Top Luxury Wedding Venues in Southern California: A Photographer’s Perspective
Curated spaces where architectural beauty, emotional presence, and story-driven photography come together.
Southern California is home to some of the most iconic and diverse luxury wedding venues in the country. From historic estates and coastal resorts to vineyard villas and hillside hideaways, each space offers its own artistic and emotional potential.
At One Story Weddings, we believe great photography is about more than stunning visuals—it’s about how you feel in the space. We’ve carefully curated this list of 15 venues based not only on their elegance, but on how they photograph, how they hold emotion, and how they make our couples feel.
1. Pelican Hill Resort – Newport Coast, CA
Address: 22701 S Pelican Hill Rd, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Website: Pelican Hill Weddings
A coastal icon with Italian-inspired architecture, manicured gardens, and the famed rotunda overlooking the sea. This is the definition of grand-yet-intimate.
Photographer’s Insight: The golden hour here is unforgettable. The colonnades and symmetrical walkways make it easy to photograph elegant portraits, while the open ocean horizon brings scale and serenity.
2. San Ysidro Ranch – Montecito, CA
Address: 900 San Ysidro Ln, Montecito, CA 93108
Website: San Ysidro Ranch Weddings
Tucked into the foothills of Santa Barbara, this historic estate blends lavender fields, garden pathways, and quiet luxury.
Photographer’s Insight: Every inch of this venue feels intentional. The filtered light and layered landscapes help us photograph real emotion without intrusion—nothing here ever feels posed.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel – Dana Point, CA
Address: 1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629
Website: Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Weddings
Clifftop views and luxury interiors meet at this Dana Point classic. Known for its impeccable service and coastal vistas, it’s a favorite for ocean-loving couples with refined style.
Photographer’s Insight: The architecture enhances light in a way that feels soft and flattering. We lean into silhouettes, sun flare, and natural backdrops that frame the couple, not distract from them.
4. Calamigos Ranch – Malibu, CA
Address: 327 Latigo Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Website: Calamigos Ranch
A storybook setting with towering oaks, waterfalls, and wooden bridges. It’s rustic in the most romantic way.
Photographer’s Insight: The textures of this venue—bark, stone, flowing water—add movement and depth to every image. It feels enchanted but real, perfect for couples who want connection more than perfection.
5. Bel-Air Bay Club – Pacific Palisades, CA
Address: 16801 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Website: Bel-Air Bay Club
Old-world Spanish Revival architecture meets Pacific Ocean vistas. It’s private, elegant, and effortlessly cinematic.
Photographer’s Insight: We love the contrast here—soft, emotional moments unfolding within bold architectural frames. The bluff is ideal for editorial-style couple portraits.
6. Sunstone Winery – Santa Ynez, CA
Address: 125 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Website: Sunstone Winery Weddings
A Provençal-style villa surrounded by lavender and vines. Sunstone is one of the most transportive venues in California—it feels like Tuscany, minus the plane ticket.
Photographer’s Insight: The warm stone and soft landscape light help us create painterly images that feel eternal. This is where we focus on quiet interaction, intimacy, and organic movement.
7. Monarch Beach Resort by Waldorf Astoria – Dana Point, CA
Address: 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA 92629
Website: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Weddings
Blending coastal beauty with timeless luxury, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach offers ocean-view lawns, grand ballrooms, and refined Mediterranean architecture. It’s one of Orange County’s most iconic settings for couples who want sophistication without compromise.
Photographer’s Insight: The soft blush tones of the architecture and layered ocean horizon give every image warmth and serenity. Whether we’re photographing golden-hour vows on the Grand Lawn or quiet moments in the botanical paths, the entire property feels like it was built for light and elegance.
8. The Lodge at Torrey Pines – La Jolla, CA
Address: 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Website: The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Overlooking cliffs and golf greens, this Craftsman-style resort is as refined as it is rooted in California heritage.
Photographer’s Insight: The natural materials—wood, stone, glass—create warmth and continuity. The light here plays well with shadow, giving portraits an almost oil-painting feel.
9. Montage Laguna Beach – Laguna Beach, CA
Address: 30801 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Website: Montage Laguna Beach
Perched on a bluff with dramatic views and luxury everything, Montage is where upscale meets emotional.
Photographer’s Insight: The sea and sky here do so much of the work. But it’s the quiet, unscripted moments we love most—wind in the veil, a look during vows, champagne under lantern light.
10. Rancho Las Lomas – Silverado, CA
Address: 19191 Lawrence Canyon, Silverado, CA 92676
Website: Rancho Las Lomas
Hidden in Orange County’s foothills, this Spanish-style estate is rich in flora, fauna, and texture. It feels alive—with ceremony spaces surrounded by giant trees and reception areas full of character.
Photographer’s Insight: Rancho Las Lomas gives us room to move and observe. The tile work, wild botanicals, and hidden pathways make every gallery feel like a secret story waiting to be discovered.
11. The Langham Huntington – Pasadena, CA
Address: 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Website: Langham Huntington Weddings
A true Southern California landmark with history, symmetry, and grace. The Langham is perfect for couples drawn to timeless grandeur.
Photographer’s Insight: We lean into formal compositions here, using architecture to frame emotion. And the gardens? Dreamy during golden hour.
12. Carondelet House – Los Angeles, CA
Address: 627 S Carondelet St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Website: Carondelet House
An urban hideaway with European charm. Brick walls, romantic lighting, and moody wood tones make it ideal for intimate, design-forward weddings.
Photographer’s Insight: We love this venue for its depth. It lets us capture quiet exchanges with richness and texture—less shine, more soul.
13. Greystone Mansion & Gardens – Beverly Hills, CA
Address: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Website: Greystone Mansion
Formal gardens, limestone staircases, and sweeping Los Angeles views. Greystone feels stately but romantic—like a film set for a story that’s real.
Photographer’s Insight: We often shoot here with a fine art approach—careful framing, thoughtful pacing, and reverence for the space. It’s visual poetry.
14. Terranea Resort – Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Address: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Website: Terranea Weddings
A bluffside resort with unmatched views and versatility—from grand ballrooms to oceanfront terraces. Terranea is where coastal drama meets elegant simplicity.
Photographer’s Insight: The movement of the water and wind adds a cinematic energy to this place. We often build our storytelling around those natural rhythms.
15. L’Auberge Del Mar – Del Mar, CA
Address: 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
Website: L’Auberge Del Mar Weddings
Coastal elegance with a boutique feel. L’Auberge combines location and atmosphere to create an experience that’s calm, elevated, and deeply personal.
Photographer’s Insight: This is where light meets intimacy. We often photograph slower, quieter here—leaning into natural interactions, soft palettes, and peaceful energy.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right venue is more than finding a beautiful space—it’s about choosing a feeling, a rhythm, a backdrop that supports your presence. At One Story Weddings, we help you move through the day with clarity and calm so the story unfolds naturally—wherever you are.
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Learn more about how we collaborate with couples.
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