Matt and Jolie Say: "Thanks Christine and Steve"

our website: ElopeSanDiego.com

Jolie and Matt were married on Coronado Beach in December, we just received a really nice note from them! We were excited to share their note and darling pics :

Thank you guys so much for everything! The wedding was great and it was all we could have ever hoped for. We got the pics and they are fantastic! We would be honored if you used our wedding photos for your blog or website! We will definitely recommend you guys to

any of our friends that plan on getting married. Thank you again, so much!

Matt and Jolie Olson's Wedding Day on Coronado Beach

December 2009

Coronado, California

lots more RAVE REVIEWS for Christine&Steve@ Elope San Diego

photography by Christine Haslet

ceremony officiated by Steve Haslet

bridal bouquet/petals by Christine Haslet

Yet another reason to Elope.......

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We interrupt our normally sane blog (if you overlook the dog in a bridal veil) to bring you this insane story about a couple who need to look at eloping as a very serious option!

Andrea and Peter are in love and want to get married. However, they are having a bit of trouble financing the wedding of their dreams, when it hits them like ton of bricks.... well, more like a ton of tin cans.

Believe it or not, they are collecting cans, beer cans and pop cans to pay for their wedding. I'm not even joking. They have gone as far to promote their project on YouTube and Yahoo and Flickr. They are even taking donations on Paypal.

We say, have a little dignity and just ELOPE!

Here's the deal: for under a grand, we can fix you up on the most amazing beach with four of your closest friends, gorgeous photos with Christine , a fancy CD of those gorgeous photos, the marryin' guy (he's one of San Diego's top wedding officiants, Steve), rose petals in the sand, valet parking at the Hotel Del Coronado and a beautiful fresh flower bouquet... because here in San Diego, California that's just what we do!

We have the perfect weather and the most amazing beach you've ever seen right behind the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. You could have the most wonderful simple, elegant, affordable romantic ceremony and honeymoon you could ever dream of..... and the only tin cans you would have to deal with are the dozen or so tied to the back of your car as you pull away from the beach.... Andrea, Peter...

... please, at least, just think about it...

Wedding advice for the confused amongst us.....from Daphne

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Don't let those sticky wedding situations get the best of you! We are happy to present a new feature on our blog...... we fancy it to be along the lines of Miss Manners...but we're calling it....... "What would Daphne do?" giving you some answers to those tricky questions regarding the right thing to do or to say in those awkward situations. Why is it these things seem to pop up when you're just trying to do the right thing and blend in?

www.aceremonytoremember.net
 

Lookie who is planning to Elope!

and for some very fluffy news about eloping...read on!

Eloping isn't just for us regular folks, we just heard that one of our very favorites, Amy Adams is planning to elope!

Check out what she has to say here about starring in Disney's "Enchanted" and her plans to marry Darren Le Gallo, Elope style.

Kate Moss too, has joined the ranks of those of us think it's smart and super sexy to elope

kiss and blog

Love this, you might too....
Kiss and Blog: Good Morning Kiss

Rain, Rain Go Away.... Come Again Some Other Day..not MY Wedding Day !

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It's true! We've been hit by some pretty wet and dreary storms here in San Diego and all over Southern California over the last few weeks.

But after living in Seattle for the last 25 years, we're prepared! And we're prepared to help you have the elopement ceremony you've been planning for.

For us, the rain is nothing new, we've been working in the elements with couples for over 20 years. You might even say it's rather comforting and nostalgic on some weird level. Funny, because we had both just noticed that our umbrellas were getting a bit lonely hanging out in our trunk for months on end.

Couples who enjoyed plan "B" on their wedding day on Coronado Beach with us !

Hats off to those brave couples we married on our wet Coronado beach! We wanted to share a few wedding photographs of two of our couples, Sandy and Victor and Rachel and Emmet who were great sports about getting married on the beach over the last few weeks. They braved the elements in great style to have their

romantic beach elopements and we all managed to have a fantastic time in the process. Isn't that what it's all about? Isn't there a bit of excitement choosing an adventure over the boring traditional sure thing? What's a bit of rain in the scheme of things? Rumor has it that a little rain is suppose to bring good luck to your marriage, right? We think so and happen to know first hand. Steve and I had a very typical Seattle down pour

for our June wedding in 1987. And just look at us... we're still happy, married, and actually love working together!

