Average Base Cost: $20,000
Average base cost for a Sherman Library & Gardens wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a Saturday night wedding using Pascal’s catering food/beverage costs, facility rental fees, tax and gratuity. Transportation to venue, entertainment, decorations, flowers, tents, tables, etc. are not included. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand.
How it breaks down:
Facility Rental Fee: $4,000 ($2,000 membership fee plus $2,000 rental fee)
What this includes: Nothing
Additional Info: The Garden is available for wedding rehearsals by appointment between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. one to three days prior to wedding ceremonies. The Gardens staff representative will be present to assist with the rehearsal and finalize details for the ceremony and reception.
Food: You must use their approved caterer, Pascal Prestige. Prices vary, but a sample menu online estimates $70 per person for a 3-course plated dinner (though you can reasonably expect this price to average around $100/pp). Sherman Library and Gardens is only licensed for beer, wine, and champagne, so you will not be able to have a full bar.
More Stats:
Space Type: Outside and inside
Bridal Suite: Yes
Size: For ceremonies, the Tea Garden Patio comfortably accommodates up to 200 guests; the Central Patio Room holds up to 125 seated indoors. For warm-weather receptions, the Central Patio Room and Central Garden combined seat 250. During cooler months, the indoor Central Patio Room holds 125, or 200 can be accommodated with tenting.
Food Service Type: Buffet or plated
Parking: There are two parking lots located within walking distance
How Will Grandma Get There? Newport Beach has lots of great hotels to stay at, including the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach and Fairmont Newport Beach.
Party On!: Alcohol must stop being served by 9 p.m. as well as music. Events must end by 10 p.m.
The Report:
Wide brick walkways, wisteria, succulents, and tons of other seasonal flowers and foliage adorn the 2.2 acres that Sherman Library and Gardens sits on. The venue is open to the public every day from 10:30 to 4:00 p.m., but private events can start by 4:30. Baskets of begonias hang overhead in the Tea Garden Patio, where most wedding ceremonies take place, and the Pepper Tree Patio is normally a good spot for a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres. For indoor receptions there is the Central Patio, with a cathedral ceiling, painted mosaic tiles, and terra cotta floors.
Woman Getting Married Says:
If you’re looking for a backyard-inspired, intimate, garden wedding I would definitely check this venue out. Considering the somewhat reasonable rental fee (despite the fact that it doesn’t include anything) and standard catering options, you can spend a bit more money on things like chairs and linens and little details that will look great in the gardens (like vintage serveware). My main hesitation is the curfew and lack of liquor license. If you have the option (and have friends/family that enjoy drinking, like I do), I think it’s always a good idea when possible to have a full bar at your wedding. I also hate having to shut down a party early, and the 9 p.m. last call seems a bit early, especially when you’re not starting your ceremony until 4:30 or 5. That means you’re essentially paying $1,000/hour to use the space. When you look at it that way, it seems a bit more expensive. Worth a trip, but I would see what kind of negotiating you’re able to do (either on the curfew or overall price).
