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Updated Mar 06, 202512 California Celebrity Wedding Venues We're Obsessed With
The stars love the Golden State, and so do we.
Photo 1: @sarahhyland | Instagram
,Photo 1: John and Joseph,Photo 2: Photo: @whododatlikedat | Instagram
From the rolling hills of Napa Valley to the rugged bluffs of Santa Barbara, California makes for a beautiful state to get married—especially among celebrities. We love looking to A-listers for endless wedding inspo, from what to wear to how to arrange your flowers. But one of our favorite fun facts is that plenty of famous couples get married at venues that you, too, can use for your own wedding. (Stars, they really are just like us!)
We've seen plenty of incredible celebrity wedding venues in California over the years. Some couples choose to stay within the bright lights of Los Angeles for their vow swaps, while others opt for secluded settings in the depths of the desert or along the scenic coastline. Look back on 12 of our favorite celebrity wedding venues in California, including a few that you book right here on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams: Sunstone Winery, Santa Ynez
Photo: @sarahhyland | Instagram
,Photo: John and Joseph
Modern Family star Sarah Hyland married The Bachelor franchise alum Wells Adams at the gorgeous Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California—and they're far from the only celebrity couple to swap vows at this rustic, French-inspired villa. Over the years, Sunstone has become a highly sought-after destination for A-listers; Lauren Conrad and William Tell and JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers are just two other couples who've also hosted weddings at the Southern California estate.
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Perched on 52 sprawling acres of land, the Sunstone Villa boasts reclaimed textiles from historic chateaus across French wine country, including the Loire Valley and Provence. Weddings at Sunstone typically take place under towering trees that frame a priceless view of endless rows of vineyards, making it a beautiful wedding setting for wine lovers and Francophiles alike.
Samantha Hanratty: Terra Mia Vineyards, Paso Robles
If the invisible string theory can apply to wedding venues, The Knot's former cover star Samantha Hanratty and Christian DeAnda are the perfect example. The Yellowjackets actress married her husband at Terra Mia Vineyards in Paso Robles, California, in October 2023. DeAnda, a production assistant, used to work at a catering company in college, and even served a handful of weddings at the vineyard years before falling in love with Hanratty.
He suggested Terra Mia early in their venue-shopping journey, but Hanratty—who is sober—wasn't totally sold at first. "I wasn't sure I wanted to have my wedding at a vineyard, but the moment I saw the property, I knew it was the place," she told us of the Tuscan-inspired winery. "I had three other venues to go view and I canceled them immediately." Once they determined Terra Mia was the one, they booked it over a year in advance to ensure it was theirs. "It was definitely worth it, because it was magical," she added.
LaurDIY: The Villa at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, Santa Susana
Photo: John and Joseph
Nestled along the base of the Santa Susana Mountains, Hummingbird Nest Ranch is a sweeping Spanish-style villa with seven wedding venues hidden throughout the charming property. For our former cover star Lauren Riihimaki (AKA LaurDIY), all it took was one look to decide this was her dream wedding location. "The Villa at Hummingbird Nest Ranch was the very first venue we toured," Riihimaki told us. "We saw a few more afterward, but nothing came close to the wow factor that The Villa presented."
The bride and her husband, content creator Jeremy Lewis, did add their own colorful flair to the venue with lush floral installations and romantic string lights. But thanks to existing elements like ornate Spanish tiles, wrought iron gates, climbing bougainvilleas and bubbling fountains, this California celebrity wedding venue doesn't need much work to make it wedding day-ready.
Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith: The Fig House, Los Angeles
Photo: @mandymooremm | Instagram
,Photo: Kelly Brown
Mandy Moore's 2018 wedding to Taylor Goldsmith became the pinnacle of bohemian style. The This Is Us actress decorated her ceremony aisle with feathery pampas grass and layered rugs to create a colorful, non-conventional aesthetic. Her venue, The Fig House, also lent itself to her free-spirited vision.
The eclectic space features nods to Old Hollywood glamour with bold colors and rich wallpapers, but it's the outdoor garden that truly steals the show. With unparalleled views of downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena, this celebrity wedding venue in California seamlessly blends urban and art deco aesthetics for a truly one-of-a-kind setting.
Anne Hathaway: Alila Ventana, Big Sur
Photo: LOIC VENANCE/AFP | Getty Images
Although Anne Hathaway has never publicly shared photos of her 2012 wedding to Adam Shulman, her photographer, Meg Smith, gave fans a glimpse into the elevated affair. The actress and her jeweler husband swapped vows beneath the iconic towering redwood trees that line the coast of Big Sur. Their nuptials took place at Alila Ventana, a luxe all-inclusive resort near Monterey that offers six breathtaking locations for weddings.
Although we don't know for sure, Hathaway's wedding photos make it seem like she *could* have hosted her ceremony at the Circle of Life, an intimate clearing in a cluster of trees that only accommodates 10 guests. Talk about exclusive.
