The Best Wedding Venues in Big Bear Lake
The San Bernardino Mountains are an ideal setting for a destination wedding in Southern California and whether you’re eloping, doing the small and intimate thing, or going all out with a fully stacked guest list, there are tons of stunning venues and locations to choose from.
Big Bear is truly one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets for weddings, and I’m enthusiastic about highlighting the area as a top wedding destination for couples. I’ve put together a list of my favorite wedding venues in Big Bear so that you can spend less time researching, and more time focusing on other meaningful aspects of your wedding and relationship.
This guide has been recently updated for 2026 with current venue information and a few new additions worth checking out.
Let’s get to it!
Why Get Married in Big Bear?
Big Bear gives couples something that’s surprisingly hard to find this close to Los Angeles: a true mountain destination with forests, lake views, four distinct seasons, and enough lodging and activities to turn a wedding into an entire weekend.
It also offers a surprisingly wide range of venues. You can get married at a private ranch, an intimate forest property, a mountain resort, a historic lodge, or a more refined estate like Sunnybrook without ever leaving the Big Bear area.
What to Know Before Choosing a Big Bear Wedding Venue
When comparing venues in Big Bear, I’d look beyond capacity and price. Pay attention to where your guests will stay, how far the ceremony and reception spaces are from each other, parking and transportation, weather backup options, and where you’ll actually want to take photographs.
The mountain light also varies a lot from venue to venue. Some locations lose the sun surprisingly early because of surrounding ridgelines and trees, while others have open views late into the evening. Those details can have a big impact on your timeline and the photographs you come home with.
frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a wedding venue in Big Bear?
Wedding venue pricing in Big Bear can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the wedding, location, lodging, catering, and what’s included. Some venues offer more complete packages with tables, chairs, catering, and coordination, while others are primarily providing the space. I recommend comparing what’s actually included before choosing based on price alone, because two venues with similar rental fees can end up costing very different amounts once everything else is added.
When is the best time of year to get married in Big Bear?
Big Bear is one of the few places in Southern California where you can really experience all four seasons, and each one gives weddings a completely different feel. Summer and early fall are generally the easiest months for outdoor weddings, with warm days and cooler evenings. Fall brings changing leaves, while winter can give you snow-covered mountains if that’s what you’re after.
For most couples planning an outdoor Big Bear wedding, I’d personally look hardest at late spring through October.
What are the best Big Bear wedding venues with lodging?
Several Big Bear wedding venues offer lodging either directly on the property or very close by. Shay Meadows is one of my favorites for couples who want to keep part of the wedding group together on-site, while Knickerbocker Mansion also offers overnight accommodations.
Big Bear also has plenty of cabins, boutique hotels, and vacation rentals nearby, so even venues without lodging can work really well for a destination wedding weekend.
What are the best venues for a small wedding or elopement in Big Bear?
For smaller weddings, I really like Into the Woods, Apples Bed & Breakfast, and Knickerbocker Mansion. Each has a more intimate feel and gives couples plenty of mountain atmosphere without needing to fill a huge venue.
Big Bear Mountain Resort is also worth looking at if you want a smaller wedding with a much bigger landscape.
Can you have a wedding at Big Bear Mountain Resort?
Yes. Big Bear Mountain Resort now offers multiple wedding locations across its mountain properties, ranging from easily accessible ceremony and reception spaces to mountaintop locations with expansive views.
It’s one of the best options in Big Bear if the mountain scenery itself is a big part of why you’re getting married here.
What should we consider when planning an outdoor wedding in Big Bear?
Weather and elevation are probably the two biggest things to think about. Mountain temperatures can change quickly, even during summer, and evenings are often much cooler than couples expect. Wind, snow, afternoon storms, and early sunsets in some mountain locations can also affect the timeline.
I always recommend having a weather backup plan, giving guests a heads-up about the elevation and temperature swings, and building the photography timeline around the actual light at your venue rather than assuming sunset will behave the same way it does down the mountain.
Big Bear wedding venues
Shay Meadows Ranch & Resort
This is the most complete wedding venue on my list and also the most likely I am going to refer to couples first. Shay is a personal favorite and it has everything you want and then some. Some of the talking points in their premier package include a rehearsal dinner for 30 guests, two ceremony site options, onsite lodging for up to 56 guests, a tented reception area with farmhouse tables and fruitwood chairs, and amazing bridal and groom suites. They also pay attention to all the little things like providing fire pits, heaters, multiple lounge areas, housekeeping, and day of insurance. To top it off, the staff provides top tier service and will accommodate your every need..
shaymeadowsranchandresort.com
1325 Midway Blvd,
Big Bear, CA 92314
Holcomb Valley Ranch
If you want your wedding to feel like a bit of an adventure, Holcomb Valley Ranch is the spot. Set on a 400-acre private ranch surrounded by National Forest, it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the San Bernardino Mountains and a wild history that fits the setting perfectly.
