Looking for a woodsy Socal/central ca venue for under 5k w/ 150 guests!

Luna Bella Ranch in Temecula.
Wrightwood Guest Ranch in Wrightwood.
Shay Meadows Ranch and Inn in Big Bear (higher than $5000, but you get the venue for the weekend).

The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach was my first thought. They can hold your guest count and charge $5,500 for ceremony and reception. However, due to them being very green and eco-friendly, a chunk of that fee is tax-deductible. The fee includes private use of the ENC’s LEED Platinum building, museum, classrooms, tables, chairs, deck, beautiful overhead string lights, fire pit area, kitchen and native gardens.

https://www.encenter.org/facility-rental/green-wedding/

Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp in Irvine is a park venue. If you Google weddings there, one couple was able to host a 200 person wedding there.

https://www.cityofirvine.org/parks-facilities/bommer-canyon-community-park-cattle-camp

Silverado Canyon Park in Silverado is another cheap park option.

http://www.occanyonweddings.com/

Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest is yet another cheap park option. There's numerous galleries of weddings there on Google.

http://fullertoncommunitycenter.com/event-center/

Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga is gorgeous, but I'm not sure what it costs and what it comes with.

https://www.innoftheseventhray.com/weddings-events#weddings-and-events

Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills is a ceremony-only venue, but it's super pretty. You could pair it with a local woman's club or community center.

https://www.anaheim.net/1124/Weddings-and-Facility-Rentals

The Woman's Club of Orange in Orange has a beautiful outdoor area that you can use for a ceremony and/or reception. There's also an indoor area as well. Most woman's clubs seems to have a rental fee around $2,000.

https://www.orangewc.com/services

Th Fullerton Community Center has a Trellis for ceremonies and a Courtyard for receptions that are affordable to rent.

http://fullertoncommunitycenter.com/event-center/

If you can get your guest count down to 100, Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange would be super pretty. There's lots of photos on Google if you look up Santiago Oaks Regional Park wedding.

http://www.ocparks.com/rnp/weddings/receptions

Some fantastic suggestions from the PPs, Margaret! Have you checked any of them out yet?

Another great place to search is the WeddingWire venue directory - San Diego Wedding Venues. You can change the location, or using map view, see venues in the specific area you’re interested in!

How many guests are you planning on inviting?

View Quoted Comment

Wow! Great suggestions! Somehow in my search, I didn't come across these but they're gorgeous. Thank you! I just reached out to each venue today.

View Quoted Comment

Phenomenal! Thank you for the amazing details! These all look luscious and green and aren't insanely expensive. These are great examples of community centers and parks that are affordable and beautiful. Great tips!

View Quoted Comment You’re welcome! I had a budget wedding in the area back in June...feel free to let me know if you need any vendor recommendations!

We were at The 1909 in Topanga, CA: https://www.the1909.com/

We chose it because I'm originally from rural NorCal and I wanted something that looked like home, even in LA.

View Quoted Comment Hello I just looked this place and it’s beautiful was it expensive to have your wedding hear and what was included thank you planning for April 2021..

The Doctors House in Glendale, Reptacular Ranch in Lakeview Terrace I believe

Great suggestions, thank you! So many have been out of our budget we'll check these out!