Central Coast Venue Guide
What to know, what to ask
One of the first and most important steps in planning any event is the selection of your venue! There are so many unique venues to choose from on the Central Coast, it’s important to take your time and ask lots of questions. Your venue is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day; it helps set the scene of your day as well as determine the flow of your event. We suggest to start your search using our Central Coast Wedding Venue Guide to get your ideas flowing, and make initial contact with the venues that catch your eye. With so many things to consider (and some you may not have thought of); we put together a list of points to ponder, and questions to ask when deciding on a venue.
Whispering Rose Ranch/Photo by Opendoor Wedding Photography
Location
Is the venue close to accommodations for your family and friends? If you have a large number of guests travelling in, you’ll want to make sure there are adequate options nearby, or, plenty of transportation options such as Uber or possibly reserving a shuttle service such as SLO Safe Ride for your event and the safety of your guests.
Style
From Paso Robles to Santa Barbara, the Central Coast is wide open and varied in terrain from mountains to vineyards, cool downtown districts, and coastal areas- which makes it perfect to satisfy any wedding style or theme!
Does the venue match the style and feel you are hoping for? Wedding venues such as Greengate Ranch and Vineyard offers rustic charm with a vintage twist, while Whispering Rose Ranch in Solvang provides breathtaking views of the Santa Ynez Valley from a gorgeous working horse ranch with an air of Santa Barbara sophistication. If you are dreaming of a coastal wedding; venues such as Point 16 in Big Sur offer wide open views of the California coast line, while Avila Beach Golf Resort offers a beach front location with stunning sunsets. And of course, we have no shortage of vineyard and winery locations up and down the Central Coast!
Point 16, Big Sur/Photo by Kramer Events
Venue
When you’ve narrowed down your list of venues, there are a few questions to keep in mind that may save you money and hassle come event day:
–How far in advance can you reserve the venue, and, does the venue offer an off-season discount? The wedding season on the Central Coast is typically late April through early November, when the weather here is best. Many venues and vendors (like Kramer Events) offer off-season discounts on venues and services if you book during November through early April.
–What is included in the rental fee? Some venues offer tables, chairs, and other wedding related items and fold it into the cost of the rental; however, not all do. Make sure to get the list of what’s included to make the most of your budget and vendor needs.
–Can you choose your own vendors? Another very important question! Most venues will allow outside catering, and liquor; however, there are several on the Central Coast that utilize their own in-house catering or liquor license. Often, you can still bring in outside wine, beer, or liquor, but there may be a corkage fee. Be sure to outline this clearly ahead of time with the venue’s Event Manager.
-Finally, time of year is also very important when determining a venue. While the temperature throughout much of the coastline and inland valleys of the Central Coast stay sunny and temperate throughout much of the year; our summertime and early fall temperatures in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Ynez can climb into the 90’s and higher. Does the venue have an indoor option for coverage, or, enough room for tenting should the weather call for it?
As you begin your search for the perfect Central Coast wedding venue, keep these points in mind and look for venues that will bring the vision of your perfect day to life!
Pear Valley Winery, Paso Robles/Photo by Kramer Events
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