Planning a wedding in California sounds dreamy until you realize just how many good options there are. Ocean or mountains? Vineyards or desert? A glass-walled hotel or something that feels like your own private world? The abundance of picture-perfect choices don’t exactly make it easy, so we did the editing for you. From iconic estates to picturesque retreats, here are 22 venues that stand out in the Golden State.
The Sea Ranch Lodge
Sea Ranch Lodge looks out over the dramatic Sonoma Coast, where renovated ocean-view accommodations meet one of California’s most striking landscapes. The lodge’s design draws directly from its surroundings, echoing the textures of meadow, cliff, and sea. The experience at Sea Ranch Lodge leans into this connection, with celebrations that range from private dinners to full-scale weddings.
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Set high above the Pacific and surrounded by redwood forests, Alila Ventana Big Sur feels like a world apart. This iconic California retreat is known for its wild, cinematic scenery where mountains tumble toward the ocean and mist drifts through ancient trees. Beyond its reputation as a place to recharge, Alila Ventana Big Sur offers an unforgettable setting for gathering the people who matter most. Couples can exchange vows at the romantically secluded Sur Vista, celebrate in the newly renovated Loft, or host an open-air ceremony on the dreamy Ocean Meadow Lawn.
Beaulieu Garden
Beaulieu Garden is a private family estate surrounded by one of the region’s oldest vineyards. The property’s manicured grounds create a storybook setting, where formal gardens unfold around reflecting pools, weathered stone fountains, graceful statues, and a charming sycamore arbor. With its serene atmosphere and timeless landscape, Beaulieu Garden provides a stunning location for weddings, social gatherings, and celebrations of all kinds year-round.
Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel Valley Ranch blends relaxed California charm with breathtaking natural surroundings. Designed for gathering and celebrating, the property offers a variety of beautiful spaces for weddings and special occasions. Say “I do” on the Vineyard Lawn beneath ancient oaks and rows of lavender, enjoy an outdoor reception surrounded by flourishing gardens, or celebrate in the elegant Clubhouse, where vaulted ceilings and panoramic valley views set the tone for a memorable event.
Dawn Ranch
Located in Guerneville and spread across twenty-two acres, Dawn Ranch resists the idea of a fixed experience. The property brings together a mix of cabins, chalets, and tents, all folded into the edge of a redwood forest, and their gathering spaces are just as impressive. Bring your wedding outdoors at The Meadow, Redwood Grove, or The Orchard, and let the landscape define the moment.
Carneros Resort and Spa
With vineyards stretching across the horizon, Carneros Resort and Spa presents a picturesque Napa Valley setting for weddings of any size. The resort’s venues pair sleek, modern design with the region’s pastoral beauty. Outdoor ceremonies unfold beneath the leafy canopy of The Arbor or across the Vineyard Lawn, framed by mesmerizing countryside views. Inside, the elegant Hilltop Dining Room and Napa Ballroom provide sophisticated spaces for receptions, while smaller venues throughout the property offer charming options for more intimate celebrations.
Le Chacuel
Le Chacuel brings contemporary design to the quiet landscapes of Joshua Tree, offering a retreat where architecture, light, and simplicity shape the experience. Clean lines, modern furnishings, and sun-filled interiors create an elegant environment for both relaxation and celebration. The property is available for partial or full rental, accommodating private stays as well as special events.
Montage Laguna Beach
At Montage Laguna Beach, the Pacific Ocean becomes part of the story. The oceanfront resort marries relaxed coastal luxury with breathtaking views, offering two outdoor pool decks, a spa, and three signature restaurants that look out across the water. Weddings take on a particularly magical atmosphere here, whether held in the grand ballroom or on one of the property’s three oceanfront lawns, where the sound of the waves accompanies every moment.
Ojai Valley Inn
Few venues offer the breadth of possibilities found at Ojai Valley Inn. Alongside luxurious accommodations, spa and a golf course, the resort features a collection of wedding venues suited to everything from intimate ceremonies to grand celebrations. Hacienda Courtyard and Artist Cottage Lawn invite couples to exchange vows with panoramic views of the Topatopa Mountains and the valley, while two spacious ballrooms provide an elegant setting for indoor receptions and gatherings.
Parker Palm Springs
Parker Palm Springs is the dreamiest desert retreat. The indulgent oasis boasts luxe accommodations, award-winning dining and a beatiful range of on-property experiences. For weddings, celebrations and special events, couples can select from a variety of event spaces or reserve the entire resort for a full buyout. This option provides exclusive access to the property.
