Malibu Wedding Venues: The Best Oceanfront, Estate + Vineyard Options

Ohhh, Malibu. Ocean on one side, mountains on the other, approximately seventeen million venue options that make me want to grab my cameras immediately. Every time Malibu pops up on an inquiry form, I'm interested.

As a Malibu wedding photographer, I’ll be the first to say that there’s SO much to love about weddings in Malibu. So if you’re considering getting married here… You’d be absolutely correct for that!!! See my list of Malibu wedding venues (with everything from oceanfront venues to estate venues to vineyard venues) that I’m forever obsessed with, plus alllll the logistics to know about planning a wedding at each of them.

Oceanfront + Beach Malibu Wedding Venues

If you’re anything like me, you love summer, spend more time outside on the beach than inside, eat more ice cream than any human really ever should, and think the sun sparkling on the water is the closest thing you’ll get to seeing magic. And you’re absolutely right.

These oceanfront and beach Malibu wedding venues bring those PEAK Southern California vibes!! Dreamy sunsets, golden hours that make you feel wrapped in light, carefree coastal energy… And, yeah, it’s better than your best dreams.

I've photographed everything from oceanfront Malibu weddings to celebrations tucked into the hills, and you can see a few of my Malibu weddings here.

Bel Air Bay Club

Bel Air Bay Club… Basically the world’s hub for Pacific views + elevated coastal weddings. 

Oceanfront views, a 1920s Mediterranean-style mansion, on-site accommodations, and all-inclusive packages??? Seems made up. 

Weddings here feel as good as they sound (promise). I got to capture Julia and Adam’s sun-soaked, glowy wedding here last summer, and it’s one I’ll neverrr forget. It had the kind of calmness that made everyone totally present, while somehow being super lively and a TON of fun??! The coast showed off during their ceremony with the dreamiest, most vibrant colors you ever did see, and the dance floor was kind of the party of a lifetime. 

I have to add, as a Malibu wedding photographer, that Bel Air Bay Club really made everything SO smooth. The flow was incredible, which meant tons of time for portraits in front of the Pacific + the most INCREDIBLE candids throughout the whole day!! When everyone is feeling gooood + relaxed, we get some of the absolute best pics. That’s the kind of happiness you can’t fake!! 

If you’re as obsessed as I am and need to know some details… You know I’ve got you covered. Bel Air Bay Club can hold up to 275 guests, and that’s kind of the best size for weddings here because you get dance floor chaos AND yapping-time with your people. And as though this all couldn’t get any better, you have indoor and outdoor venue options that are both so beautiful, it makes me wanna cry a little. 

This is a Malibu wedding venue that really thought of everything for you. There are getting-ready spaces, areas for every part of your day (that actually make sense and don’t feel like a waiting room for your guests), no transportation needed, and what feels like millions of gorgeous spots for photos. Which basically makes it a 10/10 for me. 

Basically, what I’m saying is choose this venue if you’re the kind of couple who wants a day that feels laid-back, elevated, and totally lived-in. 

Malibu West Beach Club

For a TRUE oceanfront wedding, don’t miss Malibu West Beach Club. Like, a standing-on-the-beach-saying-your-vows-with-sandy-toes-and-a-breeze-that-makes-everything-feel-like-you’re-in-a-Taylor-Swift-music-video oceanfront wedding.

Malibu West Beach Club weddings unfold soooo beautifully. Everything’s all on site, so your day goes from sipping mimosas and getting pampered with your gals to saying “I do” on the beach to mingling with your guests on the outdoor patio during cocktail hour (with a marg in your hand) to making your entrance into your ballroom reception without a hitch. And the best part is that all of it is SO fun!!

You can have up to 250 guests join you here for a wedding, but if you want a dance floor (and who wouldn’t?!), the max is 170. And because I know guest experience matters to you, know that this Malibu wedding venue is super convenient to tons of hotels and easy to get to!!

From a photography perspective, this is where Malibu West SHIIINES. Candids of you hugging your people during cocktail hour when the sun is hitting perfectly? Golden hour portraits running on the beach??? An absolute dream.

This is the Malibu wedding venue that works for you if you want a beach wedding that feels classy, tons of fun, and easy to be present in, from sunrise to sunset!!

Adamson House

If the oceanfront is important to you, but so is architecture, character, and a unique feel… You can stop searching. Because the Adamson House?? It’s the best of all of those things.

