Best Places to Elope in California

You would love to elope in California if…
Desert
Beaches
Mountains
Forests
City
Let’s talk about your own elopement!

You Would Love to Elope in California if...

You love diverse landscapes. Because California has everything. When I was in high school, our ditch days consisted of us going snowboarding in the mountains and going surfing at the beach on the same day. And that’s within an hour radius of our school in the valley. I’ll show you all the best spots below.

You like a balmy 70 degrees all year long. One of the best things about eloping in California is the weather. With sunshine-filled days along the coast, mild desert evenings, and clear mountain mornings, California offers some of the best year-round weather for your elopement. Whether you’re planning a winter ceremony barefoot on the beach, a springtime desert adventure, or a fall mountain vow exchange surrounded by golden leaves, you can find the perfect season for your day without worrying about unpredictable storms or freezing cold.

You want to show up exactly as you are and love exactly who you love. This state has a long history of inclusivity and is one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly places in the country, making it a safe and welcoming choice for couples of all genders and identities. Whether you’re exchanging vows on a windswept cliff, in the quiet of the forest, or under city lights, California holds space for your love to be seen and celebrated, fully and unapologetically.

You love to support small business and diversity. California is one of the most diverse states. You can find a Filipino baker for your cake, or a Black florist for your bouquet and boutonnière. Or a makeup artist or photographer that know hows how to manage darker tones.

In this guide, we’ll share the best places to elope in California, from beaches to deserts to mountain tops, so you can find the backdrop that feels aligned with your story. Let’s find a place where your love can breathe, and where you can begin this next chapter in a way you’ll never forget.

California Desert Elopement Locations

Anza-Borrego

2 hours from San Diego
3.5 hour from Los Angeles

Anza-Borrego is one of California’s hidden gems for an elopement that feels wild, intimate, and deeply connected to the earth. Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by vast desert landscapes, slot canyons, blooming wildflowers in the spring, and rugged mountains that glow pink at sunset. The quiet here is profound, letting you hear the wind and your own heartbeat as you promise forever. With its wide-open skies perfect for stargazing and its raw, natural beauty, Anza-Borrego is the perfect place for couples who want a soulful, off-the-beaten-path elopement adventure.

Best time to elope in Anza-Borrego: October – May. The summer months can be brutal.
Permits: Depending on where you do it, State Parks might have permitting fees, but if you rent an Air BnB surrounded by desert, you can have a quick and simple ceremony right behind the home.
Vibe: Incredible sunsets, dry lake beds, dusty slot canyons, desert creeks and oases, and clear skies for stargazing.
Ideas: Rent an air bnb with your closest friends (with a pool if it’s hot outside), have your ceremony next to the giant desert sculptures, and hire a personal chef to set up a menu made for royalty at your poolside table. Then take another day to explore the slot canyons and cliffs either by jeep or ATV. If you love golf, this is a great place to take the time to do that too.

borrego springs california elopement location

Death Valley

2.25 hours from Las Vegas
4.5 hours from Los Angeles

Death Valley is for the couple who wants to get married in a place that feels otherworldly. Salt flats that stretch to the horizon, rolling sand dunes that catch the first light of sunrise, canyons carved by time, and pastel-colored mountains that glow under the desert sun—Death Valley is raw, vast, and humbling in its beauty. It’s the kind of place where you can feel completely alone together, saying your vows in the quiet of dawn or under a sky filled with endless stars. If you’re dreaming of an elopement that feels like an adventure and a promise all in one, Death Valley holds space for your love story to unfold in the wildest, most unforgettable way.

Best time to elope in Death Valley: October – May. The summer months are the hottest here at the lowest point in North America.
Permits: Death Valley National Park requires a special use application, $300, and your choice of
Vibe: Expansiveness, dry lake beds with rolling rocks, sand dunes, colorful mountains, endlessness.
Ideas: The perfect place for a camping elopement with your closest friends and family.

death valley california elopement location

death valley california elopement photographer

California Beach Elopement Locations

San Diego

2 hours from Los Angeles

If you’re dreaming of an elopement with endless sunshine and golden beaches, San Diego is your place. With some of the best beaches in California for an intimate elopement, San Diego offers warm sand, rugged cliffs, and glowing sunsets that turn your wedding day into pure magic. You can exchange vows barefoot at sunrise on Sunset Cliffs, wander along the La Jolla shoreline with waves lapping at your feet, or find a hidden cove to say “I do” as the ocean breeze moves around you. San Diego beaches give you the relaxed, coastal elopement vibe while still offering a vibrant city for post-ceremony celebrations, making it one of the best places to elope in California if you want a blend of adventure and ease.

