Palos Verdes Wedding Photographer
Ocean cliffs, Catalina on the horizon and the best sunsets in the county — thirty minutes from LAX, shot on film and digital.
Getting married in Palos Verdes
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a string of ocean bluffs about thirty minutes south of LAX, where couples marry against rugged clifftops, Pacific sunsets and Catalina Island sitting on the horizon on a clear day. It is the most dramatic coastline in Los Angeles County and it photographs unlike anywhere else in the region.
Venues range from a 500-guest oceanfront resort to intimate historic estates and a clifftop chapel, so the peninsula suits everything from an elopement on the rocks to a full celebration — though its best sites book twelve to eighteen months out, which is worth knowing early.
Our favorite wedding venues in Palos Verdes
Four we know well, with the numbers couples actually ask for.
Terranea Resort
102-acre oceanfront Mediterranean resort
- Guests
- Up to ~550
- Price
- All-inclusive from ~$50k (quote)
- Address
- 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes
A bluff-top luxury resort with multiple ocean-view lawns, floor-to-ceiling ballrooms, and on-site lodging for guests. Couples describe a breathtaking destination-wedding feel with strong food and service. (The Knot ~4.4★)
La Venta Inn
1923 Mediterranean hilltop estate
- Guests
- Up to ~175
- Price
- ~$25k–$65k all-in · elopements from ~$3,500
- Address
- 796 Via Del Monte, Palos Verdes Estates
A classic 1923 Spanish-Colonial estate with manicured gardens and panoramic ocean views — intimate and timeless. Couples call the views and in-house cuisine “worth every penny”; note the 10pm hard stop. (WeddingWire ~5.0★)
Trump National Golf Club LA
Grand oceanfront golf resort
- Guests
- Up to ~300+
- Price
- ~$28k average (quote)
- Address
- One Trump National Dr, Rancho Palos Verdes
A formal ballroom with crystal chandeliers plus clifftop ceremony sites over the Pacific and an 18th-hole waterfall. Couples praise the ocean views and catering; the ballroom needs little decor. (The Knot ~4.9★)
Catalina View Gardens
Bluff-top garden & vineyard estate
- Guests
- Up to ~200
- Price
- Rental ~$12,000/day + catering
- Address
- 6001 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes
An open-air estate on a 94-acre bluff-top property — a lawn ceremony over the Pacific and a string-lit reception terrace. Widely called a premier garden venue with a stunning natural backdrop and dedicated team.
What we know about shooting here
Three things that change how a Palos Verdes day is shot.
The wind is the variable
Exposed bluffs mean veils, hair and lightweight florals all behave differently up here than they do inland. It usually photographs beautifully — a veil in the wind is a gift — but we warn couples, and we keep a sheltered alternative in reserve.
Catalina is a bonus, not a plan
On a clear day the island sits right on the horizon and transforms a portrait. On a hazy one it disappears completely. We never build the timeline around it, but we know exactly where to stand on the days it shows up.
Sunset over water, every time
The peninsula faces west and south-west, so the sun sets into the ocean rather than behind a hill. That gives a longer, cleaner golden hour than almost anywhere else in the county — the last thirty minutes are the ones worth protecting on the schedule.
Palos Verdes weddings, as we shoot them
Recent frames from Palos Verdes weddings.
Palos Verdes wedding photography FAQ
How windy does it actually get on the bluffs?
Windy enough that it changes plans, most afternoons. It is usually flattering rather than a problem — veils and long dresses look extraordinary in it — but we always keep a sheltered fallback location in mind, and we tell hair and makeup in advance.
Can you see Catalina Island in the photographs?
On a clear day, yes, and it makes a real difference to a bluff portrait. On a hazy day it is invisible. We treat it as a bonus rather than something to schedule around.
How far ahead should we book a Palos Verdes venue?
Twelve to eighteen months for the best clifftop sites, particularly for a Saturday between May and October. Photography can usually be booked later than that, but not much later for peak dates.
Do you photograph at the Neighborhood Church?
Yes — see the Neighborhood Church wedding gallery for a full ceremony there, and the coastal guide for the bluff locations nearby.
When will we get our photographs?
Four to eight weeks, hand-edited and color-graded, in a full-resolution online gallery that never expires.
Other cities and venues we photograph
Nearby cities we photograph, and the peninsula venues with their own guides.
More: coastal Palos Verdes guide · LA venues guide · rates and collections
Tell us the date and the venue
Tell us the venue and the date and we will come back with availability, usually within minutes.