Raining on the day you are planning to

Elope with us on Coronado Beach?

If it should rain on the day you've planned your Beach Elopement package with us on Coronado, never fear....we do have several options available. Look on the bright side....

1. If it's a quiet day for scheduling, we have been known to wait out a shower or two. Hold your ceremony a couple of hours earlier or a couple of hours later.

2. We have a wonderful park, Spreckles Park on Orange Avenue in Coronado. It's just about 6 blocks before the Hotel Del Coronado where we can meet for your elopement ceremony. It's on the other side of the street before you arrive at the hotel. It has a most beautiful gazebo that is covered and dry.

3. We can bring beautiful multicolored umbrellas and just go for it !

4. If you decide to go for it on the beach... the plus side is that you'll have even more choices for places to have your ceremony, since the beach will no doubt be much less crowded.

We hope that as stressful as this may seem at the time.... it's just a part of the excitement and romance of eloping. If you are flexible about your expectations, you can still have a fabulous time no matter the circumstances. Remember, at the end of the day you'll be happily married and everything that happens along the way is just part of the adventure. Hey...and on the bright side, don't forget that you've managed to save a small fortune choosing a gorgeous, free place to hold your wedding!

If you're not already on our schedule, and you've got a small wedding in your near future.....Give us call, or shoot us an email: info@elopesandiego.com.

Especially if you've got that spirit of adventure burning and you'd like to share it with us!

Know that we're in the habit of making great memories for our couples. Think low stress, fun, romantic, affordable wedding planning and elopements. We're Christine and Steve at ElopeSanDiego.com located in "mostly sunny" San Diego, California.

You Married a Sailor, You Just Didn't Think He'd Be Off To Sea Quite So Soon....

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Being a newlywed has so many challenges and adjustments as it is, but having the man of your dreams deployed after you barely said "I do" can really set you in a tailspin.

You knew your new hubby would be deployed, and everything that you did to prepare for his deployment seems so meaningless now. You are wondering about how you'll get through the next hour let alone the next six months to a year.

You eloped on the beach at the last minute, it was more beautiful than you thought it could ever be, you promised for better or worse, you took care of all of the military paperwork, you signed up for military benefits, you talked to your new hubby at great length about surviving the lonely months. You talked to your mom, you talked to your girlfriends, you talked to your dad. Truth be known, you talked to anyone who would listen.

But now the reality of everything is just beginning to sink in. You knew it would be hard to be left behind. Not knowing exactly where your new husband is at any given moment. You knew your heart would break just a little.... no, a lot. Your heart will break a lot.

Now you realize that you have to be brave and pick up the pieces of your heart and be strong and BUSY. You place your beautiful wedding photos in special places around the house,where you can see them everyday. You have email hooked up and ready to go, you just got the newest version of the iphone or Blackberry. You've put all your family and friends on red alert for a support team to keep you going. The first few months are the hardest, you wait for every email, every letter, every phone call. Honestly, that part doesn't change much. Every word from him is a treasure when he is so far away.

What will change is how you can adapt and find your way on your own in those times when things are really tough. The human spirit is strong, and the love you feel will give you the strength to be brave and supportive to your husband when he needs you the most.

Take comfort in knowing how many other couples have survived multiple deployments over many years, only to be made stronger by rejoining and recommitting themselves to one another. Just think of the war brides in the 1940's and 50's, your grandparents might even have a story or two to share with you.

Also take comfort in the work your husband (wife) is doing because it is really, really important. He may be one of the crew on the Carl Vinson sent to Haiti to bring food, water and ground support to the earthquake victims. Or he may be part of the support team helping a Coast Guard Cutter floating in the sea, perhaps helping the Marines in Iraq or Afghanistan. Your sailor may be part of the 10,000 troops sent for search and rescue efforts in Haiti this last week. All of this work and every single effort done to serve and protect, goes beyond words I could say here. In fact, really, we have no words to describe how important their work is. Words fall short when we try to express just how much our active duty military service people are appreciated for their sacrifices and efforts. You can be proud to share in this, your support means the world to your husband, his family and his fellow sailors.

