Nothing beats reciting marriage vows to the person you cherish the most in life on the sun-drenched shorelines, lush vineyards or majestic mountains of California. California wedding venues are a mix of stunning backgrounds for your special day. The possibilities are endless, ranging from small beachside gatherings to grand ballroom soirees.
It assures that one's wedding event would be just as one dreamt it would be, whether they imagine their day in a ranch-like aura, a mansion full of luxury, or even a garden paradise. Read along and discover some top destinations that will make your California wedding an unforgettable celebration of love and joy.
1. The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is among the best California wedding venues. This contemporary museum space is in Embarcadero and offers views of the bay and skyline. You may rent out some of its galleries for your big day. The Fisher Bay Observatory and Terrace is a beachfront patio with views of the Bay Bridge and cityscape. It can hold 150 guests for a dinner reception and 200 for a dream wedding.
The industrial East Gallery, which has huge windows and can accommodate 450 people standing or 150 for a dinner reception, is the next stop. Next is the Bechtel Central Gallery and Outdoor Gallery, which can accommodate 500 guests for a banquet event and provides breathtaking views of the downtown area and Coit Tower. Finally, the Osher West Gallery can accommodate 200 guests for a banquet-style event and is home to the museum's famous Tactile Dome.
2. Beaulieu Garden
Nestled in the Napa Valley, Beaulieu Garden is a family-operated estate that has been producing wine for generations. It’s one of the most stunning wedding venues on this list. The first 600 acres of grape stock were planted in the Napa Valley in 1899 when French winemaker Georges de Latour bought a piece of property.
The formal gardens at Beaulieu Garden, a breathtaking event venue, showcase the de Latour family's European influence. The park-like gardens have exquisite statues, reflecting pools, and old stone fountains.
There's a gorgeous thick sycamore arbor just past the ancient stone winery, which makes the ideal backdrop for outdoor meals. Perfect for romantic weddings or business gatherings, it is quiet and cozy. This really special site might be yours for a single day.
3. Carmel Valley Ranch
This is one of the best California wedding venues for your big day. The gorgeous Carmel Valley Ranch offers lots of space for exploration, roaming, and discovery. It's the ideal place to revive relationships, raise spirits, and get back together with loved ones. Carmel Valley Ranch offers the perfect location for any kind of private event, from birthday celebrations to intimate weddings, to make it unforgettable.
Savor a meal at al fresco amidst award-winning flowerbeds and herbs at the Vineyard Lawn, surrounded by lavender fields and ancient oaks, or spend time with your closest and most loved ones at the Clubhouse, which boasts soaring high ceilings and great views of the valley.
4. Kimberly Crest House
Kimberly Crest House & Gardens is a charming vacation and an inspirational retreat for visitors of all ages, tucked away in the center of historic Redlands. With more than six acres of Italian gardens, this historic landmark Victorian estate with French château architecture is open for gatherings.
The estate provides an abundance of exquisite settings for wedding photographs, including the rose garden, koi pond, and other areas. Smaller gatherings can use the inside of the nearby carriage house as a dance floor, while ceremonies can take up to 300 people in the lush gardens.
You won't quickly forget Kimberly Crest as an effortlessly romantic getaway because of its 125-year-old building, welcoming atmosphere, and breathtaking Southern California skies.
5. Vibiana
This unique Los Angeles venue was formerly a cathedral and is now used for events. It’s among California wedding venues. Vibiana features a main hall, a garden, and five private dining areas. The Main Hall has undergone a meticulous restoration process, preserving its historic features while including contemporary features like new lighting, audio equipment, and rental gear.
This facility, which is chef-driven, is a gourmet's paradise. The group can create menus with both traditional and contemporary foods and drinks and offers restaurant-quality service. The Main Hall's exquisite architecture and verdant courtyard offer an immensely versatile setting for creating an unforgettable event that combines grand and intimate inside and outdoor experiences. Over many years, great care was taken to restore and preserve the original historic aspects while adding contemporary elements.
