San Diego Elopement Photographer


When it comes to having the perfect wedding day, the stress can make it quite hard to enjoy your wedding—and COVID restrictions likely mean you can’t have the guests you want, either. As a result, you might consider elopement packages in San Diego, as a San Diego elopement can not only save you time, money, and stress but also help keep your group size smaller and allow you to get more for less.

A San Diego elopement can help you better prioritize photos and memories, too; getting the right photographer can help you ensure you remember your special day vividly for the rest of your life. The right photographer can capture the mood and essence of your elopement in a way that less skilled photographers just cannot. As a result, it’s important you find the right San Diego elopement photographer.

Let’s take a closer look; we’ll even include fantastic location options (we’ll look at our favorite San Diego elopement locations), San Diego elopement packages, and hotel elopement packages you might consider as you plan your special day!

San Diego Elopement Locations

When it comes to the best places for San Diego elopement photos, we especially love Coronado Beach, Sunset Cliffs, Balboa Park, and Oceanside. Let’s take a closer look at our favorites for each.

Coronado Beach

We especially love the dunes near the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado’s central beach for romantic photos beside the sea. Not only does mica in the sand here on this stretch of coastline make the sand shimmer, but by San Diego standards the central beach is relatively wide, giving you an opportunity to get some space from others on the beach so you can better focus on each other in your elopement photos. Additionally, the Hotel del Coronado’s Del Beach offers chair and cabanette rental for food and drink service on the shoreline. (These rentals are first-come, first-serve, however, so you will want to be early.) Another thing to keep in mind? The city of Coronado has its own permitting processes (necessary for groups larger than 25 or any groups that require any event or private gathering equipment), and permits are not available for Central Beach on Saturdays and Sundays between May 1 and September 30. Additionally, you’ll want to check with the city of Coronado given that events may have specific COVID-related restrictions.

Sunset Cliffs

Few places offer a better romantic atmosphere than Sunset Cliffs. We love photos from the shoreline parks, especially at sunset where few vistas could be more magical. Keep in mind that each of the shoreline parks (Osprey Point, Pappy’s Point, and Luscomb’s Point) require $187 event permits which can be obtained through the San Diego Parks & Recreation Department. 

Balboa Park

At 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is one of the larger urban cultural parks in the United States; home to open spaces, gardens, museums, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo, it abounds with photogenic venues. Keeping in mind that COVID-related restrictions are subject to change and that some venues may require permits and/or fees, the locations below are some of our favorite:

  • Japanese Friendship Garden. The Ceremonial Plaza, Koi Pond Deck, and Ceremonial Gate are all great locations either for a ceremony, reception, or photographs. Just be sure to check permitting (both for events and photography) and scheduling first.

  • David C Copley Atrium at the Museum of Photographic Arts. The photo studio feel of the atrium—as well as the ability to highly customize the venue—means that if you choose to have your wedding, reception, or photos here you have lots of options. If you do book an event here, an extra bonus is private museum access for your guests. As before, permitting varies depending on what you want to do.

  • San Diego Air & Space Museum. With reservable outdoor space for up to 75 guests, the Air & Space Museum can be a great option for flight nerds who want to have a small ceremony. Reach out directly to the event manager for a quote and current COVID-related restrictions.

Oceanside

Less than an hour north of San Diego (and sometimes referred to as San Diego’s north shore), Oceanside offers numerous beautiful beach settings. Cassidy Street’s public overlook is one of our favorites, though, and works quite well for intimate elopement ceremonies. You’ll still need a special event permit, of course, which must be filed at least 60 days in advance; applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

San Diego Courthouse Elopement

If eloping on a budget, a San Diego courthouse elopement can also be a great option. While ceremonies must be kept small (generally 15 or 20 guests max, though COVID-related restrictions may currently apply), the fee for getting married by the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk is only $88 and may still include outdoor locations such as overlooking San Diego Bay by appointment. You can book appointments here.

Don’t forget your San Diego County marriage license!

After you’ve found your San Diego elopement location, don’t forget to apply for your San Diego County marriage license. You’ll need to make an appointment online (using the same system you would use to book a courthouse elopement) and then appear together with valid government-issued photo IDs at your appointment time at the San Diego County Clerk’s office. You’ll also need your completed marriage license application and payment for the license fee (which starts at $70). Finally, you’ll need to have your ceremony within 90 days, as the license is no longer valid after 90 days.

Elopement Packages

Numerous San Diego boutique hotels and resort hotels offer elopement packages, as well, which can also be a great option. Not only do elopement packages help bundle services for you, but they can free you up to focus on the details that matter—like your vows—rather than the ones that don’t, like the place settings.

Some of my favorite offerings include:

  • The Bahia Hotel. The Bahia Resort Hotel offers an elopement package for up to 24 guests on Bay Beach or in a tropical gazebo that starts at $1,000 and includes an hour window for a ceremony and a champagne toast for all guests.

  • The Pantai Inn. Not only is the Pantai Inn perhaps La Jolla’s most romantic little hideaway, but their elopement packages include three nights’ lodging, brilliant oceanside views from your room and balcony, crystal flutes of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, but the package also includes a personalized oceanfront ceremony and photographer—and the package can be highly customized, as well.

  • The Lafayette Hotel. Not only is the newly redesigned boutique hotel perfect for a wonderful exploration of North Park’s El Cajon Boulevard neighborhood (we especially recommend checking out the Red Fox Room’s iconic piano bar), but they offer a variety of elopement packages for 25 guests or less. All packages include a 4-hour venue window, champagne toast, chocolate-covered strawberries, complimentary digital photo booth, and a night’s stay in the penthouse suite. (They’re offering special rates through September 2020, as well.)

  • La Valencia Hotel. With picturesque ocean views on La Jolla’s iconic coastline, La Valencia offers an array of options, depending on what you need for your special day, including both indoor and outdoor options. Contact them directly using the pop-up form on their site for a quote; they offer add-ons like bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and farewell brunches, as well.

  • Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Nestled within Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar offers a storybook setting replete with dramatic vistas and romantic venues. Additionally, they only book one wedding per day, meaning you won’t be competing with any other ceremonies. Elopement packages at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar range from a “Mini”mony elopement package and vow exchange package (which starts at $1,000 during the week (Monday-Thursday) and $2,500 on weekends, for which venue options include the Aria Lawn and Reflection Courtyard) to an intimate wedding elopement package (up to 10 guests; ceremony costs start at $2,500 and meals start at $85/person; venue options include the Aria Lawn, Reflection Courtyard, or Croquet Lawn). If you’re looking for a larger ceremony, the Grand Garden View Ceremony package includes the Croquet Lawn venue, a contracted block of 59 guest rooms (2-night minimum stay each), and an intimate ceremony which the guests watch from their separate hotel room patios and balconies; that package starts at $5,800.

  • L’Auberge Del Mar. Not only are L’Auberge elopement packages highly customizable, but their venues are too, ranging from the Ocean Terrace (up to 20 guests) to the Sunset Terrace (120 guests) to the Pacific Terrace and Seagrove Park (up to 200 guests each). Packages can include built-in spa packages and may even qualify you for an included honeymoon trip. L’Auberge packages start at $2,500 + $179/guest.


Other great options include the Horton Grand Hotel and The Pearl, both of which require you contact them for a quote. Finally, keep in mind that COVID-related restrictions are fluid; many hotels and venues are offering non-traditional options to help keep you and your guests safe, so don’t be afraid to ask what might be available. You may find yourself getting a much better rate than you would expect!