Golden Hour Elopement at Mission Beach in San Diego, CA

Dora and Norm’s golden hour elopement in Mission Beach was a beachy San Diego dream come to life. Typically Mission Beach is known for Belmont Park and that classic beach boardwalk scene in San Diego, but if you head just a little bit further south from the amusement park, the crowds thin out and a nice quiet beach can be found right at the edge of the peninsula.

This slower section of South Mission Beach is like a little oasis in San Diego–there’s enough space to spread out and feel like you have your own little private beach, while also still being within arm’s reach of the busier boardwalk area. It’s the absolute perfect spot to have a private elopement.

Alright, so now let me tell you a little bit about this couple and their elopement!

This is a story about a crazy coincidence and two people who made the most out of the hand that Covid dealt them.

Dora and Norm (who first of all have the cutest names ever am I right?) moved to San Diego RIGHT before everything started to shut down in Southern California. Their original plans for their wedding got sidelined because of Covid, but they decided that this would not be the end of their wedding story.

Instead they decided to say screw it and get married anyways, safely, in their apartment, just the two of them, over Zoom. BUT they knew they wanted to celebrate their wedding with a first look and some SWEET wedding photos together. This is where I come in.

It turns out, that apartment they got married in? Was TWO doors down from where I lived at the time!! Seriously what are the chances?!? We went to the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego for their first look before heading to Mission Beach for their golden hour photos, and it was simply stunning.

Another amazing part of this elopement was the cake cutting that they decided to have back in their room after the beach photo session. They decided on two cakes (obviously these are my people)–one that was sweet and one that was sushi. Yes, you read that right, a sushi cake. It was freaking amazing.

I’m just so in awe of how these two just rolled with every obstacle that was in their way and still found a way to make their wedding entirely beautiful and entirely THEM.

Want a little more inspo for how to change up your wedding plans due to Covid? Check out this gorgeous Big Sur Elopement here. And if you’re ready to book your own beach inspired elopement, slide into my inbox and let’s make it happen!