Your Elopement Guide to the Monterey Peninsula
The Best Areas to Elope on the Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula is relatively small, and the most popular cities to get married in are Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur. All of these areas, except Carmel Valley, offer beautiful beaches for a scenic ceremony. When we speak with couples, aside from the date, we ask what type of location would most interest them. The most popular are the beach, park, cliff, or redwood grove. Another consideration is privacy, as just about every venue will be in a public area. Some general wedding areas, though, are more secluded than others, and part of our job is to help you discover the perfect wedding venue on the Monterey Peninsula.
Why Should You Elope in Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur?
Over the past 15 years, we have met couples from all over the world who have been blown away by the beauty of the Monterey area. From the rugged cliffs of Northern Big Sur to the tranquil beaches in Carmel and Monterey and parks overlooking the Bay in Pacific Grove, it’s hard to imagine a more gorgeous place to have your wedding ceremony. We are also blessed with amazing vendors, from florists and photographers to officiants and hair and makeup artists. We encourage all of our couples to hire local so that you have professionals who have worked together in the past and have knowledge of the area.
Elopement Checklist
• Select a date (for an elopement, you don’t need much lead time, but a minimum of four weeks is excellent. If you can make plans up to a year in advance, it helps with the availability of venues, vendors, hotels, and restaurants). Weather is a consideration – our best weather months are from May to early November, but we host weddings 12 months a year (from late November - to April, so it’s best to have a bad weather backup plan or to work with a planner (like Elope In Monterey) that will be flexible to move the time or day of your wedding to assure better weather.
• Think about a location. As mentioned, the main outdoor areas are beaches, parks, cliffs, and redwood groves. Other options include hotels (with outdoor patios), churches, golf courses, and private homes.
• Find a wedding company that can help you put together a nice package that includes an onsite planner during your ceremony. You can certainly find all of your own vendors, but one of the nice things about elopements is the lower stress level compared to large weddings. Having someone you can rely on to handle all of the small details goes a long way towards enjoying the process leading up to your wedding day. Read reviews (especially recent ones) on sites such as WeddingWire, TheKnot, and Yelp. A great place to start is to Google the business names (and read Google Reviews, the new industry standard for the wedding industry). Hiring a local company is also very important. We have had last-minute issues come up that we were able to resolve since we know the area (e.g., a wedding booked for a cliff in Big Sur that CalTrans decided to cordoned off, without warning, just a few hours before the ceremony. We knew of several great backup options).
• Think about the timing for your ceremony. Do you want to get married and finish with photos at sunset? Are you interested in a morning wedding at one location followed by photos at a second location and then a lunch reception? The most popular time has been 3 or 4 PM (good for lighting and temperatures). If you do have guests invited, do you want to take photos beforehand, followed by the ceremony, pictures with your friends and family, and then just a few more couples portraits before heading to dinner as a group?
• The two main elements of elopement are the ceremony and the photos. Of course, finding what to wear, where to stay, and what to do while visiting the Monterey Peninsula is also essential. However, the main reason you are visiting our area is to get married, which is done through the ceremony – that is your moment. What kind of ceremony would you like?
For photography, we offer packages starting with just one hour of photos, but you can add as many as you like. Do you prefer to have ceremony photos followed by 45 minutes of couples portraits (and friends and family if in attendance) in one location, or would you instead go to multiple locations and spend more time taking photos? Again, this is your moment, and you want to capture as much of it as possible. Having photos, properly lit, that reflect what your eyes saw (the colors and details) will help you recapture those feelings years later.
• How much time do you want to spend in our area? Are you okay with driving into town, having your ceremony, spending the night, and driving home in the morning, or do you want to make it a ceremony/honeymoon? We love offering advice on things to do and see so that you can maximize your experience.
• Where will you stay and where will you eat after the ceremony? We have over 150 hotels, inns, B&Bs, and resorts on the Monterey Peninsula. Some couples have loved staying in a resort with spa services, while others have preferred a small, quaint bed and breakfast. We love to help and have a preferred list of hotels (and can help you narrow down your list to the best choice). For restaurants, we provide a curated list of restaurants with private and semi-private dining. If it is just the two of you, it opens up even more possibilities, but the Monterey Peninsula has some of the best restaurants in California.
