Are you planning to say “I Do” on the beautiful Southern California Coast? San Diegois an incredible place for a destination wedding, especially for those who want to get married right on the sand in the sunshine or in a breathtaking venue.
Image source: True Photography
But planning any wedding can quickly get overwhelming, especially when you’re uncertain of local laws and regulations. We’ve broken down some of the information you’ll need to help you make the right decision for your special day.Locations can be reserved one year in advance on the first working Monday of the month for that month next year, so you can start planning your special day as early as you’d like.
See related: California Beach Wedding Guide
If you want to get marriedat one of San Diego’s beaches, shoreline parks or any of the locations on Mission Bay, you will need a permit. Simply contact the city permit center, which is located in the Balboa Park Administration Building at 2125 Park Blvd. They are open Monday – Friday, from 8 AM – 4 PM.Recorded information is also available at (619) 235-1169.
Image source: True Photography
Wondering about your reception?If you or your group plan to stick by the peach post-vows and you wantto havealcoholic beverages at times or places where it would otherwise be banned, you must obtain a Modified Special Event Permit from the Citywide Office of Special Events. This can also be taken care of at the Balboa Park Administration Building.
Once you have obtained your permits, you can get back to the fun part: The planning.
San Diego and La Jolla Beach WeddingLocations
Here are a few of our favorite places for a beach wedding in the San Diego and La Jolla areas:
Mission Beach
The beaches in this area are continuous, butMission Beach is typically considered to be the beach south of Pacific Beach Drive. There’s a lot of daily activity here, but if you don’t mind the sound of people having fun in the background, it’s a beautiful place for a wedding.
Getting married here requires a permit (mentioned above). And while that’s the only legal requirement, you’ll also be in charge of handling everything yourself, from seating for guests to setting up your ceremony site. For a more private venue, consider a location on the bay side. There are several private resorts and clubs, including a couple mentioned below.
Mission Beach Women’s Club
Image source: Andrew Abouna
The Mission Beach Women’s Clubis a private facility that has a great beach venue available for rent. The facility is located on the bay side of Mission Beach and can be used for both the ceremony and the reception.
ZLAC Rowing Club
Sometimes it’s better to book a venue where you can have it all – a beach wedding and a beautiful reception. America’s oldestwomen’s rowing club is located on Mission Bay, and the clubhouse is an ideal setting for a reception. You can get married on the beach here, but you’ll have to make the arrangements for beach use through the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a hillside park that sits between Point Loma Nazarene University and the ocean. While it is a popular beach for both locals and tourists, the cliffs give it a more secluded look and feel.
If you get married on the beach here, make sure to do your research and plan your ceremony during low tide. Otherwise, this beach is practically non-existent! For this reason, we recommend packing up after the ceremony and having your reception elsewhere. Another alternative is to have the ceremony on the bluff itself (see photo below).
Image source: Eder Photo
Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores Beach
Not only isLa Jolla Shores Beach long, wide and overall massive, but it sits directly in front of the beautiful Kellogg Park. The park has two grassy areas perfect for setting up a ceremony site, or you can choose to get married right on the sand.
This is a very popular beach, so your best bet for a quiet wedding is to have it start early in the day or in the evening (sunset ceremony, anyone?). You may also consider having your ceremony or reception at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, which has a wonderful venue for weddings.
Image source: La Jolla Shores Hotel
Calumet Park, La Jolla
Calumet Park is a small neighborhood park in south La Jolla with a beautiful beach below it. While the beach itself is rocky, you can enjoy astunning wedding ceremony overlooking the ocean if you get married at the park. If you do decide to get married right on the beach, make sure you do so at low tide.
Image source: David Champagne Photography
Cuvier Park at Wipeout Beach, La Jolla
Wipeout Beach is a nice sandy beach that stretches alongCoast Boulevard in La Jolla. The park that overlooks it, Cuvier Park, happens to have a gorgeous onsite wedding venue called the Wedding Bowl. If you decide to wed here, plan ahead… way head. It’s such a sought after wedding site that the city permit department is known to hold a lottery when people apply for the same date.
The Wedding Bowl is used for ceremonies only, not receptions. It can seat 40 people comfortably.
Image source: The Wedding Bowl
Ellen Browning Scripps Park, La Jolla
Image source: Yelp
Ellen Browning Scripps Park is a popular waterfront park in La Jolla, and in fact, it’s one of the most photographed places in the area. Needless to say, it’s also a very popular place to get married. But with proper planning, you should have no trouble getting your permit and setting up your ceremony site.
Please note that the maximum capacity for weddings here is 50 people from June-August and 80 people from September-May.
