Padua Weddings Reviews
Reviews
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![Bruce]()
Bruce Sent on 02/10/2026Perfection achieved
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.
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![Raymond]()
Raymond Sent on 09/24/2024Magical Wedding!
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 Weddings's reply:
Raymond, thank you so much for your glowing review! Your kind words mean the world to us. It was our pleasure to host you and your guests, and we’re delighted that you felt welcomed and excited to be a part of the Padua Hills family. Our team strives to create a welcoming atmosphere for all couples, and it’s heartwarming to know that we achieved that for you.
We’re grateful for your kind words about our staff, and we’re thrilled to hear that our approach made the planning process easy.
We had such a blast working with you and Vaughn! Your organization and stunning vision for your wedding day were truly inspiring. We’re honored to have been part of your special celebration. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness! -
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![Alexandria]()
Alexandria Sent on 06/04/2024Claremont Gem
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!Padua Weddings's reply:
Alexandria and Brandon, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! We were absolutely delighted to host your wedding and couldn't have asked for a more fantastic couple to celebrate with. Your positive feedback truly brightens our day, and we're so happy to hear you had the wedding of your dreams! We wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!! -
![Miranda]()
Miranda Sent on 01/21/2024Fairy Tale Wedding
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. -
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T B Sent on 08/10/2023
Still on cloud 9!
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 & TPadua Weddings's reply:
K & T, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a wonderful review! It was an honor to be a part of the team that helped make your dream wedding come true. How has it been 4 months already?! Congratulations on this beautiful milestone, we wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness! :) -
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![Monique]()
Monique Sent on 07/16/2023The Best Venue
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!Padua Weddings's reply:
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Monique! Your wedding day was absolutely beautiful and we are so grateful to have been a part of it! Congratulations M & E, we wish you the very best! :) -
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![Teresa]()
Teresa Sent on 04/18/2023This was a lifetime experience.
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.
Padua Weddings's reply:
Teresa, we are so grateful to have been a part of the team that made your dream vow renewal come true! It warms our heart to hear that your special day was perfect and that your experience with us exceeded your expectations! On behalf of the entire Padua Hills team, we wish you and Emil much love and happiness. Congratulations! -
![Kathleen]()
Kathleen Sent on 10/23/2022Best venue ever
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.
Padua Weddings's reply:
Katie, thank you so much for your lovely review! -
![Vanessa]()
Vanessa Sent on 07/30/2022Pure magic!
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!Padua Weddings's reply:
Vanessa, your wedding a Padua was epic! We're still not over how beautiful all your details turned out. We loved working with you and are happy you chose us to be a part of your special day. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a wonderful review. We wish you and Frank a lifetime of love and happiness! -
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![Jerry]()
Jerry Sent on 07/18/2022Amazing Venue and even better team
The team at Padua is incredible. Everyone from Ryan to Chloe to their wait staff made our wedding a dream day for my wife and me. We had to put the wedding on hold due to the pandemic and when it was time to start the planning process again, it was like no time had passed. They were on top of everything and had all the notes from our previous meetings. They worked with us and allowed us to get the wedding my wife and I have always talked about. The food was amazing, the venue is beautiful. We highly recommend the place and team.Padua Weddings's reply:
Jerry, on behalf of the entire Padua Hills team, we thank you for taking the time to leave a wonderful review! We are so happy to have been a part of your special day. Thank you for trusting us to plan the wedding of your dreams! We wish you and Danica a lifetime of love and happiness! -
Armine Sent on 06/09/2022
Magical Weddings
We will be forever be grateful to the entire team at Padua for all their love, thoughtfulness and support in making our wedding a true celebration of who we are and creating the quintessential ambiance for our union. They really sought to understand our traditions and made the accommodations to reflect the needs of our Armenian cultural rituals. During the entire process they listened attentively to what was important to us as a couple and did everything to be true to us. From the initial meeting, to the tasting, entertainment express, and rehearsal every team member treated us with great love and understanding. The people, the food, the music, the environment were ephemeral. Ever time our friends and family sees us, they can’t help but mention a what a magical day it was. Thank you PHT!!! We love you!!!Padua Weddings's reply:
Armine, we are so grateful to have been a part of your special day! It brings a huge smile to our face to know that we helped create the wedding of your dreams. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a kind review. We wish you and Christopher a lifetime of love and happiness. Congratulations! -
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Vaneza Sent on 04/28/2022
Can I do it again?
