As a seasoned wedding photographer based in Los Angeles, I’ve had the pleasure of documenting countless love stories at some of the most breathtaking venues in Southern California. But there’s one venue that consistently stands out—Rancho Las Lomas in Orange County. If you’re considering this hidden gem for your ceremony, grab some coffee because I’m about to give you an insider’s guide packed with everything you need to know about planning a wedding at this venue.

My guide will include:

• Which ceremony space you should choose
• Whether you actually need a wedding planner at this venue or not
• My recommended "getting ready" areas
• Is a second photographer recommended for this venue?
• A timeline that will maximize your day
• The best months to have a wedding in SoCal
• And more!

How to Plan a Wedding at Rancho Las Lomas Orange County: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Booking the Venue & Setting Your Date

The first step in planning your Rancho Las Lomas wedding is securing your date. Since it’s one of the most sought-after venues in Orange County, you’ll want to book at least 12 to 18 months in advance—especially if you’re eyeing a peak-season date in spring or fall.

• Contact the venue for a tour to experience its beauty firsthand. They are very responsive and easy to get in touch with!
• Review available dates and consider off-peak months for more flexibility.
• Secure your booking with a deposit and discuss the venue’s policies.

What Are the Best Months to Have a Wedding at Rancho Las Lomas, Orange County?

Surprisingly, the best months are definitely September - November and April - early June. Why? The weather is the best during this time. It's not too hot and there isn't a high chance of rain.

Keep in mind that when booking, most people thing that July - August are going to be the busiest months, but they're not. September - October months always get booked up the fastest, so if you're eyeing one of those dates, I encourage booking well in advance!

2. Hiring a Wedding Planner for Your Rancho Las Lomas, Orange County Wedding

Does One Really Need to Hire a Wedding Planner for This Venue?

Yes. Yes. And yes.

Rancho Las Lomas, Orange County is a gigantic estate with multiple spaces scattered throughout the property. It has a Disneyland-esque quality in that there is a lot to see and you can expect to walk quite a bit. This makes it absolutely essential to work with an experienced wedding planner.

The planner will be instrumental in helping you navigate logistics, such as setting everything up, guiding guests to the proper locations on the property, moving items from location to another, creating seating arrangements, coordinating the vendors to make sure they are all in the right locations, timeline execution, and more.

3. Select Your Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception Spaces

Rancho Las Lomas is large and offers multiple options when it comes to the designated areas of one's wedding day: ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. It can be overwhelming to choose which space you want to designate for each event. Here are my personal recommendations on how to use each space!

El Teatro | Outdoors Space | Seats up to 400 Guests

*For couples who love Spanish Architecture, I recommend having the ceremony AND reception in El Teatro.

• It showcases Spanish hacienda architecture (terracotta tiles, oak trees, romantic lighting, murals for Portugal, hand painted blue and white tiles, etc.)

PROS of Using This Space for One's Ceremony

• This space is the most unique & iconic backdrop that the venue offers, so you'll be making more use out of it if you use it for both your ceremony & reception.

Key Points to Keep in Mind

Using one space for both one's ceremony & reception is doing using a "flip." After the ceremony is done at El Teatro, guests are guided to a separate space for the cocktail hour. El Teatro is then "flipped" or transformed into the reception space during this time.

If you'll be using El Teatro for both the ceremony and reception, you 100% need a very organized wedding planning team to be able to efficiently transform the space within your cocktail hour.

LA Terraza | Outdoor Space | Seats up to 375 Guests

*For couples who love a forest atmosphere, I recommend having the ceremony in La Terraza.

• La Terraza is a large open space that is encircled by huge California Oak trees, giving this space a foresty, "out in nature" vibe. This space has cobblestone pathways and a beautiful wooden staircase.
• This space is great for couples going for a free-spirited, natural, untraditional or bohemian vibe.

PROS of Using This Space for One's Ceremony

• You'll be making more use of the different spaces the venue has to offer
• Since your ceremony & reception will be in two separate spaces, your planner won't have to do a flip. This is super beneficial if you have a lot of details in your reception space. Your planner's team will be able to start setting it up earlier in the day.

Grand Salon Indoor Area | Indoor Space | Seats up to 224 Guests

*For couples who want a cozy indoor space or are having a wedding during a rainy season, I recommend the Grand Salon for their Rancho Las Lomas wedding ceremony.

• This is an indoor space with a gorgeous fireplace, stained glass windows, French doors, and a beautiful fountain.

PROS of Using This Space for One's Ceremony

• This is great option for couples having a wedding during colder months.
• One can still use the other outdoor spaces for the ceremony and photos, but the reception can be held in a cozy, warm environment.

