The Best San Luis Obispo Wedding Weekend Airbnbs

best airbnbs for your san luis obispo wedding weekend

You’re having your dream wedding in magical San Luis Obispo. You have your ideal venue, but where will you be staying? Being a wedding photographer, I’ve seen couples stay and get ready in PLENTY of different types of accommodations. Hotels, their parents home, air streams, apartments, on a boat, and of course Airbnbs. Airbnb has to be my favorite source to find accommodations because of the wide variety of places it can offer. So what are the best San Luis Obispo wedding weekend Airbnbs and why should you rent one? Renting an entire house to yourself and your wedding party is definitely a wedding weekend necessity and here are my reasons.

Space

Let’s start with the obvious here. Renting a home for your wedding weekend means that you’ll probably have out of town friends and family. Having several bedrooms, open zones, and outdoor access is going to be a giant priority. The best Airbnbs will enable everyone to be organized under one roof, while still maintaining privacy unlike a hotel room where your wedding party team will be crammed into your getting ready space that morning. Having a large Airbnb will greatly reduce your stress levels. You’ll have a full kitchen for meals, plenty of parking, and quick access to the outside in case you need to scream. Just kidding.. kinda.

Lighting

Oof. THIS is a big one. Lighting is the number one thing your photographer is going to look for when they enter a room. SO if you’re getting ready in some dark room with no windows, your photos are not going to be the greatest. Opt for an Airbnb with large windows and an open floor plan. Window light will make the job of both your makeup artist and photographer much easier AND you’ll get prettier photos.

Style

There’s some incredible Airbnbs in the Slo area where aesthetic is everything. Some have gardens, acres and acres of land, stylish interiors, unique details, ect. You can basically have a rental that looks like a venue before you ever even step foot in your venue. And, again, your photos at your getting ready location will look bomb.

Weekend activities

An Airbnb in itself is a form of entertainment for you and your crew. Renting a home with activities can keep your loved ones occupied and enable the fun to keep rolling all weekend. A house with a pool or outdoor games is great for all ages. An indoor or outdoor fireplace provides a relaxing place to enjoy a local bottle of wine. An Airbnb on the beach, a farm, or a vineyard provides a unique experience with built in pastimes.

Now that we got the why settled, let’s see the best Airbnbs for your wedding on the Central coast.

The best San Luis Obispo Airbnbs for your wedding weekend

Shell Beach Dream

Image from Airbnb

Shell Beach Dream is a 5 bedroom home is steps from the ocean cliffs and situated on a calm street in adorable Shell Beach. It has a vast open floor plan, a large wrap around balcony with sea views, and plenty of natural light due to all those windows. I’ve had a bride and her girls get ready here and it made for beautifully clean images. That grand staircase creates a real “wow” moment when you walk through the doors. You could BBQ at sunset while you watch the light sink into the water, relax in one of the home’s modern bathtubs, or take a stroll up the street to one of the towns eateries like the Shell beach Brewhouse or Joy, the organic juice bar. See more getting ready images from this Airbnb on my blog post HERE.

Marshall Farms Savor 360-Degree Vineyard Views at a Converted Horse Stable

The best San Luis Obispo wedding weekend Airbnbs
Image from Airbnb

Sitting on a gentle hill in Edna Valley (which means you’ll be minutes away from the best wineries in San Luis Obispo like Sextant and Chamisal), this glamorous farm stay dubbed Marshall Farms has happy horse and mini donkey friends right outside. The stylish indoor decor encapsulates that hip, minimalist Nashville vibe that feels high end without any of the pretension. It features clean, white rooms with gas fireplaces, Moroccan tile in the bathrooms, sliding barn doors, and a bonus after-party space in the back converted horse stable. You can also entertain your fam with the on site Bocce Ball court and the outdoor fire pit. I can attest that the views of the surrounding hills are spectacular. It’s so peaceful and quiet up there, that you’ll feel like the only one around for miles. See more of my images from this Airbnb below-

Mid Century Modern Family Home on 2.5 acres!

The best San Luis Obispo wedding weekend Airbnbs
Image from Airbnb

Another on my list of the best Airbnbs for your San Luis Obispo wedding weekend is this stylish Mid Century modern family home in Arroyo Grande. You can pack up to 12 guests in this 3,200 sq/ft industrial, mid century modern home. I would describe the decor as “trendy science teacher”; quirky, educated and cute. The downstairs living area has high ceilings and glass roll-up garage doors which leads to an outdoor dining area. This space could also be an easy option for hosting a small rehearsal dinner. Plus, RED ALERT! There is a fireman’s slide pole, tree swing, and a trampoline. Just don’t break any bones before the big day. See more getting ready photos at this Airbnb on my blog post HERE

Chateau Robles

The best San Luis Obispo wedding weekend Airbnbs
Image from Airbnb

The only Airbnb on the list I haven’t been to (yet) is the Chateau Robles. An impressive European-esque castle on a 36 acre working vineyard. Charming doesn’t begin to cover the English rose garden complete with low hedges and classic marble statues. The chateau owners have even hosted a couple micro weddings on the property. This is a home that will unequivocally impress your soon to be mother-in-law. You can play the queen’s gambit with the giant chess board outside or take golden hour to elegantly meander around the chateau grounds in a long, silky nightgown with a glass of cab, which is absolutely what I would be doing.

Have you booked a San Luis Obispo Airbnb for your wedding weekend yet? Want to know more about where to stay or what to do in Slo? Email me!

AND If you’re in need of that perfect wedding photographer who knows how to make the most of any location shoot me an email and let’s chat about your celebration!

Xoxo, Michelle

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