21 of Southern California's Best Hidden Gem Wedding Venues
Searching for that one-of-a-kind Southern California wedding venue? From gorgeous beaches to dreamy desert landscapes to lush forests, you'll find no shortage of stunning locations to tie the knot. This destination-worthy region welcomes nearly perfect weather all year round and also includes some rare gems in places you wouldn't expect to find them, like a garden oasis in the middle of a bustling downtown or a lavish private estate just off the beaten path. Check out these surprising and unexpected locations that are often hiding in plain sight!
SANTA BARBARA
SANTA BARBARA
Elings Park
Santa Barbara, California
Location: on a hilltop above beautiful Santa Barbara
Fab Features: 230-acre nonprofit park and urban oasis with seasonal color and incredible city, mountain, and ocean views • expansive oceanview meadow and hillside amphitheater surrounded by trees • oak-shaded terrace for dining
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$

The 1880 Union
Los Alamos, California
Location: on a quaint small-town main street in Santa Barbara Wine Country
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-housePrice: $ • $$

SAN LUIS OBISPO | CENTRAL COAST
SAN LUIS OBISPO | CENTRAL COAST
Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa
Pismo Beach, CA
Location: on an elegant clifftop overlooking the Bay
Fab Features: ocean view ceremonies on the Lido Patio • dance the night away inside the Pacific View tent with its 25-foot peaked ceiling, overhead lighting, and clear sidewalls that highlight the breathtaking views • intimate celebrations inside the cozy and serene Coastal Room
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$ • $$$

Almond Springs At The Miller Moth Ranch
San Miguel, CA
Location: just northeast of Paso Robles Wine Country
Fab Features: 5th-generation family-run farm • gorgeous al fresco celebrations surrounded by rolling hills • cozy accommodations in the charming on-site cabins
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$

Villa Loriana
San Luis Obispo, CA
Location: in the hills just 5 minutes east of Pismo Beach
Fab Features: Italian-inspired private estate surrounded by lush landscaping • ceremonies on the manicured lawn accented by indigenous oaks, and stunning water features • grand receptions inside the 2-story, old-world villa with arched windows and a glamorous chandelier
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $$ • $$$

Chateau Noland
San Luis Obispo, CA
Location: on a perch overlooking scenic Avila Valley
Fab Features: pure romance in a European-style chateau, topped with slated roofs imported from Spain • three gorgeous ceremony sites nestled in the hillside among soaring oaks • all packages include a hosted 2-night stay in the Chateau with its 3 luxurious suites
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$ • $$$

The Piccolo
Paso Robles, CA
Location: in the heart of downtown Paso Robles
Fab Features: charming boutique hotel with plush accommodations • warm, modern event spaces include a cozy library, wine cellar, and a romantic al fresco courtyard • covered bridge, formal gardens, airy patios, and sprawling vineyards
Catering: In-house, Preferred listPrice: $ • $$ • $$$

VENTURA COUNTY
VENTURA COUNTY
The Fillmore on Central
Fillmore, CA
Location: in an agricultural small town in the Heritage Valley
Fab Features: lovely former church reimagined as a stunning event venue • a white brick outdoor fireplace is the unique focal point for the landscaped garden courtyard ceremony site • The Sanctuary boasts rich wood finishes, vintage fixtures, open-beamed ceilings with hand-stenciled rafters, and a gorgeous stained glass rose window
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

Newhall Mansion
Piru, CA
Location: in Heritage Valley, a mere 10 minutes from Valencia’s Magic Mountain
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-housePrice: $ • $$ • $$$

ORANGE COUNTY
ORANGE COUNTY
The Greenhouse at Plantenders Nursery OC
Silverado, CA
Location: nestled between two parks just west of Irvine
Fab Features: exchange vows beneath ancient pepper & olive trees • the versatile greenhouse can accommodate everything from rustic receptions to luxurious galas • endless DIY opportunities
Catering: Preferred listPrice: $ • $$

Jewel of Ortega
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Location: set among lemon groves adjacent to Cleveland National Forest
Fab Features: the expansive property is surrounded by pristine chaparral & oak forest • luxurious ranch-style home offers overnight lodgings for up to 20 people • exchange vows under the vintage-style gazebo before dining and dancing as the sun sets over the ocean
Catering: Preferred listPrice: $$

