Outdoor California
Wedding Venues
Top Three Outdoor Wedding Venues
You don't have to be a California local to consider the Golden State for your gorgeous celebration. To help make things even easier for you, I have put together my top three choices for the most epic outdoor "I DO" spaces in the state. Here, you'll find my favorite venues that let you connect with nature but still have all the luxury amenities you need to pull off an over-the-top soiree'. Best of all, you'll be surprised by just how different each venue is. With California's unique blend of beaches, wine country elegance, city buzz, and mountain chill, this state is home to every type of wedding venue a couple could dream of. But where you decide to get married should really depend on what is important to you. Nature-minded couples will love these venues on my list.
Photography by Maricarmen
This venue is superb for an intimate wedding with family & friends. It is more open than a family estate but more private than a resort and ideal for full wedding weekend celebrations. The iconic Meadowood resort is well-known for its luxury weekend amenities. It offers breathtaking, natural backdrops amongst the bounty of the surrounding vineyards. This allows the opportunity for the most timeless and secluded wedding photographs. With towering spruce trees overhead and the Redwood trees surrounding the ceremony space, it will leave your wedding guests in awe of its natural beauty.
The 36-room and suite oasis is ideal for weddings that need accommodations included for the wedding party and family and offers indoor and outdoor event spaces. Larger gatherings are well accommodated at their outdoor venues, which include the poolside Cabana Patio and the Terrace Café. Rooted deeply in Napa Valley history, culture, and heritage, Meadowood Napa Valley welcomes guests into the fold of their private valley and the flourishing way of life it sustains, close to nature, in tune with the rhythm of the seasons.
At once wild and refined, pristine and sophisticated, with elegant amenities that recall the civilized simplicity of earlier times, the estate unfolds from the ridges of its surrounding mountains through wooded canyons and rows of vineyards to the Napa River’s edge. Absolute splendor for that understated, classy couple that wants a small intimate affair.
This 37-acre private vineyard has 360-degree views of the Santa Monica Mountains and rolling hillsides. That alone is a great reason to choose Malibu Rocky Oaks, especially if you are looking for vast, epic landscapes. But, throw a party here, and you will be enveloped in fantastic night breezes from the Pacific Ocean while basking in the most glorious sunset you have ever seen... from a helipad. Yes, you heard that right, if you want to make the grandest of entrances, you literally could arrive at your wedding via helicopter. I mean, you can't get any more unforgettable than that.
As close to heaven as you can get, you can practically touch the clouds here. They say love gives you wings, but you won't need them at this sky-high vineyard venue. Couples who dream of swoon-worthy ceremony shots will find their true match at this Southern California venue. The Tuscan-style sandstone vineyard sits atop a 2,000-foot cliffside, high among the Santa Monica Mountains. Exchange vows on a circular platform that seemingly stretches out into the Pacific Ocean, then move to the pool-adjacent patio to dance the night away at your reception.
Photography by Maricarmen
How do you make your wedding day memorable? By choosing an architectural landmark set against the Santa Cruz Mountains, surrounded by exquisite gardens, an arboretum, and hundreds of acres of hiking trails. For many years Montalvo Arts Center, also known as Villa Montalvo, has been the Bay Area’s preferred venue for spectacular fairy-tale weddings. The manicured gardens and old-world architecture are for the true romantic that wants to be transported to a classic Italian Villa. Montalvo is the favorite wedding venue for multiple generations of Californians and is hidden in the hills of San Jose.
At this venue, you can use the grounds, great lawn, villa, Spanish courtyard, and oval garden or the Love Temple for your dream wedding and reception. With all these options, you can design your wedding exactly the way you want it to be. The 175-acre property encompasses the historic Villa, eleven artist residences, indoor and outdoor performance and exhibition venues, lush gardens, and hiking trails that wind through redwood forests to stunning vistas. This venue is an oasis of arts and nature in the heart of bustling Silicon Valley.
Wedding at Villa Montalvo
Photography by Maricarmen
I hope you enjoyed my favorite outdoor wedding venues in California. Wedding planning starts off with choosing the perfect venue, and I love sharing my knowledge of wonderful hidden gems. If you are looking for destination wedding venues, make sure to check out my post about some of the top ones in Mexico. If you are searching for wedding vendors for your special day, feel free to connect and share your vision.
VENDORS
Photography: Maricarmen Maffioli
Venue: Montalvo Villa & Arts Center
Planner: H & L Lovely
Gown: Monique Lhuillier
Jewelry: Untamed Petals
Hair & Makeup: H & MU by Veronica
Paper Goods: Calligraphy by Michellet