Catalina View Gardens
Marry on a 94-acre private bluff where vineyards and olive groves spill toward the Pacific and Catalina Island floats on the horizon at sunset.
About Catalina View Gardens
Catalina View Gardens is a family-owned, 94-acre working estate perched on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, with sweeping Pacific Ocean views, a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyard planted in 2013, olive groves and certified-organic gardens. Only one wedding is hosted per day, giving couples exclusive run of the courtyards, lawns and ceremony sites.
Couples choose it for the drama of the setting — Catalina Island visible from nearly every corner, stone archways draped in fuchsia bougainvillea, and famously magical sunsets — paired with the intimacy of a private outdoor estate. It's ideal for those wanting a coastal, garden-and-vineyard feel less than two miles from Terranea Resort.
Last updated July 2026 · Official catalinaviewgardens.com, PartySlate, Miki + Sonja Photography
The complete Catalina View Gardens planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Rentable spaces
- Ocean-view ceremony lawn — verdant lawn overlooking the Pacific with Catalina on the horizon
- Stone arch entrance — the estate's signature wooden door and stone archway framed in fuchsia bougainvillea
- Open-air reception courtyard — string-lit courtyard for dinner and dancing under the stars
- Indoor room — covered space used for dancing or dinner on cooler evenings
- Vineyard & olive groves — 5,600+ Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines and olive trees for portraits and cocktail-hour backdrops
- Getting-ready rooms — suites with adjacent private garden areas
Pricing
Catering & bar
Catering is handled through the estate's approved-vendor list, offering both plated and buffet service, and all caterers must carry the required insurance and permits. Estate-grown Catalina View Wines (its own Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) are available for purchase and service alongside a full bar.
Rules & restrictions
- All events must end by 9:30 p.m. per permit (setup begins 11 a.m.; most events start ~3:30 p.m.)
- No live bands due to noise restrictions; DJs must come from the venue's approved list
- Strict sound-level guidelines enforced throughout
- Fully outdoor site — a rain/tent backup plan is strongly advised
- A day-of coordinator/planner from the approved list is required for at least the final month
- Caterers and DJs must be booked from the venue's approved vendor list
Getting ready, parking & access
How to book
Inquire directly at (310) 544-6177 or catalinaviewgardens@gmail.com to check dates; with only about 30 events per year and one wedding per day, prime spring and fall Saturdays book far in advance. Booking includes assembling your team from the venue's approved caterer, DJ and planner lists.
Photographing Catalina View Gardens
The estate faces west, so the ceremony lawn and vineyard rows are backlit into a golden glow in the late afternoon — the reason sunset ceremonies (typically after a 3:30 p.m. start) are so sought after here; midday, shaded courtyards and the olive grove offer softer, even light.
The best backdrops are the stone-arch entrance wrapped in fuchsia bougainvillea, the vineyard rows leading toward the ocean, the olive groves, and the coastal-cliff overlooks with Catalina Island on the horizon at blue hour.
Engagement sessions at Catalina View Gardens
As a private estate, Catalina View Gardens is generally accessible only to booked couples, but it makes a stunning engagement or bridal-session location when paired with a rental.
The studio plans the shoot around the west-facing sunset window and moves between the vineyard, olive grove and cliff overlooks to capture the estate's full range of ocean backdrops.
What couples love
- Jaw-dropping, unobstructed Pacific and Catalina Island views from nearly every spot
- Fully private, one-wedding-per-day exclusivity across 94 acres
- Vineyard, olive grove and organic-garden setting with estate-grown wines
- Famously magical sunsets that need almost no additional decor
- Less than two miles from Terranea Resort for guest lodging
Good to know
- Hard 9:30 p.m. end time means an early-afternoon start and a shorter reception
- No live bands, and DJs, caterers and planners must come from approved lists
- Entirely outdoors — you must budget for a tent or solid weather backup
- Hillside terrain can be challenging for guests with mobility limitations
- Winding Palos Verdes Drive access; plan guest transportation accordingly
A typical wedding day at Catalina View Gardens
Getting ready — Both parties prep in on-site suites with private garden patios from late morning
Ceremony — Mid-to-late-afternoon vows on the ocean-view lawn with Catalina beyond
Cocktail hour — Estate wine and cocktails among the vineyard and olive groves
Reception — String-lit courtyard dinner and dancing as the sky turns pink
Golden hour — Sunset portraits at the bougainvillea arch and cliff overlooks before the 9:30 close
Frequently asked questions
How many guests can Catalina View Gardens accommodate?
The estate hosts weddings for up to 200 guests.
How much does it cost to rent?
Venue rental is $12,000 per day, plus a refundable $2,000 damage deposit that's deducted from the final venue charge.
Is it a private estate?
Yes — only one event is held per day, so you have exclusive access to the 94-acre property and its ceremony sites for photos.
What time do weddings have to end?
All events must conclude by 9:30 p.m. per the property's permit; setup begins at 11 a.m. and most events start around 3:30 p.m.
Can we have a live band?
No — live bands aren't permitted due to noise restrictions, but DJs from the venue's approved list are welcome.
Do we have to use in-house catering?
You choose from the estate's approved caterer list, which offers plated and buffet service; estate-grown Catalina View Wines are also available.
Is a wedding planner required?
Yes, a coordinator from the venue's approved list is required for at least the final month of planning.
What's the rain plan?
The site is fully outdoors, so a tent (through the exclusive rental provider) is the strongly recommended weather backup.
Are there getting-ready rooms?
Yes, the estate has getting-ready suites with adjacent private garden areas.
Where can guests stay?
Terranea Resort is less than two miles away, with additional hotels in Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro and Torrance.
Is parking available on-site?
Yes, there's ample on-site parking and no guest shuttling is required.
Can we serve the estate's own wine?
Yes — Catalina View Wines' Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grown in the on-site vineyard, are available for purchase and service.
Getting there & logistics
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
- Local RPV inns
- Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach
- DoubleTree by Hilton San Pedro
The history behind Catalina View Gardens
- The 94-acre Palos Verdes bluff property has been owned by the same local family since 1994
- Developed with gardens first, followed by the event venue and then the vineyard
- The vineyard was planted in 2013 with more than 5,600 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines
- Roughly four acres operate as certified-organic vegetable gardens, historically supplying nearby Terranea Resort
- Sits within the Palos Verdes Peninsula AVA, producing estate Catalina View Wines
- Hosts only about 30 events per year to preserve the exclusivity of the grounds
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: Greystone Mansion · The Biltmore · The Oviatt · Union Station · The Belasco.
Planning a wedding at Catalina View Gardens? Reach out to check your date →