Best time to elope in San Diego: All year long! Truly. It hardly ever rains here. At most you’ll deal with some June gloom, but for the most part San Diego weather is perfect.
Permits: There are locations that require permits and some that don’t. Permits can range from $250 to $500.
Vibe: Surfer, laid back, sheer cliffs, nude beaches, sandy beaches.
Ideas: Cities like Oceanside, La Jolla, Encinitas all have beautiful beaches that aren’t too busy but have lively nightlife nearby for an elopement that embraces nature and the city lights.

Big Sur

2 hours from San Francisco

Big Sur is one of the best places to elope in California if you’re craving wild cliffs, moody coastlines, and that feeling of standing on the edge of the world with the person you love most. Towering redwoods, hidden beaches, and rugged bluffs create an epic backdrop for your vows, whether you’re eloping at sunrise with the waves crashing below or wandering into the forest for quiet portraits under the canopy. Big Sur offers the perfect mix of adventure and intimacy, with golden light that turns the coastline into a dream and trails that lead you to secluded spots for your ceremony. If you’re looking for a breathtaking California elopement location that feels raw, soulful, and deeply alive, Big Sur is it.

Best time to elope in Big Sur : All year long!
Permits: Range from $400-$1500
Vibe: Wild, moody, and alive. It’s crashing waves below rugged cliffs, mist tangled in redwoods, golden light breaking through the fog. It’s the kind of place that makes you breathe deeper, hold each other closer, and feel the weight of how beautiful this moment truly is.
Ideas: I’m seeing a classic convertible rental, a day discovering cliffs of Big Sur, a cafe with views, a visit to Henry Miller Memorial Library, and a relaxing stay at Alila Ventana at Big Sur.

California Mountain Elopement Locations

Lake Tahoe

3.5 hours from San Francisco
1 hour from Reno

Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to elope in California if you’re dreaming of crystal-clear blue water framed by mountains and pine forests. This alpine lake offers year-round beauty, from wildflower meadows and warm summer days perfect for lakeside ceremonies to snow-dusted pines and cozy cabin elopements in the winter. You can exchange vows on a quiet beach with the water shimmering behind you or hike to a hidden overlook for an intimate mountaintop ceremony at sunrise. If you’re looking for an adventure elopement location in California that blends natural beauty with accessibility and endless opportunities to explore, Lake Tahoe holds space for your love story to begin in the most breathtaking way.

Best time to elope in Lake Tahoe: All year long. Winter is snowy and gorgeous, Summers are cool. Spring brings wildflowers. The fall brings vibrant colors.
Permits: Depending on where you do it, State Parks might have permitting fees.
Vibe: Crystal clear waters, perfect for boating, paddling, or kayaking. Mountains and forests galore with views for days, especially from Heavenly. Chill mountain town with lots to do and explore.
Ideas:

Mammoth Lakes

5 hours from Los Angeles
5.5 hour from San Francisco

Mammoth Lakes is one of the best places to elope in California if you’re craving a mountain elopement that feels raw, peaceful, and deeply connected to nature. Surrounded by rugged peaks, alpine lakes, and meadows that burst with wildflowers in the summer, Mammoth offers endless options for couples wanting an intimate ceremony in the mountains. In the fall, golden aspens light up the trails, and in winter, snow-covered pines create a quiet, cozy backdrop for your vows. Whether you’re hiking to a hidden lake at sunrise or soaking in a natural hot spring under the stars, Mammoth Lakes is perfect for an adventure elopement that feels like a true escape into the wild

Best time to elope in Mammoth Lakes: All year long. Winter is snowy and gorgeous, Summers are cool. Spring brings wildflowers. The fall brings vibrant colors.
Permits: Depending on where you do it, State Parks might have permitting fees.
Vibe: Snowy mountains. Skiing and snowboarding destination. Wilderness hot springs. Lakes and rivers.

