How to Elope in California - The Ultimate California Elopement Guide
If you’re considering eloping in California, then I think it’s fair to say that you have made a fantastic choice! California is one of my absolute favorite places for elopements because it is so dang beautiful and diverse in its scenery. There is somewhere AMAZING to elope in this state year-round, which is hard to beat! From desert to mountains to rugged cliffs to giant redwood forests—California truly has it all.
California is a state where your elopement dreams will come true! When eloping in the outdoors and especially the mountains there are things to consider and a mindset you should go in with as weather can be unpredictable—but that’s part of the fun right?! So without further ado, here are my tips and advice on eloping in California.
STEP 1: CHOOSE A LOCATION
HOW TO FIND YOUR CALIFORNIA ELOPEMENT LOCATION:
This is the brainstorming part of the process that I find to be so fun!! Start dreaming up exactly what scenery you would like to see and even what activities you might like to do on your elopement day! Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing an elopement location:
What type of scenery do you want to be surrounded by on your elopement day? (mountains, lakes, forests, ocean, wildflowers, cliffs, giant redwoods, desert scenery, etc.)
What type of activities do you want to do on your day? (hiking, skiing, camping, road tripping, swimming, canoeing, biking, stargazing, picnic, etc)
Are you looking for a more accessible location or are you looking to hike/adventure out to a spot? How far are you looking to hike?
How far are you willing to drive from your lodging to your ceremony location?
What’s most important to you on your elopement day?
The answers you come up with might give you a better ideas of which area is the best place for you. Each location has its own unique features to it, some are easier to get to, while others are more ‘out there’ so it’s important to consider all these factors before choosing your location.
Don’t worry if you can’t decide exactly where yet. Part of what I do is personal location scouting for my couples! You tell me what you’re looking for & what your dream elopement day looks like & I’ll help narrow down the locations for you. I want you to be able to have a relaxing, fun, and stress-free planning experience. Contact me to get started today!
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO ELOPE IN CALIFORNIA:
Certain hikes and spots are well-known and popular, but that can also mean serious crowds. There are ways to avoid crowds when eloping outdoors, but some of the best spots are the ones off the beaten path and aren’t well known! I’m passionate about finding these peaceful, secluded locations for my couples.
You don’t have to pick just one type of scenery or location! If you love waterfalls, but also want those 360 mountain views, you can incorporate both. A few ways to include multiple locations are: a two-day elopement or finding an area where different types of scenery are closely to each other so you can explore both in one day. Couples with family will have their ceremony in a certain type of scenery/nature then explore a different area all by themselves to get some alone time on their wedding day.
Make sure to check the permit requirements before finalizing your location. Different lands/parks have different wedding permit rules depending on the location, guest count, and activities being held. I talk more about permits below, but it's something to think about when researching locations.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
There is simply no place like Yosemite. This park is one of my most treasured spots and it is absolutely breathtaking no matter how many times you see it. From incredible cliffside views, epic rock formations, beautiful meadows, lush forests, and incredibly hikes—this park has definitely earned its iconic title. There’s even restaurants and bars to stop in for a drink (or a few) to celebrate after your vows at Curry Village. This park can get very crowded, but there’s still times of the day and times of the year when you can find more seclusion.
BIG SUR
If you ever get the chance to drive along the coast of California, I cannot recommend it enough. California’s coast down State Route 1 rests Big Sur, with incredible seaside cliffs, aqua blue water, peaceful misty air, rolling green hills, and even some peaceful redwood forests. There are plenty of cozy cabins for lodging or nearby camping. For quintessential California coastal and forest vibes, Big Sur is the way to go!
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
For some classic California desert vibes, you cannot go wrong with Joshua Tree National Park, or really anywhere in the general Yucca Valley area. I’ll never forget the first time I saw this unique place—the scenery is something like I have never seen before. From incredibly intriguing rock formations to the one-of-a-kind Joshua Trees scattered everywhere to the incredible night sky. P.S. there are TONS of really cute Airbnbs in the Joshua Tree area that would be perfect for a backyard ceremony and some epic sunset photos in the park afterwards
REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS
Home to some of the tallest trees on Earth, Redwood National and State Parks is one of the most magical spots to elope in all of California! And that’s not all this place has to offer. Along with the beautiful redwood trees, the California redwoods also offer rugged coastline views, prairies, fern forests, wild rivers, and more! It’s also right by the border of Oregon, so you can even combine your experience with the rugged Oregon coast or an Oregon road trip afterwards.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Located in the northern part of the Mojave Desert bordering the Great Basin Desert, here you’ll find magnificent desert scenery, otherworldly craters, sand dunes, incredible night sky views, and the feeling that you’re on Mars!
LAKE TAHOE
Located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains—like so many of California’s incredible elopement spots—Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America! This location alone has several elopement location options, including Emerald Bay State Park, Sugar Pine Point State Park, High Camp at Squaw Valley, Sand Harbor, and some beach options too. There’s also tons of activity options like boating, kayaking, hiking, skiing, and sledding depending on the season.
SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA
San Francisco has diverse beauty, eateries, and experiences to offer! Some of my favorite spots ar the Marin Headlands (with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Muir Woods (enchanting redwood forest), Point Reyes (incredible beach overlooks, rolling green hills, and moody scenery). There are also some incredibly accessible beaches with the iconic California coast views.
