Best Unique & Hip Wedding Venues in Southern California
What are the best wedding venues in Southern California? Well, much like how Lydia Deetz says, “I, myself, am (a fan of the) strange and unusual.” Yeah, I know that’s not exactly how the quote goes but what I’m trying to say is I’m a big fan of the non-traditional, do-it-your-own-way attitude when it comes to all weddings! So when it comes to some of my own favorite wedding venues there’s a couple of things that I’m looking for: as a photographer I want what’s going to photograph the most beautifully and give me the most ideal light for golden hour. Colorful or abstract walls? Heck YES! Moroccan aesthetic?! Count me IN! Let’s do this thang!
Who am I? Thanks for asking! I’m Marcela Pulido and I’m a Portland and Southern California wedding photographer. My physical body may reside in the Pacific Northwest but I was born and raised in the Inland Empire and absolutely adore California with all my heart. So any chance to head back home and soak in the sunshine? You bet your ass I’m going to take it.
No, really. I’m pretty sure I’m severely vitamin D deficient after living in the PNW since 2013. So help a girl get her daily dose of sunshine!
Ready to find out what the best unique and hip wedding venues in Southern California are? Check out the list below!
Table of Contents
Palm Springs / Deserts Wedding Venues
Southern California Wedding Photography Pricing
Hip Los Angeles Wedding Venues
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SmogShoppe
- Located in the heart of Culver City, this place is SO COOL! It’s an indoor/outdoor event space that’s 100% solar-powered and is a haven for desert plants, vertical gardens and chic vintage furnishings. Courtyard weddings and receptions here can accommodate 150-person sit down dinners. I can just imagine how gorgeous portraits would go in that courtyard garden
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Valentine
- From the same people who brought you SmogShoppe, Valentine is their grandest event space with 9,000 square feet for courtyard weddings and receptions. Located directly in downtown LA, this building was originally built in the 1920’s and has been reinvented into this incomparable modular venue.
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- Grass Room
- Another hip spot in LA brought to you by Marvimon, I’m beginning to see a trend here… but they know what they’re doing and have put together some of the most distinct wedding venues that LA has to offer!
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Modern San Diego Wedding Venues
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BRICK
- Located in the North end of the Arts District, this venue is located in historic Liberty Station. Considered one of San Diego’s most versatile event space, their team really went all out to bring to life a vibrant and modern wedding venue.
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The Woodshed by Booze Brothers
- A private event space located in Vista that offers a lounge room, bar, back patio, chalk wall, and so much more!
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The Vistonian
- A brand new venue that just opened up in Vista that offers 170 person seated capacity, prep rooms for both the bride and groom, a beer/wine bar and so much more with 8,2000 square feet!
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Contemporary Palm Springs Wedding Venues
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The Lautner Compound
- This venue is the picture of hip, contemporary and cool with it’s mid-century architecture and asymmetrical lines throughout the compound. There’s no lack of beautiful spots to photograph here!
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Korakia Pensione
- This spot may be located in the heart of Palm Springs but will instantly transport you into a Mediterranean escape, holy wow! It’s dramatic setting for a destination wedding that features candlelit walkways, jasmine scented air, and views of the San Jacinto Mountains! The outdoor space can have up to 130 and it’s a stunning setting for your wedding day from start to finish.
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The Saguaro
- This place is PERFECT for anyone who’s a fan of pops of colors! The Saguaro is a modern boutique hotel in the Coachella Valley with a ton of character. This spot is for the bright, inspiring, and fun.
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Classic Inland Empire Wedding Venues
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The Mission Inn Riverside
- With its breathtaking castle-like architecture, romance and European charm the Mission Inn has everything you need for some stunning images from the rehearsal, ceremony, reception, and beyond! Best of all it’s in the heart of downtown Riverside!
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The Mitten Building
- I’ve always personally adored Redlands and spent a lot of time here when I was growing up. I’ve been lucky to capture not one but two weddings here at The Mitten Building! One of them was featured here at Amor Latino Unveiled, check it out!
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Peltzer Winery in Temecula
- Surrounded by vineyards on rolling hills, the Peltzer Winery is the perfect location for your dream wedding! There’s both indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception sites to best plan for year-round so you can have an outdoor wedding under the stars or a chic barn wedding. They’re ready for whatever your heart desires!
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Stunning Central Coast Wedding Venues
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Camp Campbell
- This is one of those dream locations I can’t wait to shoot at! YMCA Camp Campbell celebrates diversity, inclusion, and global engagement, so that’s definitely something that I can get behind. Beyond their ideals, it’s the perfect backdrop for the wedding of your dreams in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This venue can be found in the heart of the redwoods and offer three day weekend wedding packages to create a memorable, fun-filled experience!
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The Casitas Estate
- Located in San Luis Obispo, The Casitas Estate is the picture of a luxury wedding venue with understated elegance. It’s a 12-acre estate that’s most known for its rich Spanish Revival architecture on top of a wildflower landscape.
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La Lomita Ranch
- This venue features four distinct spaces offering rolling hills, an Oak canopy, palm fronds, and a decorated Pavilion amongst gardens and an open sky.
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Southern California Wedding Photography Pricing
All wedding coverage comes with a complimentary consult, custom timeline creation and advice, to ensure we have adequate time for photos with ideal lighting, 600+ fully edited images with no max delivered via an online downloadable gallery. The gallery includes unlimited web sized downloads for guests, a print release, and access to high quality professional prints directly through the print lab. Each couple also receives my Wedding Planning Guide, a multi-page resource that’s packed with helpful tips and information to create a stress-free and fun-filled wedding day!
[one_third]ALL DAY COVERAGE
10 hours
$5500[/one_third][one_third]WEDDING DAY COVERAGE
8 hours
$4500[/one_third][one_third_last]INTIMATE WEDDING DAYS
6 HOURS
$3500[/one_third_last]
Ready? Let’s shoot!
Were you able to pick out of the best southern California wedding venues? Don’t forget your wedding photographer!
Check out my work here and holla at ya girl!
