Padua Weddings

As the CFO of four companies (including one in food service)…I tend to over-analyze expenditures in a way that makes the bean-counters nervous. I have a slight touch of OCD and examine procurements, labor costs, efficiency, and everything else financial in search of loss and avoidable waste. I tell you this because I consider the selection of a wedding venue to be little more than a business transaction and I do not get emotional in business. I am unlike the standard father-of-the-bride types in this mindset, which will become evident as you read on. Most dads refuse to read the menu from right to left when planning their little girl’s big day. You’ll find my analytical perspective helpful too…stay with me.

When I first walked the property at Padua, I was stunned by the incredible romance and beauty of the location. It stood head and shoulders above the crowd in esthetics alone. None of the other venues we checked out could hold a candle to Padua. It is simply perfect. A warm yet impressive hideaway in the hills with magnificent scenic views, a flawless layout of buildings and open space, splendid lighting and décor inside & out, ample parking and is easily navigated to…close to the freeway but far enough you cannot see or hear it. This place is private! The outside world falls away, Padua resides in a setting of solitude and elegance. It is so unique in design and landscaping I cannot imagine a way they could improve it and I was able to do that with every other wedding venue we inspected. No traffic, no noise, no flyovers by planes, no competing with anything the usual wedding venues are compromised by…Padua is an oasis of tranquility.

The multiple locations for the wedding ceremony make it ideal, should your special day experience unexpected weather. Padua has back-ups…no risk of wet guests! The main hall is breathtaking once the tables are decorated and the dancefloor is spacious. Lighting options provide an added bonus and Padua offers so many cool options (that are unavailable at other venues) it will take you a while to hear and see them all. Visit on a day you aren’t rushed, you are going to enjoy this.

Padua’s staff directed us to vendors for an officiant, cigar bar, florist, cakemaker, photographers, DJ and everything else we needed. These people knew the venue inside-out and in working with the highly diligent Padua staff, had everything running like clockwork. Lemme tell ya, weddings can be stressful but when the operation is this closely monitored and run, there is little anxiety. The special effects worked great, the bartenders were fast, personal and well…gorgeous. The management staff at Padua oversaw everything and everyone, and they did it with a caring, softly spoken confidence that made us feel calm and catered to. And our wedding had a lot of add-ons. There seemed to be plenty of things that could go wrong. Nope. This venue is a tightly run ship that even my “observe the system” mentality could not improve. Padua sets the customer care bar so high, other wedding venue staffs need to charter a plane just to see it.

Here’s the one thing I didn’t anticipate. The cost. This venue was so much more than every other location we visited, I expected it to cost double or triple. But they were actually less expensive than some of the hotels, clubhouses and restaurants we shopped. Padua should raise their rates. We got so much more for the money than we would have otherwise…the bean-counter’s, bean-counter (me) felt we underpaid and that just never happens. But the one thing I discovered during our event and the one overwhelming takeaway you should glean from this review is every single person working for Padua and those on their referral list CARES ABOUT YOU!
They take great pride in what they do, they are on a mission to not merely meet your needs and expectations but to exceed them to such an extent you too will draft a review like this. I don’t know how many times I was asked if there was anything I needed, if I had any concerns, was there something they could do for me…these people went well above and beyond all expectations and I am extremely grateful to Padua for making the wedding perfect. And I do not believe perfection is achievable. Padua did it somehow.

Looking for a magical location with a five-star staff and so many options you’ll be able to create the wedding atmosphere you want (literally any theme) and all at a price you will smile about…Padua Theater is it. But bring cash on the day of the wedding because you’ll be so thankful to so many people who are busting their ass to make your Big Day flawless…you will wanna tip! They won’t be expecting it but you will know they earned it. They care. That makes all the difference. If a guy like me thinks so…well, imagine how you’ll feel when you see Padua has zero room for improvement and makes your event wonderful beyond imagination. I cannot remember the last time I felt I received more than I paid for…and by a large measure. Don’t waste your valuable time visiting other venues first like I did…go see Padua first. You’ll instantly recognize the other places cannot compete. Not in aesthetics, not in personnel, not in food, not in any way.