Tips for navigating your temporary solo journey!

I wanted to let you know that during the time of your husbands (or wife's) deployment, there are many resources available to you to help you navigate these waters. You won't have to do it alone. Don't be afraid to ask for the support you need.

Here are some suggestions for activities that can benefit you as well as those around you! Many people choose to do volunteer work, there are so many needs around the community right now. The USO is a great place to volunteer, and to also find support. Your church may have volunteer opportunities in their youth program, or sunday school program, and again offering some of the emotional support you might need. The military has Chaplain services if you don't have a church that you are a member of. There are several great websites we've listed below for information and support, one is in fact is operated by volunteer Navy spouses!

If you can reach out to your community, there are programs such as Meals on Wheels, and local San Diego animal shelters. Our animal shelters can always use foster families and hands on help at the shelter. You may even fall in love with a new critter to keep you company :) If you like children ( and who doesn't?) there are local neighborhood schools, the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program, or the Boys and Girls Clubs. Consider our local food banks or women's shelters. You might even think about starting a weekly support group for military families, or joining one.

This might be a great time to do something you've always wanted to do for yourself, dance classes, reading the classics, catching up on old movies, a class on sewing, or computers. Here in San Diego, we have many, many free computer classes to learn web design or photoshop. There are also classes for a Culinary Arts degree, learn about Ebay, take a photography or drawing class, or hula hooping! You could start a blog. Maybe you've always wanted to teach a class. There are opportunities for that as well. I'm attaching here some links below that may help you.

The possibilities for coping and blossoming are nearly endless if you make the decision to be happy and busy until the Mister (or Mrs.) sails back into your arms!

Links:

For you:

~Fleet & Family Support

~USO

~Free Computer classes:

web design, photoshop at North City in San Diego

~Navy Moms On Line

~Navy Command Support/Spouse Support

~MilitarySOS.com support and information for military spouses for all branches

Toll Free #

1 877 673 7773 to receive referrals ,

information and support from volunteer Navy spouses

Volunteer opportunities

~UnicefUSA.org or WorldVision.org/Haiti
~Boys and Girls Clubs

~Mama's Kitchen San Diego

~Meals on Wheels

~San DiegoFood Bank

~San Diego Animal Shelters

~Women's Shelters

Who we are:

~San Diego Military Weddings.com

~ElopeSanDiego.com

~Christine, author of this blog is also the proud mom of a Navy Sailor, Ben who is months away from becoming a Navy Chaplain! Also the owner of ElopeSanDiego.com a boutique elopement service in San Diego, California and an award winning wedding photographer with more than twenty two years behind the camera.

Miscellaneous Military Services
( we love these guys, so it's simply a free plug to help
you with organizing your banking & finances)

~USAA bank

~Navy Credit Union

Choosing your wedding photographer in the internet age!

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When you're planning your wedding, whether it's a grand event lasting all day or an intimate romantic destination elopement, you want to use all available means to choose the very best wedding photographer you can afford. These days it means using the internet to check out websites, photo samples and reputations. You can of course still rely on referrals from friends, bridal shows and visits to studios. In many ways the internet has given us a new time saving tool.

Choosing just the right wedding photographer for your special day can't be overstated. We all know that photographs are the lasting mementos of your celebration. You'll want to be filled with delight each time you look at your wedding images. You'll also want to feel that same feeling year after year when you pull out the wedding album to reminisce about the day you said "I do" to your beloved.

As you are well aware, there is really only one opportunity to make the right choice when it comes to your wedding photos, remembering, that they'll be around for a long time. If you are lucky, your children and grandchildren will have the pleasure of seeing you on your wedding day, you won't want to be thinking of what "might have been" when you look at your wedding album.

You want the wedding photography portion of the wedding day to be a home run, a hit out of the park as they say, so you'll want to choose carefully. There are so many factors that can come into play when choosing your wedding photographer, most couples immediately think of the cost first, and everything else as secondary. If that were truly the best way to choose a photographer, you could have uncle Harry take the photos and eliminate the cost all together! I can tell you firsthand that most couples who do that, live to regret that decision. It's one of those decisions that you can't undo or do over very conveniently.