Required Permits and License for Getting Married in Monterey
Although some weddings take place without the proper permits, it is best to follow the rules when possible. Although somewhat rare, we have had times when our company purchased a permit only to find someone else in our “spot” (and then we have had to ask those weddings to relocate since our couples had a permit). Whomever you hire, ask if permits are necessary (they may indicate they are not, but double-check yourself). At a minimum, ensure that your vendor(s) have insurance (especially if you are in a rugged area where someone could trip and fall).
To get married in Monterey County, you need a California wedding license. The license can be obtained from any county clerk's office within California. We also know of a couple of notaries that can issue a license by visiting your hotel room or having you come to their office. There are two types of licenses – public and confidential. For elopements, if it is just the two of you and an officiant, you can only get married with a confidential license since no witness is required (your officiant can’t serve as a witness). The biggest difference between the two licenses is that no one can view your completed wedding license if it is confidential and only you and your spouse can order a copy (unless a legal action). A public license is slightly less expensive, requires at least one witness (max of two) and can be viewed by the general public (online or at the county clerks office).
Why Should You Hire Elope in Monterey?
• We are locally based (our office is on the border of Monterey and Seaside) and have lived in the area for 30 years. We know almost every wedding venue, hotel, and restaurant stretching from Marina to Big Sur and Pacific Grove out to Carmel Valley.
• We love what we do. I know it’s simple to say this, but one of our owners, Brian Borgia, loves romance so much that he wrote a book about it and runs a business (RomanticCelebrations.com) that helps couples celebrate romantic milestones. Brian is married to our other owner, Heidi, and they have enjoyed 25 years of marriage (30 years together). Every wedding is different – couples have different stories that brought them to the moment of marriage, and we are honored to be a part of each celebration.
• We offer a good value. Most of our packages include our officiant and photographer, both at the top of their field but charging less than other professionals with the same experience level. We have always strived to provide a fantastic wedding experience without breaking the bank.
• We have been planning weddings since 2009 and have the level of experience you deserve to ensure a seamless, stress-free event. Brian has personally officiated over 2,500 weddings and planned over 900, ranging from just the couple to 75 guests.
• Check out our reviews at Wedding Wire, The Knot, Yelp, and Google Reviews.
Monterey Wedding Weather Guide (and backup plans)
The Monterey Peninsula is known for having mild weather all year round. Every year, we have several elopement ceremonies in December and January despite the cooler temperatures and chance for rain. Below is a chart of expected temperatures and rainfall by month. Keep in mind that for elopement ceremonies, we can be super flexible. For example, if you have a ceremony on a Thursday at 3 PM and it shows a 50% chance of rain, we could move up or back the time if it gives us a much better chance for clear skies (based on mutual availability). Although we follow five different weather prediction sites, as locals, we can also look outside and get our feel for what to expect. Also, if any last-minute changes need to be made (e.g., moving from the outdoors to an indoor location), we can do this quite quickly.
Fun things to Do while on the Monterey Peninsula for your Wedding
Remember that if you decide to hire us, we LOVE to advise people on what to do. For us, the worst thing is to go to an area, return home, and have people tell you all the things you missed (don’t miss them!)
Bicycling
Favorite Trail: Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
Bike Rental Companies: Adventures By the Sea; Mad Dog Rentals and Tours.
Wine Tasting
Favorite Regions: Wine Tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village and the wineries along River Road (aka The Monterey Wine Trail)
Best Resource: Monterey County Vintners Associations
For Wine Tasting downtown, Carmel-by-the-Sea has over a dozen tasting rooms within one square mile (all walkable)
Hiking
Favorite Trails: All in Big Sur including Garrapata State Park, Andrew Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (For additional trail map information, the site www.AllTrails.com is excellent). For an inland trail with typically warmer weather, Garland Ranch is amazing.