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger: San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger got married on June 8, 2019, at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Set along the backdrop of the towering Santa Ynez Mountains, this Montecito wedding venue is renowned for its impeccably landscaped garden exterior. The ranch offers six locations on the property for weddings of all sizes, from microceremonies to full-blown bashes. Each setting at this celebrity wedding venue looks like it came right out of a storybook, from the ocean-front terrace of the Stonehouse Restaurant to the lush, rose-lined path of The Gardens.
Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec: Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills
Dancing With the Stars pro Kym Johnson found love with her partner, Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec. After their stint on the dance competition series (in which they placed sixth), the couple confirmed their romance—and on July 31, 2016, they got married in Los Angeles, California. The dynamic pair chose the Four Seasons as their venue, which sits in the heart of Beverly Hills.
Lavish white drapery and towering floral displays transformed the outdoor venue. Plenty of the couple's DWTS and Shark Tank friends were included on the guest list, as was legendary singer Olivia Newton-John, who surprised the bride (a fellow Aussie) with a performance at the reception. While the party moved indoors for the reception, it certainly didn't stop; As you might expect for these two, the dancing reportedly continued into the wee hours of the morning.
Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli: Colony 29, Palm Springs
Considering its status as the birthplace of Palm Springs, there is no better location for a desert wedding than Colony 29. The former bohemian artist complex is a collection of six homes on seven acres of land teeming with exotic palms, with each hidden corner offering unbeatable views of the Sonoran Desert.
It was the perfect wedding venue for Orange is the New Black star Samira Wiley and her wife Lauren Morelli (who was a writer for the show). The couple revamped tradition by walking down the aisle together, hand-in-hand, before exchanging vows within a circle of their loved ones. In an interview with The Knot, Wiley explained how their contemporary venue lent itself to their vision. "Our ceremony was in the round— in a spiral—so when we walked the aisle, we were able to walk past every single guest," she said. "And I don't even think we knew at the time that it was going to be that wonderful."
Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder: Tuscali Mountain Inn, Topanga
Photo: Courtesy of Claire Pettibone,Photo: Glass Jar Photography
Unlike their on-screen personas, the wedding of Twilight actress Nikki Reed and The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder was anything but gothic. The A-listers tied the knot at the Tuscali Mountain Inn, a now-closed resort in Topanga Canyon. The couple posed for photos along the Santa Monica Mountains before transitioning to their outdoor reception space nestled within the trees.
The bride wore a three-quarter-length sleeve lace Claire Pettibone wedding dress that beautifully complemented the bohemian aesthetic of their nuptials. In one photo, Somerhalder could be seen carrying his wife so that her train wouldn't become dirty on the rustic pathways of the Southern California canyon.
Derek Jeter and Hannah Jeter: Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena
Photo: Mike Coppola | Getty Images for People.com
Notoriously private couple Derek Jeter and his wife Hannah have never shared photos of their wedding day—but thanks to paparazzi snaps, we know the two got married on July 9, 2016. The nuptials took place at the Meadowood Napa Valley Resort in St. Helena, California, a private club that sits on 250 acres of land in prime wine country.
Years after their wedding, the MLB star confirmed it was an intimate event, with only the couple's nearest and dearest in attendance. Given its location among rows of blossoming vineyards, weddings at Meadowood are known to feature seasonal dining menus expertly paired with local ingredients and the region's best wine blends.
Julius Randle and Kendra Shaw: The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle and his wife, Kendra Shaw, hosted an opulent outdoor wedding in Newport Beach in 2017. The duo selected The Resort at Pelican Hill as their venue, which is known for the stunning ceremony rotunda that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The dramatic vista is simply showstopping, making this one of our favorite celebrity wedding venues in California.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: San Francisco City Hall
Photo: Bettmann / Contributor | Getty Images
San Francisco City Hall isn't just a regular city hall. The historic building is known for its cavernous interior, which boasts timeless gold detailing and a grand staircase. Unsurprisingly, this showstopping California wedding venue has been a favorite for decades. Notably, it was the site of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's headline-making elopement on January 14, 1954. More recently, it was also where billionaire heiress (and actress Anya Taylor Joy's best friend) Ivy Getty wed photographer Tobias Alexander Engel in a lavish ceremony officiated by former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
While this is certainly one of the most attainable celebrity wedding venues in California, the popularity of San Francisco City Hall means you must plan your wedding there accordingly. The historic venue offers a variety of wedding packages, from one-hour ceremonies to complete buyouts. Requests for civil ceremonies can be submitted a maximum of 90 days out from the intended date, while weekend buyouts should be reserved up to two years in advance.
Feeling inspired? We've only just scratched the surface, because there are so many other incredible California wedding venues that'll make you feel like a celebrity on your wedding day.
