San Francisco is packed with iconic views, amazing nature, and classic city vibes. And when you’re planning your San Francisco elopement timeline, remember - you can do whatever you want to on your day, and you don’t have to stick to one spot either! Whether you’re chasing golden hour by the Golden Gate Bridge or sharing quiet moments under the redwoods, your elopement day should feel like it was made just for you.
Here’s a real-life example of Nikki and Jay’s 8-hour elopement day in San Francisco to inspire you, plus tips for creating a timeline that’s stress-free, fun, and uniquely you.
About Nikki & Jay
Nikki and Jay pulled a Chandler and Monica with their neighbors to lovers story.
After hanging out a few times, Jay asked, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Nikki asked, “Like right now?”
Jay clarified, “No, in the future.”
She casually agreed, “Yeah, sure.”
The next day, Jay asked again, this time for real, and Nikki said yes. Seven years later, they decided to skip the big wedding chaos and elope in the city they love.
They started with a first look and ceremony at SF City Hall, drawn to the elegance of the grand staircase. While City Hall was the perfect place for their vows, they wanted the rest of their day to showcase the beauty of the city beyond its walls.
After the ceremony, they explored the charming North Beach neighborhood. We stumbled upon a cozy lunch spot for snacks and photos. The cafe’s unexpected quiet corner was perfect for intimate portraits that felt spontaneous and uniquely theirs.
From there, they made their way to Muir Woods, where towering redwoods created the perfect backdrop for quiet, intimate moments. Finally, they ended their day at Battery Spencer, soaking in the golden hour and the iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. With time to breathe and enjoy every stop, their elopement was a perfect reflection of what they wanted their day to be and look like!
After I headed home for the day, they also went to watch a Warriors game. So fun!!
Sample 8-Hour San Francisco Elopement Timeline
An elopement day should feel laid-back and stress-free. As your San Francisco elopement photographer, I LOVE to create a schedule where we don’t have to rush so you can enjoy downtime, get to refuel with food, and have moments just for you without my camera. I always add buffer time between locations to account for possible traffic, parking situations, and walking from one spot to another. So here’s an example of how your day could look like, too!
10:00 am - 10:15 am: First look at City Hall
10:15 am - 10:30 am: Check-in for the ceremony
10:30 am - 10:45 am: Ceremony appointment at City Hall
10:45 am - 11:30 am: Photos around City Hall
11:30 - 11:45 am: Drive to a Second Location - North Beach area
11:45 am - 12:20 pm: Grab a snack in the area
12:20 pm - 1:20 pm: Photos in downtown North Beach
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm: Drive to Muir Woods (about 35 min drive without traffic)
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Photos around Muir Woods
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Drive to Battery Spencer
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Photos Battery Spencer at sunset
6:00 pm - END
7:00 pm: Jay and Nikki went to a Warriors Game after the elopement :)
After their elopement day, Jay said, “8 hours of photoshoot seemed like a very long day of shooting, but it felt very short due to the fun we had.” And this is what I’d like you to keep in mind too - the day will absolutely fly by, and you deserve to have a day full of fun and every moment of that captured!
Tips for a Laid-Back Elopement Day
- San Francisco traffic and parking situation will be one of the wild cards of your elopement day. Building in extra time ensures you’re never rushed, no matter what comes up!
- Stopping for a bite isn’t just practical—it’s a vibe. Nikki and Jay’s spontaneous stop at the cozy cafe turned into one of their favorite moments!
- Choose comfortable shoes! Walking around the city and hiking around places like Muir Woods require comfortable shoes.
- San Francisco’s weather is also rather unpredictable, so bring something to keep you warm, like a cardigan, sweater, or jacket.
- Overall, you need to pack some essentials with you, so you have everything at hand that you may need. So, obviously, your marriage license and IDs, extra water, some snacks in case we don’t stop anywhere for food, an SPF, and your wedding rings! But depending on what your plan is for the day, I will suggest custom extras you should take with you!
As you can see, San Francisco has so much more to offer than just the City Hall, and I really wish more people would see that, just like Nikki and Jay did! If you want to see more elopement location ideas in SF, check out this blog!
Interested in bringing me along for your Bay Area elopement? I'd love to help you plan your elopement in San Francisco and document every moment for you! Check out my investment page to learn more, and get in touch with me!