Hiring a professional photographer that specializes in weddings allows you to relax and know that very big piece of the wedding puzzle is in good hands. You'll want a relaxed, experienced photographer who will be aware of the events of the day, that knows where to be and when well in advance. You also want to choose a photographer that matches your style. Whether it is formal and posed or more photojournalistic and casual.. or perhaps a blend of the best of both worlds. Every wedding is different, every couple is different, a different church, a different park, different time of day, different events, different players. Something as significant as the time of day and lighting can really affect the quality of your wedding photos. A top wedding photographer plans everything in advance so when the spontaneity of the moment happens, they are prepared and can snap the best shot from the best angle. Their skill and expertise give them the edge to see and capture all of those special moments and details effortlessly.

A great wedding photographer can blend in with your family and friends, in such a way that you barely know they are around. Yet sometimes like magic they step in and grab the perfect shot you weren't even aware of. The best wedding photographers are not just familiar with a location, but lighting, the time of day, knowing how to arrange groups, posing couples, all with a smile. It stands to reason,the more talented, confident and experienced your photographer, the better your photos will be. You as a couple will also look your very best because of that lighting, posing and the extra time spent making sure everything is just perfect for you. Think: patience, people skills and photographic talent, I like to call them "the big three"!

Many couples these days will be traveling for a destination wedding, or a romantic elopement away from home,

and of course your photographs are every bit as important as ones taken for a traditional wedding! These are the couples I most often work with. You can opt to hire a photographer to take with you or hire one based at your destination. If you are hiring a photographer at your wedding destination, it is often impossible to meet with the photographer ahead of time. So it is a good to take a bit of extra care when contracting their services. It is also a very good idea to have a conversation at length, as to your expectations and needs. A written agreement should be made that includes exactly what you'll receive, length of time of services, date, time, extra expenses and any other special requirements or expectations. You should create a time line with your photographer, from payment dates, events on the day of the wedding, when you will receive your finished prints and album. You should also review

how your images will be made available to you to make your selections, via the internet, or proofs or in the studio, or if you will own the images and the rights to reprint.

One should also ask for references and always, always check out samples of their recent work. Luckily, these days as I mentioned earlier, we have the internet. Websites are great to see the work of a potential photographer. There are websites like Yelp and CitySearch that also rate photographers, There are professional associations and wedding websites that give referrals over the internet as well. One of my very favorite internet avenues is YouTube. It's a fantastic way to check out a wedding photographers work. It happens to be one of the best methods for choosing a wonderful wedding photographer, by being able to see the work they post online on YouTube. This medium will give you great information about your photographers style and skills.

With the freedom and convenience of the internet, you can now take advantage of lots of resources that weren't available just a few years ago. For instance, if your destination is Aspen in winter, you'll want to find a top wedding photographer who specializes in winter weather photography. If your romantic wedding destination is near the beaches of sunny Southern California, you'll want to find an expert beach wedding photographer. So, whether your wedding is in your hometown, Aspen, or beautiful Southern California a check on YouTube can be invaluable to get a feel for the style of your potential photographer and it is quick.

The YouTube link above is a sample of some of my favorite weddings I've photographed over the last year or so. In short, since I've told you all about choosing a great photographer, and since this is my blog, I no doubt will have to put in a plug for myself! You can always count on me for great photographs and memories of your wedding day on Coronado Beach! I'm totally passionate about photography...me: Christine Haslet owner and photographer at ElopeSanDiego.com and here is my page on our website !

San Diego Marriage License Updates for You

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Our local San Diego County Marriage license office has just let us know about some brand new rules about obtaining a copy of your San Diego Marriage license. Rules they say are designed to protect our privacy! No longer will you be able to simply ask willy nilly for a certified copy of your marriage license if you were married in San Diego county. Beginning on Jan 1, 2010, you will need to provide a notarized request for a copy of your marriage license, along with $14.00.
So, we're happy to provide the link for you right here! Do click RIGHT HERE to get your handy dandy form. And if you should need any more information about San Diego marriage licenses.... how to get one, where to get one, what they cost, who to call, how to make that required appointment, or what you should wear to the county office (just kidding) anyway, you get the idea..... we have all that information and more located our sister website located at : www.sandiegomarriagelicense.com

Happy New Year!

