Serra Plaza
31920 Del Obispo Street
San Juan Capistrano, CA
949-542-4848
View their website
Average Base Cost: $17,000
Average base cost for a Serra Plaza wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Saturday night ceremony/reception including food and beverage using one of the venue’s approved caterers. Transportation to venue, entertainment, additional decorations, and flowers are not included. Average price includes gratuity and state sales tax. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.
How it Breaks Down
Facility Rental Fee: Wedding ceremony and reception, up to five hours (plus two hours for setup and one hour for cleanup after).
- Friday/Sunday: $3,500
- Saturday: $4,500
Food: You must use one of the venue’s approved caterers, which includes Jay’s Catering, Good Gracious! Events, and Sundried Tomato. On average, you can expect catering with alcohol to start at $100/pp for a seated meal.
Important Note: Decor and other rentals are not included in the facility fee.
More Stats
Space Type: Outside, with an inside location (the Grand Salon) scheduled for completion January 2012. Location options currently include The Grand Plaza Courtyard and Salon Patio.
Bridal Suite: Yes, along with a small groom’s area.
Size: Rental fee is for 200 guests, but the space can accommodate up to 450
Food Service Type: Buffet/seated options
Parking: Yes
How Will Grandma Get There? There are better hotel options near Capistrano Beach, Dana Pointe, and San Clemente. Guests can take a taxi or drive to/from the hotel or you can arrange a shuttle. Shuttles can cost around $1,000 depending on how many people and amount of time. Click here to get a quote.
Party On! Events must end by 10 p.m.in the courtyard, and 1 a.m. in the Grand Salon.
The Report
Serra Plaza is located in the Los Rios district of San Juan Capistrano in Orange County. The district, which is considered to be the oldest neighborhood in California, is located across the train tracks of the Capistrano Depot, which means you can hear trains in the background from the Plaza. The plaza itself is mission-style, with clay tile roofs, adobe-colored walls, and a fountain. They are currently in the process of finishing their “Grand Salon,” which you can see below.
Woman Getting Married Says
Now that this venue will feature an inside-option, I’m liking it a whole lot more. I’m not a huge fan of an event that is in a) one location and b) entirely outside. While the weather in California is typically gorgeous, it’s one of those things you don’t want to stress about. I think a Tuscan-styled wedding, like they did for this shoot here, would be a perfect fit for this venue. I would attempt to negotiate the fee down to $3,000-$3,500 for a Saturday night, because while I love the style of the building, I think you’ll end up having to bring in a lot of lighting, decorations, and flowers to make it look warm and styled.
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