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A Guide to The Most Expensive Wedding Venues In Southern California

Imagine this – watching the sunset over a gorgeous backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, on a perfectly manicured grassy property lined with palm trees looking out at an endless sea. You are gazing lovingly into your partner’s eyes, ready to make it official and commit to a lifetime of love and happiness with your person–with all of your closest friends and family admiring you and the exceptional scenery behind you.

There are billowing curtains, snazzy table settings, floral arrangements to die for, and exquisite Hors D’oeuvres and fancy cocktails being passed around on trays by friendly servers. A soft violin is playing to the tune “Here Comes the Bride” with an orchestra on deck, everyone dressed to the nines, having the time of their lives. It’s luxurious, it’s extravagant, and it’s the kind of wedding we pine over!

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy for your big day and are in the planning process or getting your bearings for planning your wedding, look no further–below, we’ve detailed some of the most expensive wedding venues Southern California has to offer.

The Top Luxury Wedding Venues in Southern California

The top luxury wedding venues Southern California has to offer all compiled into a short list? Yes please!

Most Expensive Wedding Venues in Los Angeles County

When mentioning the most expensive wedding venues Southern California has for prospective soon-to-be-weds, we’d be fools not to start with Los Angeles. While there is no denying that most wedding venues in Los Angeles have something amazing to offer (and cost a pretty penny), though only a few truly take the cake for being the most luxurious.

So what are the top wedding venues in Southern California? If the criteria is based on location, elegance, lavishness, sophistication, and photograph-ability, then all of these venues fit the bill!

City Club Los Angeles

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Starting off strong with City Club Los Angeles, this private members club (available for booking for nonmembers, too) features  a stunning ballroom with 280 degree views of downtown LA–the perfect place to say “I do,” no matter what time of day. If you’re looking for a romantic backdrop for photo ops, a customizable dancefloor, impeccable cuisine, floor to ceiling windows with a ton of natural light, and dedicated assistance with menu planning–including floral arrangements, linens, decor, and entertainment–then City Club LA might be the winner for your wedding. 

But truly, the jaw-dropping views of the DTLA city scape is unparalleled–might we say the most perfect place to watch the sunset and lock lips with your forever lover with all of your friends and family staring in awe. The space is huge, so wedding size is flexible, and rental fee varies depending on day of week, but cost anywhere from $2,500-5,000 for the event. The ceremony fee is around $2,000 per event, including clear Chiavari chairs, a draped entrance, dressing suites, etc. and the food and beverage minimum is $10,000 to $15,000 per event. City Club can house up to 360 guests seated, and accommodate up to 600 people standing for cocktail hour or the reception. 

• Address: 555 Flower Street, 51st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Phone: (213) 620-9662
• Hours: Mon: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Tues – Fri 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  Closed Saturdays and Sundays

Taglyan Cultural Complex

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Talk about luxury! This venue screams glamor, with elegant, grandiose ceilings, tear-drop chandeliers, and large white pillars that make for breathtaking photos. The Taglyan is arguably the most posh indoor venue in Southern California, with a massive, extravagant ballroom boasting 5000 sq ft and beautifully colored stained glass ceiling. The best part of this wedding venue is the customizability–ambient lighting to really set the mood, and your choice of fabric to drape along the walls, so you can match it to your wedding theme. If you have a larger party, this indoor venue is a fabulous choice and can seat up to 420 guests. There is also a 200 sqft stage for a live band or DJ. The price for this lovely venue is around $30,000 for Friday and Sunday weddings, around $50,000 for a Saturday wedding.

Another area of the venue is the Gardens, which is for those who prefer an outdoor wedding with manicured lawns, an aesthetic backdrop, Italian cypress trees, and a Renaissance-inspired fountain. The gardens can fit 250 seated, 400 standing and are around 3,200 sq ft. For those who prefer an even more intimate party, the Taglyan Foyer is a fine choice for a ceremony or pre-function festivities. For all venues at the Taglyan, you’ll work with an event planning specialist and have in-house catering from world-class chefs.