Love’s Equation

I do not know what makes the very old couple I saw on the street today still hold hands, or lean on each other and smile as they shuffle with their bags of Christmas back to their home. I do not know...but I want to. I want to, like a scientist or private investigator, follow them, ask them a million questions about every time they fought and every time they have made up. I want to ask them what they did or didn't say. I want to know....what made the difference.
Perhaps even to pluck a thin grey hair out of each of their heads, look at them under a microscope, to see if Fairies of Longevity and Commitment and True Love and Cheerful Tolerance and Compromise and Compassion and Selfless Service all live in their very DNA. I want to ask them if I can and look at the last fifty years worth of pictures for any clues as to why they still hold hands and smile at each other like the best of friends.
Also, there is a couple, an older couple, who live down the hall from me. In a studio. A nice, clean, but very small studio. I want to say, “How do love each other so much? How have you not killed each other?” They smile too; at each other and at me. Both have such kindness in their eyes.
At times a darker, more cynical part of me thinks that behind closed doors she bugs the crap out of him and he basically ignores her and watches, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and thinks "I coulda married the redhead."
I can tell from their eyes that’s not true. What is true is that they love each other, really, deeply love each other…even like each other.
I can tell, like the strangers I saw walking on the street, they care enough to work at caring.
I think this is no small feat, but that the results are worth every bit of effort.
That’s what their eyes say anyway.
Today a friend's husband demanded a divorce. I want to go to their house too, as an apparition, for a week or so...float around and take notes on what not to do.
Every holiday season I watch It's a Wonderful Life. I have my own copy, and every year I sit holding my breath in painful ecstasy as George Bailey's nose touches Mary Hatch's forehead and he grabs her and says "I don't want any plastics and I don't want any ground floors and I don't want to be married to anyone, ever!" And then he pulls her close, kisses her, holds her tight and says "Mary, oh Mary."
The next scene is their wedding.
In that same movie that I so adore Mary has enough time to have four children, renovate a run-down, two-story house AND run the USO, so I realize it's not exactly based in reality, but what is real for me about it is the power of love when its in its purest, most innocent, selfless form. (I won’t ruin the movie for you by telling you all the beautiful ways this power manifests, but if you haven’t seen it go rent the DVD right this second!)
I do not know the “abiding love” algorithm unraveled and absorbed by the couple on the street, the couple down the hall, or George and Mary, but I do know that no one, including me, should settle for any less.

By Hannah Logan © 2006

thank you miss hannah for sharing this with us, we love it!

San Diego Destination Weddings, Easy Elope to San Diego

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So You're Considering a Destination Wedding Package for a Beach Wedding !

More and more couples each year are making the decision to add some adventure into their lives and into their wedding by traveling to a romantic destination to tie the knot. Destination wedding packages exist for every romantic venue you can imagine, whether it's a famous hotel in Italy, a chateau in France, or a mountain top in New Zealand, there is a romantic destination to suit everyone's dreams. One of the most popular and affordable venues for tying the knot turns out to be the beach. That's right, a beach wedding ! Many, many couples and their families consider it to be the most romantic wedding destination of all.

Of course, there are plenty of locations for romantic beach weddings to choose from, like the wonderfully colonial Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Saint Jean de Luz on the Basque Coast in France, or the beautiful archipelago nation of Seychelles, but if you want to put away your passport and remain in the United States, there is really only one choice, it's Coronado Beach on beautiful Coronado Island here in San Diego, California!

It's accessible by bridge or by land so there is no need to board a boat to get there. Although there is a darling ferry that leaves downtown San Diego nearly every hour most times of the year. Coronado Beach is one of the most sought after locations for beach weddings in the United States.

The views are picture perfect with the ocean on one side and the fabulous world famous Hotel Del Coronado on the other. It's so very picturesque, you'll want to make sure you have a great photos that capture the images and memories of your day. It's the perfect locationfor romantic beach weddings, the climate in San Diego is wonderful year round, as it rarely gets below 60 degrees.

Fees for destination wedding packages vary with the destination, the actual wedding location and the services you would like, as well as the size of your group. Beach weddings can be a real bargain when you compare them to the cost of a traditional wedding ceremony in your neighborhood church or hotel.

