Weddingbee

Located in San Juan Capistrano, Cafe Mozart is just blocks from the old mission. The Spanish style architecture and fountain are beautiful, and the place really glows at night. The ceremony can either take place in front of the fountain or up in the old bell tower (pictured), with the guests all seated below. The old town surrounding provides a perfect setting for amazing pictures too. Saturday rental fees start around $3,000, but Friday and Sunday weddings are $1500. Use of their catering is required and last time I checked, ran between $28- $46 per person. Their Sunday brunch option is more expensive at $40pp but comes with free flowing champagne.

Although this is a cafe- tables, linens, chairs, and heaters are not provided… which came as somewhat of a shock to me since it was a cafe. So make sure you ask any questions that you have, even if they seem dumb. Believe me - I felt a little silly, sitting at a restaurant and asking if what I was sitting on and at were included. They also require that you use their rental company. However, if you are having a smaller wedding, which can fit inside the restaurant, the rentals are included.

Next stop: California Citrus State Historic Park

The California Citrus State Historic Park is located in Riverside- my old stomping grounds. Growing up here, I fell in love with the smell of orange blossoms. Every spring, the scent dominated the cool night air, and now, I can’t get enough of it. The park here is simple, beautifully landscaped, and, if you marry here in spring, will carry the scent of orange blossoms. yay! I don’t recommend marrying here in the summer months because it can get pretty hot!!

Next stop: San Moritz Lodge

San Moritz is located in Crestline on your way to Lake Arrowhead. It’s a community building for the surrounding local residents. The price is great. The parking is ample, and I’m pretty sure tables and chairs are included (although I may be wrong). My MOH and I went here in heavy snow to check it out. There were huge, death icicles hanging from the roof- which meant standing underneath to peek inside was a little unnerving. But from what we could see it seemed really low key, simple, and nice. The building capacity is 250 and you’re allowed to bring your own catering.

Next… Ole Hanson Beach Club

Ole Hanson Beach Club is located in good ol’ San Clemente. The rates are charged hourly and the ocean view is oh so nice! What’s great about this place is that you can have the ceremony here, on the lawn in front, or down on the beach (requires city permits and rentals).

Final Stop: The Mitten Building

Although I made the trek to Redlands, I never actually made it inside the Mitten Building. I remember when I was searching for venues, I had loved the ceremony picture from here (pictured above) and couldn’t wait to see it. But I made my appointment too late and by the time I got there- they couldn’t see me for another 2 hours. Impatient Miss Espresso decided to go get some coffee (go figure) and check out other sites instead. I highly recommend checking it out though, and if any of you have been to a wedding here, let us know what you thought. You can find more photos on their Flickr page.

Ok so my typing fingers are a little worn out… and I’m now kind of distracted by So You Think You Can Dance. But I hope this helped out some of you. For those of you still on the search, also check out The Ebell Club, Strawberry Farms in Irvine, University of Redlands, The Coffee Depot, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Rancho Capistrano, and the Mission Inn.

Image Credit: Cafe Mozart & San Moritz from HereComestheGuide; Citrus Park, Ol Hanson, & the Mitten Building from their websites linked above.

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Rancho Las Lomas is located in Silverado Canyon within the hills of Orange County. The property is gorgeous boasting Portuguese tiles, multiple Spanish style buildings, old oak trees and tigers. That’s right- I said tigers. They have these beautiful Bengal tigers, birds, reptiles, etc… that line a (caged) loop around the property- Perfect for entertaining the young anxious guest… or anybody else not used to seeing tigers at weddings!

For the Bride wanting a Vineyard Wedding: I recommend Ponte Winery

Ponte Winery is located amongst the scattered Temecula wineries. As you can see, the location is absolutely beautiful. The ceremony looks out over the sprawling vineyards and the reception is held in a (permanent) big, white tent. I loved it here. The wedding coordinators on site were incredibly helpful and professional and parking for all of your guests is free. The areas for the bride and groom (that’s right- a place for the groom too) were big, pretty, and had areas for both lounging and showering. Ponte does require that you use their catering but, for those of you looking to get married in January- March 2009, they’re offering a 10- 20% discount on menu selections.

For the Princess Bride: I recommend Kimberly Crest in Redlands.

Kimberly Crest is seriously cool. The heavy tree lined drive up to it, had me at hello. But then there’s the gardens, and the house itself with its towering beauty. What’s also great is that it’s a museum, so all of the money goes towards keeping a local and educational legacy alive. The one con is that they only allow day weddings (a deal breaker for Mr. Espresso and I).

