Outdoor California Elopement Packages
All of the romance, but none of the drama of a traditional wedding.
My name is Maureen Thomson and I’ve been offering all-inclusive elopement packages in California since 2002. I invite you to ditch the stress of a conventional wedding and elope outdoors in California with us. Choose from secluded coastal sites on California’s sunny shores, or amid spectacular old growth redwoods. I’ll provide you with all the quality you’d expect from a big wedding, but none of the stress that inevitably goes hand in hand with throwing a huge wedding celebration.
Elopements on the California coast are so romantic!
Why Elope in California?
Because of its dramatic shoreline, pristine beaches and massive redwoods, I think a California elopement is absolutely magical.
Together with my photographer-husband, Jeremy Myers, I have uncovered lesser-known and private outdoor sites that are perfect for California elopements. Add in my hand-picked, exceptional wedding professionals, together with our award-winning elopement coordination services and you have everything you’ll need for an unrivaled intimate wedding experience. I’ll personally provide everything you need with my all-inclusive California elopement packages. All you’ll have to do is communicate your wedding vision to me, then show up!
Picture It…
…eloping on the beach in California… an intimate elopement amid towering redwood trees… without another soul in sight…dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean… just the two of you (maybe a few family members—hey, this is your California elopement fantasy, put in whomever you like!). A wedding that is relaxed…you have the time to focus on each other and you’re not obsessed with playing host…having the flexibility to celebrate your day in the way you want. I’ll handle all the details. (I’ve been doing this since 2002, so I know what pitfalls to look out for on your behalf.)
Your wedding day will be followed up with gorgeous photos that capture the essence of who you are as a couple and provide you with a cherished memory of your elopement on the gorgeous California coast.
Where do you even start to plan your California elopement?
The simplest way to start is to contact me about helping you plan your California elopement. I’ll prepare a custom proposal that includes professional services for everything you want. If you book an elopement package with me, I’ll also obtain your venue permit for you. It’ll be one less thing you’ll have to worry about.
Eloping in California doesn’t have to be about accommodating everyone’s wishes except your own. It doesn’t mean cramming in wedding planning time amid the rest of your busy lives or compromising on vendor quality because you’re “not having a real wedding.” (Sez who???) And having an outdoor wedding with a jaw-dropping background doesn’t mean you have to put up with hordes of tourists milling around your ceremony site.
I’m here to help you tell a different wedding story…
…one of ease, joy and lots of smiles as you begin your married life in a peaceful atmosphere of unparalleled beauty. Blue Sky’s all-inclusive California elopement packages allow you to focus on what’s important–the two of you! And when your wedding day is over, you’ll have stunning professional photos to share with friends & family.
Where do you start? There are three general things that most eloping couples need to take care of–and once they are taken are of, they breathe a sigh of relief!
1. Once you decide on a venue, everything else tends to fall into place
Or, at least it does if you have a competent team of professionals working for you! My exclusive California elopement location consulting services will help you find the perfect-for-you outdoor venue to elope in California. I’ll even apply for any needed venue permits for you. I specialize in outdoor locations that offer stunning views that are not the places you’ll hear about when you Google the term “the best places to elope in California.” Because Jeremy and I are locally-based, we have insider knowledge on private and more secluded venues for your California elopement.
From coastal to redwoods–California has it all for your elopement
2. You want to ensure you have the very best California wedding vendors on your team.
This can be a bit tricky to navigate on your own, as many high-quality wedding professionals prefer to work the more lucrative, bigger weddings. Jeremy and I have curated a list of hand picked officiants, photographers, hair and makeup stylists, and florists, to offer you access to the best wedding professionals. The we bundle everything into one convenient, all-inclusive California elopement package so you don’t have to spend hours (days! weeks!) researching, vetting, interviewing and hiring vendors individually.
3. And lastly, you want someone in the know to handle all the details
A big concern that I hear from my couples is how to go about planning their California elopement when they don’t live in the area. Planning a long-distance wedding–even a small one–can feel overwhelming and stressful. It sounds all well and good to say, “oh yes, we simply eloped,” but in reality, destination weddings can have a lot of moving parts–especially if you have guests. That’s where Blue Sky’s hands-on coordination services come into play to offer you total peace of mind. Let us be your local presence and primary point of contact to guide you through the process seamlessly from start to finish.
I’d love to help you plan your California elopement
Skip the traditional-wedding drama. Be it an elopement for two on the beach in Carmel; an intimate rooftop wedding with the San Francisco skyline as your backdrop; a family-only wedding in front of a picturesque Santa Cruz lighthouse; or saying “I do” nestled among the redwoods of Big Sur, I’ll bring your California elopement vision to reality.
Send me an email with as much info as you have and I’ll send over a custom proposal and price quote.
Blue Sky offers elopement packages in these California locations
(in geographic order from north to south)
The legalities of eloping in California
- You’ll need to get a marriage license in California prior to the wedding and the county clerks offices aren’t open on weekends. So plan accordingly if you’re traveling to California from another state.
- You may obtain a marriage license anywhere in the state of California. It doesn’t have to come from the county where you’re getting married.
- Unless you’re getting a confidential marriage license (this is rare), you’ll need one witness to sign the license. If it’s going to be just the two of you at your elopement, the witness can be your photographer.
- If you’re divorced or widowed, you’ll need to give the date and location of the death or divorce.
- California marriage licenses are good as soon as you obtain one; there is no waiting period.