Sailing
Although whale watching is more popular, taking passage on a sailing vessel is much more romantic.
Bella on the Bay
Sail Monterey
Chardonnay Sailing Cruises
Bars
Sometimes, you just need to relax and take a beat before and after your wedding. These places have a great vibe and tasty cocktails.
Dust Bowl
Alvarado Street Brewing Company
Bud’s Bar (and the Terrace Lounge) at La Playa Hotel
Vesuvio’s Rooftop Lounge
Schooner’s at the Monterey Plaza Hotel
The Whiskey Club
The Tap Room at Pebble Beach
Terry’s Lounge at the Cypress Inn
Crown and Anchor
Cibo (live music most nights)
(If you are looking for places that are open really late, Barmel and Sadie’s in Carmel are open until 2 AM)
Day at the Beach
Relaxing on the sand and looking out towards the ocean while listening to the rhythmic beat of the waves can be pretty relaxing. Our favorite beaches are listed below. There are some companies that deliver an entire picnic (not listed because we aren’t sure they are allowed), but you can also find some great delis to pick up some food. Just don’t forget to bring a blanket!
Carmel Beach (Best anywhere from 9th and Scenic to 13th and Scenic)
Stewart’s Cove (where Ocean View Blvd meets Scenic at the Stairs)
Asilomar Beach (there are some smaller beaches nestled just south of Asilomar and along Ocean View Blvd that are also nice and more private)
Frequently Asked Questions
After planning elopement ceremonies for the past 15 years, we have come up with the questions we often get (along with our answers). If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our owner, Brian, at info@weddingsinmonterey.com.
Q: How much time does a planner need to set up an elopement ceremony
A: For us, one week, but ideally, four weeks in advance is great! On average, couples contact us about 4-6 months in advance.
Q: How much are the site fees to get married in different locations?
A: This varies from free up to over $10,000. On average, though, if you have ten or fewer people, we know some beaches and parks with no permit fees. Others, including ones that are more secluded, have a permit/processing fee under $100. You will be looking at somewhere between $1500 - $10,000 for hotels and other event venues.
Q: When is the best time to get married on the Monterey Peninsula?
A: Anytime! The best weather is from May through the middle of November, but every year, we host at least ten weddings in December. Decide on a timeframe that will work best for you and your guests.
Q: I am thinking about bringing my own officiant and photographer from out of the area. Can I just hire someone to coordinate my elopement and get any needed permits?
A: Yes, there are “months of coordinators” that will take the existing vendors you have hired and your location information and then be the point person to make sure everything runs smoothly – from your hair and makeup appointment to your dinner reservation. The charge for this service starts at about $1500 and averages closer to $2500 - $3000. Often, people call us to see if we can just buy them a permit and use our insurance. We cannot do this without being on-site (and compensated in some way that works for both parties). For out-of-town vendors, we have worked with a lot of them, and there are some genuinely talented professionals. Our feeling is that it is better to book locally. There have been some instances that created issues, including: A photographer who didn’t know the area at all and asked our officiant to stay to guide him to where to take photos, A DJ who forgot some of his equipment back in L.A. and could not power his speakers; An officiant who showed up 45 minutes late to the ceremony due to “bad traffic”; A florist who couldn’t find the wedding location in Big Sur.
Q: How big is an elopement ceremony?
A: There has been a lot of discussion about this, with some sources saying it is just two people (plus vendors) while others have said up to 50 people as long as it is a short, simple ceremony and casual reception. Wean elopement is for up to 20 people in attendance. It is more about a state of mind than a guest count. Elopements are ceremonies that can be planned in a short amount of time, the overall cost tends to be lower, and there is less focus on some of the finer details that can stress out a couple (e.g., decorations for 20 tables for a 200-person wedding, for example).
