Wayfarers Chapel
Wedding Venue Highlight
Wayfarers Chapel
5755 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
310 377 1650
(Permanently closed due to landslide activity.)
Prospective New Site
In February 2024, Wayfarers Chapel closed indefinitely after heavy rains caused land movement and landslides in the area. By April 2024, panes of glass had broken, the foundation was damaged, and walkways around the site had cracked. As a result, officials determined the chapel could not be restored on its original property. It was fully dismantled by September 2024, with every piece documented and stored for a future rebuild. In May 2025, Wayfarers Chapel announced plans to rebuild at a new site about a mile west, on the Battery Barnes property next to Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall. Wayfarers Chapel is not currently booking weddings, and there is no confirmed date for reopening. We'll update this page once that changes.
About Wayfarers Chapel
On a bluff above the Pacific in Rancho Palos Verdes, Wayfarers Chapel has been one of the most recognized wedding chapels on the Palos Verdes Peninsula since it opened in 1951. The idea began in the late 1920s, when Palos Verdes resident Elizabeth Schellenberg pictured a small chapel where travelers could stop and rest along the coast. Her friend Narcissa Cox Vanderlip donated the land, and by the late 1940s the two women had brought in architect Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design it. Wright built the chapel from redwood, stone, and glass, drawing on the redwood groves of Northern California, and it was dedicated as a national memorial to the theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. In December 2023, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
Couples are drawn to Wayfarers Chapel for its beauty, the ocean view from the hill, and the fact that it's an actual religious space. It's a glass structure set right in among a grove of redwood trees, on a hilltop with a clear view out to the Pacific. It was dedicated in 1951 and has been an active Swedenborgian chapel ever since.
Three reasons we love this venue
Masterful Architecture
Designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of the renowned Frank Lloyd Wright, this glass structure is a unique piece of organic architecture. We love how the chapel blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings, letting in plenty of natural light during the day. At night, we've watched the stars twinkle through the glass, adding to the chapel's glow.
Intimate and Sacred Space
The chapel's stone interior and walls lined with plants create an intimate and sacred space, perfect for exchanging vows. With trees swaying overhead and a peaceful atmosphere throughout, we've always found it a moving experience for guests to be part of.
Idyllic Location
Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Wayfarers Chapel is surrounded by nature reserves and canyons, with sweeping views of Abalone Cove and the Pacific Ocean. We think its location makes it an ideal setting for nature lovers and those seeking a serene, tranquil experience. With Los Angeles just 30 miles away, it's also easy for friends and family to be there.
Wayfarers Chapel is a truly exceptional wedding venue. Its architecture, intimate space and unique location make it an ideal spot for couples who want a natural, woodsy, yet elegant and traditional setting for their wedding. With its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding nature reserves, Wayfarers Chapel is the perfect place to create lasting memories.
Inspiration
The best way to get a feel for what your day could look like at Wayfarers Chapel is to see real weddings we photographed at this property. Take a look at the celebrations of Alexandra & Connor and Jane & East to see how different couples brought their vision to life here.
Considering a Wayfarers Chapel Wedding?
Whether you are still exploring venues or have already chosen Wayfarers Chapel, 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.
Intimate chapel ceremonies.
Beautiful backdrops for portraits.
Stunning views of the Pacific ocean.
View Weddings from Wayfarers Chapel
