How to Elope or Have a Micro Wedding in San Diego

Sunny San Diego is such a fun place to elope or have an intimate wedding because there are so many ways to take advantage of the city and there are so many beautiful views, beaches, activities, and small venues to explore.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to elope or have a micro wedding in San Diego, from marriage licenses and permits, to choosing the right locations and venues, and everything else you need to consider to have the day of your dreams.

Can you Legally Elope in San Diego?

Eloping in San Diego is completely legal! As long as you get a valid California marriage license and have a legally authorized officiant perform your ceremony you will be legally married.

Depending on where in San Diego you want to have your ceremony, there may be other requirements like a permit but the process is usually pretty straight forward. And if you elope at city hall then it'll be even more simple since you won't have to worry about finding an officiant or getting a permit at all.

Bride smiling on the beach in San Diego during elopement

Couple smiles at each other after elopement ceremony at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego

Best Places to Elope in San Diego

The best part about planning an elopement in San Diego is that you don't have to choose between city and nature. There are so many beautiful scenic landscapes that make you feel like you're deep in nature alongside interesting architecture and city amenities.

Instead of being tied to one venue you can really explore the city and get a good taste of what San Diego has to offer, turning your elopement into a full experience.

Some of the best places to elope in San Diego are:

Sunset Cliffs: Beautiful cliffs with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean only 25 minutes from downtown SD!
Balboa Park: A park right in the center of town with beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and lush gardens.
Coronado Beach: Beautiful wide beach with golden sand and open spaces that make it easy to find a secluded pocket.
Torrey Pines Gliderport: Beautiful cliffside deck and lawn area that's perfect for a ceremony with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
San Diego City Hall: Located along the downtown waterfront with the option to have your ceremony inside or on an outdoor terrace overlooking the San Diego Bay.

Best Venues for a Micro Wedding in San Diego

If you're looking to have a micro wedding with about 50 guests or less there are some great venues in the San Diego area that cater to a smaller crowd. Below is a list of some of my favorites.

Best venues for a micro wedding in San Diego:

The Wedding Bowl (Cuvier Park): A beautiful grassy cliffside alcove overlooking the Pacific in La Jolla that is well known for small wedding ceremonies. You can't have a reception here but you can combine a beautiful ceremony with a reception at a nearby bar or restaurant.
La Valencia Hotel: A luxury boutique hotel in La Jolla that has dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces for micro weddings suited for 50 guests or less.
The Inn at Sunset Cliffs: A boutique hotel right next to Sunset Cliffs with beautiful ocean views that hosts micro wedding receptions. A reception here pairs perfectly with a ceremony on the cliffs!
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum: A beautiful garden in Balboa park that also has traditional Japanese architecture and cultural art exhibits. They have "minimony" packages here for micro wedding ceremonies capped at 2 hours and 40 guests and also larger packages available for a ceremony + reception.
Milagro Winery: This one is a little bit outside San Diego but it's a beautiful winery that offers micro wedding packages for smaller guest counts.

Brides running on the beach in San Diego during sunset

What Does an Elopement or Micro Wedding Day Look Like in San Diego?

Now that you have some ideas about where to elope or have your micro wedding in San Diego, you may be wondering what the whole experience looks like.

While there's a lot to see and do in San Diego you'll definitely want a timeline that leaves room to breathe instead of running all over the city.

You ultimately want your wedding day to feel like the best day of your favorite trip together and not like a huge production or photoshoot.

Most couples do something like:

Enjoy a relaxed morning together before getting ready at your hotel or Airbnb.
Head to your ceremony location, say your vows, and tie the knot!
Head over to another location or two for photos or a chance exchange private vows if you had guests at your ceremony.
Have your micro wedding reception with your guests, or if you're eloping just the two of you do a celebratory activity like a sailboat tour, a picnic or intimate dinner, bar hopping, or anything else you want to include in your big day.

How to Make Your Marriage Legal

The first step to making your marriage legal in San Diego is to get a valid California marriage license. This can be done at any California county clerk's office so it doesn't have to be in San Diego county. You do not have to be a resident of California and you can apply for the license online but you must appear for an in person appointment with your partner. A marriage license is only valid for 90 days so you must have your ceremony within 90 days of obtaining the license.

The next step is making sure you have an officiant to perform your ceremony. An officiant is required to make your marriage legal.

Who can officiate your ceremony:

A professional officiant that you can hire for your wedding.
A religious officiant.
A friend or family member who is legally ordained.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you need a witness. The witness requirement depends on the type of marriage license you get. If you get a public marriage license you will need a witness. If you get a confidential marriage license then no witness is required. A confidential marriage license is for couples who are already living together and means that your marriage record will be private.

The last thing to think about is whether or not you need a permit for your ceremony. This varies widely by location, but as a general rule of thumb most public outdoor spaces in California require a permit for a wedding ceremony.

Elopement ceremony at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego

Ready to Plan Your San Diego Elopement?

If all of this sounds exciting to you and you're ready to jump in and start planning your elopement or micro wedding experience then you're in the right place!

From timeline planning, to location scouting, to permit guidance, and everything in between my job is to help guide you through the planning process and capture the whole experience for you so you can remember all the details.

Anna Perlman holding her camera beside coastal rocks

Hey, I'm Anna!

Your San Diego Elopement and Micro Wedding Photographer

I'm also an Southern California local who's spent a lot of time exploring the hidden gems in this city. I love playing tour guide and showing my friends and family around to all the cool spots that you won't find on social media, and I bring this San Diego insider knowledge to every couple I work with.

In addition to photographing your day, I also help you design and plan it so the whole experience is seamless. I’ll take your ideas, your personalities, your likes and dislikes, and combine them with my expert knowledge of eloping in San Diego to plan a day that is exciting, realistic, and unique to you.

I'm your planning partner, adventure guide, and the friend you text for the best restaurant recommendation in a city you've never been to. Need the trailhead with the best view for your vows? I'll have three in mind. Need the best glass of wine after? Already know the spot. When you work with me you won't have to worry about doing research or trusting a random Tik Tok to steer you right on such an important day.

Inquire With Me Here