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How to Plan a Big Sur Elopement
Top 10 Big Sur Wedding Venues
How to Plan a Big Sur Proposal

Best Carmel and Monterey Wedding Venues (2025)

1/4/2025

2 Comments

 
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Just 2.5 hours south of San Francisco, there's a magical place on the California coast where the redwoods meet the ocean and the ocean meets the mountains. The Monterey Bay has grown more and more as a destination over the years - and for good reason! People come from all over the world to see the abundant wildlife and drive down Highway 1 to see the views that California is known for. It's not a surprise that this area is also popular for weddings. Surrounded by such a diverse range of landscapes, there's wedding venues for every type of couple - redwood forests for a fairytale wedding in Big Sur, ocean-view terraces for romantic sunsets overlooking the Pacific Ocean, gardens flourishing against the Santa Lucia Mountains. And the best part is that oftentimes you don't have to choose just one! You could get ready in a redwoods cabin, say your vows in a garden, and chase the sunset on the coast all in one day if you wanted to. If that sounds like your dream wedding, out this guide on Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey wedding venues!

Planning an elopement or intimate wedding instead? Check out the Big Sur Elopement Guide for more information specifically for wedding days with smaller guest counts.
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Big Sur Wedding Venues

For couples looking for a nature-centered wedding, it doesn't get better than Big Sur. A destination in its own right, Big Sur is home to a small number of wedding venues, all with stunning views ranging from redwoods to coast to beach to mountains. One important thing to note is that Big Sur is best for smaller weddings. Its remoteness and limited amenities and accommodations make planning for larger weddings more complicated (and of course, expensive!) Hiring local vendors is highly recommended, as the area can be difficult to navigate and has almost no cell service. Check out the guide on Top 10 Best Big Sur Wedding Venues for more info, or if planning a larger wedding is out of the budget, consider eloping or having an intimate wedding in Big Sur!
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​Carmel Wedding Venues

Just north of Big Sur lies Carmel-by-the-Sea, a historic coastal town reminiscent of Europe, and Carmel Valley, a mountainous area reminiscent of Napa. Carmel-by-the-Sea is the perfect gateway to Big Sur, just 15 minutes from the start of the coastline (which is perfect if you love the idea of sunset overlooking the coast!) Carmel Valley brings you inland, where the sun shines more days of the year which makes for great weather for wineries and ranches. You'll find many venues suited for larger, luxury weddings in Carmel Valley. Check out Hyatt Carmel Highlands for one of the best sunset ocean views, La Playa Carmel for a European feel, or Carmel Valley Ranch for a wine country retreat.
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Venue Type Guests Good for Microweddings
Hyatt Carmel Highlands Ocean 150 Yes
La Playa Carmel Garden 200 Yes
Gardener Ranch Garden 150 No
The Holly Farm Garden 250 Yes
Bernardus Lodge and Spa Garden / Mountains 150 Yes
Carmel Valley Ranch Garden / Mountains 300 No
Holman Ranch Winery / Mountains 400 No
Folktale Winery Winery / Mountains 300 No
Gathering Ground Events Mountains 70 Yes
The Camp at Carmel Valley Rustic 120 Yes
Stonepine Estate Estate 300 No
Mission Ranch Farm 184 No
Wedgewood Carmel Garden / Beach 270 No

​Hyatt Carmel Highlands | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Check out photos from E + J's Hyatt Carmel Highlands wedding.
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​La Playa Carmel | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Check out photos from S + M's La Playa Carmel wedding.
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​Holman Ranch | Carmel Valley, CA

Check out photos from D + C's Holman Ranch Wedding.
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​Carmel Valley Ranch | Carmel Valley, CA

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​Carmel Fields Wedgewood Weddings | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Check out photos from K + E's Wedgewood Carmel Fields Wedding.
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​Monterey and Pacific Grove Wedding Venues