I could post about a lot more places, but I don’t want to scare you away with my lengthy search. So if you have any questions or would like to know about more (or specific) venues in the So Cal region, let me know and I’ll do the best I can to help. Believe me- we researched TONS of venues.

Photos courtesy of Rancho Las Lomas, Ponte Winery, and celiaharp.com
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When Mr. Cookie and I toured the venue in November, we took the chair lift up to the Ten Mile because the road was buried in 6 feet of snow. Now that all the snow had melted, we could take the dirt road up. I am really glad we did this because finding the road in town is really, really tricky. Addition to my to-do list: 1. Make signs to point our guests in the right direction.

(Please ignore the fact that this photo was taken going down the mountain. I was a little too excited about seeing the venue again that I totally forgot to take pictures on the way up!)

First off in our tour of Ten Mile: Inside. Lucky for us, they were setting up for a wedding, but unfortunately I couldn’t meet with our coordinator, Britton, as she was hosting another wedding at one of the other Breckenridge Lodging and Hospitality sites. Another coordinator, Helen, graciously gave us a little tour of the facility and answered all of my questions.

Above, the bar/cocktail area. I really like how it is off to the side and separate from the dining room. If too full, guests can spill off onto the patio. I did a count of the tables and after counting 8 High-Tops (I thought there was only 4), the Michael Miller Dandy Damask linens might be cut for cost. GRRRRRR! I want to think of a way to incorporate the fabric. Any ideas?

In the pictures is my FFIL, as well as our guest book table, escort card table, monitors for a slideshow, and table for appetizers. At some point in the evening the table for appetizers will go away and this area will be used as our dance floor. Off to the right hand side and not pictured is a little alcove for the DJ.

The big issue that we discovered were the tablecloths. In our pricing basic tablecloths are included, so I just went with them; however, this is what the basic tablecloths looks like –unpressed and dropped only a few inches off of the table. Although, I could potentially look past this, it just doesn’t look good. Addition to my to-do list: 2. Hunt for better linens. Next up on our tour: Outside.

Above is a photo of Mr. Cookie, his parents, and his sister.

This is the patio where Mr. Cookie and I will get married. I love, love, love the long walk down the aisle! And the mountains in the background! *sigh*

In this photo you are seeing my FFIL and myself discussing the grate issue. Right where I will be standing there is a grate that I could potentially get my heels caught in. I can just imaginee myself a happy, tearful Cookie blissfully staring into Mr. Cookie’s eyes and then !!!!BAM!!! nose dive into the pavement. Although the aisle runner will cover it, there needs to be something hard underneath to prevent heel and bodily damage. Addition to my to-do list: 3. Cover for grate.

A photo of Mr. Cookie and myself in the exact spot where we will get married. *sigh*

And finally on our tour I leave you with this: my sunburn. That’s right, on Friday I did a whole post about the altitude, but did I even think of putting sunscreen on my shoulders, no! Although, I did put it on my face! I was only out in the sun for 30 minutes max, but at 10,000 feet the sun is 40% stronger. I am really hoping it will fade by September, but I have a tan line from a burn last year on my back that still hasn’t faded. Oh, well. Addition to my to-do list: 4. Apply aloe vera to burn liberally.
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I spoke to the event coordinator and they have flexible packages for small intimate dinner parties to weddings for up to 250+. There are several rooms or areas you can use including this Barrel Room which was pretty awesome.

New Hope Winery, New Hope, PA. A very romantic, quaint town that Mrs. Bellpepper introduced us to. Easily accessible from 95.

Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna, Pa. A little further out, but only an hour from Edison, NJ and 1.5 hrs for NYCers and accessible via 78. The rolling hills of PA in the background for your wedding would be breathtaking!

For more information on wineries in Bucks County, PA go here.
For a list of wineries near the Pittsburgh, PA area, go here.
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Well, at the time I posted those invite proofs, I was operating under the assumption that our permit to wed in the Park at the lake had been approved. Two days later, I found out it had been denied.

It turned out that while the Special Permits coordinator had been optimistic, the on-site ranger had decided that our event (90-110 people) was simply too large and would prevent regular use of the lake. It was disappointing to hear, but not entirely unexpected, so we switched back to our original plan of having both the wedding and reception in Polebridge.

On the down side, the plates for our invites had been made that day and we had to recast three of them to reflect the changes. I’m only out an extra $45, so it’s not too big of a deal, but it did add some more time to the turnaround.

