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La Venta Inn
Categories: Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Event Planning & Services Wedding Planning Venues & Event Spaces, Wedding Planning [Edit]
796 Via Del MontePalos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
(310) 373-0123
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for La Venta Inn
33 reviews in English
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Review from Mark M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
My fiance and I had been looking at wedding venues for a while before coming to La Venta Inn. When we made the appointment to meet with Mike to take a look at the place we were skeptical, only because of how far the drive would be, but once we drove up the hill and got there, we were blown away. Oh my lord...what a view! I don't think any place in LA has such an amazing view like La Venta. The view looking out at the entire Palos Verdes peninsula as well as far as Redondo Beach, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach is spectacular!
Mike welcomed us right away and helped show us around the entire grounds. He was so friendly, attentive, funny and easy to talk to. I can't say I felt the same from any other folks at the other venues. He discussed all kinds of little details that usually are reserved for a second or third meet, but he didn't mind spending the extra time at all.
Although we still ended up choosing another venue (only because of the distance), we highly recommend you check out La Venta Inn and speak to Mike! He was courteous and very much a professional. Trust me, you woul'd do yourself a huge favor by letting Mike take care of your wedding ceremony and reception. -
Review from Maggie D.
Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
10/12/2011
I hosted my wedding reception here. My priorities were good food and plenty of it, venue with a view, intimate space for a small (70 people) guest list. I would say La Venta Inn scored 5 stars in all those categories.
The things that knock my rating down to a 3 are:
- Time restraints. They only give you a five hour window to host your reception, you have the option of buying extra hours but its in the contract that your party has to end by 11 due to the surrounding pompous neighbors who can't stand the thought of young married couples hosting a kickass party on their wedding day.
- Volume control. We had a 10 piece band for the first four hours, after that they were forced to leave but we were told that we could still play music off a CD and we were told that it would be loud enough to dance to, so my husband and I made and awesome dance mix but when they started playing it after 10pm it was INAUDIBLE. Seriously make sure you preview their 10pm volume restrictions. What a party killer.
- Staff cleaning while my guests were still there. Yeah. I know the tables look nicer when dirty plates are cleared after dinner but they seriously took away everything - candles, centerpieces, wine glasses, I'm surprised they didn't strip the table cloths, and that's nothing but a strong hint for the guests to get the heck out. I would have thought the cleanup crew would have at least waited till the party was over since we had to be out by 11 anyway.
- Read the contract thoroughly multiple times before you sign. They'll reserve your date and give you ten days to put down a downpayment, if anything in the contract doesn't sit well with you make sure you resolve it within those ten days. And believe me the coordinators will be hard to get a hold of during those ten days.
To end on a positive, the set up was great when we got there, our wedding coordinator was very nice and helpful to the extend that he could be, most of the things I'm complaining about are the "rules" of the venue which are in dire need of reconsideration. We got lots of compliments from our guests on our choice of venue for everything minus the time constraints. -
Review from Janice L.
Glendale, CA
1/26/2012
Wedding Date: March 15, 2008
Number of Guests: less than 100
We searched for what feels like hundreds of ceremony and reception locations and as soon as we saw La Venta, we knew it was perfect. Not only is the view just spectacular, the food was fantastic - weeks later, our guests are still talking about it! Our event coordinator, Tim Kennedy, was very responsive and easy to work with. He was ALWAYS around during the wedding and made sure that we had everything we needed.
The staff at La Venta was always available to answer any questions. Tim even did some research on photobooth vendors for us - even though we knew he didn't have to! It really is a fantastic location, especially if you have a guest count of about 100 people. The dining room is nice and intimate, the ceremony gazebo overlooks the beautiful coast line, and I can't say enough about the food! In short, I highly recommend La Venta and upon seeing the place, it became our only choice. -
Review from Vince V.
Burbank, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
For a small wedding, this place is perfect. I would also think that for company events this would be a very nice place. 100 or so people can have a very nice time here with ample space inside and outside. The view which overlooks Torrance and parts of Redondo is amazing. Much more than 100 people would be strectching it.
