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Weddings

About

The Life Arts Center is a notably historic locale located in downtown Riverside, California, known for hosting enchanting wedding celebrations. Initially constructed in 1909 by renowned architect Arthur Benton, the building exudes an authentic sense of old-world charm. After many years of being used in various capacities, it has transformed into a delightful event venue ideal for milestone functions. Here, a team of seasoned professionals eagerly awaits you and your guests and strives to provide any assistance required throughout your big day.

Facilities and Capacity

There are three immaculate banquet facilities available at The Life Arts Center. Boasting an urban-industrial aesthetic, The Bella Ballroom exudes a trendy aesthetic through exposed ceilings, red brick walls, and an open-plan functional concrete flooring. The Victoria Ballroom offers a romantic setting with hardwood floors and signature arched windows that gently allow light to flood the space. Finally, The Bride's room suite was prepared to prepare you physically and mentally, to say the special words "I DO" in the presence of your family and friends.

Services Offered

You and your partner can look forward to an array of service offerings designed to streamline your planning experience. Depending on your room of choice, each will include specific benefits. The most comprehensive option entitles you to professional bartending staff, a Brides's room and security guards, as well as a collection of event furniture. What’s more, the staff here assist with all setup and cleanup needs and offer a list of partnered catering options for you to consider.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$5,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$5,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$1,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
Set Up
Tables

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet Hall
Historic Building

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Bar Services
Clean Up
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Liquor License
Signature Drink

What event items are available?

Chairs
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

China
Flatware
Glassware

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Life Arts Center

V
Veronica Sent on 06/13/2021
5 out of 5 rating

September Wedding

It was a beautifully scortching day and the life arts center kept the room nice and cool.
Mary
Mary Sent on 05/08/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing experience

I cannot say enough great things about my experience at LAC. I had my wedding there a few days ago and it was nothing short of perfection.

My husband and I had to cancel our previous venue for COVID reasons. We were three months away from our wedding and we’re definitely worried. I reached out to several venues in hopes of finding someplace fast.

Elvia reached out to me and we set up a tour. She was so patient and answered all of our questions. We fell in love instantly and booked right away.

Our planning process was so smooth and worry free.
Elvia was always available to answer my calls and we always found someone at the building to talk to if we dropped by. We met another coordinator, Marie, who was also super helpful and kind. She helped setup my timeline and put me at ease.

The day of, everyone worked so hard to make sure we had the best day possible. Our room was beautifully decorated, security and the bar tender did a great job.

I have no regret in choosing this place to host my wedding. I will always look back and remember it as the best day ever.
L
Lisa Sent on 05/23/2017
5 out of 5 rating
I loved this place from the moment I walked in its so vintage , I did hire my own caterer, and other things but the price was reasonable
R
Rochele Sent on 06/14/2016
5 out of 5 rating
The venue was spacious and beautiful! The staff is friendly and accommodating. You can choose what you would like to add and take away to make the price right for you. We just paid for the space itself and tables and chairs. They allow outside vendors for food and you can bring in your own drink to be served by a bartender provided by the venue. Perfect venue for a bride on a budget who wants a beautiful wedding.
J
Jennifer Sent on 12/16/2023
4.6 out of 5 rating

Wonderful and affordable

We had our beautiful wedding here and I couldn’t have had a better experience with how flexible and organized the event planning was! I would encourage anyone who’s looking for a venue for guest to be in awe and have a good time
U
User1847260 Sent on 10/06/2014
4.5 out of 5 rating
The Life Arts Center was an amazing place for my wedding. We had our reception in the Florence Room. We chose it because of it's location and the beautiful architecture. The staff was amazing and the coordinator they gave us the day of the wedding was excellent. It was a little hard getting details from them from time to time but at the end of the day, it was a perfect choice. Big selling point for us was that we could stock our own bar! We went with one of their packages that included everything except the cake, DJ, and alcohol and were pleased with everything! Beautiful building!
U
User1718406 Sent on 07/17/2014
3.5 out of 5 rating
Decorator was helpful and receptionist however communication was difficult and no one returned my calls or emails or coordinated among themselves so wedding day was chaos among bartender and coordinator also manager does not know what he is doing but price is right and building is historic and beautiful
K
Katelyn Sent on 07/13/2024
2 out of 5 rating

Poor business practices

Beware, it’s a pretty venue, and it’s not too expensive. But you are dealing with unprofessional people. I wish I knew this sooner. The day of our wedding our wedding coordinator had her friends at the end of the night over enjoying our beers. We were promised two busers but only had one, then we were told to tip her a lot because she did the job of two people. We were told my our wedding coordinator, Ruby and her mom we could come back the day after our wedding for the rest of our decor, unfortunately we had stuff missing. The worst was Ruby’s mom Elvia offered us $260 for our unused alcohol saying her brother would pay us the following week, but after not receiving payment we contacted her and she said she can only give us $200, we said no to please deliver our items back and she refused. If we wanted we would have to come pick it up. These are just the things we saw, who knows what else happened that we didn’t see. You want to be able to trust who you do business with, and you can’t trust this place. Who wants to steal from someone on their wedding day!?
U
User1855870 Sent on 10/09/2014
1.9 out of 5 rating
The manager is a nice guy, the lady in the office is not very consistent. I was told I can decorate set up the night before. They ended up renting the hall the week before and I was not able to set up until 10:30 at night. She had promised 10:00 pm. The morning of the event I went back to set up flowers, I had favors missing from the tables. The waiting staff was good, but I had things taken from the kitchen (extra favors I had set aside). I was also told I could use mason jars and the bar tenders did not use them. I was promised a wedding planner for the day of the event. I emailed the agenda and food set up, it was not followed I had to coordinate with dj and waiters for bride and groom dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc
K
Kristine Sent on 06/06/2024
1.4 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue. Horribly managed.

No professionalism. Get everything in writing. Deny anything given for “free”.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Map

Life Arts Center frequently asked questions

Life Arts Center includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Life Arts Center for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet Hall
  • Historic Building
Life Arts Center offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
Life Arts Center offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Life Arts Center offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Bar Services
  • Clean Up
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Life Arts Center offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Life Arts Center is recommended by 64% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 3.2 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 3.5 in value, 3.3 in flexibility, 3.1 in quality of service, 3 in average response time and 3 in professionalism.

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