A courthouse wedding is one of the most underrated ways to get married in San Diego. It's quick, it's affordable, and — done right — it's genuinely beautiful. Here's how it works and how to make sure you actually have great photos of it.
Booking: The San Diego County Clerk handles marriage licenses and civil ceremonies, and both book up. Reserve your ceremony slot well ahead, and get your license first. The County Administration Center location, right on the waterfront downtown, is the most photogenic of the offices.
Timing: Civil ceremony slots are short — often ten minutes. I recommend arriving early for a few relaxed portraits beforehand, then documenting the ceremony itself, then stepping outside for couple portraits along the Embarcadero afterward.
Make it feel like a wedding: Bring a small bouquet, dress how you'll want to remember it, and plan somewhere meaningful for after — a favorite restaurant, the waterfront, a drive to the coast. The courthouse is the paperwork; the day around it is the wedding.
The waterfront location means we can walk straight from the ceremony to the bay, the palm-lined Embarcadero, or over to the county's grand old lobby for a completely different look — all within a few minutes.