Picture an outdoor elopement.
You probably see two people on top of a mountain or by a large body of water. Maybe on the beach or deep in the woods.
Wherever it is, there’s an awesome symbolism in the place you choose to promise yourself to another person. The redwoods towering above you as you exchange vows can help root your relationship. A flash-memory of holding your partner’s hand as the sun goes down on your ceremony can make you forget why you were mad. And yeah, even a mid-ceremony hail storm can imprint on you the ability to overcome anything with a sense of humor.
2020 has taught the world that small, intimate outdoor elopements can be incredibly meaningful. More couples are running off together to get married in nature and capturing their stories with photo and video to then share with their families instead of using a venue and throwing an after party.
If that outdoor ceremony you're picturing is the one you're wanting to have, but aren't sure how to pull it off, this guide is here to help! It's for couples who are looking for a break away from the traditional marriage ceremonies and choosing to go into nature alone or with a handful of loved ones. Especially during this pandemic.
Good news. The "no venue-short ceremony-few guests-beautiful location" approach works great in California's National Parks, Forests, State Parks and other public lands!
There are towering mountains, miles of stunning coastline and beaches, lakes, forests and deserts sweeping throughout the entire state. Scenic-wise, you’re gonna be just fine.
And capturing that day with incredible pictures and a profoundly emotional wedding video? Sand and Stone Media’s totally got you covered. As storytellers we recognize how important location is when capturing authentic moments.
There is a process to accessing many of these locations and when planning your ceremony. You'll need to bear in mind who's land it's on, whether you need a permit, or how accessible it may be.
With all this in mind, we’ll help you find a place to plan your perfect no-venue outdoor elopement ceremony!
We'll walk you through how to choose your location, how to check if it's available and how to get a permit if you need one,
Before we get into it, just know you're always free to reach out to us with any questions. We would love to help you find your perfect spot!
You probably see two people on top of a mountain or by a large body of water. Maybe on the beach or deep in the woods.
Wherever it is, there’s an awesome symbolism in the place you choose to promise yourself to another person. The redwoods towering above you as you exchange vows can help root your relationship. A flash-memory of holding your partner’s hand as the sun goes down on your ceremony can make you forget why you were mad. And yeah, even a mid-ceremony hail storm can imprint on you the ability to overcome anything with a sense of humor.
2020 has taught the world that small, intimate outdoor elopements can be incredibly meaningful. More couples are running off together to get married in nature and capturing their stories with photo and video to then share with their families instead of using a venue and throwing an after party.
If that outdoor ceremony you're picturing is the one you're wanting to have, but aren't sure how to pull it off, this guide is here to help! It's for couples who are looking for a break away from the traditional marriage ceremonies and choosing to go into nature alone or with a handful of loved ones. Especially during this pandemic.
Good news. The "no venue-short ceremony-few guests-beautiful location" approach works great in California's National Parks, Forests, State Parks and other public lands!
There are towering mountains, miles of stunning coastline and beaches, lakes, forests and deserts sweeping throughout the entire state. Scenic-wise, you’re gonna be just fine.
And capturing that day with incredible pictures and a profoundly emotional wedding video? Sand and Stone Media’s totally got you covered. As storytellers we recognize how important location is when capturing authentic moments.
There is a process to accessing many of these locations and when planning your ceremony. You'll need to bear in mind who's land it's on, whether you need a permit, or how accessible it may be.
With all this in mind, we’ll help you find a place to plan your perfect no-venue outdoor elopement ceremony!
We'll walk you through how to choose your location, how to check if it's available and how to get a permit if you need one,
Before we get into it, just know you're always free to reach out to us with any questions. We would love to help you find your perfect spot!
Legal Requirements
You’ll need to get your marriage license from the County Clerk’s office within 90 days before the ceremony, then take that piece of paper with you to the ceremony for the officiant and witnesses to sign. The specific processes and fees are different for each county, so you’ll need to check the info on the County Clerk’s official websites. You don’t need to get a license in any specific county, just choose whichever location is easiest for you.
Different Marriage Licenses
The state of California offers two types of marriage licenses, a public one and a confidential one.
For a list of requirements for each license, here’s a link to the California Department of Public Health Website.
California Department of Public Health Vital Records: Marriage Licenses
COVID NOTE: During the COVID-19, pandemic, many county clerk services are not providing in-person marriage licenses. L.A. county, for example, is only issuing licenses via teleconference. You’ll need to visit your county’s marriage license page to get specific information on cost and availability of marriage licenses.
The Officiant
You’ll need to hire a legally certified officiant to perform the ceremony. You also have the option to have a family member or friend become a Deputy Marriage Commissioner to officiate your ceremony depending on which county you’re in.
Different Marriage Licenses
The state of California offers two types of marriage licenses, a public one and a confidential one.
