Wedding venues!

I would look up prices for things on wedding wire and estimate what your "dream wedding" would cost, then decide what's actually important to you and price that out. I'd just tell your mother you don't want her in debt for your wedding.
My mother was raised by a single mother and we found out when she passed she had taken a loan out for my mother's wedding and it caused her some financial problems. My mother was so upset finding that out 20 years later. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your advice!!!

Congrats Erica! I felt the same way when we first started planning but we were actually able to negotiate our venue price! I didn’t know it was possible until we did some research and other couples had done the same. We had two venues in mind and we were able to negotiate on pricing on the one we really liked! Good luck, it’s possible!

Newland Barn - Huntington Beach

Harbour View Clubhouse - Huntington Beach

Love at First Bite Catering is also a pretty reasonable vendor.

View Quoted Comment Thanks girls!!!!

View Quoted Comment

Also CA Bakery in Costa Mesa has delicious cake for a really reasonable price, I think it was like $2.50 per person. I recommend the white cake with a raspberry filling.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Lauren!! Will definitely look into it

What kind of feel are you looking for? There’s a venue in Temecula called Abbott Manor that has a bunch of things included (including photographer) in one flat rate.

View Quoted Comment I’m open! Thank you so much I’ll look it up!

View Quoted Comment I’ll PM you some notes I took on it when I was touring venues last year. The pricing may look a bit different because we looked last summer, but the rest should be about the same. Also, check out Heritage Museum of OC, Riverbed Farm in Anaheim, the Hacienda in Santa Ana, Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange, Summit House in Fullerton, and Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel in Anaheim. I haven’t toured all of them (though I’m getting married at Heritage) but I know they tend to be on the more affordable side.

We had a local reception at Monte De Oro in Temecula. In 2017, their site fees and dinner fees were reasonable!

View Quoted Comment I actually Just Inquired to them! Looked pretty!!! Thank you!

View Quoted Comment Yasss!! Hello again, Nicole! I’m getting married at Abbott Manor and can help too. There’s so much included in the flat rate. I think I’m spending about 10k beyond the flat rate but that’s because I’m bougie. Lol. Good luck and congratulations. ❤️

Oo, also, check out Blue Barn Lavender Farm in Sage (just outside Temecula). It’s gorgeous!

I am getting married in Orange next year. Check out The Vintage Rose. I couldn't be more stress free after booking this place

View Quoted Comment I heard really good things about it

View Quoted Comment

They are the type of venue that comes with almost everything included, food, drinks, décor, music, coordinator, ceremony and reception areas. They will start off by asking what your budget is and you can go from there.

We are in the middle of a 3 year engagement so that we can save up the majority of our budget on our own, our parents have offered to help but I don't want to rely on it or make them feel obligated. It really depends on how quickly you want things to move.

What really helped me was this website and a facebook group - wedding connection. Getting advice from people who are in it or who have done it recently is amazing and that way you don't miss anything.

We are getting married at Meadowlark Golf Club in Huntington Beach! Super reasonable pricing and the private event director, Chris, is great.

Heritage Museum of orange county. I'm getting married there next month and their caterer has very reasonable prices.