LEO CARRILLO

CARLSBAD

A Magical Wedding Day at Leo Carrillo State Park, Carlsbad

As a wedding photographer based in San Diego, I often get to explore some of the most beautiful and unique locations in Southern California. One of my recent favorite spots was Leo Carrillo State Park in Carlsbad, where I had the pleasure of capturing an unforgettable wedding filled with love, joy, and natural beauty.

Leo Carrillo offers an incredible blend of coastal charm and rugged landscape that creates the perfect backdrop for wedding photography. The expansive beach, sandstone caves, tide pools, and rolling dunes provide a variety of settings that feel both intimate and grand at the same time. The light at this location is soft and golden, especially in the late afternoon, making every image glow with warmth and vitality.

The couple’s wedding day was a candid celebration of their connection, and my goal was to document their story naturally through editorial-style photos that highlight the emotion and the environment. From their quiet moments walking hand-in-hand along the shore to lively celebrations with family and friends against the ocean waves, every shot was infused with authentic feeling.

One of the most striking aspects of shooting at Leo Carrillo is the way the environment interacts with the couple. The rugged cliffs stand as timeless witnesses to their vows, while the gentle sea breeze adds a subtle movement that brings photos to life. Incorporating the natural elements, such as wild beach grasses and the textures of the rocks, helped create images that feel both elegant and grounded.

This experience reaffirmed why I love photographing weddings here in the San Diego area — the locations are breathtaking, the light is unparalleled, and the couples are always so deeply in love. Leo Carrillo State Park is truly a gem for anyone looking to combine the magic of the California coast with meaningful, light-filled wedding photography.

If you’re planning a wedding in Carmel Valley, Carlsbad, or anywhere in the San Diego region, and you want images that capture your unique story with authenticity and artistry, I would love to connect and discuss how we can make that happen.

Here’s to many more beautiful weddings and unforgettable moments at Leo Carrillo and beyond!

