Thinking of having a wedding at Maravilla Gardens? I'm a Los Angeles Wedding Photographer giving you your guide to a La Valencia Hotel wedding! Keep reading for all the details!

Who is a Maravilla Gardens Wedding Perfect For?

Maravilla Gardens is a great venue for people looking for the following:

• A garden atmosphere with gorgeous mountain views
• Convenience and Simplicity - as everything as one site and the venue includes a wedding day coordinator who handles all of the logistics

Crucial Tips for Your Maravilla Gardens Wedding

Consider a Spring Wedding at this Venue

There are specific times when some wedding venues really shine, and for Maravilla Gardens, it's Spring. The venue will have lush grass, blooming florals, and gorgeous views. The weather will also be perfect as you'll escape the intense heat that SoCal Summers often bring.

Ask for Heat Lamps During a Fall/Winter Wedding

If you do have a wedding during the Fall or Winter, make sure to ask the Maravilla Gardens team for heat lamps to help ensure your guests stay comfortable in the evening. This venue is predominantly outdoors, so this will really help if it starts to get chilly. Keep in mind that the heaters are available to rent for $85 each. You will likely need one heater for every 20 guests. 

Book Early

Maravilla Gardens Camarilo gets booked 12 months or more in advance. To have a wedding at this venue, make sure to book on the earlier side. 1 - 2 years in advance would be ideal.

Have a Backup Plan for Rain During Fall/Winter Months

Something very important to keep in mind is that Maravilla Gardens is a completely outdoor wedding venue. On the off chance it rains, tenting can be rented and installed by Maravilla Gardens at an additional fee. While it historically has rarely rained in SoCal, the year of 2023 saw plenty of rain. For this reason, if you want to ensure clear skies, I highly recommend sticking to the months of May - September.

Don't Forget to Take Photos by the Vineyards

This wedding venue has so much to work with in terms of natural beauty. With its beautiful gardens and views, the vineyard section can sometimes be overlooked. This is unfortunately because it's such a gorgeous area. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to take some photos here!

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After Party Locations for this Venue

Maravilla Garden wedding typically end at 10:30 pm. Music has to be off by 10 pm. If you'd like to continue celebrating after that time, here are some great options:

M on High Restaurant

The Slate Bistro

The Manhattan

Twisted Oak Tavern

Best Timeline for Your Maravilla Gardens Wedding

Below is my recommended wedding day timeline for a wedding specifically at Maravilla Gardens. Let’s say your ceremony start time is at 5:00 pm. Here’s my recommended timeline for that.

9:00 – 12:30 – Hair/Makeup at Maravilla Gardens (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 Maravilla Gardens

12:00 – 12:40 – Details (Dress, shoes, rings, etc.)

12:45 – 1:45 – Getting Ready Photos (One photographer is with Partner A & second photographer is with Partner B)

*Note: If you don’t have a second photographer, more time is needed here as the solo photographer will have to take extra time to document Partner A & Partner B.

1:45 – 2:45 – First Look + Couple Portraits

2:45 – 3:15 – Wedding Party Portraits (More time is needed here is there is no second photographer)

3:15 – 3:45 – Family Portraits

3:45 – 4:40 – 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 or take extra photos. ;)

4:40 – 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 usually about 30 minutes of couple portraits are taken during this time.)

6:45 – Grand Entrance

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

Maravilla Gardens Wedding Cost

A Maravilla Gardens wedding will range between $16k-$21k for 100 guests.

The starting price for weddings during peak season on a Friday or Sunday is $16,000. This includes the site, catering, rentals, a 75-person guest count, and buffet meal.

The price for weddings during peak season on a Saturday is $23,000. This includes the site, catering, rentals, a 125-person guest count, and buffet meal.

What is Included in Wedding Cost?

• Bridal Suite
• Day of Coordinator
• Buffet Meal
• Dance Floor
• Chairs + Tables + Linens
• China + Flatware + Glassware
• Event Planning
• Set up + Cleanup
• Lighting/Sound
• Parking
• Bartenders
• Open Bar

What Does this Cost NOT Include?

You will need to supply the music, flowers, photography, videography, photo booth, and the officiate. You will also be responsible for bringing your own alcohol (no corkage fee) and dessert (no cutting cost).

Guest Capacity for Your Maravilla Gardens Wedding

Maravilla Gardens can accommodate up to 275 guests. They offer ample parking with 150 designated spaces.

Photography Tips for Maravilla Gardens Photos

Utilize Natural Reflectors

When it comes to Maravilla Gardens Photos, I always recommend using natural reflectors. Natural reflectors include: light colored floor, stone, or gravel, light colored walls, etc. They are natural reflectors because they act as soft boxes in that they reflect soft light back onto a subject. This is really flattering and creates a beautiful glow within photographs.