I would choose Padua over and over again. Padua Hills Theatre was the easiest choice for us to make when wedding planning. This venue is STUNNING inside and out. The food is delicious and everyone we worked with makes you feel so special and taken care of. We had so much fun our wedding day and our coordinator + all the staff that day made it easy.Padua Weddings's reply:
Vaneza, thank you for your lovely review! It was a pleasure working with you and our team really enjoyed making your special day a memorable one. We wish you and Matthew a lifetime of love and happiness! -
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Rachel Sent on 03/16/2022
Just Do It!
Oh my gosh. This review is overdue, but I don’t even know where to start! I guess at the beginning…
I got engaged in May of 2019. We fully planned on having a long engagement but then COVID hit and it halted any planning that was in the works. In December 2020, we decided we needed to start seriously planning or move our plans farther into the future. I currently live in the DC area but grew up in SoCal and so for Christmas 2020 we arrived in California with a plan to find a wedding venue. The only problem was that most places were still fairly closed down. This presented some interesting challenges (some of which involved my mother and I sneaking around various venues just to get a look inside). But we needed a venue, without one nothing else could move forward. We visited about 6 different venues and nothing felt quite right. We found beautiful places, we found all-inclusive places, we found wineries and we found rooftops but it wasn’t clicking. I went back to all the various wedding search engines and looked one last time and all of sudden Padua stuck out. I’d probably scrolled past it multiple times but now I was seeing it in a new light. So we put it on our list for the next day.
The drive up to Padua is easy and pretty (a must for all our out of town guests). We pulled up and there was plenty of parking (a must for all our in town guests!). It’s secure and safe but not too far off the beaten path. We walked in and it was beautiful without even being decorated or set up. We wandered around the venue for a while and then we ran into Wayne (who we didn’t know at the time was the chef) he asked us if we needed any help -because we were clearly just wandering, haha. We told him we were just looking around and he said, “Let me find someone to show you around!” Wayne grabbed Evan (from Entertainment Express) and Evan gave us a tour that sealed the deal. He gave us a light demo and showed us the amenities. He let us walk around without feeling like we were breaking rules and answered so many questions. I walked away knowing I needed to book this venue.
When discussing specifics everyone at Padua endured question after question from me. They even answered when my now husband wanted to know where they got their beef from as he grew up on a cattle ranch (haha). Ryan was so attentive and patient with me through every step of the planning process. They never made me feel like I was bothering them and seemed almost excited to hear from me every time I called. They were always straightforward and easy to communicate with, which is absolutely necessary when you’re planning your wedding across the country.
The wedding rehearsal was easy and seamless. If you need someone to whip your bridal party into shape they’ve got your back. They know how to maximize the hour you have with them and at no point did I feel stressed that we were forgetting something. In the months leading up I was worried about only having a venue coordinator and considered hiring a day of planner but am so happy I didn’t spend the money. They seriously had it all together and cared that the day went according to OUR plan and were not just concerned about making the venue look good as I had heard some venue coordinators at other places do.
The wedding day was absolutely perfect. Unless our bridal party has kept all the missteps and disasters a secret, I truly feel like nothing went wrong. I was calm the whole day and not at all nervous. I knew there was nothing to worry about. Everything went according to plan and everyone has told us they had a great time- a few even claiming it was the best wedding ever. The food was excellent - from the hors d'oeuvres to the entrees -and HUGE portions, Wayne even came out to admire his handy work - something my parents loved (they have been raving about him for months, honestly they may never stop). When we did our tasting we thought surely they won’t give us that much on the actual day, but they did and it was just one more thing that impressed us about Padua.
