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Your ultimate guide to eloping in San Diego, California. Whether you’ve dreamed of saying “I do” on the sandy shores of Sunset Cliffs, the quaint gardens of Balboa Park, the breathtaking cliff sides of Torrey Pines, or venturing beyond the coast, here is your step-by-step guide on bringing your west coast elopement to life.

Table of Contents

1. Your Elopement Checklist
2. Choosing Your Elopement Date
3. Best Elopement Locations in San Diego
4. Elopement Locations A Few Hours from San Diego
5. How to Legally Get Married

Your Elopement Checklist

Your step-by-step guide on getting eloped!

1. Pick a Location

• Decide on a location that holds special significance for you both, whether it’s a picturesque mountain, a serene beach, or a vibrant cityscape. Consider the logistics, accessibility, and any necessary permits.

2. Pick a Date

• Pick a date that works for both of you and any essential guests. Consider the weather and local events that might impact your plans with flexibility in mind. Consider choosing a weekday to hold your elopement in popular areas to avoid crowds.

3. Plan the Ceremony

• Decide on the style and format of your ceremony. Will it be just the two of you, or will you invite a few close friends or family members? Choose an officiant who can legally marry you in your chosen location.

4. Make it Official

• Research the marriage license requirements for your chosen location, and determine if you’ll need witnesses or officiants. Make sure you have all necessary documents and fulfill any waiting periods or residency requirements.

5. Hire an Elopement Photographer

• Find an experienced elopement photographer who understands your vision and can capture the essence of your day. Discuss your preferred style, key moments, and any specific shots you want. *wink wink* me, Natasha, over here!

6. Hire Additional Vendors

Happy to recommend local San Diego vendors!

• Elopement Planner
• Videographer
• Content Creator
• Florist
• Officiant
• Hair + Makeup Artist
• Caterer or Private Chef
• Wedding Apparel

7. Create a Timeline

• Apart from your elopement experience, we’ll work closely in creating a detailed timeline + itinerary. This will include: specific meeting locations that incorporate travel times, getting ready, the ceremony, and any post-ceremony celebrations to ensure everyone has enough time for each part of the day to avoid feeling rushed.

8. Prepare for the Unexpected

• Having a backup plan for the backup plan, is essential. It’s important to be flexible and ready to adapt to changing weather, lighting, or unexpected situations. Life doesn’t always go as planned and I promise there’s beauty in that in itself. Your perfectly imperfect elopement awaits!

Choosing Your Elopement Date

The truth is, you can get eloped in San Diego, California any day of the year. This southern coast of California sits on an average temperature of 70℉ year round. That means picking a date for your elopement will most likely fall under a beautiful west coast day. But it’s important to keep in mind that even an unexpectedly gloomy month or rain showers can be expected during certain times of the year. 

The best day of the week to celebrate your elopement is between Monday – Thursday. This means less crowds and more location opportunities to photograph at popular locations, especially during peak tourist seasons.

Best months to get married in San Diego, California: September – October

September – October are known to be the best months to get eloped in San Diego, California. After the gloomy spring months from May to June; after the peak of summer break and tourist season; and before the rainy season starts, these fall months are most ideal when picking your elopement date. 

Sunniest and Driest Months of San Diego, California: July – August

There’s a reason San Diego is a hot vacation spot during the summer time! With an average 85℉ during these months, it means sunshine galore with many sunrise and sunset viewings.

Cloudiest Months of San Diego, California: May – June

The months of May and June bring in the most clouds, also known as “May Gray” and “June Gloom”. In San Diego this occurs due to a dense layer of cool, moist air trapped beneath a warmer layer of air. This phenomenon is caused by the cold California current cooling the air, leading to fog and low clouds. This by no way means opting out of these months! There’s rarely rain, just consistent clouds that in a photographer’s dream are some of the most ideal lighting conditions!

Best Elopement Locations in San Diego

Everyday I’m finding new locations in San Diego that I fall in love with over and over again. Whether you’re looking for sandy beaches, gardens, parks, architecture, mountains, or all the above there are endless possibilities when picking the perfect location for your elopement.

Sunset Cliffs

Balboa Park

Torrey Pines

Coronado Beach

La Jolla Cove

Downtown San Diego

Elopement Destinations a Few Hours from San Diego

Did you know if you drive 2 hours outside of San Diego, California you can reach destinations beyond your wildest dreams? From sand dunes to world famous sandy beaches, if you’re interested in venturing beyond the horizon to out-of-this-world destinations, here are a few of my favorites sprinkled all over Southern California!

How to Legally Get Married in San Diego, California

Your step-by-step guide to officially tie the knot!

1. Obtain your marriage license. In San Diego, your marriage license is valid for only 90 days so make sure you say “I do” within that time period! You’re able to schedule out your marriage license 7 weeks from your desired elopement date. Dates get filled very quickly (especially on Fridays) so set an alarm by midnight to ensure your preferred date and time is available. 
   
2. Schedule your marriage license or civil ceremony at the San Diego Courthouse
   
3. Have Your Ceremony. Your marriage becomes legally recognized when you participate in a ceremony conducted by an ordained officiant.
   
4. Witness Requirement. You must have at least one witness who is 18 years or older present to sign your marriage license. I would be happy to serve as your witness!
   
5. Submit your marriage license. Your officiant is responsible for submitting the completed marriage license to the appropriate government office.
   
6. Receive Your Marriage Certificate. After your license is recorded, you can request a certified copy of your marriage certificate, which means… YOU’RE OFFICIALLY MARRIED! 💍🥳

Happy eloping!

You chose to celebrate your love in a unique and personal way and that should be celebrated on its’ own! Stop by and say hi at anytime!