Guide to Eloping in San Diego, California
The options are endless for eloping in San Diego, California. There is the beach, on the cliffs, in the forest, or in downtown. You have so many options of what to do for your elopement!! Making sure you know all your options is why I have created this guide on eloping in San Diego from sharing locations, activities to do, answering FAQs, and more! Get ready to say absolutely fall in love with this southern California coastal beach city.
Why You Should Elope in San Diego
In San Diego, you get the best of both worlds being by the beach and near the mountains. There is SO much to do in San Diego, especially since the weather is warm year round. You have the opportunity to kayak, paddle board, surf, hike, swim in the ocean, eat at all sorts of restaurants and breweries, and more!
Where is San Diego?
San Diego is a major city in southern California on the Pacific coast, about 2 hours from Los Angeles and 5.5 hours from Las Vegas. San Diego is known for its beaches, yearlong warm climate, and parks.
How to Get to San Diego
There are three airports close to San Diego:
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located 3 miles from downtown San Diego, or about 20 minutes away.
- Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) is located about 6 miles from downtown San Diego, or about 17 minutes away.
- McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD, CRQ) is located about 34 miles from downtown San Diego, or about 40 minutes away.
If driving to San Diego or renting a car after flying into San Diego, here’s a few tips:
- Be aware that rush hour is Monday through Friday between 7-9am going North and 4-6pm going South. On Fridays, rush hour usually starts at 2pm.
- Parking is dependent on location; some locations offer free parking and some locations have paid parking. Paid street parking is also dependent on location!
FAQs About Eloping in San Diego
Do I need to live in or be from San Diego to get a marriage license? Nope! You do not need to be a resident of California to get a marriage license from California. The marriage license is only good for the state of California though.
How much does it cost to get a marriage license in San Diego? It costs $129 to attain a marriage license in San Diego. After attaining your marriage license, you have up to 90 days to get married. You can read more about the process and what you need to get your marriage license in San Diego here.
Can we have a family member or friend perform the ceremony in San Diego? Yes! That family member or friend must be deputized prior to perform a wedding ceremony. They can apply in person or through mail. Once the application and the payment fee goes through, the applicant will get sample vows, instructions on how to complete the marriage license, and the commission certificate. You can read more about the process here.
Will we need a witness to get married in San Diego? In California, one witness is required to sign the marriage license. A witness can be a guest, a vendor, or you can ask a stranger that is hanging out near your ceremony. I’m always happy to sign your witness paper if you do not want any guests present at your elopement in San Diego too!
Locations to Elope At in San Diego
The options are endless on where to get married in San Diego! You can get married on the beach, in a garden, at a park, at a wedding venue, or get creative and elope at a more non-traditional location in San Diego.
Cuvier Mini Park – Also known as “the Wedding Bowl”, Cuvier Park is an intimate space in La Jolla. A permit is needed (the permit website is here), is a ceremony only (no receptions) location, and allow up to 40 people.
Torrey Pines State Park – A beautiful state park right by the ocean with the option to get married on the cliffs overlooking the ocean or directly on the beach. A permit is needed (check it out here) with the number of guests dependent on the exact location you want to elope at in the park.
Sunset Cliffs – A gorgeous cliffside spot in San Diego overlooking the ocean. A permit is needed (the permit website is here) which is allowed for a maximum of 50 guests and for a maximum of 4 hours. The permit does not guarantee total privacy or parking at sunset cliffs.
Ellen Browning Scripps Park – This is a location with the best of both worlds of getting married on green grass along with a view of the ocean. A permit is needed (learn more here) that allows for a maximum of 4 hours and up to 80 people from September through May and up to 50 people in June through August.
San Diego Zoo and Safari Park – The zoo is ideal for animal lovers with the potential of zebras and giraffes and elephants off in the distance. Here is more info about eloping at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
On a sailboat – There are lots of sailboats or yachts to say your vows on and celebrate your marriage on! A sunset sail or a brunch sail are the most popular times, although you could sail at any time of day you want.
Balboa Park – This huge stunning park has amazing urban architecture, open spaces, gardens, walking paths, and is right next to a bunch of museums, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. Learn more info here about eloping at Balboa Park.
Courthouse – You can schedule your courthouse marriage 7 weeks (or 49 days) before the date you’re planning on getting married on. You also have the choice of an inside location or an outdoor location. Learn more info here.
The Best Time to Get Married in San Diego
Honestly, you cannot go wrong with eloping in San Diego during any time of the year. San Diego is truly so beautiful throughout the year! The weather is pretty ideal year-round. There are a lot of activities and events to do throughout the year, is generally dog-friendly, and has lots of good food to eat.
Weather: The weather is pretty warm throughout the year being between 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. August and September are usually the hottest months getting up to typically 80 degrees, while December and January are usually the coldest months at around 45 degrees. San Diego gets the most rain between December and March. There are the sayings of “May Gray” and “June Gloom” with lots of gloomy weather around that time of year to keep in mind. September is known for having the best weather of the year while still staying warm and missing the summer crowds.
Crowds: San Diego is typically the most crowded during the summer months (June through August). The best time to get married and avoid crowds is between September through May. Spring and fall are the least crowded times of the year in San Diego. Spring might be a bit rainier, but is a great time to explore the desert. Fall is the best time to check out the beach and/or explore the desert crowd-wise.
Where to Stay in San Diego
AirBnB’s in San Diego
Historic Stone Cottage w/ Panoramic View
Oceanfront Cottage ON Beach w/ Private Yard
Hotels and Resorts in San Diego
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego – Del Mar
Campgrounds in San Diego
Dog-Friendly Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
10 Activities To Do in San Diego
- Spend time at the beach: go surfing, go for a walk on the beach, watch the sunset over the ocean, or have a full-on beach day.
- Spend the day on the water on a boat. You can rent a sailboat or riverboat for a sunset sail or a brunch sail.
- Go hiking! There’s Mission Trails Regional Park, Cowles Mountain Trailhead, Sunset Cliffs, and so much more.
- Go to a brewery in San Diego. San Diego has a ton of breweries to check out such as Modern Times Beer, Stone Brewing World Bistro, or Quantum Brewing.
- Have a picnic lunch on the beach or at a park. There are a ton of picnic companies that will go all out in creating a special picnic with charcuterie, champagne, and more.
- Go check out live music. There’s a ton of live music available all over the city!
- Get a cold drink to beat the heat. There are tons of bars around San Diego for a cocktail or mocktail or coffeeshops to get an iced coffee or a smoothie.
- Watch the sunrise to start off your day together, or watch the sunset over the ocean to end your wedding day together.
- Make reservations for brunch at Morning Glory, Snooze AM Eatery, or Flap Your Jacks.
- Go out to dinner at a nice restaurant to celebrate getting married!
San Diego Wedding Photographer
Well hey there – if you didn’t know me already, I’m Emily! I’m a San Diego wedding and elopement photographer based in San Diego. I spend a lot of time photographing adventure elopements of rad couples around the world. I’m obsessed with all things elopements, being out on the water, 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!!
Final Tips for Eloping in San Diego
- If you’re planning on doing an outdoor ceremony, the best time to get married is during either sunrise or sunset to beat the heat, to avoid crowds, and is when the best lighting happens for photos.
- If you’re wanting a beach elopement, the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean which provides the amazing sunset photos over the ocean. However, sun rise is also usually more private compared to the sunset on the beach.
- How to Plan Your Dream Elopement: Advice from Someone Who Eloped
- All-Day Elopement Timeline Examples
- Check out this gallery of Sunset Engagement Photos in Coastal California
- Should I Have a First Look at My Wedding? (and alternatives if not)