The dancing and party was unforgettable. I loved that Entertainment Express was in house, it added so many things that you don’t even realize. If you want to party you have found the right place. (I wrote a separate review for Entertainment Express because they deserve their own glory!) But in short- we got down.
At the end of the day Padua was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. Picking a wedding venue is so hard, there is so much riding on it and you don’t want to live to regret your choice. You hear horror stories of rude coordinators or inedible food. Throw COVID in and it will stress anyone out. But, I can wholeheartedly say that I will never feel that way and never did. I would pick Padua again in a heartbeat. They do weddings right- they take care of their couples and they do it professionally, happily and lovingly. It makes you want to throw a party all over again - maybe in 15 years ;)
So, thank you Padua for making our wedding day a wonderful memory. We have looked at pictures and talked to so many people countless times and all of that couldn’t have happened without all of you. We are so grateful and blessed that we chose you!Padua Weddings's reply:
Rachel, on behalf of the entire Padua Hills team, thank you so much for your amazing review! You have put a smile on our faces and truly made our day. Working with amazing couples like yourself and Elliott is the reason we love what we do. Everything about your wedding was perfection! We especially loved the radiant energy you and your guests had. We definitely felt the love and your special day will be a memorable one for us. Thank you again for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and kind review. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness! -
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![Kelly]()
Kelly Sent on 12/30/2021The Perfect wedding venue
Padua as a venue alone is beyond beautiful. The scenic backgrounds for photos is endless. But it doesn't stop at being just a location for a wedding. The team has honed in on their craft and offer a wide variety of other wedding details like food (that is actually highly reviewed), alcohol, tables/chairs, linens, a complete sound system through the whole venue, day of coordinators, and I'm sure more that I am forgetting. In our minds, there wasn't another venue that comes close to comparison and we would do it all over again in the same place if we could.
The staff was beyond accomodating, helpful and never made me feel like I was overwhelming or inquiring about too many things. The food is still a top 5 highlight of the wedding day (we had bone in ribeyes and chilean seabass). And their preferred vendor list has nothing but the best in the area, I highly recommend maximizing that list if you can. The only thing to be aware of is that partnering with Padua means you have to partner with their DJ/MC company Entertainment Express, which is not a bad thing. It enhances the experience and elevates things up a notch.
I could go on talking about all the details of Padua, but if there is only 1 thing you take away from the review it should be that you need to see it, and trust that you will be in the best hands with their team.
Photo credit: Robert PaetzPadua Weddings's reply:
Kelly, you got us tearing up! On behalf of our entire team, thank you so much for your beautiful review. We pour our hearts into every wedding we get to host and we loved working with yourself and Mykel. Your wedding was phenomenal and the pictures are STUNNING! We wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness. -
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![Rochael]()
Rochael Sent on 12/07/2021Amazing Venue, Amazing Team!
Honestly, you don't even need to think twice about booking this venue. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous (both outdoors and indoors), the team at Padua were beyond amazing and helpful in making our dream wedding a reality! From the moment we got in touch with them, to having to navigate through the global pandemic and postponing our wedding, to the rehearsal, to the actual day, they were on top of everything and went above and beyond to make sure we didn't get stressed or overwhelmed with the details. To top it off, the food was absolutely delicious! All our guests truly enjoyed it! Thank you so much Padua Team for everything! If we could get married a thousand times, we would choose your venue every time!Padua Weddings's reply:
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review, Rochael. Working with yourself and Eric was fantastic! Our mission is make our couple's wedding day as stress-free as possible, so we are happy to hear that we were able to do that for you. Take care and we wish you two a lifetime of love! -
Laura Sent on 10/17/2020
An absolutely beautiful venue
Choosing Padua Hills as a venue and catering for our wedding, was one decision that had the greatest impact at our event. The venue was breathtaking, the food was delicious, and the staff was very professional. Everything went perfectly well! If you enjoy great food, you will love the food at Padua Hills. You will not be disappointed!