The Adamson House gives a totally different vibe to oceanfront weddings. It still has GORGEOUS views of the Pacific, but it has sooo much more to offer. It’s rich with history, it’s full of personality, and the photo ops here are on a WHOLEEE other level.

My favorite part of weddings here is how wowed guests are by the property. It’s a Malibu wedding venue that can hold anywhere from 15-200 guests really well (depending on your setup), and I can almost guarantee that every single one of them will walk in and say, “OMG… You’re kidding.” Not to mention that even though the wedding venue is fully outdoors, you can add on an open house tour during cocktail hour??? Obsessed with that (and so are your guests, BTW).

If you’ve been dreaming about a wedding that feels completely set-apart, fun, intimate, and vibrant (plus a gallery that feels rich with a TON of variety)... Yeah. Reach out to Adamson House, like, yesterday.

Malibu Vineyard + Estate Wedding Venues

Vineyard wedding venues and estate wedding venues take the word “classy” to a wholeee new level. Vineyards hold days full of wine, sunlight, and laughter, and estate weddings feel luxe,and elevated, but still really personal, too.

Check out my guide to estate weddings, and if that’s the kind of day you want… These Malibu wedding venues are the ones!!

Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards

Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards?? Basically all my favorite words in one venue name. And if you want something classy, expansive, and more like Italy than Southern California, you’re gonna love this one as much as I do.

This is an estate and vineyard wedding venue all in one, which gives days all the elegance of an estate wedding and all the wine-tipsy, cinematic fun of a vineyard wedding. Like, guests will arrive and say, “Woah… THIS is where the wedding is??” then immediately feel settled as soon as they grab their ceremony glass of champagne to let loose through the whole rest of the night.

Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards can hold up to 180 guests seated, which is the perfect amount for family-style dinner tables and receptions under the open sky where some people are on the dance floor, some people are by the fire pit, and some people are by the pool.

Oh, and the fact that you get 360º views of the mountains and the vineyards and the Pacific??? It makes your gallery filled with variety, love, and STUNNING sunsets. It’s kind of like a playground for me.

All that said, I’d recommend this venue for the kind of couple who wants a day with a destination feel but never, ever wants to set foot in a TSA line. I see you.

Saddlerock Ranch

If you’re picturing a more understated setting, so you can turn a pretty venue with pretty views to something that feels like you… Saddlerock Ranch is the perfect rustic, charming little outdoor Malibu wedding venue.

This is a venue that has natural beauty for daysss. Wide-open rolling vineyards, wooden elements, and a really organic feel make weddings here feel like actual magic. I notice how much ease this one brings my couples (and their guests), both atmosphere-wise and planning-wise!!

If you want a huge dance floor with every single person you love, you’ll be able to fit them here with a max capacity of 500 guests. And don’t hear that and automatically think that a wedding with that many people will feel stuffy, because, trust me… It flows really well. Everyone has plenty of space to move and laugh and dance, and there are never any of those awkward pauses during your timeline that make guests say, “Umm… Okay… Where do I go now?”

And from a photography perspective, I could spend HOURS taking photos of you two here. Don’t worry, I won’t… But I definitely could. With the vineyards, the way the light hits through the trees, the string lights over your wedding tables, and the mountain backdrops, I’m basically in Heaven here.

Choose this if you want a venue that you get to make totally your own, from how many people you invite to your design to the kind of energy you want allll day long.

Malibu Sea View Estate

Malibu Sea View Estate is an estate venue that I think about quite literally all the time. The name of it says exactly what it is: a classy estate venue with the most gorgeousss uninterrupted views of the Pacific. Yep. Sold.

Seriously though, if you want a wedding that feels secluded and far away but still feels connected to Malibu, this is the one. They hold a small number of weddings every year, so every single day feels incredibly special and intentional. And you deserve that!!

You can have up to 250 guests here for the type of wedding that feels like you’re legitimately on top of the world. And if you need proof, you can find it all on my Malibu Sea View Estate wedding guide, but this venue?? It’s one of the BEST on the list for photographs. The vibrant colors are what really get me because it’s lush and huge and bright all at the same time, and it’s literally everything I love for portraits.

Choose this one if you love all things happy, bright, and fun!! Seriously, though, if you’re picturing a day that feels coastal, laid-back, and classy all at the same time, Malibu Sea View Estate is PERFECTTT.

Malibu Ranch + Farm Wedding Venues

Maybe you love the beach and a classy estate feel as much as the next person, but it doesn’t quite feel like the best version of you. You might want something totally simple that lets you do exactly what you want, with just the Malibu air allll around you. If that resonates… Here are some Malibu ranch and farm wedding venues that fit that energy well!!