Being in a same-sex relationship, my husband and I specifically looked for a venue where we felt safe, welcomed, and excited as we tied the knot. Padua Hills Theatre was above and beyond. Not only did we feel what we hoped, but Kristina, Ryan, Crystal, and their entire staff from the day we first visited to the night’s end of our wedding made us feel like family. It was truly overwhelming to feel so embraced. I can tell everyone part of the Padua team is in this industry for the passion and love what they do.

As a venue, we value that they’re essentially a 1-stop shop for a well-rounded wedding package. With the few additional vendors, we wanted (e.g. photography, flowers, cake, signage, hotel, makeup and hair), we specifically worked off their preferred vendors list, which made the entire process truly turnkey and easy – for us and for them. As a result, we not only had the memory of our wedding day, but also the memories of enjoying the various planning meetings with them and our family and friends who joined us at those times.

Even our guests felt the love and embrace, and CARE, from Padua. A dear friend of mine requires a wheelchair, and they went above and beyond to ensure a staff member was always on standby to assist her as needed, as well as planned our wedding (per our request) around accommodating her needs and mobility throughout the venue. Honestly, it was touching to witness their genuine love and care for their guests.

As for the food, it was above and beyond what we hoped for. We knew based on their repution everything would be great – and that anticipation grew at our tasting (which they made special like a beautiful evening night out!). When the wedding arrived, the quality, flavor, serving portions, presentation, service, and continued flow of appetizers, main courses, and cocktails were unmatched. Our family and friends still rave about everything and every detail about our wedding to this day.

Lastly, what was touching was the intentionality of the team to be mindful of our walk in life. The little nuances of referring to the Bridal Suite as the “Grooms Suite” during the wedding, ensuring that all paperwork was not gender-specific, and being very conscientious of all verbiage and etiquette does not go unnoticed. It’s those little things that are actually the big things that can easily cause someone to mentally check out of the moment. And thanks to Padua, we felt so seen, embraced, and accepted with open arms.

I hope to work with them again someday, and if not, then I’ll gladly root for them and praise them from start to finish on every mountain top. Cheers!

Padua Hills Theater is absolutely fantastic, and I cannot stress that enough! As a Claremont local, they truly make our town extra special. I recently got married on the 31st, and I couldn't have asked for a better night. Right from the start, I appreciated how clear they were about the process after booking the venue. They explained how their events typically unfold and made sure to understand exactly what my husband and I wanted. I rarely had any questions because they were so thorough, but whenever I did, they always responded promptly and were available to talk on the phone. The team, especially our main contact Ryan Prevost, was exceptional. Ryan went above and beyond to make sure our wedding day was perfect. He kept the energy high throughout the night, made sure we were well-fed, and tended to our every need. People are still asking me if I hired him separately and if they can get his contact information! The rest of the team working at the rehearsal and night did an amazing job! I didn't have to ask for anything, they took the lead, answered everyone's questions patiently, and provided clear instructions and advice. The food at Padua Hills Theater is known to be the best for weddings and events ,which is very true for our wedding. Thank you so much!

This wedding venue is a dream! We looked at multiple locations to have our wedding, but nothing truly captured our attention like Padua Hills Theatre. Beautiful inside and out this venue is a dream. The whole team at Padua is truly with you from the start of your planning process to your final dance with any questions you have and to lend a helping hand. You truly do have a day-of coordinator with Padua (something I was worried about). They made sure I had everything day-of and walked me thru my rehearsal the day before. Mixed with Entertainment Express my wedding timeline was planned perfectly from the minute I arrived to the final song and they always made sure everyone was in the right place at the right time. I’ve received compliments about the food from every person in attendance (120 people!) with their only complaint being they wished they brought a to-go box with them because the serving sizes were huge and the steak was amazing. Even my vegan friends were raving about their pasta! If I could eat Padua food on my anniversary every year I would! I honestly already miss it.
A huge thank you to the whole team Padua team (and a special shout out to Ryan!). Our wedding was a dream and we wouldn’t have wanted it anywhere else.

