist, Gown: Monique Lhuillier, Grooms Clothing: Indochino, VIdeographer: Audrey Alba Films, DJ: Los Gatos DJ Company.