Grand Salon Outdoor Area | Outdoor Space

*I recommend this space for one's cocktail hour

• This space has a really lovely fountain area with a lot of beautiful tiles and details.
• In my opinion, this is definitely the best space to have one's cocktail hour. It's visually beautiful and offers guests enough space to roam around.

Rick's Cafe Indoor / Outdoor Area

*I recommend this space for getting ready photography or for the cocktail hour if it's a chilly/rainy day

• Rick's cafe is so cute and unique. It has a total of 4 different stories, balconies, cool arches, cute little nooks, gorgeous windows, and fun seating areas!
• This space can also work for a fun cocktail area space. The fact that most of it is indoors makes it a good option for colder weather.

3. Select Your "Getting Ready" Spaces

*I recommend that the partner who cares more about photography get ready in Rick's cafe, while the other partner get ready in the traditional "bridal suite" space. :)

You're probably wondering why I recommend this. Here's why!

There are two spaces on the Rancho Las Lomas, Orange County property that are used for getting ready. These include Rick's Cafe and the bridal suite. Something to keep in mind is that the bridal suite does NOT get the best light inside and feels a bit crammed. Rick's cafe gets way better light inside (it has a ton of windows and balconies) and is more visually beautiful. It has a lot of fun nooks!

4. Build Your Wedding Day Timeline

Below is my recommended wedding day timeline for a wedding specifically at Rancho Las Lomas.

Let’s say your ceremony start time is at 5:00 pm. Here’s my recommended timeline for that.

9:30 – 12:30 – Hair/Makeup at Rancho Las Lomas (This start time will vary depending on how many people will be getting their hair/makeup done; typically, the bride is last)

12:00 – Photographer(s) Arrive at Rancho Las Lomas

12:00 – 12:30 – Details (Dress, shoes, rings, etc.)

12:30 - 2:00 – Getting Ready Photos (Always allot plenty of time here so you all can enjoy and nothing feels rushed)

2:00 – 2:45 – First Look + Couple Portraits

2:45 – 3:15 – Wedding Party Portraits

3:15 - 3:45 - Family Portraits

3:45 - 4:30 - Buffer Time (Super important to always leave buffer time within the schedule should things run a bit behind schedule. It also allows the couple to just relax more…the day won’t feel rushed.) If the timeline goes exactly to plan, the couple can use this time to relax/hangout with friends + family).

4:30 - 4:50: Couple Preps for Ceremony / Photographer Documents Ceremony Details

5:00 – 5:30 – Ceremony

5:30 – 6:30 – Cocktail Hour + Couple Portraits

*The cocktail hour typically takes place during the golden hour (best time for photos because of the light), so couples typically opt to use 25 minutes of their cocktail hour for couple portraits.

6:45 – Grand Entrance

6:45 – 10:00 – Reception (First Dance, Parent Dances, Speeches, Open Dancing, Etc.)

5. Budgeting for Rancho Las Lomas Wedding Costs

On average, couples spend between $40,000 to $80,000 on their wedding at Rancho Las Lomas. Here’s a breakdown:

• Miscellaneous (Rentals, Attire, Invitations): $5,000 - $10,000
• Venue Fee: $7,500 - $12,500 (depending on the season and day of the week)
• Catering & Bar: Rancho Las Lomas requires couples to use their preferred catering list, with average costs around $150-$170 per person. Total, this runs about $15,000 - $30,000 depending on one's guest count.
• Florals & Decor: $5,000 - $12,000
• Photography & Videography: $4,000 - $8,000
• Music & Entertainment: $2,500 - $7,000
• Additional Costs: Consider rentals, a makeup artist, wedding day outfits, etc.

You will have exclusive use of the venue from 11 A.M. until midnight.

6. Book Your Vendors

Rancho Las Lomas requires couples to choose from their preferred vendor list. Here are some of the best local vendors:

• Catering: 24 Carrots, Colette’s Catering
• Photography & Videography: Choose an experienced wedding photographer familiar with the venue.
• Music & Entertainment: Live bands, DJs, or classical string quartets work beautifully here.
• Floral Design: Blooming Grace Floral, Love Her Madly Florals.

Reach Out for Wedding Photography!

Do I need a second photographer for this venue?

Yes. Since this venue is so large, a second photographer is definitely necessary to make sure no important moments are missed!

