A couple kissing at sunset in a vineyard with a dirt path, rolling hills, and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

About Catalina View Gardens

Overall Recommendations: ★★★★★
Photo Style: Vineyard, Shoreline overlook, Gardens
Getting Ready: None
Ceremony: ★★★★★
Couple Photos: ★★★★★
Reception: ★★★★★


Catalina View Gardens is exactly what it sounds like: a picturesque view of the coastal bluffs of Palos Verdes. This venue overlooks the property’s vineyard, the Pacific Ocean, and beyond to Catalina Island, giving the perfect “California” vibes for your photos. Sunset here makes for wonderful photos and overall classic background.

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Getting Ready at Catalina View Gardens

Calamigos Ranch Malibu affords wedding parties the use of a bridal suite for two hours prior to the wedding. You and your bridesmaids can relax, prepare for the day, and make memories together. It’s also the perfect time for some bridal party photography among the natural wonders of the ranch.

We are honored when you trust Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photography to capture all of the moments of your monumental day, big and small. Click here to learn why it’s beneficial to choose one company like Lin and Jirsa to meet all of your photography and videography needs.

A bride in a white wedding dress standing by a glass door, gazing at the camera inside a well-lit room with beige walls, a couch, and artwork on the wall.
Close-up of a smiling bride with dark hair styled in an elegant updo, wearing diamond earrings and a sheer veil, holding a bouquet of white and pink flowers.
A man in a tuxedo with a bow tie and pocket square, standing in profile against a wooden wall, in black and white.
A man in a tuxedo standing outdoors beside a wooden door, with greenery and flowers around him, at dusk.

Couple’s Session at Catalina View Gardens

There are many spots for whimsical photos that capture the uniqueness of your relationship, from the bridges to the waterfalls to the canopies of trees. But there isn’t a more iconic spot than at the ranch’s colorful ferris wheel, a feature you won’t find at any other outdoor wedding venue in the Los Angeles area.

Bride and groom sharing a kiss outdoors during their wedding, with the bride holding a bouquet of white and pink flowers, and her wedding veil flowing in the breeze.
A couple dressed in formal attire sharing a kiss outdoors during sunset with a scenic view of the ocean and rolling hills in the background. The woman is wearing a green, sparkly gown, and the man is in a black tuxedo.
A smiling woman in a green strapless gown and earrings holding hands with a man in a black suit and tie, standing outdoors near a tree with a sunlit background.
A smiling couple holding hands, dressed in formal attire, walking outdoors next to a large tree in a scenic landscape, captured in black and white.
A couple dressed in formal attire standing on a grassy hilltop overlooking a vineyard with rolling hills and the ocean in the background during sunset.
A bride and groom in wedding attire sharing a kiss outdoors, with the bride holding a large bouquet of white and pink flowers, surrounded by trees and bright sunlight.

Wedding Ceremony at Catalina View Gardens

Calamigos Ranch offers four ethereal venues for your wedding ceremony and celebration. The Garden Patio, pictured below, is a lovely spot where you can wed under a rustic arch, with up to 280 of your loved ones looking on. If you choose the Ranch House for your reception, you can have your ceremony in the a beautiful meadow. Or near the Cottage Pavillion, you can have your ceremony under a grand, old California oak tree. Or at the Oaks, you can say your vows on a deck with a semicircular waterfall in the background.

Bride and groom holding hands at outdoor wedding ceremony with floral arch and scenic ocean view in the background.
A bride and groom exchanging vows during an outdoor wedding ceremony with guests in the background.
A wedding ceremony outdoors with a bride and groom holding hands under a rustic floral arch, with officiant and guests seated nearby on a grassy hill with a scenic view of the ocean in the background.

Wedding Reception at Catalina View Gardens

You can also hold your reception in a number of locations: the rustic Dining Room, the Ranch House, or outdoors on the Pavillion or next to the pond. Each unique site celebrates the natural beauty to be found at Calamigos Ranch.

Black and white photo of a wedding ceremony outdoors, with a bride and groom walking hand in hand under a decorated archway surrounded by flowers and candles. Guests are celebrating on the side.
A bride and groom dancing at their wedding reception, with guests seated and watching, outdoors with trees and decorative lights.
A black and white photo of a newlywed couple clinking glasses of water, with a blurred barn in the background.
A bride and groom holding hands and dancing, surrounded by wedding guests celebrating outdoors.

Sample Timeline

8:30 am Hair and makeup begins

12:00 pm Groomsmen arrive at getting ready location

2:30 pm Hair and makeup complete

2:30 pm Groom and groomsmen dressed and ready

3:00 pm Photographer/Videographer (Lulan Studios) arrives & coverage begins

3:00 pm Bridesmaids dressed and ready

3:00 pm Bride and Bridesmaids departure for the ceremony

3:30 pm Bride gets dressed/Getting ready photos and detail shots

3:45 pm Groom and Groomsmen departure for the ceremony

4:00 pm Pin boutonnieres

4:30 pm First Look

4:30 pm All ceremony details set for guest arrival

5:00 pm Earliest guest arrival

5:30 pm Ceremony Begins

6:00 pm Cocktail hour

6:00 pm Family Photos

6:11 pm Sunset

6:30 pm Newlywed Photos/Wedding Party Photos

7:00 pm Reception begins

7:00 pm Guests seated for dinner

7:02 pm Wedding Party Introductions

7:05 pm Newlywed Introduction

7:07 pm First Dance

7:10 pm Dinner Service

7:45 pm Toast by the Groom's parents

7:50 pm Toast by the Bride's Mom

7:55 pm Mother/Son Dance

8:00 pm Mother/Daughter Dance

8:03 pm Open dance floor

8:30 pm Cake cutting

9:30 pm Event ends

10:00 pm All guests off property

FAQ

Q-How many guests can I invite to my Calamigos Ranch wedding?

A-The largest venue on site is the Cottage Pavillion, which allows for up to 500 seated guests at a reception.

Q-Can I choose my own caterer?

A-Calamigos Ranch asks you to choose their superb on-site caterer, who will plan a menu that includes farm-fresh ingredients grown on the property and other locally sourced foods.

Q-Can we stay the night at the venue?

A-Yes! The venue has a couple of intimate accommodations that you can rent for your wedding night and never have to leave the property on your wedding day.

Houdini Estate is located at 327 Latigo Canyon Rd Malibu, CA 90265

Galleries at Catalina View Gardens taken by Lulan Studio