25 Charming Southern California Wedding Venues With A Backyard Vibe

Dreaming of a backyard-style shindig but don't want to tie the knot at home? We've picked some of our favorite Southern California wedding venues that give us all the feels when it comes to their laid-back vibe and cozy charm. From gorgeous gardens to romantic ranches, these spaces serve as the perfect home away from home for your special day.



ORANGE COUNTY



The Harper by Wedgewood Weddings

Costa Mesa, CA

Fab Features: luxury hidden gem boasting glamorous, versatile celebration spaces with perfect indoor-outdoor flow • event venues include a Mediterranean-inspired olive grove, a separate garden courtyard, and a skylit atrium reception hall with a dramatic, airy aesthetic • customizable packages are paired with Wedgewood Weddings' legendary service

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$
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Red Horse Barn at Huntington Central Park

Huntington Beach, California

Fab Features: upscale equestrian club on acres of pastures, paddocks, and barns • expansive lawns for tents and a warmly inviting great room • gorgeous show horses are playful “extras” in wedding photography

Catering: Preferred list, BYO
Price: $ • $$
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SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY



1880 Union Hotel

Los Alamos, CA

Fab Features: a glam makeover of this historic Victorian boasts vintage lobby, retro dining room and fun entertainment mezzanine • rose garden ceremonies followed by celebrations on the neighboring brick patio with twinkle lights and outdoor fireplace • romantic overnight wedding suite with fireplace, copper tub and antiques

Catering: In-house
Price: $$
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Arnoldi's Cafe

Santa Barbara, CA

Fab Features: a slice of vintage-inspired Italy in the hills of Santa Barbara • warm, intimate patio with glowing market lights and plenty of flexibility for your décor • delectable authentic Italian dishes served with style

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$
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RIVERSIDE / INLAND EMPIRE



Cottonwood Farms

Aguanga, CA

Fab Features: pastoral award-winning family farm and ranch, nestled amid rolling pastures, lush lawns, and towering cottonwoods • exchange vows on a patio beneath the sprawling arms of an oak, then snap photos in the beautiful surrounding desert, with its striking granite boulders, cacti and desert flora, and mountain panoramas • receptions in the authentic stable barn, which boasts a cool saloon-style bar, open breezeway, and lots of market lights

Catering: BYO
Price: $
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Christmas House Inn and Gardens

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Fab Features: historic, landmark 3-story Victorian mansion and grounds • ceremonies in an English garden and dining beneath magnolia and guava trees • six distinctive guest rooms, including a luxurious bridal suite with a fireplace and private garden courtyard with a hot tub

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$ • $$$
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VENTURA COUNTY



Fillmore Chapel by Wedgewood Weddings

Fillmore, CA

Fab Features: the historic Sanctuary of this former church boasts a dramatic hand-painted exposed beam ceiling, a 20-foot stained glass medallion and tasteful Mission-inspired details • outdoor gatherings unfold in a garden courtyard ringed with lavender, pepper trees and mountain views • 88below, a private lounge that's perfect for after-parties or chic get-togethers, has framed mirrors, modern pendant lamps and a cool vibe

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$
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Newhall Mansion

Piru, CA

Fab Features: an enchanting Queen Anne-style historic mansion • dine under the stars in the tiled garden Courtyard • open-air celebrations on the lovely hedged lawn with a splashing fountain and panoramic mountain views

Catering: In-house, Preferred list, BYO
Price: $ • $$ • $$$
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McCormick Home Ranch

Camarillo, California

Fab Features: a white, wood-frame Colonial surrounded by picturesque grounds • ceremonies in the charming brick courtyard bordered by trees • al fresco celebrations on the front lawn beneath twinkling lights and Japanese lanterns

Catering: BYO
Price: $$
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SAN GABRIEL VALLEY / PASADENA



The Maxwell House

Pasadena, CA

Fab Features: Mediterranean Italianate-style mansion • intimate celebrations in the private rose garden or open-air patio • the interior impresses with a coffered ceiling inset with decoratively painted panels, and paintings on loan from the historic California Art Club

Catering: BYO
Price: $ • $$
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PALM SPRINGS



EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge

Palm Springs, CA

Fab Features: 3 private dining rooms each offer their own unique art and ambiance • al fresco receptions on the patio beneath strings of market lights • a buyout is available for indoor/outdoor progressive parties of 300 or more people