Calamigos Ranch

There are so, so, SOOO many reasons that I love Calamigos Ranch. It’s a ranch wedding venue in Malibu that’s versatile, lush and full of character. And who wouldn’t love that??

It’s the kind of venue that’s perfect for the couple who cares more about experiencing their day than performing in their day. You have the entire venue to yourself, and you get to make it completely your own. It feels easy and relaxed, in the way that makes you wanna sneak lil kisses and happy dance around all day long!!

Calamigos Ranch works really well for tiny weddings or HUGE weddings, holding up to 800 guests. Again, she’s versatile!! You get to make your day fully your own here. Wanna know more about planning? Here’s my full Calamigos Ranch wedding guide.

If you’re wondering what photos end up looking like here, you’re in luck. As a Malibu wedding photographer, I love this one because I get to get SO creative with light, shadows, and tons of different backdrops, so you get a gallery that feels like another world (or maybe five).

This is the one for you if you want a day that feels tucked-away into its own little fairytale world, and it’s perfect for basically any type of wedding: nontraditional, funky ones, classy, elegant ones, and even simple, rustic ones!!

Cielo Farms

Cielo Farms? She’s classy.

Days here feel insane every time. They give that straight-out-of-Pinterest wedding vibe, but still feel tooootally personal and intentional for my couples. You get the epic ceremony backdrop vibes and the dancing under the stars in your mini wedding dress after doing your champagne tower vibes, and it’s all kind of something that feels like a movie???

If this is your dream venue already, you need to know that this one can hold up to 200 of your fave people in the outdoor venue spaces, and that planning is easy because they have all-inclusive packages. As if it couldn’t get better.

See this Cielo Farms wedding + my venue planning tips here, and know that photos here turn out incredible. The colors and the views and the architecture are all too good, and since the feeling of this one can’t be beat… It makes for some really great documentary-style candid pics.

Choose this if you want a venue that’s somewhere in between a vineyard and an Italian rustic farm that feels effortless, natural, and organic!!

Can You Get Married on the Beach in Malibu?

If you’ve read through all of these venues and are sitting there like, “Yeah, that’s nice… But I’d rather just have a quick ceremony on the beach,” this is the section for you. 

Depending on the specific beach, you can absolutely go for a beach wedding in Malibu. Planning takes a little extra consideration, because you have to think about things like: 

• Permits

• Rules that differ by location

• Guest count

• Furniture (like chairs and arches) rules

• Parking

• People on a public beach

• Accessibility 

• A separate reception space 

Which, if you’re working with me, know that I can always help you figure out these little specifics. For example, you’ll find permitting info here and you can see my guide to restaurant weddings for reception ideas!

If you don’t want to have to worry about all of this, a beachfront wedding venue, like the ones I mentioned above?? Probably the right call. 

How to Choose the Right Malibu Wedding Venue

Actually choosing a Malibu wedding venue is the hard part. With venues as gorgeous as this… It’s really hard to narrow it down. Trust me. 

Here are a few tips from a Malibu wedding photographer to help!! 

Choose Based on Scenery

Chances are, you have an idea of what you want your wedding to feel like or the general atmosphere. 

If you want ocean vibes, go for one of the oceanfront venues. For historic vibes, choose Adamson House. And for vineyard gals… Perhaps Cielo??!!

Choose Based on Guest Count

If you’re planning a huge wedding with all the people you’ve ever loved, I love that for you. Somewhere like Calamigos Ranch can hold all your favvv people. 

Choose Based on Wedding Experience

Do you want an all-in-one venue where everything happens in one place? A luxe little weekend/resort experience? An intimate beach ceremony?? 

This list has something for everyone!! 

Choose Based on Logistics

If PCH traffic, rideshares, and parking make you want to drop everything and just elope instead, I say this lovingly… Breathe!!

There are some venues on this list that make all of those things REALLY easy. Malibu Sea View Estate?? It gives you a wedding where you get to overlook all the chaos, not live in it. Calamigos?? You’re fully tucked away. No noise, just your people. 

Questions to Ask Before Booking a Malibu Wedding Venue

What’s included in the rental fee? (Catering, tables/chairs, rentals?)

Do you have noise or curfew restrictions? (Super important for outdoor receptions)

What’s the parking situation for guests? (Do I need to arrange shuttles?)

Do you require us to use in-house vendors?

Is there a backup plan for bad weather?