6. Lorimar
One of Lorimar's outdoor venues is the Vineyard Lawn, which is quite magnificent! A paved walkway will lead you to an elevated platform covered in a wooden arbor encircled by climbing vines, where you will exchange vows. Vineyards encircle the area, which is glowing romantically as the sun sets behind far-off mountains.
Enjoy a cocktail hour in the shade of a pergola, then eat on the grass under the flickering bistro lights while the fire crackles in the hearth made of brick and stone. The elevated stage can accommodate your band or DJ setup (complete with an integrated dance floor!).
7. Le Chacuel
Le Chacuel, a wonderful getaway surrounded by unpolluted nature, invites guests to relax and have the time of their lives. It’s among the best California wedding venues for the best celebrations. The room has a divine atmosphere thanks to its superb design, modern and stylish furnishings, and abundant natural light.
The entire property is available for partial or full rental, whether looking for a quick trip or organizing a big occasion. Private chefs are available through Le Chacuel to meet every need during your stay, including a special dinner for two of you. Additionally, the location offers the option to have flowers, charcuterie, and champagne available when guests arrive.
8. Roaring Camp
Situated in a breathtaking Redwood Forest valley in the Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains, this venue is among the most unique locations for a wedding. Your guests will cross the covered bridge and enter another world where people gathered around campfires under the stars to rejoice and ride steam-powered trains.
Roaring Camp offers couples a stunning and distinctive outdoor setting for their wedding—a redwood grove—and the opportunity to get to the ceremony via a 100-year-old open-air steam train that winds through the forest. The train can accommodate 175 people. However, couples can host a reception at The Barn, accommodating up to 275 guests, after leaving Cathedral Grove.
9. Sparrow Valley Resort
Sparrow Valley Resort is a stunning outdoor wedding venue in California, surrounded by the Santa Cruz mountains, Valencia Creek, and redwood trees. This natural trio offers a magical setting for commemorating one of life's most significant occasions.
You won't have to go far to take in the splendor of nature—it's only an hour from San Jose. Prepare in log cabins, say “I do” in the Redwood Cathedral, sip cocktails on the wrap-around deck, eat dinner at a 52-foot custom table, and end the evening with a stargazing dance.
10. Solage
Silage is among the best California wedding venues. Its modern and stylish resort is the ideal setting for a wedding celebration. This perfect wedding location, with its simple, stylish layout, lets you relax and enjoy yourself so you can celebrate the day in style. This wine-country wedding location enables you to envision the wedding of your dreams.Â
You can amuse your visitors at Solage with on-site luxury spa treatments and private wine tastings by the pool. There are also cruiser bicycle rides to neighboring wineries. This beautiful wedding venue can take up to 500 guests.
11. Meadowood Napa Valley
Meadowood has been a part of Napa Valley family and community life for decades. The wine-country estate's stunning natural environment, vintage architecture, and warm hospitality have made it a well-liked location for events and leisure.
Experience the area's flavors at Forum, Meadowood's newest friendly meeting spot. The restaurant has a charming private dining area perfect for special events. It's ideal for spending beautiful moments with your loved ones because it can accommodate up to 20 people and has a welcoming ambiance.
12. City View Metreon
Guests will find it easy to attend this event venue because it is conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco and features combineable indoor spaces and outdoor rooms, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and fantastic views of the cityscape. It’s one of the best California wedding venues for your perfect day. The largest of the three event areas can accommodate up to 850 attendees; however, for larger gatherings, the entire site can be rented, accommodating up to 2000 people. The couple can also check out California attractions while here.
13. The Malibu Garden Estate
You will be in awe of the Malibu Garden Estate. This stunning outdoor wedding venue in California is a nine-acre home with spectacular views of Malibu Canyon in Monte Nido. The covered terrace and pool are bordered by cobblestones, making it the ideal place for cocktail hour.
A romantic welcome is created by the large living area with its high ceilings and fireplace. More than 300 people can be accommodated at the location, and on-site lodging and an event coordinator are available.
