Elope in California
granite domes, ancient forests, desert blooms, and Pacific coastline
California has the widest range of elopement terrain in the country: granite domes in Yosemite, ancient giants in Sequoia, the silence of Death Valley, and the desert bloom of Joshua Tree. Most California national parks require a Special Use Permit, and the most popular locations fill months ahead. The benefit is the infrastructure: California has the deepest pool of elopement photographers, officiants, and florists of any state. Whatever terrain you are looking for, there is a California park that matches it.
Elopement Locations in California
17 location guides covering granite domes, ancient forests, desert blooms, and Pacific coastline.
- Yosemite National Park: National Park · May through October · Permit: Yes · Fee: $150 non refundable application fee; +$50/hour monitoring fee for outdoor events with 30+ guests
- Sequoia National Park: National Park · May through October · Permit: Yes · Fee: $150 non refundable application fee
- Kings Canyon National Park: National Park · June through October · Permit: Yes · Fee: $150 non refundable application fee
- Joshua Tree National Park: National Park · October through April · Permit: Yes · Fee: $120 non refundable application fee
- Death Valley National Park: National Park · October through April · Permit: Yes · Fee: $300 application fee plus monitoring fees (~$50/hr, 1 monitor per 8 people)
- Redwood National and State Parks: National Park · Year round · Permit: Yes · Fee: NPS pre approved locations $100, other NPS locations $200. California State Park locations (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte, Prairie Creek) have separate fees and require additional insurance documentation (COI with Additional Insured Endorsement + Workers Comp proof). Portrait permit on California State Parks land: $20 per location, additional portrait locations stack at $20 each.
- Channel Islands National Park: National Park · April through October · Permit: Yes · Fee: $250 nonrefundable processing fee · $1M liability insurance required
- Pinnacles National Park: National Park · March through May, September through November · Permit: Yes · Fee: $350 nonrefundable application fee
- Lassen Volcanic National Park: National Park · July through October · Permit: Yes · Fee: $75 nonrefundable application fee
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: State Park · Year round · Permit: Yes · Fee: Contact Big Sur Sector Special Event Permit Office for current fee details
- Point Reyes National Seashore: National Seashore · Year round (spring for wildflowers) · Permit: Yes · Fee: $50 non refundable application fee paid via Pay.gov. Additional cost recovery charges apply if NPS staff must monitor the event.
- Garrapata State Park: State Park · Year round · Permit: Varies · Fee: $150 $400 tiered by size/duration (includes $250 non refundable admin fee). Contact Monterey District at 831 624 3407 for current 2026 rates.
- Salt Point State Park: State Park · Year round · Permit: Yes · Fee: $250 $300 base permit fee plus activity fees. Late applications add $200.
- Alabama Hills: BLM · Spring and Fall (hot summers) · Permit: Varies · Fee: Free for casual use elopements (couple + photographer, no structures). SRP fee varies, contact BLM Bishop Field Office for quote.
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit: National Forest · Summer Fall · Permit: Varies · Fee: Free for noncommercial groups under 75 · Special Use Permit fees apply for 75+
- June Lake Loop, Inyo National Forest: National Forest · Summer Fall (fall colors peak October) · Permit: Varies · Fee: Free for groups of 8 or fewer · Special Use Permit fees apply for 9+
- Mount Tamalpais State Park: State Park · Year round · Permit: Yes · Fee: $50 filing fee + admin fee $175 $375 by group size + location fees $125 $350 by site. Monitoring $90/hr if required.
Permit Guides for California
- Yosemite National Park permit guide ($150 non refundable application fee; +$50/hour monitoring fee for outdoor events with 30+ guests)
- Sequoia National Park permit guide ($150 non refundable application fee)
- Death Valley National Park permit guide ($300 application fee plus monitoring fees (~$50/hr, 1 monitor per 8 people))
- Joshua Tree National Park permit guide ($120 non refundable application fee)
California Marriage License
No waiting period. California offers two license types: a public license (1 witness required) and a confidential license (no witnesses, record sealed from public). Both are valid for 90 days. The confidential option is extremely popular for elopements.
- License fee: $50 to $110
- Wait period: None
- Witnesses required: 1
- License valid for: 90 days