Notes on the light
Cielo Farms sits at the top of the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu, and the elevation is the whole story. Olive groves and panoramic views run in every direction, and because you are up above the marine layer that affects so much of the coast, the light here behaves differently than it does at sea level: softer through the middle of the day, then sharp and genuinely spectacular in the hour before sunset.
The spaces, and how they film
The Ceremony Arch. A rose-and-eucalyptus or all-white floral arch sits with the mountains as backdrop, built to be the wide shot that anchors the whole film.
The Vineyard Rows. Some ceremonies here run guests past rows of vines toward the arch, which gives us a strong processional shot in addition to the ceremony itself.
The Reception Tent. A tented reception space keeps the evening comfortable once the mountaintop cools off after sunset, which happens faster up here than it does closer to the coast.
The films, so far
We have made two films at Cielo Farms so far: Alex & Leah, married under a rose-covered arch with the mountains behind them, and Andy & Emily, whose ceremony ran past vineyard rows toward a wall of white and blush florals. Two weddings is enough to know this property’s rhythm, and we would like the third to be yours.
Filming here
Because Cielo Farms sits well above sea level, it cools off fast once the sun drops, faster than most Los Angeles venues closer to the coast. We plan coverage of the last light carefully, since the golden hour up here is short and dramatic rather than long and gradual, and then recommend guests have layers ready for the evening.