Want to plan a beach elopement in California? When you think of “California,” beaches are likely one of the first things that cross your mind – and for good reason. The beaches in California are stunning and impossible to forget, making California the perfect destination for a breathtaking beach elopement.
As an all-inclusive elopement team, we love all the different possibilities a beach elopement in California offers you, from dramatic cliffside views to rugged coastlines. It’s the ideal place for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Read on to learn how to plan the beach elopement of your dreams in California!
How to Have the Perfect Beach Elopement in California
Here are our top tips to get you started with planning your beach elopement:
Choose your location
When it comes to California beaches, you have an abundance of incredible options to choose from. Pro tip – we recommend choosing a beach that isn’t super busy so you don’t have to worry about curious onlookers or crowds being a part of your celebration.
Some of our favorite beaches we would suggest for your elopement are:
Santa Cruz
Davenport Beach
Davenport Beach is located along California’s iconic Highway 1, and it’s a scenic beach with towering soft stone cliffs that rise above the expansive beach. This beach is also
great to combine with a Redwood location! You can also choose to elope at the Davenport Bluffs, which are picturesque coastal bluffs that offer you unparalleled views of the Pacific.
Shark Fin Cove
Shark Fin Cove is a secluded cove that has been carved away from the cliffs by wind and waves. It also has an island shaped like a shark’s dorsal fin that juts out of the water, hence the name Shark Fin Cove. If you venture down a rocky trail to the shore you can explore a sea cave and admire the sea glass!
San Diego
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a gorgeous, intimate beach that is technically part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, so it’s a protected area. Also, La Jolla has an area called The Wedding Bowl.
This is a designated area with an oceanfront view where you can have your elopement. The Wedding Bowl also has a rugged cliff line to explore and lots of natural beauty, making it a one-of-a-kind backdrop for your celebration.
Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs can be found right on the coast of San Diego, and it’s a very popular spot. Once you see it, you’ll understand why! Here, you’ll find jaw-dropping panoramic ocean views, golden sands, and dramatic cliffs.
Mendocino
Mendocino is a coastal town with beautiful beaches and epic cliffs. There are several trails on cliffs over the ocean and bluffs where you can say “I do” that directly overlook the water. Be sure to check out Glass Beach and Russian Gulch State Park as potential options!
Marin County
Rodeo Beach
Rodeo Beach is located near the Marin Headlands and has black sand, beautiful bluffs, and of course a stunning beach. This beach is also covered with unique red and green pebbles, plus it is just three miles northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Muir Beach
Muir Beach is just a few miles from Muir Woods and offers an entirely different (but equally beautiful) elopement experience. This peaceful and serene area is the perfect location for an intimate and private elopement.
Muir Beach offers a variety of unique landscapes, such as a cove, beach, or lagoon, as the backdrop for your celebration.
Red Rock Beach
Red Rock Beach is our hidden gem. The landscape offers a striking contrast between expansive hills and a golden sand shoreline. This place is perfect for the adventurous, nature-loving couple looking for a unique and romantic spot to tie the knot.
Big Sur
Grappata State Park
Grappata State Park has four miles of coastline and numerous hiking trails. Sea lions, otters, and even dolphins frequent this stretch of coast, so be sure to bring along a pair of binoculars! This park also boasts some of the prettiest and most walkable stretches of sand on the central coast.
Sand Dollar Beach
Sand Dollars Beach is the largest public sand beach in all of Big Sur, and it has high bluff tops, and on rare occasions, you might find small pieces of jade. The name of this beach is a bit deceiving, as you may or may not see sand dollars, but regardless, it’s still an incredible beach for your elopement.
Santa Barbara
Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach has a pristine shoreline and is a gorgeous spot for a sunrise or sunset elopement due to its unique east-west orientation. Butterfly Beach is very easy to access from Downtown Santa Barbara via a 10-minute drive or 15-minute bike ride.
Miramar Beach
Miramar Beach is tucked away in the town of Montecito, and it’s definitely a hidden gem in Santa Barbara. It has a narrow sandy enclave and is surrounded by gorgeous beachfront properties and the famous Rosewood Miramar Beach resort.
San Francisco
Baker Beach
Baker Beach is the perfect escape right inside the city of San Francisco. It has views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for harbor porpoises which frequent the surf.
Marshall’s Beach
You can’t get very much closer to the famous Golden Gate Bridge than at Marshall’s Beach. This beach features a rugged stretch of sand and rocks and, of course, a one-of-a-kind backdrop.
Los Angeles
Point Dume – Malibu
Point Dume has headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access. It also offers enchanting views of Santa Monica Bay.
El Matador – Malibu
El Matador is not a very wide beach, but it’s incredibly beautiful. If you head north on the beach, you’ll find caves and arches in the rocks. The walk down to the beach is relatively steep, but it is manageable.
