La Venta Inn

As a local South Bay wedding photographer, I'm always thrilled when a couple chooses the iconic La Venta Inn. I recently had the honor of capturing a beautiful, timeless garden wedding here, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular! From a photography perspective, this property is a dream for couples who value an editorial and documentary approach. The grounds offer a perfect blend of manicured garden elegance, gorgeous coastal views from around the property (especially the ceremony space, and bridal suite), and historic architectural charm. Whether we were capturing candid, "in-the-moment" shots during the ceremony with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, or curated, high-fashion portraits near the villa, the light and textures here are incredible. The event and venue team at La Venta Inn are true professionals. Their seamless coordination allows me to focus entirely on my couples, ensuring we capture every fleeting moment and fine detail without feeling rushed. For couples who view their wedding photography as one of their most significant investments, this venue provides the elevated, sophisticated canvas needed to create a truly high-end gallery, whether with clear skies or on an overcast day. I am so thankful to have documented such a stunning day here and can’t wait to be back. If you’re looking for a timeless venue with the best views in Palos Verdes, this is it! — Jules (Julianne Rose Photography)

Beautiful Spanish vibe with so much natural decor. The ocean view and breeze is wonderful when you're in need of a cool down too. It feels cozy and relaxed; safe from the busyness of the world. An all-in-one solution for those couples that want to capture getting ready to open dance. Photos by KLV Photography

Cannot recommend La Venta enough! It was the perfect venue for our wedding. They had it all, from phenomenal staff to incredible food to luxurious facilities, not to mention the stunning views. We worked with Savanna, Cameron & Emily and they all were super kind & accomodating. We had no issues reaching out to them for any questions and concerns and would always receive quick responses. We could not have asked for better! It's definitely well-worth the investment for a beautiful location to make long-lasting memories.

La Venta Inn is a truly special place. The historic charm, ocean views, and Spanish-style architecture made it feel romantic without trying too hard. As the day went on and the sun started to set, the venue somehow just kept getting better. So many of our guests commented on how beautiful it was and how smoothly everything flowed from one part of the night to the next. Made by Meg was incredible. The food was beautiful, yes, but more importantly it was actually delicious. We’re still hearing from guests about how good the meal was, which isn’t something you always hear after a wedding. The service felt professional but warm, and everything ran seamlessly without us ever having to think about what was happening behind the scenes.

This is a wedding venue that pulls all the stops to create a magical, beautiful day for you! We are a husband-and-wife wedding photo-video team, and we've had the privilege of shooting here. In our experience with working at multiple types of venues, we know how important the space is for the couple and their loved ones! First off, La Venta Inn is absolutely stunning, and if you're looking for a venue that makes you feel like you are in a romantic garden getaway surrounded by beautiful blue, it'll be perfect. It has the backdrop of the ocean meeting the sky, and there are arches of florals and greens adorning the sides of the property. The courtyard in front with the fountain makes you feel like you are transported to some kind of European country, and the rooms for getting ready are situated perfectly, especially if the bride and groom are not planning on seeing each other before their first look or ceremony! In the reception space, the lighting is superb. It's warm and intimate, almost ethereal in the glow next to the window reflections and green and floral surroundings. We loved shooting here and can't wait to come back again!

The view of city and Pacific Ocean are spectacular. A nice venue to host a wedding or event.

La Venta Inn is absolutely MAGICAL!!! I photographed a wedding at this stunning venue this past Saturday, and I was completely blown away at not only the location but the 5 star experience thanks to the incredible staff. First off, this venue is BEAUTIFUL! Every corner is perfect for photos. Mature trees, twisting vines, blooming flowers, and panoramic views surround this property. Everywhere you look, you feel like you've been transported to the vacation spot of your dreams. It is a family-owned historic property that feels secluded, private, and truly one-of-a-kind. The staff that operates the venue is unbelievably kind and welcoming. I work at a lot of wedding venues. It is uncommon to find venue staff who are so involved and present throughout the entire event. When a medical incident arose (one of the guests), the staff members immediately jumped into action and discreetly handled the situation to help the evening get back on track. The team was professional, accessible, and fed us an incredible hot meal (thanks to their exclusive caterer, Made by Meg) at a very convenient moment in the timeline. Always a huge win as a busy wedding vendor! I cannot say enough good things about this venue. It is definitely best for intimate weddings, particularly when you do not have a wedding party. If you are looking for a classic, California vibe that has a secret garden element, you will NOT be disappointed! Also, the sunset was spectacular!

This venue was absolutely gorgeous. The staff was absolutely amazing with spectacular professionalism, patience, and efficiency. Unfortunately, the only bad part of the wedding was a few of the guests when it was time to leave. The venue staff was amazing at trying to handle the situation and I am deeply grateful for the actions of the staff. Highly encourage others to choose this venue.

A beautiful venue I only wish it were bigger for my daughters wedding The view is outstanding and the people are great that run it The food is awesome too!

I was fortunate enough to experience what one would call a "fairytale wedding" at La Venta. The location and view were absolutely stunning, but both paled in comparison to the bride and her mother. The venue was perfect to showcase them both. Now, I'm not in the loop on who did what or what services were rendered by whom, but it all worked. The venue comfortably accommodated the 160+ guests that were in attendance. The staff were effective and worked efficiently. Plates were removed and replaced, and that goes for glasses of champagne, too. The food was great, but that could have been the champagne talking. Naw, the food was quite tasty and served its purpose....slowing down the drinking. But there was ample time for that, for the coordinators fluidly moved things along. I had never been to a wedding as glamorous and surprising as this one. Something new and different around every corner. The attention to detail was amazing. La Venta rolled with it all. Pictures can't do it justice. Well, maybe just one. Quick Tip: You're on your own with planning and ideas. I know that this wedding, in particular, took over a year to pull off. I won't give up all the secrets, for to do so, would to be taking away your adventures in planning. However, if you're interested, I leave you with this clue.....