They have a Dance floor, Outside Gazebo, and Water Fountain in the front. Everything seems Country classic meets Spanish Malibu where I picture braided hair with white flowers fitting right in. Dark wood floors and fireplaces. -
Review from Frances C.
Irvine, CA
7/23/2011
The Drive: 4/5. The drive to La Venta Inn was very tricky, but also very beautiful. I think Google Maps took me through a crazy short-cut; however, I did arrive there safely. The drive up was beautiful, but I did get kinda lost on the way down... it sure gets dark up there and the street signs are very small. All in all, I did get home safely, so I shouldn't complain haha.
The Venue
First Impressions: 5/5. Though it may have been a 4/5 rating on its own, I felt it suited the couple whose wedding I was attending absolutely perfectly. I knew the bride better than I did the groom, and could definitely see all the little details she had sprinkled throughout the small Spanish villa. I thought it was a very quaint, humble location (and this was before I saw the gazebo).
After adjusting: 5/5. I loved the "back area" or the grassy area out back where the ceremony would happen in. The view was so breathtaking and the weather yesterday was absolutely perfect as well. My friend, the bride, and her entire bridal party were perfect and everyone walked down the aisle with grace and most importantly, without missing a beat! Props should also be given to the event coordinator as the flow of the entire wedding from beginning to end was swiftly and seamlessly done- something very easily messed up on (as I have experienced at other weddings).
Small concerns: 3/5. The dining/banquet area seemed a bit too dimly lit. Sitting in the very back corner, my friends and I (all in our mid-20s) could barely see the outlines of the newlyweds and this wasn't as much of a problem as our issues with picture-taking! I would definitely recommend brighter lighting... I know the dimness is most likely to create an ambiance and keep a warm, romantic feel to the room present... but it's certainly hard to even see our food especially in the back tables. Another concern is the location of the dance floor... the entire villa is split into about 3 sections for guests: the dance floor, a small "waiting room" (used for a photo booth in this couple's case), and the banquet room. While it was awkward at first, everyone soon became very adaptable, transitioning to the dance floor at the end of the night (with the help of a few drinks :)).
Food: 3-5/5. I loved the Oakleaf Lettuce Salad (it also had blue cheese and walnuts) and I'm not even a salad person... it was generally my favorite kind of salad too (just lacking pears), so I suppose I may have been biased. I'd rate it a 5/5 due to its freshness. For my main course, I had wanted their Vegetarian dish, Buttermilk Squash Ravioli... and much to my dismay that was really all there is. I would have wished for more vegetables, but the dish was still freshly made. I would rate that dish a 3/5.
Overall: 4/5. I felt the couple (Congratulations, Sally & Andrew!) made a wonderful choice and it truly felt like a destination wedding, but right in California! What a fantastic find, and I definitely recommend this place to be considered for other joyous occasions. -
Review from Christine L.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2010 9 photos
If you have a lot of $$$, 50-75 guests and a penchant for gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean coastline, La Venta Inn is your place.
It wasn't MY place, unfortunately, because of both the price and the number of guests I am expecting.
Let's begin our tour with the drive. The drive is quite nice, especially once you get to Palos Verdes and start winding up the small mountain atop which the Inn sits. Be sure to keep a sharp lookout for the sign as the turn into the Inn may be easy to miss.
As we pull into a smallish-to-medium sized parking lot, you instantly see the ocean. There is an enclosed courtyard with a fountain in the middle and this is where your guests will mingle before the ceremony and during the cocktail hour.
Moving through the courtyard, you enter the ballroom where a fireplace is to your left and straight in front of you will be a white gazebo and again, on clear days, a stunning view of the coastline. It really is breathtaking which is why so many folks love this place for weddings.
A white gazebo is at the bottom of a grassy slope where the chairs would be placed. I think the photos that other Yelpers do the place justice - it's exactly what you'll get on nice days.
(I know I keep saying "on nice days," but that's because y'all know how LA can be. I asked about this and the coordinator said that on a number of summer days, you get a fog cover but that it usually burns off by midday. Of course, there are no guarantees and the view is really the point of La Venta Inn so take this risk into consideration!)
