24 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: $ • $$

VENTURA COUNTY
VENTURA COUNTY
The Fillmore on Central
Fillmore, CA
Location: 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: $ • $$ • $$$

TEMECULA
TEMECULA
CrossCreek Golf Club
Temecula, CA
Location: in Temecula Valley with views of the San Jacinto Mountains
Fab Features: secluded golf club with a perfect location in the heart of Temecula • exchange vows beneath an ancient oak • cocktails and games on the manicured lawn followed by open-air dining beneath the wedding canopy
Catering: In-housePrice: $

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: $ • $$

GREATER PALM SPRINGS
GREATER PALM SPRINGS
Metate Ranch by Desert Adventures
,
Location: 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!
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-housePrice: $ • $$

RIVERSIDE/INLAND EMPIRE
RIVERSIDE/INLAND EMPIRE
The Retreat by Wedgewood Weddings
Corona, California
Location: 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: $ • $$

Lakeside Mansion
Lake Elsinore, CA
Location: alongside the shore of sparkling Lake Elsinore
Fab Features: luxurious 1.5-acre estate • private beach, lawn, and terraces for a romantic lakefront ceremony and reception • on-site lodging for up to 50 guests, plus fun amenities like a fire pit, game room, dramatic stairway entry, and more!
Price: $$

Pond Oaks
Mount Baldy, CA
Location: tucked on 3 picturesque acres on Mount Baldy
Fab Features: picturesque hideaway offering all-inclusive packages and unbelievable views • exchange vows with a mountain backdrop, either under a canopy of oaks or beside the sparkling pond • al fresco receptions under an airy tent or under the lounge areas' twinkling lights
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO
Rancho Guejito
Escondido, CA
Location: in the heart of the San Pasquale Valley
Fab Features: incredible 1845 ranch with remarkable Old West history in a dreamy setting unchanged by time • exquisite historic farmhouse-turned-tasting room & venue as the backdrop for romantic al fresco celebrations • 23,000-acre estate surrounded by lush vineyards, citrus orchards, avocado groves, and velvety green lawns
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $ • $$

Los Willows Wedding Estate
Fallbrook, California
Location: in the hills above San Diego
Fab Features: luxurious private canyon estate • exchange vows in a beautifully lit, treelined meadow, on a terrace facing the lake, or at a lakeside garden gazebo • upscale amenities like a full-service salon, gourmet cuisine, deluxe accommodations, and superb service—all for a surprisingly reasonable price tag
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$ • $$$

SAN BERNADINO MOUNTAINS
SAN BERNADINO MOUNTAINS
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa
Lake Arrowhead, California
Location: nestled along the lakeshore in the richly forested San Bernardino Mountains.
Fab Features: full-service AAA Four Diamond Resort • exchange vows on the lovely lakeside lawn, flanked by towering pines • the Lakeview Terrace Room boasts warm tones, picture windows, and glass doors that open onto an al fresco terrace
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: nestled 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: $$

Fête the Venue
Costa Mesa, CA
Location: in the heart of cool Costa Mesa
Fab Features: versatile and stylish venue that blends al fresco charm and urban industrial • quaint courtyard separated from the main event space with glass roll-up doors for indoor/outdoor flow • chic loft-like event space outfitted with chandeliers and paneled walls
Catering: Preferred list, BYOPrice: $$ • $$$

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 GABRIEL VALLEY
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Descanso Gardens
La Canada Flintridge, California
Location: down a quiet, oak-lined residential street in La Canada Flintridge
Fab Features: private estate set on 150 acres • enchanting ceremonies on a broad, open lawn under wide-spreading coast live oaks • the grounds boast a serene Japanese garden, a 5-acre rose garden, the classic Boddy House, and craftsman-style Van de Kamp Hall for indoor receptions
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$

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: $ • $$

SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY
SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY
The Maker's Son
Los Alamos, CA
Location: in the heart of charming, historic Los Alamos
Fab Features: former filling station transformed into a restaurant, bar, and rustic-chic indoor/outdoor event venue • garden courtyard and patio with oaks, lovely landscaping, a fire pit, and wood benches, plus an airy, open-beamed indoor banquet space • customized culinary creations prepared with local wine country ingredients
Price: $ • $$

CENTRAL COAST/SAN LUIS OBISPO
CENTRAL COAST/SAN LUIS OBISPO
Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa
Pismo Beach, CA
Location: set 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: $ • $$ • $$$

PASO ROBLES/CENTRAL COAST WINE COUNTRY
PASO ROBLES/CENTRAL COAST WINE COUNTRY
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: $$ • $$$

CaliPaso Winery and Villa
Paso Robles, CA
Location: on a lovely hilltop just outside Paso Robles
Fab Features: Tuscan-style inn framed by hundreds of acres of lush vineyards • exchange vows in a dramatic courtyard framed by gorgeous circular staircases • elegant al fresco receptions on the tree-lined terrace or among the manicured gardens
Catering: In-housePrice: $ • $$ • $$$

The Piccolo
Paso Robles, CA
Location: overlooking Paso Robles wine country
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: $ • $$ • $$$

Want To See What Else California Has To Offer?
Want To See What Else California Has To Offer?
Filed under Wedding Venues / Locations, Southern California, Los Angeles, 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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