At the Stone Manor Malibu, your dreams of a grandiose outdoor garden wedding will come true. It’s a great place for anybody searching for a beautiful outdoor venue with sweeping coastal views. Here you will have even more: the classic elegance of the stone mansion, comfortable rooms for you and guests, spaces of gardens with lush greenery, and total freedom to create your big day on your own.
Table of Contents
Location & Story of Stone Manor Malibu
Stone Manor Estate & Gardens Malibu CA is a breathtaking property located on the Malibu hills, quite secluded at the end of ambiancePorterdale Drive. It includes an elegant stone house and three acres of grounds, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The estate is just about 35 miles to Downtown LA and its airport. The nearest beach is Escondido Beach, just 1.4 miles away.
The owners of the property are Lance Lindsey, ex-filmmaker, and his wife Aime. Long ago, he bought an empty landscape on the north side of Malibu with an incredible view. He spent twenty-four years building the Stone Manor Estate and Gardens using 14,000 tons of stone. Nowadays, the seaside venue features lots of European details with a subtle Tuscan touch. The lighting for the gardens the owner designed by himself: he couldn’t find appropriate light fixtures fitting the romantic ambience of the setting. HIs Stone Manor Lighting company provides original lighting designs and visitors can enjoy these unique handcrafted pieces in Stone Manors’ coastal garden.
The panoramic vista and serene grounds of Stone Manor attract filmmakers, travelers, and newlyweds. The venue is perfect for garden lovers who adore a secluded atmosphere created by draping canopies of trees and flowers everywhere. At Stone Manor, it’s combined with a sweeping view of the Malibu coast and total comfort for guests.
Amenities of Stone Manor Malibu
The house and grounds can be rented for a weekend or just for a wedding day. Stone Manor Malibu wedding costs ranged in previous years from $30,000 – $50,000 yet this information is not updated, so you’d better check it out with the venue manager. Renting the Stone Manor on Airbnb starts from $ 4,000 per night.
The villa offers:
- 5 different outdoor locations for ceremony & reception,
- Stone Manor’s five bedrooms for up to 10 guests,
- fully equipped kitchen with bar,
- AV equipment,
- heated swimming pool,
- outdoor activities such as fire pits, barbecue, etc.
- security and security cameras.
The Stone Manor Malibu wedding you’ll see in the photos below was a great joyful celebration of a German couple. They rented the whole property for 3 days and enjoyed an unforgettable time with more than 200 of their dearest and nearest. My pictures you’ll also find on Stone Manor’s official page.
Events Areas of Stone Manor Malibu
For your Stone Manor Malibu wedding, you will have numerous locations at your service:
- firstly, the upper terrace with a slate aisle is usually for ceremonies,
- the lower terrace, a lawn surrounded by trees, perfect for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres,
- the flagstone pool deck on the opposite side of the property, great for socializing as well,
- courtyard at the entrance to the house, where big receptions are held,
- the Garden House, a stone pavilion with a terrace for small celebrations and dancing, and surely
- the mansion itself with its picturesque stone façade and comfortable interiors.
Bridal & Groom’s Dressing Areas of Stone Manor Malibu
Renting the Stone Manor, you’ll get 5 comfortably furnished bedrooms, each one with a TV and all necessary facilities. The newlyweds usually choose the Master suite with a king-size bed and adjacent living room with a fireplace and a private terrace. In the photos, the bride placed their bridal accessories and the dress in the living room and enjoyed with her bridesmaids the beautiful morning before the ceremony. You can also use the kitchen and dining area for small snacks with friends or evening dinners as well as relax in the media room with a movie or connect to the home’s Wi-Fi.
The mansion is great not only for relaxing and preparing for the ceremony but also for enjoying outdoor activities. The groom in the photos plunged into the pool before getting ready and actually was feeling like being on holiday. Besides, the guests can enjoy outdoor meals sitting in front of the fire pit, they can play on the lawn mini-golf or ride bikes or scooters on the driveaway: everything at the Stone Manor feels like a real holiday.
First Look & Couple Shots at the Stone Manor Malibu
The couple in the photos decided not to do the First Look. Instead, we took some quick shots with the bride in the beautiful airy living room: French doors put in a lot of light. It’s also a great spot to take some group shots with elderly family members: there are lots of plush sofas and luxurious interior details like a grand piano and fireplace.
In case you decide on a First Look, the outdoor space in front of the mansion, with hundreds of pink and white roses growing around, with secluded pathways, and the courtyard is the perfect spot. The stone Manor’s garden itself is a special place not only because of its lush greenery and blooming bushes. But also, it displays lots of unique outdoor lights designed by the owner. This light & art installation in the garden keeps paths clearly visible in the evening and creates a unique romantic ambiance.