Moving on with our verbal tour.
If you'll step back into the ballroom, you'll finally notice the rooms to your right - the reception area. Broad windows let in a lot of light and you still see wonderful views of the ocean. There is a smell of musty carpet, however, which may dampen your enjoyment of the view.
Despite the large windows, there is also a stifling feeling in the room, perhaps because it is smaller than you would expect.
If you plan on having a wedding of more than about 75 people, expect to seat some of your guests in the antechamber of the reception area. The entire venue was definitely smaller than I expected, especially since I was armed with the fore-knowledge that I would have around 120-150 guests. I read a few reviews on Yelp about La Venta Inn as well and read that many who had their weddings here only had around 50-75 guests.
The bridal room and the groom's room are both lovely - they were my absolute favorite of all the venues that I visited, especially the groom's room. Usually, the latter is not given much attention because what do guys really need other than a toilet, a fridge and a couch? This place was elegantly decked out with brown leather sofas and a nice, masculine feel.
Catering is done through the New York Food Company.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who has some money to spend and not a lot of guests to spend it on!Listed in: "This Is It"
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Review from Denise C.
Alhambra, CA
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a very beautiful place to have event. It has a very calm and soothing environment. I love everything here except we weren't allow to take leftover with us, not even the cake.
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Review from Tricia E.
4/13/2010
La Venta Inn has the most beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean I've ever seen. It's like Monaco up in there; just gorgeous views for miles from a cliff-top villa. If I won the lottery, I would try to buy this place and convert it into a house for myself. Love it here!
However, there are some downsides to hosting a wedding reception here (which is why we ultimately chose another venue). First of all, it's expensive. Of the places we looked at in Palos Verdes, only Trump cost more. Second, this place cannot accomodate 150 guests in one room. As such, for dinner some of your guests are seated in a separate room, didn't like that. Third, dancing takes place in a separate room from where dinner is served. Didn't like that either, since people could not be seated and enjoy their dinners while watching the dancing.
In sum, La Venta is absolutely drop dead gorgeous, but the cons outweighed the pros for us.Listed in: South Bay Wedding 101
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Review from Linh L.
San Jose, CA
4/16/2009
My husband and I just recently had a wedding at La Venta Inn with about 160 guests. We did both our ceremony and reception here, and I must tell you, it was a complete success. Tim K. was our planner, and I would highly recommend him as he was organized and completely professional while personable and fun! He managed our vendors exceptionally, and everything went off without a hitch. I was fearful of the weather that day (rain in the forecast) but we ended up getting 65 and sunny with minimal wind--couldn't ask for anything more! Guests all commented positively on the food (we had lobster bisque lsoup, a salad of some sort, salmon and sirloin) and the cake flavors (yellow with strawberry cream and red velvet with cream cheese filling)!
I had my dream wedding at La Venta Inn. Day of, I had NOTHING to worry about at all! Thank you Tim K. and the NYFC team for making it all possible.
I highly recommend this venue for your wedding as long as your guest count is under 175. Don't fret about the segmented rooms or having to seat guests outside on the patio. The whole venue promotes commraderie and intimacy--you'll have a wedding that nobody will ever forget! -
Review from Lindsay C.
Long Beach, CA
2/16/2010
I had high hopes for La Venta, I was not that impressed at all. The View of the Pacific Ocean is GREAT. If you are considering a summer wedding, or a ceremony in the AM you may want to check this place out.
We met with Mike, and he was fantastic. HE went over the menu, an was very informative about it. Oh my goodness New York Food ( the site caterer) has an AWESOME menu.
PROS:
* GREAT view of the ocean
*Mike was super helpful
* Menu is to die for
CONS:
* Smaller that what I'd thought. They say they can fit 220.I'd say 130 MAX would fit without being crammed.
* Dance floor is located in a strange location
* Site smells old, a musty scent.Listed in: Wedding Wonders
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Review from Nicky C.