Oh well, at least our invitations reflect our actual ceremony location this time… and it’s the same location it was to begin with: Polebridge.

We visited Polebridge the second day of my Montana “Super Wedding Weekend.” It was a relaxing change of pace after all the wedding-errand related madness of the day before.

And now, for your enjoyment, here is the “somewhat grand” tour of Polebridge:

1. The approach

New growth in the wake of the 2003 Roberts Megacomplex, which burned along both Camas and North Fork roads on the approach to Polebridge

Mountains in Glacier Park set back against one of the many fields lining North Fork road.

2. The Mercantile & Saloon

The classic red roof of the Polebridge Merc, which will bake our wedding cake (vanilla with huckleberries and a buttercream frosting) and mini-pies (cherry and huckleberry)

To the left, the Northern Lights Saloon & Restaurant, which will provide our food and drink as well as function as a cash bar for guests. To the right, a sand volleyball court (yay!). In the center, set back, you can see the main stage

3. Stage and soft seating

The wooden stage, currently shuttered, where our band will play post-reception. To the left, by the old BBQ, you can see a little covered nook, which we will decorate and use to offer guests ice water, bottled coke, signature cocktails, and beer/wine during the dancing.

The raised sound booth (left) has a beautiful, shady alcove underneath it, which we’ll use for a bride and groom’s retreat during the dancing. The center path leads to the volleyball field and mercantile. The building set behind the benches and tables is the saloon. The benches will serve as soft seating before the ceremony (while everyone mingles), during the cocktail hour, and during dancing. We plan on setting out tea lights in mason jars. The “fence” wraps around the whole stage area and is strung with lights… we might add ribbons and flowers to the mix.

4. Field for our ceremony and reception

Ignoring the wheelbarrow and burn pile, this is where our ceremony will be held. We’ll set up rows of chairs facing the mountains and we will be married standing on the edge of the creek that runs behind those reeds. In the late afternoon light, it should be beautiful. (Wildfires and weather permitting!)

Looking the opposite direction, you can see that the flat, grassy area extends back quite a bit toward several rental cabins and houses. Our tented reception will be set back from the ceremony in the field.

South of the field, there is a path that runs along the creek to a series of beautiful brushy areas and a small wedding circle. We thought about using this area for our ceremony as it is much more private than the lawn, but even with the brush cleared, the ground is too uneven for chairs and the approach is a bit too rough for the older guests.

5. Cabins

The old icehouse is one of several cabins for rent in Polebridge. This is where our wedding coordinator will be staying the nights before and after the wedding. It’s so cool (in temperature AND aesthetic) inside!

Very rustic - you have to bring your own bedding! We’ll also use the icehouse cabin for bridal staging after I drive in from the Park. (I plan to wear my dress for a few photos at Lake McDonald Lodge and then wear street clothes to Polebridge in the car before changing back into it in the cabin.)

The front of another of the cabins. Some of these will make wonderful backdrops for wedding photos!

6. Video walk-through

I put together a video walk-through of Polebridge so you can get an idea of what this all looks like in 3D. The walk-through is from the road by the mercantile (where guests will park or be let off the shuttle bus), past the volleyball field, into the stage and soft-seating area (for the pre-ceremony gathering, cocktail hour, and music), past the stage and into the field for the ceremony and reception. The last part of the video shows some of the wild areas along the creek.

Our wedding will be set up with signs and pathways so that guests will hopefully follow a similar route from the road to the ceremony.

And that’s it for the tour. Any questions?
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Image via www.nightharvest.com

While some may be offput by the industrial nature of the winery structures, we embraced them. It matched our modern architectural tastes and the Wine Tasting room (shown in the forefront above) was beautifully designed with lofty ceilings, exposed wood beams, treated cement floors and warmly painted walls. The gigantic doors that lead you inside were incredible, as they were anchored mid-door to swing open. They will make a great textural backgrounds for photos. The patios were open, gravel-covered, speckled with trees and two artisan fountains. I might offer lucky pennies for the kids to make wishes for our marriage.

The Wine Barrel Fountain at R.H. Phillips Winery.
Image via www.nightharvest.com

 
No florist could easily duplicate this - it’s like nature’s contribution to your floral budget.

A springtime look at the Winery’s modern courtyard where our Reception will be held.

