Couple celebrating with drinks on a rooftop overlooking the Los Angeles skyline after their courthouse wedding

You just signed the marriage certificate at an LA courthouse. Congratulations. Now comes the easy part: figuring out what to do in one of the most celebration-ready cities in the world.

Los Angeles doesn’t make you choose between sophisticated and laid-back. You can go from a Beverly Hills private dining room to Malibu sand in the same afternoon. The city bends to the occasion, which is exactly what makes it such a good match for courthouse couples who want a celebration on their own terms.

Here is a guide to the best options, organized by what kind of day you want.

Restaurant Celebrations: Private Dining Near LA Courthouses

If you want to gather 10 to 30 people around a table and eat well, Los Angeles has no shortage of options. The Beverly Hills Courthouse sits in one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in Southern California, which works in your favor.

Spago Beverly Hills (176 N Canon Dr) is the kind of restaurant that fits almost any version of a celebration. Wolfgang Puck’s flagship has multiple private dining configurations ranging from 24 to 96 people, plus full buyout options. The food is California-California: local ingredients, seasonal preparation, serious wine list. It’s a splurge, but for a small group it’s achievable.

Il Cielo (9018 Burton Way) earns its reputation as one of the most romantic restaurants in LA. The private garden, the brick archways, the candles: it photographs beautifully and feels genuinely special without being stiff. Good for groups that want intimacy over capacity.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib (100 N La Cienega Blvd) is an LA institution. Multiple private dining rooms with fireplaces, tableside service, and the kind of old-school formality that reads as festive rather than stuffy. Great for families who appreciate a classic setting.

For couples who want something downtown, Redbird (114 E 2nd St) occupies a converted cathedral in DTLA with dramatic high ceilings and multiple private room configurations. It’s worth the drive from Beverly Hills if your guest list loves architecture as much as food.

Fia (2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica) splits the difference between LA neighborhoods: close enough to Beverly Hills, close enough to the beach. The tree-filled patio is one of the best outdoor dining spaces in the city, and private patio buyouts work well for groups of 15 to 40.

Booking lead time: Popular LA restaurants fill private dining dates fast, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. If your courthouse date is set, contact your top restaurant choice immediately. Four to eight weeks of advance notice is standard; some spots require more during spring and fall.

Beverly Hills Photo Spots: Before or After the Ceremony

The Beverly Hills Courthouse is steps from some of the best low-key photo locations in Southern California. Many couples do a quick portrait session before their appointment or immediately after, while everyone is still dressed and the adrenaline is up.

Beverly Gardens Park runs along Santa Monica Boulevard and is a short walk from the courthouse. The Elizabeth Taylor Memorial Fountain is a natural anchor for portraits, and the park’s wide lawns and palm trees give photographers plenty of room to work. Note that professional photography in Beverly Gardens Park requires a permit from the City of Beverly Hills. Your photographer can handle this; it’s a straightforward process.

Beverly Hills City Hall (455 N Rexford Dr) is about a five-minute drive from the courthouse. The Spanish Renaissance architecture, the tiled domes, the courtyard: it looks like it was built for wedding portraits. The same permit requirement applies here.

Rodeo Drive works well for a few frames, especially the north end of the two-block stretch with its fountains and luxury storefronts. Keep it quick and focused: Rodeo is busy on weekdays and the permit requirement applies here as well.

If you want more variety, the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills (905 Loma Vista Dr) is a 20-minute drive and offers grand stone architecture and manicured gardens. It’s popular enough with photographers that your photographer likely already knows it well.

For the full picture on getting married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, including appointment logistics and what to bring, read the Los Angeles courthouse wedding guide.

Beach and Outdoor Options

Los Angeles has 75 miles of coastline. After a courthouse ceremony, the beach option is less “is there a beach nearby?” and more “which beach, and how relaxed do you want to be?”

Santa Monica Beach is the most practical choice for most couples. It’s accessible, centrally located, and the pier provides a recognizable backdrop for photos. The City of Santa Monica does not require permits for small celebrations under 150 people, which means you can gather your group on the sand without paperwork. Sunset from the Santa Monica Pier is one of those LA clichés that earned its reputation.

Malibu is the right choice if you want to feel removed from the city. El Matador State Beach, with its sea stacks and cliffs, is one of the most photographed beaches in California. It’s a 40-minute drive from Beverly Hills and crowded on weekends, but for a small group willing to arrive early, it delivers scenery that is hard to match. Parking is limited; plan accordingly.

Zuma Beach in Malibu is a wider, less dramatic option that handles larger groups better. Good for a late-afternoon gathering with coolers, lawn chairs, and low logistics.