From a photography standpoint, Holcomb Valley Ranch might be one of the most picturesque venues on this list, with open meadows, pine forest, rustic buildings, and plenty of space to explore. The venue can accommodate everything from smaller celebrations to large outdoor events.
One thing to keep in mind is access. The ranch is reached by an unmaintained dirt and gravel road, so guests should plan to drive slowly and carefully. High-clearance vehicles are helpful, but they aren’t required for the main route into the property.
holcombvalleyranch.com
34300 Holcomb valley rd.
Fawnskin, CA 92333
Big Bear Mountain Resort
Big Bear Mountain Resort has quickly become one of the most exciting wedding options in the area. The resort now offers 11 different wedding locations spread across Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, the golf course, and Snow Valley, with everything from easy-access ceremony and reception spaces to mountaintop locations reached by chairlift.
From a photography standpoint, this is one of the venues with the most variety in Big Bear. You can get forest, mountain, lake, and ski-resort scenery all within the same wedding experience, and some of the higher ceremony locations have incredible views of the surrounding San Bernardino Mountains.
With the continued improvements around Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, I think BBMR has the potential to become one of Southern California’s premier mountain wedding destinations.
www.bigbearmountainresort.com
Snow Summit – 880 Summit Blvd Suite B, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 / Bear Mountain – 43101 Goldmine Dr Suite A, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Into the Woods LLC
As the name implies, Into the Woods is a privately owned property tucked into the forest in Big Bear City. Secluded, simple, romantic, and pretty much perfect in my opinion. It feels like a blank forest canvas that you can really make your own, which is part of what makes it such a great option for elopements and smaller weddings.
If you want something that feels private and surrounded by nature without a lot of unnecessary fuss, this one is definitely worth a look.
intothewoodsbb.com
Mayvan Canyon Road at highway 38
big bear city, CA 92314
Apples Bed And Breakfast
Nestled in the pines and conveniently located off Moonridge Road, Apples is an excellent choice for a number of reasons. This Victorian-style inn is quirky, cozy, fun, and its landscaping makes it arguably one of the prettiest and most intimate ceremony and reception spaces in Big Bear.
It’s also only a few minutes from some of my favorite spots around the lake for sunset portraits, so I always recommend building a little time into the wedding day to sneak away for photos.
ApplesBedandbreakfast.com
42430 Moonridge Rd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Knickerbocker Mansion
The historic Knickerbocker Mansion is located just behind the Village in the heart of Big Bear Lake and is a great option for smaller mountain weddings. The property was recently refreshed and reopened in 2026 as a lodge and event venue, with space for 75+ guests and overnight accommodations for up to 33.
I like the classic mountain lodge feel here, and the property gives couples a handful of different indoor and outdoor spaces to work with. It’s also close enough to the Village that guests can easily make a full Big Bear weekend out of it, while still feeling tucked away among the pines.
knickerbocker-mansion.com
869 knickerbocker rd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Sunnybrook Estate
Sunnybrook Estate is one of the newest wedding venues in Big Bear Lake and was built specifically with weddings in mind. Located in Moonridge, the property offers both indoor and outdoor spaces, including a tucked-away Secret Garden ceremony site, an outdoor Garden Terrace, and a large Grand Room that can accommodate up to 300 guests.
I haven’t photographed a wedding here yet, but I’d love to. It feels more refined than some of Big Bear’s more rustic venue options while still giving couples the mountain setting they came here for. The venue also has dedicated getting-ready spaces on-site, which is a big plus from a wedding-day logistics standpoint.
If you’re looking for something polished, spacious, and still very much connected to the outdoors, Sunnybrook is absolutely worth checking out.
sunnybrookestate.com
42488 Moonridge Rd.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Big Falls Lodge
Another venue that’s not in Big Bear but I feel deserves some attention is Big Falls Lodge/Gail D. Cox Community Center in Forest Falls, CA. This little spot isn’t your typical wedding venue, but if you’ve got a creative vision, you can have an awesome time here. Forest Falls is practically unknown in relation to Big Bear, but it’s a beautiful mountain town full of wildlife and natural beauty.
There are dramatic photo opportunities within five minutes of the venue, and if you book your wedding here in the fall, you’ll get all the pretty colors and maybe even some snow. The sun sets in the canyon early, but if we hit it just right, it’s one of the best places for those rugged mountain portraits you can’t find in many locations in Southern California.
To top this one off, Big Falls Lodge is operated by a charitable nonprofit and offers wedding packages through a suggested-donation structure rather than the typical venue pricing model. Their full bridal package includes use of the lodge the day before the wedding, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, and access to the bridal room. Another cool fact about this place — I got married here!
vfcci.org
41303 Valley of the Falls Dr.
Forest Falls, CA 92339
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