Venues of the Southland~Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa

I was wowed last week, when I was invited along with other local Wedding & Event planners to experience the Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa. Fabulous. What a luxurious place to stay in the mountains. When I was a little girl my family used to rent a cabin in Twin Peaks {just a couple of miles from Lake Arrowhead} each year, so the area holds lots of memories for me. This was also an early birthday present for me. It is today!

It is a great place to have a destination wedding without leaving Southern California. Plus, they do enjoy all four seasons up there. And it is only about 90 minutes from LA.

You can have your wedding outdoors on their Lakeside lawn and deck or on their beach, weather permitting of course! They have a traditional ballroom, the Lake Arrowhead Ballroom, that seats up to 270 for a wedding, the room also has a foyer that is all yours. If your guest list is smaller they have ballroom with a view, the Lakeview Terrace, it seats about 130 for a wedding.

The Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa

The Lakeview Lawn & Deck


The Beach,
we sat down there by the fireside in the evening


The Lake Arrowhead Ballroom


The Lakeview Terrace Room

The Magnum Room, located off of the restaurant, Bin 182, perfect for a small rehearsal dinner

These are the treatment beds in the VIP Journey Suite at the Spa of the Pines. It is a treatment room with a fireplace, private patio, and living room. Great for relaxing & getting pampered as a couple the day after getting married.

Below are some photos from my favorite suites.

This bed above & tub below are in the Cedar View Suite.
A favorite for brides. It is located right by the Lake View Deck & Lawn.

This spa tub with a view is in the Enchantment Suite

I just love this rustic display they have in the lobby.
The cake is by Lake Arrowhead cake designer, Niki's Custom Cakes.


My table for dinner. We also had a cocktail reception in the lobby.
The florals are by Fleuris Flower Studio.

My place setting


Our first course was Frisee and Red Oak Salad, with crumbled Roquefort Cheese, Pancetta & Garlic Croutons


Our second course was a Garlic Shrimp Crepe, it was a Blue Corn Pancake with Ancho Chilies, Roasted Corn and Cream.


This mango sorbet was our Intermezzo

Our Entree was a Petit Filet Mignon & Alaskan Halibut, with Potato-Leek Gratin, Mushrooms & a Port Wine Reduction with Green Peppercorns.


Our dessert was a Mango Raspberry Tart



After dinner they provided us with blankets and hot toddy's.
We then went down to the beach for a fireside chat.

My & my boys by the fire. Yes, it was that COLD!


The next day we enjoyed a breakfast cruise on the Arrowhead Queen and saw the lake and all the beautiful homes around it.

Enjoy,

.

Venues of the Southland~The Reef Restaurant

The Reef Restaurant in Long Beach

I recently coordinated a wedding here. I was presently surprised by the food and service. Some of the featured pictures are mine, some are The Reef's. The photo above is of the Long Beach skyline from the Sunset deck on the day of the wedding. They are located right next to the Queen Mary so you get the Long Beach skyline. Fabulous!

Here is a photo of the set-up on the sunset deck and my couple getting marriedThis is the Harborview Ballroom. Their largest. Above is the set-up for another wedding, below is the set-up from my couple's wedding. My cute couple dancing their first dance.

Their price is fairly reasonable for a water view/waterfront venue. They have valet parking on the weekends and the food was great. All in all you do get a lot of bang for your buck here. Plus, I am a little partial since I live so close!

Venues of the Southland~The Viceroy, Santa Monica

The Viceroy in Santa MonicaThe hotel is on the corner of Pico & Ocean Avenue. It is "an urban retreat at the shore" or so says their website. It has a cool vibe and the style inside is British/Hollywood Regency with lots of green, white, black & gray. The top three photos are from them and the rest are mine.
The twin plunge pools. You can buyout the poolside and outside dining rooms for a wedding of 180. This is an outdoor dining cabana. It is permanent so you have to adapt it to your event, but so cool.This is part of the Bristol Patio. The Bristol dining room holds about 70 guests.

I took these to give you a sense of what it looks like at night. They are not the best but you get the idea.
These plates are outside by the dining room.These are lined up in the lobby

I always love that when I see I new property they take us to see the rooms. This one has just been remodeled.

I love the guest bathroom.

This green restroom is off of the lobby. What a great restroom!

I love the look of the hotel. If you have a small guest list and are looking for a hip place, than this is a place to look at. One of the other coordinators on our tour talked about it looking a little South Beach. Judge for yourself. I like the vibe of the place. Alison Montgomery is the person to talk to about planning your wedding at the Viceroy.

Enjoy,

Steph

Venues of the Southland~The Shorebreak Hotel

The Shorebreak Hotel, Huntington Beach View from the hotel room we toured

The outdoor deck
It has different levels for intimate gatherings

These doors lead into the Ballroom

Gotta love the sand on the deck & the photo on the door, below.
The room even has a bean bag chair


The bathroom

The shower has dual shower heads

These images are ones I took at the Shorebreak Hotel. Remember, I showed you the fabulous food last week? It is an "upscale, lifestyle boutique hotel" located on PCH & 5th in Huntington Beach. They have been open for a couple of months, now. Their food is fantastic. They call it a hip, Huntington Beach Hotel. The banquet room doesn't have a view. They save that for the hotel rooms. And they don't have a pool since the ocean is just a stones throw away. The hotel doors have photos of random people at the beach with a little bit of loss sand added to them. The deck is cool, great for cocktails or a ceremony. There is beach grass, sand and fire pits. The deck doors lead into the ballroom.

If you want a cool, California casual place for your wedding then this is it. Stacey Hofflich is the person to see for weddings. But this week she is a bride.