California Forest Elopement Locations

Palomar Mountain

2 hours from San Diego
4 hour from Los Angeles

Palomar Mountain is one of the best places to elope in Southern California if you want a quiet, forested escape without leaving the region. Towering oaks, pine trees, and meadows create a cozy, mountain vibe, with cool air and birdsong that immediately slow everything down. Whether you’re exchanging vows under the trees, exploring fern-filled trails, or catching the sunset from a quiet overlook, Palomar Mountain offers a peaceful, intimate setting for couples who want a nature-filled elopement close to San Diego. It’s perfect for a simple, soulful elopement surrounded by the forest and the hush of the mountains.

Best time to elope in Palomar Mountain: All year long. Winter is snowy and gorgeous, Summers are cool. Spring brings wildflowers. The fall brings vibrant colors.
Permits: Depending on where you do it, State Parks might have permitting fees.
Vibe: Incredible sunsets, a view of the ocean from a quiet, secluded mountain park with lots of trails, a pond, and lots of areas to camp, chill, and relax.

palomar mountain california forest elopement

Yosemite National Park

4 hours from San Fransisco
5 hours from Los Angeles

Yosemite is one of the best places to elope in California if you’re dreaming of epic granite cliffs, misty waterfalls, and meadows that catch golden light at sunrise. Whether you’re saying your vows under the towering face of El Capitan, exchanging rings by Bridalveil Falls, or watching the sky turn pink from Glacier Point, Yosemite offers a wild, sacred feeling that makes your elopement unforgettable. With its mix of forest trails, open valleys, and dramatic overlooks, Yosemite is perfect for couples craving a nature-filled, adventurous elopement that feels timeless and deeply alive.

Best time to elope in Yosemite National Park: All year long. Winter is snowy and gorgeous, Summers are cool. Spring brings wildflowers. The fall brings vibrant colors.
Permits: $150. A permit covers specific locations for a ceremony.
Vibe: Plenty of places to hike and explore. But you don’t have to hike far to get to beautiful locations.

yosemite national park california elopement

yosemite national park elopement in california

California City Elopement Locations

San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the best places to elope in California if you want a blend of city energy and natural beauty on your wedding day. You can say your vows with the Golden Gate Bridge rising through the morning fog, wander through eucalyptus groves in Golden Gate Park, or exchange rings on a windswept beach with the city skyline in the distance. Cobblestone streets, hidden gardens, and cozy cafes create endless opportunities for portraits that feel alive and cinematic. San Francisco offers a romantic, vibrant backdrop for couples craving a city elopement that still feels intimate, soulful, and full of adventure.

Best time to elope in San Francisco: There are actual seasons in San Francisco, but it’s not known to snow. Anytime, however, you’ll find the fog rolling in.
Permits: Many locations are free if you don’t meet the minimum guest requirement.
Vibe: A hilly, funky city with lots of diversity. Views are everywhere, nature is every, and there’s soooo many ways to have a beautiful elopement.

Ideas: Have your ceremony at Bakers Beach to take in all the sights of Golden Gate Bridge. Charter a sail boat. Indulge in some of the best seafood.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the best places to elope in California if you’re dreaming of a wedding day that blends urban energy with hidden pockets of nature. From sunrise ceremonies on Malibu’s golden beaches to exchanging vows at a quiet overlook in Griffith Park with the city below, LA offers endless options for couples craving variety and ease. You can celebrate with tacos under twinkle lights, wander through artsy streets for cinematic portraits, or slip away to the coast for sunset. Los Angeles is perfect for couples who want a laid-back, vibrant elopement that feels modern, alive, and true to their story.ff

Best time to elope in Los Angeles: All year long. There is no winter in LA.
Permits: Permits will vary from free to a few hundred dollars in certain locations.
Vibe: Busy and bustling. Surfer, sophisticated, diverse, vibrant, colorful.