We got married at La Venta Inn in September 2024 and it was truly everything we could have asked for. The centerpiece here, and a large part of why we chose this venue, is the spectacular view overlooking the ocean which made for such beautiful pictures. Besides the natural beauty of the area, the building itself is a historic villa which felt cozy and intimate and yet comfortably accommodated our guest count of 100. Savannah was our contact person and was very responsive to emails, including some last minute seating changes we had in the weeks leading up to the wedding La Venta works exclusively with Made by Meg for catering - Kat was our contact person and was fantastic to work with. Note that they do not allow outside food vendors, but they were able to accommodate some of our special requests such as requests to source a specific brand of ice cream so that we could make our wedding unique to us. We got so many compliments from our guests on how delicious the food was. The other exclusive vendor that they are contracted with is Vox DJs. This is the only vendor that we had a less than stellar experience with. They performed their duties fine on the day of the wedding, with the exception of forgetting to set up the dance lights we had paid for, but the communication and planning leading up the wedding did not go as smoothly as I hoped, and I wish that we had the flexibility to go with a DJ company of our own choosing. However I understand the restrictions given that La Venta is a historic site. Overall, our wedding at La Venta was memorable, beautiful, and we would recommend them to anyone looking for a gorgeous venue with spectacular ceremony views. With a venue like this, you really only need a good florist (we used Flowernoon Shop) and a talented photographer (June Choi Photography) to bring out the natural beauty of the venue - you really don't need a lot of other rentals, draping, etc. We are so happy we had our wedding here!

I had the honor of performing at La Venta Inn last October. The entire place is utterly gorgeous! The buildings, rich in period detail, are beautifully maintained. The ocean views are breathtaking. The landscaping is lush and well kept. There is a lovely little cottage on the grounds with a private changing room and restroom (I used it as a dressing room, and brides typically use it as well). The staff members are friendly, professional, and very helpful. La Venta Inn is a truly magical place for a wedding or other special event. (This review was written by Erik's wife.)

We went here for a friend's wedding. The venue itself is quite small, with limited seatings. However, the scenery is unbeatable! Parking is small, so recommend to arrive early to your event to secure a spot. Otherwise, I believe they do offer valet parking once the lot is full.

Beautiful location. Inhale attended 4 weddings there. View location. ********* Staff ******** Beverage *** Food ** but better than New York food company that ran it before. Not saying much really. Slow cold tired meal. Music **. No real drive. They keep it quiet for the neighbors and somebody guards the door. Way to expensive for what you get. So so much charm and potential. One would think with the managers with the Madonna headsets the communication of a hit meal and service would be top shelf.

Horrible service. They have added fees that come up. There rules are also ridiculous. Do not recommend.

Celebrated my Dad's 100th birthday party here and it was amazing. The setting, the staff, the food all contributed to a wonderful event. Many long time residents of the Peninsula had never been to La Venta and were so surprised that such a beautiful intimate place existed on the hill. After the party, upon getting into the car, my Dad said, "Let's do this again next year!"

My husband and I got married at La Venta on 7/29/22 and it was the wedding of our dreams! La Venta is now under newer management and the catering company Made by Meg runs the show! I could not be more impressed with the way the food, the service, the venue itself looked and felt on our wedding day. Its safe to say that I honestly felt like we were having our wedding at "home" with the way the staff treated us but lets be honest, my home does not look like La Venta! ;) There are not many event venues in Palos Verdes and this one takes the cake completely. The best part about it all is that, they literally supply you with everything you need for a wedding and you really dont have to think about much if you are going with minimal extras which you DO NOT need at this place because it is so stunning all on its own. I promise you less is more at La Venta and you will be totally blown away by the service you get. I cannot say enough good things and would recommend them to anyone looking for the best wedding ever :) Thank you Made by Meg staff, from the bottom of our hearts!

What an amazing venue! We did our most recent event here and our members loved it. The whole team at La Venta Inn and Made By Meg were so caring and generous. We appreciate their love for what they do and the attention to detail. The views where amazing!! Huge thank you to the whole team at La Venta Inn, especially Duncan!! #southbayautoclub

If you need a wedding or event venue, look no further than La Venta. We were married there in the 1990's, and decades later, friends and family still talk about our wedding. Wonderful location that overlooks the ocean, fabulous attentive staff that helped design a wedding exactly to our specifications, and fabulous food. As good as it gets, five stars.

We got married here not to too long ago. Our experience was overall pretty good. The DJ was good and communicative. The food was great. The staff was great, and the view was wonderful. However, there are some some things that still bug me to this day. These things happened after the wedding. We were sent off on our grand exit. My bridesmaids went to go collect my things from the bridal suite, but several of my things went missing. My entire make up bag which consisted of hundreds of dollars of products and other random things like my pajama bottoms, my slip, my hanger, etc. all went missing. My husband actually went back on our wedding night to look for my belongings but they were all gone. It's still a mystery today. I mean why would anyone steal my slip!? Or a hanger that says "Mrs. XXX"?! Super bizarre. The next morning I did not have any make up to go to my wedding brunch. I went home and had to re-purchased everything. I reached out to La Venta and they said nothing was thrown away and at times bridesmaid may accidentally take things that do not belong to them due to the rush of clean up. I checked with them and none of my bridesmaids took anything. In fact none of their things were missing only mine.... Another thing was La Venta requires we use vendors that they pick out. I wanted transportation to take my guest back to their hotels after a night of drinking, so we used a transportation vendor that they recommended and guess what. They never showed up! (even after I paid the deposit in advance). Super embarrassing especially when I promised my guest transportation back to their place. The transportation company eventually reimbursed Ubers, but still it left me with tears on my wedding night. It was not a good way to end. I would have not use this company originally.

Beautiful wedding site, a hidden gem in Palos Verdes Estates. My cousin just had her wedding there last night and we all really enjoyed the view and location. The place itself is not too big but the stunning ocean and sunset views made it a perfect place for wedding. Service and food were great, we all had a good time

We had our daughter's wedding at La Venta last week. It is one of the most beautiful, restful places in Southern California. Every time we walk on the property we instantly feel at peace, and the views are amazing! We knew it would be a perfect venue for the wedding and it was. Mike and Charla are great to work with. They are kind, helpful, and flexible. They truly want the event to be "your event" and they don't impose a lot of restrictions about the way it should be. My daughter declared it to be "the wedding of her dreams." What more could we ask for?

