What an unforgettable day celebrating with Amy and Zack at their Sunset Cliffs elopement in San Diego; I’ll never get tired of chasing golden hour on the beautiful coast with couples like this. If you’ve been thinking about having an intimate adventure elopement on the sunny beaches of southern California, look no further—these two will be giving you all the inspiration you need!
Amy & Zack’s Sunset Cliffs Elopement in San Diego
The relaxed, easygoing day of their dreams
Amy and Zack told me in their initial inquiry that they were envisioning a day that was “quick, painless, and easy going”; a day that would be relaxed, would allow them to have fun, and that would give them natural-feeling photos in a beautiful location. I don’t know about you, but I would say they succeeded with such a STUNNING day exploring the California coast! It’s always my goal to help my couples plan a day that truly feels authentic to them, and right from the get go, Amy and Zack prioritized just that: a day that would be reflective of their relationship, and nobody else’s. They invited just a couple of guests to witness their ceremony and celebrate with them, but other than that, the majority of their elopement was dedicated just to the two of them, and I loved being there for every bit of it!
A magical elopement evening exploring Sunset Cliffs
The day of their elopement, Amy and Zack had actually planned to get ready at a coffee shop (where we took these adorable photos in front of the colorful mural), but when we got there, the space they wanted to use was unavailable. So it was time for plan B: drive to Sunset Cliffs and get ready literally cliffside by their car! I was so glad they were excited about it and down to change plans as needed—that’s the best way to approach your elopement day to make sure that no matter what, you have an incredible experience. Once they were both ready to go and looking fabulous, we walked down to the ceremony spot, which was this gorgeous location overlooking the ocean. The sun was just beginning to set as they tied the knot, giving them the dreamiest, most gorgeous glow and creating SUCH a dang romantic scene—I swear I barely had to work at all (minus scaling the cliffs haha) to get amazing photos of these two!
And would you believe we actually forgot to have them do their vows in private afterward? We shot for a couple hours and ran around all over Sunset Cliffs and along the beach until it was dark, and we were so in the moment that we totally skipped over it (you cant blame us, we wanted to get to the cake!) Amy told me that they ended up heading to a coffee shop the next day together to say their vows and that it was so perfect, so I feel like that was just meant to be!
San Diego elopement vendors
Big thanks to the talented San Diego vendors who made this day possible for Amy and Zack!
Cake: Cute Cakes | @cutecakes
Florals: Florals by Yvette | @floralsbyyvette
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
6 Tips for Eloping at Sunset Cliffs
Before we wrap up, I wanted to include a few quick tips for eloping at Sunset Cliffs, so that your elopement here can be just as unforgettable as Amy & Zack’s!
1. Elope on a weekday in the evening
First of all, the best days to elope at Sunset Cliffs are weekdays, without a doubt. Weekends at Sunset Cliffs are PACKED, as it’s a super popular spot for hikers, beachgoers, and both locals & tourists alike—so if you want to avoid crowds as much as possible, opt for a Monday-Thursday date instead of Friday-Sunday.
As far as the best time of day to elope at Sunset Cliffs, I would say you want to go for an evening elopement; the location was named for its breathtaking sunsets, after all! The scenery as the sun sets over the horizon is to die for, with panoramic views of the vibrant blue ocean, palm trees swaying along the coast in the breeze, wildflowers in the spring, and rugged cliff sides glowing in the golden light of the setting sun. Sunrise is just as gorgeous if you’d like even more privacy, as there tends to be fewer people out early in the morning. I also recommend eloping at low tide, if possible, as that’s when more of the rocks below the cliffs become visible and you’re able to explore all the tide pools.
2. Elope between September-March
You might assume that summer is the best time to elope along the California Coast, but summer is actually probably the worst because of two things: the crowds, and the marine layer San Diego gets off and on from around April-July. This marine layer often causes hazy, humid conditions and colder, wetter air than you’d think California would have in the summer, especially in the early mornings and early evenings. That’s why I’d say the best time of year to elope at Sunset Cliffs is between September-March!
3. Arrive early
Sunset Cliffs is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, but if you’re planning to visit at a peak time (e.g. at sunset), I’d recommend arriving at least 30-ish minutes early so that you have the best chance of getting a parking spot. The cliffs span about a mile and a half down the California Cost of Point Loma/Ocean Beach so there usually is a good amount of parking but in peak season at sunset it gets CRAZY!
4. Hire an experienced Sunset Cliffs elopement photographer
I can’t recommend hiring a local, experienced Sunset Cliffs elopement photographer enough. It’s so important to hire somebody who knows their way around the area (its a big place with so many nooks and crannies), or is at least able to scout out the location ahead of time to prepare for the best lighting, to find the best spots, to see what time of day the scenery looks best, etc. I’m based in San Diego myself, so you bet I know all the in’s & out’s of eloping at Sunset Cliffs and have all the best secrets up my sleeve!
5. Bring layers
There’s always an ocean breeze at Sunset Cliffs no matter how warm the temperatures are, and it can get surprisingly chilly once the sun sets—so definitely bring layers to your elopement. I’d even recommend having your hair in some sort of updo or loosely tied back because of this breeze; the last thing you want is to be dealing with hair in your face all day!
Sunset Cliffs Elopement & Wedding Photographer
If you’re just as obsessed with Amy and Zack’s Sunset Cliffs elopement as I am, then I would LOVE to take you on your own adventure in this stunning part of California! Get in touch with me here and let’s start planning your dream elopement; I absolutely cannot wait to hear about your day!
Loving these dramatic cliffside vibes? Check out these Carlsbad Cliffs Engagement Photos for more gorgeous coastal inspiration!
