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Elope in San Diego

If consistently warm weather, mellow waves, and soft white sand beaches are your thing, you’ll absolutely love a San Diego elopement. This laid-back city is full of flip-flopped folk and tropical scenery every where you look, and offers an easygoing vibe for any ceremony you’re envisioning for your big day. Whether you’re there for the surf, the views, or the vibrant nightlife, there is an endless amount of things to fill up your time both before and after your San Diego elopement. You’ll leave sun-kissed and sandy – the perfect start to your new life together.

Check out what happens after you book your elopement with us

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Why is San Diego awesome

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Imagine the sunshine, palm fronds, and white-sand beaches. San Diego the spot for a romantic ceremony.

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Tropical scenery and an easygoing vibe... bask as newlyweds under the bright Californian skies.

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Surfing, exquisite sunsets, and vibrant nightlife are just a few of the ways to enjoy your elopement trip!

Everything You Need to Know about Eloping in San Diego

Our founder Janessa is the ultimate elopement expert!
Watch her video for all of her top tips.

Places to Elope in San Diego

Sunset Cliffs

Looking for a stellar sunset view for your elopement? Then you can’t do better than hosting a Sunset Cliffs wedding! You will definitely remember the...

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Balboa Park

Full of Spanish history and culture, this location is speckled with architecture, art, and water features, perfect for your Balboa Park wedding. Balboa Park wedding...

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The Wedding Bowl, Cuvier Park (La Jolla)

The Wedding Bowl is a grassy plain overlooking the ocean as part of the La Jolla strip. For an enchanting ceremony on one of the...

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Coronado Beach

One of the most popular beaches on the west coast, Coronado beach is a long stretch of flat land and mild waves. Coronado Beach weddings...

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Ocean Beach

If you are a fan of VW Vans and Taco stands, you’ll fit right in at Ocean Beach. Choose one of the Ocean Beach wedding...

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Your own dream venue

We can come to you. Do you have a great venue or even an awesome backyard? We can help you find vendors for nearly anywhere in the country

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Parq West

The Parq West is a unique event venue close to historic Balboa Park. Choose from the outdoor palm court or maple ballroom for your ceremony....

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Torrey Pines Gliderport

Torrey Pines Gliderport is such a magical place to elope! Say your nuptials as people fly around in the sky around you. Maybe fly yourself...

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San Diego Elopement Packages

Our goal is to make it easy for couples to elope in San Diego, and we’ve designed packages that’ll help you do just that!

San Diego

Wildflower Experience

How about a dreamy adventure elopement?

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Add-Ons

You can optionally add the following to your package:

Flowers

Brighten your big day with our unique floral arrangements

Hair & Makeup

  • Starting at $550

Look your very best on the big day by hiring one of our artists!

Extra Photography

  • Starting at $600

Capture every perfect moment by adding hours of photography to your package

Engagement Shoot

  • Starting at $900

Every moment leading up to your day is special; book us for your engagement shoot!

On-Site Helper

  • Starting at $400

Hire our crew to stream or take cell phone photos/videos on your day

Relationship Coaching

Strengthen and improve your relationship with our professionals coach

Add videography to your San Diego elopement

Starting at $1,200

Our videography package comes with an edited 1 – 2 minute highlight reel (perfect for sharing on socials!), as well as a longform, minimally-edited film of the full ceremony.

Simply Eloped has been seen in

Stress less is what a bride wants on her big day. Communication with the team was great. I would recommend this to anyone!

Marina and Christopher
Marina and Christopher

This was an amazing experience!

Jillian and Kameron
Jillian and Kameron

Thank you for making out elopement fun and all about us.

Vivian and Agustin
Vivian and Agustin

You guys have all been a pleasure to work with/meet. Thank you so much for everyone involved in our elopement. You guys all made our special day extra special. We are forever grateful.

Ana and Troy
Ana and Troy

It was a wonderful day. Thank you for making it special!

Alyssa and Stephan
Alyssa and Stephan

Thank you, Simply Eloped for making our wedding day such a breeze and something we will remember forever.

Nicole and Nicholas
Nicole and Nicholas

Luisa and Mathew are stellar at what they do. And make an amazing team!

Ktristina Sherman
Ktristina Sherman

Thank you for the most magical day ever!

Angela and Nic
Angela and Nic

Thanks for a great wedding day!

Steven and Peter
Steven and Peter

Meet our vendors

Rev. Brian, Officiant

Featured Vendors
What do you think makes eloping in San Diego so special?

The wonderful weather, the ocean and the fantastic people you get to work with.

 

What’s a fun fact about you?

I have been involved in the wedding business for most of my life. First as a florist, then as a photographer, and now as an officiant. I also have forty seven years of a successful marriage to learn from.

Matthew, Officiant

Featured Vendors
What do you think makes eloping in San Diego so special?

San Diego has a lot to offer and multiple locations to elope! The weather is almost always perfect and the scenery is gorgeous.

Tell us about one of your most magical elopements in San Diego!

Every time I perform or film a ceremony at Coronado it is a magical experience. The hotel make a beautiful backdrop on one side and the beach is always a great spot. The energy there is very fun and addicting!

Luisa, Photographer

Featured Vendors
What do you think makes eloping in San Diego so special?

The beautiful sky and ocean

What’s your favorite elopement venue in San Diego?

I love Balboa Park, it’s so magical!

Our Team

Allison
Allison
Customer Experience Manager
Brian
Brian
Officiant
Nikki
Nikki
Photographer
Ally Rose
Ally Rose
Photographer
Lily
Lily
Ceremony Coordinator
Allison
Allison
Customer Experience Manager
Brian
Brian
Officiant
Nikki
Nikki
Photographer
Ally Rose
Ally Rose
Photographer
Lily
Lily
Ceremony Coordinator

What season should I plan my San Diego elopement?