I was just a part of a beautiful wedding at this venue and I can't say enough good things about my experience there. The staff was so helpful in coordinating us and making sure everyone was where they needed to be, and everything ran very smoothly. I feel like I usually have mid-range expectations of wedding food but WOW was the food amazing. There was some kind of a soup I could've eaten a cauldron of, and a stuffed chicken with vegetables that was so good it was talked about well into the next day. A sweet bridesmaid next to me was vegetarian and I snagged one of her pesto gnocchi which was also amazing. I don't think we even have to talk about how incredible the views are at this place but let's do it anyway. I have never seen so many people at a wedding taking pictures of each other. No one could resist the amazing backdrops, perfect sunset lighting, and numerous picture-taking spots. You'll end up with some new profile picture worthy stuff, guaranteed. TL;DR--Book this venue. The people are helpful, the place is beautiful, and the food is to die for.

La Venta was one of the first venues that my now husband and I toured after we got engaged. We fell in love with the location and views and we ended up booking our wedding date for last November within a day of touring. All of our guests couldn't stop talking about the views of the venue as most are from out of state and many were raving about the food options. Every single guest had been in love with the Chilean sea bass option that we gave them; even my husband who doesn't eat fish loved it! We also recommend and loved working with our coordinator, Brenda. She made the ceremony run smoothly, even though guests were late, and kept everything on schedule to allow us to get our sunset photos. She also made sure that my husband and I were fed during the reception, which is definitely a plus!

You're gonna get the beautiful views, the Spanish feel of the place and the friendly staff...etc but the one thing you look forward to getting and they seem to always forget to mention it - is having a great time celebrating and dancing - because the Police will come and ask you to turn down the music due to a neighbor complaining about the loud music and if they receive a second complaint they will shut down the party...sad ain't it? I've been there three times and it happens every time! The City will do that regardless of the time of day or night. Think twice before you sign the dotted line!!

Great views! :) it's towards the back patio area of the venue where you'll see the breathtaking wedding-perfect views of the ocean & beaches below. Love it! Think this is a perfect location for small size weddings or other special occasions :) Note to the management team: if the Inn is no longer hosting people for overnight stays, then why does the name Inn still exist in the name? "Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging and, usually, food and drink." - from Wikipedia

We got married at La Venta Inn on 11/30/18. From the first tour of this beautiful property, we knew it was where we had to get married. We had such a perfect night, everything exceeded our expectations. We would definitely recommend La Venta to other couples. Location: I mean, we fell in love with and basically paid for the location/view. Pictures don't do it justice. We were fortunate that it rained the day before our wedding so it cleared LA and got to see all the way across the city. Even at night, the view is stunning with all the city lights down the coast. The reception was inside and is a perfect intimate setting for the 85 guests we had. The rest of the property boasts a lot of various scenery for gorgeous photos. Just be warned that it is quite a drive up through winding PV, so we hired a bus to help transport our imbibing guests ;) Food/Drink: New York Food Company knows what they are doing for sure. There are quarterly tasting events where you can enjoy sampling the food (I'd recommend sharing w/significant other). I will say that the food the night of was way better than the tasting and everyone came away RAVING about it. The cake gets outsourced to Torrance Bakery, but they were very easy to work with and the cake was delicious as well. Venue Coordinator: Leslie was excellent and ensured that all of our details were executed and provided a completely stress-free night for me. This isn't La Venta's first rodeo: they provide all their couples with a tray of appetizers and champagne to the cottage post-ceremony, as well as a to-go bag of more appetizers, full entrees (even though we ate a good amount of ours), and the top layer of the cake wrapped up nicely for the freezer.

Beautiful setting. It's hard to beat the view. It's panoramic view of the South Bay all the way up to Malibu. You can see downtown and the mountains too. The hill in Palos Verdes where this place is perched is very small but so scenic. I came for a wedding and it was able to comfortably seat 70 people outside on a gentle slope. There is a small gazebo. The building is Spanish style with multiple rooms. The entrance room also functions as a dance floor. The side rooms are bar and a nice dining area with lots of windows. Very charming. The food was just OK, but the venue makes up for it. There is plenty of parking and the service is good.

Gorgeous wedding venue!!!! I had the luxury to attend a wedding here last month, and all I can say is the view outdoors by the gazebo is marvelously breathtaking. It overlooks the coastline and city of LA. It was super romantic, and I felt like I just fell in love again. You can also see the view from inside the dining area. And it's spectacular both during the day and at night. The only drawbacks is I didn't like the layout of the dining area. I felt like it was not open enough. Depending on where you are sitting, you get an obstructed view. Also, for people who plan to have a big wedding, this venue is definitely not for them because it only holds up to 150 guests. I would love to have a wedding here one day (if I ever get married and don't stay an old maid haha). You can definitely have a small intimate wedding where it's super romantic and for sure will be memorable for all your guests. For anyone interested in holding their reception here, have your ceremony at Wayfarers Chapel. The view is absolutely stunning! It's also on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I'm in love!

Beautiful venue, great food. I have attended a wedding here twice- one for a sit down and one for a buffet style. Both were catered by NYFC (New York Food Company - I think that's what they were called) and the food was delicious both times. I think this is a beautiful location to have a wedding/event. Lots of parking, great view overlooking the ocean, plenty of space inside and out. They also provide rooms for the bride and groom to get ready. Not too sure about price or policies for this location, but my friends were able to bring in outside vendors with no issues.

Had I not seen the Wayfarer's Chapel, this would have been a 5 star. This location is great, the view is beautiful as well. It is quaint and quite fairytale like, perfect for a small wedding with close friends and family. I came here for a wedding reception and was thoroughly impressed. The service was phenomenal and the food and beverage were delicious and perfect. The wait staff and parking attendants were all very professional and courteous.