There are many variations of packages to choose from, which means that there are destination wedding packages suited to everyone's needs. You'll want to be sure to double check to see what your package includes. For example, will your wedding package include transportation, airline tickets, hotel, food, beverage and tips? Or just the actual wedding day package with ceremony, flowers, photography? Most all destination wedding packages can be found on-line, and you should use common sense when selecting and hiring a service to work with. You'll want to choose a company with a great reputation and lots of happy couples in their midst.

In the end, a destination wedding can mean being able to have a wonderful, charming wedding and still have money to begin your new life together. This can mean a lot to couples who are just starting out, no matter what the economy is like. With so many new couples looking for ways to stretch their budgets, beach weddings are the right choice for starting a new life together as husband and wife. In short, you can have a lovely wedding ceremony performed in a wonderfully romantic exotic location with all the trimmings for much less than you might think.

Couples from all over the world come here to our pristine island of Coronado in Southern California, to vacation, honeymoon and to actually to tie the knot and begin their journey through life together.

You couldn't ask for a more perfect or delightful beginning to this new chapter in your life than being married on the beach in this picture perfect postcard setting.

So, if you have romance in your heart, and a practical side too....you'll want to check out the ultimate in destination weddings, a Coronado Beach Elopement.

We would be honored if you would consider Elope San Diego for your upcoming destination beach wedding or elopement!

TaDAh! the most beautiful little baby, sleeping so sweet. ethan christopher, our newest grandchild (proud to be called number six) born December 16, 2009, Bellevue Washington.

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Merry Christmas from Christine and Steve

at Elope San Diego

Christmas seems to be the time of year when we jump off our treadmill and take stock of every little thing that we are totally and completely grateful for... each of our blessings large and small that we enjoy.

We have work we totally LOVE , clients who appreciate us and let us know that we make their weddings something they'll always treasure.....after 22 years of joining couples.. it's still the best work on the planet!

We have our health and sense of humor as you can see by our silly dog!

We are happy to be able to give back by volunteering throughout the year. We've worked a bit with our local USO (thank you to all the service men and women who are serving on our behalf in the military, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY thank you ! ) The USO at the San Diego Airport and Downtown San Diego USO offer incredible support to our service people that are traveling in and out of San Diego, as well as families that are stationed here.

We were also very happy to be able to support our MOST beloved Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Christine was delighted to volunteer in Kanab at DogTown and Piggy Paradise for the adventure of her life. Best Friends is the largest no kill animal sanctuary in United States. If

you are an animal lover, it is a place that you must see to believe. The place will surround you in a "cocoon of critter love". We're pretty sure the people who live and work there are part angel. They are located near the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. There isn't a more beautiful place for all that love and support. It is wonderful to be able to support our critter friends and their caretakers at Best Friends in Kanab, Utah in personal. Both at the animal sanctuary in Kanab and to support the work they do all over the United States. This month, in fact, we also supported and volunteered for the local home show in Point Loma, San Diego for benefit for Best Friend's "No More Homeless Pets" program.

We are grateful for our healthy and growing family. We welcome grandchild number six this week, Ethan Christopher. Okay, to be honest, we feel that we may have failed as parents, just a tiny bit. Our son (we won't name names) didn't seem to grasp the importance of learning how to use a digital camera and email....

so, here we sit... sad grandparents..... FOUR days after the huge event..... we have no pictures to share... ahhhh, the irony of it all. We have heard that he is absolutely gorgeous. Oops, got side tracked just a bit.

Back to the things we are grateful for and want to share.

The people we work with all year long that support us, often taking care of the things we aren't able to do for

ourselves. Like our lovable accountant

Jack Rex at Liberty Tax in Mission Hills. He takes on our most dreaded chore... sales tax, state tax, tax, tax, tax records and takes care of it with a smile :) he can even do that for you too: jack.rex@libertytax.com

Joanna Caro, she is the marriage license wonder woman of

San Diego. If you need a last minute marriage license in San Diego and don't have an appointment or didn't even know that you needed one... she is going to save your bacon! She'll come to the hospital, to the beach or the local coffee shop. You gotta love her. Randy at SunDiegoStudios, he's the photographer we always recommend when we are booked up. He comes through with a smile even on short notice.