Park La Brea, CA
8/8/2006
What a beautiful venue! A cute little 1920's Spanish villa - the place to book your wedding ceremony and reception. It is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. If you are interested in having an outdoor ceremony perched on top of Palos Verdes overlooking the Pacific and South Bay Beach cities, call 'em up and book it. The reception will be held indoors and can spill into that patio creating an intimate atmosphere with your nearest and dearest family members and friends.
In the evening there is a gorgeous sunset to the west, with the sunlight glimmering on the calm ocean. They have a perfect spot on the lawn with a gazebo to have the ceremony. It's picture perfect. Around the grounds are several spots to take romantic couple shots to really remember the day. The only potential negatives would be fighting the wind, getting a foggy day, or hosting a wedding that exceeds their maximum capacity.
The New York Food Company caters it, and their food is excellent. If i were having a summer wedding, I would have it here.Listed in: Outdoor Wedding Venues
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Review from Christina H.
Arcadia, CA
9/27/2009
3 stars means "A-OK"... 'Cuz 4 stars means "Yay I'm a fan," but I'm not.. just to clarify... :)
I'm sure everyone knows this already, I have to say it, it's absolutely STUNNING to see where the gazebo stands, with the view of the ocean shoreline. BUT, there are tons of trees/bushes around that covers a lot of the view, but you can see it, if you stand near the bushes. Pretty though.
The venue is small, so if you're planning to have, say, a 150 guests, it could be a squeeze, it won't be uncomfortable, but it'll make the place more obviously small.
Everything seems a bit low, so it feels a bit claustrophobic.. there seems to be stuff everywhere, granted not trash or anything, but like vines and trees, bushes, shrubbery everywhere.. It SHOULD be a "plus" but a little too cluttered for my taste.
I really liked the little corridor/arches on the side near the rooms, though, though still a little crowded, but I liked it.
Overall little cute place, and obviously a popular place to have a wedding. Have a go with the place if you've got that budget set out for you and if you're not planning on having too many guests. -
Review from SJ E.
San Jose, CA
9/21/2009
It was a beautiful venue and we had perfect weather for our outdoor ceremony. The size was perfect for our smallish wedding. The price tag was $$$$ but hey you only do it once (hopefully), right?
The BEST wedding food I've ever had. -
Review from Kim l.
2/8/2011
My fiance and I went to visit this venue a couple weekends ago. It sits on top of a hill overlooking Palos Verdes Estates. It is by far one of the most beautiful outdoor ceremony sites I have seen. There is a beautiful ocean view from the gazebo area. The groom and bridal suites were a definite plus. The spacious dance floor room is separate from the dining area. This is a good location for 100-110 guest max if you all want to be seat in the same room. Otherwise they will put tables in the adjoining room and possibly outside on the patio which I thought was odd because as a guest I would want to be in the same room as the bride and groom. Also be prepared to pay $$$$ for the food which I hear is pretty good.
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Review from Stephanie K.
Cupertino, CA
12/21/2008
My brother had his wedding here on the 13th of December. It was beautiful! Unfortunately it was windy and cold the day of the wedding.
The coordinator was well-organized and was on top of everything. The team did a fantastic job. I didn't work with them personally though so hopefully either my brother or his wife will leave a review.
They had food stations at various points around the inn. It's a cute idea to spread the crowd up...but I have to say, it was a bit of a pain going from place to place to scout your food....also in the blistery cold! One station had a tent and heatlamps so that helped a bit. The food was pretty good as well! Yum. All in all, it was pretty nice. -
Review from Lindsey F.
Gardena, CA
7/21/2011
We had the most incredible experience having our wedding at La Venta Inn! My fiancé and I had a few things in mind that we wanted when we began looking for our wedding venue. We wanted a place that was unique, personal, and had food that our guests would actually like:) So when my fiance first showed me the website for La Venta Inn, I immediately fell in love with it! It had all the things we were looking for: it had personality and it was quite unique( an old historic Spanish Villa on top of beautiful Palos Verdes), with a view of the Queen's Necklace Coastline. It was also owned by the New York Food Company, so we knew they specialized in food as well. It sounded perfect!