LOS ANGELES
LOS ANGELES
Millwick
Los Angeles, CA
Location: in the urban Art District of downtown LA
Fab Features: loft-style warehouse with large skylights and wooden bowstring-truss ceiling • exposed brick and unique, hand-made, gold ceramic tile walls • two oversized glass roll-up doors connect the Grand Hall to the lush courtyard garden
Catering: BYOPrice: $$

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
Reptacular Animals Ranch in the Forest
Sylmar, CA
Location: sequestered in the Angeles National Forest
Fab Features: ceremonies beneath a giant oak or in the sprawling field with mountain vistas • open-air celebrations in the meadow with sweeping mountain views • event enhancements include photo ops with animals and a petting zoo
Catering: BYOPrice: $ • $$

GREATER PALM SPRINGS
GREATER PALM SPRINGS
Metate Ranch by Desert Adventures
Palm Desert, CA
Location: on a private 800-acre off-the-grid reserve in the Coachella Valley
Fab Features: unspoiled desertscape surrounded by mountains • unique celebration areas include the grotto with a fountain and fire table, an outdoor game arcade, a cozy amphitheater, and a ceremony stage • book a signature "red jeep tour" mini-adventure with your wedding party!
Catering: In-house, BYOPrice: $$ • $$$

La Quinta Country Club
La Quinta, California
Location: at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in the Coachella Valley
Fab Features: romantic ceremonies on the sweeping green fairways have up-close views of a stunning mountainscape • receptions are held in a unique open-sided pavilion that frames the desert panorama • affordable, all-inclusive catering packages
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

BEACH CITIES/PALOS VERDE
BEACH CITIES/PALOS VERDE
Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion
Rolling Hills Estates, California
Location: in the heart of the Palos Verde Peninsula
Fab Features: a private ballroom with indoor and outdoor spaces boasting gorgeous features • capture beautiful moments from your special day in the picturesque circular parking court with a sparkling fountain and a lush green border of sun-dappled jacaranda and pine trees • exchange vows on the elegant West Terrace designed with a tranquil stone fountain, Roman colonnades, and greenery all around
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $$

TEMECULA
TEMECULA
Mount Palomar Winery
Temecula, CA
Location: gracing the highest hill of Temecula’s famous Wine Trail
Fab Features: sprawling 300-acre property offers a completely separate hillside for weddings with an unobstructed panorama of Temecula Valley • they specialize in highlighting personal, cultural, and religious preferences with a wide array of menus options, expert chefs, and suggested vendors • dreamy al fresco reception plaza surrounded by blooming florals and herbs, fountains, and lawns
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

RIVERSIDE/INLAND EMPIRE
RIVERSIDE/INLAND EMPIRE
The Retreat by Wedgewood Weddings
Corona, California
Location: on a quiet hilltop above Temescal Valley
Fab Features: sophisticated country club set on estate-like grounds, complete with a grand ballroom, a fountain courtyard and outdoor fireplace • a dramatic 80-foot aisle leads to a manicured ceremony lawn • Tuscan-inspired clubhouse boasts an adjacent terrace overlooking a garden landscape and the tree-studded hills just beyond
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

Lavender & Olive
Ramona, CA
Location: in the heart of charming Ramona, CA
Fab Features: sprawling ranch with plenty of dreamy spaces, including two sweet casitas for wedding party prep • say "I do" in the romantic Olive Grove, followed by on the Terrace (the venue's vintage horse trailer bar is a fun addition to the festivities) • dine and dance under the stars on the twinkle-lit patio, framed by soaring oaks, lavender plants, and manicured landscaping
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $ • $$

SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO
Botanica
Oceanside, CA
Location: 20 minutes inland from the shores of charming Oceanside
Fab Features: hidden tropical oasis surrounded by natural springs, waterfalls, and ponds • ceremonies in the heart of the luxurious gardens beneath a bent-wood tree or a dramatic fig canopy • receptions under the shaded forest, veiled by billowing drapery and cooled by refreshing coastal breezes
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

Rancho Magdalena
Valley Center, CA
Location: nestled in Valley Center, 45 minutes outside of San Diego
Fab Features: gorgeous Mediterranean-style sanctuary tucked away in hills • ceremonies overlooking the valley and epic photo ops among the landscaped grounds • full wedding coordination and planning services are available through the experienced Estate Operations Director
Catering: BYOPrice: $$ • $$$

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Want To See What Else California Has To Offer?
Filed under Wedding Venues / Locations, Southern California, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach / Palos Verdes / Long Beach, Palm Springs / Palm Desert / Coachella Valley, Paso Robles and the Central Coast Wine Country, Riverside / Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley / Pasadena, Ventura County
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