We were also so happy to be part of his son's wedding several years ago. Most recently, we just fell in love with Tom Crandall at www.semreportcard.com. He helped us fix a problem we had with Google for the last six months... something the big giant

corporate Google Monster couldn't be bothered with. You're an angel Tom Crandall! We thank you, even our dogs thank you! Tom has a most fabulous blog about marketing on line.

We wish you all a happy holiday and of course,

the happiest year in twenty ten!

x0x0 christine and steve haslet

daphne, and riley our beloved dogs

and abby and beau our beloved kats

elopesandiego.com

PS. Thank you Amanda from Freedom Dog Training for turning our

monster dogs into perfectly behaved angels...you're amazing!!

San Diego beach weddings. Elope to San Diego. Eloping. Destination Weddings. Beach Weddings. Christine Haslet photographer. Steve Haslet San Diego Officiant.

Affordable Beach Wedding Packages. Fun Wedding Ideas

A Stress Free, FUN Wedding You Ask…. Impossible?

Not if you plan California Destination Beach Wedding !

No, not impossible at all. It really IS possible to plan a stress free wedding. And yes, you heard me right! Let me show you a simple and affordable way to remove so many of the factors from your wedding and wedding planning that cause you stress.

Let's start with the costs of a wedding, as we all know can be one of the largest factors that contribute to a rising stress level. Since planning a free wedding is out of the question for most of us, let's consider some of the things you can do to manage the costs.

Why not start by choosing a location that's fun AND inexpensive? Here in Southern California, we actually have a free place to be married! The beaches in California are public and if you have less than 25 people, you don't even need to have a permit. Coronado Beach, just a few minutes from downtown San Diego California is one of the most beautiful and sought after locations in the United States. In fact, the Travel Channel named it the number one destination wedding site in the United States. The beach next to the Hotel Del Coronado. Think of it, no church to decorate... no pew bows, no flower arrangements……simply the sound of the surf and beautiful sand right at your feet.

By eliminating the church, hall or hotel, and we've significantly reduced the number of guests. You've made two huge strides towards having a stress free day. Only your very closest friends and family are now part of your day.

You will need an officiant, a marriage license, a pretty dress, a couple of rings, some beautiful flowers for a bouquet, a few beautiful photographs and you're set... I promise. Can you feel the wedding stress melting away? You're on track to a stress free wedding. After the ceremony on the beach, a nice little dinner somewhere close by, or if it's in the morning, perhaps a brunch.

We like to think of it as our 21st century elopement. Nothing like climbing out the window and down the trellis in the middle of night. A 21st century planned wedding elopement, with all the style and grace of the grandest wedding around.

You can find beach elopement packages online at many destinations, you may even be able to combine your wedding, honeymoon and vacation all in one. Why not consider finding a nice, warm, affordable, stress free destination like San Diego, California and elope? One of the most gorgeous beaches near San Diego is Coronado beach, just a few miles from downtown San Diego. It's absolutely perfect for your beach wedding, as it's one of the most picturesque beaches in the United States.

We're Steve and Christine Haslet owners of Elope San Diego
a boutique style wedding service, offering a stress free, small elopements for San Diego beach wedding celebrations ...for groups of 25 or fewer on the most beautiful beaches in Coronado, California. Check out our Coronado Elopement packages that include the officiant, photographer, flowers and valet parking for the bride and groom.We've been joining happy couples for 22 years!

For those adventurous enough to explore all of their options for a stress free beach wedding please feel free to check out Elope San Diego for one of the most romantic, stress free weddings around.

elope to coronado beach. elope to san diego.san diego beach weddings. christine haslet photographer. steve haslet officiant.elope san diego

A note from Chris and Christine from their elopement on Coronado Beach, California on November 24th:

Hi Steve and Christine !

We just wanted to offer our deepest thanks for your help this week with our wedding. We were extremely happy with everything. It was exactly what we wanted, a very intimate setting for our marriage, with none of the wedding ceremony headaches. We both really enjoyed meeting with you two and talking, you were both so kind and personable!

Thanks again, we wish you continued success and happiness.

