Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you wanted to know about Eloping in Southern California
How do you Elope in Southern California?
Eloping is a fast, easy, and affordable way to get married, perfect for couples looking for a stress-free wedding experience. Whether you want an intimate ceremony with just the two of you or a celebration with up to 25 friends and family, elopements offer flexibility and simplicity.
Steps to Get Married in Southern California
1. Obtain a Marriage License
The marriage license is your permission to get married. We can issue it to you instantly at our office or a anywhere in California. You can also get it at the County Clerk’s office, often involving long lines and hard to get appointments. For more details and requirements, visit Our Marriage License page.
2. Choose a Wedding Ceremony Location
In Southern California, you can elope almost anywhere. Choose from Beautiful Beaches, our Cute Little Wedding Chapel or Anywhere like your home, a scenic park, or any cool spot you can find. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to create a unique and memorable wedding day. An elopement ceremony can be as simple as saying “I Do” or a custom-designed celebration of your love story. You will work with your chosen officiant to design the ceremony to your liking.
3. After Ceremony
After the ceremony, the documents are turned into the County Clerk’s Office to be recorded. If you requested copies, the County Clerk, will mail the certificates to you.
That’s it! It is SO simple. When you book with us we handle everything to make your elopement in Southern California a seamless and joyous experience.
Start by filling out our Availability form t then once you are ready place the $200 Retainer to book your event oday for a stress-free, unforgettable elopement in the beautiful settings of Southern California.
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Helpful Things to Know About Eloping With Elope Today
Do we need a permit to get married on the beach in Southern California?
Yes, no, and maybe.
Many Southern California beaches allow small wedding ceremonies of up to 25 people without a permit when there is no large setup involved. This applies to most beaches we regularly work on.
Laguna Beach is the primary exception and does require a wedding permit for beach ceremonies. If you would like to elope in Laguna Beach, we can assist you with the required permits.
To get started, choose a beach location from our Beach Elopement page and submit the Availability Request form. Once we confirm your date, time, and officiant, you place the $200 retainer, complete the marriage license application, and your elopement planning begins.
How many people can attend a ceremony at Our Cute Little Wedding Chapel or Wedding Terrace?
Our Cute Little Wedding Chapel and Wedding Terrace can accommodate up to 30 guests, or just the two of you if you prefer a private ceremony.
This is one of the easiest ways to get married in Southern California. When you arrive, we can issue your marriage license on site, or you may bring one from the County Clerk’s office. We then perform your ceremony in the chapel or on the terrace. Most ceremonies take 30 minutes or less.
We can also assist with photos, either through our staff photographer or by taking photos on your smartphone.
Do you provide flowers, photography, or video for beach or off site elopements?
For beach elopements and other off site locations, Elope Today focuses on planning, officiant services, and marriage licenses. After you book your elopement, you will receive a confirmation email with a curated list of trusted, affordable local vendors for flowers, photography, and video.
Each vendor offers their own style and pricing, allowing you to choose what best fits your vision and budget.
Do you decorate the Wedding Chapel and provide photography there?
Yes.
For ceremonies held at Our Cute Little Wedding Chapel it is already decorated and on the Tropical Terrace, we decorate it with draping and amazing silk florals and can provide a photography package and upload the pictures to a secure online portal for you to view and download. We set it up to be styled to feel warm, welcoming, and wedding ready.
You can also bring your own photographer at no additional fee.
Are pets allowed at our elopement?
Well behaved pets are welcome at Our Cute Little Wedding Chapel.
Beach locations are more restrictive. While a few dog friendly beaches exist in Southern California, most beaches do not allow dogs, even for weddings. If having your pet present is important, we can help you explore pet friendly options such as the chapel, private homes, or backyard elopements.
Do we need witnesses?
It depends on the type of marriage license you have.
If you have a Confidential Marriage License, which we can issue to you, witnesses are not required.
If you have a Public Marriage License obtained from the County Clerk’s office, one or two witnesses are required to sign the license.
If needed, we can often provide witnesses.
Do we need blood tests to get married?
No. Blood tests have not been required in California for more than 25 years.
If you are a zombie, we still cannot legally marry you. At least for now.
Where can we elope in Southern California?
Almost anywhere that is meaningful to you.
Elope Today performs elopements on the beach, at Our Cute Little Wedding Chapel, in private homes, backyards, parks, gardens, and other approved locations throughout Southern California.
If the location is legal and accessible, we can usually make it happen.
Can we get married the same day?
Yes, in many cases.
Because we can issue confidential marriage licenses and provide officiants, same day elopements are often possible. Availability depends on the date, time, and location.
Do you offer religious and non religious ceremonies?
Yes.
We perform religious and non religious wedding ceremonies. Ceremonies can be traditional, spiritual, secular, or customized to reflect your beliefs and values. The tone and style are always guided by the couple.
What are your hours?
All elopements and ceremonies are by appointment only.
We perform weddings year round, including weekends and holidays, based on scheduled availability. Once your appointment is confirmed, we dedicate that time exclusively to you.
If you have additional questions about eloping in Southern California, we are always happy to guide you through the process. Eloping should feel simple, meaningful, and stress free, and that is exactly what Elope Today is here to provide.