Elope in San Diego

We don’t think there is ever a bad time to elope in San Diego, as the weather is pretty lovely year-round, but there are definitely peak times for tourists which you may want to stray away from. Tourist season in San Diego is generally June through August, so we recommend eloping either in the spring or fall. Plus, the weather during those seasons are warm and mild – perfect for a beachside ceremony. If you do visit in the summer, just ensure you’re eloping a time of day that you’re not melting in the hot midday summer sun. Don’t let all the surf and sunshine fool you, though: winter is also a great time to visit San Diego. The winter months are still generally warm and are typically less crowded than the other high-profile seasons. For those who need assistance, our wedding planning services are included in our San Diego elopement packages, making it easy to find the perfect time and setting for your special day.

Finding the perfect small wedding venue is going to make a big difference for your ceremony, and the beauty is that there are so many versatile venues that offer completely different backdrops of scenery. We adore the Sunset Cliffs, which has a front-row seat to epic sunsets, and the desert garden in Balboa Park is filled with tropical plants and cacti that make the spot feel otherworldly. There are so many amazing places to elope in San Diego, and there are no shortage of perfect locations and hidden gems for your ceremony. For those seeking a seamless experience, our all-inclusive wedding packages in San Diego ensure everything is taken care of, so you can focus on enjoying your special day.

In general, we recommend allowing yourself between three to nine months to plan your elopement, as there are other aspects of your elopement trip that you will need to plan: hotel, flights, travel accommodations, activities and dinner reservations. However, if you’ve already planned your trip and just want to elope, we can plan with as little advanced notice as a week. Just ensure you have your marriage license arrangement in place, as that’s the largest hurdle to ensuring your ceremony is legal!

To ensure your ceremony is legal in San Diego, you will need to obtain your marriage license. San Diego City Hall requires one form of identification – such as a driver’s license or passport – for both you and your partner, and if either of you have been previously married, you’ll need an official copy of your divorce decree. The marriage license fee is $70 at the bulk of the San Diego elopement locations, so be sure to have that handy. The great news about California is that there is no waiting period, so you can get married the same day you receive your license! Your wedding license is valid for 90 days after you acquire it, and there is only one witness required, which a San Diego elopement photographer can happily stand in for.

Time of day is an important consideration when eloping as the bulk of the ceremonies we perform are outdoors. If you’re looking for warm tones and soft lighting (which is best for pictures), we recommend having your elopement ceremony either early to late morning or early evening. Mid-day not only poses the challenge of yourselves and your guests baking in the hot sun, but the direct lighting creates harsh shadows, which does not make for flattering pictures. If you’re having trouble figuring out exactly when to hold your elopement ceremony, look to the sunrise and sunset times for your date, and try to plan around those hours.