La Playa Carmel Wedding - An Intimate Carmel-by-the-Sea Celebration
Updated: Sep 1
As a Carmel wedding photographer, I love days that feel unhurried and deeply personal, and this La Playa Carmel wedding was exactly that. Sunlight drifted through the gardens, sea air softened the edges of the afternoon, and every moment unfolded with an easy sense of joy.
The bride prepared for her wedding in a quiet upstairs room at La Playa Carmel, where soft window light created the perfect glow as she finished getting ready. Her sleek satin gown, loose curls, and classic red lipstick echoed old-Hollywood glamour—timeless, elegant, and beautifully self-assured. Downstairs, her groom waited in a sharp black suit with pops of bold red, matching the bridesmaids’ bright bouquets and the joyful spirit of the day.
bride getting ready in her veil the final touches helping the flower girl bridesmaids' approval dress on bed with mermaid carving bride's bouquet bride and groom after their wedding at la playa in carmel groom poses with bridesmaids
Carmel by the Sea Wedding at La Playa
Their wedding ceremony took place in the hotel’s intimate courtyard, surrounded by rosemary-draped walls and ocean breeze. Friends laughed easily, the bridal party gathered close, and the couple exchanged vows in front of the ivy-lined arches that make La Playa so iconic.
After the ceremony, we wandered the grounds for portraits, using quiet corners, tiled staircases, sunlit pathways, and that iconic Mediterranean architecture for backdrops. The combination of soft coastal light and the couple’s playful ease made every frame feel natural and warm. One of my favorite images: the groomsmen played a little joke on the groom by holding photos of his doppleganger up for a photo- pure joy, pure personality.
Dinner and toasts followed in the dining room, where guests lingered long after sunset. The day felt relaxed, romantic, elegant, and exactly right for an intimate Carmel wedding.
If you are planning your own celebration in Carmel or anywhere along the coast, you can explore more of my work here:
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About Jody Holman
Jody is a San Francisco Bay Area photographer with more than twenty years of experience photographing proposals, intimate weddings and people. Her approach is natural and unobtrusive, with an emphasis on real moments, beautiful light and minimal posing.