• Address: 1219 Vine St. Los Angeles, CA 90038
• Phone: (323) 978-0005
• Hours: Mon – Sun 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Greystone Mansion and Gardens: The Doheny Estate

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If you’ve ever dreamed of having your wedding in an extraordinary outdoor setting outside of a castle-like mansion, the Greystone Mansion wedding venue in Southern California is the cream of the crop. This historic landmark is tasteful and sophisticated, giving off European timelessness, featuring a lush green garden setting with a ginormous lit up fountain that serves as a phenomenal backdrop for wedding photos. 

Rental fees range from $5,000-$15,000 for ceremony and reception. This venue is more hands-off than other venues, meaning more outside coordination for things like furniture, decorations, alcohol and catering are required, but if you are a perfectionist who is particular about what they want and would like more control over all aspects of the wedding, this is idyllic. The only caveats are that music must end by 9 p.m., and there are restrictions on no rice, birdseed, or confetti. But seriously, this place is absolutely stunning on its own, and will have you feeling like you’re in a fairy land as you celebrate your union with your beloved.

• Address: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
• Phone: (310) 285-6830
• Hours: Mon – Sun 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Jonathan Club

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This exclusive club also happens to be one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Los Angeles–with an expensive price tag to prove it. The Jonathan Club has multiple venue options, tailor-made for personalization, with a superb restaurant menu featuring seasonal inspired meals that showcase local flavors. One magnetic attribute of this historic venue is the indoor ballroom, adorned with beautiful hanging chandeliers, gorgeous billowing floor to ceiling curtains, and fine wood detailing. The Town Club main dining room can seat up to 220 people–or 480 people standing.

Another location to exchange vows is at their Santa Monica location–a gorgeous beach club sand deck with a backdrop of the ocean, with surrounding palm trees. Celebrate your union–with 300 of your closest friends and family–to the sound of crashing waves, with boho lanterns and string lights, wooden furnishings and floor pillows, fringe umbrellas, floral arrangements, and all things aesthetic, really. Venue service offerings include bar and drinks, cake and desserts, food and catering, and service staff. There are also dressing rooms, a reception area, and covered outdoor space in the event LA gets a random dose of rain.

• Address: 545 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA
• Phone: (213) 624-0881
• Hours: Open 24/7

Most Expensive Wedding Venues in Orange County

If you’d like to escape the Los Angeles smog and get a little closer to clear skies and bright blue waters, Orange County is a phenomenal place to tie the knot. Let’s have a look at some of the most breathtaking wedding venues and resorts in the area, shall we?

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

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Located in Dana Point, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel oceanfront hotel and resort boasts spectacular gardens and embellished ballrooms. With such a wide range of ceremony and reception spaces for all of your nuptial needs, you truly can’t go wrong at this space–with nearly 70,000 sq ft total across 20 event rooms with a 900 person capacity. Plausibly one of the most ginormous luxury wedding event spaces on the West Coast, the outdoor space alone spans over 54,000 sq ft, and might we say the views–with gorgeously green grass and the blue ocean as your backdrop–make for impeccable wedding photos. For those who desire an outdoor wedding with ample space for guests and a soothing ocean breeze, the Monarch Bay Sunset Terrace and The Bluff offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean coastline and can hold up to 550 guests. The Dana Lawn is another highly-sought after wedding location, featuring lush lawns, richly colored gardens, native palm trees, and is capable of seating up to 429 guests for dinner, 700 for reception or cocktail hour. 

Indoor reception venues at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel all have their own flare as well, depending on your preferences, with reception areas that seat anywhere from 70-200 guests, great for pre-function festivities and cocktail hour. The rental fees for these venues at The Ritz range from $5,000 -$10,000 for ceremony and reception, not including other amenities, such as the bride and groom’s dressing area for an additional $5,000, and other amenities. Food and beverage and catering is also handled by venue, though approved outdoor caterers permitted. But when we tell you the price is worth it…believe us, it is!

