Andrea and Sean wanted a small, intimate elopement and although they reside in New York City, the options were open for the location.  Andrea’s grandparents had held at Notre Dame des Victoires wedding in San Francisco, CA and so when they started looking at wedding venues, the gesture and reference to their family seemed monumental and unique.  The Notre Dame des Victoires church is a small Roman church in San Francisco, CA, modeled after the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, France.  Located at the entrance to China Town, the church was founded in 1856, it was designated a historical landmark in 1984.  Today, it remains an important center of San Francisco’s French community and it was the absolute perfect location for Sean and Andrea’s intimate family centric elopement.

Following the Notre Dame des Victoires wedding, we traveled slightly south of San Francisco to Half Moon Bay, CA where Andrea and Sean through a beautiful and deliciously catered dinner on the patio of the Mill Rose Inn.

Andrea and Sean had an exceptionally beautiful group of people around them that I REALLY enjoyed spending time with.  They were gregarious, welcoming, and so bright.  Before I left that day, one of the wedding party members followed me out to share with me her gratitude, telling me that I “made the bride’s day a little bit lighter, a little bit brighter, and a lot more fun.” The compliment brought tears to my eyes.  As a photographer, my goal is not only to capture photos and images from the day, but it’s ALWAYS to make the day less stressful, to make sure everyone is comfortable, and ultimately, to make sure that everyone has fun regardless of what hiccups occur. It is incredibly rewarding to know that I often do, in fact, succeed at that.

Wedding Ceremony Venue: Notre Dame de Victoires | Reception Venue: Mill Rose Inn

Hold a Half Moon Bay Elopement

  • The Mill Rose Inn is incredibly quaint, cozy and perfect for an intimate Half Moon Bay elopement. If you want to, you can rent out the entire Inn for all of your guests.  There are 6 boutique and unique rooms that all looked wonderfully appointed.  Both the front and back patio were beautiful and had no need for additional decor and awash in flowers, color, and brick floors.  The best part about hosting your wedding at the Mill Rose Inn: every client can provide their own alcohol with no corkage fees!  That’s unheard of y’all.
  • The Rosalind Bakery in nearby Pacifica, CA is one of my favorite bakeries IN THE WORLD. Although they do not offer cakes – it is a must stop on the way to Half Moon Bay.  If you are there on a weekend, don’t skip the Ham and Cheese Croissant.  Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with any of their baked goods or breakfast sandwhich.
  • If you need additional flowers, Half Moon Bay has a number of flower farms in the vicinity. Pop into Pastorinos Flower Farm or Lemos Farm on the way into town.  With a large inventory of fresh flowers at both of these farms, you will be able to pick up anything you might need or arrange for bouquets and centerpieces ahead of time with ease.  Lemos weirdly also offers year round goat yoga …. if you’re into that.  If you are, I may not be the photographer for you.
  • Interested in elopement services and packages?  Regardless of the location, Lauren Lindley is available and does not charge travel fees because TRAVEL IS MY FAVORITE!   LFG!