Don't Shoot Directly Underneath a Tree

There a ton of beautiful trees at Maravilla Gardens. One piece of advice is to never place subject directly underneath a tree as it can often cause a green color cast, since the light will reflect off of the tree and onto your subject. To use the tree for shade, but avoid green color casts, place your subjects in front of the tree, instead of directly underneath its branches.

Avoid Placing Subjects on the Grass

Grass also reflects green onto a subjects face, particularly when the sun is directly overhead. The sunlight will shoot down on the grass and a green cast will then be reflected back onto a subject's face. Sometimes it's impossible not to shoot on grass, in which case a green cast can then be minimized within post editing. However, if it's possible to avoid shooting on grass, I'd always opt for that first. Look for ground that acts as a natural reflector, such as light colored stone, gravel, etc.

The Best Spots for Your Maravilla Gardens Photos

The Ceremony Site

This area is surrounded by lush greenery and has a natural reflector since the floor is light colored. Light colored floors or walls always reflect beautiful light back up onto a subject's face, which helps to create flattering and dreamy photographs.

The Garden Paths

The garden has these winding paths that are surrounded by greenery and florals. This is another great spot in terms of light, as the paths also have light colored floors that can be used as natural reflectors.

The Cocktail Hour Site

This site is so gorgeous as it has the mountains and valleys as a backdrop! It also has some really spectacular trees. I definitely recommend taking quite a few portraits here!

In the Vineyards

Maravilla Gardens honestly has so many great places for photos. Beyond the gardens, it also has a vineyard section!

In the Meadows

Marvilla Gardens has a meadowy grass area that also makes for some really gorgeous photos for your wedding day!

Maravilla Gardens FAQS

Can You Select Your Own Caterer?

No. Maravilla Gardens offers its own catering service. In many ways, this simplifies things as their caterer is very familiar with their property and offers a wide selection of options.

What is it that You Will Need to supply?

You will need to supply the music, flowers, photography, videography, photo booth, and the officiate. You will also be responsible for bringing your own alcohol (no corkage fee) and dessert (no cutting cost).

What Time Frame Can We Use Maravilla Gardens For?

Maravilla Gardens can be used from 2:30 pm until 11:00 pm. Vendors can start arriving at 1:30 pm. Music has to be turned off by 11:00 pm.

Is Maravilla Gardens Handicapped accessible?

Yes, it is.

Does Maravilla Gardens Allow a Live Full-Sized Band?

Unfortunately, it doesn't as it would exceed Ventura County’s sound ordinance.

Perks of Celebrating Your Day at Maravilla Gardens

You and Your Guests Will Enjoy the Beauty of the Gardens

Maravilla Gardens was designed in order to have a tranquil, beautiful, and serene landscape for you and your guests to enjoy. The garden has a sophisticated quality, offering fragrant flowers, breathtaking views, an ocean breeze, a mountain range and valleys, and more! The gardens covers over 5 acres of beautiful terrain!

Maravilla Gardens Offers Convenience

Everything about Maravilla Gardens has been thoughtfully planned out. It includes seating for your guests, accessible bathrooms (yay for not having to bring in restrooms as some venues require that!), a central dance floor, paved ground making everything easy to access, and more!

One Wedding Per Day

Maravilla Gardens holds only up to one wedding per day, meaning you won't have to share the property with another wedding party. The gardens is also in a private area, with no commercial buildings nearby, meaning your wedding day will feel intimate.

A Wedding Coordinator Is Included

Maravilla Gardens offers a day-of coordinator in all of their packages who goes above and beyond what is typically offered at other venues. They are in charge of setting up all of your wedding day items and working with the vendors you hired to make sure the day is seamless and the timeline is followed. They also direct guests throughout the evening so you and your parter don't have to worry about anything and can remain present and have fun!

Maravilla Gardens Wedding Review

"Maravilla Gardens is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also a well-organized, accessible, and comfortable venue both for the wedding party and the guests. Everyone commented on the beautiful setting – green and flowery, and shaded in all the right places. The ceremony, cocktail area and reception space are each right next to one another and the paths are wide and smooth – easy for everyone, even high heels and wheelchairs.

The late-afternoon/evening event was warm and lovely. They put out the heat lamps at just the right time when it started to be chilly – perfectly placed and unobtrusive. There is a frame over the reception area that really adds to the ambiance and also provides support if it rains. The sound system is brand new and sounds great!

The team at Maravilla is organized and personable and they know their stuff. Our outside planner and the Maravilla planners worked well together we felt confident and supported at every step. Jen, the venue owner, has an amazing barn full of beautiful and unique items she searches out to add to whatever ambiance you want to create. There are air-conditioned “getting ready” spaces for both halves of the wedding party. Bathrooms are spotless and plentiful. The caterer they use, Command Performance, is excellent and it was so nice to have the venue and caterer work together as an experienced team. We are so glad we got to celebrate at Maravilla and would choose them again in a heartbeat!"

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