When we went to look at La Venta, a gentleman named Tim gave us a tour of the site. It had a beautiful garden with a gazebo that overlooked the coast. It was breathtaking! The reception area had the feel of being in someone's house. It was cozy, yet elegant, with large windows facing the view of the water and the city. There was a sweet bridal cottage on one side of the venue, with a cool "guys" groom's room located on the other side. The ballroom had a rustic feel, with high beamed ceilings, and a mantle fireplace. In the entrance was a courtyard, with a cute garden and fountain. It was such a charming and special place; I knew we found the place for us. The gentleman Tim, who was helping us that day, was very personable, knowledgeable, and I remember him really taking the time to talk to us and answer our questions. We really liked him and he left a great impression on us. One of the highlights Tim mentioned was that every couple would be assigned a coordinator for the day of, who would be working with the couple on the planning and logistics in the months prior. Another plus!!! It didn't take us long to decide and book our date, July 4th, 2010! We really got lucky the date was still open since it was a big holiday weekend( we booked over a year in advance) . While filling out the application, my fiancé and I had the same hope, that we would be blessed with having Tim as our coordinator. Luckily to our surprise, he was later assigned to our wedding!!!
We attended a food tasting probably about 9 months prior to the wedding. It was such a cool experience. The venue was decorated with different colored lights and beautiful table settings that gave us a feel for what it would be like possibly for our own wedding. The menu had a lot of variation and we got to sample a number of appetizers, entrees, and cake. We tried so many delicious foods (be sure to check off what you like) and it reassured us that we chose the right venue! If food is a big thing for you, like it was for us, La Venta is the place! All of the La Venta staff that evening was professional, friendly, and very accommodating.
We communicated and worked with Tim about 6-8 months prior. He was very resourceful and always quick to respond through email. He helped us with all sorts of ideas for the venue (tables, linens, lights, cake etc.), the layout of the day, details of the ceremony and reception, and coordinating with our vendors. We couldn't have done it without him! One thing I remember Tim telling us that was reassuring, was that his main role above all was to take care of us for the day, and that he'd be taking on the full responsibility of making sure everything was running accordingly as we planned. We definitely felt comforted and he did fulfill his promise!
Our wedding day was more than amazing and everything we wanted! The food was so delicious, we had the double entree of Flat Iron Steak and Chicken Toscano with a mixed green salad with mandarins/raspberries and edible flowers. My mother is allergic to raspberries and Tim even made sure that her raspberries were taken out beforehand. Our guests loved the food, the venue, the view, and not to mention, we also got a ton of fireworks!!! We had about 170 guests, which included having some guests on the outside patio. We were initially a little worried about having any guests outside, but it actually worked out fine. The weather was comfortable (heat lamps if needed) and our guests outside had front row seats overlooking the view; with the doors open, speakers, and glass windows, they were still very much included with the rest of the dining area. Tim kept us on track and informed throughout the course of the day. My husband and I were well taken care of and didn't have to worry about anything. Our guests even mentioned how well of a job our coordinator did and how he was very accommodating and cool. We couldn't of asked for anything more!! Thank you so much Tim K. and La Venta for making our wedding forever memorable and special to us! Our family and friends often comment on how our wedding was one of the funnest weddings they've ever experienced! We will be forever grateful. -
Review from C S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2011
We had a wonderful time working with Tim at La Venta Inn this past summer. The grounds were beautiful and the couple (I am a wedding planner) was very pleased with their decision! I think one of the key factors for couple who are reviewing this venue is location. It is truly at the peak of a picturesque oceanside view. While your guests might have a challenge finding the location, a simple map will guide them in the right direction. Another "selling point" is the privacy and personal assistance you will receive. Unlike hotel chains with a similar view and offering, you will be the only bride/groom on your big day, which is priceless.
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Review from Missi T.
