A Last-Minute Courthouse Wedding in Chula Vista, Followed by Golden Hour at the Marina
In early November, we were contacted by Mark after their original photographer had to cancel just days before their courthouse wedding in Chula Vista. With a 3:30 PM civil ceremony scheduled and limited daylight to work with, thoughtful planning became essential. Before the wedding day, we scouted Marina Park to test lighting, observe foot traffic, and identify clean, timeless portrait locations—ensuring nothing was rushed or left to chance.
On the day of the wedding, Mark and Lindsey arrived in style, surrounded by close friends and family. Their courthouse ceremony unfolded seamlessly, allowing us to transition to Marina Park with enough time to take advantage of golden hour. As the light softened, the pace slowed. The marina’s open walkways and palm-lined paths created an effortless backdrop for relaxed, natural portraits—capturing the quiet joy of being newly married. This Chula Vista courthouse wedding is a reminder that civil ceremonies, when planned with intention, can be just as meaningful and beautifully documented as any traditional San Diego wedding.
In early November, we received an email from Mark asking if we had availability to capture their courthouse wedding in Chula Vista, followed by post-ceremony portraits at Marina Park. The timing was tight—a photographer they had already booked had to cancel at the last minute—but moments like these are exactly why Last Minute Photoshoot exists. After a few messages to finalize the details, Mark officially booked us, and we immediately began planning around timing, light, and flow.
A Last-Minute Courthouse Wedding in Chula Vista, Followed by Golden Hour at the Marina shows how a simple “I do” can turn into a beautifully paced wedding day. Whether you’re keeping it minimal or adding portraits by the water, we’ll help you plan a smooth timeline and capture every meaningful moment.
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Our biggest consideration was daylight. Mark and Lindsey’s courthouse appointment was scheduled for 3:30 PM, and during this time of year, the window for natural light gets smaller by the minute. To make sure we could still deliver clean, timeless images, we did what we always do when working a new location—we scouted. A few days before the wedding, we visited Marina Park to test lighting, observe foot traffic, and identify the strongest areas for portraits. For locations we haven’t photographed yet, we always do our own reconnaissance so nothing is rushed or left to chance on the wedding day.
With that groundwork in place, we drafted a clear, realistic timeline and shared it with Mark and Lindsey ahead of time. On the day of the wedding, we sent over our GPS location so they didn’t have to worry about finding us. We arrived at the courthouse before 2 PM, walked the grounds, and positioned ourselves for arrivals. Earlier, Mark had mentioned they would be arriving in a limo—so we were ready.
As their white stretch Lincoln pulled up, we captured the full sequence: friends and family stepping out, the anticipation, and the quiet excitement before heading inside. We documented the signing at the recorder’s office, then moved outside where they exchanged vows with their officiant. Everything ran on schedule, without delays, which gave us the flexibility to head to Marina Park with enough time to take advantage of the soft, fading light.
By the time we arrived at the marina, the pace naturally slowed. The open walkways, palm-lined paths, and subtle textures of the waterfront created a clean, uncluttered backdrop—perfect for timeless portraits. With the sun lowering, the light wrapped gently around them, allowing us to capture natural moments as they walked, talked, and finally took in the reality of being newly married. Nothing felt forced. It was quiet, unhurried, and intentional.
Final Thoughts
Courthouse weddings may be simple by design, but they deserve just as much intention and care as any large celebration. From scouting and timelines to anticipating light and transitions, our goal is always to remove stress so couples can stay present in the moment. Mark and Lindsey’s Chula Vista courthouse wedding is a perfect reminder that even a last-minute change can turn into something seamless, meaningful, and beautifully timeless when everything is thoughtfully planned.