For a celebration with more structure, several Santa Monica beachfront hotels offer small event arrangements. The Annenberg Community Beach House accommodates groups of 10 to 400 and sits directly on Santa Monica State Beach.

Unique LA Experiences Worth Considering

Los Angeles has enough options that you can build a post-ceremony day that no other city could replicate.

Griffith Observatory is free, spectacular, and positioned above the city in a way that makes the whole of LA feel like it belongs to you. The views from the east lawn at sunset are legitimately stunning, and it’s a natural gathering point for a group that appreciates something different. No private event space here, but the surrounding Griffith Park has picnic areas and hiking trails that work well for an informal gathering.

The DTLA Arts District has changed dramatically in the past decade. Cara Cara, situated above the Arts District with rooftop views of the downtown skyline, is one of several rooftop bars where a small group can occupy a corner and celebrate without a formal event arrangement. The neighborhood also has excellent restaurants, galleries, and a walkable character that feels nothing like the rest of LA.

Sunset rooftop bars are an LA category unto themselves. The Broken Shaker at the Freehand Hotel in DTLA has an outdoor rooftop with strong cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere that accommodates groups without requiring a buyout. Golden Hour in DTLA is another option, with skyline views timed perfectly for couples whose courthouse ceremony wraps up in the afternoon.

A Pacific Coast Highway drive is free and memorable. Rent something convertible, gather your closest people, and drive north from Santa Monica toward Malibu with the ocean on your left. It takes about 30 minutes to feel like you’ve left the city entirely. Stop at any beach access point along the way.

For more ideas on LA-specific venue options at various price points, the cheap wedding venues in Los Angeles guide covers everything from backyard rentals to affordable event spaces.

Planning Tips: LA-Specific Logistics

Traffic is the single biggest variable in your day. The Beverly Hills Courthouse is in the 90210 zip code, which means you’re surrounded by some of LA’s heaviest daytime traffic corridors. If your ceremony is on a weekday morning, the drive to Santa Monica takes 20 minutes. At 5 PM on a Friday, it can take 90. Build your celebration timeline around this. A late-afternoon courthouse ceremony followed by a dinner reservation at 7 PM gives you buffer; a 4 PM ceremony before a 5 PM restaurant reservation does not.

Guest logistics require coordination. LA is sprawling, and your guests will be driving or ridesharing from different parts of the city. Choose a celebration venue close to your courthouse, or give guests clear direction about parking, rideshare drop-off points, and timing expectations. Drop the restaurant or venue address into a group text well before the day.

Book ahead for beach photo permits. If you want professional photos at Beverly Gardens Park, Beverly Hills City Hall, or Rodeo Drive, your photographer needs a City of Beverly Hills permit in advance. Most photographers who work this area know the process; confirm they’ve handled it before your appointment.

Consider a morning ceremony. LA courthouses process marriage ceremonies on a first-come, first-served or appointment basis depending on the location. A morning ceremony means you have the entire day for celebration without fighting afternoon traffic, and many restaurants and venues have better availability for lunch than dinner.

To understand the full process of getting legally married in Los Angeles, including which courthouse to use and what documents to bring, the how to get married guide covers it step by step.

For couples still weighing what kind of reception format makes sense beyond LA-specific venues, the broader reception ideas after your courthouse wedding article covers community centers, beach houses, and backyard options that apply anywhere.

You can also browse the full Los Angeles wedding guide for courthouse details, venue recommendations, and marriage license requirements specific to LA County.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should we do immediately after our courthouse wedding in Los Angeles?

The most popular sequence is a brief portrait session near the Beverly Hills Courthouse or at Beverly Gardens Park, followed by a celebration at a nearby restaurant or rooftop bar. If your group is small (under 10 people), heading directly to a Santa Monica or Malibu beach for the afternoon is a low-logistics option that works beautifully.

Do you need a permit for wedding photos in Beverly Hills?

Yes. Professional photography at Beverly Hills City Hall, Beverly Gardens Park, Rodeo Drive, and the sidewalk adjacent to the courthouse requires a Wedding and Group Photography Permit from the City of Beverly Hills. Your photographer handles the application. Personal phone photos in public spaces do not require a permit.

How far is the Beverly Hills Courthouse from the beach?

Santa Monica Beach is approximately 8 miles from the Beverly Hills Courthouse, which translates to 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Malibu is another 15 to 20 miles north along the PCH from Santa Monica.

What is the best neighborhood in LA for a post-courthouse celebration dinner?

Beverly Hills and West Hollywood have the highest concentration of private dining options closest to the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Downtown LA (DTLA) is about 15 miles away but offers a different atmosphere with more rooftop venues and Arts District restaurants. Santa Monica works well for couples who want to combine dinner with proximity to the beach.