Isn’t it the most romantic feeling to hold hands with your loved one in front of the vast ocean and make a promise for forever and beyond to each other? When life’s best moments happen in nature’s best places, an incredible amount of joy and hope is manifested. You also get the most amazing photographs of your life from these stunning beach locations. Lined by well developed coastal towns, California is a sought after place for beach and destination weddings in the United States. Due to the increasing demand for destination weddings, a number of coastal towns in California have gone through tremendous efforts to showcase their area. Here are some of the best locations for a destination wedding in California, USA.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on October 29, 2024.
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1. San Diego (from USD 349)
Great dining options within walking distance. Enjoy ordering food to eat at the pool deck.
Reasonable pricing for spacious rooms with outstanding ocean views.
Prime location directly on the beach, near shops, bars, and restaurants. Close to attractions like Belmont Park.
Convenient location with pool, hot tub, and easy beach access. Bikes and boogie boards available for rent.
San Diego boasts the best climate, all year round, which is a big advantage when you are planning a destination wedding. The city is filled with canyon views, long stretches of coast with waterfront views, lush green forest, and a rich blend of historic and modern structures, all of which makes it a perfect location for a beautiful wedding. The Blue Sea Beach Hotel is an oceanfront venue in San Diego that offers the most stunning views, hassle-free room booking and management, and more, for a smooth and worry-free destination wedding.
The Wayfarer San Diego
Address: 707 Pacific Beach Drive
115.59 km (71.9 mi) from Huntington State Beach
2. Rancho Palos Verdes (from USD 665)
Located along the picturesque California coast, Rancho Palos Verdes has some of the most amazing panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. This Los Angeles city is an amazing place to start your “happily ever after”, as you can enjoy the amazing views of the sea, as well as the landscaped meadows, all from an oceanfront resort. Terranea is a popular oceanfront resort amongst the locals and offers breathtaking ocean views. They also have professional staff for planning, catering, and other important activities on your big day.
Terranea Resort
Address: 100 Terranea Way
40.82 km (25.4 mi) from Huntington State Beach
3. Palm Springs (from USD 284)
Palm Springs is home to numerous art galleries and vintage shops. Popularly called “Hollywood’s Hideaway”, the city boasts simple and modern architecture. As the city gets year-round sunshine, there are numerous golf courses and resorts waiting to flaunt their natural beauty. When planning your wedding in Palm Springs, you must check out the Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs, as it is loaded with amenities, like a golf course, huge swimming pool and spa, on-site restaurant, and more. Your guests will love this place, especially for the views.
Ace Hotel and Swim Club Palm Springs This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 701 East Palm Canyon
133.83 km (83.2 mi) from Huntington State Beach
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4. Laguna Beach (from USD 1278)
Impeccable dining experience, especially the breakfast burrito and French toast.
Premium rates for oceanfront rooms, worth the cost for stunning views and beachfront access.
Prime spot on Laguna Beach, with easy access to restaurants and shops.
Beachfront property with pool, spa, and exceptional staff service.
Sprawling with art galleries, beaches, and coves, Laguna Beach is yet another exceptional destination in California for a beach wedding. It is a small coastal city, with a dedicated greenbelt inland and a blue belt at the water. Laguna Beach promises pristine venues with beach-style wedding decor, filled with art and music. The area has a rich surfing history and you can entertain your guests with some sea adventures, along with your beach wedding.
The Surf and Sand Resort on Laguna Beach overlooks the vast Pacific Ocean and has a modern, upscale setting with a restaurant on site, an outdoor pool, free internet, a sun terrace, and more - a perfect location to tie the knot on the West Coast.
Surf & Sand Resort Laguna Beach
Address: 1555 South Coast Highway
22.06 km (13.8 mi) from Huntington State Beach
California Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of... Read more
Tours by Stephanie
5. Rancho Mirage (from USD 280)
Rancho Mirage is one of the nine cities in Coachella Valley and is filled with amazing palm tree and golf course views. Visitors also love the valley lining the city, along with the luxurious resort life, tennis courts, golf courses and, of course, fine dining. This is a city of numerous parks, trails, resorts, and picnic places, with an all-year mild climate.
Enjoy a month of wedding celebrations in the most pampering resorts of the city. Enjoy the amazing pools and water games, treat your guests to a fine dining and lodging experience, and have a fun-filled lawn wedding, all at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage.
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Address: 41-000 Bob Hope Dr.
