If you’re planning a San Diego elopement, you’re in the right place! I’m Lauren, a local San Diego elopement photographer. I travel too! But home base is San Diego and I love sharing this place with fellow Southern Californians eloping and couples traveling in from near and far.
Along with the general elopement tips in this blog, I’ve also included a list of my absolute favorite locations, some nontraditional spots, and even my favorite coffee shops for you to visit while you’re here. Trust me, I’ve thought of everything!
The best places to elope in San Diego
We’ll start with the exciting stuff! Here’s a list of my all-time favorite San Diego elopement locations for your ceremony. If you want even more ideas, check out my San Diego Engagement Session Guide!
Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach is always at the top of my list for obvious reasons. Not only is the area around Hotel del Coronado absolutely epic for engagement sessions, but the actual beaches are to-die-for. If you’re trying to have an oceanside ceremony, Coronado is the place to do it!
Balboa Park
Another amazing San Diego staple: Balboa Park. The park has tons of gardens and well-maintained landscape areas that would certainly fit the SoCal elopement vibe. They do have designated wedding venues within the park for larger guest counts, but if you’re eloping, you have plenty of options outside of these. You can utilize any of the outdoor park areas for your ceremony as long as you have a permit (sometimes you don’t need one if you aren’t setting anything up) and a small group! Sometimes it’s a first come first serve sort of situation since Balboa is a public park. It’s best to call the parks department to get the most up to date information on this!
San Diego County Clerk & Waterfront Park
I’m ALL for courthouse elopements!!! Especially in San Diego, where the exterior of the County Clerk’s office is as stylish as any other venue (be aware that the building can be under construction at any time!). After your quick ceremony and marriage license signing, we can take some photos outside and then head over to Waterfront Park. This park sits right on San Diego Bay (hence the “waterfront”) and gives amazing views for portraits. There are tons of restaurants in this area making it a great zone for hosting your family for lunch afterwards.
La Jolla Cove & The Wedding Bowl
La Jolla Cove is a super intimate beach in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Diego. The Cove is technically a part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, so it’s very much protected despite its heavy foot traffic and frequent visitors. A sunset or sunrise elopement here would be THE way to go, especially during the busy summer months.
The Wedding Bowl is…exactly what its name implies. A designated area by La Jolla Cove that can be booked specifically for wedding and elopement ceremonies! It has an oceanfront view and is very popular so if this is your dream, definitely look into booking the Wedding Bowl for your elopement asap!
A Sailboat or Yacht
Hear me out: a sailboat elopement in the Pacific Ocean?? There are TONS of places to rent a sailboat in San Diego. How iconic would that be – you and your close friends on a sunset cruise??? If you want to have a few or more guests, we can upgrade to a yacht instead! You can also look into renting one of the historical Maritime Museum ships along the waterfront.
Anza Borrego State Park
This San Diego elopement location is for my couples who want a more remote and private spot for their ceremony. Anza Borrego State Park is about an hour and a half outside of SD, and is actually the largest state park in all of California. It’s giving Joshua Tree vibes without the extensive drive time! Book an airbnb out there for everyone and just enjoy a stress free elopement experience.
Mission Trails Regional Park
I know not everyone wants a beach vibe when eloping in San Diego. At Mission Trails, you can elope just the two of you or reserve one of their facilities if you’re having guests. They have a terrace and amphitheater with some of the best views in the entire park. Other than that, you two can say your vows anywhere within the 8,000-square-foot park.
Black’s Beach at Torrey Pines & The Gliderport
Famously nude, famously stunning! If you don’t mind the exposure, the scenery at Black’s Beach is fantastic. Getting there does require a bit of a hike, but the views will be totally worth it once you’ve made it. And, if you’re a surfer, Black’s Beach has some of the best waves in all of San Diego. If you’d rather steer clear of potential nudity, we can stay up top by the Torrey Pines Gliderport (yes, where people actually jump off the cliff and hang glide). It’s a great place to say private vows, minimal hiking, easy parking and great for some portraits after. And no permit needed for either as long as there are no chairs or physical set up!
