California Destination Weddings

A destination wedding
in California.

The scouting guide from a photographer who's shot 200+ weddings — regions, pricing ranges, multi-day itineraries, and every mistake to avoid.

Top 6 regions.

Big Sur Coast

$4,500 - $6,500

Cliff ceremonies, redwood backdrops, cinematic coastline. Bixby + Pfeiffer + Post Ranch Inn.

Napa / Sonoma

$4,000 - $6,500

Vineyard estates, barrel-room receptions, golden-hour portraits under century-old oaks.

Carmel / Monterey

$3,500 - $5,500

Historic Mission + rocky coast + cypress groves. Ceremony and sunset portraits in one afternoon.

Yosemite

$4,500 - $7,500

Tunnel View at dawn + Glacier Point portraits. $35 park pass, permits we handle.

Lake Tahoe

$4,500 - $6,500

Alpine lake backdrops, winter snow weddings, summer golden-hour portraits.

Joshua Tree / Palm Springs

$3,500 - $5,500

Desert ceremonies, mid-century venues, boho aesthetic. November-March = ideal.

The 3-day playbook

What the best destination weddings look like.

Day 1 — Friday

  • ·Welcome dinner at venue
  • ·Engagement or couple shoot at golden hour
  • ·Rehearsal walk-through with coordinator

Day 2 — Saturday

  • ·Getting ready coverage starts 11 AM
  • ·First look + bridal party photos
  • ·Ceremony → reception → sparkler exit

Day 3 — Sunday

  • ·Farewell brunch coverage
  • ·Next-day portraits in wedding attire (underrated)
  • ·Family group photos while everyone is still together

FAQ.

Do destination weddings cost more?+
AGV includes travel within California. No extra charge for destinations in-state. Out-of-state or international is quoted per trip (flights + hotel + car reimbursed at cost, no markup).
What about permits?+
State parks ($200-500), national parks (special wedding permit $150-300), private venues typically permit-free. I file permits on your behalf 30+ days out.
Weather backup plan?+
Every destination wedding gets a weather-contingency plan signed off 14 days before — rain plan, wildfire plan, fog plan (if Big Sur), heat plan (if Palm Springs).
Can you recommend vendors in-region?+
Yes — my Vendor Rolodex has A-list coordinators, florists, HMUA, and DJs across every California wedding region. I send the list when you book.
Multi-day coverage worth it?+
For destination weddings, yes. The Friday welcome dinner + Sunday farewell are when you actually see guests you flew in. Multi-day gets you 2x the family connection footage.

Let's map out
your destination weekend.

30-min call — we'll pick the region, talk budget, and outline the 3-day itinerary.

Book a call