145.4 km (90.4 mi) from Huntington State Beach
6. La Quinta (from USD 342)
La Quinta offers exceptional views of the Coachella Valley and the breathtaking beauty of bougainvillea-covered streets. With beautiful gardens, golf courses, and valley views, La Quinta is called the “Gem of the Desert”. La Quinta is located between Indian Wells and Indio and has stunning parks, an art museum, public library, resorts, a cove, and numerous golf courses.
The La Quinta Resort & Club - Waldorf Astoria is another excellent choice for a destination wedding, especially for its spectacular gardens, palm tree-lined pathways, carpeted, clean spacious rooms, onsite restaurant, swimming pools, and other pampering amenities.
La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 49-499 Eisenhower Drive
154.22 km (95.9 mi) from Huntington State Beach
7. Carlsbad (from USD 483)
Located close to San Diego, Carlsbad is a surf city, known for its beach activities and the popular Legoland California theme park, that has some of the most amazing rides, a sea life aquarium, and a water park. Another interesting feature of this beautiful coastal city are its seasonal flower fields that run for acres. Why worry about bouquets and floral decor, when you can be married amidst millions of flowers?
The Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel is just a few minutes away from the Grand Pacific flower fields. The resort has an onsite restaurant, two swimming pools, and spacious accommodation.
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
Address: 5805 Armada Drive
83.63 km (52.0 mi) from Huntington State Beach
8. Huntington Beach (from USD 340)
Good dining options, excellent breakfast buffet, but some restaurants had slow service and overpriced food.
Pricey at $450+ per night, extra resort fees, and $48 per night parking.
Perfect location across from the beach, walking distance to downtown shops and dining.
Beautiful decor, spacious rooms, lovely pools, and rooftop bar with great views.
Huntington Beach is a coastal city, known for its world-class surfing beaches, oceanfront resorts, and dining spaces. The city has the long Huntington Beach Pier and a surf museum, featuring longboards. This colorful coastal town also has numerous parks, gardens, and lakes, as well as an equestrian center. Hence, this town is not only a most sought after destination for beach vacations, but also for beach weddings.
Make your special day a picturesque memory with amazing ocean views and resort facilities. The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, has an amazing spa center, spacious rooms with beach views, a large swimming pool, fitness room, restaurant, and much more.
The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel
Address: 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy
2.57 km (1.6 mi) from Huntington State Beach
9. Napa (from USD 447)
Exceptional breakfast, limited and expensive dining options, vegan choices available
Expensive resort with complimentary wine, but pricey dining options
Walking distance to attractions, vineyard view from rooms, close to downtown Napa
Adult-only pool, outdoor jacuzzi, coffee machine, complimentary bottle of wine, free parking, various dining and leisure options
Napa is located to the north of San Francisco and is a perfect place for your dream vineyard wedding. A city sprawling with vineyards, Napa is the home to a number of legendary award-winning wines and the city is also known for its local gourmet food. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a must try. Great food, fantastic wine, and beautiful vineyard and valley views - what more is needed for a perfect destination wedding?
The Meritage Resort and Spa is popular for its spa health treatments, large swimming pool overlooking the vineyard, Napa Smith brewery, and beautiful grounds. You can also have your pooch around for the wedding, as the resort is pet-friendly.
The Meritage Resort and Spa
Address: 875 Bordeaux Way
642.03 km (399.0 mi) from Huntington State Beach
10. Indian Wells (from USD 414)
Located in Coachella Valley, Indian Wells offers some spectacular views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Filled with rich flora, the town is a popular tourist attraction and, hence, is home to numerous clubs, exclusive hotels and resorts, private estates, spa centers, and more.
Planning a wedding in a place that has exceptional scenic views of the mountains and golf courses not only guarantees spectacular photographs, but also an eventful day that will be spoken for decades to come. The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in Indian Wells, is a one of a kind place that can make this dream wedding a reality.
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort Villas This is a Proud Certified property where you can be extra sure of a welcoming stay.
Address: 44600 Indian Wells Ln, Indian Wells, Indian Wells (CA), United States, 92210-8707
152.17 km (94.6 mi) from Huntington State Beach
Make your wedding extra special and extra romantic!
Destination weddings have become the trend of the day in the last 10 years, mainly because they are extra romantic, simple, and less stressful. You can always invite a smaller group of guests, to make your special day a more private and family-oriented event. This also reduces the stress of guest planning and accommodation. California is lined with so many beach cities, valley towns, and resorts, which makes it an ideal place for a destination wedding. If you are planning a destination wedding in the U.S., one of these modern and stress-free California cities is a great option.
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