San Diego will forever have my heart—and I promise that after seeing these dreamy San Diego elopement locations, it’ll have yours too 😉 It is always SO difficult to narrow down my recommendations when couples ask me where they should elope in San Diego, but I’ve done my best and put together a list of my all-time favorites for you to check out below!

Plus, since I’m based in SD, you know I’m constantly exploring & discovering brand spankin’ new locations to share with you. Read on to learn how to choose the right place for your special day, and to get the inside scoop on the 7 locations I will always recommend to my couples!

How to Pick Your Perfect San Diego Elopement Location

Choosing the perfect place to elope in San Diego is probably one of the most fun parts of planning for your elopement day! Mostly because we have the most beautiful and diverse spots that will really help to tell the story of your day. The location you choose will definitely impact the vibes of your photos, activities you can do, and the way your story is told so it’s important to choose what is best for you! That’s why I wanted to give you a few tips for choosing your dream San Diego elopement location before we actually dive into the places themselves.

Pick your dream landscape

From cliffy beaches to mountain meadows, cityscapes, and vast deserts, when you choose to elope in San Diego you have so many dream landscapes to choose from. Your landscape will be what really helps to tell your story so whether you choose to elope in someone’s backyard overlooking the beach, or at a campsite in Julian the landscape plays a huge role.

Consider the weather

San Diego weather can be beautiful but also a little weird! We have our lovely marine layer AKA June gloom on the coast that can start as early as the end of April and stick around till the end of August. It can be gloomy and chilly at the beach but sunny and hot just 5 miles inland. With such considerable differences in temperatures when heading inland it’s important to keep in mind that winter and fall may be best for some locations while summer and spring may be best for others!

Plan for crowds

As a tourist destination San Diego gets crowded, especially in the summer months, holidays, and holiday weekends. You may want to take this into consideration when picking your perfect San Diego elopement location if you want privacy and a bit more intimacy.

Coordinate your activities

Elopement days are so much more than JUST a ceremony and I always encourage my couples to make a whole day out of it! Thankfully San Diego has so many year-round activities you and your partner can do the morning and evening of your elopement.

If you’re getting married by the beach I always recommend visiting one of our many coastal coffee shops and then taking a stroll or renting bikes to cruise down the coast. I’ve had a lot of couples use this time to write and say their vows privately before the day “gets started”. For the evening I always recommend heading to a nice dinner with guests (if you have any) and staying in your wedding attire! It’s so fun being congratulated by everyone passing by.

If you choose to elope inland there’s also plenty of coffee shops, craft breweries, and delicious restaurants to enjoy your morning or evening at. Inland there are gorgeous hiking trails pretty much everywhere. We also have a ton of historical buildings and points of interest throughout the county that are so fun to explore and visit. It makes for an adventurous elopement day!

Consult your photographer

Unsure about which location to choose? Send me a message! As a San Diego local and photographer, I would love to help you plan your perfect elopement day based on who you guys are as a couple and what you love to do!

FAQ’s About Eloping in San Diego

Next, let’s briefly go over a few practical questions about tying the knot in San Diego to make sure you know exactly what to expect.

Can you elope in San Diego?

Of course, I mean that’s why we’re here right! There are a few things you do need to do before you elope in San Diego like obtaining your CA marriage license and any permits for the elopement location you choose. You’ll also need to be aware of any rules locations have for wedding and elopement ceremonies (ex. standing room only, no archways, no florals, etc.).

To get your CA marriage license, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with the San Diego County Clerk and fill out this marriage license application to bring with you. Your license will be valid for 90 days, so be sure to have your ceremony within that timeframe otherwise you’ll have to go through the process again! One witness is required to be present at your ceremony (I can be your witness if you don’t want to invite guests!), and you’ll have to pay a $129 fee to get your license.

Do you need a permit to elope on the beach in San Diego?

Yes! Most beaches will require a permit and it is so worth it to get one. You don’t need to be stressing over this the day of, most permits are quite easy to obtain and don’t cost too much. And as your San Diego elopement photographer, I’m happy to help you out with this!

Are there places to get married in San Diego for free?

Kind of! There are some spots in San Diego where if you’re having a very small ceremony (no chairs, arches, etc.) you can elope for free but it is very location specific and you may still need a permit.

When is the best time of year to elope in San Diego?

I think it goes without saying that summers in San Diego are BUSY with tourists and locals enjoying all of the nice sunshine but it is still possible to elope during this time! If I had to choose, I would say that spring and fall are the best times to elope in San Diego due to the milder, more predictable weather—you won’t have to deal with the heat and crowds of summer, or the unpredictable, potentially stormy conditions of winter.

However: it totally depends on where you want to elope. The mountains nearby, for example, are a lot cooler during the summer, and it’s a lot easier to escape the crowds when you get out of the city—but they do get a bit chilly in the winter! Whereas in the summer, an urban elopement in the city might not be ideal, so a spring or fall elopement would be preferable. I know it can be tough to figure out what the best time is for your unique elopement (depending on your location, vision, and any activities you’d like to include), so as your photographer this is something I can absolutely help you with!

