Here comes the… Dog? | San Diego, CA | Elopement Photographer
Why an outdoor civil ceremony? So your pup can join of course! 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 is why you should consider an elopement and Civil Ceremony at the Courthouse with your pup(s) when wanting to join your partner in marriage in San Diego County (or anywhere really!)
The Couple.
Lets start with describing this couple. Both are from San Francisco and wanted to get married! Sophia and Pramod are in their mid-20s and live in San Francisco with their Husky mix, Flash. they enjoy relaxing at home with Flash, eating vegetarian food with a glass of red wine and occasionally doing snow/water sports! Flash is a very friendly, easily distracted & lazier husky/pit mix. He loves food! They wanted family and friends to be able to join in on the celebration but were having trouble finding a venue that didn’t have a cap on persons that could attend. They decided to fly to San Diego (where grooms family lives) and get married at the court house! We will see a first generation American couple united in a non traditional Korean and Indian Wedding united at the courthouse with a David’s Bridal cuffed off-the-shoulder stretch crepe jumpsuit instead of dress.
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). There are even hotels in walking distance (which this couple decided to do!). Weather just a ceremony for yourself or to get around headcount issues, consider a civil ceremony!
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.
Here are sneak peeks sent to this beautiful couple for their Marriage
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 San Diego downtown Accessors Building (near the Marriage Hut downtown) 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
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If YOU need any help planning your San Diego Elopement or Civil Ceremony, let me know right here!