If you’re planning a wedding in California, you’re in luck! The Golden State is home to some of the most beautiful and unique wedding venues in the world. But if you’re tired of the same old venues that everyone else is using, why not check out some of the hidden gems? Here are five of the best hidden wedding venues in California that you may not have heard of:

some of the best 5 hidden wedding venues in SoCal

Keep in mind, this list is just a brief overview of some of the places one can consider and all of them are options I’ve personally been to and had good experiences with to recommend to my brides. If it’s a venue I wouldn’t consider myself, you won’t find it on this list. I’m all about finding a venue that’s perfect for your personalities as a couple and is practicality-oriented (plus has lots of great options for photo and video of course!). 

1. The Miller Gardens

Located in Rancho Cucamonga, this hidden garden wedding venue is so hidden it’s easy to miss. It’s located right off of a cross street near the Heritage Neighborhoods and the exit to the I-15 fwy, which makes it a fun to look for treasure indeed. The venue takes notes from local California topography and is filled to brim with cherry trees that bloom just in time for spring weddings and a citrus grove nurtured by the venue’s owners. They’ve just recently renovated their bridal suite and a grooms’ suite is to follow, so for 2024 brides looking for the perfect venue, this is sure to be a great start for fun garden weddings. Bonus fun: they offer a section of the venue set up just for games like corn-hole and volleyball. Anyone for some cocktail hour competition? 

2. Stone Creek Ranch 

If you’re looking for a wedding venue that offers the most DIY options and will allow you to build your wedding day from the ground up, look no further than this beautiful venue overlooking the San Bernardino Valley and backed by a backdrop of rolling hills. If you’re looking for a cohesive venue with all amenities, this might not be the venue for you. However for any bride wanting to shoot for the tented wedding look or something similar, this will be the wedding venue for you. With a bridal suite coming soon and a stunning view of the valley, this is the venue for brides with imagination. 

3. Rancho Minerva 

This stunning wedding venue is located in the San Diego county hills at the site of what used to be a ranchero home site turned museum. The open space is very citrus themed and offers a variety of different styling options as well as the sweetest on-site coordinator. For brides wanting to work with a site that includes a lot of amenities already like an in-house bartending team, vintage glassware, and ample parking, this is a gorgeous option for spring and summer brides alike. 

4. Dote Weddings in DTLA

Based out of the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, this loft-style wedding space is perfect for a ceremony + reception duo with easily some of the most open floor space you’ll see from a loft venue. The outdoor ceremony space is absolutely adorable and can double for cocktail space or reception space depending on how one would want to lay it out. Another great part of this venue is the entrance complete with an ivy covered walk that would make your grand entrance extra memorable. 

5. La Asistencia in Redlands

Spooky brides, Latina brides, or alternative brides of all stripes – this is the perfect unique venue if you’re looking to host more of a micro wedding or a wedding that flouts traditional formats. La Aistencia de Redlands boasts a great outdoor backdrop for any kind of setup one could imagine while also including a traditional and charming church setting for any ceremony needs. 

Wedding options this season are many, but for the bride looking to find something a little bit off of the beaten path, these venues are great finds that provide brides lots of different options for personalization and incredible memories. 

Need more venue ideas? Be sure to check out the rest of the blogs