FAQS

To help you make an informed decision about hosting your wedding at Rancho Las Lomas, I've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

• Is there on-site parking available for guests?
  • Yes, the venue offers ample on-site parking for your guests.
• Can we bring in our own vendors?
  • While the venue has a list of preferred vendors, they also allow outside vendors, subject to approval by the venue's event coordinator.
• Is there a "getting ready" suite available for the wedding party to get ready?
  • Yes, the venue offers two areas the couple can use for getting ready!
• Are there any restrictions on décor?
  • Rancho Las Lomas allows for a variety of décor options but does have some restrictions to protect the integrity of the property. It's important to discuss your décor plans with the event coordinator to ensure they align with the venue's guidelines.
• Are pets allowed at the venue?
  • Yes, this is a pet-friendly venue and welcomes well-behaved pets at your wedding, with some restrictions. Be sure to discuss your plans with the event coordinator.

More FAQS

• Is Rancho Las Lomas wheelchair accessible?
  • Yes!
• What is the backup plan in case of poor weather?
  • The great thing about this property is that it has a large indoor space that can be used for one's ceremony or reception if there is poor weather. In the event of rain or other poor weather, your event coordinator will work with you to make necessary adjustments, including moving your ceremony and/or reception to one of the indoor or covered spaces on the property.
• Can we customize the menu for our reception?
  • Yes, the venue offers a variety of catering options and works closely with couples to create a tailored menu that reflects your tastes and preferences.
• Is there a curfew for events at Rancho Las Lomas?
  • Yes, all events at Rancho Las Lomas must conclude by 11:00 PM, with the exception of New Year's Eve celebrations, which can extend until 1:00 AM.
• Can we have a send-off with sparklers or fireworks?
  • The venue allows sparkler send-offs but prohibits the use of fireworks due to safety and environmental concerns.

Photo Tips at Rancho Las Lomas, Orange County

To make the most of your wedding photos at Rancho Las Lomas, I recommend the following:

Make Use of All the Spaces to Get Variety

A MAJOR benefit of having a wedding here is that Rancho Las Lomas only hosts up to one wedding per day, meaning the couple and their guests will have exclusive use of the property and all if it's different spaces.

Take Your Time

Since you get to use this venue from 11 A.M. till midnight, don't feel like you need to rush things. My suggestion is to leave a lot of room for mini breaks throughout your timeline to just relax and enjoy yourselves.

I'm suggesting this because this type of relaxed & joyful energy gets transmitted in the photos. When couples are stress free and having fun, they are more present on their wedding day. Not only does this mean they enjoy more of their day, but they also remember it a lot better.

Use the Golden Hour

Take advantage of the golden hour (the hour before sunset) for the most flattering natural light and enchanting ambiance.

Major Perks of Having a Wedding at Rancho Las Lomas

Convenient Location for Guests

The venue is located 25 minutes from an airport, making it a great venue when couples are having a lot of guests fly in from a different state or county.

Tons of Parking

Rancho Las Lomas in Orange County has space for 100+ cars, which is incredibly rare in California. This means you won't have to worry about hiring a transportation service to valet your guests cars to a different location, which is often the case at many venues in California.

You Get to Use the Venue All Day Long

When you rent out this venue, you get to use it from 11 A.M. until midnight. This is SO RARE! Most venues only let you use their venue for 6 hours, meaning you'll often have to get ready elsewhere. However, with Rancho Las Lomas, you get to really utilize the space and party all night long. :) This means you'll never feel rushed! .

Exclusive Use of the Property

Finally, a Rancho Las Lomas wedding offers exclusive use of the property for your ceremony and reception, ensuring a private and intimate experience for you and your guests. This really is amazing because it means you'll get to use any part of the property or spaces for your photos. Many venues host multiple weddings per day, but this isn't the case here.

Hotels Near Rancho Las Lomas in Orange County for Your Guests

1. The Ranch at Laguna Beach - 10.7 miles away
   • Address: 31106 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Phone: (949) 499-2271
2. Ayres Hotel & Spa Mission Viejo - 11.6 miles away
   • Address: 28951 Los Alisos Blvd, Mission Viejo, CA 92692 Phone: (949) 455-2545
3. Fairfield Inn by Marriott Mission Viejo Orange County - 11.7 miles away
   • Address: 26328 Oso Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 Phone: (949) 582-7100
4. Hampton Inn & Suites Mission Viejo - 11.9 miles away
   • Address: 28682 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA 92692 Phone: (949) 429-5222
5. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Irvine Spectrum - 12.3 miles away
   • Address: 90 Pacifica, Irvine, CA 92618 Phone: (949) 471-8888
6. Courtyard by Marriott Foothill Ranch Irvine East/Lake Forest - 12.4 miles away
   • Address: 27492 Portola Pkwy, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 Phone: (949) 951-5700

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