10 Best Locations For A Destination Wedding In California - Updated 2024

1. San Diego (from USD 246)

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.

2. Rancho Palos Verdes (from USD 655)

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.

3. Palm Springs (from USD 399)

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.

4. Laguna Beach (from USD 604)

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.

5. Rancho Mirage (from USD 599)

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.

6. La Quinta (from USD 403)

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.

7. Carlsbad (from USD 287)

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.

8. Huntington Beach (from USD 364)

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.

9. Napa (from USD 399)

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.

10. Indian Wells (from USD 407)

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.

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.