About the Resort at Pelican Hill

Located along the Newport Coast, the Resort at Pelican Hill is a wedding venue inspired by the work of Andrea Palladio, a 16th-century Italian Renaissance architect known for his grand villas across the Venetian countryside. Groundbreaking happened in September 2005, and the resort opened in November 2008. The 504-acre property was built with hand-carved stonework, Italian plaster finishes, and grove plantings of olive, cypress, and fig trees that give the grounds a consistent Italian look. The Coliseum Pool, one of the largest circular pools in the world, is lined with over one million hand-cut glass mosaic tiles. Together the architecture, grounds, and amenities make it one of the more complete resort destinations on the Southern California coast.

Couples are drawn to the Resort at Pelican Hill for the scale of the property, the Italian-inspired architecture, and the level of service the resort brings to a wedding weekend. Together those three things make it possible to host a full multi-day celebration including a welcome dinner, ceremony, reception, and brunch without leaving the grounds. For couples who want a venue that feels like its own world for the weekend, Pelican Hill delivers that in a way few SoCal properties can.

Ceremony and Reception Spaces

The Event Lawn and Rotunda

Ceremonies take place on a manicured oval lawn facing the ocean, with an Italian rotunda framing the ceremony space and the Pacific in the background. The lawn can also double as a reception space, so couples can keep the entire celebration outdoors in one setting.

Mar Vista Lower Terrace

The Mar Vista Lower Terrace sits above the Event Lawn with views of the Pacific, the golf courses, and the rotunda below. It works well for cocktail hour or as a reception space.

Mar Vista Ballroom

The Mar Vista Ballroom features wood beam ceilings, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and a circular windowed room with ocean views.

What We Love About Pelican Hill

Unobstructed Ocean Views

The Event Lawn faces west with a clear sightline to the Pacific, which is not common even among coastal venues. In photos, that west-facing position gives the ceremony a vibrant blue ocean backdrop and portraits a warm golden glow at sunset.

Inspired Italian Architecture

The hand-carved stonework, Italian plaster finishes, and groves of olive, cypress, and fig trees were built into this property from the ground up, and we notice that consistency every time we are on the grounds. That level of detail translates well on camera no matter where on the property we are shooting.

Golden Coastal Light

When the sun sets over the Pacific, the light across the property turns soft and warm. We love that each space catches it a little differently, which gives us options across the Event Lawn, the terraces, and the portrait spaces all within the same window of time.

Insider Tips

The Event Lawn ceremony faces west, which means late afternoon light can come in directly at guests' eyes during parts of the year. We love ceremony times that are a bit later, which also means sunset can fall during cocktail hour and guests can enjoy the sunset.

For portraits, the rooftop garden above the resort's main building is one of the least-used spots on the property and one of our favorites. The manicured layout and elevated perspective give a completely different look than the ocean-facing spaces.

The getting-ready spaces in the villas are naturally lit and spacious. If you're in a villa rather than a hotel-style bungalow, the light is great and there is enough room for a full team without feeling crowded.

Who Is the Right Couple for a Pelican Hill Wedding?

Pelican Hill suits couples who want a well-known luxury property where the setting, service, and accommodations are all handled at the same high level. The resort hosts one wedding per day, which means the property is effectively theirs for the celebration. Couples planning a full wedding weekend with out-of-town guests tend to find that the on-site villas, dining, and dedicated service team make it easy for everyone to stay, eat, and celebrate in one place.

Pelican Hill is a venue where the property sets the tone for the entire weekend. The Italian architecture, the ocean views, and the way the spaces flow from the ceremony lawn to the terrace to the ballroom all work together in a way that feels very cohesive. The level of service means guests are taken care of throughout, and couples can enjoy the weekend without managing every detail. For us as photographers, it is a property that gives us something to work with from getting ready all the way through to the last dance.

Inspiration

The best way to get a feel for what your day could look like at Pelican Hill is to see real weddings we have photographed at this property. Take a look at the celebration of Ana & Sagar to see how they brought their vision to life here. To learn more about this venue, we also recommend checking out their exceptional Venue Report.

Considering a Pelican Hill Wedding?

Whether you are still exploring venues or have already chosen Pelican Hill, we would love to connect. We have photographed here throughout the year and would love to share what we have seen and learned from documenting weddings at this property.