10 Tips You're Going To Want To Hear, If You're Thinking About A Big Sur Wedding!
Newly engaged? Starting to brainstorm locations to say 'I Do?' Well, before you make your final decision OR if you are already daydreaming of the California Coast, you may just want to consider tying the knot in Big Sur! Our friend (and expert wedding planner) Callista, of Callista & Co. has shared with us her top 10 tips for hosting your wedding in one of her favorite locations. From creating a wedding weekend experience for your guests to hiring an expert to help guide you through the process - she outlines it all for you! Take a peek at the beauty of Big Sur below and get ready to check your wedding location off your list!
From Callista & Co...Anyone who knows me knows that Big Sur is my favorite destination, and after years of planning events in the area (including my own wedding), I have a bit of advice to share...
1. Create an exceptional and inclusive wedding weekend experience for your guests. Big Sur is a true destination wedding experience, even for guests coming from California, so ensure that guests are treated to at least a couple of events and that they aren’t left out from more intimate rehearsal dinners and brunches. That being said, pre and post-wedding events in Big Sur don’t need to be stuffy. Consider a welcome party with a barbecue and live music, or desserts and stargazing - Or plan a post-wedding brunch with grab-and-go boxes for guests to take on their choice of activity that day.
2. Encourage guests to stay in Big Sur. Have a home base hotel (ideally your wedding venue), but also be sure to contract an alternative room block for your guests at an accessible price point. Keep in mind that hotels in Big Sur tend to require a room block contract when booking multiple rooms for the same group or event, and a pre or post-event held on the property may be required as well.
3. Provide transportation. Encourage guests to drive along the beautiful coastline en route to your wedding festivities in Big Sur, but then book reliable transportation to and from all your events so that no one has to worry about driving once they arrive.
4. Give your guests an abundance of travel advice. Set your guests up for success, and provide more information than expected on your wedding website. Suggest tanking up with gas and running any errands before entering Big Sur. Remind everyone of the spotty cell service so that they can put on an out-of-office if needed and download driving and hiking maps in advance. Recommend driving during daylight to take advantage of the world-famous coastline views, and suggest leaving lots of travel time to pull over and take detours as desired. Encourage bringing a little cash for park admission fees and the occasional off-the-grid establishment.
5. Print a welcome note with important timing and wedding weekend information. While your website will be the go-to for comprehensive advice and itineraries, cell phone service can be sparse at some hotels, so it’s a nice touch to print a well-designed paper itinerary for reference throughout the weekend. Consider a petite booklet that guests can bring with them on hikes and outings.
1. Create an exceptional and inclusive wedding weekend experience for your guests. Big Sur is a true destination wedding experience, even for guests coming from California, so ensure that guests are treated to at least a couple of events and that they aren’t left out from more intimate rehearsal dinners and brunches. That being said, pre and post-wedding events in Big Sur don’t need to be stuffy. Consider a welcome party with a barbecue and live music, or desserts and stargazing - Or plan a post-wedding brunch with grab-and-go boxes for guests to take on their choice of activity that day.
2. Encourage guests to stay in Big Sur. Have a home base hotel (ideally your wedding venue), but also be sure to contract an alternative room block for your guests at an accessible price point. Keep in mind that hotels in Big Sur tend to require a room block contract when booking multiple rooms for the same group or event, and a pre or post-event held on the property may be required as well.
3. Provide transportation. Encourage guests to drive along the beautiful coastline en route to your wedding festivities in Big Sur, but then book reliable transportation to and from all your events so that no one has to worry about driving once they arrive.
4. Give your guests an abundance of travel advice. Set your guests up for success, and provide more information than expected on your wedding website. Suggest tanking up with gas and running any errands before entering Big Sur. Remind everyone of the spotty cell service so that they can put on an out-of-office if needed and download driving and hiking maps in advance. Recommend driving during daylight to take advantage of the world-famous coastline views, and suggest leaving lots of travel time to pull over and take detours as desired. Encourage bringing a little cash for park admission fees and the occasional off-the-grid establishment.
5. Print a welcome note with important timing and wedding weekend information. While your website will be the go-to for comprehensive advice and itineraries, cell phone service can be sparse at some hotels, so it’s a nice touch to print a well-designed paper itinerary for reference throughout the weekend. Consider a petite booklet that guests can bring with them on hikes and outings.
6. Gift your guests all the necessities. The closest large grocery stores and name brand creature comforts are a ways away, so give a functional wedding welcome gift to kick off the weekend with thoughtful essentials like a water bottle, Carmel Valley wine, cold brew coffee, and snacks from Big Sur Bakery. Consider offering a curated “in case you forgot it” grab box at your home base hotel with an assortment of odds and ends that guests may find helpful (toothbrushes, socks, a bow tie, sewing kits, cell phone chargers, snacks and sweets, mini toiletries, hangover helpers, bug spray, shawls or blankets for chilly evenings, and more).
7. Let your decor enhance but not obstruct the surrounding landscape. The beauty of Big Sur is showstopping on its own, so let your tenting, floral decor, and tablescapes elevate your venue with an elegant design that doesn’t block any views or overshadow your surroundings.
8. Showcase the best of California coastal cuisine. Take advantage of the incredible culinary scene in Big Sur and rethink your typical wedding menu. Consult with the chef at your venue to select local and seasonal ingredients, and give them creative freedom in creating your menu. Avoid advance guest choice of a main course whenever possible by offering tableside selection, a family-style meal, or a tasting menu with a multitude of options for every palate.
9. Have an expert on your side. Your vendor team doesn’t have to be entirely local to Big Sur or even Central or Northern California for that matter, but be sure to lean on an expert who knows all the ins-and-outs of hosting an upscale event in the area. They will know what questions to ask, will be prepared for the logistical challenges that may arise, will provide guidance on what has worked well in the past, and they will ensure that your planning process is smooth and that your guest experience is exceptional.
10. Suggest extended trips and activities for your guests. Make the travel to Big Sur worth it for those coming from afar, by encouraging guests to save a little extra vacation time to extend their trips beyond just the wedding festivities. Offer local outdoor activity suggestions in Big Sur, as well as suggested pre/post-trip itineraries in Napa, San Francisco, or Santa Barbara.
7. Let your decor enhance but not obstruct the surrounding landscape. The beauty of Big Sur is showstopping on its own, so let your tenting, floral decor, and tablescapes elevate your venue with an elegant design that doesn’t block any views or overshadow your surroundings.
8. Showcase the best of California coastal cuisine. Take advantage of the incredible culinary scene in Big Sur and rethink your typical wedding menu. Consult with the chef at your venue to select local and seasonal ingredients, and give them creative freedom in creating your menu. Avoid advance guest choice of a main course whenever possible by offering tableside selection, a family-style meal, or a tasting menu with a multitude of options for every palate.
9. Have an expert on your side. Your vendor team doesn’t have to be entirely local to Big Sur or even Central or Northern California for that matter, but be sure to lean on an expert who knows all the ins-and-outs of hosting an upscale event in the area. They will know what questions to ask, will be prepared for the logistical challenges that may arise, will provide guidance on what has worked well in the past, and they will ensure that your planning process is smooth and that your guest experience is exceptional.
10. Suggest extended trips and activities for your guests. Make the travel to Big Sur worth it for those coming from afar, by encouraging guests to save a little extra vacation time to extend their trips beyond just the wedding festivities. Offer local outdoor activity suggestions in Big Sur, as well as suggested pre/post-trip itineraries in Napa, San Francisco, or Santa Barbara.