What all is included in your base package? 

Sample Malibu Wedding Timeline

Malibu is one of those places where everything about weddings flows eaaaasy. And that’s one of the reasons I love it here so much. 

Don’t copy this exactly (because sunset and venue logistics will change everything), but when I'm helping couples build Malibu wedding timelines, I always think about the ceremony direction, traffic between locations, sunset, and whether we can sneak out for 10-15 minutes without pulling you away from your guests for forever. Here’s one that usually works well!! 

10:00 am: Getting ready

3:00 pm: First look + private vows + portraits

4:00 pm: Wedding party photos

4:30 pm: Guests arrive

5:00 pm: Ceremony

5:30 pm: Cocktail hour + family portraits

6:30 pm: Reception

7:15 pm: Sunset portraits

8:00: Dancing!!! 

Malibu Wedding Venue FAQs

What’s the Best Time of Year for a Malibu Wedding?

Every season in Malibu has something seriously incredible about it, so this is one that I can’t answer for you. I can tell you that spring brings green hills, mild weather, and a possible marine layer. Summer is warm, has long days, peak demand, and sometimes some crowds (depending on the venue). Fall is perfect for warm weather, golden light, and gorgeous for outdoor weddings. And winter brings cooler evenings, but softer crowds PLUS off-season possibilities.

Know that no weather is a photography emergency, and as a Malibu wedding photographer who knows all the curveballs SoCal can throw… I know what to do with rain, wind, the sun, you name it!! ALSO know that weather matters, but how your day feels matters more. So, if you love a specific season and want those vibes all over your day, go for that one!! 

Where Should Guests Stay for a Malibu Wedding?

Malibu has some GREAT areas for guests to stay. I mean, between Malibu proper, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Westlake Village… They’re going to be in gooood hands here in SoCal. 

Before you book a room block somewhere, think about your venue location, how guests will get there, and what transportation/parking looks like. For example, Calamigos Ranch lets your guests stay right on-site, whereas Malibu Sea View Estate, you might have to go with somewhere a little farther, like the Four Seasons in Westlake. 

How Much Does a Malibu Wedding Venue Cost?

Malibu wedding venues vary SIGNIFICANTLY. Each location will have a different base price, and then you also have to factor in the logistics like your date, guest count, catering, and other inclusions.

My best tip?? Reach out to the venue directly. They’ll be able to give you concrete numbers that I won’t!! 

Are Malibu Weddings Windy?

This is a concern I hear from my couples all the time, and I totally get it. 

The short answer: sometimes, yes. 

Depending on your venue, it might get a little windy, but I honestly kinda love it. It makes for some really dreamy, cinematic shots and also just reminds you that you’re right there by the ocean, which I love!!! 

If you don’t want to worry about a wind-proof hairstyle, going somewhere that’s tucked away from the coast, like Calamigos Ranch, will be your best bet!! 

Do Malibu Wedding Venues Have Parking?

Some venues have 7 spots, some have 70. This depends heavilyyy on the venue, and I always encourage you to ask your venue about any shuttle or transportation services they offer for guests!! 

When Should We Take Wedding Photos in Malibu?

Can I say all day, every day?? 

Seriously, though… There’s pretty much never a bad time for wedding photos in Malibu. I love getting couple’s portraits and wedding party photos pre-ceremony so that you actually get to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests, but I’m definitely known to whisk the two of you away for a little bit during sunset for oceanfront golden hour shots. Because when you’re in a place like Malibu… You kinda can’t miss it. 

Cambria Shelley | Malibu Wedding Photographer

If you're currently venue hunting and already thinking about how you want the day to feel in photos, hi!! I'm Cambria, a Southern California wedding photographer with a documentary-meets-editorial approach. I care a lot less about turning your wedding into an eight-hour photoshoot and a lot more about helping you build enough space into the day to actually enjoy Malibu, your people, and each other. 

If you're planning a Malibu wedding and want photographs that feel like the day instead of taking over the day, I'd love to hear what you're planning. Tell me about your Malibu wedding here, and we'll take it from there.

Vendors from Julia and Adam’s Bel Air Bay Club wedding:

Planning & Design: Array Creative Design

Florist: Blooms by Melly

Rentals: Adore Folklore

Stationery: Sincerely, Harveys

Videography: Griffin R. Dunn

Desserts: Loria Stern

Wedding Dress: Strut Bridal

Entertainment: Good Mood

Beauty: Page Beauty

Production: Fresch Events