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$
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BEACH CITIES / PALOS VERDES



Long Beach Museum of Art

Long Beach, CA

Fab Features: a restored 1912 brick-and-timber Craftsman-style residence • open-air or tented celebrations on the lawn overlooking Long Beach Harbor • the museum will handle all your catering needs and provide rental equipment (tables, chairs, linens, etc.) and service staff

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$
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SAN LUIS OBISPO



Bella Terra Vineyard Estate

San Miguel, CA

Fab Features: enchanting estate in the midst of a 28-acre vineyard • the grounds boast a rustic event barn, lush tree-lined gardens with a babbling brook, and vine-covered arbor • the luxurious 5-bedroom manor house is perfect for weekend weddings

Catering: BYO
Price: $$
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LAKE ARROWHEAD



Gold Mountain Manor

Big Bear, CA

Fab Features: woodsy retreat highlighted by a whimsical 1928 log mansion • romantic al fresco events in the garden, which is bounded by lush forest and glowing twinkle lights • cozy, welcoming accommodations in seven uniquely adorned guest rooms

Catering: Preferred list
Price: $ • $$
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Willow Woods Park

Skyforest, CA

Fab Features: this majestic redwood setting was once the home of an early 20th-century logging camp • exchange vows among the soaring trees, before a sparkling rock waterfall, or beneath a natural wood arch in the wildflower gardens • intimate receptions under glowing bistro lights with the historic cabins as your romantic backdrop

Catering: In-house, BYO
Price: $ • $$ • $$$
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SAN DIEGO



Rancho Guejito Weddings

Escondido, CA

Fab Features: incredible 1845 ranch with remarkable Old West history • the exquisite historic farmhouse-turned-tasting room serves as a unique backdrop for romantic al fresco celebrations • 23,000-acre estate is surrounded by lush vineyards, citrus orchards, avocado groves, and velvety green lawns

Catering: Preferred list, BYO
Price: $ • $$

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River Garden

Vista, CA

Fab Features: dreamy indoor/outdoor gated hideaway filled with lush gardens, waterfalls, mature trees, and water features • al fresco ceremonies under the expansive Pavilion Lawn or in the lovely Conservatory garden atrium • flexible open vendor policy and generous 12-hour rental time

Catering: Preferred list, BYO
Price: $ • $$
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San Dieguito County Park

Del Mar, CA

Fab Features: lovely park on 100 acres of rolling, chaparral-covered hills, just a short distance from the Pacific • lovely ceremonies beneath the white Victorian Gazebo in a secluded corner of the park • then, host your reception in the spacious dance pavilion or beneath the shady arms of the trees on a generous grassy lawn with views of the pond

Catering: BYO
Price: $ • $$
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TEMECULA WINE COUNTRY



The Oaks at Cross Creek

Temecula, CA

Fab Features: secluded golf club with views of the San Jacinto Mountains • exchange vows beneath an ancient oak • cocktails and games on the manicured lawn followed by open-air dining beneath the wedding canopy

Catering: Preferred list
Price: $ • $$
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SAN FERNANDO VALLEY



Knollwood Country Club

Granada Hills, California

Fab Features: elegant clubhouse set in the hills • ceremonies on the manicured lawn backed by pine trees and the rolling fairways • multiple event spaces serve as the ultimate blank canvas that can be customized to your event - just like their packages!

Catering: In-house
Price: $
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Reptacular Animals Ranch in the Forest

Sylmar, CA

Fab Features: ceremonies beneath a giant oak or in the sprawling field with mountain vistas • open-air celebrations in the meadow with panoramic mountain views • event enhancements include photo ops with animals and a petting zoo

Catering: BYO
Price: $ • $$
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Upper Las Virgenes Ranch

Calabasas, CA

Fab Features: unspoiled 5,600-acre parkland landscape • exchange vows overlooking a sycamore-lined canyon • stunning receptions on the expansive lawn surrounded by majestic oaks and panoramic vistas

Catering: BYO
Price: $ • $$
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SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS / LAKE ARROWHEAD



The Sky View Inn

Skyforest, CA

Fab Features: mountaintop inn offering exclusive weekend buyouts of the property and 10 unique guest rooms and suites • ceremonies on an open-air terrace backed by sweeping views of the San Bernardino National Forest and surrounding mountains • delectable in-house dining keeps things simple

Catering: In-house, Preferred list, BYO
Price: $ • $$
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