Wondering what it would be like to elope in Northern California? We’re positive that your dream elopement location is waiting for you here! If you elope in Northern California, you’ll have so many different options to choose from, such as coastal cliffs, stunning lakes, roaring waterfalls, misty redwood forests, and more. You’re sure to find a location to match your dream elopement vision!
As an all-inclusive elopement team with extensive experience planning elopements in Northern California, we wanted to create the most helpful guide we could that covers essential info and tips on how to elope here.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about eloping in Northern California!
How to Elope in Northern California
Before you say “I do,” you’ll need to cross a few things off your elopement checklist, which includes obtaining permits and getting your California marriage license. Here’s what you need to know:
Permits
You may need to obtain a permit for your elopement location. If you’re eloping in a State or National Park, it’s often easy to find information about permits through the National Park Service’s website for the relevant area. The websites for local jurisdictions also tend to be helpful resources.
Getting your permits should be one of the first steps you take in your elopement-planning process. When applying for permits for certain areas, make sure you have a date in mind (as well as a backup or two, just in case your chosen date is unavailable).
We recommend that you apply for permits at least one month before your ceremony date. Often, the offices that process permits require a couple of weeks to review and approve your request and send it back to you.
You may also have some additional paperwork after that, so the more time you allow yourself to take care of this, the easier it will be for you!
By the way, if you work with us, we will help you with permit research and obtaining the correct permits, so you won’t have anything to worry about.
California Marriage License
In California, there are two different types of marriage licenses – a public marriage license and a confidential marriage license.
Both marriage licenses will cost you $124, and you can choose which one you would like, depending on whether you want to keep your marriage private or not. Also, take note that if you do want a confidential marriage license, you and your partner must have been living together to be able to apply for it.
To apply for the California marriage license, you’ll first need to make an appointment at the County Clerk’s Office. Once you’ve made your appointment, be sure to bring your application, valid government photo identification (like a driver’s license) and payment for the marriage license fee.
The marriage license is valid for 90 days after it is issued. You must have an officiant and one witness at your elopement to sign it.
For the most up-to-date information, always check the State of California Department of Public Health’s website, which you can access here.
Symbolic Ceremony
Another option you can choose is to have a symbolic ceremony. This means that you and your partner decide to marry each other legally at the county courthouse and then later exchange vows in a symbolic ceremony in your chosen elopement location.
This could make sense for you if you are traveling from a different state (or internationally), you prefer not having any or very few guests present at your symbolic ceremony, or if you’re planning an adventure elopement.
Choose Your Location
Here are some of our top locations to consider in Northern California for your elopement:
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is perfect for your elopement if you want to be surrounded by fragrant pines, crystal clear waters, and verdant forest floors, and that’s just grazing the surface of what an elopement at Lake Tahoe entails.
Best time of the year for your elopement
Any time of the year is a great time to elope in Lake Tahoe, as each season offers something uniquely different!
Additional things to consider
Speaking of weather, we would recommend doing some extra research into the time of year you’re planning your elopement. For instance, if you choose to have your elopement in the winter, you should know that there will be a lot of snow. In the spring, the weather does begin to warm up, though there are occasional chilly days and snow flurries.
Also, Lake Tahoe is massive, meaning there are many different locations to choose from and experience.
What else can we say about Lake Tahoe that hasn’t already been said? No, literally, because we already wrote a complete, in-depth guide covering everything you need to know about planning an elopement in Lake Tahoe. You can check it out here!
Yosemite
We all love Yosemite: waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, secluded paradises… it feels like you’ve stepped through a magical portal and have been transported to another world. Yosemite is becoming increasingly popular for elopements, and it’s an iconic location that can serve as the backdrop for your elopement.
Best time of the year for your elopement
Fall is the best time to elope in Yosemite. It’s less crowded, the vibrant fall colors are stunning, and all the iconic lookout points will be accessible.
Additional things to consider
Yosemite is a busy place – and for good reason. It is possible to have an intimate, private elopement, and to make that happen, we would recommend eloping on a weekday. Also, Yosemite has strict rules and regulations, which you must be mindful of before planning your elopement.
As Yosemite is one of the most popular places in Northern California for an elopement, we wrote a complete guide on planning for your Yosemite elopement, which you can read here.
Redwood National Park
Picture yourself and your partner standing underneath the ancient giant redwood groves, surrounded by lush greenery and mist as you exchange your vows. If the elopement vision you’re going for is an enchanting forest paired with an epic adventure, then Redwood National Park is everything you want and more.