Christopher and Christine Brouch

Oceanside, California

Coronado Beach Elopement Ceremony

http://www.ElopeSanDiego.com

San Diego Beach Weddings ~ Elope to San Diego~Eloping~

Beach Weddings ~ Elopement Packages ~ Christine Haslet

So you're engaged!

All the options for planning your big day are swirling in your head.. you're tying the knot..getting hitched, settling down, plighting one's troth, taking the plunge, becoming husband and wife!

Congratulations are definitely in order

Maybe you've wondered how you'll navigate the planning of the big event and all those special events surrounding the wedding day. His family, your family, his friends, your friends, the budget, the location, the spreadsheets, the graphs, the lists, the disagreements. Where's the romance in that I ask ? It all sounds a bit ominous. We know first hand that entering new uncharted waters can be pretty scary!

Have you considered eloping?

We're here to let you know that more and more couples are eloping these days and loving it. There are SO many advantages to eloping over the traditional wedding. . . .we know you'll want to hear the whole story and make your decision based on all the information you've gathered. We also know that eloping isn't for everyone...it's our hope that when you are making your plans to spend the rest of your lives together. . . the wedding doesn't get in the way !

There is absolutely no shame in eloping, or even thinking about eloping! Couples today are incredibly independent. In many ways couples are looking for a non-traditional way to marry. No longer tied to many of the traditions that have become a bit outdated, eloping has become one of the most popular ways to tie the knot. The advantages of choosing eloping over a traditional wedding are many. Eloping is an adventure, whereas a traditional wedding can quickly become a stress filled, out of control event. Eloping can be a spontaneous, very romantic decision. Think of the time and stress you'll save yourself. You won't need months of planning, or even a wedding planner when you elope. We are one of a handful of services that specialize in elopements and small weddings set in the most beautiful of locations. You can find us listed under elopement packages, beach wedding elopements and San Diego Beach Weddings. If you are thinking about another location like Hawaii or Florida, do a quick check on the internet to see what's available. Just a few clicks and you could be set for a day of fun.

Now....think about combining
a wedding, a honeymoon and a fabulous vacation all at once. . .

Destination weddings on our California beaches are beautiful, simple and truly give you a day to remember. San Diego Beach Weddings are especially beautiful most all times of the year. When you elope, making your commitment to each other "official" can be a lot more fun than you might think. Again, it's so very easy to combine the marriage ceremony with a beautiful beach destination and honeymoon. Avoiding the staggering costs of a chapel, church, reception site and the stress of it all.

Planning an elopement can be really very simple, you need an officiant, Steve is our officiant, he is a person allowed by law to marry you, a non denominational minister. You need a marriage license and usually a witness. (Confidential licenses in California are available and you don't even need a witness ) Our San Diego beach elopement packages provide the little extras- such as flower petals for the sand, a bridal bouquet and beautiful wedding photography. ElopeSanDiego.com provides all of those services with great style.

As you know, the planning of a traditional wedding, it can quickly become so complicated you need to hire a wedding planner just to navigate the process and a bank loan to finance it. Perhaps the traditional wedding comes about as a result of your parent's wishes. Independent couples, or couples who are marrying for a second time won't have to factor this into their decision making process. They may find the idea of a no fuss elopement very enticing! It's a practical, affordable, and relaxing way to wed these days. In short, when you elope, you make all the decisions, not your parents, not your friends...or your children, your guest list is your own. As small as you wish. Couples today can decide that paying for an elopement package makes complete sense to them. A little more fancy than the court house, without the cost… it makes great financial sense. With the current economy, many couples are opting out of the traditional wedding and the debt they may be saddled with for years.

A beach elopement package with Elope San Diego can be purchased for the price of many wedding gowns or the amount that you might spend on just the floral arrangements for a church. If you elope, just think about what you can do with the money you have saved- purchase a nice car, a fancy honeymoon or maybe a down payment on your first home together!

So once you've made the decision to tie the knot, consider eloping, it's really a wonderful, fun, low stress alternative. If you want a terrific destination elopement to begin your life together, think about a San Diego Beach wedding and consider ElopeSanDiego.com for a stylish, affordable day on the beach with the one you love... know that you'll be creating a celebration you'll always cherish!