Nikki and Nate got married on the Californian coast in winter, dressed entirely in black. Their inspiration was creating something intimate, alternative, moody, and a little bit boho with a dramatic, non-traditional twist. “We were inspired by the beauty of the coastline, earthy textures, and darker romantic tones”, Nikki said. “We wanted the day to feel intimate, atmospheric, and authentically ‘us’ and a touch of edge that reflected our personalities.”

The guest list was intentionally tiny and everyone wore black. There was no wiggle room on that. They skipped formal ceremony traditions and kept the structure loose. “Our ceremony was unique, private, emotional, and incredibly personal”, she continued. “We wrote our own vows, which made the moment feel so intimate and real. For music, we chose a piano version of Open Letter by The Amity Affliction – it’s meaningful to us on so many levels that words could never describe and hearing it in that softer style created such a beautiful atmosphere. Honestly, every part of the ceremony felt special. It’s one of those moments we wish we could bottle up and relive over and over again.”

Even though they kept things small, that didn’t mean there was no pressure around the planning. “No one warned us how challenging it would be to plan everything with such a tiny circle involved. Keeping the wedding a secret meant we had limited help and resources, so a lot of the time-consuming details fell on us. It made the planning a little more stressful than expected, even for a low-key elopement. BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT.”

There was no formal reception, but after the the elopement, they did host a low-key dinner party at Novo in San Luis Obispo. They changed into comfortable clothes and let loose with their loved ones.

“The wedding industry can sometimes make it feel like there’s a ‘right’ way to do things, which can be overwhelming, especially when you’re planning something non-traditional”, Nikki concluded. “I wish there were more encouragement to step outside of expectations and less pressure to follow a checklist. Our experience taught us that the most meaningful weddings are the ones that reflect the couple, not the industry standards.”