Best time of the year for your elopement
You can elope here all year round. However, if you want to plan your elopement with fewer people, you’ll definitely want to avoid summer. On the other hand, the park can be pretty cold and rainy in the winter, which is why we recommend having your elopement in the spring.
Additional things to consider
Redwood National Park has limited amenities, so you must be prepared to bring everything (yes, we mean everything), from water to personal items, even an umbrella.
San Francisco
If you love a city landscape, iconic views, beaches, and nature, San Francisco offers you everything that you’re looking for. You could choose to elope at the iconic San Francisco City Hall, Baker Beach, or the Palace of Fine Arts – just to name a few of the many stunning elopement locations.
For even more elopement locations and all the info you need to elope in San Francisco check out our guide here!
Best time of the year for your elopement
San Francisco is another destination in Northern California where you can elope all year round! The weather here is pretty mild, no matter the season, so the time you choose to elope here depends on what you value.
If you want beautiful weather on your wedding day, we recommend the fall or spring seasons. The weather this time of year is gorgeous (not too hot, not too cold), but the crowds tend to be busier as a result.
In our opinion, San Francisco winters are tremendously underrated. It’s a bit chillier, yes, but the crowds are much smaller, and the odds of you getting a beautiful corner of this city to yourself are exponentially higher.
Additional things to consider
Consider planning your elopement at sunrise because it will be less busy and more peaceful. Plus, you’ll have stunning golden light for your photos! Also, if you plan your elopement on weekdays or over weekends in the summer, there will be way fewer people milling about, which means fewer crowds.
Big Sur
Known best for its natural beauty, Big Sur’s striking cliffs, clear water, and greenery make it an elopement dream destination. This remote-feeling stretch along the coast is filled with breathtaking views, and you can have an unforgettable celebration along the cliffs or right next to the beach. Two of our favorite spots within Big Sur are Grappata State Park and Ventana Big Sur.
Best time of the year for your elopement
The best time to elope in Big Sur is between May and October. You can also elope in April, November, and December, which can be very nice, but you’ll also have a much higher chance of rain. Big Sur has a fairly mild climate and is cool and foggy in the summer months.
Additional things to consider
The weather in Big Sur is not easy to predict—you can get fog or clear, sunny skies almost any day of the year. Also, since Big Sur is so popular, it can sometimes feel crowded, even during the week.
If you’re still struggling with where to choose to elope in Northern California, don’t fret! We wrote a guide for you that shares with you 7 tips on how you can choose your perfect Northern California elopement location – check it out here.
Hire Your Elopement Vendors
After deciding on your location, you’ll want to hire your vendors!
If you don’t want to handle the vendor vetting process or find vendors on your own, the first person you’ll want to hire is an elopement planner.
When choosing who to hire as an elopement planner, choose someone who is an expert in the area in which you are planning to have your elopement. Also, an experienced elopement planner can help you build your perfect vendor team based on your budget and your priorities.
When you book an elopement package with us, you’ll get a personal elopement day planner who will handle the planning, coordination, and logistics of your elopement.
This includes:
• Vendor Research & Coordination
• Travel & Accommodation Research
• Timeline & Travel Design
• Budget Planning & Strategy
• Guest Management
• Unlimited Consults
Our elopement day planner isn’t just anyone—they are experts at what they do and ready to handle every aspect of your elopement to make your dream elopement a reality.
Each elopement looks a little different, so what vendors you want to hire will vary. Some elopement vendors that we would absolutely recommend having as part of your celebration are a photographer, videographer, officiant, florist, and elopement planner.
Also, we wrote a guide to help you decide which vendors to hire—check it out here!
Think About How Many/ If You Want Any Guests
First things first, you are not obligated to invite anyone to your elopement. It’s completely okay to keep your elopement to just the two of you – this decision is entirely up to you and your partner.
If you do want to invite guests, make sure that before sending out the invites, you check at your chosen elopement location to see if there are any limits on the number of people who can attend.
Remember that an elopement typically has 20 guests at most, and you need to be intentional about who you invite. When deciding who to invite, think about the people you can’t imagine not having as part of your celebration.
Check out another elopement planning resource we made. It’s all about deciding whom to invite to your elopement!
Ready to Elope in Northern California?
We hope you found this guide on eloping in Northern California helpful. If you’re ready to move forward with planning your Northern California elopement, we’d love to help you get started!
Don’t settle for a thrown-together day that should honor your love story. We can help you plan your elopement in as little as 30 days!
We provide you with everything you need, all in one place, including an experienced elopement photographer, an expert planner, a mindful budget and vendor booking strategy, unlimited elopement support, consults, and more! Go here to check out our all-inclusive elopement packages or you can get in contact with us here.
Happy wedding planning!
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