Big Sur Proposal: Series
Weather in Big Sur During Your Proposal
Planning a proposal in Big Sur? Understanding the local weather is key to creating a smooth and unforgettable experience—and you're in the right place. Daniel has called Big Sur home since 2013 and knows its unique climate inside and out. From the foggy mornings that roll in along the coast to the golden hour glow that lights up the cliffs, he’s seen it all.
Whether you're dreaming of a sunrise proposal on the beach or a sunset moment overlooking the mountains, Daniel can guide you to the best times and places to make it happen—no guesswork, just expert advice from someone who lives and works here year-round.
November - March
🌅 10/10 Proposal sunsets
💍 Early Sunset times
💖 Less tourists
Winter begins here around late November, usually. What this means is we begin getting rain in stints.
The longest stretch of rain we have had here was about 4 days of straight rain. Typically the rain comes in 3-10 hour sessions. Many times in the past we have kept an eye on eater apps and decided the day of to move a proposal to after the rain or to fit in the day when it is less chance of rain. One thing to know about rain is ... wind. Before and after the rain passes, you cna typica;;y count on wind to pick up, sometimes to the point of your photo session - on rare occasions- being impossible. Thankfully you get rain insurance with Daniel James Photography, SO if you decided you want to cancel and reschedule at a later time or simply change plans, no worries at all!
In terms of temperature during the winter it can range from afternoon lows of 45 with high about 60. Do bring a jacket as Big Sur and Carmel can get chilly in the winter, especially close to sunset and on beaches. You can always take it off for the photos OR I recommended dressing up for your session which might include a dressier jacket to stay warm.
Below are images from November and March.
April - August
⛅ Perfect Weather
🔆 Later Sunsets
🌊 Big Sur events
What makes April through August perfect for a Big Sur Proposal is the mixture of low level tourists and also perfect weather. The rainy season has ended and Big Sur is Bright Green and perfect for out door adventures. If your into camping it can still be chilly but the lows are still doable as the lows can be in high 40's at night. Around your sunset, you can expect 50's.
One other weather feature that adds to the charm of Big Sur is the fog that rolls in. Fog can be unpredictable especially in June and July. If you see the fog sitting out on the water, know that it will roll in in 20 minutes about 1 hour before sunset. It can be like clockwork. What this means is we will keep an eye on weather and if you're wanting less fog, we can push your time up an hour to ensure we have more light. To me, when the whole country is burning up in August this is a huge reprieve and super special.
April
August
September - October
👌 Perfect Weather
💍 Quiet and calm
🌄 No fog
These two months get their own special category. This is a super special time of year. Everyone is back in school. The whole country is still burning up and melting, and, while the weather here can be the warmest it gets, the high is still in the 70's or maybe 80's, which is warm enough to dip toes in the water. This makes for great images :)
No Rain.
Chance of fog is very low and the sunsets are INSANE.
Plus, wales are coming through which is fun. Look out at the pacific for 5 minutes and you are guaranteed to see spouts.
This is the perfect time to camp and hike as the weather in Big Sur is perfect and the tourists have mostly left from Summer.
