Best Mini & Budget-Friendly Wedding Venues in Los Angeles
You do not need a huge budget to have a beautiful, creative wedding. Some of our most memorable shoots have been intimate elopements and micro-weddings at courthouses, chapels, gardens, and hidden gems across Southern California, where a little creativity goes a long way. For the complete list, see our full guide to the top wedding venues in Los Angeles.
Mini and Budget-Friendly Wedding Venues
Browse by style:Full LA Venues Guide · Nature & Whimsical · Art Deco & Old Hollywood · Beach & Waterfront · Hotel Venues · European-Looking · Indian & Cultural Temple
1. Palihouse, Santa Monica
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: None
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: None
Located one mile from the Santa Monica Pier, Palihouse is a Mediterranean architecture boutique hotel that has been operational since 1927. At only five miles from the Getty Villa, this revival-style beach venue provides a picturesque venue for modern weddings. “Aesthetically pleasing” if you will. Inside the boutique are beautifully decorated penthouse for classy and modern getting ready photos.
2. El Matador Beach, Malibu
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Photo Style: Beach, Coastal Cliffs, Sunset, Elopement
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★
Similar Locations: Adamson House, Bel-Air Bay Club
Close byalternatives: Adamson House
Background
For couples dreaming of a barefoot beach elopement, El Matador State Beach in Malibu is hard to beat, with dramatic sea caves, towering rock formations, and golden sunset light over the Pacific. It is a public beach (permits required for ceremonies), making it one of the most budget-friendly yet breathtaking spots we shoot. Perfect for intimate elopements and adventurous couples.
Click here to see a full wedding day gallery from our studio
3. LACMA Urban Light, Los Angeles
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Photo Style: Urban, Iconic, Modern, Elopement
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★
Similar Locations: Union Station, El Matador Beach
Close byalternatives: Union Station
Background
The Urban Light installation at LACMA, those iconic rows of vintage street lamps, is one of the most recognizable and creative backdrops in Los Angeles. For a budget-friendly, ultra-stylish city elopement it is hard to beat, especially at blue hour when the lamps glow. A favorite of ours for couples who want a modern, artsy LA feel.
Click here to see a full wedding day gallery from our studio
4. Brand Park, Glendale
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Getting Ready: None
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: None
Brand Park occupies 31 acres short distance from the Verdugo Mountains. It offers scenic views from the mountain, and is a perfect wedding destination. There are lots of picnic areas where you can enjoy a relaxed evening after the wedding. Some of the beautiful spaces of the park include the Green Miss American Cross, the Friendship Garden, or Pine Tea House. There is also the Doctor’s House Museum and Gazebo that further adds to the beauty of the park. If you are wanting a chill outdoor wedding, this is the spot for you!
5. Neighborhood Church, Palos Verdes
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Getting Ready: ★★★★☆
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: None
The Neighborhood church was a summer home constructed in 1928 and opened in 1929, and boasts of 15,000 square feet of living space with 32 rooms. It has an Italian design that mirrors a Mediterranean villa, sporting ceiling murals, wrought iron gates, and classic decorations. From the estate, visitors will have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, which makes photos taken in the area attractive. Not to mention the beauty that occurs inside the church itself as well. For our religious couples who would like a ceremony with a view, this is a nice option for you!
6. Carondelet House, Los Angeles
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: ★★★★☆
Couple Photos: ★★★★☆
Reception: ★★★★★
The Carondelet House is an Italian brick building that marries vintage style with modern features to create gorgeous event spaces. It was built in 1926 and serves as home to architects in Los Angeles. Later, the building housed Otis College of Art and Design. Its creative design and the classic features make it an interesting wedding destination. The stunning rooms, portraits, and interior décor make the rooms ideal for wedding photography and videography, where passion meets fashion. Another amazing LA venue!
7. Union Station
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Getting Ready: ★★★☆☆
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★
The busy, traveling couple will like the picturesque Union Station. The interior of the station is inspired by Spanish architecture and is well-maintained. There are beautiful gardens on the sides of the building, in addition to the gorgeous design inside. Using luggage or little signs to use as props make for a great addition.
8. Cuvier Club, San Diego
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Photo Style: Coastal, Historic, Ballroom, La Jolla
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★
Similar Locations: Twin Oaks, Bel-Air Bay Club
Close byalternatives: Green Gables Estate
Background
Just steps from the coast in La Jolla, the Cuvier Club is a charming historic venue with a light, airy ballroom and classic California-coastal character. Its central location near the beach makes for effortless seaside portraits, and the intimate space is perfect for a relaxed, elegant celebration by the sea.
Click here to see a full wedding day gallery from our studio
9. Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara
Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Photo Style: Spanish Colonial, Historic, Garden, Elopement
Getting Ready: ★★★★★
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★
Similar Locations: Casa Romantica, La Venta Inn
Close byalternatives: Casa Romantica
Background
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is one of the most beautiful public buildings in California, a 1929 Spanish-Colonial masterpiece with hand-painted ceilings, sandstone archways, sunken gardens, and a clock tower overlooking the city and sea. It is an iconic and budget-friendly spot for elopements and intimate ceremonies, and the architecture makes every photo feel like a postcard.
Click here to see a full wedding day gallery from our studio
Our Venue Photography Guides
Planning at one of these? We have photographed them all - see our notes on light, timelines, and photo spots for each venue: Millennium Biltmore · Greystone Mansion · Ebell of Los Angeles · Alexandria Ballrooms · Avalon Hollywood · Oviatt Penthouse · Carondelet House · Union Station · The Belasco · California Club · Newhall Mansion · Calamigos Ranch · Westlake Village Inn · Rancho Las Lomas · Leoness Cellars · McCormick Home Ranch · Villa de la Vina · NOOR · South Park Center · Maxwell House Pasadena · LA Athletic Club · Fantasea Yachts · Oakridge Farmhouse · Malibu Hindu Temple · Adamson House · Sherwood Country Club · Ebell of Long Beach · United Theater · Los Coyotes Country Club · Bel-Air Bay Club · Cielo Farms · Hummingbird Nest Ranch
Start with Los Angeles weddings or see rates and collections.
Conclusion
We have reviewed many venues in Los Angeles and Orange County based on our limited experiences photographing weddings on the day of. Please feel free to let us know if we were incorrect in some of our tips. Also the experience may vary depending on a couples’ individual style. Elegant or boho? Outdoor or indoor? So many key differences in what each couple is looking for, but we can guarantee there is a venue you love on this list. The good thing is, LA has so many wonderful venues to choose from you really can’t go wrong!
Getting married outside the city? We also photograph weddings in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Glendale, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Riverside, and Temecula.
