Courthouse Elopement in San Diego

My Work, Resources

There’s just something about a courthouse elopement in San Diego that makes it so romantic and so special especially with it being in such a pretty area of San Diego. Julia and Sean had the best energy in choosing to elope after being engaged for just a few months due to the military. This courthouse elopement in San Diego was absolutely beautiful!!!

Tips for Eloping at the Courthouse

Before your elopement date:

An appointment at the courthouse is required to get married there. You can book an appointment up to 7 weeks in advance at this link here. You should get an email confirmation with your date and time. Time slots fill up quickly so plan ahead!

Apply for a marriage license before your appointment here. A marriage license is valid for up to 90 days before your elopement / appointment. Schedule your appointment before applying for a marriage license. But make sure to obtain the marriage license before the date of your appointment. A separate request and payment for a copy of your marriage certificate must be submitted after the license is registered.

Contact the County Clerk Office directly at least 2 weeks in advance if interpretation services are needed for your ceremony. Interpretation services are available for couples with limited English or Spanish. Civil ceremonies are also available in American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Persian (Farsi and Dari), Korean, Somali, Spanish, Filipino (Tagalog), or Vietnamese at the County Clerk office in San Diego.

On the day of your courthouse elopement:

Arrive to your appointment at least 30 minutes early
Both parties must appear together for the appointment
You need one (1) witness for your elopement. This could also be your photographer if need be 😉
You can bring up to 15-20 guests into the courthouse to attend your ceremony, depending on the location.

What to Bring To Your Courthouse Elopement:

A valid government-issued photo ID
A form of payment for your marriage license (can be credit card, debit card, or a check. Checks made payable to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk).

For even more info, here is an additional Guide to Eloping in San Diego and here is the official San Diego County Clerk website.

San Diego Elopement Photographer

Well hey there – if you didn’t know me already, I’m Emily! I’m a San Diego courthouse elopement photographer. I spend a lot of time photographing adventure elopements of rad couples around the world. I’m obsessed with all things elopements, outdoor adventure, and am truly so grateful that I get to call this my job!!!

If you’re looking for a photographer for your San Diego elopement who will:

Photograph your beautiful San Diego elopement ceremony and activities through storytelling photos that you can look back on for the rest of your life
Help you come up with your dream elopement day and itinerary
Help you find activities in the San Diego area to make your elopement intentional, unique, and memorable
…then I’m your person!!!

Visit my website to learn more about me, get to know my approach to elopement photography, and then reach out to me if you think we’re a good fit. I cannot wait to hear from you and start planning your dream San Diego elopement!!