7 Best Places to Elope in San Diego

Okay okay, done with the boring stuff haha! Time to dive into the places I love most for elopements around San Diego, from picturesque coastal overlooks to dreamy spots in the desert.

1. Sunset Cliffs

Sunset Cliffs is one of the most iconic spots to elope in San Diego! If you’ve looked for any kind of San Diego elopement inspo, I’m certain this spot has popped up! Its gorgeous cliffs, trails, flowers in the spring, and endless ocean views coupled with sunsets (of course!) are enough to take your breath away as a perfect elopement backdrop.

One of the best parts of Sunset Cliffs is that it’s SO easy to access, especially in the off-season. You can literally just park for free along the road that parallels the cliffs, in one of the nearby neighborhoods, or you might find a lucky spot in one of the cliffside parking lots. Parking can be a little difficult in the summer or on weekends because the cliffs get busy so plan to arrive early to score the perfect parking spot, or just Uber! The cliffs are a popular spot for tourists to take in the ocean views and for locals to exercise and watch the sunset.

The best time to elope at Sunset Cliffs is on weekdays in the off-season either before or after summer (between September and March). I prefer evening elopements because of the gorgeous cliffy sunsets, plus we get negative (low) tides in the winter which means you can go down to the beach. You’ll also want to be aware that San Diego’s coast gets a marine layer in the warmer months which could make for a gloomy, but still beautiful, elopement!

Like most SD elopement locations, a permit is required to elope at Sunset Cliffs and can be purchased through the San Diego Parks and Recreation department website here.

P.S. Check out Amy & Zack’s Intimate Sunset Cliffs Elopement for some gorgeous golden hour inspo at Sunset Cliffs!

2. Balboa Park

Balboa Park is such a fun place to elope in San Diego if you want a wide variety of places to explore, take photos, and experience an iconic part of urban SD! It covers over 1,000 acres that are filled with a bunch of museums, gardens, art galleries, and even the San Diego Zoo, as well as formal wedding venues—but those aren’t where I’d recommend eloping. There are tons of cute spots around the park that are perfect to stop at for some gorgeous photos, or for a private vow exchange, with plenty of gorgeous palm trees, colorful flowers, lush gardens, and incredible sunsets if you time it right. Golden hour around Balboa Park is especially picturesque! You can find fee info for visiting Balboa Park here.

This intimate garden wedding took place at a wedding venue in Balboa Park, so def check it out to get a feel for what the area has to offer.

3. Cuvier Park AKA The Wedding Bowl

Cuvier park is a cute little grassy area located just above the ocean in La Jolla. It’s probably the most popular spot to elope or have an intimate ceremony in all of La Jolla and can be reserved for a ceremony as large as 50 guests. With this spot being in the heart of La Jolla there’s tons of beautiful hotels nearby that are great to use for getting ready and relaxing near the coast before your elopement.

The ceremony site is easily accessible with both stairs and a ramp, and it’s surrounded by bushes and hills on all sides minus the views looking out to the ocean. Although this spot dips below the street and feels quite intimate you can still be seen by people on the main walkway above. That being said it’s easy to forget that anyone is watching as you tie the knot with the sound of waves crashing below you!

Cuvier Park requires a permit and only one 4 hour wedding permit is issued per day, you can find more info on permits for Cuvier Park here. There are no receptions permitted here but you can decorate as you see fit with chairs, arches, etc. just no glass! You can also bring your dog for your ceremony which I think is so sweet.

After your ceremony the cliffside is a perfect spot for some couples portraits and on some days you can even access the beach below for photos. Not only are there tons of delicious restaurants nearby but the Museum of Contemporary Art is right across the street which would be so fun to visit before or after your ceremony.

4. San Diego County Clerk (Courthouse)

I absolutely love a San Diego courthouse elopement, especially at our incredibly unique Downtown county clerk office! This location offers marriage licences along with civil ceremonies to meet all of your elopement needs. It’s a super easy process and you can schedule your appointment online. The courthouse was built in the 1930’s which gives the interior and exterior some really neat art deco vibes that are really unique to this specific location.

For appointments you can schedule your ceremony up to 7 weeks in advance for either an indoor or outdoor ceremony. You can elope here M-F and outdoor ceremonies have no limit as to how many guests you can bring. The courthouse’s indoor ceremonies are beautifully lit and in rooms that look out over the San Diego bay.

Where to Take Photos After Your San Diego Courthouse Elopement

One of my favorite things about a Downtown San Diego Courthouse elopement is that we can run around downtown afterwards for photos! Ceremonies are typically quick (once paperwork is all filled out) and that leaves us a lot of time for photos. I love taking off with my elopement couples for about an hour or more for photos outside of the courthouse, at waterfront park, in Little Italy or along the wall of the harbor.