Carlsbad Cliffs
The Carlsbad Cliffs are one of the lesser-known secrets of San Diego. The beaches are relatively uncrowded (compared to a beach like La Jolla) and the cliffs offer unobstructed views of the ocean. The actual town of Carlsbad has some super cute dining options (and has just overall great vibes) to hit up after your elopement!
San Diego Museum of Art
The San Diego Museum of Art (located in Balboa Park) has some beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to host your wedding or elopement! The SDMA has been around since 1926 and still reflects the authentic Spanish-Colonial-style architecture that most of San Diego still embodies. You can even book the museum’s restaurant, Panama 66, if you want to have a more intimate wedding dinner vibe with your favorite people.
NEW ADDITION! – Lovesick Chapel
The new kid on the block for quickie vegas-style elopement ceremonies if you’re into that sort of thing! This is a complete indoor option if you would like to take out all the guessing about weather or you’d like to have this as your back up plan. They have pre-set packages with a set amount of time, bouquets, marriage license filing and a photo booth. Not to mention it’s adorable in a tacky retro sort of way. Located in North Park and close to everything (The Lafayette Hotel to be specific and tons of trendy bars and restaurants), this is a great option for couples who just aren’t nature people and want complete privacy.
Book your San Diego elopement vendors
Now that you are exploring options for where to have your elopement ceremony in San Diego, it’s time to bring on a few people to help your vision come to life. Your elopement can be as simple or as extra as you want it to be! I recommend having no more than 10-20 people at your elopement because any more than that and it starts getting into intimate wedding territory. When booking your vendors, here are the ones you should be thinking about:
Photographer (me, duh)
Videographer
Elopement styler/planner
Florist
Hair & makeup artist
Officiant
Personal chef (if you want a catered meal vs going out to a restaurant. Charcuterie vendors are also a big thing out there!)
How to spend your elopement day
Just because you’re eloping does NOT mean that you have to keep things short, simple, or boring if you do not want to. You’re allowed to celebrate and be extra! Start thinking about what kind of activities you want to fill your elopement day with, mkay? Here are some ideas:
– Have a picnic with at your San Diego ceremony location OR a different location. You can pack it yourself or hire a private chef to put together a lil something something! Kelly and Ben had the CUTEST picnic setup when they eloped on the Oregon Coast last year, and honestly, it was so perfect. Take notes, babes!
– GO SURFING! Especially if you’re eloping at one of the beaches I talked about earlier, hitting the waves is a no-brainer. When in California, am I right??
– Go on a quick or more intense hike! San Diego is filled with some stunning viewpoints, so let me be your tour guide. This is a great option if you’re eloping at any of the parks mentioned above!
– Make a dinner or brunch reservation to celebrate, even if it’s just the two of you. I have tons of recs!
Best time of year to elope in San Diego
So… when should you plan your San Diego elopement? Couples tend to plan trips to San Diego and add in their elopement or plan around when family is in town, etc…if you’re flexible with scheduling, consider the options and keep in mind the availability of your favorite vendors:
Spring
There’s never really a bad time to elope in Southern California, but spring is definitely one of the best seasons! Everything is blooming, the weather is mild, and the sun is shining most days. Keep in mind that it might get a little windy, and with the wind comes allergies! If you’re especially sensitive, be sure to take that into account and mentally prepare to look gorgeously windblown in your photos.
Summer
Summers in San Diego are basically equivalent to paradise. The issue with that is everyone and their mother thinks so too! Kids are out of school, families are vacationing in the city, and popular elopement spots can be busy. It’ll be more difficult to get privacy at certain locations and times of day. To combat this, I recommend eloping at sunrise or sunset, on a weekday and at a more unique hidden gem type of location. Hotel prices may also be a bit steeper since its peak tourist season so avoiding weekends can help with this.
Fall
“Fall” is very subjective in Southern California… meaning in September (and sometimes even October) we will get temps still in the high 70s/80s. It’s not uncommon for us to get a major heat wave during these months! With that being said, the skies are typically clear and sunny, and you don’t get the major wind that spring brings. There are also tons of cute seasonal activities going on in San Diego during this time of year!