• Address: One Ritz Carlton Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629
• Phone: (949) 240-2000
• Hours: Open 24/7

Pelican Hill

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With over 504 acres of unrivaled coastal beauty and iconic ocean views, This Mar Vista sanctuary of seclusion might be one of the most expensive and exclusive wedding venues Southern California has to offer. Pelican Hill embodies lush Mediterranean landscaping, complete with a picturesque Italian rotunda and floral ceremony arch to exchange vows under–just 300 feet above the ocean! But that’s not all–there is a dazzling dining area with mesmerizing crystal chandeliers, floor to ceiling flowy curtains, surrounded by a perfectly manicured 36-hole golf course, rows of lavender, century-old olive trees, and a strikingly unique pool overlooking the sea.

It’s dreamy. It’s romantic. It’s beauty, unmatched. This glamorous wedding venue accommodates up to 500 guests, and a professional wedding planner is required. Pelican Hill only offers one wedding per weekend with an annual accommodation of 20 ceremonies, so yes, this venue books out FAR in advance. Rental fees for reception ranges from $5,000-10,000, but the food and beverage minimum is where the bank might break–$80,000 for a weekend wedding. This wedding venue is for the elite, or those who have saved up their hard earned dollars to have the most spectacular, breathtaking wedding day. Can we just say, WOW–if you’ve got the bag, it is most definitely worth the price!

• Address: 22701 Pelican Hill Road South, Newport Coast, CA 92657
• Phone: (866) 866-9882 (DOUBLE CHECK)
• Hours: Open 24/7

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort

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This Orange County gem in Dana Point is beyond what most dream of for the idyllic wedding venue. Spanning 175 acres and 150 ft above the sea on a seaside bluff, the name Waldorf Astoria Monarch sounds expensive, and the name doesn’t lie. This coastal resort costs around $120,000 for a Saturday wedding during peak season, including food and beverages, a wedding coordinator, and security. Waldorf Astoria has a myriad of wedding settings to choose from, including several outdoor wedding venues–Grand Lawn, Pacific Lawn, Botanical Garden, and Botanical Lawn North–and several indoor venues–Pacific Ballroom, Monarch Ballroom. 

Going all out for your big day with a huge entourage? The Grand Lawn is over 12,000 ft, with picturesque views and an unmatched romantic atmosphere  to exchange vows and seal it with a kiss. The two sweeping staircases really make this 700 person venue untouchable. If you’re looking for a slightly smaller outdoor venue, the Pacific Lawn is just around half that size at 6500 sq ft with a 300 people capacity. For an indoor affair, you can opt for the Pacific Ballroom–a 12,000 sq ft grand room with coffered ceilings, natural lightning, white, sparkling chandeliers, fresh cut flowers, white linen table covers, which can host around 1,200 people, or the Monarch Ballroom, which can hold around 600 people. This is about as exclusive and lavish as it gets! If laid back luxury is your cup of tea, then you’ll want to inquire. 

• Address: 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, Ca, 92629
• Phone: (800) 722-1543 or (949) 234-3200
• Hours: Open 24/7

Most Expensive Wedding Venues in San Diego County

Onward down to the tip of California–San Diego, known for its pristine coastlines and jaw dropping sea cliffs and views–a fabulous place to host your luxurious wedding.

Hotel Del Coronado

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This San Diego beachside gem is one of the most iconic historic buildings and beach resorts on the West Coast. If a beachy, dreamy wedding has been on your Pinterest board, then look no further–Hotel Del Coronado has all you can ask for, and then some. There are tons of event spaces to choose from with around a 300 person capacity–including the outdoor Garden or Beach, Windsor Lawn, and the Vista Terrace, which are all fabulous for daytime wedding festivities and early dinners outdoors. Once the curfew is up and it gets breezy out, you can take the party indoors to one of Hotel Del’s indoor event spaces, such as the Crown Ballroom, Coronet, or Carousel, for dinner, drinks, and dancing. 

