5 Things No One Tells You About Getting Married in San Clemente (From Two Locals Who Are Dreaming of Capturing More Love Stories Here)
Living in San Clemente means we get to wake up every day to the ocean breeze, palm trees, and people running out on their e-bike to catch a morning surf. While most of our wedding work has taken us all over California, from Temecula vineyards to Big Bear Mountain, one of our biggest goals this year is to shoot more weddings right here in our own hometown.
As locals, we’ve spent years chasing sunsets on the beach trail, grabbing tacos after beach days, and photographing families and engagement sessions around town. And even though we haven’t captured a full wedding here (yet!), we’ve scouted, explored, and obsessed over the best local venues and photo spots and we’re dying to tell more love stories in San Clemente.
So if you’re thinking about getting married here, here are a few little things no one tells you about weddings in San Clemente (from two locals who know the town better than most).
The Light Hits Different Here
Golden hour in San Clemente isn’t your average sunset. The cliffs, the pier, and those bluff trails change how the light moves, and it tends to dip behind the bluffs about 15–20 minutes before actual sunset time.
Pro tip: Always plan your portraits earlier than you think — and if you’re getting married at Casa Romantica or Casino San Clemente, check how the light hits your ceremony site at the exact ceremony time.
Parking Can Be a Sneaky Challenge
Even though it’s a small town, parking can get wild at the popular venues and beaches, especially on weekends. Calafia Beach, T-Street, and venues like The Casino fill up fast.
Build in buffer time for guests and make sure your vendor team arrives extra early. (Trust us cause we’ve sprinted from overflow lots plenty of times.)
Beach Permits Are a Real Thing
Lots of couples dream of sunset portraits on the sand and we’re all for it! But not every beach here is free game for professional photography. Places like San Onofre Trails and Calafia State Beach often require permits for posed photo sessions.
As locals, we know which beaches are less strict, which bluff spots are gorgeous at golden hour, and how to time it so you avoid the crowds.
“May Gray” and “June Gloom” Are Real — And Beautiful
We’ve lived through enough coastal gloom seasons to know it’s nothing to stress about. While SoCal is famous for sunshine, San Clemente’s coast can stay foggy or overcast well into early summer.
But here’s the secret: overcast days make for some of the dreamiest, most romantic wedding photos.
The Vendor Community Here Is Incredibly Tight-Knit
San Clemente’s wedding vendor scene is small, supportive, and welcoming. When you book a great vendor team here, you’re essentially hiring a crew of friends who already know how to work together.
As a husband-and-wife team, we love collaborating with local planners, florists, and DJs — and we’ve got a running list of our favorite locals to work with once we start booking weddings in town.
In the end
So while we haven’t officially captured a full wedding in San Clemente yet, we’re ready and waiting. This town means so much to us, and we’d be honored to tell your story against the beaches, bluffs, and sunsets we’ve called home for years.
Planning a San Clemente wedding?
Fill out a form on our wedding page and we’d love to hear about your day, share our favorite secret sunset spots, and capture you two at our favorite spot in california!
https://wyldstory.com/wedding-photo-video
