📍 Helpful Distances (Approximate)

From AirportDrive to Wedding Area

Long Beach (LGB)~15–25 min

John Wayne (SNA)~20–30 min

Los Angeles (LAX)~30–45 min

✈️ Travel Information — Getting to the Wedding

We’re so excited you’ll be joining us to celebrate! To help you plan your trip, below are the best airport and travel options for arriving in Southern California.

🛬 Closest Airports

There are three convenient airports you can fly into for our wedding festivities. Depending on where you’re coming from, different airports might offer better flight options or rental car availability.

🛫 1. Long Beach Airport (LGB)

Best for: Shortest drive to the wedding venues, smaller airport, less crowded.

Distance: ~15–25 minutes from Garden Grove / Wedding hotels

Why choose it:

Easy in/out travel with shorter security lines

Close to accommodations and venues

Great option if you’re coming from the West Coast or connecting through LAX

👉 Ideal for guests looking for the quickest and least stressful arrival.

🛫 2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Best for: Most flight options from domestic and international locations.

Distance: ~30–45 minutes from Garden Grove / Wedding hotels (traffic dependent)

Why choose it:

Largest airport in the area with many nonstop flights

Best option if you’re flying in from far away

More rental car, ride-share, and shuttle availability

🚗 Note: Traffic around LAX can be heavy during peak times — plan accordingly.

🛫 3. John Wayne Airport (SNA) — Santa Ana

Best for: Central option between LGB and LAX with lots of flight availability.

Distance: ~20–30 minutes from Garden Grove / Wedding hotels

Why choose it:

Convenient mid-size airport

Often easier than LAX but still plenty of flight options

Close to local hotels and wedding events

🚢 Arriving by Cruise

Long Beach is home to one of the largest cruise embarkation ports on the West Coast, located at the Queen Mary. If you’re already planning a cruise, or want to turn the wedding weekend into a longer getaway, this can be a fun option.

The cruise terminal is a short drive (or a long, scenic walk) from our wedding venue, The Reef, and nearby hotels. Ride-share, taxis, and shuttles are readily available between the port, downtown Long Beach, and the waterfront.

We recommend double-checking cruise departure and arrival times to ensure smooth logistics for wedding events.

🎉 About Hotel Pricing & Local Events

Long Beach, especially downtown and waterfront, is an energetic area with lots of nightlife, concerts, festivals, and cultural events happening throughout the year.

Even if there’s nothing “major” advertised for your weekend, smaller shows and music concerts can cause hotel prices to spike unexpectedly.

Please note: nightly rates booked months in advance sometimes show higher prices than those booked a few days before arrival for this reason. So, keep in mind that demand for rooms goes up around events and weekend social traffic, even if the event itself seems modest.

So our suggestion is:

✨ Check prices often - you might catch a lower rate if a block of rooms frees up.

✨ Consider booking a flexible or refundable rate so you can re-book if the price drops later.

Downtown Long Beach often hosts concerts and local events and our wedding weekend is no exception. Even smaller events can affect hotel availability and pricing.

We’re currently seeing some hotels priced $100+ higher when booking months in advance compared to closer to the date, and local weekend activity appears to be the main driver.

We’ll continue to monitor what’s happening that weekend and share updates as we learn more, so you can plan accordingly.

Whether you’re prioritizing location (Long Beach waterfront), proximity to wedding events, or budget-friendly stays close to the airport, there are great options to choose from. We'll provide some of our suggestions below

🌴 In/near Downtown Long Beach & Waterfront

Great choices if you want easy access to nightlife, waterfront dining, local attractions, and the wedding venue (The Reef).

Most of the hotels below are within a short drive or walk of the Reef, our wedding venue.

1. Hotel Maya – ~0.4 km / ~5-10 min walk or short drive from The Reef. Stylish waterfront resort with harbor views. However, if ultra-modern rooms and total quiet are must-haves, you may want to explore some of the other options below. location, views, and a relaxed resort feel, https://www.hotelmayalongbeach.com/

2. The Queen Mary – ~0.5 km / ~10-15 min walk or quick drive. Historic ocean liner-turned-hotel right by the harbor and cruise terminal is a fun and unique stay. https://www.queenmary.com/

3. Hyatt Regency Long Beach – ~1.2 mi / 30 min walk or short ride. Classic waterfront option with easy access to dining, nightlife, and the Aquarium. https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/lgbrl-hyatt-regency-long-beach?src=corp_lclb_google_seo_lgbrl&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=lmr

4. Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach – ~0.2 mi / ~5–10 min walk. Near The Pike at Rainbow Harbor — great for restaurants, shops, and sunset strolls. (link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/hyatt-centric-the-pike-long-beach/lgbpk)

5. The Westin Long Beach – ~1.1 mi / ~30 min walk or short ride. Comfortable, well-reviewed hotel close to the waterfront. (link: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lgbwi-the-westin-long-beach/overview/)

6. Residence Inn by Marriott Long Beach Downtown – ~0.9mi 13-Minute Walk~ 5 min drive. Spacious suites and kitchenettes — good choice for families or longer stays. https://residence-inn.marriott.com/

🗺️ Visitor Tips

Most of these hotels are within a few minutes’ drive or a pleasant walk to The Reef and other waterfront attractions like the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village.

Staying near the waterfront means easy access to the cruise terminal and Queen Mary if you’re combining travel plans.

You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, and evening activities within walking distance in downtown Long Beach.

🌊 Belmont Shore – A Relaxed Beachside Option

If you’re looking for a quieter, laid-back coastal vibe just outside the downtown hub, Belmont Shore is a wonderful choice. It’s a friendly beach neighborhood with a charming small-town feel, great for relaxing, strolling, and taking in classic Southern California coastal living.

🌴 What Belmont Shore Feels Like

Laid-back beach atmosphere: Think sunshine, palm trees, and easygoing strolls along Ocean Blvd. You’ll find locals biking, walking dogs, or sipping coffee at outdoor patios — perfect for guests who want something a bit calmer than downtown hustle.

Great local scene on 2nd Street: This walkable main street is packed with boutique shops, cafés, casual restaurants, wine bars, and dessert spots — ideal for grabbing a bite before or after wedding events.

Beach & bay access: Belmont Shore borders Alamitos Bay Beach and the Pacific, making it easy to enjoy water-side activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, or a scenic beach walk.

Close but quieter: It’s just a short ride (about 10-15 min by car or rideshare) from downtown Long Beach and the wedding venue (The Reef), but tends to be a little more relaxed and residential than staying right on the waterfront in the city center.