Country Club weddings are very popular in Los Angeles, from the Brentwood Country Club, featured in this gallery, to the Hillcrest Country Club, and Riviera Country Club in Santa Monica. Other favorites include Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, Altadena Town and Country Club, Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake and Sherwood Country Club in Agoura Hills. If you want a country club feel but with a little more urban sophistication, top venues include the Jonathan Club, Los Angeles Athletic Club and Santa Barbara Club. On the “beachier” side, the Beach Club and Jonathan Club in Santa Monica have a country club feel oceanside blending the best aspects of both!
All of these clubs are top wedding venues in Los Angeles and are incredible spots for wedding photography. The sprawling green lawns give ample room for groups of any size, from smaller wedding parties to very large extended family photos. The clubhouse always has a lovely room for the brides and grooms to use to get dressed, and all have various spots around the buildings to use for photos. Many of these clubs also offer the fun option of giving the couple and photographers a golf cart to take out on the property. Sherwood Country Club has a fantastic spot for photos of the couple, with rows of gorgeous roses and a waterfall for a backdrop. Hillcrest Country Club has stunning Jacaranda trees with deep purple flowers that bloom in the spring and make for a magical setting for photos.
Country clubs also typically offer both indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Outdoor patios that overlook the golf course are a great spot for guests to enjoy cocktail hour as the sun sets before they head inside for the reception. One of my favorite recent weddings featured a bag piper leading the guests from the outdoor ceremony to the cocktail hour – it was a fun way to kick off the party and a huge hit. Cocktail receptions on the lawn are also very popular and give the guests a chance to enjoy the Southern California weather.
The Beach Club and Jonathan Club have spots right on the sand for the wedding ceremony. Guests are often offered the option to take off their shoes on the way to their seats! Cocktail hour oceanside is one of my favorite parts of the day to photograph, as the early evening sun makes for wonderful candids of the guests chatting and relaxing before heading inside for dinner. Guests also have the option to venture back outside later in the night to have a cocktail and enjoy the ocean breeze.
Inside the clubs, there are also wonderful spots for photos – from libraries with rich, dark woods, to staircases and French doors that are perfect for portraits. The ballrooms are all designed for events, so there is always plenty of room for both the dining tables and a nice sized dance floor, where I focus on lots and lots of crazy candids of the party late into the night!