There are so many amazing venues to be having your wedding at in California! I thought I’d put together another list (see Bay Area Wedding Venues if you’re interested in venues closer to the Bay Area or San Francisco itself) of especially amazing ones in the Northern part and have them listed in different categories to hopefully help you narrowing down the perfect venue depending on the mood you had in mind for your wedding.
Some I’ve worked at and can truly attest how amazing they are – the other ones, I’m dying to shoot at!
You can check the venues through blog posts of the weddings I photographed there or their website directly.
We’re so lucky in Northern California (well all of California, really!) to have so many different but equally amazing types of venues to work at/get married at – I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of them. You can scroll down to have a little more info on each venue and a few photos.
Northern California Wedding Venues 2023
Gorgeous Ceremony spot at Rush Creek Lodge, Yosemite
Please keep in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive. Oh and if you think of one I didn’t add to my list, or notice any mistake, feel free to contact me to let me know :)
Park Winters is an amazing wedding venue near Sacramento. I’ve shot there a lot and I’ve seen brides & grooms transform the place to match their precise tastes. One time it was a Indian wedding with some Chinese touches, another time, it had this boho romantic vibe, and the last time I shot there it was simply classic and elegant. You can use the pool when it gets really hot and have plenty of little gems hidden throughout the venue like the Victorian house, the chic barn, the gardens filled with lavender, the greenhouse…
This is a park in Little River that didn’t seem spectacular from the outside but I loved how the couple made it whimsical and magical with a few touches like those ribbons, the arch and all the crochet & macrame details! If you’re on a budget, this is a great place to celebrate your love!
Here’s a venue I cannot recommend enough. Pulga town is the place you want to have your wedding if you’re a free spirit and love Joshua tree, Burning Man & other outdoors festivals. I LOVED working there – it never did feel like work. It wasn’t just a wedding, it was a celebration, a gathering with yoga session at sunrise, candle making and lama hugging. Yes, you read that right. Pulga town is magical with its cabins, boats and the Feather River.
Another gem in Northern California: Spring Ranch is a wedding venue with a definite rustic vibe with the barn and all the wood! I loved all the details in the barn and the ceremony spot in the meadow! Simple, gorgeous, perfect.
Campovida is one big venue with a lot of different options to chose from! Situated in Hopland, less than two hours drive from San Francisco, this hidden gem offers vineyards, an incredible five hundred year old Valley Oak tree, a trellised grape arbor, gorgeous gardens and the 1890 reclaimed hop barn! So, of course, this is one of my favorite venues!
You always dread bad weather on your wedding day. But really, should you? This wedding, taking place at Holly’s Ocean Meadow near Fort Bragg, wouldn’t have been the same without the fog. At first, it seemed gloomy but then I realized it gave a mystical vibe to this Wiccan wedding and nothing could have been better. The venue itself is amazing, with the meadow directly overlooking the Pacific Ocean!
Another amazing venue overlooking the Pacific Ocean! The resort itself has breathtaking views of the ocean and the ceremony spot, down below, is almost on the water! The rocks and the pine trees reminded me a lot of the South of France, I felt so inspired there, I didn’t want to let my couple go back to their guests!
We stay on the Pacific Ocean with Switzer Farm. This venue has a lot to offer between the 1884 Victorian Farmhouse, the 22 acres of land, the barn in the background and the views of the ocean! I loved working there and can’t wait to go again!
Sea Ranch lodge is currently closed but hopefully it will reopen soon! I keep it in here because I thought this venue was too amazing not to appear here! The views alone, the ocean and the cliffs, the barn and that wild vibe alone – you can also just use the area for engagement photos – breathtaking engagement photos!
First of all, I have to admit that I’m biased because I’m a little in love with Yosemite. I got married in Vegas, it was an elopement with just my husband and I – not sure I could have handled the full wedding with all the pressure! Brides, you’re amazing.
Yosemite National Park is where I would have eloped if, at the time, I had known it was a possibility.
For an elopement, you can pretty much go anywhere, although there are a couple of spots that are more incredible than others – but that’s for a different blog post. For a wedding with guests, one of the best venues is the Ahwahnee Hotel. The ceremony had such a jaw dropping backdrop and the venue itself is gorgeous! I also stole my couple the next day for more adventurous type photos in the entire park and it was a lot of fun!
Another option for a wedding in Yosemite is Rush Creek Lodge, although, technically, you’re right outside the entrance of the National Park and about 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley. This venue is perfect because you have everything right there. Your guests can enjoy the pool while waiting for the fun to begin, then meet you at the ceremony spot surrounded by trees. After that you’ll go back to the patio for cocktail hour and can enjoy the barn for the reception and dancing. The area is full of amazing spots for photos – you can’t go wrong with this venue!
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