A Hidden Gem Wedding Venue in SoCal: Malibu Sea View Estate
Malibu Sea View Estate is one of those Malibu wedding venues that does NOT get enough credit. Malibu is one of the best places, like, ever for a wedding. As a Malibu wedding photographer, I feel SO lucky that I get to capture weddings here for a living!! And trust me, I know that there are some insane Malibu wedding venues to choose from. Malibu Sea View Estate, though?? It’s criminally underrated.
Keep reading to see why this one will forever be near the top of my list, and get a peek into Ally and Connor’s chic, intimate wedding day!!
Why I’m Obsessed With Malibu Sea View Estate
Malibu Sea View Estate is somehow both intimate and surrounded by Southern California all at the same time. The 360º views of the city kinda wrap you up in a warm Malibu hug, but you still get to feel like you’re completely secluded and on top of the world.
Weddings here?? They’re the perfect blend of something meaningful and something that makes your guests’ jaws drop when they walk in. It feels familiar and welcoming to everyone, while still making them say, “Ummm, did you SEE these views?!”
Who Needs to Consider a Malibu Sea View Estate Wedding, Like… Right Now
You’re probably already visualizing your Malibu Sea View Estate wedding in your head (if you’re anything like me, that is), right?? Yeah. Thought so!!
The kinds of couples that a day here usually works really well for are ones who:
Want a classic Malibu day, but don’t want a touristy venue
Are dreaming of a day that feels intimate and private but not totally closed off from the rest of the world
Care about guest experience
Can picture themselves belly-laughing with their guests at a family-style dinner table into every hour of the night
Want a wedding that feels elevated but NEVER stuffy or overdone
Care about actually experiencing their day
The Main Details to Know About the Malibu Wedding Venue
Chances are, you already have an idea of what your wedding is going to look like. Your vibe, your guest count, if you want a wedding weekend or not, which Taylor Swift songs will definitely make it on the reception playlist… The essentials!!
Make sure that Malibu Sea View Estate fits with that vision with this overview of the logistics:
Max guest capacity: 250
On-site accommodations: Yes, for the couple or wedding party
Getting-ready suites: Yes
Indoor and outdoor venues: Outdoor only
All-inclusive packages: Yes
The Venue Spaces at Malibu Sea View Estate (Spoiler Alert: They’re All Incredible)
There’s a long list of things I love about Malibu Sea View Estate, but the fact that it’s a wide-open space that you can virtually do whatever you want with is pretty close to the top of it.
The lawns give you so many options for spaces with a perfect view, but the ideal situation here is a ceremony that overlooks the Malibu mountains (yes, it’s as magical as it sounds), a cocktail hour on the patio of the house, and then a reception overlooking the Pacific that has the most INSANE sunset views. That gives you and your guests a slice of basically everything I love most about Southern California!!
If you’re more of a waterfront ceremony kind of girl and dreaming of your guests clinking their wine glasses on the mountainside of things, that’s literally just as beautiful, and you can definitely choose to do that, too!!
Design Ideas for a Malibu Sea View Estate Wedding
If you’re planning a 2027 or 2028 wedding at Malibu Sea View Estate, your first step is to check out my design guide for Southern California weddings. SoCal has such a bright, vibrant, modern feel that you just HAVE to bring into your wedding design, and that’s alllll detailed in said post.
For Malibu Sea View Estate… The views do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. The best thing you can do is to lean into the nature of it all, but I always LOVE things like:
Organic-inspired tablescapes – think wildflowers, fresh fruit, and linen patterned tablecloths or napkins.
A soft, but vibrant, color palette – colors inspired by sunset hues are basically a match made in Heaven at this venue. Baby blues, butter yellows, deep oranges?? Squealing.
Warm lighting – because lighting is a piece of wedding design that gets overlooked FAR too much for my liking. It creates the whole vibe, and I could capture you guys dancing around candlelight and string lights here foreverrr.
Grounded florals – I might be biased on this one, but I don’t think anything needs to interrupt the views here. That means grounded floral arrangements are the way to go, and trust me when I say that they look like something out of a trending-on-Pinterest wedding here!!
Wedding Dresses That Fit the Venue
I’m a lover of all things bridal, and a laidback wedding venue like this calls for something understated, but effortlessly chic. Ally’s dress? The blueprint. I’m never getting over it.
Dresses that are simple with a pop of something extra are the wholeeee inspo here. Bonus points if they have a light fabric like satin or chiffon!!
I also LOVE something like Celine by Jenny Yoo or Chloe by Sarah Seven (paired with a Juliette cap veil would wreck me) for a wedding here.