The Day-of Coordinator ensure that all those small details got carried out by working alongside with all our vendors. She made sure everything went smooth. The venue was open to new ideas, and along side with our florist @memos_florist and entertainment express, our wedding was absolutely stunning. -
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![Joslyn]()
Joslyn Sent on 02/24/2020Amazing Venue!
This venue was so beautiful! I knew from the beginning that I wanted to have my wedding here. When you book the venue, you are the only event of the day, which makes it that much more special. The outside scenery is breathtaking, and the interior is very charming. The food is also the best! My guests all raved about it!
From the very beginning, the whole team at Padua was great in helping plan the wedding to make it the best day ever! They all helped to make sure everything was planned how I liked. They are serious experts. Also, on the day of, Tammy was the best coordinator. She made sure everything was taken care of so that I could enjoy the day. Thank you Tammy! Also, there were two other people that day (sorry I can't remember their names!), but they made sure I had a drink or whatever throughout the night, which I thought was a really nice thing to have on your wedding night.
So, choosing Padua Hills for my wedding was seriously the best choice I could have made! -
![Lorena]()
Lorena Sent on 11/27/2019Magical Place
Magical! That is the best description for Padua Hills. It was so amazing, the food is the best I ever had at a wedding, and I promise I am not being biased. They made our day so so special. You really don't need a wedding planner, they have your back. Save that money for more flowers, because really they will take care of you from the moment you decide to go with them. My guests loved the place, and couldn't stop talking about it. The best is that they provided us with so much support that we really didn't have have to utilized that many outside vendors. LOVE THEM! -
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![Kyle]()
Kyle Sent on 08/08/2019So this is perfection..
Everyone warned my wife and I about the wedding day. "Things will go wrong, just don't worry about it", "Just be prepared and take on everything with a smile", "It's gonna be mayhem".
I printed out multiple schedules on where we had to be and when, and we passed them out amongst the wedding party. We was prepared for anything.
The entire night we were waiting for this inevitable destructive event.
And guess what. Nothing... Nothing happened.
Everything went smoothly it was almost scary. The team at Padua Hills and entertainment express did a phenomenal job. They knew where to find us, they knew where we had to be, and most importantly, they did it with a smile. The food was amazing, they took care of the snack bar, they made sure every one of our guests was taken care of. Still days after the wedding we're receiving compliments on how perfect it was.
It was truly a perfect evening.
Amazing Padua. Simply, amazing. Thank you for making our special day a night to rememberPadua Weddings's reply:
Thank you so much Kyle! Our entire staff loved working with you every step of the way! We have to say your guest snack table on the way out was such a fun touch! We hope to see you guys in the future for that 10 year vow renewal! ;)
-Padua Team -
![Susan]()
Susan Sent on 04/23/2013The entire staff of Padua were my saviors!!! I had 3 months to figure out what the heck I was doing. But during the 3 months, I had nothing but support and reassurance leading me all the way to the alter, especially from Jennifer, Tammy, Melisa and Christina who helped me coordinate all the details. They were very responsive to all of my emails, concerns and calmed every nerve I had. As far as the place itself, the venue WILL make your jaw drop straight to the floor. My guests never knew a place like this existed snug up in the foothills of Claremont and were impressed! You will literally be blown away w/the features this place has. So it doesn't matter if you deck out the place with elaborate flowers and swag, the beauty of this place will do the job on it's own. Loved the colorful gardens, plants, canopy of olive trees, balconies with breath taking views, couple water fountains, fireplace, the elaborate cast-iron Gazebo. Also loved how the trees were dressed w/lights to add to the already incredible premises making a twilight wedding like mine so romantic. The inside had a cocktail area with another fireplace, wooden floors, elegant decor, full bar area, and enough room for everyone to mingle, enjoy Hor'Doeuvre's and take in the beauty of the place. Then theatre is where all the magic happens! You will automatically fall in love. I got my inspiration for an "Old Hollywood Glamour" themed wedding because of the high vaulted ceilings, long curtains, mirrors, chandeliers, wood floors, stage area, gorgeous up-lighting....the whole 9. The theatre even has built in lighting, lasers, haze, bubbles, spotlights! Overall, if you're looking for a place with 5 star food, beautiful grounds, great customer responsiveness, entertainment, and experts that can help you carry out the day's events, I highly recommend Padua Hills Theatre owned by Chantrelles Catering. You guys are amazing! -
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Jenny Sent on 02/16/2011amazing people made me day perfect -
![Rachel]()
Rachel Sent on 10/03/2024Wonderful Day
We cannot say enough great things about Padua! Every member of the staff we worked with was incredibly friendly, helpful, and always on top of everything. From the moment we started planning, they maintained constant communication through emails and phone calls, ensuring every last-minute update to tables and setups was handled smoothly. On the day of the wedding, the staff truly went above and beyond to make everything perfect.