Santa ClaraPoint, Mission Bay Park
There are many popular places to say “I Do” at Mission Bay Park, but Santa Clara Point on the Mission Bay side of Mission Beach Peninsula is definitely one of the best. Home to several great facilities for both land and water activities, there’s a beautiful grass park here perfect for a small ceremony. There are several beautiful resorts in the area that will be happy to host your reception.
Coronado Beach Wedding Sites
Getting married in the Coronado area? You’ll have a couple of beautiful venues to choose from, including one of San Diego’s most famous spots. To start, you’ll need a wedding permit from the City of Coronado.
Hotel del Coronado
Image source: Lavish Wed / Hotel del Coronado Facebook
The historic and visually stunning Hotel del Coronado offers amazing wedding packages, with settings onsite as well as right on the beach. The hotel itself dates back to 1888, and it has been featured in numerous movies. Call (619)-522-8070 to find out more about getting married here.
Centennial Park
Located on San Diego Bay,Centennial Park is a grassy park with a small sandy beach on either side of it. This is an amazing wedding location since there’s plenty of parking nearby at the Ferry Landing Marketplace. If you have your ceremony here, you can get married with the beautiful city skyline in the background.
Image source: True Photography
Imperial Beach Wedding Venues
Imperial Beachisthe most southwesterly city in the continental United States. It also happens to have several great options for beach weddings.
Imperial Beach City Beach
This is the main beach in Imperial Beach, and it’s definitely popular with the locals. Located between Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard, it’s a long, narrow stretch of sand with lifeguard stations and play areas. The best place to wed here is at thePortwood Plaza Pier, which serves as aserves as a gateway to the beach and has a large entertainment stage you can use for your ceremony site.
Image source: Eder Photo
South Imperial Beach
South Imperial Beach is slightly more secluded than the main city beach, so you’ll probably have a quieter wedding here. The best ceremony site would be atDescanso Avenue and Encanto Avenue. You’ll also have your choice of professional venues in the area, such as the Pier South Resort.
Del Mar Wedding Sites
Del Maris a tiny beach community in San Diego County that happens to be an absolutely magical place to get married.
Powerhouse Community Center
Image source: Culinary Concepts
The Powerhouse Community Center sits directly in front of the beach, and it’s the perfect place to have your wedding and reception all in one spot. They reserve the space up to two years in advance, so with proper planning, you can even have your date of choice. The staff here will handle just about everything for you, or you can opt to bring in your own catering and decor. Best of all, you’ll get plenty of beautiful photos on the beach.
Seagrove Park
Image source: ABM Wedding Photography
Seagrove Park offers a lush, green lawn to get married on with stunning ocean views in the background. It’s located directly above the beach and just a block from the downtown area, so you can have as simple or as lavish of a wedding day as you desire. Click here for more information on reserving it.
Encinitas Wedding Sites
Encinitas is about 25 miles north of San Diego. It has been called one of the best surf towns in America, so if you enjoy a nice vintage beach culture, you’ll love having your wedding here.
Moonlight Beach Overlook,Moonlight State Beach
Moonlight State Beach is operated by the city of Encinitas. The beach itself is beautiful, but the best spot for a wedding is at the Moonlight Beach Overlook. This semi-private park has a spectacular ocean view, and the cement overlook makes the perfect setting.
Image source: Nathan Petty Photographer
Carlsbad Wedding Sites
This seaside resort city is just north of Encinitas. All you need to get married on a beach here is a reservation and a permit, which you can get through theSan Diego Coast District Office of State Parks Department. Call the special events coordinator at (619) 688-3385.
Carlsbad City Beach
Carlsbad City Beach isactually state property within Carlsbad State Park. It’s a beautiful place, but if you decide to get married here, it’s best to have a short ceremony on the sand and then head somewhere else for the reception – there are no restroom facilities at any part of the beach. There are also a number or hotels and resorts that provide excellent wedding venues, including the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Cape Rey,and the Levyland Estatewhich has easy access to the beach.
Image source: Abouna Photo
South Ponto Beach
Image source: Yelp
South Ponto Beach is a day-use area at the south end of South Carlsbad State Beach. The best place for a wedding here is definitely Pelican Point, a beautiful bluff top oasis that overlooks the ocean. The spectacular setting is one your guests will never forget.
ZLAC Rowing Club
Sometimes it’s better to book a venue where you can have it all – a beach wedding and a beautiful reception. America’s oldestwomen’s rowing club is located on Mission Bay, and the clubhouse is an ideal setting for a reception. You can get married on the beach here, but you’ll have to make the arrangements for beach use through the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department.
For more locations, check out our San Diego County Beach Resorts page. For more information on beach weddings in general, see our California beach wedding guide.