For quick couple shots, you can also take a walk along the tiled paths through rolling lawns and terraced gardens, as we did. The impressive view of Paradise Cove created a perfect background for the portraits of two loving people.
Wedding Party & Family Photos at Stone Manor Malibu
As I’ve already mentioned, the main living room is great for indoor group photos. Other convenient spots for photography are the small terrace where cocktails are usually organized and the pool deck on the opposite side of the property: there are always guests there chatting with each other at the umbrella-shaded tables. We took the most expressive and fun group shots on the courtyard with an old wooden bar as a backdrop and big group shots were taken on the green lawns of the terraced garden.
So, the property offers so many different beautiful areas — the house interiors with a dining area, the pool deck, the garden green lawns with the ocean view, the ceremony place, the courtyard and finally the reception area — that you hardly will have difficulties with spots for photography.
Ceremony site of Stone Manor Malibu
The upper terrace of the garden usually hosts ceremonies. It’s a big green lawn shaped in the U-form, with an aisle in the center. In the photos, the bride made her entrance from the top of the stone stairway where she sees everybody sitting and standing below. Besides, the top of the stairway and the house veranda are great spots for some quick shots for the whole ceremony scene. The guests were seated down surrounded by blooming bushes and greenery and the Malibu coastline in the distance.
For the ceremony, you can adorn the stone aisle with petals or any decorations you wish. However, without many decor installations, the ceremony spot among red and green bushes looks impressive anyway. The couple in the photos used a simple wooden arch adorned with big green leaves. It looks very harmonious on the backdrop of blue sky and ocean and doesn’t compete with the natural beauty of the location. We took a lot of big group shots in front of the arbor.
After the vows were exchanged, some guests strolled down the paths to enjoy the views and tranquility, some returned to the house. We got lucky with the weather, so everybody wished to celebrate outdoors. At the Stone Manor, you can offer cocktails on the lower terrace, yet there is another option: hors d’oeuvres in front of the house. Some guests prefer to sip champagne on the pool deck. This spot in front of the small cascading waterfall is also a nice place for taking some group shots. As you see, there are lots of locations for any setup you wish.
Reception site of the Stone Manor Malibu
The courtyard at the entrance to the house is a big stone patio where receptions are usually hosted. The couple in the photos was not an exception. Still, they had a non-average reception layout: four rows of long tables for 200 guests. Food stations were located on each side of the patio. The sweetheart table was in the middle of one of the long tables: the couple was seated facing the house with the terraced garden as the backdrop. The spot for the First Dance and the wedding cake station was right in front of the patio entrance.
In the afternoon, when it’s still sunny, the patio is perfectly shaded with big trees. After dusk, it’s beautifully illuminated by orange and yellow soft lights.
On the property, there is also the Garden house, a covered pavilion with a terrace. It’s a quite large room with stone walls and whitewashed pine ceilings. The couple used it as a dance floor in the evening. French doors let in plenty of light and air, but if it’s breezy from the ocean, they can be easily closed. The terrace is also closed by a glass windbreak. At night, the whole area is lit with hundreds of twinkle lights hanging from the trees.
Advantages of your Stone Manor Malibu Wedding
Your wedding at the Stone Manor will be the best example of a perfect garden wedding.
It’s a dream location for anybody seeking a European elegance with incredible views in the hills of Malibu. Here you will have this all: the classic stone mansion sits on 3 acres of carefully landscaped gardens where lush greenery meets panoramic views stretching from Catalina island to Santa Monica.
You will use all the facilities of a grand hotel yet you’ll find more tranquility and comfort than at the average city hotel or a summer rental. The mansion has 5 comfortable rooms for up to 10 persons with all amenities. Outdoors, you’ll have the multi terraced gardens with many settings for outdoor meals, activities, and exploring the grounds, from mini-golf to the heated swimming pool. You and your guests can walk and enjoy the ocean view, watch the sunset, or gather indoors for dances and fun.
You’ll have the freedom to arrange your celebration as you want, choosing between numerous locations, decorating the spots with personal touches, etc. The owners do a great job of maintaining the gardens, bringing in unique decor pieces, so you won’t feel the need to add many decorations. Be inspired by the original handcrafted lights, succulent walls, flowers, and surrounding views, and create your own best day.
Pricewise it’s more on the premium side but it’s worth it. The Stone Manor is not only a dream wedding location but a perfect getaway for families or honeymooners.
Check also other beautiful venues in Malibu:
Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards in Santa Monica Mountains,
Calamigos Guest Ranch in the Malibu Wine Country offers not only numerous wedding venues but also private cottages and bungalows for guests, and
Saddle Rock Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains with its 100 acres of vineyards, horse boarding, and exotic animals.