California Beach Weddings

Northern and Southern California
have their own charm.

There's a reason California beach weddings are becoming so popular.

Celebrities, and regular folks alike, have discovered the beauty these coastline beaches have to offer. Plus, California is known for gorgeous weather year round - Which helps when you're planning a wedding.

"If your wedding will actually take place ON the beach, it’s a good idea to contact the State Park that interests you. Their fees and requirements vary per location. This is probably the cheapest way to have a wedding in California."

I’ll show you what each region of California has to offer, and highlight the top places for California destination weddings.

California beach weddings can take place in State Park beaches, too. Many of them provide romantic coastline settings for weddings.

Be sure to read my important page on planning a beach wedding, I cover all the important facts to know and how to prepare for a wedding on the beach.

There are also many hotels or restaurants very close to the beach that can offer excellent facilities for you to have a beautiful and memorable wedding. A great mix of both is to have your ceremony on the beach and your reception at a venue nearby.

Which region is the best for California Beach Weddings?

Northern California

Northern California offers more redwood trees and steep coastlines, with more of a country feel to it. Adobe buildings and flowers are in abundance here and the beaches are not as crowded as in Southern California, although the weather is not usually as warm either.

Thinking Northern California may be a great place for your wedding? Read more about Northern California destination weddings.

Southern California

Southern California beach weddings are just as gorgeous and quite popular as a vacation destination. California destination weddings are perfect here as there are many theme parks and fun things for your guests to do if they plan to stay longer and make it a vacation. The sun and sand provide a great combination for a California beach wedding.

Does Southern California sound like the location you'd like your wedding to be? Read my top spots for a wedding in San Diego beach weddings here

Although each area of California has its own unique personality and charm, you may find one location suits your wedding style more than another.

Here are some questions to ask when narrowing down the best California wedding locations for you:

What time of year is your wedding? A winter wedding may be chilly in Northern California, but if you're wedding will be entirely inside you may not mind.
Any discounts for large groups? Some hotels will give discounts when your wedding and guest accommodations will all be there. Ask around to see if they'll give a better guest room rate, or reduced fees for your wedding.
Is your wedding budget determined yet? It's a good idea to know exactly what your budget is before getting your heart set on a ceremony/reception site. It also helps the venue your working with when your clear on what that amount is.
How many guests will be attending your wedding? If a beautiful venue that you love in Northern California may only accommodate 100 and you're planning 200, you obviously don't want your heart set on that one. Or, see if you can hold the wedding outside in their garden or courtyard site, (time of year will be a factor then).
Will the reception venue allow you to bring in your own caterer? You may love a location but not be thrilled with their menu, ask if you can bring in an outside caterer. Some have strict rules against this while other venues are more lenient.

New locations and the best wedding vendors are constantly being added, subscribe to our RSS Feed/Blog, on the left, for updates.

Considering a Wedding Cruise? See my page on the benefits of cruise weddings

Click here to find out California Marriage License laws

Have you held beach wedding reception at California? Tell us you story and share your moment by creating a mini myspace here in Best Wedding Destination Forum

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