- The public license is the more common one. It’s purchased by the couple at the county clerk’s office at least 90 days before the ceremony. They typically run at around $90 depending on the county.
- The confidential license is issued when the couple meets certain requirements like living together before marriage. A confidential license is provided if the minister is the one issuing it at the ceremony instead of the county clerk.
For a list of requirements for each license, here’s a link to the California Department of Public Health Website.
California Department of Public Health Vital Records: Marriage Licenses
COVID NOTE: During the COVID-19, pandemic, many county clerk services are not providing in-person marriage licenses. L.A. county, for example, is only issuing licenses via teleconference. You’ll need to visit your county’s marriage license page to get specific information on cost and availability of marriage licenses.
The Officiant
You’ll need to hire a legally certified officiant to perform the ceremony. You also have the option to have a family member or friend become a Deputy Marriage Commissioner to officiate your ceremony depending on which county you’re in.
Location
Alright this is either the fun part, or if you’re easily overwhelmed with decisions, maybe the hardest part. Where do you want to get married? On top of a mountain in Yosemite? The Central California coast? Your uncle's backyard? Out in the desert next to Joshua Trees? Try to find something with some significance to you and your relationship. Could be you’ve always known and now you’re pulling the trigger. Either way, the spot is all up to you.
Some things to consider are location accessibility, guest count, season, time of day and number of kids who could be running around in the background. Will you be hiking to the top of a mountain with your officiant and photographer or will you have a small tribe of your closest family members gather at a park? Will it be Labor Day weekend with tourists packing onto beaches? Is it stormy in Big Sur? Wildfire season in California has been brutal lately too so, ya know, keep that one in mind.
Another hugely important consideration is whether you're allowed to have a ceremony there at all. California is broken up into different land stewardships, with Yosemite National Park for example having different requirements than Los Padres National Forest which has different requirements than Garrapata State Park and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Some things to consider are location accessibility, guest count, season, time of day and number of kids who could be running around in the background. Will you be hiking to the top of a mountain with your officiant and photographer or will you have a small tribe of your closest family members gather at a park? Will it be Labor Day weekend with tourists packing onto beaches? Is it stormy in Big Sur? Wildfire season in California has been brutal lately too so, ya know, keep that one in mind.
Another hugely important consideration is whether you're allowed to have a ceremony there at all. California is broken up into different land stewardships, with Yosemite National Park for example having different requirements than Los Padres National Forest which has different requirements than Garrapata State Park and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.
National Parks
Each of California’s National Parks have their own unique scenic personalities. You have the glacier-carved valleys of Yosemite, the enormous redwoods in Sequoia and King’s Canyon, Death Valleys open landscapes and Joshua Tree’s psychedelic skies. National Parks are great ‘cause they’re accessible and accommodating and you won’t have to go through much trouble to find a private area and a scenic setting.
Keep in mind, though, that National Parks are popular during certain seasons so you’ll have to plan ahead. Also, any wedding or elopement that takes place within one will require a Special Use Permit.
Permit permit fees range depending on the park, and you’ll need to personally get in touch with the park through their website to get one. You’ll also need to pay a location fee, which can vary depending on group size and area as well as a film permit for photography and video services. Some parks will also require a monitor service meaning a park ranger comes to watch over the ceremony.
Here are some links to the official Wedding Permit Information on each National Park’s website.
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park (Quick tip: Do a word search for “wedding” since there’s a lot of other stuff on there, too.)
Channel Islands National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwoods National Park
COVID NOTE: Regulations are in a constant state of change during the pandemic and the best way to stay updated is using these links.
Each of California’s National Parks have their own unique scenic personalities. You have the glacier-carved valleys of Yosemite, the enormous redwoods in Sequoia and King’s Canyon, Death Valleys open landscapes and Joshua Tree’s psychedelic skies. National Parks are great ‘cause they’re accessible and accommodating and you won’t have to go through much trouble to find a private area and a scenic setting.
Keep in mind, though, that National Parks are popular during certain seasons so you’ll have to plan ahead. Also, any wedding or elopement that takes place within one will require a Special Use Permit.
Permit permit fees range depending on the park, and you’ll need to personally get in touch with the park through their website to get one. You’ll also need to pay a location fee, which can vary depending on group size and area as well as a film permit for photography and video services. Some parks will also require a monitor service meaning a park ranger comes to watch over the ceremony.
Here are some links to the official Wedding Permit Information on each National Park’s website.
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park (Quick tip: Do a word search for “wedding” since there’s a lot of other stuff on there, too.)
Channel Islands National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwoods National Park
COVID NOTE: Regulations are in a constant state of change during the pandemic and the best way to stay updated is using these links.
State Parks
Just because state parks are kinda like national parks’ overshadowed little brother doesn’t mean they have anything less to offer. California has 280 state parks, and while not all of them are wedding-friendly, it’s a little overwhelming how many places there are to choose from. You want a beach? Try Año Nuevo State Park south of the bay area. Want some Redwoods? Calaveras in the Sierras or Nicene Marks by Santa Cruz. An old historic building as a backdrop? Bidwell Mansion in Chico.
