Pelican Hill is a luxury wedding venue on the Newport Coast, right off the Pacific Coast Highway. The classic Italian rotunda overlooking the Pacific Ocean makes a pristine backdrop the wedding ceremony. The perfectly manicured Mediterranean landscaping surrounds the ceremony site, layered with the rolling hills of their world renowned golf course.
The wedding festivities take place in the Mar Vista section of the resort, away from other guests and far from the restaurants and pool. This seclusion gives you and your guests privacy that is rare for a resort wedding and ensures that you won’t have any vacationers in the background of your photos and video.
Wedding Prep at Pelican Hill
The bridal suite is tucked away right outside of the ceremony site at Pelican Hill. With plenty of space for the bride, bridesmaids and family, you can relax and enjoy your pre-wedding moments in comfort as you get your hair and makeup done.
The full body mirror in the bridal suite makes a beautiful, symmetrical background for a few bridal photos before your first look or ceremony.
Meanwhile, the groom can get ready in a standard room, a suite, a casita, or in one of the many open event or conference rooms around the hotel. Every room, hallway, and even restroom is photo-ready in this luxury resort.
Couple’s Session
The Italian rotunda at Pelican Hill is perched 300 feet above sea level, with a full panoramic view of the ocean.
Sunset photos at the lawn and rotunda are a must for your Pelican Hill Wedding.
Many of our clients choose to decorate the rotunda with draping, chandeliers, and/or floral arrangements for the wedding.
The gardens and pathways around the property are perfect for secluded first looks and romantic couples session. While the majority of the photos will be at the iconic rotunda, the pathways are great for scene variety and greenery.
Bridal Party Shots at Pelican Hill
Wedding party photos are also best over at the rotunda.
Ceremony Site at the Pelican Hill
Below is some inspiration showing some of our favorite wedding ceremony decor setups for the rotunda. As you can see, the rotunda can look completely different depending on the color scheme and wedding floral setup.
Reception Site at the Resort
The reception ballroom at the resort is just above the ceremony site. The wooden ceilings give the room a comfortable, intimate feel and the large windows give your guests a view of the sunset.
Try to carve out 15 to 20 minutes of couples session time in the reception ballroom prior to guests arriving. This gives you a chance to experience and appreciate the room and to get a few beautiful photos.
Night Photography Sessions
A hidden spot at Pelican Hill is the parking lot roof. This is a perfect photography location for wedding party photos, couples session photos, or night time photos.
What’s Around?
Address: 22701 Pelican Hill Road South Newport Coast, CA, 92657
Pelican Hill is located right off of Newport Coast Drive, just minutes from incredible beaches like Crystal Cove State Park, Abalone Point, Emerald Point, Little Treasure Cove, and Litter Corona del Mar Beach. During your stay for your wedding, you can dine at the renowned restaurants on site (Andrea and Pelican Grill), or you can take a short ride over to Javier’s Restaurant or Maestro’s Ocean Club.
Pelican Hill FAQs
What services are offered?
Ceremony / Reception, Indoor / Outdoor
How many wedding guests can Pelican Hill accommodate?
Accommodates up to 500 guests for the ceremony and 300 for the indoor reception.
What are other amenities available?
Bride’s dressing area, Ceremony arch, Dance floor, Podium and/or stage, Coat check room, Tables and chairs provided, Linens, silverware, glassware provided, Outdoor lighting and more.
Similar Wedding Venues
Though Pelican Hill is one-of-a-kind, in our experience, similar clients desiring a similar level of service and scenery have chosen other high end resorts in the same area that include The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel and the Monarch Beach Resort.