We loved the outdoor atmosphere - as we stayed for the wine pairing lunch. We sat on the patio in the warm sun, enjoyed the breeze with a glass of their Night Harvest Cab and dined on a small plate of farmers market squash, mashed potatoes and well-marinated tri-tip. It was quiet and serene. We could only imagine the ambiance that a few strings of lights in the trees and a couple of tea lights on the tables would provide in the evening.

Image via www.nightharvest.com

Its major selling point, however, was the ceremony site at Olive Hill. Olive Hill was situated walking distance across the street from the winery. A short walk up the hill and you will arrive at a beautifully lush lawn surrounded by grape vines overlooking the entire valley. The view was incredible. We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. I mean really, what can compete with this?

Mamita Pom beginning the daunting hike to the top of the hill on our second visit to R.H. Phillips.

The amazing view at the top of Olive Hill. Please excuse my shadow - and my lack of cropping.

A cheesy windblown shot of Mamita Pom and I atop Olive Hill at R.H. Phillips Winery in Esparto, CA.

We were sold right then and there! Now we’ll just have to figure out accommodations, shuttles and all the fun stuff that comes with having a wedding 45 minutes from the nearest metropolitan area. While that’s not horrendously far, the roads are windy and would not be fun to drive after a long night of dancing and celebrating. This twist is nothing compared to the many benefits of our venue - we’ll be the only wedding that day AND the tasting rooms manager mentioned we might be able to have a tour of the winery during our Rehearsal Dinner. How fun would that be!?

Are any of you having your wedding in a remote location?

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First Row (left to right):

1. The Firehouse Restaurant and Bar, Sacramento, CA.
Located in charming Old Sacramento, The Firehouse Restaurant patio dining area is swathed in strings of lights, brick facade and the beautiful trees Sacramento is known for. Bonus: Their kitchen cooks up a mean steak.

2. The Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA.
Not your typical wedding setting, this historical old theatre is elaborate in its decor and boasts an almost magical setting for any event.

3. The Historic Hotel, Woodland, CA.
Beautifully maintained, this historic wedding venue has a gorgeous exterior. However, no wedding site interior pictures were available on their website.

Second Row (left to right):

4. The Grand Ballroom, Sacramento, CA.
An amazingly vast ballroom with beautiful period detailing including large pendulum lighting hanging over the marble bar and inlaid ballroom floor.

5. Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, Sacramento, CA.
This venue can hold up to 350 seated guests on its main floor - and you can rent the balcony as well as the entrance. Its soaring ceiling and proximity to the popular Capitol Rose Garden ceremony site makes it a big contender for larger parties.

6. Lake Natoma Inn, Folsom, CA.
Right next to - you guessed it - Lake Natoma, this Inn has gorgeous wedding gardens nearby a spectacular view. The ballroom can hold a mighty number of guests and out-of-town guests have an on-site place to stay.

Third Row (left to right):

7. John Natsoulas Art Gallery, Davis, CA.
An alternate to our ideal art museum location, this gallery boats a permanent collection including some of our favorite local artists like Wayne Thiebaud. The top-floor sculpture garden is amazing - but will it hold enough seated guests with room to dance?

8. Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, CA.
I adore the brick interior of the Old Sugar Mill. It has a beautiful gallery feel - but on the exterior it has a nice, worn-in, country feel with many architectural interests for photo-ops.

9. Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
Another art gallery alternative, Pamela Skinner is a beautiful light-saturated option. It’s midtown location would be a perfect centrally-located venue for our spread out families. I’m not sure that they host weddings here, but I thought I’d try to find out!

Fourth Row (left to right):

10. Sacramento State Alumni Center, Sacramento, CA. A good friend of ours renewed their vows here - and it was gorgeous. However, neither the FH nor I are alumnus - does it make sense that I feel odd renting this for our reception?

11. Monte Verde Inn, Foresthill, CA. A beautiful, elegant, but rustic locale for a wedding. The outdoor gardens are fantastic - and would look lovely surrounded in paper lanterns.

12. Wine & Roses, Lodi, CA. This was a huge contender because of its reputation alone. I’ve heard fantastic things about this venue and on top of it having an on-site spa, beautifully decorated guest rooms and a gorgeous patio - the wedding planner stated that it has fantastic food.

As you can see, there are a lot of fun interesting venues in the Sacramento Valley area - and I didn’t even list them all! In fact, our wedding coordinator suggested we also check out a winery in the Dunnigan Hills area that I had never heard of before. Stay tuned to find out how I narrowed our selection down to THE ONE.

Are any of you getting married at a unique venue?
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