Winter
Since San Diego doesn’t get too many cases of extreme weather, winter can actually be a great time to elope here (and Lauren Lucile Creative’s preferred time of year to schedule!). There are a lot fewer people around with it being the off-season for tourists. Spots that are usually super crowded are a lot less busy, so you have more flexibility in terms of what time of day you elope. You might also get lower rates from wedding vendors since it’s the off-wedding season, too! On the other hand, holiday vacationers start to fill the hotels, beaches and restaurants and most establishments will be decorated for the holidays November – December so keep this in mind if you’re not wanting a full blown holiday elopement.
My favorite San Diego coffee shops
If you know anything about me, you know that I’m a SUCKER for a good coffee shop. Since living in San Diego, I’ve made it my personal mission to find the absolute best ones around. So, when you’re in town for your elopement, be sure to stop by one of them (and bring me along to photograph you)!
Cafe Madeleine – North Park or South Park location
Where to stay for your San Diego elopement
I’m gonna keep this short ‘n sweet, but here are some of my top recs for where to stay for your San Diego elopement!
IN LA JOLLA: La Valencia Hotel or Hotel La Jolla
IN CORONADO: Hotel del Coronado
LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTELS: Pendry Hotel or The Guild Hotel
RESORT & SPA: Paradise Point in Mission Bay
FOR THE VIBE: The Lafayette Hotel (if you book a room here for getting ready, I might include an extra hour of coverage complimentary 😉 )
How to legally elope in San Diego
As enjoyable as it is to talk about the fun stuff, I do have to be responsible and inform you of the legal requirements of eloping in San Diego! In California, both nearlyweds have to head to the County Clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license (if you’re doing a san diego city hall wedding, this is where you’ll start and end!). Here is a list of things you’ll need to bring with you:
– Valid form of ID
– Birth Certificate (in some counties)
– Proof that you’re no longer married if you have been before
Once you apply for your license, it’s valid for 90 days from the date it’s issued. And in California, there’s no waiting period! We could have a cute little courthouse elopement then immediately go celebrate with your friends and family after. The world is our oyster!
San Diego elopement checklist
These are some general things to keep in mind while you are in the beginning stages of planning your elopement in San Diego:
Travel
Accommodations
Meal(s)
Ceremony and portrait location
Activity
Marriage license/wedding permit/location permit
Wedding attire
Glam squad
Florals (bouquet + boutonniere are totally worth it)
Photographer
My San Diego elopement packages
Here’s a quick list of the photography options Lauren Lucile Creative currently offers for a San Diego elopement! Your elopement day is what you make of it so you can pick exactly what your photography experience covers.
– Hourly elopement photography (2 hour minimum)
OR
– Full-day floating elopement photography – best for adventurers who want timeline flexibility
– Film photography and super 8 add on options
ALL PACKAGES INCLUDE: San Diego Elopement Guide (a client exclusive PDF with even more detailed information), timeline assistance, photography that can cover just the ceremony + portraits or your whole day (from getting ready to popping champagne at dinner), local vendor recommendations, my personal favorites for hotels, restaurants, etc…, digital gallery of high res images, access to the client-exclusive print shop…plus a good ass time 😉
Inquire here about your elopement if you’re done reading this guide!
Tips for eloping in San Diego
You’ve almost reached the end! To finish off the guide, I thought I’d share with you just a couple of San Diego elopement tips I’ve gathered since capturing a number of them here:
Have a friend or family member officiate – How much FUN would it be to have one of your favorite people officiate your ceremony?? It’s such a simple way to add a bit more sentiment into your day. Alternatively, if you’re hard set on it just being the 2 of you, there are some really great officiants for hire in this area.
Embrace ALL of the elements – Truthfully, as long as you’re eloping outdoors, you never 100% know what you’re in for. We can do all the planning in the world, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas! In that case, embrace the rain, wind, sand, fog, or whatever else comes our way. You’ll have a blast regardless!
Ready to plan your San Diego elopement?
If you’re ready to take the next step and start officially planning, I’m right there with you. To inquire with me about being your right-hand person with a camera, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! In the meantime, check out a list of my favorite San Diego Engagement Session Locations to give you some more ideas.
