This is an important motto to remember.

The natural world is not for souvenirs, nor is it for trash. Enjoy everything you have around you, but please leave everything as you found it.

This includes things as seemingly small and insignificant as pine cones or rocks.

If you’re not sure if the object in front of you applies, consider how harmful it would be to the natural surroundings if every person who visited Big Sur took one to keep. If it seems harmful to nature, please avoid it.

If you have garbage, please pocket it until you are near a trash can. Furthermore, please try your best not to disturb the wildlife, and avoid straying from the designated paths.

This is mountainous terrain. If you plan to walk around between events, having a pair of sturdy shoes is highly recommended.

Always keep your eyes on the path in front of you. Many of the walking surfaces are not paved, and you may trip or stumble over tree roots and jutting rocks. Even if you don’t fall, stumbling can still be damaging to your knees, ankles, and other parts of your body.

This is something to keep in mind for those who are planning to wear heels and dress shoes, as well. Please consider bringing a flatter heel if you intend to wear stilettos and change at the event itself. We have more information about that on the “Itinerary” page of the website.

With all that being said, there are many beautiful hikes in the area for those looking to fill some free time or better explore the area outside of wedding events.

In fact, there’s a low impact hike from Big Sur Lodge to see a waterfall, and for the more athletic among us, a hike that continues up the mountain.

From there, you can see the ocean in the distance which makes it the perfect place to watch the sunset.

1. Big Sur gets very, very dark at night. In fact, it’s the darkest place in California. We will be surrounded by mountains, and the locals are very conscious of light pollution. If you think you will be out after dark, please make sure you have a strong flashlight. True dark is not something to risk.
2. That darkness does bring beauty, however. On clear nights, you can actually see the Milky Way! Even on less clear nights, the sky will be full of stars in a way that many people never really get to experience. Once it’s dark outside, step outside your room, make your way somewhere away from the lights of the hotel, and just look up! Your eyes will adjust, and you’ll be blown away.

Big Sur is a state park and, in addition to light pollution, they take noise pollution very seriously. Our events are ending at 10:00 P.M. because that’s the curfew for the area. If you intend to continue the party after the events end, please do so respectfully. Big Sur is a haven for wildlife, so we must do all we can to respect that we are guests in their world.

The river is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous in May due to all of the fresh snow-melt. Please do not attempt to enter it. The water will be very fast, very cold, and very, very dangerous.

1. You will likely not have cell phone service once you leave Carmel and enter Big Sur. And once in Big Sur, you will have very limited WiFi access. Furthermore, each lodging has different WiFi accessibility. We very much want our guests to be present with us for our events, so we ask that you please take advantage of not having cellular service. Consider even leaving your phones in your rooms, or if you have them, let the photographers take the pictures so you can just sit back, have fun, and make memories with us.
2. This point is especially important for those who will be driving in from outside of Big Sur. Make sure your GPS is already set up before leaving Carmel.

If you suffer from allergies, please make sure you bring whatever medications and/or inhalers work for you, as Ami can only bum Zyrtec out to so many people. We will be surrounded by trees, but May will also be wildflower season. Anticipate pollen.

For the smokers among us, being in both a state park and a forest means smoking is limited only to designated areas. We ask that you please make sure you find out where those are. That information should be available at the front desk of your lodging.

Please do not try to sneak a smoke elsewhere, as these rules are in place to protect the environment from very real threats. Most importantly, wherever you smoke, please do not leave your cigarette butts on the ground.

Ridesharing to or from Big Sur can be very cost prohibitive to the point that a car rental may be recommended if you are flying in from elsewhere.

Please make sure you arrange for a way out of Big Sur ahead of time should you choose to rideshare in, both because you will have limited service and also because all drivers will be coming in from Monterey to get you. 

These trips can cost several hundred dollars, especially if demand is high from everyone trying to book all at once. If you know others attending the wedding, see if you can all carpool.

If you don’t know anyone, but would like a ride into Big Sur, please reach out to us so we can try to arrange something.

Though we will be feeding everyone at each event, there are restaurants attached to each lodging option, as well as general stores should you need anything additional.

There are also gas stations in the area, but we recommend filling up in Monterey as the cost will be much lower there.

If you are traveling north into Big Sur from Southern California, know that there is a landslide along Highway 1, and it is still being cleaned up.

You will be directed around north into Monterey and back south into Big Sur. Please plan your travel times accordingly.

1. The temperature will fluctuate a noticeable amount during your stay in Big Sur. Being positioned in the mountains and the forest, the sun will rise a little bit later and set a little bit earlier than it does just down the road. The tall trees will also shade much of the area. Because of this, we recommend that all of the outfits you bring can easily add and subtract layers. This allows you to keep warm during the morning and evening, as well as cool off during the day.
2. While rain in Big Sur in May is not common, they have seen rain during a couple of days of the month. Please consider packing a small umbrella just in case.

Being in a state park with protected wildlife, the hotel you’re staying at may have specific rules about pets. Please call your place of accommodation ahead of time in the event that you plan to bring an animal so that you can double check their rules and requirements.

Even if you’re bringing a service animal, it will be good to make sure you have everything your accommodation requires you have before bringing your service animal onto the property.

If you are driving, please do not leave food or drinks in your car overnight. Bears in the area will not be deterred by metal and glass.