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.