A Sample Timeline for a Relaxed Wedding at Malibu Sea View Estate
This Malibu wedding venue calls for a day that feels laidback, organic, and just… Easy. And this timeline? It’s the perfect recipe for it!! It’s what I follow basically every time I shoot here, because it has the perfect balance of time for editorial portraits and enough time for you to actually feel like you talked to your lover on the day of the wedding.
8:00 am: Wake up, take a walk around the property with your girls (or even your partner!!), iced latte in hand. It’s the perfect opportunity to soak in the morning, get excited for the day, and breathe before everything picks up.
9:00 am: Start getting ready. Taylor Swift is ON, your mimosa is in your hand, and you’re getting pampered like the queen you are!!
1:00 pm: First look, private vows, + couples portraits in front of the ocean. The light is hitting perfectlyyy, and the whole setting and energy feels like something out of a movie?? Love that!!
2:00 pm: Wedding party + some family photos in front of the mountains
3:00 pm: Hide away inside the house while guests arrive. Pro tip: watch them from the window to see their reactions to the views, because… You’re gonna love it.
4:00 pm: Say I do in the most cinematic ‘lil moment you could ever imagine
4:30 pm: Grab a drink and sit with your lover for a little while to say, “Oh, we’re MARRIED!!!”
5:30 pm: Enter the reception and do your special dances
6:00 pm: Dinner (which is delicious here, by the way)
7:30 pm: Dance party time!!!
8:00 pm: Sunset photos in the ceremony spot, because you just truly cannot miss those views
Common Questions I Get About Malibu Sea View Estate
Can anyone have a wedding at Malibu Sea View Estate?
So, Malibu Sea View Estate is super exclusive. It’s a private home, and they do just a few events a year, so it’s something really special. I recommend reaching out literally as soon as possible to see if you can reserve your date!!
How do I book a wedding at Malibu Sea View Estate?
You have to reach out directly to the venue, which you can do right here.
Is there parking for guests at Malibu Sea View Estate?
Yep!! They kind of thought of everything here, and it shows. Parking is zerooo trouble.
What’s the best time of year for a Malibu Sea View Estate wedding?
Summer, hands down. The summer light is an actual dream to shoot, and the views of Malibu just really thrive with a busy summer night!!!
Ally and Connor’s Intimate, Totally Gorgeous Malibu Sea View Estate Wedding
If you’re not convinced to have your wedding here yet, Ally and Connor’s wedding will do it for sure. Pink skies, live music, every seat having a view, good wine that was flowing all night… It felt like something out of a movie!! Her guests were too obsessed with the venue, and watching everyone enjoy it so much was adorable.
Don’t even get me started on Ally and Connor, because they had the kind of love that definitely made me cry behind my camera more times than I usually do. Their first look and private vows were the most sentimental, romantic moment, and then them getting to take a break from the noise for sunset photos all by themselves was a moment I’ll never be over!!
Planning: Alison Rose Events
Florals: Danielle Paige
Rentals: Found Rental Co. and Premiere Party Rents
Cocktail Hour Music: Jason Sulkin Music
Catering: Jennifer Naylor
Transportation: Riz Transportation
Reception DJ: Second Song
Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Restrooms: Luxury Flush
Cambria Shelley | Malibu Wedding Photographer
For a day that you’ll forever remember being sun-soaked, full of love and laughter, and just easy to live in… You really won’t want to pass up Malibu Sea View Estate. If you’re planning your day there, I’d love to be there through every step of planning, down to capturing every little giggle that you didn’t even know was happening.
Whether it’s here or at another Malibu wedding venue, inquire here about booking me as your Malibu wedding photographer!! I’d be thrilled to be a part of your special day.
Sweet words: "Choosing Cambria as our wedding photographer was one of the best and most meaningful decisions we made. From our very first phone call a year before the wedding, her passion and excitement were unmistakable. She made the entire process feel effortless, and her communication, thoughtfulness, and genuine care made us feel completely supported from beginning to end.
Throughout planning, Cambria listened to every idea and detail we shared. On the wedding day itself, she was everything we hoped for...calm, warm, joyful, and so attentive. She captured every single thing we had talked about in the months leading up to the wedding.
One of the things we loved most was how she made my husband and me feel so relaxed and at ease. She had us laughing and truly being present. During our private vows, one of the most intimate moments of our entire day that my husband and I were nervous about, she created a space that felt safe and so natural. Those photos are some of my absolute favorites, and I’m so grateful to her for capturing them so beautifully.
She also gave us one of our favorite memories of the day when she pulled us aside at sunset for photos. It became a quiet moment just for us in the midst of the whirlwind—a moment we will remember forever because of her.
And the sneak peeks…were everything. She delivered them so quickly, and we had the best time going through them together on our honeymoon, reliving the day and emotions all over again!
I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else with such important memories. Thanks to her, we have the most beautiful images to look back on forever, and we are endlessly grateful.
If you’re considering hiring her… DO IT!"