A photo of an outdoor event venue featuring multiple dining tables with white linens and dark wooden chairs on a flagstone patio, with a grassy area and a white hacienda-style building in the background, surrounded by lush greenery in Carlsbad.
Groom wearing a cream-colored suit, olive green tie, and glasses, standing outdoors with their arms open wide and mouth open as if singing or speaking passionately, in front of an old white building with cacti in the foreground.
A photo of the main white adobe hacienda building at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, California, which has a red tiled roof, blue-trimmed windows, a large green euphorbia cactus plant next to an archway entrance, and is surrounded b
A photo of two brides sharing a tender kiss during their wedding ceremony, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and the other wearing a white dress with a lace-trimmed veil in Leo Garrillo Ranch Historic Park.
A photo of a bride in a white lace dress and veil walking down an outdoor aisle through a white stucco archway, escorted by a man in a dark suit and a woman in a yellow floral dress in Carlsbad.
A photo of a newly married couple kissing on a dirt path, surrounded by lush green plants and large prickly pear cacti at Leo Garrillo Ranch Historic Park.
A black and white photo of a white wedding dress hanging from the trunk of a large, leaning palm tree on an outdoor flagstone patio, adjacent to a white brick building and surrounded by lush green plants and cacti.
A close-up photo of the bride and groom posing together, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and olive green tie and the other in a white lace wedding dress with a long veil.
A photo of a newly married couple posing for a portrait under an archway overflowing with bright pink bougainvillea flowers, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and the other in a white lace wedding dress with a long veil trailing on the flagstone
A close-up photo of a bride in a white lace wedding dress holding a small white note or card during a ceremony, with two people in grey dresses and one person in a cream suit partially visible in the background.
A photo of a lush green garden featuring a large, branched dragon tree alongside a white stone wall with an arched, black wrought-iron gate. The image is likely of the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, California, United States.
A photo of a newly married couple walking cheerfully down an outdoor aisle after their wedding ceremony, with the bride in a white lace dress holding a bouquet and the groom in a cream-colored suit, as seated guests cheer them on in Leo Garrillo Ranc
A black and white photo of a newly married couple posing for a portrait, with the groom in a cream-colored suit looking at the bride, who is in a white lace dress and veil,l and smiling at the camera.
A close-up photo of a bride in a white lace slip dress and veil smiling at a groom in a cream-colored suit during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with two bridesmaids in grey dresses in the background at Leo Garrillo.
A photo of a bride in a white lace slip dress with spaghetti straps and a veil, looking down and smiling at a small white card she is holding, while three smiling bridesmaids in grey dresses stand behind her, and part of a groom in a cream-colored su
A close-up photo of a Leptospermum scoparium (New Zealand tea tree or manuka) plant, which has dense, greyish or copper-bronze needle-like leaves and small, bright red flowers in bloom. The background is a soft, light-colored blur with hints of green
A photo of a bride in a white lace dress and veil walking down an outdoor flagstone aisle, escorted by a man in a dark grey suit and a woman in a yellow floral dress. They are passing a white hacienda-style building with blue-trimmed windows and a st
A photo of a newly married couple laughing and embracing under a stone archway covered in pink bougainvillea flowers, with the groom in a cream-colored suit and the bride in a white lace wedding dress with a long, lace-trimmed veil at Leo Garriloo, C
A newly married couple smiles and raises their hands in celebration as they walk down the stone aisle after their outdoor wedding ceremony at the rustic Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park.
A photo of a newly married couple embracing and kissing on a dirt path in front of a white hacienda-style building with a terracotta tiled roof. The image features a very large, multi-branched cactus next to the couple and a tall palm tree on the lef
A photo of a newly married couple embracing and looking into each other's eyes on a rustic wooden bridge, surrounded by lush green trees and plants. The location appears to be the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, California.
A photo of an outdoor event reception venue featuring dining tables set with white linens and dark wooden chairs in the foreground, and a grassy area with many formally dressed guests mingling in the background.
A black and white photo of a newly married couple dancing together on an outdoor flagstone patio during their wedding reception. String lights hang overhead, illuminating the couple and seated guests at round tables, with a white hacienda-style build
photo of a newly married couple embracing and about to kiss on a wooden bridge, with one bride wearing a cream-colored suit and the other in a white lace wedding dress with a long train and veil. A stone archway and lush green foliage with pink flow
A photo of a newly married couple walking together through a stone archway covered in lush green foliage and bright red flowers, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and the other in a white lace dress with a long, flowing veil.
A photo of two brides embracing and smiling lovingly at each other during their outdoor wedding ceremony, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and the other in a white lace wedding dress with a lace-trimmed veil.
A photo of groom with his parents walking down an outdoor flagstone path: a man in a grey suit, a man in a cream suit and olive tie, and a woman in a reddish-orange dress, with a unique large tree and white shingled building in the background.
A photo of a small, round table on an outdoor terracotta-tiled patio, covered with a blue and white checkered gingham tablecloth and decorated with autumnal centerpieces including potted succulents and framed signs with dried wheat stalks. A white br
A close-up photo of a newly married couple posing for a portrait, with one wearing a cream-colored suit and the other in a white lace slip dress and veil, both smiling happily.
A photo of a rustic wooden seating chart stand outdoors, displaying white cards for tables numbered 1 through 10 with guest names, and a sign on top that reads 'Please find your seat'.
A photo of a lush, xeriscape garden at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in Carlsbad, California, featuring a variety of desert plants, a tall palm tree, and a white hacienda-style building with a red tile roof in the background, all under a brigh
A photo of a young flower girl wearing a white lace dress with a full tulle skirt and a white bow in her hair, walking down a flagstone path while holding a white basket, guided by a person in a grey dress.
A photo of a large vintage metal windmill standing over a small white shed with a red tiled roof, located in a lush green garden setting with a grassy lawn in the foreground and various trees, including a tall palm tree, under a blue sky with white c
A photo of two brides joyfully dancing together on a flagstone patio after their wedding ceremony, surrounded by clapping guests and bridesmaids.
A photo of a newly married couple posing for a portrait, with the groom in a cream-colored suit looking towards the bride who is in a white lace slip dress and veil and smiling happily at the camera.
A photo of a newly married couple walking hand-in-hand down a dirt path, smiling and laughing together, surrounded by large prickly pear cacti. One person wears a white lace wedding dress with a veil and carries a bouquet, and the other wears a cream
A photo of a groom in a cream-colored suit and glasses laughing and looking at the camera, with five other people in brown suits standing in the background outdoors on a dirt path.
A photo of a wedding ceremony in progress outdoors, with two brides smiling at each other while holding hands in front of an officiant who is laughing. One bride wears a white lace dress and veil, the other wears a white suit, and the officiant is in