Serendipity 12865 Oak Glen Road • Oak Glen • California 92399

Designed specifically for weddings and located at the edge of a mountain canyon that overlooks an oak-sheltered creek, Serendipity is truly a stunning venue. Plus, this private estate is set at 4,200 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains—high enough to be 10 or 15 degrees cooler than the flats below, making it popular for summer weddings—something few outdoor wedding sites in the region can boast.

One of the best things about celebrating your big day here is that you have a variety of outdoor and indoor options to choose from, which means you can personalize your event to your taste.

The traditional ceremony site, built halfway down the canyon slope, is a showstopper with a glorious panorama of the Inland Empire's mountains and valleys, as well as the impressive granite peak of Mt. San Gorgonio. Guests are seated on a lawn facing this inspiring view, and the couple recite their vows on a simple wooden dais that's easily adorned. A second ceremony choice is Oak Grove, an intimate spot next to the new Barn. Encircled by trees hung with chandeliers, and lit by strings of bistro lights overhead, it's a sweet place to say "I do".

The cocktail hour is often hosted on the expansive terrace, where guests mingle over the wedding couple's signature cocktail and hand-passed hors d'oeuvres. From here they can take in the sweeping view of the valley to the south. For a more rustic garden vibe, serve cocktails in the Oak Grove.

Al fresco receptions are held in Serendipity's beautifully conceived outdoor dining and dancing area. Tables are arranged on this spacious stone-tiled "patio", and there's a permanent dance floor on one side (with the canyon as its dramatic backdrop) and a full bar with a blazing fireplace on the opposite side. Extra benefits include balmy evening air, gorgeous sunsets, romantic string lighting, and a star-filled sky.

If you prefer an indoor ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception, you'll love the Barn. It's rustic-chic perfection, with a warm, wood interior, soaring open-beamed ceiling, and huge faux-candle chandeliers. Soft white draping adds an elegant touch.

Serendipity now has a cozy new site for rehearsal dinners, too. It features a water wall plus custom-designed tables made of concrete tops supported by tree stumps, and affords panoramic views of the canyon and surrounding mountains.

When we asked Serendipity's owner how this unique, weddings-only facility in the highlands has worked out, she clearly enjoyed answering the question: "Each bride tells me, 'This is my little haven, my own piece of the mountain for a day.'"