The food was outstanding, with many of our family and friends commenting that it was the best they’d ever had at a wedding. The portions were generous, and no guest went hungry! The bar staff was exceptional—friendly, skilled, and able to craft anything our guests requested. They even knew all the VIPs, like the father of the bride, so they didn’t have to wait in line.
One of the most thoughtful touches was when they found a binder for the father of the bride to use as a prop for his speech on the day of the wedding. It was these small, personal details that made the experience unforgettable.
We received countless compliments from our guests about how professional and helpful the staff were. If you’re considering Padua for your event, rest assured that you’re in excellent hands.Padua Weddings's reply:
Rachel,
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and we’re so happy to hear that you and your guests had such a memorable experience. We truly enjoyed helping bring your vision to life and making your special day as perfect as possible!
We’re thrilled to hear that the food and service exceeded expectations and that our team’s attention to detail made a lasting impact. The personal touches are exactly what we strive for!
Thank you again for trusting us with such an important day. We loved being a part of your celebration and wish you and Justin a lifetime of love and happiness! -
![Mandy]()
Mandy Sent on 07/02/2024Beautiful wedding, incredible dance floor!
This place really has it all. The venue space is gorgeous. The food is delicious. The dance floor is insanely cool!
All our guests had a blast (as did we). Many say it's the best wedding they've been to.
Ryan and team are the best!Padua Weddings's reply:
Mandy, we're thrilled to hear that your wedding at Padua Hills was such a wonderful experience! It's our goal to create unforgettable memories for every couple, and we're so happy we achieved that for you. Thank you for choosing Padua Hills and for sharing your positive feedback. We hope you'll continue to cherish the memories of your special day! Best wishes! -
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![Meagan]()
Meagan Sent on 08/02/2011Beautiful, Fairytale location! Staff is slightly unorganized but pulled everything together perfectly for the wedding day! My husband and myself, along with our families, were absolutely blown away :) -
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Michelle Sent on 10/20/2011I loved my wedding at Padua hills. The staff was amazing and went above and beyond to make my wedding day a dream come true. The place is breath taking and the food is great. I had over 160 guest and not one person had a bad thing to say about this place. I loved the Spanish charm and the over all look and feel the place gives. -
Amy Sent on 11/28/2017The venue itself is AMAZING! If you want a fairytale-type wedding, then this is the place for you. My only complaint has to do with the people who run the place. The wedding planners are great, but the owners seem like they've been doing this a little too long, and any request you have is the biggest inconvenience ever... But they did give us a great deal, and my wedding was perfect, so I'd still recommend it!
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![Kaylie]()
Kaylie Sent on 03/21/2022Zero Professionalism or Care for Client
In all honesty, I have been putting off this review for months because mentally, I didn't even know where to start. For background knowledge, I was the maid of honor for my sister who got married October 16, 2021.
I'll start with professionalism:
Tammy, the event coordinator, did her utmost to make my sister, the bride feel special and bring her vision to life. It was apparent how caring she was. That is also the reason we were not prepared for the bad news we were to receive just hours before the start of the ceremony.