My daughter's wedding reception was held at La Venta Inn recently. Where do I begin? Everything was 5 star in every way. The view, the staff and the FOOD was perfect. I had several people call me and tell me that it was without a doubt the best reception they ever attended. We worked with Charla as our contact person and she was so professional and charming each and every time we spoke. We requested many personal touches and brought in decor which was perfectly placed and displayed by La Venta. I can not say one thing to improve or change. This was the best decision ever and they made my daughter's wedding spectacular. They took care of all the details so we could focus on the day.

If you have a lot of $$$, 50-75 guests and a penchant for gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean coastline, La Venta Inn is your place. It wasn't MY place, unfortunately, because of both the price and the number of guests I am expecting. Let's begin our tour with the drive. The drive is quite nice, especially once you get to Palos Verdes and start winding up the small mountain atop which the Inn sits. Be sure to keep a sharp lookout for the sign as the turn into the Inn may be easy to miss. As we pull into a smallish-to-medium sized parking lot, you instantly see the ocean. There is an enclosed courtyard with a fountain in the middle and this is where your guests will mingle before the ceremony and during the cocktail hour. Moving through the courtyard, you enter the ballroom where a fireplace is to your left and straight in front of you will be a white gazebo and again, on clear days, a stunning view of the coastline. It really is breathtaking which is why so many folks love this place for weddings. A white gazebo is at the bottom of a grassy slope where the chairs would be placed. I think the photos that other Yelpers do the place justice - it's exactly what you'll get on nice days. (I know I keep saying "on nice days," but that's because y'all know how LA can be. I asked about this and the coordinator said that on a number of summer days, you get a fog cover but that it usually burns off by midday. Of course, there are no guarantees and the view is really the point of La Venta Inn so take this risk into consideration!) Moving on with our verbal tour. If you'll step back into the ballroom, you'll finally notice the rooms to your right - the reception area. Broad windows let in a lot of light and you still see wonderful views of the ocean. There is a smell of musty carpet, however, which may dampen your enjoyment of the view. Despite the large windows, there is also a stifling feeling in the room, perhaps because it is smaller than you would expect. If you plan on having a wedding of more than about 75 people, expect to seat some of your guests in the antechamber of the reception area. The entire venue was definitely smaller than I expected, especially since I was armed with the fore-knowledge that I would have around 120-150 guests. I read a few reviews on Yelp about La Venta Inn as well and read that many who had their weddings here only had around 50-75 guests. The bridal room and the groom's room are both lovely - they were my absolute favorite of all the venues that I visited, especially the groom's room. Usually, the latter is not given much attention because what do guys really need other than a toilet, a fridge and a couch? This place was elegantly decked out with brown leather sofas and a nice, masculine feel. Catering is done through the New York Food Company. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who has some money to spend and not a lot of guests to spend it on!

I started looking for venues early on in the wedding process and it was difficult to find a place that was both beautiful and affordable until I found La Venta Inn. To be honest the photos online, on Yelp don't really do it justice. It is definitely a venue you HAVE TO GO SEE. I happened to go in early Fall and the view was absolutely breathtaking driving in. Since Day 1, the staff have been so accommodating and friendly. Though everyone at La Venta Inn (or from the ones I've met) were extremely qualified, I took the advice of everyone here on Yelp and specifically asked for Tim. You are actually assigned to a coordinator, but you can request it and I stopped at nothing to get TIm. I called and emailed and I was had the privilege of working with him. It was an added bonus that his daughter's name was Mia too :) Working with Tim was such a breeze. I am not going to lie, having two extremely organized people working together (Tim and myself) I think it was made the process so easy. He was prompt with his responses to my questions and always made sure to reassure me that everything would work out. When we had our 3-4 hour meetings, I would throw out so many ideas and he would have comments for every single one (without fail) which helped me make my decisions rather quickly. The food choices are absolutely amazing. The chef there works with you to create your perfect menu. I will leave this review with three things: 1) Choosing WHEN to have your wedding at this venue is important. Mine was the beginning of summer and because of the weird weather we have been having, I thought it was going to be hot, but it was moderate and a little windy...not what I expected. Still a breathtaking view though...For some reason the sky was clearer during the fall and winter months than summer..so something to think about. 2) Choosing the RIGHT coordinator for you. I had met with someone else and corresponded with her several times, but speaking to Tim on the phone twice and the reviews he received on YELP just did it for me. I never met him, but I just had to have him! 3) Size of Venue: This is definitely a venue for more intimate gatherings and I ended up having about 110 people attend and it was perfect. This venue accommodates more than that, but any more and I feel it would be a little cramped. So, there you go future brides! Have your wedding at La Venta Inn, you won't regret it.

