6 Best Spots to Elope in California
Trying to figure out where to elope in California? Look no further - I’ve rounded up what I believe to be the 6 best spots to elope in CA just for you!
From the desert to the redwoods to the ocean, the sunny state of Cali truly has it all. It makes it the perfect place to elope out in nature with your partner and find the most magical spot to celebrate.
For each location, I’ve included the basic information you need to know about tying the knot there, as well as a few other tips & ideas. Let’s get into the good stuff!
**This information is all as of February 2021; permit & location details may change over time. Check the locations’ websites for up-to-date info!**
To elope at Joshua Tree National Park, you’ll need to get a Special Use Permit, regardless of how many people you’ll be having!
Here’s the info about the permit, along with the links you’ll need:
Download & fill out the permit application at https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
Email your application to Jeannie_Wilson@nps.gov
The permit is also required for engagement sessions!
Cost of wedding permit application: $120, non-refundable
Your photographer & other vendors must obtain separate Special Use Permits
Here are the locations available to you at Joshua Tree for your elopement, as well as the guest & vehicle limitations!
Indian Cove Amphitheater; No more than 100 people total and only 1 vehicle. You must shuttle your guest in and out of this location.
Hidden Valley Picnic Area; No more than 35 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Turkey Flats; No more than 35 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Cap Rock; No more than 25 people total and up to 8 vehicles.
Rattlesnake Picnic Area; No more than 20 people and 8 vehicles.
Quail Springs Picnic Area; No more than 15 people and 8 vehicles.
Split Rock; No more than 15 people and 5 vehicles.
Porcupine Wash; No more than 12 people and 4 vehicles.
Queen Valley Mine Intersection; No more than 10 people and 5 vehicles.
Lost Horse Parking Lot; No more than 10 people and 5 vehicles.
Live Oak Picnic Area; No more than 5 people and 3 vehicles.
As Joshua Tree is a national park that must be taken care of, here are lists of what items are & are not permitted on the land where you’re getting married:
Permitted items:
Arches, must be free-standing
Small table for guest book
Cooler with water
Live flowers
Battery-powered candles
Runner
Rug
Cake
Champagne
Non-permitted items:
Drones
Dried flowers
Non-battery powered candles
Bubbles
Any live animals, including doves, butterflies, etc
Confetti
Rice
Birdseed
Balloons
Smoke Bombs
Extra tips & ideas:
Rent an Airbnb for the weekend/week! There are tons of beautiful Airbnb’s around Joshua Tree that provide the perfect place to stay around the time of your elopement. Rent one for just the two of you, or maybe make a weekend out of it with your guests. There are so many possibilities! Here are a couple great ones to look at:
Take a day-trip to Palm Springs while you’re in the area! It’s only about an hour away.
2. Yosemite
Eloping at Yosemite is a DREAM - but it’s a dream that requires some work! With the popularity of Yosemite, they’re pretty strict on permits and you’ll need to make sure you get what you need correctly. Here’s info about the permit you’ll need to get:
Wedding permit
Fill out & physically mail permit with your payment
$150 nonrefundable application fee + potential $50/hour monitoring fee on the day of the event
Your date may be scheduled up to 1 year in advance, and must be 3 weeks prior (but I recommend doing it as ahead of time as possible!)
Your photographer will need their own photo permit
Entrance fees into park still apply for you, your partner, & all guests/vendors
Here are the location options you have when eloping at Yosemite (click here for more details about each location):
Cascades Picnic Area
Lower Yosemite Fall Paved Trail
Swinging Bridge Picnic Area
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
Sentinel Beach Picnic Area
Bridalveil Fall
Glacier Point Amphitheater
Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Lot
Tenaya Lake Beach
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Area
Tuolumne Grove
Merced Grove
Extra tips & ideas:
Be sure to pay attention to the time of year and time of day that you want to tie the knot! Some months are way busier than others with tourists at Yosemite, as well as certain times of day. So do some research on when the national park is the busiest, and what locations are the busiest so you can avoid them for your elopement!