San Francisco, CA
5/6/2008
I've been here for a wedding and it is an absolute gorgeous location! The backdrop for the ceremony is beautiful and breathtaking and the food is to die for! Only thing I didn't like about it is the dance floor and eating area are in separate rooms. Other than that, everything else was great.
I highly recommend this venue. -
Review from Arlene M.
10/1/2009
Went here for a friend's wedding where I was a bridesmaid. The venue was beautiful, and had a great view of the ocean.
Mike, the wedding coordinator was very organized and extremely helpful. He helped the bride and the whole entourage feel calm and knowing everything we needed to do. Out of the weddings were I've seen the behind-the-scenes (including my own), I think they are the best in terms of organizing everything the day of the wedding. We even had cheese, crackers, and champagne at the bridal cottage to enjoy before the wedding!
Definitely recommended for anyone looking to get married in the area. -
Review from Ulysses M.
San Francisco, CA
9/23/2009
Very nice place to have a wedding.
My wife and I went there for a friend's wedding, and the place was really great looking. It was a hot day until we got to the site, which was on top of a hill. There was cooling fog rolling in. It helped a lot, especially since all the guys were wearing suits.
The bride and groom had separate rooms to get ready. There's a nice entry way, and there was enough parking spaces, although you may need to tandem park if there are too many cars.
The views were nice - you could see the beach and ocean from the ceremony site. I'm sure you could see more if it wasn't so foggy.
The dining room and dance floor were decently laid out. The only thing a person may not like is that there are separate (although right next to each other) rooms for the dining tables. But, that will only really matter if you have a boat load of people (more than 100). The dance floor was in a separate room and had a view of the outdoor ceremony site and a view of the ocean.
Overall, a very good site to hold any kind of party. -
Review from Sarah V.
Fallbrook, CA
12/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Attended a wedding here, location was beautiful. Parking was small and kind of cramped. The food was good, and the facilities were nice. Great wedding venue.
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Review from Lena B.
Buena Park, CA
11/13/2008
wedding is undeniably one of the most important affairs in a person's life. it is a moment where you outshine everyone and truly become the center of the universe. it is a time where you get to be cinderella, snow white, sleeping beauty or belle. it is a magical event.
la venta inn provides the most amazing backdrop for this very special event. it is located on the bluffs of palos verdes, offering both the ocean and city views. when i came for a friend's wedding a few weekends ago, the shear beauty of this venue blew my mind away.
this place is for an intimate wedding (no more than 120-130 people). the ceremony was held outside at their small lawn facing the ocean...truly gorgeous and romantic!!! the reception was at their indoor facility which did not impress me as much. already a small space was separated into three sections so the flow of it was a bit awkward. in fact, the dance floor was outside of guests tables so everyone had to stop eating their dinner in order to see the bride and groom's dances.
speaking of the food, la venta inn is catered exclusively by new york food company which does a great job for wedding food. their tray passed hors d'oeuvre and four course meal were plenty in portion and flavor. the wait staff came by our table promptly to fill our champagne flutes for the toast and wine glasses for our meal.
for those future brides out there, i can guarantee you that you'll have the most amazing pictures if you choose to have your wedding at la venta inn. on the flip side, i hesitate in promising that your guests will have the best time since the dance floor and bar are not incorporated well and a few might need to leave in the middle of their dinner/dancing/drinking to move their cars in that tight parking space, albeit complimentary.
p.s. - of course, all those wonderful things i've said above about wedding are before you see your bank account and/or credit card statement. honestly, wedding planning is the most stressful thing EVER. -
Review from Vanessa T.
Long Beach, CA
9/7/2010
5 stars do not do this place justice!
We had our wedding here this past weekend and we have been raving about it ever since. We've been planning our wedding for almost a year and from the beginning, our La Venta coordinator, Tim Kennedy, was a huge help and incredible resource. However, the day of, Tim (and his staff ) managed to impress, not only us, but our photographer, our minister, our guests, and most importantly, my parents, even more!
