27 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



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: BYO
Price: $ • $$

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-house
Price: $ • $$


SAN LUIS OBISPO | CENTRAL COAST | PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY



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-house
Price: $ • $$ • $$$

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, BYO
Price: $$ • $$$

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: BYO
Price: $ • $$ • $$$

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 list, BYO
Price: $ • $$ • $$$

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: BYO
Price: $ • $$


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-house
Price: $ • $$

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-house
Price: $ • $$ • $$$


ORANGE COUNTY



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 list
Price: $$


SANTA CLARITA | ANTELOPE VALLEY



Rancho Las Luces

Palmdale, CA

Location: Tucked away in Palmdale

Fab Features: exchange vows beneath the iron gazebo or in the garden • romantic receptions surrounded by colorful flowers and large trees decorated with thousands of lights • event upgrades include a DJ, lighting packages, and a photo booth

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$


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: BYO
Price: $$


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: BYO
Price: $ • $$


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, BYO
Price: $$ • $$$

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-house
Price: $ • $$


MANHATTAN BEACH | PALOS VERDES | LONG BEACH



440 Elm

Long Beach, CA

Location: in the heart of Long Beach

Fab Features: thoughtfully reimagined 1913 church-turned-event space • enter through a set of gorgeous Arts and Crafts-style glass-paned doors, then exchange vows beneath the Sanctuary's breathtaking 30-foot coffered ceilings • celebrate in the modern reception hall or outside in the gated courtyard

Catering: In-house
Price: $$ • $$$

Los Verdes Golf Course

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Location: On a rugged bluff in Rancho Palos Verdes

Fab Features: elegant event venue perched on the crest of a private slope • exchange vows on the Catalina Terrace, overlooking the verdant fairways and the sparkling Pacific beyond • floor-to-ceiling windows in the Vista Ballroom frame more gorgeous views

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

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, BYO
Price: $$


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-house
Price: $ • $$

Morgan Estate

Temecula, CA

Location: hilltop estate in Temecula Wine Country

Fab Features: Georgian country manor on 20 acres • the grounds boast a historically designed rose garden and a 3,000-square-foot entertainment pavilion • endless photo ops thanks to the vineyards, gardens, grand southern staircase, southern rocker clad porches, and more!

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


LAKE ARROWHEAD



San Moritz Lodge

Crestline, California

Location: tucked away next to Lake Gregory

Fab Features: a grand chalet among cool green cedar and pine forests • hold a fairy-tale ceremony outdoors on the Ceremony Lawn in front of the Lodge • dance the night away with the view of the mountains and a forest of tall trees around a sparkling mountain lake as your backdrop

Catering: In-house
Price: $ • $$

Gold Mountain Manor

Big Bear, CA

Location: nestled in the forests of Big Bear Valley

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: $ • $$


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-house
Price: $ • $$

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, BYO
Price: $ • $$

Launch Pointe

Lake Elsinore, CA

Location: on the shores of Lake Elsinore an hour outside of Laguna

Fab Features: breathtaking waterfront venue with playful lodging options for all your guests, from vintage trailers to yurts to RVs • beautiful ceremonies on the breezy upstairs deck, with views of sparkling Lake Elsinore framed by the peaked wood roof • dine and dance in the beautiful community hall, which boasts 40-foot ceilings, exquisite wood details, and a two-story stone fireplace

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


SAN DIEGO



Shadowridge Golf Club

Vista, California

Location: romanticic garden oasis overlooking the Vista hills

Fab Features: Mediterranean-style country club and golf course • ceremonies in an intimate garden followed by receptions in the light-filled ballroom overlooking verdant fairways • flexible and affordable all-inclusive packages

Catering: In-house
Price: $

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-house
Price: $ • $$


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