For more information and to ask questions, contact Brian at info@weddingsinmonterey.com
Copyright Borgia & Associates, LLC
2023
The Monterey Peninsula is relatively small, and the most popular cities to get married in are Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur. All of these areas, except Carmel Valley, offer beautiful beaches for a scenic ceremony. When we speak with couples, aside from the date, we ask what type of location would most interest them. The most popular are the beach, park, cliff, or redwood grove. Another consideration is privacy, as just about every venue will be in a public area. Some general wedding areas, though, are more secluded than others, and part of our job is to help you discover the perfect wedding venue on the Monterey Peninsula.
Why Should You Elope in Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur?
Over the past 15 years, we have met couples from all over the world who have been blown away by the beauty of the Monterey area. From the rugged cliffs of Northern Big Sur to the tranquil beaches in Carmel and Monterey and parks overlooking the Bay in Pacific Grove, it’s hard to imagine a more gorgeous place to have your wedding ceremony. We are also blessed with amazing vendors, from florists and photographers to officiants and hair and makeup artists. We encourage all of our couples to hire local so that you have professionals who have worked together in the past and have knowledge of the area.
Elopement Checklist
• Select a date (for an elopement, you don’t need much lead time, but a minimum of four weeks is excellent. If you can make plans up to a year in advance, it helps with the availability of venues, vendors, hotels, and restaurants). Weather is a consideration – our best weather months are from May to early November, but we host weddings 12 months a year (from late November - to April, so it’s best to have a bad weather backup plan or to work with a planner (like Elope In Monterey) that will be flexible to move the time or day of your wedding to assure better weather.
• Think about a location. As mentioned, the main outdoor areas are beaches, parks, cliffs, and redwood groves. Other options include hotels (with outdoor patios), churches, golf courses, and private homes.
• Find a wedding company that can help you put together a nice package that includes an onsite planner during your ceremony. You can certainly find all of your own vendors, but one of the nice things about elopements is the lower stress level compared to large weddings. Having someone you can rely on to handle all of the small details goes a long way towards enjoying the process leading up to your wedding day. Read reviews (especially recent ones) on sites such as WeddingWire, TheKnot, and Yelp. A great place to start is to Google the business names (and read Google Reviews, the new industry standard for the wedding industry). Hiring a local company is also very important. We have had last-minute issues come up that we were able to resolve since we know the area (e.g., a wedding booked for a cliff in Big Sur that CalTrans decided to cordoned off, without warning, just a few hours before the ceremony. We knew of several great backup options).
• Think about the timing for your ceremony. Do you want to get married and finish with photos at sunset? Are you interested in a morning wedding at one location followed by photos at a second location and then a lunch reception? The most popular time has been 3 or 4 PM (good for lighting and temperatures). If you do have guests invited, do you want to take photos beforehand, followed by the ceremony, pictures with your friends and family, and then just a few more couples portraits before heading to dinner as a group?
• The two main elements of elopement are the ceremony and the photos. Of course, finding what to wear, where to stay, and what to do while visiting the Monterey Peninsula is also essential. However, the main reason you are visiting our area is to get married, which is done through the ceremony – that is your moment. What kind of ceremony would you like?
- Short and simple wedding ceremony
- A ceremony that includes your personal vows and perhaps a reading or two
- A custom-written ceremony that chronicles the important moments that brought you to your wedding day.
- Do you want a ceremony that is light with elements of humor or more serious?
For photography, we offer packages starting with just one hour of photos, but you can add as many as you like. Do you prefer to have ceremony photos followed by 45 minutes of couples portraits (and friends and family if in attendance) in one location, or would you instead go to multiple locations and spend more time taking photos? Again, this is your moment, and you want to capture as much of it as possible. Having photos, properly lit, that reflect what your eyes saw (the colors and details) will help you recapture those feelings years later.
• How much time do you want to spend in our area? Are you okay with driving into town, having your ceremony, spending the night, and driving home in the morning, or do you want to make it a ceremony/honeymoon? We love offering advice on things to do and see so that you can maximize your experience.
