A Review of the Rustic Tuscan Wedding Venue on the Hilltops of the Santa Monica Mountains

Cielo Farms

31424 Mulholland Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265

☎︎ +1 (424) 234 7242

www.woodstockmalibu.com

Cielo Farms in Malibu offers a stunning Tuscan-inspired setting for small weddings, with expansive views of the Santa Monica Mountains and lush vineyards. The venue provides amenities such as valet parking and a bridal suite. Because of its breathtaking views, Cielo Farms is a perfect choice for small weddings year-round.

• Average Booking Rate: $19,500

• Minimum Booking: $16,500

• Guest Capacity: 120

• On-site Parking

Cielo Farms: We’re Not in L.A. Anymore

Cielo Farms is surprisingly small—no thanks to wedding photographers using wide-angle lenses, making it look much larger than it really is. Which, honestly, looks its best when photographed with "normal" lenses and not wide-angle lenses—but what do I know? I’m just a drunk. To be clear, however, the property itself is massive, but the open area for guests and wedding rentals is narrow. And that’s not a bad thing—far from it.

Because this winery’s intimate size makes it perfect for small weddings of around 120 guests, with an ambiance akin to hosting your wedding in your rich uncle’s backyard winery, complete with breathtaking panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains. It makes you feel like Dorothy stepping out of the tornado—not in Kansas anymore, but in this case, out of L.A. Its crown jewel is The Barn, which doesn’t get photographed or featured enough, especially at night.

Cielo Farms is a venue that begs to be photographed on 35mm film due to its neutral, earthy tones and requires little to no décor. However, nearly every wedding held here overindulges in bright, pastel floral arrangements and décor, which overshadows the rustic, earthy charm of the venue. Something to keep in mind as you consider how others have designed their weddings here.

The Barn’s Wine Bar

By far, the wine selection is the standout feature at Cielo Farms, offering over 20 exclusive varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Viognier, Petite Syrah, and Malbec. The best part? You can experience these offerings firsthand through a guided wine tasting at The Barn's Wine Bar, where you can enjoy flights, bottles, or glasses, paired with select food options. It’s the perfect way to choose the wines that’ll best complement your wedding.

Vendors

For a cool minute, Cielo Farms had you book their own suite of core vendors, which isn’t a bad thing, as it makes planning your wedding much easier since you only have to worry about booking a couple of other vendors on your own. That said, at the moment, you’re free to select your own photographers (me), videographers, and florists. However, for catering and bar services, the venue requires you to choose from their list of preferred vendors, and as with most venues of this caliber, a day-of coordinator—whom you’re free to book on your own—is also required.

Ceremony

Cielo Farms offers three options for ceremonies, depending on the size of your guest list. For around 120 guests, the garden on the south side of The Barn is ideal. If angled correctly in photos, it looks like an infinity pool when you face west—though in this case, an infinity winery? You’ll see what I mean when you tour it during a wine tasting.

For a guest list closer to 50-75, The Outlook is recommended for its panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains. Keep in mind, however, that the sun sets in the west, which is the direction your guests will be facing if you have your ceremony in this section mid-afternoon. This also makes it difficult to photograph and record video.

And for more intimate gatherings of about 30 guests, inside The Barn is perfect—especially if it’s chilly outside. Yes, even summer nights can get surprisingly cool up there. Lastly, one room you probably won’t see online is the bridal suite for getting ready on the second floor of The Barn. And why don’t I have photos of the bridal suite, you ask? Well, I had the honor of photographing the wedding of the granddaughter of the owner of Cielo Farms. They got ready at the private residence at the top of the hill, and the wedding was later featured in The White Wren.

Reception

Despite how I described Cielo Farms as being relatively small compared to how it’s shown online, it’s perfectly designed to maximize its space very well (unlike venues twice its size). This gives you the freedom to host your reception either in the garden east of The Barn or in the garden on the south side of The Barn—both of which can accommodate 200 guests when used together—or even inside The Barn if your guest list is around 30. Both The Barn and the south garden also serve as great spots for the cocktail hour. As for the dance floor, it’s usually in the garden on the north side of The Barn during the summer or inside The Barn in the winter.

Wine Not?

All in all, Cielo Farms, with its relatively small size compared to other winery wedding venues in Malibu and Temecula, is one of the handful of venues in Los Angeles that gives you that "in-the-know" feeling when hosting your wedding here. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s like your rich uncle lent you his backyard winery. Its size, as well as its curated portfolio of wines, is a feature that not only gives it a high-end, homey feel but also keeps your guests from wandering off on their own.

If you’ve seen Destination Wedding with Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Which brings me to my last point—take it how you will. Unlike most winery wedding venues, where you can take photos in the grapevines, you can’t at Cielo Farms. But even without that classic shot, the venue’s rustic, earthy, intimate setting and breathtaking views more than make up for it.