The list of requirements for special use permits varies a ton, depending on the park. Some will need special permitting and location reservations, others won’t.
SO, to make it easy for you, we’ve included this map of all of California’s State Parks.
Search around till you find a place you like, click on it and follow the link to the Park’s website to get the permitting info. Sometimes you’ll have to call or email directly.
Just because state parks are kinda like national parks’ overshadowed little brother doesn’t mean they have anything less to offer. California has 280 state parks, and while not all of them are wedding-friendly, it’s a little overwhelming how many places there are to choose from. You want a beach? Try Año Nuevo State Park south of the bay area. Want some Redwoods? Calaveras in the Sierras or Nicene Marks by Santa Cruz. An old historic building as a backdrop? Bidwell Mansion in Chico.
The list of requirements for special use permits varies a ton, depending on the park. Some will need special permitting and location reservations, others won’t.
SO, to make it easy for you, we’ve included this map of all of California’s State Parks.
Search around till you find a place you like, click on it and follow the link to the Park’s website to get the permitting info. Sometimes you’ll have to call or email directly.
National Forest
National Forests are a fantastic place if you’re looking for a more rugged and rustic outdoor elopement ceremony. California has a ton of National Forest Land and while they’re divided into sections, the general rule of National Forest permits is that they’re needed for groups with more than 75 people.
National Forests are the kind of place you can elope for free and if you're willing to camp, hike, backpack or just explore without worrying about permits, this is the ideal place.
We’ve linked another map of California’s National Forest land. To find out more info on an area, click on it and follow the link.
National Forests are a fantastic place if you’re looking for a more rugged and rustic outdoor elopement ceremony. California has a ton of National Forest Land and while they’re divided into sections, the general rule of National Forest permits is that they’re needed for groups with more than 75 people.
National Forests are the kind of place you can elope for free and if you're willing to camp, hike, backpack or just explore without worrying about permits, this is the ideal place.
We’ve linked another map of California’s National Forest land. To find out more info on an area, click on it and follow the link.
Other Public Lands
There are lots of public lands around you, and they’re divided up into places like Open Space Preserves, County Parks, Recreation Areas or Wildlands. California is full of public spaces that you can choose to elope in and the process is usually pretty easy and straightforward. Permits aren’t very expensive compared to a venue and with some planning, you can make your wedding day a stress free adventure in an incredible place!
Quick little note here. We always recommend getting the proper wedding permits, but in some places, a small outdoor elopement ceremony that lasts only a few minutes doesn’t require one.
We would love to help you with any questions you have about locations for planning your outdoor elopement in California! We’re storytellers and we know the power of locations for setting the tone. Where you choose to elope sets the tone for the rest of your relationship.
Leave No Trace
Remember guys, as with any sort of outdoor activity, to take care of our outdoor spaces and pack out anything you bring in with you.
There are lots of public lands around you, and they’re divided up into places like Open Space Preserves, County Parks, Recreation Areas or Wildlands. California is full of public spaces that you can choose to elope in and the process is usually pretty easy and straightforward. Permits aren’t very expensive compared to a venue and with some planning, you can make your wedding day a stress free adventure in an incredible place!
Quick little note here. We always recommend getting the proper wedding permits, but in some places, a small outdoor elopement ceremony that lasts only a few minutes doesn’t require one.
We would love to help you with any questions you have about locations for planning your outdoor elopement in California! We’re storytellers and we know the power of locations for setting the tone. Where you choose to elope sets the tone for the rest of your relationship.
Leave No Trace
Remember guys, as with any sort of outdoor activity, to take care of our outdoor spaces and pack out anything you bring in with you.
Other Spaces:
Private Land (a.k.a. Grandpa and Grandma's backyard)
Some of the best weddings we've seen have been backyard weddings. During the pandemic, we saw people make their yards into some of the most beautiful looking venues out there. So never underestimate the potential of a close friend or family member's backyard, cabin, farm or beachfront home.
Venues (not covered in this article)
As far as outdoor venues go, there are thousands to choose from in California. Many of them offer gorgeous views and great accommodations. These are mainly for larger ceremonies but many are perfect for small elopement ceremonies, too.
Private Land (a.k.a. Grandpa and Grandma's backyard)
Some of the best weddings we've seen have been backyard weddings. During the pandemic, we saw people make their yards into some of the most beautiful looking venues out there. So never underestimate the potential of a close friend or family member's backyard, cabin, farm or beachfront home.
Venues (not covered in this article)
As far as outdoor venues go, there are thousands to choose from in California. Many of them offer gorgeous views and great accommodations. These are mainly for larger ceremonies but many are perfect for small elopement ceremonies, too.
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