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 mid-day 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.

Where should I plan my San Diego elopement?

Finding the perfect venue or location to elope in San Diego 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 for your elopement ceremony.

How far in advance should I start planning for my San Diego elopement?

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!

How do I make my San Diego elopement 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 locations in the San Diego area, 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 photographer can happily stand in for.

What time of day should I plan for my San Diego elopement?

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 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, look to the sunrise and sunset times for your date, and try to plan around those hours.

Janessa White

Article written by

Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot. She feels her happiest when building - teams, programs, ideas

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Read the real stories of couples who eloped in San Diego!

Shannon and Emmanuelle chose to elope in one of the most beautiful spots in San Diego: Sunset Cliffs. These natural cliffs jut out over the Pacific ocean and are known for their unbelievable sunsets (hence the name). They set up an arch and a picnic rug and brought their dog-daughter, Frida, along with them for a ceremony just the three of them. From top to bottom, this ceremony was personalized to match the style and tone of their relationship. Meet how they met, fell in love and why they chose to elope in San Diego in California.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

It was kind of a mutual proposal. Once we each designed the rings we wanted together with our favorite jewelry designer (Skydog Jewelry), we were like “lets go ahead and do this!”

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I just started looking up Elopement Packages online – we initially wanted to Elope somewhere a little more exotic like Bora Bora but given the COVID-19 pandemic we started looking more local and Simply Eloped popped up in the Google Searches.

What attracted you to eloping at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego?

The views at Sunset Cliffs looked amazing and we loved the idea of getting eloped on the beach – one of our favorite places.

How did you celebrate after?

We celebrated in our hotel room with our dog daughter, lots of champagne, homemade desserts, and we ordered some of our favorite foods from Postmates.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

This day should be exactly what you want, how you want it – never feel bad for doing what is right for you as a couple!

Sometimes being sensible leads to wonderful things and that is the case for Lori & Jon. They wanted to skip all the large wedding stress and debt so that they could celebrate their love for each other and family. So they chose to wed on Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. Simply Eloped was there for these two every step of the way as they looked towards their future. Read more to find out how they met, their San Diego Old Town proposal and how they beat the pandemic to have the elopement of their dreams!

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

Lori: We wanted to stay close to home so that our kids and close family and friends could attend. We also couldn’t risk all the travel restrictions with the pandemic. Sunset Cliff was perfect.

What did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? HOw did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

Lori: We took a premarital counseling course online with Marriage365. Other than that, we saved all the fun activities for our honeymoon!

How did you celebrate after your elopement?

Lori: After our ceremony, we went back with friends and family to our Airbnb on the beach. We had a nice dinner from a local restaurant, had our first dance and cut the cake. Everyone left so that we could continue staying there for the next three nights of our honeymoon. We were able to do lots of fun things in San Diego like kayaking, indoor skydiving, couples massage, a fancy dinner and a bonfire on the beach.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Lori: You may regret a big wedding, but you’ll never regret eloping…do it!!

Isis & John have great friends who encouraged them to sign up on Bumble. It worked like a charm! These two made a massive life decision together and moved from Florida to California. So they figured why not do it right and get married? Isis was set on eloping as her parents had done (36 years and counting!). They found Simply Eloped to help them get a great start to married life. Isis & John visited Sunset Cliffs and knew that was where they wanted to exchange vows. The two of them eloped on a wonderfully cloudy day with the ocean vista behind them. We love, love, love their dog, who was as stately as anyone ought to be at a wedding. Isis & John thought their beach elopement was perfect, and so do we. Find out why they encourage everyone to give eloping a chance…

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there? 

Isis: We relocated from Miami to Torrance, California. We started to look for an elopement company. The best one we found was Simply Eloped. We wish they had a location near us. However, San Diego was not that far, so we went and checked out Sunset Cliffs. We fell in love with the views. It was breathtaking!

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Isis: Breathtaking! A magical place and the clouds on our wedding day made it even more special. The cliffs are beautiful!

What did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement? 

Isis: A special moment for me was getting my hair and makeup done. The makeup artist, Brianna from Simply Eloped, was an angel. She made sure I felt comfortable and happy the day of the wedding. She played music, and we had so much fun getting ready for the wedding.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped? 

Isis: It was perfection! The pictures, Brianna, the officiant. I truly believe I would not have had such a perfect team if it were not for Simply Eloped. The team of professionals they provide is top-notch! Even the flowers were amazing. They lasted about two weeks after the ceremony!

Rasheedah & John wed in the park where they had one of their first dates. The pandemic made it easy for these two to decide on eloping at the historic Balboa Park in San Diego. The stylish couple exchanged vows among the lush gardens and picturesque terraces with family and friends looking on. We love the bride’s stunning gown and veil and her groom’s bowtie. All the adorable-looking children that attended this elopement were the icing on the cake! Read on to find out how Rasheedah & John planned this enchanting elopement with Simply Eloped!

What do you love about your partner?

Rasheedah: I love that he has a sense of humor and loves me for me.

John: I love that she is caring, understanding, and she loves me for being me.

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

Rasheedah: I liked the packages offered and the flexibility to change things if needed. Everyone was very helpful.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement?

Rasheedah: One of our first dates was at Balboa Park, and we love going there. It felt like the best place to have our wedding.

How did you celebrate after your elopement? 

Rasheedah: We had a family brunch at Squadron 94. Afterward, we relaxed for two days in San Diego.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

Rasheedah: It was one of the best decisions I made for the wedding. Even though the wedding was on a smaller scale, it was perfect and everything that we wanted.

Updated: August 2nd, 2023

Planning, Questions, Advice
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