A Los Angeles Wedding

Weddings, the most wonderful time in a couple's life, that is until the search begins for a venue! The hardest part of planning a wedding is the guest list and how to create it, but the next big dilemma is finding the right venue for your money as well as your style. Fear no longer, this list of top venues for summer weddings should help ease your frustration.

They say, April is sweet, May flowers are sure to bring spring showers, June is when love is in bloom and July the fireworks fly! No matter what month you plan your wedding, some destinations are better than others. Many brides hope for an outdoor wedding and it seems the number one pick is a beach wedding, so lets start with that.

Cabrillo Beach Bath House

If a beach wedding is what you were hoping for, look no more! Cabrillo beach located in San Pedro, California is the perfect choice and is very kind to your wallet as well. This is a beautifully remodeled 1932 Mediterranean-style structure in Southern California, back in the days when people were limited to public transportation, they would travel here to pick up a swimsuit and a towel for a 10 cent rental fee and enjoy a day at the beach. The 26,000 square foot building incorporated shower rooms, life guard facilities, snack bars for the beach goers, and a community meeting room upstairs.

Today it has become the hot spot for brides everywhere. The banquet room is the perfect size to host a memorable reception after an intimate ceremony right on the sand below. There is a $100.00 beach permit if you have the ceremony on the beach and the bath house will run you about $3,000.00 for the entire event. That price will include tables, chairs, venue rental, required permits and an "on-site" coordinator. There are no strict rules, friendly hosts and assistants, ample parking and breathtaking views and plenty of time to party the night away because they allow until 2:00am!

Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse
3800 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-548-7554

Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Stunning is all I can say about this venue! If an outdoor wedding is what you strive for, then definitely look into this beautiful location. You can opt to have your ceremony out in their outdoor amphitheater or as simple as saying, "I Do" right on the front lawn. Their banquet room is on the smaller size and will only hold 150 people max, that also requires some seating to be located on the patio area, but well worth it once you see the views! They will provide you with all the needed tables and chairs, but the rest is up to you. Catering, bar, DJ, decorations, lighting, dishes will need to be booked with an outside vendor.

The venue is a simple look but with all the natural beauty surrounding the venue, who needs all that glitz anyway? The venue will charge non Palos Verde's residents a city insurance fee of $150.00, the venue rental is $300.00 an hour and usually comes out to about $5,000.00 if you wish to use their gourmet kitchen and clean room area (highly suggest it). The only drawback is the time limits they have and the strict rules. You must set up the room by yourself or hired vendor and you must have the entire place back to the original look by midnight, no later. Talk about feeling like Cinderella! Amplified music must end by 10:00pm, no exceptions and depending on who you have as a on-site coordinator, strict enforcements will indeed apply.

They have ample parking and a great museum to stroll around in before your big day or you can request that it stay open during your reception as well. The gift shop makes for easy last minute gifts and the beautifully cliffs offer a serene stroll or view with that special someone. If you have been already looking into venues, then I am sure you have found out the importance of chair covers for many venues, right? Point Vicente has a special perk...cute little white folding chairs that do not require covers! Chair covers generally run from $3.00 -$6.00 per chair cover and that price can add up quickly if you have a large guest list.

If you are looking for something different for your wedding, this is the place to choose. Between the "haunted lighthouse" on the park's grounds and the marine museum inside the banquet room, your guests will leave with a fabulous memory of your big day.

Point Vicente Interpretive Center
31501 Palos Verdes Drive West
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 377-5370

Korean Bell

This is a fabulous choice for those "outdoor brides"! The view from the Korean bell is absolutely stunning! They have an equal amount of pros and cons though. The cons are the aggressive winds that pick up in the late afternoons, believe me, they have been known to whisk away the bride and dump her at the bottom of the hill, dazed and confused! The other con is that you have to supply all of your ceremony chairs or other needed equipment and they do not have a location for the reception, that is of course you don't mind throwing a get together on the swings in the park.

The pros are the views, friendly coordinators, ample room and the price. This location is definitely the best value coming in at a low $475.00! With that amount, playing on the swings doesn't really sound all that bad! On the other hand, the money you save from the venue will allow you to spend more on the reception and believe me, you will!

Korean Bell of Friendship and Bell Pavilion
3601 S Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731 USA

These were just a few of my top picks for outdoor wedding locations. Just remember that this is your special day and there is no written law on how, when, where or why you do it. Enjoy the day and do not worry about the small things, in the end the two of you will be living happily ever after.