First of all, we love traveling to new states and countries, but there are so many places in California, our home base, that we’ve had our eye on but haven’t had a chance to explore yet.

We’ve had the opportunity to shoot at Nor Cal wedding venues a few times, but there are a ton of cool spots up there we haven’t gotten to yet. Peace Barn, just north of San Francisco, has a really calming and beautiful landscape with giant fields and a backdrop of mountains that is the perfect countryside spot for me. Being in a space that prompts you to take a deep breath and relax can make a world of difference during a packed wedding day, both for the vendors and the couple, so I can’t wait to work here. The meadow at Filoli in Woodside (just a bit south of San Fran) has a similar landscape, with the addition of beautiful European-style giant hedge columns and a mansion, all of which are stunning for photos. Carmel Valley Ranch is also gorgeous with vineyards and mountain views that give it a bit of a Malibu twist.

I’ve also been falling more in love with nature left to its own devices and forest experiences, thanks to our recent trips to Yosemite. Two venues up north have that upscale forest wedding X-factor for me – Meadowood in Napa Valley and the Redwood Canyon Glampsite at Ventana in Big Sur. Meadowood has a big, gorgeous lodge with cozy but still airy rooms, all surrounded by forest, and is a great way to blend comfort and the outdoors. But for the couple who really loves the woods, the Glampsite at Ventana is such a cute way to give your guests a special outdoorsy camping experience and still get the perks of an upscale resort wedding.

Nor Cal has great outdoor wedding venues, but if that’s less important to you and you’re big foodies like us, you can have a micro-wedding at Single Thread Farms in Healdsburg! They can host up to 52 people, plus you and a few other guests can stay at the inn too. Their real selling point is that the food is supposed to be AMAZING – their private event include an 11-course tasting meal (you read that right) so you know they’re serious about food. I would LOVE to shoot there because the space is beautifully designed and it would definitely be the best vendor meal I’ve had!

I have always loved shooting in Palm Springs because it has such a lively, fun energy and beautiful desert landscapes. I can’t wait to get a chance to shoot a wedding at the Parker Palm Springs, first so we can have a portrait session at its iconic orange door, and also because the space is a really fun combination of bright, eclectic design and gorgeous green outdoor spaces. The Sands Hotel and Spa is similarly bright and fun but with a more geometric design motif and a deep love of pink (which I absolutely share). Especially here, you can do very little with decor and still have a breathtaking wedding because the venue’s architecture does so much of the work for you. But so many of the houses in the Palm Springs area are designed as intentionally as the venues, so if you want to go small and DIY, this AirBnb Compound called Le Chacuel in Yucca Valley is super cute. It’s much more of a desert minimalistic vibe if you want something with less color, but is just as carefully curated and has views for days.

There are two venues in Ojai that we’ve been following for a while and love. Ojai Valley Inn has a lot of wedding spaces, but my favorites are the Artist Cottage Lawn – their big outdoor ceremony space with giant, beautiful trees – and the Farmhouse – the epitome of upscale rustic. Thacher House, on the other hand, is perfect if you want the close feeling of a backyard wedding with the views of an Ojai or Malibu venue. Plus, the house itself is very cozy and you can say hi to the goats they keep on the property!

The Santa Barbara area is also, of course, a prime wedding destination, so as a Southern California wedding photographer I’ve gotten a chance to explore and hear about a lot great spots in this city. It has everything, starting with cozy and curated resorts like the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, with reception spaces right on the ocean that are perfect for a coastal wedding. It also has a lot of gorgeous green venues, like Rancho Dos Pueblos, where you can get married in a Sycamore grove (with filtered sunlight perfect for photos), and San Ysidro Ranch, where JFK and Jackie O went on their honeymoon! Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez and Belmond El Encanto both combine beautiful greenery with striking architecture – Sunstone’s light stone mansion has a European flair, and Belmond El Encanto has a little more of an East Coast design with it’s brick structures. But if you want something with an upscale garden party vibe and even more New England flair, Simpson House Inn is perfect for an elegant and cozy celebration

As a Los Angeles wedding photographer, I’ve of course worked at a ton of LA venues but these ones are still on our bucket list! One new hotel in the area is The Santa Monica Proper Hotel, which has an organic, luxurious and coastal version of a mid-century modern design with lots of large event spaces and lounges to impress your guests. Another hotel, The Hoxton is perfect if you’re looking for a warmer, more hip version of a mid-century modern wedding venue and it has a cool apartment-style event space, as well as lots of smaller ones. If you want something a little more private and East Coast but still super cute, Lombardi House has a gorgeous barn space and lawn that are enough of a blank canvas to really have fun with your design while still being cozy instead of industrial. But if you’re looking for a So Cal wedding venue that brings the drama, The Paramour Estate is the place to go – it is a mansion full of jewel tones and high ceilings with gorgeous views of the city from all the way around the property.