• Where will you stay and where will you eat after the ceremony? We have over 150 hotels, inns, B&Bs, and resorts on the Monterey Peninsula. Some couples have loved staying in a resort with spa services, while others have preferred a small, quaint bed and breakfast. We love to help and have a preferred list of hotels (and can help you narrow down your list to the best choice). For restaurants, we provide a curated list of restaurants with private and semi-private dining. If it is just the two of you, it opens up even more possibilities, but the Monterey Peninsula has some of the best restaurants in California.
Required Permits and License for Getting Married in Monterey
Although some weddings take place without the proper permits, it is best to follow the rules when possible. Although somewhat rare, we have had times when our company purchased a permit only to find someone else in our “spot” (and then we have had to ask those weddings to relocate since our couples had a permit). Whomever you hire, ask if permits are necessary (they may indicate they are not, but double-check yourself). At a minimum, ensure that your vendor(s) have insurance (especially if you are in a rugged area where someone could trip and fall).
To get married in Monterey County, you need a California wedding license. The license can be obtained from any county clerk's office within California. We also know of a couple of notaries that can issue a license by visiting your hotel room or having you come to their office. There are two types of licenses – public and confidential. For elopements, if it is just the two of you and an officiant, you can only get married with a confidential license since no witness is required (your officiant can’t serve as a witness). The biggest difference between the two licenses is that no one can view your completed wedding license if it is confidential and only you and your spouse can order a copy (unless a legal action). A public license is slightly less expensive, requires at least one witness (max of two) and can be viewed by the general public (online or at the county clerks office).
Why Should You Hire Elope in Monterey?
• We are locally based (our office is on the border of Monterey and Seaside) and have lived in the area for 30 years. We know almost every wedding venue, hotel, and restaurant stretching from Marina to Big Sur and Pacific Grove out to Carmel Valley.
• We love what we do. I know it’s simple to say this, but one of our owners, Brian Borgia, loves romance so much that he wrote a book about it and runs a business (RomanticCelebrations.com) that helps couples celebrate romantic milestones. Brian is married to our other owner, Heidi, and they have enjoyed 25 years of marriage (30 years together). Every wedding is different – couples have different stories that brought them to the moment of marriage, and we are honored to be a part of each celebration.
• We offer a good value. Most of our packages include our officiant and photographer, both at the top of their field but charging less than other professionals with the same experience level. We have always strived to provide a fantastic wedding experience without breaking the bank.
• We have been planning weddings since 2009 and have the level of experience you deserve to ensure a seamless, stress-free event. Brian has personally officiated over 2,500 weddings and planned over 900, ranging from just the couple to 75 guests.
• Check out our reviews at Wedding Wire, The Knot, Yelp, and Google Reviews.
Monterey Wedding Weather Guide (and backup plans)
The Monterey Peninsula is known for having mild weather all year round. Every year, we have several elopement ceremonies in December and January despite the cooler temperatures and chance for rain. Below is a chart of expected temperatures and rainfall by month. Keep in mind that for elopement ceremonies, we can be super flexible. For example, if you have a ceremony on a Thursday at 3 PM and it shows a 50% chance of rain, we could move up or back the time if it gives us a much better chance for clear skies (based on mutual availability). Although we follow five different weather prediction sites, as locals, we can also look outside and get our feel for what to expect. Also, if any last-minute changes need to be made (e.g., moving from the outdoors to an indoor location), we can do this quite quickly.
Fun things to Do while on the Monterey Peninsula for your Wedding
Remember that if you decide to hire us, we LOVE to advise people on what to do. For us, the worst thing is to go to an area, return home, and have people tell you all the things you missed (don’t miss them!)
Bicycling
Favorite Trail: Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
Bike Rental Companies: Adventures By the Sea; Mad Dog Rentals and Tours.
Wine Tasting
Favorite Regions: Wine Tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village and the wineries along River Road (aka The Monterey Wine Trail)
Best Resource: Monterey County Vintners Associations
For Wine Tasting downtown, Carmel-by-the-Sea has over a dozen tasting rooms within one square mile (all walkable)
Hiking
Favorite Trails: All in Big Sur including Garrapata State Park, Andrew Molera State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (For additional trail map information, the site www.AllTrails.com is excellent). For an inland trail with typically warmer weather, Garland Ranch is amazing.