I've put off writing this review because I know once I write it that means the day is actually over!! We had our wedding at Padua Hills on April 8th of this year and I can't begin to describe how we felt that day and the days leading up to it. The Planning process was SO easy I booked a few vendors on my own (all Padua's preferred vendors) and I found myself thinking, why does the world make this process seem so stressful...we got this! (invites are another story of course ;) ). Tammy did our rehearsal and it was seamless...and we had 11 people in our wedding party EACH!! On the day of, we were both so happy with the work of the venue, staff, and all of our vendors! 4 months later and we still are on a high. Not to mention the FOOD! My guests are STILL reaching out about everything they ate and saying how amazing it all was! We had the most amazing experience with everyone at Padua and we couldn't have chosen a better team to make our dream wedding come true! Thank you Padua Team.. K & T

From the moment we walked up to Padua Hills Theatre we fell in love with it. It’s absolutely a beautiful venue, trees, the prettiest view of the hills and a wonderful staff! They were so friendly and helpful throughout the entire planning. The food was amazing and our guests are still raving that is what the best wedding they’d ever been to! Thank you so much Padua!

If you can hold your event or wedding at Padua Hills you are one of the lucky ones. We had our 30 year wedding vow renewal, and Padua Hills gifted the venue and catering through Wish Upon A Wedding. I did not see the venue until the night of my event, due to my illness. It was incredible, beautiful, magical, by far more than I imagined. Literally, at the last moment due to rain, the ceremony was moved inside. It could not have gone any smoother. The catering was amazing- from the appetizers to the (generous portions) of delicious food, each guest was served by attentive and warm staff. When planning the food, I asked the chef what was recommended and that was a great decision. They went above and beyond. My family will always have this night to reflect upon. Thank you for caring for us. We hope that others get to enjoy and experience your professionalism and talent.

We had our wedding at Padua in October. We had THE BEST wedding experience with them and I cannot recommend them highly enough!!!

The venue: Ideal location, nestled in the hills of Claremont. It is easily accessible via freeway and easy to find, but far enough away from the road where you feel like you left the city altogether. Plenty of parking too. The perfect mix of convenience and beauty. There is a grove of olive trees that is absolutely a dream for photos. We had our wedding under the gazebo and there is enough natural beauty as well as built in decor/string lights in the trees where you really don't need much at all in terms of flowers or decor. Cocktail on the terrace, watching the sun set over the hills. It was all incredibly dreamy!

Food: The venue is owned by the catering company Chantrelles, which really streamlined things. The food is all freshly made in house at the time of the wedding! Even though it was made en masse, it tasted great! And they do a tasting at the time of another event, so you get to see how the food quality is when it is cooked in large batches, so no major quality change between tasting and event.

Coordination: This was honestly one of the highlights of Padua. You work with a coordinator throughout the process for your planning meetings. On the day of, you have 1-2 coordinators who help facilitate the day. We were shuttled wherever we needed to be and they even brought us food and water - we didn't realize but on your wedding day it's so busy hugging people and taking photos, everyone forgets to eat and drink something. They were working endlessly behind the scenes so we could enjoy the day.

We had SO MUCH FUN! and SO LITTLE STRESS!!! I'm stunned - so impressed and I would choose them again and again. Cannot recommend them highly enough. And all that considered, they're really not that expensive either! Worth every penny and more.

Choosing Padua Hills for our wedding venue was hands down the best decision we ever made. Padua Hills is the whole package- incredible staff, beautiful location (with indoor and outdoor views to die for), and a comprehensive wedding package (including what many of our guests described as the “best dinner they’ve ever had”). I had a vision for my dream wedding and Padua made that vision come true. I am so thankful to the Padua team and will always remember my wedding day and the magic at this location.

As a very type A bride, I can tell you with complete confidence that the team that works at Padua Hills will make your day MAGICAL! The pandemic brought in so many stressed around planning and vendors, but Padua supported me the entire time. They allowed me to reschedule with no additional charge, they answered all of my detailed questions, and on the day of, they literally felt like family. The food is amazing, the drinks were amazing, and the venue is STUNNING! You need to have your special day here!