Tim was there to meet all of our needs from the moment we stepped foot on the property and he managed to keep us on schedule the entire night. I never had to worry about a thing, because Tim took care of it. We didn't get much of a chance to eat all night since we were trying to talk to all of our guests (typical for a Bride and Groom at their wedding) but the La Venta staff packed up individual plates for us to eat later. We were so impressed with the care and thought they put into our little care package filled with goodies and we were so glad that we got to actually eat some of our food! Our guests had been raving about it all night, so we were bummed that we didn't get to eat it-so we were so excited. They also packed enough cake to last us a while... ;)
Brenda was another staff member that really shined. She was looking out for us all night!
Thank you Tim and the entire La Venta staff! You made this night truly spectacular! -
Review from sarah k.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 11/2/2008
we had our reception here in september (2008).
for the most part, i was too preoccupied with my bridal bouquet (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and too stressed with random things like changing outfits or greeting the guests to really enjoy the food or the ambience. nevertheless, our guests have been complimenting on how good and nice the food/ venue was ... so, i'm assuming that all turned out well.
also, i HIGHLY recommend Sara L. as the event coordinator. she is professional, experienced, and super sweet. she not only responded to my emails and questions during her day-offs and odd hours of the night and weekends, but adviced us with so many things regarding our event (i.e. floor plan, menu selection, ways to cut costs in flowers, DJ selection, etc). she really went out of her way to make sure that i was at peace with everything (she even volunteered to bustle my dress in case my bridesmaids couldn't do it).
sara truly made ALL the difference as to how i feel about La Venta Inn and more importantly, how wonderful our wedding reception turned out to be (despite many things that went wrong).
i would give la venta solid five stars had it not been for (1) some of the (female) staffs that were somewhat standoff-ish both on phone and in person throughout 6+ months (from the time we signed the contract to actual event); AND (2) as la venta doesn't sell liquor, we brought our own champagne and red wine for guests. we gave a clear instruction with boxes taped and marked as "cocktail hour only" or "dining room (lunch) only." for some reason, our requests were completely ignored and $40 a bottle champagnes were used to mix mimosas and bellinis!Listed in: Nuptial Bliss
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2008
if i had it my way, i'd elope ... in a heart beat. as i said earlier, i hate weddings and my own… Read more »
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Review from Beth F.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/16/2008
I got married here in November 2002 and it was beautiful! First of all the food was amazing - five course meal including a lobster puff pastry which was to die for. It is quite expensive, but comes with superior service including a planner and list of preferred vendors (who all know how to work with their space). Received excellent white glove service and would highly recommend this venue.
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Review from Helen Y.
Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
5/12/2008
a lovely venue and a perfect place for an intimate wedding. my college friends got married here over mother's day weekend. the ceremony took place on the gazebo lawn with a breaktaking ocean view. the dinner reception was indoors -- it was alittle too cozy for me. we were seated in the back corner so we didn't have much of a view of anything but our neighboring UCLA alum tables.
the highlight was definitely the passed hor d'oeurves during the cocktail hour. The food was catered by New York Food Company and it was delicious! the lamb chops and kobe beef sliders (mini hamburgers) were definitely the guest favorites. a bunch of us strategically placed ourselves near the kitchen door to get first dibs.
i agree with other yelpers that the only real drawback is the need to move from the dining room to another room for the slide show/first dance. -
Review from Hun L.
Valencia, CA
4/3/2010
I went to a wedding event of my friend and parking was terrible. They can do only about 30 cars max. The valet was not polite too. Unless you think to invite less than 80 guests, better to find other locations for bigger space. The main hall is too small for dancing and watching slide show. However, if you want a small wedding less than 60 guests, it may be reasonable.
Comment from Jim W. of La Venta Inn 8/1/2011
The private parking lot at La Venta Inn has 78 individual… More » -
Review from KK B.
Seattle, WA
1/11/2009 5 photos
i got married here last year. it was a perfectly sunny and breezy sunday morning in october (AMAZING views, much less pricey). at first i was bummed all saturday evenings i wanted were booked when i tried to book this place, but i'm sooo glad we chose sunday daytime wedding. the view and the weather during the day was just perfect.
the food including wedding cake was great, loved that you can bring your own alcohol (BevMo 5-cent sale!!), and my coordinator roxy was sooo helpful!
we had about 80 guests, and i think it was the perfect count for this venue. even thought they say the maximum capacity is 120 or more, i would not recommend this place if you're to have more than 90 guests. -
Review from becca H.