***** Buyer Beware***** La Venta Inn's website say that it is "committed to providing you with the ultimate in service and hospitality." In reality, it's was more like a "lack of service." A successful wedding does not leave its guests, bride and groom feeling upset, cheated or embarrassed at its conclusion. ************************ My wedding on June 12, 2015 was a disaster. A major reason why my husband and I chose La Venta Inn (New York Food Company) as our wedding venue was due in large part for the self-proclaimed elegance and amenities it had advertised online, social media reviews, and a personal visit to La Venta itself. I thought "great, this venue definitely has a high standard of professionalism and a fine attention to detail to make my wedding a success." Instead of a dream come true, it turned out to be a living nightmare. I'm disgusted with how things unfolded. La Venta Inn did not disclose to us that there was a scheduled power maintenance that day and that there's a possibility that electricity would be disruptive. There was an opportunity and ample time to notify, inform, guide and prepare us for what may lay ahead. Which they chose not to. When my husband and I arrived at the venue on our wedding day the coordinator, Mike Halish, kept the power outage from us. He greeted us upon arrival and that was it. It wasn't until I wasted 15minutes of my time before I discovered none of the outlets worked. I really struggled with the idea of how management can leave a bride in the dark on basic necessity. It turned out that I couldn't use some of the amenities in bridal cottage to get ready prior to my wedding ceremony such as any last minute touch ups for my hair, charging my phone or play relaxing music on my special day. My husband had to change in the dark in the groom's quarter. There was a lack of power in the bridal cottage, groom's quarters, courtyard, dining hall, bar room, dance floor, and the restrooms. We were thrust into a situation where we had to on our own during the event discover the severity and pervasiveness that this incompetency posed on our day. The levels of anxiety and emotional stress were all too real for my husband and I. Too top it off, we had three legally disabled guest to worry about. More than 50% of the event was over before electricity was restored which meant non-functioning air conditioning until the last course of our reception dinner. Having "white-gloved attendants" was an additional feature that we paid for but did not receive. Because we paid over $25,000 in a pre-paid upfront manner to hold our event. In doing so, we expected all of the terms of service and access to all amenities would be honored in full. La Venta Inn wouldn't admit that my wedding day was not in any shape or form deeply affected and partially ruined by their lack of ability to communicate and disclose any information. Instead, the owner, Jim Wharton, thought I was contacting him to give them a tip for "saving my wedding." First you don't live up to your promises and now you want more money? ?? This was ridiculous, absurd, and insulting.It's obvious that their management and owner lack basic common decency. The only fore thought was making sure loud emergency generators powered the kitchen and music; however, this was not enough. The venue continued to make decisions throughout the night without my consent that clearly demonstrates an ongoing pattern of blatant disregard for what my husband and I are entitled. These decisions did not make my wedding a success but rather made it clear that holding my event at this location was a mistake. To deny us less service and still require us to pay the same price as any other wedding that is held at La Venta Inn is unconscionable. Because Jim Wharton refused to give us any compensation back, I took him to small claims court. He tried to misguide me by telling me to go through arbitration but I know my rights. I received a letter for a judgement in the mail yesterday. The court sided with me. It's disappointing that someone can have no shame in ruining your wedding day and tried to fight this in court. At least justice was served. My feelings were validated. I don't deny the elegance or exclusivity of La Venta Inn. If you don't mind being charged the same amount as any other couple but given less service and respect, then this would be the place for your wedding. However, California has plenty of venues that has an ocean view background.

This place is breathtakingly beautiful -- and not just visually; I swear even the air around it is fragrant. Ultimately, because I was expected to deliver the traditional big fat Indian wedding to my 200+ guests, I had to decline the venue for my wedding and reception. La Venta Inn is much more suited for elegant affairs with about 150 people, which is what most people are looking for in a wedding venue anyway. And the view -- omg the view!! Despite not choosing the venue, I feel the need to write this review because I was so impressed by Mike Halish, the director of venue operations for the New York Food Company, the catering company that runs the inn. He had such a welcoming demeanor and willingness to accommodate some requests that he had every right to refuse. For a guy whose high-end catering company has catered at luxe venues and events (even on private jets), he's a super humble and reasonable guy. The info sheet you get when you inquire about weddings says this at the top: "At La Venta Inn, we operate on the philosophy that this is your event, not ours. Our job is to listen to your idea, your dreams and desires then create the event that reflects your vision to perfection.Allow imagination to be your guide and then relax as the New York Food Company Culinary and Event Production teams transform your vision into reality." When I read it I dismissed it as fluffy cliché, but they're not kidding! I hope I get to host or attend a party here someday.

Went to a wedding here this past weekend and it was beautiful. What a spectacular view of the city! Super great venue for a wedding.

I had my wedding here this past August. My now-husband and I were engaged for less than 3 months and after quickly searching through several wedding sites in CA, we settled on La Venta Inn. We are so happy we did! We were also surprised that they were available on the one day that my husband and I wanted to get married on. La Venta Inn is such a beautiful, romantic, and intimate place for a wedding. The event coordinator that we worked with was nice and really helped get things organized for our special event. We had a little over a 100 guests and everyone seemed to love the place. The New York Food Company did an amazing job and my husband and I were happy with the food served at our reception. I did not choose 5 stars for a few reasons. Although our wedding was in the summer, the coastal weather was still unpredictable. I had hoped for clear skies, but instead we got clouds. Also, I heard some comments from family/friends that noted to me that during the wedding and reception, the event coordinator was somewhat difficult to work with. Also, a cousin of mine tripped because there is uneven walkways on site. Besides that, I highly recommend having your wedding at La Venta Inn!

Where do I start? The whole process from beginning to end was so easy at La Venta. This was the first venue we visited and we booked it right away. You can't beat the view and the property. Our guests were blown away by the incredible cliff side views of the city and ocean. The sunset was gorgeous and the city lights were beautiful. The food here was delicious! Our guests raved about the hors d'oeuvres and the white glove service was top notch. The meal was better than our guests had expected. The bar kept the alcohol flowing and our guests had such a fun time. Charla was our coordinator for the day of and she kept us on track in the months before to ensure we had everything we needed and our itinerary would be the right speed. She was available to answer all of our questions and helped everything run flawlessly the day of. Mike was also a great help and really found ways to make our day as special and personalized as possible. If you're on the fence about booking La Venta, just do it! You won't regret it. We had the most beautiful day and are so grateful to have celebrated it here! Can't wait for our photos to come in... :)

