Catalina Island Wedding
Are you planning a Catalina Island wedding? Let me start off by saying AMAZING CHOICE for a wedding destination! I absolutely love Catalina Island weddings. The breathtaking views, sea breeze, and charm of the island...what more can anyone ask for?!
This is why so many people flock to Catalina Island for their weddings or elopements. This is an ideal destination for adventurous couples who love a dreamy sea landscape and a fun time!
Below, I cover several tips when it comes to planning a Catalina Island wedding!
I highly recommend downloading my WEDDING PLANNER PRINTABLE.
WEDDING PLANNER GUIDE
This printable includes everything you need to stay organized and stress free during the wedding planning process.
Catalina Island Wedding Venues
These wedding venues are great if you are looking to have everything more or less taken care of for your Catalina Island wedding. They usually provide the food, the chairs, tables, linens, flowers, etc. This really simplifies things.
However, if you're looking to have a more intimate Catalina Island wedding that offers more customization, I'd look into some airbnb options. I'll include a list of Catalina Island airbnbs below that I feel would make a great location for a Catalina Island elopement or smaller wedding.
Remember, if you go this route, everything has to be disclosed to the owner of the property. Some won't allow it, some will. It just depends. Some will allow it with an extra fee, but in all cases it needs to be disclosed as not only is it the right thing to do, but it can also save you potential legal fees.
Catherine's Terrace has a gorgeous oceanfront location Not only is this a beautiful location, but it also has the prettiest light - so important for wedding photography and it definitely can change the feel of a space!
It has a spacious outdoor area that is great for a ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception. This venue is also flexible. If you're thinking of having a Catalina Island elopement or an intimate wedding, this venue can be arranged for a group of 20 guests all the way to 200 guests.
2. Catalina Country Club Weddings
This Catalina wedding venue is on a hill overlooking Avalon. It includes distressed light colored walls which reflect beautiful light, many balconies, french windows & doors, and a lovely Mediterranean style rooftop.
3. Descanso Beach Club Wedding
This is a beautiful venue that can seat up to 450 guests, a perfect location for a larger wedding!
4. Holiday Inn Resort Catalina Island Wedding
This resort is great for smaller or larger Catalina Island weddings as the guest count ranges from 30 - 150 guests.
AirBNB Catalina Elopement Properties
This has panoramic ocean views, perfect for the ceremony of Catalina Island elopement. This is a smaller venue, so I wouldn't recommend it for a wedding with over 12 people. Imagine those epic shots your Catalina Island wedding photographer will be able to take with all of those breathtaking sea views!
Every room in this condo has ocean views. It's also only 20 steps away from many Catalina Island activities. I really love this condo for a Catalina Island elopement or intimate wedding.
3. Charming Renovated Avalon Townhome
This is a really unique 3 bedroom home that fits up to 8 people. It's super beautiful and has a charming rustic vibe. This would make the perfect space for a Catalina Island wedding or elopemen.
Guest Activities in Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a location that most guests will stay at for at lease 2 days. With that said, it's always a good idea to give your wedding guests some fun activities to bond over!
This is perfect for your more adventurous guests!
2. Catalina Island Aerial Adventure
Another super fun activity for the more adventurous types.
3. Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden
This is located at the top of Avalon Canyon, making it a nice 30 minute walk for your Catalina Island wedding guests. The garden features a collection of native plants from Catalina Island.
4. Luau Larry's
A fun tiki bar that offers casual food and delicious drinks! If you're looking for a relaxed place to eat lunch with your wedding guests, this is a good choice!
5. Catalina Island Helicopter Tours
This is a great way for your Catalina Island wedding guests to see breathtaking views of the beautiful island.
6. Kayaking
Kayaking or paddleboarding is always a great way to spend a few hours. There are also other activities, such as snorkeling!
This golf course is located a block from the beach. It has really challenging holes and DOES NOT have a kitschy factor, but instead includes a beautiful garden with native plants. This activity will take about an hour and is highly recommended for any Catalina Island wedding guests who are gold enthusiasts.
Rehearsal Dinner Locations
If you're planning an elopement or wedding, it's always a good idea to have a rehearsal dinner the night before since most guests will be spending 2+ nights there. Below are a list of great choices for your rehearsal dinner!
- El Galleon
This is one of Catalina Island's oldest restaurants. It has a more casual vibe!
2. Steve's Steakhouse & Seafood
If you're looking for a more elegant atmosphere for your wedding rehearsal, this is a great option for you!
3. Bluewater Avalon
This restaurant is in a historic building on the waterfront. It's beautiful and serves seafood! I highly recommend this place for a beautiful rehearsal dinner!
4. Seaport Bistro
This restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine from Greece, Morocco, Spain, and Italy. It also has some beautiful gardens offering a romantic atmosphere for your dinner.
5. Avalon Grille
This is a waterfront restaurant that offers live music, fresh pasta, fish, salads, and world-class wines.
How to Get to Catalina Island
For all of handy information on how to have your guests arrive to Catalina Island, click HERE.
How long is the trip?
It takes about one hour to get to Catalina Island via a high speed ferry or 15 minutes via a helicopter. Two companies that offer boat transportation from Southern California to Catalina Island.
Where do the boats leave from?
The cities of Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, and Newport Beach.
Helicopters can be accessed from Long Beach and San Pedro to Avalon.
The Two companies that offer daily departures are Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer.
Catalina Express departs from: Long beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point
Catalina Fever departs from Newport Beach.
Booking Vendors
Most vendors don't live on Catalina Island, but in Los Angeles. This means that most wedding vendors will charge an additional travel fee in order to offer services in Catalina Island. This really varies from vendor to vendor, but usually this fee will be enough to cover the vendor's additional travel time, transportation, and accommodation.
Please keep in this in mind when booking your photographer, florist, musicians, etc.
Also, because Catalina Island is often considered to be somewhat of a destination wedding, vendors should be booked a bit further in advance. For example, the average Los Angeles wedding photographer is booked 8 - 15 months in advance. For a wedding photographer, I'd recommend 10 - 15 months in advance.
Catalina Island Wedding Cost
The average cost for a Catalina Island wedding is $4,000 - $40,000. Of course, this range all depends on the venue and guest count.