Four reasons why courthouse weddings are underrated | San Diego, CA | Elopement Photographer
Why the courthouse? If you are planning to ditch the big wedding for now, and go for something more intimate, a San Diego Courthouse Civil marriage deserves huge consideration!
Here are 4 reasons why you should consider an elopement and Civil Ceremony at the Courthouse when wanting to join your partner in marriage in San Diego County (or anywhere really!)
Cost.
Perhaps the biggest reason why a civil ceremony should be considered is the COST of weddings in 2022. There’s finding the date, location, specific venue, planner, making a guest list, find a florist, officiant, FOOD, Alcohol, maybe find a hairstylist and makeup artist, sending out save the dates, finding a photographer (Hi, right here) and we all charge for our time.
$70. That’s all you need for your license in San Diego! The Civil Marriage Ceremony fee is $88 ands they can even provide a witness for $18. Easy day! you can find out more here.
Wiggle Room.
Want to get married now to be united but have a ceremony on a specific date that suites important family members? Perfect! Even if this is the only ceremony you want, you can go out to lunch or have a nice celebration on the beach with family and friends (or just the two of you at a fancy Airbnb or hotel).
Timeline.
You’re in love. You want to get on with your union and celebrate what you have with those closest to you. The only timeline you have to consider is the amount of time it takes to apply for a license which is DAYS not months or years. My husband and I decided to have a civil ceremony in San Luis Obispo. I got my dress at ROSS the night before. We were ready and it was time; just us. Of course, at our ten year mark we do want to have a “real” reception with those we love but it will be a few years from now when we don’t have to worry about the current pandemic.
Stress.
There is a HUGE amount of stress associated with wedding planning. There’s even a job title of wedding planner for this reason! Location? Taken care of. Officiant and witnesses? Sorted. Paperwork? Still have to do it, but you can literally pick up your license and get married at the same place. Photographer? Hi, right here.
If you aren’t inviting anyone, if it’s just the two of you…? Even easier.
Ending notes.
As already said, I did a courthouse marriage. I took a train up to SLO, got my Jean dress the night before at Ross, my mother-in-love video recorded it, and we took selfies in a local park after and had dinner at Madonna Inn. It was perfect! It was exactly what I wanted. I’m an elopement photographer for a reason. I don’t photograph large traditional weddings because they just don’t resonate with me, and everyone deserves to have the people at their wedding be fully on board with what’s going on. Anything under 50 people and I am your gal! I’ll hold your dress, fix bobby pins, tell you how to pose, and everything in between.
How to do this in San Diego CA.
Visit the county assessor’s website and fill out your application and make an apt at one of their beautiful locations! The photos shown in this post are at the Marriage Hut downtown 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
All Recent Blogs
Dedicated to serving others in a NEW way, that doesn’t involve active service in the military. I want to capture your special moments and help in any way I can.
If YOU need any help planning your San Diego Elopement or Civil Ceremony, let me know right here!
Instagram Journey
Recent Portrait Blog Posts
Tag Cloud
- Airport Homecoming
- at home session
- Author Recommendations
- Award Ceremony
- BalticBorn
- Big Brother
- Big Sister
- birth
- Children Portraits
- Client Closet
- Couples
- Courthouse Elopement
- COVID-19
- Deployed Mom
- Dogs
- dogs
- Elopement
- Engagement
- Extended Family Session
- Families
- families
- Family Updates
- Female Service Member
- Fresh 48
- Funeral
- Graduation Photos
- headshots
- HM
- homebirth
- Lifestyle
- marine boort
- Marine Bootcamp Graduation Tips
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot
- Marine Drill Instructor
- maternity
- mcas miramar photographer
- military
- Military
- military advice
- Military Advice
- military event
- Military Funeral
- Military Graduation
- Military Homecoming San Diego
- Military Officer
- military promotion
- Military Promotion
- Military San Diego
- military san diego
- Military Spouse
- Miramar National Cemetery
- Morning Owl Fine Art Photography
- Naval Base San Diego
- Navy Officer
- navy photographer
- Navy Photographer
- Navy Photos
- New Dad
- New Marine Parent
- Newborn
- newborn
- Newborn Boy
- Newborn Fresh 48
- Newborn Lifestyle
- newborn lifestyle
- Newborn Photo Tips
- newborn photo tips
- novalee
- Nursing Portraits
- One Year Milestone Session
- Personal Update
- Photographer Life
- Portraits
- portraits
- Post-Deployment
- retirement
- San Diego Beach Photo Session
- San Diego Courthouse Wedding
- San Diego Events
- san diego events
- san diego homecoming photographer
- San Diego International Airport
- San Diego Marines
- San Diego Maternity
- San Diego Military Events
- San Diego Military Photographer
- san diego military photographer
- San Diego Newborn
- san diego newborn
- Studio Portraiture Work
- Styled Session
- Submarine
- tips & tricks
- United States Navy
- United States Sailor
- US Marine Corps
- US Navy
- USNS Mercy
- Veteran
- Wedding
Getting a degree while active duty is hard enough… What about graduating with honors while deployed!?!
Here is why this US Navy Sailor, PS1 Travis Houston, is making waves in San Diego. Personnel Specialist First Class Travis Houston is a dedicated sailor with eight years of service under his belt with an unwavering commitment to advancing in his Navy career. It hasn’t always been this way. PS1's story isn't just about military service; it's a testament to the ability to balance service and education while setting one's sights on a brighter, even more challenging future.