La Venta Inn Rocks! I have nothing but praise for Mike Halish and the New York Food Company. We had our wedding on 9/9/16. We chose La Venta Inn because of its location and the gorgeous views of the ocean and coastline. The venue is breathtaking and the grounds are perfect for 1st look and wedding party photos. The Venue: Aside from being absolutely gorgeous and located in an exclusive community, the venue itself has a few minor challenges. The main building is split into 3 rooms with the ballroom being on one end and the dining room on the opposite end; separated by a third room that can be used for additional dining tables or for the bar or hors d'oeuvres stations/desert bars. Some may see this as a negative but we saw it as a hurdle that could be easily overcome with careful planning of the flow of the wedding. With help from Mike, we were able to ensure that the wedding flowed in a manner that minimized the movement of guests from room to room. As for the size of the venue, if I recall correctly, they can host 240-250 guests, but can comfortably fit between 130-150 people. The Food: Outstanding! We had hors d'oeuvres that were passed around as well as a hors d'oeuvres station. There was plenty to go around. We also chose the white glove treatment for our dinner (4 course meal). The food was delicious, the presentation was outstanding, and the servers were professional. Service was swift and the food was served hot. I received numerous complements on how good the food was as well as the portion sizes. Team La Venta: Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!! Mike was our event coordinator. He showed the utmost professionalism in his duties and made sure that our event went off without a hitch. If I had a question, he answered it. If I had a problem, he solved it. He was accommodating and very pleasant to work with. He also leveraged his experience planning and executing events at La Venta to provide us with the best advice on how to execute our event given our requirements. We were truly blessed to have him as our event planner. La Venta also has a list of recommended vendors. We made use of two of their recommended florists, an officiant, and a photographer. All of them were top notch. If you are looking for vendors to support your event, their list of vendors is an excellent place to start. In conclusion, all I can say is just like my guests, I walked away with a huge smile on my face. The venue was beautiful, the food was fantastic, everyone had plenty to eat, and everyone had a blast. I received nothing but compliments on the venue and the execution of the ceremony and festivities. I attribute our success to Mike Halish and his team. Thanks for everything Mike and a special thanks to La Venta Inn.

When our team visited the La Venta Inn for a wedding, we were amazed at how wonderful the view was, both inside and out. The ceremony location provides a beautiful view of the ocean, and the inside contains beautiful lighting that gives off an antique feel. In addition, the food provided by the staff was delicious. In summary, our team was very please with both La Venta Inn's service and view.

I started my venue shopping early on (approximately a year and a month before my wedding date- which was the Saturday of the Labor day weekend) knowing that the venue would help everything else I needed to plan fall into place. My (now) husband and i had visited a few sites already, but we were completely blown away by the views at La Venta Inn. We were planning a small wedding of approximately 100 guests at most, and La Venta was the perfect intimate setting to have our wedding. While the views are one of a kind, I must say I could not have had a better team to help me plan my wedding. Everyone you encounter at La Venta is nothing short of professional and great at their jobs. Mike was the first person we met at our visit and he was so easy to work with and so friendly. Leslie, our coordinator, was amazing before the wedding: helping us plan every single detail, answered emails promptly, and helped out work out a food plan that fit our food budget perfectly. On the day of the wedding, she was even more amazing: making sure we were fed and hydrated, had a few moments to ourselves after the ceremony to soak it all in, and made sure the flow and timing of the wedding was executed as perfectly as possible. She even fixed my veil for me when my bridesmaids were having trouble with putting it on. The day before the wedding, I basically threw at her a bunch of boxes of decor and Leslie and her team did their magic and made my wedding absolutely beautiful. She did all of the worrying for me so I didn't have to and could enjoy my day. Example: when one of my guests took my bouquet home, she was probably more frantic and upset about it than me! The food provided by NYFC was so yummy, I loved loved loved the cocktail hour (we had the scallops, shrimp/steak surf n' turf, chicken and waffles, and ahi tuna cone, along with the addition of the seafood display), although I think the filet mignon was just standard wedding food and was not that great. The salmon was moist and the flavors were very good as well. The pork tacos for the late night snacks were good as well, albeit a little dry. Our guests also loved the dessert display at the end, gobbling up everything. The venue itself is an old home (if I am not mistaken, it may very well be the very first home built in the area) so it is a bit dated (did not dig the carpets but who's looking at the floors during a wedding and there is a musty "old house" smell to the place which we resolved using tons of scented candles during the reception), and it was hot while we were in the bridal cottage getting ready. There isn't air conditioning so they turn on fans during the dinner service (which I don't think looks that nice for a wedding to have fans blowing around). While there is a nice breeze if you open the windows, there aren't that many windows and with approximately 80 people stuffed into a small room drinking alcohol and eating hot meals, it did get very hot during the dinner service. With that said, the dated-ness does give La Venta its charm.

I am giving this one star review for two reasons. One, La Venta changed my wedding coordinator a few days before the wedding. I was supposed to work with one wedding coordinator which I requested when I booked the venue, but a few days before they told me that someone else would be helping me on the big day, even though I just met with the original coordinator the week before. Therefore, I did not have a chance to meet and go through the details with the person they assigned to me. Second, I got a horrible referral from La Venta for the Florist. We went with this florist named Bobbe Vagell. Apparently he has changed his company's name a few times and gotten quite a bit of complains. But some how La Venta kept him on the preferred vendor list. This florist is the biggest nightmare ever. Beware of lairs: Bobbe and his partner appeared to be a extremely friendly gay couple when they approached us to get the business. But as soon as they get paid, their attitude turned 180 degrees. Bobbe lied to us and promised many things to get us to sign a contract with him. After he received our payment, he became completely unresponsive even when I tried many times to reach him during the three stressful days before the wedding. (Oh wait he did send one short text message at 1:30am the night before the wedding...!) On the wedding day we had many surprises from Bobbe -- not in a good way. Things turned out completely different from what he agreed to. He did not gave me the promised flowers in the fountain. The amount of decorating flowers were a lot less than he promised. I asked for branches and flowers but no green leaves for the gazebo (ceremony site) but when I got there on the wedding date, it was full of green leaves. Worst of all, he replaced the candles with electric light bulbs. It looked so cheap!!! I spent $60K for this 80 people wedding at La Venta but yet I got this electric light bulb candles?! The white flowers on my bouquet turned yellow and dry when I received it prior to the ceremony. The flowers he gave me for my head piece turned yellow too. He didn't even have the guts to show up on person to do the event (which he said he would) but asked his partner Todd instead. He completely ruined my wedding and I cannot think of anyone who should consider their services. I spoke with the venue afterwards and they told us they had heard similar complaints about this florist - then why do you still keep him on the list??!! If you have any questions after reading this review, please feel free to reach out to me by sending me a message through yelp. I can show you the pictures of the "great work" from the florist and provide the full correspondence.