Get married directly on the beach, or on the lawn right just steps away from the beach and hotel, with gorgeously draped, customizable seaside canopies an option for a live orchestra or band. Imagine walking down the aisle on fresh cut grass,  with white flower petals as your “red carpet,” palm trees on either side of a lavish floral awning, the blue ocean and white sand beach on the horizon line. Hotel Del has delicious menu options for their wedding patrons, spanning everything from a mexican-inspired seaside fiesta, a beach side clambake, or fresh seafood options such as poke and crudo. There are tons of diverse wedding packages tailored for all of your wedding needs, and no matter which you choose–you can be certain that the scene and atmosphere for your photos and ceremony are going to have others weak in the knees!

• Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
• Phone: (858) 225-8380
• Hours: Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  Sat – Sun: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  Closed Sundays

Rancho Valencia

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Set on 45 acres of olive groves, lined with large palm trees in a lavish resort setting, Rancho Valencia is a stunning choice to celebrate your marriage ceremony. They have a variety of venue spaces and can accommodate up to 500 guests at their largest outdoor space–The Croquet Lawn–an 8,400 sqft space which is enveloped with vibrant hibiscus, palm trees, 

This stunning North County San Diego venue space also has several smaller venue spaces that are perfect for smaller ceremonies, including the Terrace ballroom, which is an elegant indoor space with french doors and a 200 seat capacity, or their Sunrise Terrace-a spacious patio great for cocktail hour that can seat up to 80 guests for an intimate reception. Venue service offers bar and drinks destination wedding planning, food and catering, rentals and equipment, and service staff–the whole nine yards! Other spaces include the Rose Garden, The Sunrise Room, The Wine Cave–fine choices for bridal brunches or places to take portraits of the bride and groom.

• Address: 5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
• Phone: (619) 435-6611
• Hours: Open 24/7

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar

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Talk about luxury! The romantic wedding venues at the Fairmont Grand–both indoor and outdoor–are pure magic! With sweeping vistas, a reflection pool encircled by green hills, and a floral arch that outshines all the rest–how can you not fall in love with this place? Exchange vows on the terrace overlooking exquisite gardens, and continue the party in one of the immaculate ballrooms. But seriously, everything about this place is grand–the chandeliers, the ballroom, the floral table centerpieces and ceiling details, the dazzling diamond accents dangling above. Even the event staff is next level!

One unique feature about the Fairmont’s outdoor ceremony area is that the seating for the wedding can be arranged in a semi-circle so guests can have a better view of the bride and groom. If you’re a big foodie, you can work with the talented dining team to help craft the wedding menu of your dreams, which you can enjoy with up to 240 seated guests seated for dinner, or 350 for dancing at the Capella–an indoor space that looks like a blend of an Italian Chapel and Arabian Nights setting, with an antique timbered ceiling, ornate chandeliers, and exotic decor. The ceremony set up is around $5,800, and the reception fee is around $2,500-4,000, food and beverage is separately priced. Getting married is a rite of passage, a night to remember and relish for the rest of your lives. At the Fairmont Grand, you get what you pay for–and let’s just say you won’t regret your decision to tie the knot here!

• Address: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego, California, 92130
• Phone: (858) 314-2010
• Hours: Open 24/7

L’Auberge Del Mar

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If a romantic San Diego beach wedding is what you’re looking for, then this coastal oasis is calling your name. The L’Auberge Del Mar has an eclectic array of wedding settings–both indoor and outdoor–that offer mesmerizing ocean views in a secluded setting for your special day. The Pacific Terrace and Seagrove park venues–which both can host up to 200 guests–can be made even more remarkable with a circular or rectangular wedding awnings and dazzling floral arrangements–a real boho chic vibe. Other options include the Sunset Terrace, which can accommodate 120 guests and the Ocean terrace great for more intimate parties of up to 20 guests, also great for bridal showers and engagement parties.

