Weddingbee

When we started our search for a reception venue, our main requirement was that it needed to be located near a Greek Orthodox church so we could have our ceremony there. Other than that, we were pretty wide open. I researched venues from Los Angeles to San Diego in search of the perfect spot.The biggest lifesaver I had when comparing costs was keeping an Excel book with worksheets for all the different venues. This allowed me to easily make cost comparisons by venue really easily. All of the venues we seriously considered had a total estimated reception cost of $10-$20K (including liquor).

Here’s a sampling of some of the venues that we looked at –

Los Angeles:

Ritz Carlton (Pasadena): This is the venue we ended up going with, in large part due to the beautiful decor of the room and the proximity to Mr. Pearl’s hometown. We expected sticker shock, but were pleasantly surprised by the cost, which was comparable to many other Los Angeles area venues. They are now at a $16K minimum for Saturday evenings, prior to tax and service charge. Valet parking is mandatory, as the surrounding neighborhoods are permit parking only (and no self parking). For guests, it is $12; for overnight guests, $25. The biggest drawback to the venue is the gigantic service charge, a whopping 21.5%.

Millenium Biltmore (downtown Los Angeles): This was our other favorite venue that we strongly considered. At the time we did our pricing, there were three different packages for events - Platinum, Gold, and Silver, which ranged from $130 to $175 per person, inclusive of liquor package charges. The rooms are gorgeous and ornate. The largest ballroom (Biltmore Bowl) is the former home of the Academy Awards. If you are having a downtown or art deco themed wedding, this place is awesome. The only downside is that the valet are impossibly slow — I’ve waited 15 minutes for my car on several occasions (mandatory valet) and cost $28 for overnight guests.

Hotel Portofino (Redondo Beach): The Portofino has two ballrooms which are separate from the main hotel. Last I visited, parking was $10 for visitors. One ballroom is, IMO, nicer than the other, but it’s for bigger weddings (between 150-250 guests). If you’re having a super large wedding, this won’t be for you, as the max is 250 people. Ceremonies happen poolside here, then the reception moves to the separate building. The building butts up against a walkway, so there could potentially be random people walking past your reception room and/or making enough noise to be heard inside. When we were researching, the approximate cost for our wedding with 100 guests was approximately $16K, including service charge. All in all, it’s a reasonably priced venue for Redondo Beach if you’re able to overlook the aforementioned issues.

Orange County:

Dana Point Yacht Club: At the time of our researching, the DPYC is/was a hidden jewel in Orange County, in terms of pricing, location, and amenities. Our estimated costs would have been $13K including all costs. I’m sure the costs have increased substantially since that time, but it still is pretty reasonable for OC (or Southern California in general).

Laguna Cliffs Marriott: I first noticed LCM when former knottie GoldELoxe got married there. It’s a beautiful near-beach location without the heavy beach pricing. At the time of our research, our costs would have been about $15K, inclusive of service charge and tax. Current dinner pricing is from about $100 to $120 per person. They have space for an outdoor ceremony, if needed. Current, specific pricing information can be found on their website.

San Diego –

L’Auberge Del Mar: Four diamond resort in the San Diego suburb Del Mar. Catering costs currently range from $100-$140 per person. The various packages and precise price points can be found on their website. All packages include one hour hosted bar service, three tray passed hors d’oeuvres, wine with dinner, and champagne toast. This is a place for smaller events holding up to 200 guests at most.

Birch Aquarium: Located at UCSD, the Scripps/Birch Aquarium is where the Scripps Institute of Oceanography bases their research and it also promotes ocean conservation. The facility can hold basically any size event, up to 1200 people. The aquarium would be nice for nature lovers and anyone interested in a different type of location.

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