Monterey is known for its diverse aquatic life. You'll often find harbor seals right at the wharf, otters diving for food, or even humpback whales and dolphins as you walk along the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Right next to Monterey is also Pebble Beach, famous for its golf courses and access to the 17-mile-drive, and Pacific Grove, a small town dotted with Victorian houses and coastal views that get covered in purple iceplants every spring (it's known as the magic carpet - you can look it up!) Most venues in Monterey are connected to hotels or historic landmarks. Check out the Barns at Cooper Molera for a hidden gem right in downtown Monterey (also next to Alta Bakery!) or the Memory Garden for a budget wedding venue.
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Venue Type Guests Good for Microweddings
Barns at Cooper Molera Rustic 300 No
California Seltzer Co. Ocean 150 Yes
Sanctuary Beach Resort Beach 175 Yes
Monterey Beach Hotel Beach / Ocean 250 Yes
Monterey Plaza Hotel Ocean 300 Yes
InterContinental The Clement Ocean 240 No
Portola Hotel & Spa Garden 300 Yes
The Perry House Garden 130 Yes
Wave Street Studios Rustic / Industrial 135 Yes
The Club at Pasadera Garden 150 No

​Barns at Cooper Molera | Monterey, CA

Check out photos from ​A + D's Barns at Cooper Molera wedding.​
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​Sanctuary Beach Resort | Marina, CA

Check out photos from ​A + R's Sanctuary Beach Resort wedding.​
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City and State Park Wedding Venues

If you're looking for just a ceremony site or a budget-friendly venue, state parks are the way to go. For coastal views, it doesn't get better than Garrapata State Park, the entry point to the Big Sur coastline. Some state parks also offer reception sites as well, such as the historic Asilomar Conference Grounds. Chairs are not typically provided by the park, but can be rented. If getting married in a public space, I highly recommend getting married on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
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State Park Location Type Guests Chairs Restrooms Reception
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Big Sur Trees 150 Benches Yes No
Garrapata State Park Carmel Coast 25 No No No
Garrapata State Beach Carmel Beach 200 Yes Port-a-Potty No
Carmel River State Beach Carmel Beach / Trees 200 Yes Some No
Asilomar Conference Grounds Pacific Grove Beach / Trees / Historic 120 Yes Yes Yes
Lover's Point Pacific Grove Ocean / Trees 100 Yes No No
Berwick Park Pacific Grove Ocean / Trees 100 Yes No No
Cypress Cove Pacific Grove Ocean / Trees 50 Yes No No
Point Pinos Lighthouse Pacific Grove Ocean / Trees 100 Yes No No
Jewell Park Pacific Grove Lawn / Trees 100 Yes No No
Memory Garden Monterey Garden 150 Yes Yes Yes
Stevenson Garden Monterey Garden 75 Yes Yes No
Custom House Plaza Monterey Historic Depends Yes No No

Garrapata State Park

Check out photos from M + M's Garrapata State Park Wedding.
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Garrapata State Beach

Check out photos from A + K's Garrapata State Beach and C + C's Garrapata State Beach Wedding.
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Carmel River State Beach

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​Asilomar Conference Grounds | Pacific Grove, CA

Check out the Asilomar Conference Grounds Wedding Guide.
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Berwick Park | Pacific Grove, CA

Check out photos from W + B's Berwick Park Wedding.
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Stevenson Garden | Monterey, CA

Check out photos from A + R's Stevenson Garden Wedding.
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As a local Big Sur wedding photographer who's helped plan and photograph over 200 elopements and weddings here, I've explored this area inside and out. This beautiful destination on the California coast is not just I work - it's where I call home. So if you've always dreamed of a day surrounded by nature, I'm here to capture all the magic that inspired you to get married here in the first place. ​
Let's do it!
2 Comments
Alisha Siebler
2/18/2024 04:45:54 pm

I love your photos! Where is the very first picture on the website taken? It looks like such a gorgeous wedding spot !

Reply
Adeel link
7/1/2024 06:19:03 am

This article gave me a fresh perspective on wedding planning. Looking forward to diving deeper into your other articles!

Reply

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  • Home
  • Work
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    • How to Plan a Big Sur Elopement
    • Top 10 Big Sur Wedding Venues
    • Carmel and Monterey Wedding Venues
    • How to Plan a Big Sur Proposal
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Big Sur Wedding and Elopement Photographer serving BIG SUR | Carmel-by-the-sea | CARMEL Valley | MONTEREY | SANTA CRUZ