STEP 2: PICK A DATE OR TIMEFRAME
The next step in planning your California elopement is to pick a date/time frame. When it comes to picking a date, it’s important to consider two things: weather & crowds. The best time to elope in California really depends on what kind of beautiful landscapes and visions you have in mind as well as whether you are eloping in Northern California or Southern California.
September - December gives you a hint of that classic moody landscape I love so much, especially if you are eloping in Northern California
December - March would provide us with some snow in Northern California and if your elopement is taking place in the desert, be prepared for freezing temperatures at night.
April - June Two words: wildflower season! This is truly a magical time to elope in California since the melted snow gives way to lush wildflower meadows filled with the most gorgeous array of flowers.
July - August You guessed it! While these months are typically the hottest months of the year, elopements on the coast tend to be breezier and milder. Whichever way you go, you’re sure to get lots of sunshine!
STEP 3: FIND YOUR CEREMONY LOCATION & OBTAIN PROPER PERMITS
Once you have your location and date figured out, it’s time to pick a ceremony spot! I know I mentioned this earlier, but it’s important to figure out permit requirements in the area you are looking to elope at before you finalize a ceremony location. A lot of National Parks have a list of specific locations you can have your ceremony, but you can take photos afterwards anywhere in the park. Each park/land management has their own specific rules, so make sure to do your research!
If the thought of doing this all by yourself is overwhelming, I can help! As an elopement photographer, I help all my couples with permits, locations, planning, timelines, and vendor recommendations. If you’re interested in hiring an elopement photographer who can help you with all of this, fill out my contact form below to get in touch!
CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE LICENSES:
Couples can either choose to legalize their marriage on their elopement day, or just have a symbolic ceremony. If you are interested in legalizing your marriage during your actual elopement, California marriage laws require 1 witness and an officiant to sign the license.
California marriage laws require a 1 day waiting period before your license is active and are active for 90 days. This can either involve picking up the license 1 day before your elopement or apply online and have it mailed to you (this is the best option). You will need one witness to sign at the ceremony.
STEP 4: PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES
The next step in planning your California elopement is to decide what type of activities to include on your day! One of the best parts about eloping is you can do whatever you want during the day.
Adventure elopements are all about turning your whole day into an experience. The best way to brainstorm activities is to ask yourself, ‘If you could create your dream day from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep, what type of things would you do that would make you the happiest?’
If you’re thinking of eloping in California, there are SO many different types of activities you can include. Hiking is probably the most obvious & most popular among couples, but don’t limit yourself to just hiking (and don’t feel like you have to hike if you’re not a big hiker!). here’s a few ideas to get you thinking:
Hiking
Camping
Stargazing
Canoe
Campfire & S’mores
Relax in a Hot Spring
Surf
Swim in an Alpine Lake
Cook Together
Hot Tub
Hire a Private Chef
Ride in a Helicopter
Skiing / Snowboarding / Snowshoeing / Ski Touring
Backyard Celebration with Family
Have a Beach Picnic
Sandboard / Sandsled
STEP 5: NAIL DOWN VENDORS & FIND LODGING
Now that you have your location, date, permits, activities figured out—the nest step is to lock in some vendors for your day! Even though you’re not having a traditional wedding, plenty elopements still include a handful of wedding vendors. Here are the most common types of vendors that eloping couples hire for their day:
Florist
Photographer
Officiant
Hair & Makeup Artist
Videographer
Baker / Caterer
Planner / Stylist
ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER ADVICE:
I know I listed hiring your vendors as step 5, but really you can start to research and hire them whenever you want! My recommendation would be to hire your photographer ASAP. I know it sounds biased saying this (because I am an elopement photographer) but hiring an elopement photographer first can save you A LOT of work because most elopement photographers help their couples with ALL the things I mentioned in the previous steps. So when looking at elopement photographers, make sure you pick someone who actually helps with planning and is experienced in elopements!
For my elopement couples, I help them find customized locations, get permits, choose other vendors, think of activities, find lodging, create a custom timeline, and SO much more. So if you’re looking for a photographer who will not only capture your day but also guide you through the planning process—learn more about my process below:
STEP 6: CREATE A TIMELINE
One of the last steps in planning an EPIC Washington elopement is creating a timeline! Timelines can vary depending on what activities you plan to do, where your ceremony location is, how you want to celebrate afterwards, what time of day you want to elope at, etc. As a rule of thumb for hiking, I always plan 45 minutes per each mile spent hiking (so you don’t feel like you need to be rushing or pushing yourself up the trail) and to put in buffer times because things typically take longer than you expect.
SAMPLE TIMELINE FOR A SUNSET HIKING ELOPEMENT IN CALIFORNIA:
1:00pm: Getting Ready at Airbnb
2:30pm: First Look in Airbnb Backyard
3:00pm: Drive to Trailhead
3:45pm: Start Hiking Up
5:00pm: Vow Ceremony
5:30pm: Celebratory Picnic
6:30pm: Sunset Exploring & Photos
8:30pm: Start Hike Back Down
9:30pm Stargazing & Photos
10:30pm Finish Descent
11:00pm End Photography Coverage
STEP 7: HAVE THE MOST EPIC ELOPEMENT DAY!
YOU MADE IT!! Once you’ve finished all these steps you are well on your way to an EPIC California elopement. If you have any questions or are looking for an elopement photographer who can help guide you through the planning process, get in touch with me below! I would love to be a part of your wedding day.