The Best Places to Elope 2026 in California

View the best places to elope 2026 and apply for the free and discounted rates below!

I am looking for couples who want to Elope in California and want to plan fun, adventurous, and unique activities and are open to me filming their elopement day for my social media/behind the scenes membership!

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The Best Places to Elope 2026 in California

Bride and groom embrace on a sandy cliff at sunset overlooking the ocean, with golden light casting a romantic glow. Captured at one of the Best Places to Elope 2026.
An image of Avalon Harbor at Catalina Island. best places to elope 2026

Malibu

When: Year Round

Where: Anywhere in Malibu

Investment: Free

Catalina Island

When: Year Round

Where: Avalon

Investment: $1,500 full day photography coverage

An Image of palm springs. One of the best places to elope 2026
An image of Half Dome in Yosemite. One of the best places to elope 2026

The Desert

When: Winter & Spring

Where: Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, etc.

Investment: $1,500 full day photography coverage

Yosemite

When: Spring, Fall, Winter

Where: Anywhere in Yosemite

Investment: $1,500 full day photography coverage

An image of Big Sur at sunset. best places to elope 2026
An image of one of the lakes at Mammoth Lakes at sunset. One of the best places to elope 2026

Big Sur

When: Spring, Summer, Fall

Where: Anywhere in Big Sur

Investment: $1,500 full day photography coverage

Mammoth Lakes

When: Spring, Fall, Winter

Where: Anywhere in Mammoth Lakes

Investment: $1,500 full day photography coverage

Contact Megan W Photography

Please fill out the contact form below to apply for the free/discounted 2026 Elopements.

Featured Elopement & Wedding Blog Posts

Featured Elopement & Wedding Galleries

Bride and groom walk barefoot along a sandy beach, holding hands and smiling against a misty ocean backdrop. This relaxed coastal setting captures the carefree romance of one of the Best Places to Elope 2026.
Newlyweds share a kiss on a sandy cliffside above a peaceful beach, with lush greenery and coastal bluffs behind them at sunset. This romantic oceanfront location highlights why it’s considered one of the Best Places to Elope 2026.

Megan has a way of making you feel as though you have been friends forever…

“Megan absolutely exceeded all of my expectations for my maternity photoshoot. She was very professional, kind and helpful. The photos came out beautifully and I would definitely use her again. I highly recommend Megan !!”
— NICOLE

  • “We had such a great time at our family portraits session with Megan! She is so talented and has such a great eye for lighting -- our photos turned out stunning. She kept our one-year-old smiling and entertained throughout. The location she recommended was beautiful as well. We'll cherish these photos for years to come. Thank you so much Megan!”

    -Olivia, Family Session

  • “Megan is so kind, thoughtful and a wonderful photographer! The location options she provided, the creative angles and poses she had me try, got us some of the best pictures we've ever taken! From start to finish, she was a wonderful communicator, always responding promptly and wanting to help make this experience as enjoyable as possible. Will definitely book with her again next time we're in SoCal - thanks so much Megan!!!”

    -Karishma, Engagement Session

  • “Megan has a way of making you feel as though you have been friends forever. We did a maternity shoot in the Almond Blossoms in Fresno. I am not a fan of showing skin but I decided to give it a try with my dresses. Megan made me feel so comfortable, I forgot I was half clothed. I had no idea what I was doing with poses and Megan was so patient and kind. She really took her time and is really great with communication. Highly recommended.”

    -Bao, Maternity Session

  • “I cannot recommend Megan enough! I'm not a natural in front of the camera, but she was fantastic at listening to what I wanted to achieve, and helping me feel comfortable and confident. Not only was I absolutely thrilled with the results, but I came away from the experience feeling beautiful, which is a gift in itself. Thank you Megan!”

    -Rebecca, Maternity

  • “Wow! What gorgeous photos. We had a wonderful experience with Megan - she is very talented. She scouted great locations ahead of time to choose from. During the photo, her personality is very easy to mesh with. She made us feel comfortable and generally not awkward on camera through her demeanor and by suggesting poses for us to try. We were doing a photo shoot with our one year old son and she was so patient and flexible about working with us to find poses that he would tolerate and helping him feel happy and comfortable. I can't recommend her more highly.”

    -Lily, Family Session