Sheryl, the owner, on the other hand, was an absolute monster. To begin, on the day of the wedding rehearsal, when she received the final payment in cash, she joked about stuffing a wad of cash in her pocket, as if she were just pocketing it rather than paying it out to her employees. This was both unprofessional and suspicious. This was just the beginning of her rude and careless behavior. Not only did she come off as shady with money, she was also relentless in harassing my sister the day of the ceremony due to a mistake that SHE made regarding blindsiding us with a sudden change to the ceremony location, which I will get into now.
Ceremony:
The day of the ceremony, my sister was unexpectedly hit with bad news about having to change the location of the ceremony due to an active beehive. The ceremony location was the sole reason this venue was booked in the first place. Sheryl delivered the bad news to my sister in the most crass, careless way possible. Not only was she rude and defensive from the get go, she took my sister aside to deliver the bad news to her without allowing any of us to provide emotional support. As soon as I noticed this conversation taking place, I immediately went outside to see what was going on. Not to mention we were about to take pre-ceremony photos that were ruined because of the unprofessional timing of this bad news. On top of it, my sister needed to step away to try to prevent herself from crying more and while she was gathering herself, Sheryl refused to discuss with me any monetary compensation for this huge bad news bomb she just dropped on my sister. As the maid of honor, it was my job to protect the bride at any means necessary, and I literally had to protect her from the constant harassment and nagging of Sheryl who would not leave her alone. Every time Sheryl spoke, my sister burst out in more tears until the point that my sister, the bride quite literally had to tell me to keep Sheryl away from her. Every time my sister started to gather herself to make an attempt to take pictures, there was Sheryl, ready to start the water works all over again.
Not only was this bad news brought on unexpectedly, but what made it worse was how defensive and rude Sheryl was about the entire situation, all because she knew she was in the wrong and was ready to deny any type of monetary refund immediately because she knew that would be requested due to her own negligence.
Background on the bees: Tammy and Sheryl both admitted to having been working on this situation for at least a week and not once mentioned it to my sister in advance or even warn her of the possibility that the ceremony location may need to be moved due to safety reasons regarding the bees. This was their first mistake. To be aware of this issue for a week+ in advance and not mentioning it once was an act of pure carelessness and disregard to my sister's once in a lifetime special event.
To add to this, a bee keeper was noticed by the bridal party the day before the ceremony because he was screaming at all of us to leave the area because it was unsafe due to bees being around. Tammy quickly disregarded him saying he was an "interesting person" was there to tend to the bees, but that everything was fine and we had nothing to worry about. With Tammy being the professional she was, having many years of experience at this venue, we trusted her judgement and didn't think twice about the bees.
Fast forward to the next day, you can imagine how upset we were to then be told that the bees were a huge issue, enough of an issue that the entire ceremony would have to be relocated.
On top of this bad news, the pre-ceremony photos were ruined because my sister had spent the better part of an hour crying. This was all due to the lack of integrity of the venue owner, Sheryl, who only cared about getting paid. Not once did she stop to think that this day meant everything to my sister and brother-in-law and was a day that could never be repeated or redone. Had she had the decency to forewarn my sister about the possibility of relocating the ceremony due to the beehive issue, many, MANY tears, emotional damage, and wasted money could have been prevented.
Sheryl could have prevented her tainted image and could have done the right thing by refunding the bride and groom a percentage of the cost of their wedding due to her negligence in providing a proper warning for the day of the ceremony, but chose not to.
When my sister thinks back to her wedding day, it brings her tears of sadness and disappointment rather than tears of joy, and that can never be undone. -
![Claudia]()
Claudia Sent on 02/21/2022The Bees Knees
There was a live beehive at my friends wedding so the whole party was moved one hour prior to the ceremony to a completely different area. During the ceremony I was stung on the cheek by a bee. My face was swollen and itchy and the owners and coordinators didn’t seem to care. I was not the only person stung. The lack of care this venue has for their guests is not only disgusting but dangerous as well. Save your money and your guests.
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