If when you close your eyes and imagine “California,” you think of palm tree lined beaches, surfers, and year round sunshine, you’ve got a pretty accurate picture of San Diego! The laid back, small-town-vibes-meet-big-city-convenience atmosphere, and idyllic weather make San Diego an incredible elopement location.

For any couple considering tying the knot in a way that’s unique, and custom tailored to be just right for the two of them, consider a San Diego elopement! This guide will tell you all about how to make it happen. From the best San Diego elopement locations, to getting legally married, and more!

The Best San Diego Elopement Locations

One of the most exciting steps in planning your elopement is deciding where to tie the knot! When you elope in San Diego, you get to choose from beaches, cliffs over the water, and even some mountains just outside the city.

Mission Trails Regional Park

Though San Diego is best known for its beaches, if you travel just a little outside the city, you’ll find Mission Trails Regional Park. The rolling hills, and the lush greenery is a change from the beachy landscape you’re used to in San Diego. Therefore this makes it one of the best San Diego elopement locations, and a unique spot to tie the knot!

Sunset Cliffs

One of the best places to elope in San Diego is the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. This small preserve of coastline features stunning cliffs over the ocean. It also has trails that take you along the bluffs, and several spots where you can come down to the beach! It definitely lives up to its name, as the sunsets here are truly incredible.

Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines is another great place to elope in San Diego if you want to get married standing on a cliff over the ocean! This park is bigger, with hiking trails to explore and a sandy beach to wander.  The most famous beach in the park is Black’s Beach. This is a nude beach where you can end your elopement with some skinny dipping, if that’s your thing!

Coronado Beach

Located on Coronado Island, this beach is a really great San Diego elopement location close to the charming shops, restaurants, and things to do on the island! This is one of the best places to stay if you want to be in a cozy beach resort, so Coronado Island makes a great home base for your elopement adventures.

Mount Laguna

Mount Laguna is in San Diego County, but about an hour east of the city itself. It’s totally worth the drive, especially if you love mountain views and forested landscapes! There are lots of hiking trails, and this San Diego elopement location is lesser known, which means you’ll have some more privacy on your elopement day.

The Best Time to Elope in San Diego

There truly is no bad time to elope in San Diego – the weather is pretty incredible year round! 

Summers are great for swimming and surfing, and there are also a lot of great spots to snorkel or scuba dive. The weather is usually in the 70s and sunny, so if you’re out all day it can get pretty hot! Anytime you’re next to the water, there’s a breeze that makes it feel a lot cooler. Also, if you go farther inland, hiking in the summer can get too toasty for a lot of people.

Spring and fall offer the most temperate weather. We get highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s which means that its warm and sunny without being too hot! In May, we get something called “May gray,” which is when the fog rolls in and makes for some cloudy days. It usually burns off before the evening. It turns into “June gloom,” but by the end of the month it’s usually sunny again!

Winter is one of the best times for a San Diego elopement, especially for couples traveling from colder climates! It can be a nice escape from other parts of the northern hemisphere, where winters are much colder. San Diego can get a little chilly in the mornings and evenings. If you’re by the water, you’ll definitely want to be prepared for wind chill – but averages are still in the 60s during the day!

Things to Do When You Elope in San Diego

Eloping is all about the experience – so make it a good one! You deserve an incredible adventure that you’ll remember forever. The day you get married deserves a once in a lifetime celebration! Plan some adventures for your elopement day – you can do absolutely anything you want, but here are a few ideas.

Snorkel at La Jolla Cove

One of the coolest things to do during your San Diego elopement is to go snorkeling! La Jolla Cove is known for being the best place to see marine life. There are always seals hanging around, and lots of fish swimming around the cove. Summer is the best time for snorkeling. This is when the most vibrant marine life is here. Plus you can see the leopard sharks that come to shallow waters for mating season (don’t worry, they’re not as scary as they sound)!

Go Surfing

Surfing is a favorite pastime of San Diego locals. Whether you’ve got experience or it’s your first time, you can enjoy the waves too! Bring your board, or take a lesson together. It’ll be a fun, unique experience to have on your elopement day!

Hike

Hiking is a great way for adventurous couples to spend their elopement day! In San Diego, you can hike in the coastal parks (like Sunset Cliffs or Torrey Pines), and enjoy the ocean scenery. These hikes are usually pretty short and not too steep. This makes them a fun challenge without being too strenuous. If you travel outside the city and head to the mountains, you’ll find some harder hikes!

Getting Legally Married When You Elope in San Diego

To get legally married during your San Diego elopement, you’ll need a marriage license. You can get one at any county clerk’s office in California. If you live in the state you can find one close to home, and if you’re traveling there’s an office in San Diego.

You can find the application online and submit it, then make an appointment to go to the county clerk’s office in person. Once you’re there, you’ll pay the fee ($70 at the San Diego office). Then you will show your photo IDs, and you’ll have your marriage license the same day!

An officiant is required to sign it before you return the completed marriage license to the county clerk, along with one witness.

San Diego Elopement Packages

I believe every couple deserves a wedding experience that’s nothing short of incredible. I’ll be there to help you plan your elopement from recommending the best San Diego elopement locations to creating a timeline. Plus, I’ll be there the day of to hold the dress and carry extra bobby pins, and of course, to document the amazing day!

My San Diego elopement packages are designed to ensure your experience is stress free, and that you get the elopement day of your dreams! So contact me if you’re ready to start planning, and to learn more about San Diego elopement packages.