Big Sur, with its rugged, rocky coastline, towering redwood trees, and jaw dropping views, is an absolutely dreamy, romantic setting for your wedding day. Whether you’re planning an elopement, or an intimate wedding, choosing where to tie the knot is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your day! The rugged coast provides the perfect backdrop, so in this guide, we’ll talk about some of the best Big Sur wedding venues.
What’s in This Big Sur Wedding Venue Guide
The Dreamiest Big Sur Wedding Venues
Here are some ideas for the best Big Sur wedding venues!
Glen Oaks
Glen Oaks is an incredible Big Sur wedding venue, whether you’re planning a tiny elopement or a bigger celebration. Situated right along the Big Sur River, the resort is rustic and charming, but modern and comfortable, with lodges, cottages, and cabins on the grounds.
Couples planning an elopement with no more than four people (photographer, officiant, and any other vendors included), can elope anywhere at Glen Oaks – you just have to book a stay! For bigger celebrations, there are two options for a ceremony.
The Fairy Circle is a private site amongst towering redwoods, an absolutely magical site with light filtering through the canopy and groves all around you. This spot can accommodate up to 20 people.
For bigger weddings, the Redwood Grove can host up to 100 people. The grassy lawn sits above the river, surrounded by redwoods and willows. It’s peaceful and stunning, the ideal spot to say your “I do’s.”
For your reception, Glen Oaks has a restaurant called the Roadhouse. Small receptions of up to 50 people can be held on the patio, while bigger celebrations will need to book the entire restaurant.
Average Cost: $2,000 to $10,000
Keep in mind that for all cost information, costs can depend on the time of year, the size of your wedding, and other factors! These ranges should give you an idea, but contact the venues for pricing information.
Ventana Big Sur
Ventana Big Sur is an experience like no other. Tucked away in 160 acres of redwood forest, this is one of the best Big Sur wedding venues, and is the ideal place to exchange vows, with the ocean and the mountains surrounding you.
There are a few different options available for your ceremony at Ventana Big Sur. The Circle of Life is perfect for small elopements – this intimate outdoor spot is surrounded by towering old growth trees, creating a secluded, peaceful location that can accommodate up to 10 guests for a small ceremony.
There’s also the Sur Vista – an outdoor terrace with absolutely breathtaking views of the ocean. With room for up to 70 people, it’s the perfect place for an intimate wedding. And if you want to get married amongst the redwood groves, the Redwood Cathedral allows you and up to 100 guests to step into a fairytale.
There are more options for ceremony and reception locations, and Ventana big Sur offers a resort to stay in, or you can get closer to nature in one of the unique glamping tents.
Average Cost: $6,500 to $30,000
Loma Vista Gardens
This lush oasis in the forest of Big Sur is filled with greenery – cacti, succulents, fruit trees, and flowers. Loma Vista Gardens is a gorgeous historic property, with carefully landscaped gardens, and event spaces that sit on the hillside, overlooking the forest.
This Big Sur wedding venue has a few options for ceremony and reception locations, including the courtyard and the terraces above it. The venue offers elopement packages and micro wedding packages, so it’s perfect for couples planning an intimate celebration!
Average Cost: $3,000 to $20,000
Big Sur Lodge
Nestled in the heart of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is the Big Sur Lodge, offering a peaceful, picturesque setting for your wedding day. You can be surrounded by the redwood forest, and the Big Sur River.
There are four venues available at the Big Sur Lodge, including lush meadows and groves of towering redwood trees. The Lodge also offers a place to stay for you and your guests, so it’s the perfect Big Sur wedding venue for everything you need, without having to worry about traveling.
After the ceremony, you can host your reception indoors, or enjoy the natural beauty of the area and have an outdoor reception!
Average Cost: $1,000 to $7,000
Big Sur Grange
One of the best Big Sur wedding venues for elopements and small weddings is Big Sur Grange. This venue has deep roots in the local community, founded to help local farmers and to advocate for farming communities. The historic building sits surrounded by meadows and redwoods, and the setting is really rustic and cozy.
Inside, the hall is cozy and welcoming, with a vintage charm that allows you to really customize the space and make it your own. Outside, the natural beauty of Big Sur makes for a gorgeous backdrop, and this is a great venue for couples looking to combine the scenery of Big Sur with history and community.
Average Cost: $2,000 to $15,000
Wind and Sea
Wind and Sea is one of the most unique Big Sur Wedding venues. This private estate is perched on a cliff, right next door to McWay Falls. The 3,000 square foot home is elegant, modern, and carefully maintained, contrasting with the wild, dramatic beauty of the coastline!
The ceremony site offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, with the perfect backdrop for exchanging vows somewhere gorgeous and scenic, but private.
There are outdoor showers, copper soak tubs, a sauna, a gazebo, and a stairway leading down closer to the water. In the home, you’ll find a kitchen, bedrooms, decks, patios, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Average Cost: $8,000 to $15,000
Henry Miller Library
The Henry Miller Library is a memorial (though one that tries not to be a memorial, because Henry Miller famously hated memorials) whose mission is to support the arts in Big Sur. It’s a community center, bookshop, art gallery, and has a gorgeous outdoors space for events!
It’s surrounded by majestic redwoods, and the outdoor space can host up to 100 people for a ceremony and reception. Indoor space is limited, but can be used for getting ready, or for a very small celebration.
Average Cost: $3,000 to $7,000
Big Sur Beach Wedding Venues
If you’re planning an elopement, there are also some alternative wedding venue options on the beaches of Big Sur. The area is made up of several state parks, and whether you want to get married on the beach, on a cliff overlooking the ocean, or in the redwoods, you’ll find the perfect spot in nature!
Some of the best “wedding venues” in Big Sur for small elopements are Garrapata State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, and Limekiln State Park.
Looking for the Perfect Big Sur Wedding Venue?
Big Sur is a truly magical place – one that holds so many feelings, experiences, and stories waiting to be told. Each wedding venue offers something unique and special, from the grand ocean vistas to the tranquil redwood groves.
As a Big Sur wedding photographer, it’s my job to capture your day, and to help you make your dreams come to life. I’ll guide you through the planning process, and document the day you get married in a way that feels true to who you are. If you’re ready to tie the knot in Big Sur, contact me!
