San Francisco City Hall

When most people think of eloping running off to city hall probably comes to mind first. San Francisco City Hall is one of the prettiest buildings in the area and makes for an excellent location for smaller wedding ceremonies. To learn more about how to get married at SF City Hall, check out our resource guide.

Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office

By no means as majestic as San Francisco City Hall, the Clerk-Recorder’s office in downtown Oakland is an easy option for couples wanting to get married in Oakland. It’s right downtown, accessible to public transportation, and afterwards you can celebrate at some wonderful Oakland restaurants. To learn more about the process visit their website.

Tilden Botanic Garden

Tucked away in Tilden Regional Park is the Tilden Botanic Garden. The garden's 10 acres is home to hundreds of native plant species found throughout all of California's various landscapes. Among them is a beautiful Redwood Grove which makes for the perfect ceremony setting. For information on reserving the Redwood Grove visit here.

Lake Merritt Bandstand

The Edoff Memorial Bandstand is located in Lakeside Park across from the Gardens at Lake Merrit and not far from Childrens Fairyland. The bandstand is an elegant structure that's been apart of Lake Merritt since 1918. For rental information visit the City of Oakland's website.

East Bay Hills

One of our favorite things about the East Bay is it’s proximity to nature. The East Bay Regional Parks District oversees the largest park district in the country and it’s filled with beautiful spots. Whether you're looking to get married in the forest under the redwoods or surrounded by rolling hills, the East Bay hills probably have what you're looking for. We love Redwood Regional Park, Briones, and the Mt. Diablo foothills.

Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands are located at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge. This area is all part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and managaged by the National Park Service. It's a beautiful place to consider for your elopement but there are specific areas where you can marry, relatively high permit fees, and limited availability. Learn more about special use permits here.

You can find all of the available locations listed on this interactive map that the park service provides. Each location card will list information about the location including the amount of people allowed and reservation restrictions.

For panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco skyline, we reccomend Hawk Hill.

Mt. Tamalpais

Mt. Tam in Marin County is another great option to think about in the North Bay. There are a handful of reservable ceremony locations throughout the park. Trojan Point is our favorite. It has easy to access parking and sweeping views of the ocean. The reservation fee is $450.00

Hang Glider Sites #1 and #2 can be reserved for $300.00. These sites overlook the ocean with views of Stinson Beach and Point Reyes.

These spots are beautiful all year round in our opinion but vary greatly depending on weather. In the Spring you'll be treated to beautiful green hills. By early Summer the landscape will be dry and golden but still lovely. With its higher elevation and proximity to the ocean, Mt. Tamalpais can get down right chilly, windy, and foggy.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Probably the closest we get to a national park in the Bay Area is Point Reyes. This protected area has beautiful coastal cliffs and miles of trails through grassland and forest. For information on reservable locations and permit fees visit the park's website.

Santa Cruz

This little beach town has a special place in our hearts. You can be under the redwoods or on the beach all within a very short drive of one another.

The Redwood Loop at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park has towering old growth trees. Ceremonies here are limited to 1 hour and have a 20 person max. For booking information, contact the Santa Cruz Mountain Sector of California State Parks at mountain.sector@parks.ca.gov

If it's a beach elopement you're after, we think Scott Creek Beach just out of town is great. It's not as popular with tourists which can make it a little more private. For information on reservations and other available beaches visit Santa Cruz County Parks. Afterwards you could check out Wilder Ranch State Park which doesn't allow weddings but it's a beautiful spot for some portraits.

Big Sur

While Big Sur isn't exactly the Bay Area it's not too far away and we think it's worth the drive.

Garrapata State Park is one of our favorite Big Sur wedding sites. Get married overlooking the crashing waves and rugged coastline or take the trail inland just a bit and say "I do" in the forest.

Pfeiffer Beach appears to only allow weddings outside of March - October which can make scheduling around weather a bit tricky. It's not part of the California State Park system but instead is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. You can get more information here.

Sea Ranch Chapel

Up the coast along Highway 1 is perhaps one of the most interesting and quirky little spots to exchange vows. Located 2.5 hours from San Francisco, The Sea Ranch Chapel is a non-denominational chapel that looks like it came straight out of Lord of the Rings. Visit their website for more information.

File for a Wedding License

Specific requirements will depend on the county where you’re filing your wedding license. Your ceremony can take place in a different county but your wedding license must be returned by your officiant within 10 days to the county where you filed for the license. Every county will require you to arrange your license in person and provide identification. Licenses issued in California are valid for up to 90 days. Your license will likely be issued to you on the same day but it’s a good idea to secure your wedding license with before your wedding date.

The cost of wedding licenses in California varies by county. Wedding licenses issued in Contra Costa County are $86.00, $91.00 in Alameda County, and in San Francisco County they are $110.00.

Wedding Permits in the Bay Area

Depending on your ceremony location you may need a special use permit and pay a fee. Many Bay Area parks, California State Parks, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area require administration fees and special use permits prior to getting the green light to move forward with your ceremony plans. If you are hiring a professional wedding officiant, consult with them about your location as they may have prior experience. Alternatively, contact the parks office or local jurisdictions website to see if your event falls under the special event requirements.

Some smaller gatherings may not require a wedding permit but it is heavily dependent on location. Most of the locations above are popular places and permits are enforced. However, if you plan to elope with just your partner, officiant, and a photographer and your location is a bit more remote, you might not need to worry about a permit.

Bay Area Wedding Officiants

Anyone authorized by a religious congregation or secular organization can perform a wedding ceremony. You may have a good friend or family member in mind and that’s perfect. Double check that they meet the necessary requirements and get deputized by the appropriate county. Alternatively, you might be keeping the whole thing on the down low from friends and family and need a professional. Elizabeth River and Lili of Weddings of Heart are both wonderful officiants who help couples create ceremonies that are authentic and unique. They’re both well-versed in elopements, the Bay Area, and California marriage law.

Witnesses

The State of California requires that you have one witness present. There’s no age limit but your witness needs to be old enough to know they are witnessing a marriage ceremony. If you’re keeping your ceremony small, we’re more than happy to sign.

Weather in the Bay Area

You probably already know the saying about summer in San Francisco. Suffice to say weather in the Bay Area is beautiful throughout most of the year but it can be a little tricky to nail down. It’s not uncommon to get beautiful sunny days in January and February. Some of our favorite beach days have been during the winter! If your ceremony location is near the coast, keep in mind that the marine layer may be present. Sometimes it burns off in the early afternoon and returns in the evening and other times it's there all day. Depending on the location, picking a wedding a date in August, September, or early October will increase your chances of California sunshine. These are the driest, warmest months of the year but also some of the busiest for tourists.

If you do luck out and get a sunny day, avoid having your ceremony in the afternoon when light is at its strongest. Nobody wants squinty photos in hard light.

Best Time of Day for your Wedding Ceremony

The best time to elope for most locations in the Bay Area is definitely during the week and in the morning or early evening. The Bay Area in Summer is a busy place and unless you want your wedding party to include hundreds of out-of-towners it’s best to stick to the weekdays. Exchanging your vows in the morning or early evening can work lovely for photos too as light is at it’s best. Be sure to check sunrise and sunset times and work with your photographer to pick the best time for photos. We work closely will all our clients to build out the perfect elopement day timeline.

If you're having a beach elopement it's important to keep in mind what the ocean will be doing when you’re out there. Be sure to check the weather forecast as well as tide tables. Conditions can change quick so be safe out there!