There are also a ton of awesome Airbnb’s to rent around the Yosemite area, like in Joshua Tree. Here are a few awesome ones:
Autocamp Yosemite - a super cute rentable airstream!
3. Big Sur
Big Sur is an amazing place to elope in California if you’re dreaming of a coastal elopement!
To elope on the beautiful coast of Big Sur, you’ll need a Special Event Permit. Here’s the info:
Contact the special event coordinator about date availability (contact info at this link)
Complete your application & mail it with the nonrefundable filing fee that the coordinator will tell you about
You must be granted the permit, pay your remaining permit fees & pay a refundable damage deposit at least 4 weeks before your date
You must submit these 4 things at least 2 months prior:
Certificate of liability insurance
Attendance List
Vendor List
Alcohol Inventory List and Plan
Here are a few locations you could tie the knot at around Big Sur:
Extra tips & ideas:
Big Sur has some absolutely beautiful places to stay during your elopement/trip! Here are some of TripAdvisor’s top recommended stays in the area:
Looking for a fun, unique activity to do while you’re in the area? There’s a cool “self-guided audio tour” along the Pacific Coast Highway that TripAdvisory recommends! Check it out here!
4. Palm Springs
If you’re looking for a general area of CA to elope in, Palm Springs is a great one! I won’t go into a ton of detail on Palm Springs because you have so many options in the area, but here’s a fantastic guide I found to locations in Palm Springs to elope!
Extra tips & ideas:
There are so many fun things to do around Palm Springs before & after you tie the knot in the area! Some of TripAdvisor’s top recommendations:
Montaña de Oro State Park is one of my favorite places to photograph in California!
However, as of February 2021, the state park unfortunately is not allowing special events such as weddings due to COVID-19. Even though it’s not open for weddings at the time of writing this, keep an eye out on their website for updated information! When special events are allowed again, definitely consider it as a spot for your elopement.
As of now, here are the locations that are open at the park (even though not for weddings yet):
Pecho Valley Road and all parking lot turnouts (open from Los Osos Valley Road to the Point Buchon parking lot)
Spooner’s Cove
Point Buchon parking lot
Here’s an engagement session I did recently at the park for you to take a look at for inspiration!
Extra tips & ideas:
Make a fun, outdoor trip out of your elopement by going camping! The state park has a 50-site campground that’s just a short walk from Spooner’s Cove, and provides lots of surrounding hikes if you’re a hiker.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re an animal owner - dogs are NOT allowed on any trails or beaches, except for Spooner’s Cove beach. They’re allowed at campsites and on park roads, so make sure you don’t try and bring your pup along for a hike!
Finally, if you’re eloping in California, you’ve got to consider Sequoia National Park! It’s obviously what all California redwood dreams are made of.
Unfortunately, Sequoia National Park is not accepting new wedding permit applications as of February 2021 due to COVID-19. But just like Montaña de Oro State Park, keep your eye on the park’s website for updated information!
When it does open up for weddings again, here are the guidelines of the Special Use Permit you’ll need to obtain, according to the website:
All groups are limited to 10 people until further notice, regardless of location.
Permittee must ensure physical distancing of at least 6 feet between non-household attendees.
Permit conditions are subject to change prior to the event as circumstances and guidance evolve. Permit holders are responsible for following conditions that are current on the date of their event.
Allow for 90 days to process all incoming applications
Applicants much choose a location from the current amended location list below. No other locations will be approved until further notice.
Here are your location options for tying the knot at the national park!
Sunset Rock
Beetle Rock
Giant Forest Museum Patio
Halstead Meadow
Crescent Meadow (road closes to vehicles when it becomes impassable to snow)
Long Meadow/Wolverton
Panoramic Point
Extra tips & ideas:
If you’re eloping in a colder season, make sure you & your car are prepared for snowy mountain roads! Click here for advice on winter driving & tire chains in the national park.
Here’s a great list of spots to visit during your time in Sequoia National Park: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Those are, in my opinion, the 6 best spots to elope in California! Which one is your favorite?! Book me now for your California elopement and I’d love to help you craft your perfect elopement at the most magical location!