A few other spots around San Diego that I love for post-courthouse elopement portraits:

Historic hotels like The Lafayette—I recently shot here and am absolutely obsessed. The vibes are immaculate, with the most rad, colorful 1940’s vibes everywhere you go. The maximalist, technicolor atmosphere is so dang cool and unique to anywhere else I’ve been in San Diego, with historic Colonial Revival architecture, towering columns, and endless patterns, textures, and colors. They even have a retro diner that would be SO cute for late-night elopement photos.
Balboa Park—I’ve already talked about Balboa a bit! The main area with the fountains and atrium is a dream for portraits after your courthouse ceremony.
Sunset Cliffs—obviously also mentioned this iconic SD landmark, as well! You won’t want to miss the sunset from this epic cliffside destination after you tie the knot at the courthouse.
Iconic neighborhoods—I loved this engagement session that took place in a historic neighborhood of San Diego; it just shows that you don’t need to go anywhere fancy for gorgeous photos, you can simply explore the streets of SD’s most iconic neighborhoods to find beauty everywhere you look.

After photos, a lot of my couples will go grab a yummy dinner downtown at somewhere like Kettner Exchange, Underbelly, or a slice of pizza at Mr. Moto before grabbing drinks! I’m always down to photograph you getting post-elopement rooftop cocktails at somewhere like Seneca’s as well!

5. Cabrillo National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument has the prettiest cliffside ceremony spot, with a stunning historic lighthouse in the background to set the scene for a gorgeous elopement. There’s only one ceremony spot here, with set hours and times it’s available, so make sure to reserve it in advance! And don’t miss exploring the area up behind the lighthouse, where there are less people around to get in the background of your photos.

Because it’s a national monument, it does get very busy on weekends, summers, and holidays, so it’s best to elope here in the off-season (to help you avoid the marine layer in the summer as well). Winter is also amazing for elopements at Cabrillo National Monument because of how early golden hour is—the latest ceremony time is 3:30pm, and the park closes at 5pm, so it’s easy for us to grab breathtaking golden hour photos right after your ceremony! But, it is an easy place for a skilled SD elopement photographer to get stunning photos no matter what the light is like, or what time of year it is.

I highly recommend stopping at the beautiful Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery as you drive to the Monument; it’s a wonderful place to just take in the views and enjoy a peaceful moment together.

Pro tip: Tied up hair is recommended! The breeze coming up behind the ceremony site off of the ocean can be pretty crazy.

Take a peek at J & J’s Intimate Cabrillo National Monument Wedding to see just how incredible this location is!

6. The mountains

Ugh nothing beats the mountains of San Diego if you want to elope out in nature. Trees, lakes, meadows. . . literally any and every different kind of scenery you can imagine is available in the local mountains. A few of my favorite places include the charming mountain town of Julian, Mount Laguna, and Palomar Mountain State Park! If you end up eloping in Julian, you won’t want to miss hitting up Julian Beer Co. (amazing pizza, beers, and outdoor seating) and Julian Pie Company. Delishhh.

Most areas in the mountains are easy to access but may need a short walk, as long as you don’t elope in the winter when there can be storms and icy road conditions. I’d recommend spring or fall for a mountain elopement, since summer can be a bit crowded with people heading into the mountains to escape the heat (same). Buttt the area can also be busy in the fall during apple season—so I’ll help you plan around the crowds as much as we can!

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Last but definitely not least is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park one of the COOLEST and most scenic places near San Diego. Seriously, it’s otherworldly—the views are absolutely insane, with otherworldly desert landscapes and the most magical sunsets. I highly recommend checking out Font’s Point (offers the most dramatic views by far), Borrego Palm Canyon, Erosion Road Scenic Area, and any other random trails you have time to explore. It’s super fun to rent an Airbnb with gorgeous, modern desert vibes nearby for getting ready, cute photos, and a place to be your “home base” for the day!

One of the best parts about eloping at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is that you’ll never be in an area that’s too busy, since the desert is SO big. I’d opt for a fall or spring elopement if you can, to avoid the hot, dry summers and windy, stormy winters!

San Diego Elopement Photographer

Sooo which of these 7 San Diego elopement locations are standing out to you?! It’s always a blast getting to hear where my couples are dreaming of eloping, and getting to help them choose the perfect place to bring their unique vision to life.

I’m Rachel, a San Diego-based elopement photographer, and you bet I know all of these locations like the back of my hand. I’m always finding new ones to share with my couples, too! My San Diego elopement packages start at 3 hours of coverage to make sure we have plenty of time to capture your adventure, as well as travel included to all the most popular locations around SD.

If you feel like we might be a good fit for your day, get in touch here—I’m currently booking weddings and elopements for the next year, and want to make sure we get yours on the calendar!

Vibing with a bigger wedding, but still want a venue as unique as these elopement locations? Check out this San Diego Safari Wedding for a celebration that was totally outside of the box!

7 Most Beautiful Places to Elope in San Diego

August 13, 2025

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