If you're dreaming of getting married on the California coast, there's no better place than Big Sur. A stunningly beautiful destination surrounded by towering redwoods and coastal cliffs, this destination makes for an unforgettable backdrop. Here's a list of top 10 Big Sur wedding venues to help you get started!

Nestled in the small town of Pacific Grove is Asilomar Conference Grounds and Asilomar State Beach, two of the best hidden gems of the Monterey Bay and Central Coast. While most people may know the white sands of Carmel Beach, the playful otters of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the rugged coastline of Big Sur, Asilomar holds its own with its rich history and beautiful architecture. Spend enough time with locals and you'll find that its the spot to watch the sunset. Besides its rocky beach, the nearby conference grounds serves as a community gathering place, with live music nights, fire pits, and pool tables. The buildings were designed by Julia Morgan, who is best known for her work at Hearst Castle. So if you're looking for an all-in-one wedding venue that has beach and coastal views, lodging, and historical architecture, this is the place for you!

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.

When G + C visited Big Sur together for the first time, they fell in love with the redwoods and coast here. He had memories camping in Big Sur before they had met; she had grown up in Colorado and missed the nature there. Big Sur was the perfect new place that was theirs, where they got to celebrate their wedding day with an intimate group of family and friends. Check out the rest of their Alila Ventana Big Sur wedding below!

If you're dreaming of a fairytale redwoods elopement or wedding, Glen Oaks is one of the best venues for getting married in Big Sur! This property's main draw is its modern redwood cabins, many of which have private patios where you make s'mores by the fire. Its natural beauty is undeniable as well, with trails weaving in and out of the redwood forest, chairs to sit by the river, and even a 150-foot suspension bridge you can cross. Whether you're eloping with just the two of you, having an intimate ceremony with your closest loved ones, or having a traditional wedding, Glen Oaks might just be the perfect venue for you! For a more comprehensive guide, check out the Big Sur Elopement Guide which includes helpful tips and information on getting legally married in California, other elopement locations and venues in Big Sur, budget breakdowns, best time of year to elope, and sample timelines.

L + G was the type of couple that was so full of joy, you just knew they were made for each other. It was that joy that made their wedding day so incredibly special. There was a moment during the ceremony when these two looked at their loved ones in the crowd and just took it all in…no words were needed, and in those small, quiet moments, you could feel the tremendous love they had for their friends and family, and the equally bounding love their friends and family had for them. In that moment, a million words were said. I’ll never forget what an honor it is to be a part of these moments. Check out the rest of L + G's Hyatt Carmel Highland's wedding below.

F​amily was at the center of K + E’s day. It was even one of the reasons they chose to get married by the ocean - they wanted to show their family and friends the beauty of California. You could just tell how close these were to their family by the way K’s mom looked at her daughter as she helped her in her wedding dress, the tears everyone shed as these two shared their vows to one another, even small things like K giving her bouquet to her mom instead of doing a bouquet toss. K + E also chose to incorporate not only their own families, but also honor the bond of family amongst their guests by inviting any parents and children amongst their guests to dance together with them during a joint father/daughter and mother/son dance. It was such a beautiful sight to see - hands joining together, warm embraces, and an impromptu circle form as one big family. To top it off, K surprised her husband with a flash mob arranged by her aunt - the perfect way to kick off an epic dance party! Check out the rest of K + E's Wedgewood Carmel Fields wedding below.

​When E + J met, it felt like fate. A series of coincidences let them to connecting on Hinge, and since then, they’ve adventured across the world from scaling Angel’s Landing in Zion to visiting her family in Seoul. Since their families and friends were from all over, they decided to bring them all together to California, which became their new home just a few weeks before the wedding! It was a celebration for the ages - so much laughter and tears, and incredible toasts that so clearly showed the love they had for each other and their loved ones. Check out the rest of E + J's Hyatt Carmel Highlands wedding below!

D + C had originally planned a completely different day - they were supposed to get married in the redwoods at Glen Oaks Big Sur. They had always been drawn to the incredible landscapes of the Pacific Coast, and knew they wanted a day surrounded by nature. We had plans to drive up the coast and adventure on the cliffs before heading back to the redwoods for their ceremony. Highway 1 had other plans for us though - just a month before their wedding, the highway had a dangerous slip out on the same weekend that they came to visit their venue. They managed to get out of Big Sur in time, but all traffic was closed to Big Sur. The day after the slip out, they visited Holman Ranch, a winery located in Carmel Valley. It became their new venue, and in just a month, they moved everything from Big Sur to Carmel Valley.

Just a few days before their wedding, the weather forecast had another surprise for them. It was forecasted to be sunny all week, but on their wedding day - just that one day - it was expected to rain. Though this could've easily put a damper on most people's wedding days, I found these two in such good spirits when I arrived. They decided to keep their ceremony and reception outdoors, and we even braved the rain and drove down Highway 1 to see the coast. Though we originally had a different coastal location planned, I had an idea for a last minute change that would get them closer to the coast without needing to trek through the mud. It ended up being the perfect stop, and the rain even let up! Soon after, the sun came out and we had a beautiful rest of the day at Holman Ranch. Check out the rest of their wedding below!

If you’ve ever dreamed of a European villa wedding but in California, this is it! Montalvo Arts Center served as the perfect backdrop for S + I's wedding. They chose to say their vows privately during first look, which was such a sweet moment for them to just spend with each other. The highlight of the ceremony was when the groomsmen pretended that the rings were lost - they then proceeded to accidentally dropped the rings into the bushes and had to jump over the bushes to get them! Check out the rest of S + I's Montalvo Arts Center wedding below!