Decide on the time of day you want to have your beach elopement
Choosing the time of day for your ceremony is a significant decision in your elopement planning process. We strongly recommend choosing either a sunrise or sunset ceremony to avoid harsh light and crowds.
With that being said, the time of day you choose ultimately comes down to your personal preferences. For example, if you choose a morning beach elopement, you and your partner will have the whole day to celebrate.
On the other hand, if you want gorgeous golden hour lighting and cooler temperatures then you’ll love planning a sunset ceremony.
Before solidifying your decision, make sure you do your research on the most popular times people are at your chosen location. Also, typically weekdays are much less crowded at popular beaches so we would even encourage you to consider a weekday elopement over a weekend.
Check for permits
If you’re planning a beach elopement in California, some beaches may require you to have a permit to have your elopement. Always make sure to check beforehand if you need a permit or not.
By doing so, you won’t have any unexpected surprises on the day of your celebration or anything to worry about. Also, if we work together, we will do permit research for you and make sure you have what you need.
Speaking of permits, another thing you’ll need to take care of before your California beach elopement is getting your 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.
Always have a backup plan
For any outdoor elopement, it’s always recommended to have a backup plan because unfortunately, we can’t control the weather.
On the day of your elopement, the weather may or may not be in your favor, which is why one of the best things you can do is choose another indoor option you love. We don’t want you to pick an indoor backup location that you aren’t excited about and that would put a damper on your day.
At Ascend Together, we can help you find great alternative options just in case the weather on your day of your elopement isn’t cooperating. However, we are going to do everything we possibly can to make your dream beach elopement a reality.
Think about the shoes you are going to wear
This advice might seem out of left field, but here’s the truth: heels may be great for photos after on solid land. However, they are not the best for walking through the sand. Our advice? Opt for flats on the sand or go barefoot!
Plan a picnic on the beach after you tie the knot
What could be more romantic or a better way to celebrate your marriage than having a beach picnic after your ceremony? With a picnic, you and your partner will have the chance to spend some quality time with just the two of you, enjoying each other’s company and taking in the scenic views.
We highly recommend planning a luxury picnic as part of your celebration! A luxury picnic can be completely customized to your preferences and occasion. Plus, it should include a full set-up and clean-up.
Additional Things to Consider for Your Beach Elopement
If you are planning a beach elopement, one of the decisions you’ll be making is what time of day you want to elope.
California beaches can get very busy. If you want to avoid the foot traffic, we would suggest planning a morning elopement at sunrise. Also, if you want to elope later in the day, you can always consider getting a venue that has access to a private beach front – this way you definitely won’t have to worry about crowds or curious onlookers at your ceremony.
We also would recommend that you never plan your beach elopement on a weekend or a holiday – you will only encounter crowds and traffic. Pro tip – Plan your California elopement on a weekday before Memorial Day or after Labor Day to avoid crowds. Also, September and October are amazing months to plan your celebration.
One final thing – for your beach elopement, make sure that you and your partner bring sunscreen with you! You don’t want to have to worry about getting sunburnt.
When Should You Elope in California?
The answer – it depends! The great news about California is that the weather is fantastic here all year round. To be fully transparent, the summer months are going to be much, much busier than the off seasons.
Summer brings everyone to the beach, but you can still have a secluded and intimate beach elopement if this is the time of year you want to plan your celebration. Spring can bring with it fog and rainfall. Also, Northern California may be a bit colder than Southern California during the less busy months, so you’ll want to choose and prepare accordingly.
On the topic of summer, the truth is mid-summer is not always the best time of year for a beach elopement. In central to Northern California you’ll actually encounter the best temperatures in late August through October. Throughout the entire year, the fog and wind are unpredictable but you can still have a stunning beach wedding on a foggy day.
Also, speaking of weather, another thing we want to mention is that if you are planning a beach elopement, specifically on the shoreline, you need to not only keep an eye on the weather but also the ocean. The first rule of safety for getting married on any Pacific Coast beach is to never turn your back to the ocean. Sneaker waves and log rolls can appear and be highly dangerous. Also, make sure that you always check the tide table for optimal beach conditions – sometimes, beaches can shrink or become non-existent at high tide.
Ready to Plan Your Beach Elopement in California?
We hope you found this guide helpful and we are thrilled you are considering a beach elopement in California. We may be a bit biased but you really couldn’t pick a more beautiful place for a stunning, unforgettable beach elopement.
And if you’re still looking for a vendor team for your big day or are ready to start making your stress-free beach elopement in California a reality, let’s work together!
Don’t settle for a thrown-together day that should honor your love story. We can help you plan an 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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