- Your Blue Sky Elopements officiant will file the marriage license with the appropriate county after the ceremony. You have to request a certified copy of your marriage license from the county clerk’s office after you’re married. The clerk in the marriage license office should explain this process to you when you pick up your marriage license.
A permit is required for many California elopements
The state of California governs the majority of outdoor places to elope. Their sites require a permit. And yes–they can be a royal pain in the patootie to acquire. The parks department is divided into different sectors. When obtaining a permit, it’s important to know which sector covers the site and what their fees and processes are. Yes, each sector has its own way of doing things. It’s so complicated, that I wrote a blog post on the details of obtaining an elopement site permit in California.
We’ll guide you on which venues require a permit, and we’ll tell you the permit cost upfront.
If you choose a site that requires a permit, we’ll roll the cost of it into your package with us and apply for the permit on your behalf. Note that we don’t simply “assist” you in applying for the permit, we actually take care of the whole thing. We know most of the clerks in the State of California offices and have developed ongoing relationships with them. We’re familiar with their systems. They know when they work with Blue Sky Elopements, the application will be filled out correctly, submitted the way they want it and paid for promptly. So they tend to respond quickly to us when we submit an application.
Many of the parks department sectors require a refundable damage deposit to elope in California at one of their sites. To make it easier for you, we will pay for this on your behalf. We’ll work with you directly to get reimbursed if you or your guests incur any damages. Note: we’ve been performing elopements in California since 2002, and have never been charged for “damages,” so you’re probably good.
What about private places to elope in California?
We do have access to some private sites, although we try to stay away from traditional wedding venues that charge “big wedding” prices. Most of our private elopement sites are places that aren’t your typical wedding venue. They simply have pretty grounds and are willing to work with us to host the occasional intimate wedding.
It’s difficult to find a totally private beach wedding location in California. All of the beaches and coastal overlooks are public property. There are one or two sites that have balconies overlooking the ocean, and these can give you a private site even though your toes won’t actually be in the sand. Likewise, there are a few vacation rentals with private overlooks of the Pacific Ocean, but these can be quite pricey.
If you want a private place to elope in California, consider a redwood site. We have several affordable, private redwood properties that work with Blue Sky Elopements exclusively. Some of them even offer lodging so you can stay and be married all in one location. Send us an inquiry and we can send you some photos.
Elopement wedding liability insurance
The State of California also requires that couples have a liability insurance policy. This is to protect the state in the event of something unfortunate happening to you or your guests on the wedding day while you are on their property. Blue Sky has this insurance and lists each individual sector of the state so you don’t have to incur the hassle and expense of taking out a separate insurance policy.
If you are on a tighter budget and don’t want the added expense of a site permit included in your California elopement package, then we’ll point you in the direction of permit-free sites.
We’ve scouted out secluded, yet easy to access cliff overlooks for an idyllic elopement.
Questions about our California Elopement Packages
The best way for us to answer your specific questions about our California elopement packages and eloping in California in general is to request a proposal from us. After you review that info, we can set up a time to chat and you can fire away at me with all your questions.
How much does it cost to elope in California with you?
- The cost of our elopement packages varies depending on the size of your party, the services you want and where in California you want to be married. Our basic package for couple-only elopements in California starts at $3,250 and includes help finding a venue, applying for the permit (if needed), a professional wedding officiant, photography for 90 minutes and full coordination of all your services. You can add extra photo time, bridal hair and makeup services and flowers if you like. Please see our pricing page for detailed costs of eloping in California. Better yet–complete our inquiry form and I’ll send over a custom proposal with a more definitive price range.
What is the maximum number of guests I can have at my California elopement?
- We cap our guest counts at 30. Anything more than that is not considered an elopement, and you’re probably better off working with a traditional wedding planner.
Can I set up chairs and/or an arch for my elopement?
- It depends on the site. Some of our private redwood sites, for example, have wedding decks available for use, and these have built-in seating. If you’re envisioning chairs and an arch on the beach, that’s doable, but we’d need to have a third party company come in and set those up for us. That can get pricey. If you simply want seating for a handful of guests that may have difficulty standing for a 12-minute ceremony, our vendors can bring along a couple of chairs.
Can I bring my own photographer?
- Unfortunately, no. Here’s why: I offer stress-free, all-inclusive elopement packages in California. If you bring in an outside photographer, I cannot guarantee the quality of their work or their professionalism. What happens if they get lost on the way to the ceremony venue? Or miss that all-important first kiss as a married couple? Or they obtrusively cut into your vows with their shooting? And don’t even get me started on editing disasters. Blue Sky’s California elopement photographers are experienced professionals who specialize in outdoor, intimate weddings. I simply can’t guarantee that you’ll be thrilled with your wedding photos if you bring in an outside photographer.
Can I bring my own officiant?
- Yes, you can bring your own officiant. There are some drawbacks to that. Having an inexperienced officiant can ruin your ceremony, as well as the pictures that accompany it. If you want to have a family member perform all or part of your ceremony, we have creative ways to make that happen smoothly. We also want to make sure you are legally married at the end of the day, and there are some requirements that must be adhered to in order to make sure that happens. Our professional wedding officiants know the in’s and out’s of officiating your ceremony. If you have a family pastor or other experienced officiant that you want to bring along, that’s perfectly fine. Either way, talk to me about what you’re envisioning and I’ll help you make it happen.
