If you’re looking to get married on a gorgeous cliffside overlooking the Pacific ocean then look no further than Sunset Cliffs in San Diego! As the name suggests the cliffs provide beautiful sunset views but they are also stunning at any time of day. In this guide I will explain exactly how to have your elopement ceremony at Sunset Cliffs, from the logistics like marriage licenses and permits, to choosing the perfect ceremony spot, and how to fill the rest of your elopement day before or after you say your vows.
How do we legally elope at Sunset Cliffs?
The first step to legally eloping at Sunset Cliffs and having your marriage recognized is obtaining a valid marriage license. You will need to get a marriage license in California, but it can be from any county clerk’s office in the state. Many counties offer online applications and online scheduling so if you’re coming from out of state you’ll just want to make sure to get this ready ahead of time and give yourself a couple of hours during your trip to pick up the license. The marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it’s issued so you have ample time to get this sorted ahead of your elopement. You do not have to be a California or U.S. resident to get a marriage license in California. You will also need an officiant for your elopement ceremony, and a witness as well depending on the marriage license that you get.
Permits for Sunset Cliffs
In order to have your ceremony at Sunset Cliffs you will need a permit from the San Diego Park’s Department. The permit costs $187 and will require you to choose between three locations to have your elopement ceremony: Osprey Point, Luscomb’s Point, and Pappy’s Point. All three locations have beautiful cliffside views so you can’t go wrong with any of them. If you hire me as your photography and planner I will handle the logistics of obtaining the permit from the park’s department for you so you don’t have to sweat it!
How can we spend the rest of our elopement day in San Diego?
Since your ceremony won’t take up an entire day, there are lots of other activities that you can do to celebrate! The area around Sunset Cliffs is gorgeous for some additional portraits and there are many beaches to explore near by as well. Some more activities you can do include:
-A beach picnic.
-Surfing/kayaking/swimming in the ocean.
-Hiking in Torrey Pines.
-Exploring La Jolla cove and seeing the sea lions.
-Exploring Balboa park.
-Heading north to Temecula for wine tasting.
-Grabbing some of the best tacos in the country.
-Celebratory drinks or a meal with any guests you may have.
-A sunset cruise/sailboat.
When is the best time of year to elope in San Diego?
The beauty of San Diego is that the weather is nice all year round! There really is no wrong season to plan an elopement here, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
Winter: Temperatures are a bit cooler and it’s not quite beach weather although you can get lucky with an extra warm day. Rain is most likely to happen in the winter, however it still doesn’t rain very often.
Spring: A good balance between great weather and not as many crowds. May and June bring a foggy weather pattern to the coast of Southern California though, so you may have more overcast days and less sun during these months.
Summer: The sun is shining and the beaches are packed with tourists from around the country. Summer is beautiful but definitely comes with the most crowds.
Fall: Locals like to refer to the fall months as “local’s summer”. This is because the weather stays very warm into November but most of the tourists go home after August. This is a great time of year to be in San Diego.
Ready to start planning your Sunset Cliffs/San Diego elopement?
If you know San Diego is the spot for you and you’re ready to get started reach out to me here so I can help you plan the perfect day for you! I offer both photography and planning services for eloping couples so all you have to do is show up and enjoy the experience.
Comments