I saw your note in the KOTW regarding your honeymoon plans.
LA is a fabulous idea, and if you want somewhere nice near there, you can always drive south to San Diego area and stay in Coronado, which is (I think) like an island off the San Diego coast. I stayed there several years ago, at the Lowe's Coronado Bay hotel, which is absolutely fabulous, to this day one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed. link here:
http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Coronado-Bay-Resort?chebs=NPSGOOG32106&gclid=CNm55uat76UCFYQUKgodiAqOngThere is also the Hotel Del Coronado, which is where they filmed "Some Like it Hot" with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. Website here:
www.hoteldel.comWe've been debating about going to Europe, because we want to take a longish vacation if we go there, and we're worried about the 10th anniversary of 9/11 being around the time we'd be returning. Plus, the cost, LOL. Our alternative is a trip to the California coast, flying into San Francisco, visiting there and all the cities and beaches down the coast to San Diego, plus Napa Valley. We are talking about renting a convertible and pretending we are "young" newleyweds. Plus we both have family in the California area who may not make it to the wedding.
Not sure if you and your fiance have ever been to LA, but the fun parts to see are not "downtown", they are the movie sets, Universal Studios, Malibu, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, baby (LOL, line from "Pretty Woman").
I've been there a few times, drove from LA to San Diego, but never the northern part of CA. You really don't have to go anywhere exotic unless you want to, CA has a lot to offer (plus you don't need a passport, LOL)