14. Bacara
This is one of the best California wedding venues. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara provides a beautiful environment for any wedding, with options ranging from outdoor locations with breathtaking ocean views to interior spaces that celebrate the Santa Barbara scenery with natural light and terraces. This opulent space has six balconies, gilt-framed mirrors, and ceilings that reach 23 feet. In addition to having a foyer, lawn, and terrace with a view of the ocean, it can hold up to 1,250 people.
15. Montage Laguna Beach
The Montage Laguna Beach invites visitors to stay and celebrate because it is perched on a coastal bluff with a view of the Pacific Ocean. The oceanfront haven has three trademark restaurants with breathtaking views, a spa, and two decks for outdoor pools.
The Montage Laguna Beach is a popular destination for beach weddings and gatherings because of its picturesque setting. Declare your love in a lavish ballroom or throw a small party on one of three event grounds that front the beach. Do you need assistance with planning? You'll get assistance from an enthusiastic group of event professionals to realize your wedding vision.
16. Sunset Tower Hotel
The Sunset Tower, a well-known landmark in West Hollywood, greets visitors with cozy accommodations and roomy suites that provide expansive city views. Built in 1929, the hotel was the first of its kind and has hosted celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Howard Hughes.
Sunset Tower still holds its reputation today by offering distinctive event venues for parties of all sizes in addition to opulent lodging. The terrace, a favorite among guests, can accommodate groups of up to 500 people. This stunning indoor/outdoor space makes any gathering an unforgettable one with its private entrance off Sunset Boulevard, pool, and spectacular southern skyline views.
17. The Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is among the most luxurious wedding venues in California. The hotel, which is popular with Hollywood celebrities, has a variety of tastefully constructed, sophisticated and appealing event venues. The largest is the Crystal Ballroom, which can hold up to 800 people.
With its expansive views of Sunset Boulevard, the Sunset Ballroom will captivate couples envisioning excellent interior gatherings. A built-in stage sets off the roomy Rodeo Ballroom, while the Polo Private Dining Room is perfect for intimate get-togethers. And let's not overlook Crystal Garden, either! It's the ideal outdoor wedding location for a memorable ceremony.
18. Filoli
With 654 acres of breathtaking scenery, Filoli is one of the Bay Area's lively landscapes. It’s among California wedding venues. The property was first developed as a private home and then made public in 1975.
With a mansion designed in the Georgian revival style, Filoli is regarded as one of the best 20th-century country estates still standing.
Consider the breathtaking venue that would be perfect for a wedding! Filoli provides stunning backdrops for memorable events with its opulent Ballroom, verdant gardens, and nine lively event areas. For an extravagant celebration, go with a Wedding Buyout; choose a micro-wedding Package for a more modest and private event.
19. Alila Ventana
Alila Ventana Big Sur is among California's greatest outdoor wedding locations, regardless of your preference for stunning views of the Pacific Coast or being surrounded by Redwood woods. Get married at the Sur Vista, a private outdoor terrace with ocean views that can hold up to 70 people.
Alternatively, exchange vows at the Redwood Cathedral, where guests are seated on wooden benches and surrounded by a breathtaking forest. For a reception with up to 70 guests, the Loft is a rustic yet exquisite interior area. Alternatively, if you would rather have your event outside, the Ocean Meadow Lawn can accommodate up to 200 guests and provide views of the surrounding forest and ocean.
20. Rosewood Sand Hill
This is a venue worth looking at if you're looking for a romantic wedding venue in California. The 16 beautifully planted acres of the hotel offer a resort-style atmosphere with breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz mountains. They have options for you, whether you want to marry inside and out or a little bit of both.
Celebrate on the immaculately groomed Vista Lawn or Portico outdoor living room after your wedding on the Sunset Lawn, which offers a panoramic view of the mountains. Like something on the inside? Capable of accommodating 350 guests, the Rosewood Ballroom is ideal for a sophisticated welcome party.
Conclusion
California wedding venues offer a dreamy setting for your special day. With breathtaking landscapes and luxurious amenities, your Golden State wedding will be a cherished memory for a lifetime. Say ‘I do' to the California wedding of your dreams!
