There are many options in Laguna Beach for secular and religious weddings.
Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Laguna Beach in California's Orange County is home to a number of establishments that host weddings. The many ceremony and reception sites throughout the city are ideal for couples who want the expanse of the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop for their special day.
Beaches
Couples who wish to exchange vows right on the beach can do so at Laguna Beach's Crescent Bay Park, which allows a maximum of 40 people, including the officiant, the couple and any other professionals hired for the event. Another option is Heisler Park, an oceanfront park which offers two popular wedding spots, a gazebo and Monument Point. The maximum number of people allowed at both sites is 50. All other parks and beaches allow up to 95 people.
Permits are required for beach weddings and can be obtained from the City of Laguna Beach Community Services Department. Permits are issued for a two-hour period, and there is a fee. Note that tables, chairs and structures of any kind are not allowed.
Hotels
Virtually every beachfront hotel and resort in Laguna Beach hosts weddings. At Hotel Laguna, couples can have their wedding ceremony in the Rose Garden, which boasts a Victorian gazebo and can accommodate 200 seated guests; they may host their reception in one of the hotel's several banquet rooms, which offer ocean views.
The Surf and Sand Resort offers three locations for a seaside wedding. The largest is the Catalina Terrace, which accommodates a maximum of 180 guests.
Another option is the 6,000-square-foot Pacific Edge Villa at the Pacific Edge Hotel, which has three levels and outdoor deck on the ground floor for ceremonies.
Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course
Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course--the only golf course in Laguna Beach--is an alternative to the oceanfront wedding. Couples can hold their ceremony on the inn's Wedding Lawn, which offers spectacular mountain views and accommodates up to 200 guests. The site offers a white lattice backdrop with an optional white lattice arch.
Churches
Christian couples of various denominations have the option of a church wedding in Laguna Beach. There is St. Catherine of Siena, a Roman Catholic church, as well as the Laguna Presbyterian Church. Another congregation, the Laguna Church by the Sea, is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Seven-Degrees
Couples who want a highly customized wedding ceremony in Laguna Beach should consider Seven-Degrees, an award-winning event venue that doubles as a commercial art gallery. Seven degrees offers decor elements for themes of all kinds, including lighting and floral arrangements; they can also, upon request, even create original works of art for individual weddings.
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