photo by Ashley Ludaescher
Weddings
From the Sea to Wineries: San Luis Obispo County's Best Wedding Venues
Though you’re just a couple hours north of LA in San Luis Obispo County, it feels like you’ve left urban chaos and entered some alternate universe where wandering through walnut groves, apple orchards and malbec vines is...
photo by Ashley Ludaescher
Though you’re just a couple hours north of LA in San Luis Obispo County, it feels like you’ve left urban chaos and entered some alternate universe where wandering through walnut groves, apple orchards and malbec vines is all just part of a normal day. The scenery here is stunning, marked by rolling meadows and distant mountains, and you’ll find there’s a number of incredible local wineries and hidden vineyards in the mix. This guide takes you through the best of the wedding sites we know, including private estates, sprawling ranches and rustic barns. Whether you’re planning a secret garden wedding with a tiny guest list or a big soiree that requires a mix of indoor and outdoor space, we’ve got your SLO wedding venue sorted.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown | Venue: Greengate Ranch
One of the largest vineyard venues in SLO, Greengate hosts weddings of up to 700 guests. There are lots of outdoor options for ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, and there’s a towering wood barn that dates back to the 1880s.
You can state your vows under a grove of olive trees, celebrate your reception in a big, rustic nineteenth-century barn and enjoy a weekend of revelry with your loved ones on this secluded, natural property. Higuera Ranch sleeps up to 24 guests on-site in a pair of beautiful homes, and hosts up to 200 guests for a wedding.
The rolling hills of Edna Valley are on full display at this sprawling guest ranch that’s located just minutes from downtown SLO. Flying Caballos includes a large events barn with party space for up to 400 guests, and a mix of farmhouses and cottages that sleep a total of 24 overnighters.
A large white farmhouse that dates back over a hundred years might be the first thing you spot on the grounds of HammerSky Vineyards, but the complementary modern white barn wouldn’t be far behind on your visual highlight list. Festivities on the grounds here max out at 100 guests and you can sleep eight of your VIPs in the main house.
At this boutique vineyard, you can get married with a pond and rolling vineyards as your ceremony backdrop or tucked between the olive groves. For your reception at Rava, you’ll have the choice of outdoor options that include a courtyard, a contemporary barn or a lawn surrounded by malbec vines and oak trees.
Set on the storied Santa Margarita Ranch property, Oyster Ridge is a venue with a towering oak tree veranda and a cool, rustic barn just beside it. Surrounded by beautiful vistas, this is the kind of place where SLO shines as a backdrop.
Stone walls and towering wood beam ceilings create a stunning reception setting inside the grandiose barn at Santa Margarita Ranch. This place is steeped in local history, including its Native American roots, and today is run by local winegrowers and ranching families.
This five-bedroom boutique home dates back to 1875 and is tucked between beautifully landscaped gardens and lawns. The grounds include an English garden and another with a pavillion that looks across the street to the ocean. Cass House is great for a more intimate wedding, maxing out at around 100 guests.
Nestled between vineyards and under an expanse of stars, outdoor weddings of up to 200 guests at this Paso Robles winery are pure magic. If you’re looking for an indoor option for an intimate gathering, choose from the 20-seat library or 80-seat barrel room. There’s also a guesthouse on the grounds of Cass Winery, so you can make a full weekend event out of your occasion.
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Panoramic views of the rolling hills and surrounding mountains are on full display at the hilltop ceremony spot at Spreafico Farms. The rustic barn on the property can host weddings of up to 200 guests and we’re picturing a rompin’, stompin’ hootenanny between these walls.
Orchards, gardens and beautifully maintained lawns set the scene for weddings at See Canyon Fruit Ranch. This venue offers various outdoor spaces for events of up to 250 guests and rustic barns that make spectacular backdrops.
Set in the heart of downtown SLO, this industrial, loft-like space opens right up to a courtyard. Weddings at The Penny suit up to 300 guests, with sister company Sidecar Cocktail Co running the bar program and mixing some of the best cocktails in town.
This two-story Italian villa is surrounded by manicured lawns and gardens, a lush waterfall and plenty of outdoor gathering space. Inside the villa you’ll find a spiral staircase in a stone turret that leads up to balconies overlooking the spacious reception area fit for a fête of up to 500 guests.
Olive trees, grape vines, gardens and bocce ball courts are just a few of the highlights at this beautiful countryside vineyard. Biddle Ranch hosts weddings on their manicured lawns, giving you and up to 200 guests a chance to really soak up the views and time spent under the California sun. There’s also a lovely, modern tasting room on the grounds.
Surrounded by vineyards, lavender and olive trees, this Spanish revival style estate features sweeping views of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Weddings here include use of the property for up to 250 guests and four cottages to use throughout the weekend.
Rolling vineyards, a big red barn and a towering oak tree are a few of the highlights at Vintage Ranch in Paso Robles. Farm style weddings are what this spot does best, hosting up to 300 guests in both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Set just outside the city limits of Paso Robles, rolling meadows and golden grasses set the backdrop for Fallen Oaks Estate. Weddings here take place on the beautiful lawns and inside the carriage house, hosting up to 250 guests.
A nineteenth-century wooden barn, an antique Victorian home and extensive gardens fill the grounds of The Grace Maralyn Estate in Atascadero. The house sleeps up to 14 guests, making a fun place to spend the weekend with your wedding party, and the barn hosts events of up to 200 guests.
A century-old barn towers on the grounds of Thacher Winery, lending a grand, rustic setting for weddings of up to 150 guests. The barn is surrounded by acres of vineyards, oak trees and hay fields that make this spot feel like a hidden gem of SLO.
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Vineyards, gardens filled with jasmine and roses, and a century-old orchard of walnut trees make up the grounds of Peacock Farms. Weddings here can accommodate up to 300 guests and have a real secret garden party feel.
Options, options and more options abound for events and wedding at Opolo. Planning a small guest list with under 40 invites? Exchange vows between the walnut trees and head to the barn in the grove. Planning something for up to 250 guests? A ceremony and cocktail hour at the top of a hill overlooking the vineyards followed by dinner and dancing in a nearby tent or in the barrel-lined indoor space should suit.
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