Post Ranch Inn
Post Ranch Inn makes an extraordinary setting for life’s most meaningful promises. High on the cliffs of Big Sur, the retreat stretches endlessly beyond the horizon and the rhythm of the coast shapes the mood of every celebration. Post Ranch Inn naturally suits elopements and intimate gatherings, offering curated wedding packages and thoughtful support from the inn’s experienced event team.
Proper Hotel
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Mid-Market district, Proper Hotel offers a truly exceptional experience for its guests. The luxury boutique hotel features captivating interiors by Kelly Wearstler, four inspired settings for meals or a cocktail, incredible rooftop views and high-level service and amenities. Beyond the plush rooms and suites, Proper offers freshly designed spaces perfect for both grand and intimate events.
Santa Lucia Preserve
Tucked into the foothills of the Santa Lucia Range, Santa Lucia Preserve is a private community shaped by a deep respect for the land and its history. Here, weddings feel naturally woven into the surrounding landscape. Vows are exchanged beneath towering redwoods, while the historic Hacienda and the wide-open vistas of the Santa Lucia Mountains provide striking backdrops for portraits. As the evening begins, the celebration moves to the property’s century-old barn, where the charm of aged wood and open space invites guests to gather, dine and celebrate late into the night.
Stanly Ranch
Stanly Ranch introduces a new kind of Napa Valley experience, where modern luxury meets the relaxed rhythm of the countryside. Weddings here feel warm and intentional, shaped by a setting that invites connection. The property offers a range of venues suited to celebrations of different scales, from the striking Glasshouse Barn, with its airy, modern architecture, to The Grange, an intimate space tucked within the chef’s garden, perfect for dinner and cocktails.
Sunset Tower Hotel
An icon of West Hollywood, Sunset Tower Hotel has long been part of Los Angeles’ cultural fabric. Since its debut in 1929, the hotel has welcomed an illustrious cast of residents and guests, from Hollywood legends to modern tastemakers. Today, it continues to balance history with contemporary luxury, offering warmly designed rooms, expansive suites, and unrivaled city views. For celebrations, the property features a range of distinctive event spaces. Among them, The Terrace stands out, providing a seamless indoor-outdoor setting with a private Sunset Boulevard entrance.
Terranea Resort
There’s a certain scale to Terranea Resort that changes the energy of a celebration. The coastline stretches endlessly, the light shifts throughout the day, and the Pacific becomes a constant backdrop. From the Catalina Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows to the elegant Palos Verdes Grand Ballroom and the open-air Ocean Lawns, space for a wedding at Terranea is never in question.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel remains one of the most sought-after wedding destinations, long favored by Hollywood’s inner circle. The property features a range of beautifully designed venues, each suited to a different style of event. The Crystal Ballroom stands as the largest, designed for grand-scale celebrations, while the Rodeo Ballroom features a built-in stage for more dynamic receptions. Outdoors, the Crystal Garden provides a picturesque setting for ceremonies beneath the California sky.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
The Lodge at Torrey Pines charms with its setting and architectural character. Set proudly along the La Jolla coastline with views across the Torrey Pines Golf Course, the resort features a collection of venues designed for weddings and events. Outdoor ceremonies take place on the Arroyo Terrace or in the Signature Courtyard, while the Maurice Braun Ballroom and Alfred Mitchell room provide options indoors.
The Madrona
Just a mile from the heart of Healdsburg, The Madrona, pairs refined hospitality with the relaxed beauty of Sonoma Valley. Originally built as a gabled private residence in 1881 during the Aesthetic Movement, the estate is framed by vibrant, carefully tended gardens. Events take shape across a mix of intimate spaces and larger outdoor areas. The entire property feels visually rich and quietly cinematic, with every corner ready to be captured.
Filoli
Once a private estate and now open to the public, Filoli has been a landmark of California’s cultural landscape since 1975. The property is defined by its Georgian Revival mansion, formal English Renaissance gardens, and acres of protected natural land. A grand Ballroom, garden settings, and multiple event spaces offer flexibility for celebrations that are layered and thoughtfully composed.
Montage Healdsburg
Montage Healdsburg has none of the excess and all of the atmosphere. The property stretches through oak groves and vineyards, with clean-lined architecture that opens itself to the landscape. A wedding here can feel expansive or intimate, polished or relaxed. Beyond the ceremony and dinner, The Sonoma County retreat lends substance to the full weekend, with tastings, treatments, and enough space for guests to settle into the experience rather than simply attend it.
Stonepine Estate
Stonepine Estate spans hundreds of acres in Carmel Valley, where rolling hills, formal gardens, and private trails define the landscape. Family-owned and quietly expansive, the property brings together a mix of accommodations, gathering spaces, and secluded corners that feel far removed from anything urban. Celebrate your big moments at Chateau Noel, the Double H Ranch, or across the estate as a whole, with the freedom to shape the experience beyond a single setting.