I had high hopes for La Venta, I was not that impressed at all. The View of the Pacific Ocean is GREAT. If you are considering a summer wedding, or a ceremony in the AM you may want to check this place out. We met with Mike, and he was fantastic. HE went over the menu, an was very informative about it. Oh my goodness New York Food ( the site caterer) has an AWESOME menu. PROS: * GREAT view of the ocean *Mike was super helpful * Menu is to die for CONS: * Smaller that what I'd thought. They say they can fit 220.I'd say 130 MAX would fit without being crammed. * Dance floor is located in a strange location * Site smells old, a musty scent.

We just had our wedding here this past weekend. This venue is AMAZING and so very beautiful. We had a smaller wedding (74 people) and it was the perfect size. The views, as everyone mentioned, can't be beat. You can't buy ocean! The staff was very friendly and organized. Made it very easy to plan, especially since it was in such a short time span. We opted for the food stations and everyone commented on how they loved the food! The day was magical and this place was a wonderful setting for an intimate ceremony. Separate bridal room and grooms room was very nice. After the ceremony, they leave a plate of appetizers in the bridal suite while you have moment with your new spouse. Plenty of parking.

I attended a friend's wedding here just after the New Year, and was just so impressed with everything. The outdoor area, where the ceremony was held, had such a beautiful view of the ocean, and the indoor space was cozy and comfortable. Simple and elegant.

My husband and I had our wedding here in July 2013. Absolutely loved it. Going into our year of wedding planning, my husband and both had a multitude of things on our plate. My husband knew that we needed a venue that spoke for itself - where the location was beautiful so that we didn't have to throw ourselves into DIY decor madness building our wedding from the ground up. We chose La Venta because it provided this aspect. I also loved the Spanish architecture, my husband was into the ocean views, and hey, the place really does speak for itself. It's gorgeous. From start to finish, La Venta's staff was excellent. As soon as we chose this as our location, Tim, our coordinator, was great. He understood we were the sort of no-fuss, laid back couple that just needed to be told what to-dos needed to be done throughout the year at La Venta, and we'd do it. He was efficient, thorough, and timely. At the time of our wedding, I had bought candle holders online but no candles, like a doofus. He and our florist handled it and found tea lights so that I could have a stress-free wedding. I appreciated that we had a coordinator who knew the lay of the land and could put out these small fires so we could enjoy our time with guests. Our food was excellent, and the staff waiting on our guests were fabulous. It is, quite frankly, one of the more costly venues my husband and I looked at, but as we were looking for a beautiful location and peace of mind during a busy year for us, we understood that La Venta Inn was one of our best options. Looking back, I can say it was the right choice.

My husband and I just recently had a wedding at La Venta Inn with about 160 guests. We did both our ceremony and reception here, and I must tell you, it was a complete success. Tim K. was our planner, and I would highly recommend him as he was organized and completely professional while personable and fun! He managed our vendors exceptionally, and everything went off without a hitch. I was fearful of the weather that day (rain in the forecast) but we ended up getting 65 and sunny with minimal wind--couldn't ask for anything more! Guests all commented positively on the food (we had lobster bisque lsoup, a salad of some sort, salmon and sirloin) and the cake flavors (yellow with strawberry cream and red velvet with cream cheese filling)! I had my dream wedding at La Venta Inn. Day of, I had NOTHING to worry about at all! Thank you Tim K. and the NYFC team for making it all possible. I highly recommend this venue for your wedding as long as your guest count is under 175. Don't fret about the segmented rooms or having to seat guests outside on the patio. The whole venue promotes commraderie and intimacy--you'll have a wedding that nobody will ever forget!

La Venta Inn has amazing views and great food. I will agree with all of the reviewers on that. But to spend that kind of money and get mediocre service left a lot to be desired. We had Kelly as our day of planner, and she was great. After she quit, we got bounced to Leslie, Pearl, Mike and and back to Leslie. The management told us that they are understaffed, and it is true. There was a lack of communication amongst the parties which caused us some significant issues the day of the wedding. Certain things were larger issues compared to others. For instance, they forgot to put certain decorations we purchased out on the table. That isn't a life or death. But, they didn't set up the right amount of chairs at a table, weren't accommodating to the guest (who was also clergy) and got so upset they left the wedding. Those are the types of things that just can't be fixed later on. I understand if you select to have your wedding here, just know that if you want it to go smoothly, you will be hand holding the entire time if you want it done right.

La Venta Inn was a gorgeous venue for our wedding ceremony and reception, except the little Spanish house is not equipped with indoor AC and it was scorching hot in the summer; guest tables had to be spread outside of dining area; nowhere to showcase the slides except the dance room; the age old lousy speaker system; you have to bring your own liquor for your guests on top of a pricy PRICE TAG. I recommend this place if you have a big wedding budget and small guest count. As with all other couples, you don't usually get to taste the food at your own wedding but the over-priced wedding cake was remarkably delicious!

Oh La Venta.... I have so many great things to say about our experience here over the last year - we just got married last weekend. I've lived in Torrance my whole life, work all around the hill, and even though I had seen the La Venta sign a thousand times, didn't realize it was this spectacular. First, Charla was our coordinator and I wish I could write a novel about how much I love this woman. I inquired online, she was prompt in her response and we were able to swing by the venue to check it out on very short notice (I was early for an appointment at Terranea) so we swung by as it was on our way. The second we pulled into La Venta, I knew we would have to get married there... and so the planning began. Charla, from start to finish has been the most amazing coordinator, organizer, relaxer, & now, friend. We did our engagement shots here too, since we couldn't think of a better place to capture some love! At our wedding, we had about 100 people, three food stations, DJ, photographer, videographer, and photo booth. Charla made it ALL HAPPEN so easily and I literally experienced ZERO stress the week leading up to the day and the day of. Everything went smoothly (as smoothly as possible, everyone knows small things can go wrong), our photos, signs, favors, decorations were all preserved and packed up waiting for us when we came back to pick them up. Charla was accommodating & efficient and we all could tell how much she wanted our day to go just right. All of our guests have said how beautiful the venue was, they complimented the food, the bartenders (shout out Carla!), the chefs, everything. I couldn't imagine our wedding anywhere else. Literally - the BEST DAY EVER. Notes: You get the whole grounds to yourself the whole evening. Uber private and so much more intimate. Two bathrooms for guests in the hallway behind the fireplace Your event must be over at 10pm - it's ok. We bought an extra hour and turned the music down a bit because you're in a residential area (be courteous) - it's still ok.....the alcohol is flowing & music is bumpin', everyone gets tired & everyone is left wanting more rather than wanting to leave early. Tips: Do the food stations & get some pasta because it's amazing. We did Filet Mignon, Chicken, Turkey & Prime Rib and the Pasta Bar. Open Bar is SO worth it - do it. Dessert Bar - so many options, they're all really good! Late Night Bites: KOREAN TACOS (maybe I was a little tipsy at the end, but these were so tasty and not at all "bites" - they were hefty little tacos and now I want one. Get married here, have a party here, whatever. Do something here - it'll be the best choice you make.

