Decision Guide

Three paths.
All small. All real.

Elopement, courthouse, small wedding — all are valid. The choice comes down to who you want present, what story you want documented, and how much you want the day to be about the place vs. the people.

Elopement
Guests
2 to 12
Cost (photo + film)
$3,500 to $7,500 total
Coverage
4 to 6 hours photo + film
Vibe
Adventure-driven. Big Sur, Yosemite, Death Valley, Mendocino. The day is about the place.
When to pick
You hate the spotlight, you want a once-in-a-lifetime location, you don't want family pressure on the planning.
Courthouse
Guests
2 to 30
Cost (photo + film)
$1,500 to $3,500 photo only
Coverage
2 to 3 hours coverage
Vibe
Quick + intentional. SF City Hall, Beverly Hills City Hall, San Diego County Admin. Civil + classic.
When to pick
Legal-only ceremony. Doing the bigger party later. Family conflict. Visa/timeline urgency. You like ceremony rooms with character.
Small Wedding
Guests
20 to 60
Cost (photo + film)
$5,500 to $9,500 photo + film
Coverage
6 to 8 hours photo + film
Vibe
Intimate dinner-party feel. Restaurant buyout, private estate, boutique winery, family backyard.
When to pick
You want vows + meaningful toasts + a real meal but don't want a 200-person production. The "everyone here actually matters" wedding.
FAQ

Most-asked.

Can we do all three?+
Yes — many couples do courthouse first (legal), elopement portrait day (the place + the dress + film), then small wedding 6 months later (the gathering). Each captures a different moment.
Cheapest path?+
Courthouse — but factor in dress + dinner + photo. Truly cheapest is courthouse + phone-shot. We don't compete at that tier; we shoot when memory matters.
What's included in the elopement package?+
Photo + film, 4-6 hour coverage, ceremony + portraits + intimate dinner, full edited gallery + 3-min film. From $4,500 in CA. Travel + permits separate.
Small wedding photo only — possible?+
Yes. Photo-only at small-wedding scale is $3,500-$5,500. Adding film is +$2,500-$3,500. Most of our small-wedding couples opt for both since the films are the most-rewatched piece.
Which delivers best photos?+
Small wedding wins on portrait variety + emotional range. Elopement wins on landscape + film cinematics. Courthouse is the most under-shot — the building + light is incredible if your photographer knows it.

Still unsure?
Let's figure it out together.

10 minutes — tell me your guest list + dream location + budget, I'll tell you which path actually fits.

Plan your day