I grew up on the Peninsula in San Carlos, but my second home has always been the Monterey Bay. My father grew up there and his side of the family is still based there, so it’s a really special place for me and I leap at the opportunity to shoot there whenever I get the chance. As a Wedding Photographer in Monterey and Carmel, these are some of my favorite venues, selected because they are iconic and intimate!
Quail Lodge Wedding
Quail Lodge is on this list as one of the larger wedding venues if you happen to have a big party! A wedding at Quail Lodge is gorgeous because at the same time everyone is in one area, you have a mix of venue options to choose from from the lakeside ceremony space to the Reception dance floor at the club. The portrait opportunities are endless and a getaway car adds even more spazz to this magic space.
See Sergey and Monica’s Quail Lodge Wedding Here.
Carmel Mission Ranch Wedding
Carmel Mission Ranch is an intimate choice for those who want a stunning location and the simplicity of having everything in one place. Oh and did I mention the sheep photo-bombers? It’s really a magical spot.
Carmel Mission Wedding
Speaking of magic, you really can’t get more magical than getting married inside the Carmel Mission Basilica. In such a historical site, you stroll among their beautiful gardens and the adobe buildings for photos before feeling like a part of local history in their drop-dead gorgeous church. While you’ might not be the only wedding there that day, it”ll need to find a venue nearby to host your reception, a wedding at the Carmel Mission is for those who want something iconic, but not over-the-top, where family, history and tradition matter.
La Playa Hotel Wedding
La Playa is another venue with stunning gardens and getting married there is so easy because of their multiple locations and that they have places for your guests to stay and get ready morning-of. Get married in their courtyard, have the reception in their outdoor patio and then head upstairs for a scenic sunset dinner. Just minutes from the beach for portraits and the like, this is another great venue to simplify the running around and just enjoy the scenery!
Monterey Tides Hotel Wedding Photographer
Surprisingly, there aren’t actually a ton of venues around where you can actually get married in the sand! As a wedding photographer in Monterey, I LOVE the beach so this venue really gives you the opportunity to live that beachy vibe. You’ll have to think about dressing up the place and your decor, but it really does, again offer the great option of having a place to stay and get married on the water itself.