At the L’Auberge, you can also opt for certain wedding packages such as tray passed with champagne upon guest arrival, white linens and napkins, votive candles, heaters, a dance floor, white chiavari chairs, couples customized signature cocktails, 3 course plated dinners, impeccable hors d’oeuvres, and even a raw bar. Why not take advantage of the accessible fresh fish since we are so close to the sea?

• Address: 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
• Phone: (858) 793-6445
• Hours: Open 24/7

Planning Your Wedding at a Luxury Wedding Venue in SoCal

Budgeting for a wedding often happens years before the actual wedding takes place. Some venues are booked nearly 1-2 years out–if not more–for the locations that are higher in demand. There is a reason why many people get engaged, then have a year or two gap in between their actual wedding date–that’s why it is crucial to go hunting for venues, event planners, caterers, and iron out all the finer details as early on as possible.

Aside from the cost of the venue, you’ll have to factor in the cost of the caterers, decorations and floral arrangements, furniture set up, event staff, wedding photographers and videographers, a live band or dj, beverages, and of course the wedding dress the bride will wear, as well as the rings of the bride and groom. 

All this to say, weddings are not something you can just throw together in a few months! In order for everything to run smoothly, proper organization and ample time are needed. As soon as he (or she) proposes–it’s time to start wedding venue shopping! Shopping for the right venue can be an exciting endeavor–envisioning yourself in each location, getting to sample different menu items and beverage tastings, and working with a planner to help you customize things to your liking. If you want to spare yourself the anxiety, get organized with spreadsheets for your contacts, costs, locations, and start reaching out to your most-loved wedding venues!

How Much Does it Typically Cost to Host a Wedding at These Exclusive Wedding Venues in SoCal?

A typical wedding at an exclusive luxury wedding venue in SoCal can be steep. Prices can range from $30,000 – $60,000 or far more–upwards of $150,000 depending on how extravagant and indulgent you’d like to get.

Some of these venues offer a well-rounded, all-inclusive experience for those who want to eliminate as much planning as possible and leave it to the professionals. Other venues require much more outside coordination with furniture rental companies, floral arrangements, catering, bartending, photography, videography, and beyond. Either way, you’ll want to make sure you invest in the right wedding planner because they can help you save loads of time and also make sure that your special day goes wonderfully smooth, and has everything you were hoping for and then some!

What Should Couples Consider When Booking a Luxury Wedding Venue in Southern California?

When scoping out options for a luxury wedding venue in Southern California, it’s important to consider accessibility for wedding guests, but most importantly event date availability. If you are completely obsessed with a venue but they have a waiting list or first availability isn’t for 3 years–you might want to reconsider unless you’re willing to bite the bullet and wait it out. 

Most of these sites you can submit an application or call to discuss details, some weddings have package deals that make it easier for you to select from options and narrow down decision-making. The best part about several of these luxury wedding venues is that some offer luxurious suites with large living areas and outdoor spaces, so you don’t have to travel far from the venue to the bedroom–where the real magic happens. How divine is it to be able to wake up to ocean views in a space that can also accommodate a ton of your guests–then no one will have an excuse to be late to the event!

Conclusion

We hope this article helps end your search on the best of the best luxury wedding venues SoCal has to offer. We highly recommend getting your applications in promptly for places you desire to view in person, so you can focus on other aspects of your wedding and take a load of stress off. 

Thank you and happy wedding venue hunting!

Author Bio: Courtney Pester is a San Diego-based, San Francisco bred millennial with a passion for design and self-expression. She prides herself in her charcuterie board making skills and loves to cook, hike, frolic, and sing. When she’s not pumping out articles, you can catch her playing tennis and enjoying the diversity of events and restaurants San Diego has to offer.

Media credits: With the exception of IG images, the conceptual images of the most expensive wedding venues in Southern California in this article are copyright of LaJolla.com