Hi Ladies,

I am officially done lurking/stalking PW and am engaged!  I'm in the SoCal area and was hoping you ladies could offer me some advice on venues.  I am trying to keep our wedding as budget friendly as possible, and love the idea of BYO venues where we can bring in our own caterer and alcohol.  With that being said, has anyone had their wedding at the Huntington Beach Library and Cultural Events Center, The Ole Hanson Beach Club Community Center Auditorium or Norris Pavilion?  Any info or real life pictures on these sites would be greatly appreciated!  We are probably going to end up around 175 guests.  I am also considering seven-degrees in laguna beach, but that may be a little pricey.  Input on that as well would be great.  Thanks in advance for all your help!

I don't have any advice on those venues - but I just wanted to say congrats! and welcome!!

congrats!!!

check out norris pavillion - holymolymatrimony had her reception there

also - point vicente in pv - youngbride21 had her wedding and reception there 

=)

Congrats on your enagement & welcome! I don't know about those venues but if you are looking for BYO, you should check out Ambassador Campus in Pasadena, Clarke Estate in Santa Fe Springs, Malibu West Beach Club & Box Eight Studios is having a 25% off sale off event bookings. They are all very differant from one another so it depends on what you want.  Good luck!

Congrats!  I think Verdes suggests are great, except that Ambassador is no longer hosting any events beyond March 2010.  We were one of the unfortunate couples that had our date/venue cancelled on us.  Based on info from the management company at Ambassador, they've lost their city permit. 

Congrats! I live right next to ole hanson beach club and looked into it for our wedding.  I know that if the person who books the location (can be a parent or relative I would image) lives in San Clemente you get a considerable discount.  My friend got married there and it was really beautiful.  You can do the ceremony on the lawn and then the reception is upstairs and about half the room is covered and half is a balcony all with an ocean view.  The prince includes the set-up of chairs for the ceremony (if you do it there) and the set-up of table and chairs for the reception.  The biggest draw-back for me was that since it is such an old building there is no handicapped access and the reception is held upstairs.  However if that is not a concern for your guests it is a really beautiful location!

Thanks ladies!  HolyMolyMatrimony's wedding at Norris Pavilion was amazing! Will check that out for sure.  Point Vincente is beautiful but we are planning on doing a Oct/Nov wedding, so am looking for a ceremony outside and reception inside deal.  The Ole Hanson Beach club, we would actually be looking at the Community Center Auditorium part for a live band.  Was thinking of doing the ceremony at one of the parks.  Then bring the reception back to the Auditorium.  BoxEightStudios looks really cool, I emailed them to see what their deal is as the site doesn't have a lot of rental info.  Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it!

Are you trying to stay more in the OC area or is the LA area ok too?

Have you checked out the Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach?  I think they can seat that many indoors.

Combes, LA area would work too.  We would be open to going North, as a lot of our friends are still in the LA area.  So anywhere between LA and OC would be ideal.  Kristeen, Red Horse Barn looks pretty, but I'm highly allergic to horses, so prob wouldn't be ideal as they have stables nearby.  Still trying to get ahold of Norris Center Pavilion, I always get an answering machine.  I finally just requested a proposal through here comes the guide.