What a beautiful venue! A cute little 1920's Spanish villa - the place to book your wedding ceremony and reception. It is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking. If you are interested in having an outdoor ceremony perched on top of Palos Verdes overlooking the Pacific and South Bay Beach cities, call 'em up and book it. The reception will be held indoors and can spill into that patio creating an intimate atmosphere with your nearest and dearest family members and friends. In the evening there is a gorgeous sunset to the west, with the sunlight glimmering on the calm ocean. They have a perfect spot on the lawn with a gazebo to have the ceremony. It's picture perfect. Around the grounds are several spots to take romantic couple shots to really remember the day. The only potential negatives would be fighting the wind, getting a foggy day, or hosting a wedding that exceeds their maximum capacity. The New York Food Company caters it, and their food is excellent. If i were having a summer wedding, I would have it here.

We had our daughter's wedding at La Venta Inn in October 2018. It was a beautiful event and very well coordinated from start to finish. The staff and our personal coordinator Charla worked closely with our needs. Our experience and from our knowledge, ALL the guests were very happy to enjoy the celebration. The surrounding atmosphere, the food, the service, and the music (Danny the DJ was very good). Pre-planning: beginning with signing the contract to the day of the event, all questions were answered and follow through was handled. Food Tasting: you are given several options for an assigned tasting day. And according to our daughter and now son-in-law, all the choices were very very good. We chose the Lobster Soup and Rustic Roasted Chicken - it was absolutely delicious. Week Prior to Event: we had access to delivering items for the reception, including all the alcohol. Items were securely kept. Day Before Event: we were given full access for set up and La Venta offered assistance with our set up, e.i. centerpieces, welcome table, decorations etc. They were very helpful with all our set up needs, including 'The Guys' - Adrian, Brandon, Pedro Jr. Day Of Event: The Reception was presented perfectly. The bartenders, Matt and Dave were very personal and the guest enjoyed them. The food was very good, the guest were all complimentary and plates were 'cleared' (which is always the best sign). Thank you Chef! The kitchen servers were very prompt and courteous. It was difficult to end the evening, and our group asked if we could continue the music after the 10:00PM cut off, however, due to city regulations, we needed to end the night. It was a beautiful reception, with memories to last us all a very long time. Day After: we were able to pick up all our 'left' items the next day. Charla and the staff assembled the miscellaneous table centerpieces and welcome table items. We were given assistance placing them in our vehicles. The personal touches and good service made us all feel very welcome. We would highly recommend hosting any event at La Venta as our experience was so positive.

No doubt this is a beautiful venue, but it is worth noting our experience. Communication: - My mom and I drove to the site on a whim 5 weeks ago, but were turned away by the valet because a wedding was going to start in 30 minutes - not a con, as we wouldn't want people traipsing around our venue and would like a private experience, just something to be aware of, so call ahead. - I emailed them to ask when we could set up a site tour over 4 weeks ago - no response - I called and left a message on their main voicemail line 3.5 weeks ago - no response - So, we drove by on a weekday afternoon and gave ourselves a tour. Granted, this was in early September, which is a pretty busy month for weddings. But vendors need to take potential clients seriously and make the process easy. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth, considering their cost, even though others have had excellent experiences. Hopefully the venue coordinators can learn from our experience and provide better communication with potential as well as booked clients. What killed it for us was the disjointed interior, even though it is very pretty. Pros: - gorgeous grounds, tons of photo-opportunities - beautiful view from ceremony site, cocktail terrace, and interior reception space - beautiful garden terrace, lots of charm - very historic interior - private, yours is the only event onsite during your rental time - onsite getting ready area for bride and groom (we did not see these spaces, just saw in the package online). Cons: - somewhat disjointed interior - other reviewers were right when they said a party of 100 or larger would be tough - lots of traversing in between tables and through archways to get to the dance floor. - very short aisle, but the bonus is that the walkway along the building is raised, so there is still some time to process the moment before turning the corner and walking down the aisle - very uneven stone terrace - I was wearing flat sandals and I almost tripped a few times - perhaps it comes with the territory of a historic venue, but I would be concerned for the older ladies in heels - no shuffling.

Wedding Date: March 15, 2008 Number of Guests: less than 100 We searched for what feels like hundreds of ceremony and reception locations and as soon as we saw La Venta, we knew it was perfect. Not only is the view just spectacular, the food was fantastic - weeks later, our guests are still talking about it! Our event coordinator, Tim Kennedy, was very responsive and easy to work with. He was ALWAYS around during the wedding and made sure that we had everything we needed. The staff at La Venta was always available to answer any questions. Tim even did some research on photobooth vendors for us - even though we knew he didn't have to! It really is a fantastic location, especially if you have a guest count of about 100 people. The dining room is nice and intimate, the ceremony gazebo overlooks the beautiful coast line, and I can't say enough about the food! In short, I highly recommend La Venta and upon seeing the place, it became our only choice.

I attended a wedding February 21,2020 and this was the perfect place to have a wedding. Shout out to Vanessa Escobar for her excellent customer service. She was very professional and did her job very well with a smile. I always like when a server engages with a customer making people feel welcome. I give this place a 5 star.

Can't be better. Beautiful venue and great service. Of course the foods were perfect. Take a picture anywhere around. Beautiful!