Los Angeles, CA
9/27/2010
I love love La Venta. It was the perfect place to have my intimate and cozy wedding. My friends and family are still raving about the food and service. I'm so grateful to our coordinator, Tim, for taking such good care of us and making sure everything went smoothly. Thanks to him, I was able to enjoy the day and not worry about the logistics. La Venta is truly a beautiful and elegant place to have a wedding!
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Review from Iniko B.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2008 1 Check-in Here
Epic venue. I married my wife here.
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Review from tracey c.
Alhambra, CA
2/15/2009
I love this place! It is small, but it is a way to have a beautiful wedding. I am second photographer/assistant and this place is great! You can get married while looking out over a cliff :) And their catering company is REALLY GOOD :) The FILET MIGNON on top of the PORTIBELLO MUSHROOM just MELTS in your mouth! You have to have more than 1, you would really want it!
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Review from Patricia S.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
7/19/2011
Helped my daughter start planning in November for a wedding in spring or summer.. Looked around the So. Bay but she fell in love with La Venta Inn. We loved the entire 'feel' of the place. Cute and adorable bridal cottage and all. We were given ideas and guidance for vendors, table arrangement, timing etc. Runs like a clock which we appreciated. We had almost 160 guests and all were comfortable. Candles all over the dining room and windows. Flowers in the terrance, in the fountain, on the lovely mantle, and down the walkway to the gazebo. Palos Verdes stone everywhere. Used the courtyard for a beautiful entrance, and after dinner it became a big hit with entertainment, fun lighting and seating. The fog was slightly there for the gazebo ceremony but it made it so beautiful. A little while later it was clear to see that beautiful 'Queen's Necklace' view after sunset. Cocktails with that view and your guests...amazing! Great dance room too. Romantic. I loved EVERYTHING, and 'I' have been getting thank you notes all week from my guests thanking me for having them to my daughter and son in laws lovely wedding! Now that says alot. Tim Kennedy is awesome, as have been the entire staff. Great to work with.
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Review from Lois B.
Issaquah, WA
10/16/2010
If you are having an outside event with 100 people or less, this venue could work for you. The views are stunning and the gardens, though small, lovely. The front courtyard is cute. There are two tiny bride and groom cottages that are charming, but there really isn't room for more than a few people to sit down and talk. So if it's foggy (as happens a lot in Palos Verdes) or rainy on your event day, are you ever in for it, even besides the facts that you won't get the view you came for. The inside is horrible. There are three or four disjointed rooms, and the place stinks to the point of making you sick, even with the doors open. It smells like old, rotten, cooked cabbage. The first time I was there, the main room doors were open (the building is one room deep, so that the front door opens to the courtyard, and the back to the ceremony lawn), and it smelled pretty bad. The second time, I was there with an appointment in the afternoon. The doors had been closed and I kept having to go outside to get fresh air while I was talking to the planner. He volunteered some half-hearted excuse, just I entered, that they had just removed a bunch of dead flowers, but he didn't know I had been there before and that I wasn't buying that. Anyway, I know what dead flowers smell like and the smell doesn't linger when they're gone. So: Nonsense, and it's wrong to mislead people like that. My opinion is that the smell is coming from the unusual wood forming the ceiling and the fireplace, which is lighter than the pictures here. On other matters: The parking lot looks very small, but supposedly holds 70 people. Every time I drive by during events, there is quite a lot of overflow on the streets. The venue is very expensive, with $20,000 minimum just for food, before any drinks, gratuities or tax. Count on $30,000 minimum and unless, you are outside, who is going to want to eat with that stench? So, for the price, I think it's safer to go with Trumps or Terranea.
Comment from Jim W. of La Venta Inn 8/23/2011
Lois's comments are appreciated, however it's a shame that… More »