Sailing
Although whale watching is more popular, taking passage on a sailing vessel is much more romantic.
Bella on the Bay
Sail Monterey
Chardonnay Sailing Cruises
Bars
Sometimes, you just need to relax and take a beat before and after your wedding. These places have a great vibe and tasty cocktails.
Dust Bowl
Alvarado Street Brewing Company
Bud’s Bar (and the Terrace Lounge) at La Playa Hotel
Vesuvio’s Rooftop Lounge
Schooner’s at the Monterey Plaza Hotel
The Whiskey Club
The Tap Room at Pebble Beach
Terry’s Lounge at the Cypress Inn
Crown and Anchor
Cibo (live music most nights)
(If you are looking for places that are open really late, Barmel and Sadie’s in Carmel are open until 2 AM)
Day at the Beach
Relaxing on the sand and looking out towards the ocean while listening to the rhythmic beat of the waves can be pretty relaxing. Our favorite beaches are listed below. There are some companies that deliver an entire picnic (not listed because we aren’t sure they are allowed), but you can also find some great delis to pick up some food. Just don’t forget to bring a blanket!
Carmel Beach (Best anywhere from 9th and Scenic to 13th and Scenic)
Stewart’s Cove (where Ocean View Blvd meets Scenic at the Stairs)
Asilomar Beach (there are some smaller beaches nestled just south of Asilomar and along Ocean View Blvd that are also nice and more private)
Frequently Asked Questions
After planning elopement ceremonies for the past 15 years, we have come up with the questions we often get (along with our answers). If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our owner, Brian, at info@weddingsinmonterey.com.
Q: How much time does a planner need to set up an elopement ceremony
A: For us, one week, but ideally, four weeks in advance is great! On average, couples contact us about 4-6 months in advance.
Q: How much are the site fees to get married in different locations?
A: This varies from free up to over $10,000. On average, though, if you have ten or fewer people, we know some beaches and parks with no permit fees. Others, including ones that are more secluded, have a permit/processing fee under $100. You will be looking at somewhere between $1500 - $10,000 for hotels and other event venues.
Q: When is the best time to get married on the Monterey Peninsula?
A: Anytime! The best weather is from May through the middle of November, but every year, we host at least ten weddings in December. Decide on a timeframe that will work best for you and your guests.
Q: I am thinking about bringing my own officiant and photographer from out of the area. Can I just hire someone to coordinate my elopement and get any needed permits?
A: Yes, there are “months of coordinators” that will take the existing vendors you have hired and your location information and then be the point person to make sure everything runs smoothly – from your hair and makeup appointment to your dinner reservation. The charge for this service starts at about $1500 and averages closer to $2500 - $3000. Often, people call us to see if we can just buy them a permit and use our insurance. We cannot do this without being on-site (and compensated in some way that works for both parties). For out-of-town vendors, we have worked with a lot of them, and there are some genuinely talented professionals. Our feeling is that it is better to book locally. There have been some instances that created issues, including: A photographer who didn’t know the area at all and asked our officiant to stay to guide him to where to take photos, A DJ who forgot some of his equipment back in L.A. and could not power his speakers; An officiant who showed up 45 minutes late to the ceremony due to “bad traffic”; A florist who couldn’t find the wedding location in Big Sur.
Q: How big is an elopement ceremony?
A: There has been a lot of discussion about this, with some sources saying it is just two people (plus vendors) while others have said up to 50 people as long as it is a short, simple ceremony and casual reception. Wean elopement is for up to 20 people in attendance. It is more about a state of mind than a guest count. Elopements are ceremonies that can be planned in a short amount of time, the overall cost tends to be lower, and there is less focus on some of the finer details that can stress out a couple (e.g., decorations for 20 tables for a 200-person wedding, for example).
For more information and to ask questions, contact Brian at info@weddingsinmonterey.com
Copyright Borgia & Associates, LLC
2023