Guide To LA/OC Ocean-View Wedding Venues
Does your dream wedding involve gazing into your beloved's eyes with an ocean-breeze gently caressing your faces as you say your vows alongside the sea? Then you're in luck – Southern California is a treasure trove of wedding venues overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean. An ocean-view wedding is easier to accomplish, logistics-wise, than having a beach wedding – sand can be such a killjoy, especially when it gets on the cake. Here is a guide to a few of Los Angeles' most beautiful wedding venues overlooking the ocean.
La Venta Inn
796 Via Del Monte
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
(310) 373-0123
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La Venta Inn has long attracted couples to its lush grounds, classic Spanish architecture and expansive views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Built in 1923, La Venta Inn is perched atop the hills of Palos Verdes Peninsula, with a gazebo perfectly positioned against a crisp blue backdrop of ocean. The venue features a courtyard entrance, a great room and an outdoor terrace. The venue is small and intimate, so don't expect to have a wedding for 400 here.
Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion
3601 S. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
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San Pedro, which is chock full of beautiful wedding venues, also is home to the Korean Bell of Friendship. The massive bronze bell housed in a stone pavilion in Angel's Gate Park was a gift from the Republic of Korea to honor American veterans of the Korean War and symbolize friendship between the U.S. and Korea. The beautiful structure faces the ocean and has been the site of many a budget wedding. According to previous brides, the site can be rented for a ceremony for less than $500. Be forewarned – don't schedule a wedding too late here, because the wind picks up after 4 p.m.
Malibu Pier
23000 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-8144
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The Malibu Pier is as close as you can get to having a beach wedding without actually stepping foot on sand. Malibu Pier's renovation and restoration was finished by California State Parks in 2008, winning the 2009 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award. Malibu, of course, is gorgeous – picturesque mountains to the north, and the beautiful sea in nearly every other direction. But receptions and ceremonies held here will likely have to bring in everything – from chairs, tables to tents. Fees and requirements for California State Parks vary from location to location.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
22701 Pelican Hill Road South
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 467-6800
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Pelican Hill's event lawn, featuring a towering Italian rotunda for wedding ceremonies, sits a top a velvety green golf course overlooking the Orange County coast. Pelican Hill schedules just one wedding a day at its resort, so there's no rush for the party to finish for the next wedding. Pelican Hill offers a number of complimentary services, including a two-bedroom, ocean-view villa to the bridal couple the evening of the wedding, a wedding butler and a choice of menu table-side for a fine dining experience.
The Reef On The Water
880 Harbor Scenic Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 435-8013
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Looking for a centrally-located, ocean-view wedding venue? The Reef on the Water in Long Beach overlooks the water and downtown Long Beach. The restaurant is less than a half hour from LAX, downtown Los Angeles and Orange County. In terms of waterfront venues, The Reef's pricing is very reasonable – lunch per person begins at $38.95 and dinner starts at $59.95.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
1131 Back Bay Drive
Newport Beach, CA
(949) 729-3800
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Newport Dunes is the perfect spot for a small, intimate waterfront wedding. The venue overlooks beautiful Newport Bay and features a gazebo, a lawn area perfect for either ceremonies or receptions and indoor ballrooms with bay views. Brides rave about the food and atmosphere. Don't expect a loud, raucous party in to the wee hours of the night at Newport Dunes, though – most ceremony and reception areas outdoors have to abide by a 10 p.m. noise ordinance.
Wayfarers Chapel
5755 Palos Verdes Drive South
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-1650
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Visiting Wayfarers Chapel is like being transported into the ethereal beauty of Big Sur. The chapel, also known as the Glass Chapel, is surrounded by a forest of tall redwood trees planted specifically by the architect, Lloyd Wright Jr. The chapel is constructed of nearly all glass, allowing a view of the incredible trees beyond the walls. The chapel sits on the cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is a favorite place for photographers looking to shoot their bridal couples in gorgeous scenery. The chapel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Weddings of all religious backgrounds are held at the Wayfarers Chapel, which also offers candlelight weddings for an additional contribution.