We live in Orange County, so one venue near us that we’d love to shoot at is Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach. It has a bright Southwest approach to design, mixing organic elements with bold patterns. We also love going farther south to San Diego, and have been waiting to have a wedding at The Guild Hotel there. They have a number of spacious and bright ballrooms and a black and white design with pops of color throughout their spaces that feels very clean and modern, so if you’re looking for a quirky indoor wedding venue this might be the one for you!

I’m not sure if it’s the fact that it’s winter now or what, but I’ve been really turning towards elevated outdoor and forest-focused spaces recently! We were supposed to have a wedding in Dunton Hot Springs this fall but it had to be moved due to COVID, so I’m still dying to stay and shoot here. It’s basically a tiny town that is all one resort, so everyone can have their own cabin space and still get the resort benefits, and it becomes like base camp for your whole wedding squad. The views here are stellar and the outdoor ceremony “chapel” is SUPER cute, but for me the coolest part is all the wedding weekend activities they offer. It’s not like a regular resort where they only offer you a hike or massage or something – you can go horseback riding, rock climbing with guides, and they even have heli-skiing and sleigh ride options in the winter. Now heli-skiing seems a little too intense for me – maybe Dan would like it – but a sleigh ride followed by swimming in the hot springs would check all the boxes for me right about now. After all, if you’re going to bring everyone to a little secluded part of Colorado, make it a whole weekend of fun to get the most out of it! 

We’re also a big fan of: The Little Nell, The Observatory at Alta Lakes, and Collective Vail.

Probably the very top of my list of destination wedding venues to photograph and/or just stay at is Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah. This resort mimics the surrounding canyons in style and color with it’s super sleek, modern design, and is the epitome of laid-back luxury. It’s super minimalist while still amplifying the breathtaking views of the desert, and the combination is the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos – a landscape that is just dramatic enough to add depth to your photos without overshadowing you. And if you want to make a weekend of it and take some day-before photos, check out the Mesa Rock Slot Canyons nearby! I have also always dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon, which they offer, so I am definitely adding that to my day-after-the-wedding checklist! Utah has such a diverse range of landscapes though – take the Montage Hotel Deer Valley. This venue is the prefect retreat in the middle of the mountains – you’re surrounded by greenery and get the coziness of a lodge feel with the benefits of a high-end hotel, including the largest spa in Utah! Dan and I always get couple’s massages after a wedding, so count me in.

I’ve loved seeing all the creative outdoor weddings held recently and it’s been reminding me of Under the Canvas’s Grand Canyon location, where I’ve been dreaming of shooting a fun boho adventure wedding! I’m a big fan of “glamping” if you couldn’t tell already – I love nature but also having actual running water and a bed, and here you get the refreshing outdoorsy feel AND really beautiful amenities with a minimalistic design. It seems like the perfect place to go on an adventure with all your people, help them get to know each other, and have a really warm and laid-back celebration.

Check out some of our other loves too: Posada by The Joshua Tree House and the Leows Ventana Canyon Resort.

I know this list is for venues I haven’t shot at yet, but I couldn’t end it without mentioning Haiku Mill, even though we shot an elopement there. This space in Maui has an overgrown romantic jungle feel, as if you jumped into a tropical fairy tale, with hanging chandeliers and the most gorgeous stone staircase surrounded by vines. I mean, just look how gorgeous it is! I can’t wait to go back.

We also can’t wait to check out: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Holualoa Inn, Montage Kapalua Bay, The Villa at Calasa Olive Farm, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, and Dillingham Ranch.

So reach out if you are getting married at any of these spots, or anywhere else cool – we always love to hear about new spots couples are gravitating towards and hopefully we can work together! Plus, if you are looking to get married outside the US, stay tuned for another blog post we have coming up about our dream international wedding venues!

Photo Credits

Filoli: Amanda Crean Photographers. Ventana resort: Kindred Weddings. Parker Palm Springs first image: Lauren Scotti. The Sands Hotel and Spa first image: Loie Photography. Rancho Dos Pueblos first image: David Menzozaiii. The Four Seasons The Biltmore: Anna Delores. Thacher House: Paige Jones. Casa Laguna: Victoria Smith. Guild Hotel first image: Madeline Barr. The Little Nell: Tara Marolda. The Observatory at Alta Lake: Elisa Watkins. Amangiri first image: Lauren Kendall. Montage Deer Valley first image: Gideon Photography. Under the Canvas Grand Canyon first image: Cloth and Flame. Haiku Mill second image: Melia Lucida. Haiku Mill third image: NV Maui Media.