Find Wedding Ideas: Santa Cruz Wedding Venues You'll Love
Santa Cruz has so many beautiful wedding venues—we have plenty of suggestions, depending on what you are looking for. We share our faves here.
(If you can't get enough, see detailed info for all the Santa Cruz wedding venues on our site.)
Mountaintop Magic: 13 Stunning Santa Cruz Mountain Wedding Venues
Nestled amidst the majestic Santa Cruz Mountains, a range that stretches from the Peninsula down to Monterey Bay, lies a hidden world of breathtaking wedding venues. From the well-known towns of Felton and Ben Lomond to hidden gems in Corralitos, Soquel, and the Los Gatos mountain area, discover the perfect mountaintop setting to celebrate your love story.
21 of Northern California's Most Romantic Wedding Venues
With its towering redwood forests, rugged coastline, and renowned wine country, you don’t have to look very hard to find a jaw-dropping romantic venue for your Northern California wedding. From a cliffside inn overlooking the Pacific to a Mediterranean-style villa surrounded by formal gardens, these dreamy locations set a stunning stage and provide all ambiance and gorgeous photo ops you’ll need for an unforgettable celebration.
23 Dreamy California Winery Wedding Venues—From North to South
Dreaming of a wedding surrounded by mystic views and rows of sun-kissed grapes? California is home to some of the most enchanting winery wedding venues in the country—offering not just scenic beauty, but that signature wine country romance couples crave. With its ideal grape-growing climate and diverse landscapes, the Golden State delivers everything from vine-covered Sonoma estates to Tuscan-style Temecula wineries. Whether you're toasting with local vintages in a barrel room or saying “I do” beneath a canopy of vines, these stunning winery venues are made for unforgettable celebrations.
24 of Northern California's Best Hidden Gem Wedding Venues
On the hunt for a not-your-average wedding venue in Northern California? This part of the state is known for its rugged coastline with romantic bluffs, rolling vineyards, and majestic redwood forests. And tucked away in these gorgeous landscapes are some rare gems in places you wouldn't expect to find them, like a sculpture-studded estate on the Mendocino coast or a lavish wine-country estate just off the beaten path. Feast your eyes on these surprising and unexpected locations that are often hiding in plain sight!
11 Cool Northern California Coastal Destination Wedding Venues
Dreaming of a destination wedding on the misty shores of Northern California? From a charming inn nestled on a dramatic cliff at the edge of a redwood forest to a luxurious resort in beautiful Big Sur, find all the romance you'll ever need in these quaint and cozy seaside towns peppered along this rugged coastline.
21 Majestic Mountain Wedding Venues In California
Dreaming of a spectacular mountain wedding in California? Your search ends here! We've explored the Golden State's most breathtaking locales, from the iconic peaks of Yosemite to the cozy charm of Idyllwild, to bring you a curated list of exceptional mountain wedding locations. Whether you envision a grand celebration at a mountaintop resort in Tahoe, an adventurous elopement in Mammoth, or an intimate gathering at a rustic lodge surrounded by Redwoods, our handpicked selection offers the perfect setting for every style and dream in California's most sought-after mountain destinations. Discover your ideal escape and start planning your unforgettable day!
California Micro Wedding Venues: 36 Stylish Spots for Small Celebrations
Planning a micro wedding in California? Here's our roundup of small-wedding venues across Southern and Northern California, from San Diego, Carlsbad, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and Napa wine country, and the North Coast. Think Japanese gardens, vineyards, cozy inns, beach resorts and mountain hideaways, many with custom packages built for intimate guest counts. Whether a small celebration is your plan A or your backup plan, it's a great place to start your shortlist.
California's Best Hidden Gem Wedding Venues
California has it all when it comes to stunning landscapes for a wedding: vineyards, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, and more. But it also includes some rare gems in places you wouldn't expect to find them, like a lush garden oasis in the middle of a bustling downtown, a lavish private estate tucked away in the redwoods, or a charming inn on the shores of a sleepy beach town. From North to South and everything in between, we've pulled together some of the most surprising and unexpected venues this Golden State has to offer—many that are hiding in plain sight!
Favorite 10 Northern California Wedding Venues | OG edition
These Northern California venues have been our steadfast partners in the wedding industry for over two decades. Through thick and thin, they’ve remained our true OGs, our original BFFs, and have been providing Here Comes The Guide couples with exceptional wedding experiences. We’re eternally grateful for their unwavering loyalty, and we're so proud to have stood by them all these years. Even after all this time, we'd say "I do" to them all over again if we could!
19 All-Inclusive Bay Area Wedding Venues
Reduce the stress of planning your Bay Area wedding by hosting it at one of these all-inclusive venues. Many of them have stunning views (think vineyard, cityscape, and forest), PLUS they all offer full-service packages so you can hit the easy button when it comes to preparing for your big day.
7 Fantastic Monterey Bay Wedding Venues with Ocean Views
Who doesn't love an ocean view wedding venue? These dreamy wedding spots capture photo-worthy panoramas of the blue Pacific as part of your special day.
Toes in the Sand! 5 Beach Wedding Venues on the Monterey Bay
Fantasizing about a genuine, toes-in-the-sand beach wedding experience along the scenic Monterey Bay? These venues could turn your vision board into a reality!
7 All-Inclusive Santa Cruz Wedding Venues For A Stress-Free Event!
Not interested in too much DIY? Then pick a place that handles some of the main elements for you. These all-inclusive Santa Cruz area wedding venues not only help you press the easy button, they also welcome your personal touches and will make sure your celebration reflects your style and story.
Affordable Santa Cruz Wedding Venues: 10 Budget-Friendly Picks in Santa Cruz, Felton and Beyond
Looking for an affordable wedding venue in Santa Cruz, CA? These budget-friendly picks cover Santa Cruz, Felton, Aptos, Soquel, Ben Lomond, Corralitos and Los Gatos. Think a restored hay barn with Monterey Bay views, a redwood grove with steam train rides, a bluff-top marine center, a creekside family winery and an oceanview golf club. Plenty of them are BYO-friendly on catering, so you can stretch your budget your way.
Woodsy Wedding Venues in Northern California: 28 Redwood and Forest Settings
Dreaming of saying I do under the trees? These woodsy wedding venues across Northern California, plus a Lake Tahoe pick just over the Nevada line, put redwood groves, forested parks, mountain resorts and botanical gardens front and center. You'll find options from Berkeley and Napa to the coast and the Sierra, and several offer on-site lodging for a full weekend celebration.
Affordable Bay Area Wedding Venues: 27 Budget-Friendly Picks in San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Beyond
Looking for affordable wedding venues in the Bay Area? These budget-friendly picks include four in San Francisco, three in San Jose and two in Santa Rosa, plus spots across wine country, Marin, the East Bay, Solano County, the Tri-Valley and the Peninsula. Think a Queen Anne Victorian in San Rafael, a 1937 log cabin in the Presidio, ceremonies under the redwoods in Mill Valley, a Julia Morgan landmark in Berkeley and a beachfront hotel in Half Moon Bay, each with its price tier. Start here, then reach out to your favorites for current pricing.
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Some clients may have paid to be placed in our editorial and some of these links may be affiliate; however, we never include a venue, vendor, or product unless they have a proper place here. This is part of our Core Values. We create our website first and foremost to be good for the couples using it to plan their Big Day. We won't stray from that for a few advertising dollars. #scoutshonor