Sunset Terrace, Ritz-Carlton, Laguna

Posted on: Thursday, January 14th, 2010

I had the pleasure of working with a lovely couple on their wedding last weekend at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.  They have a great story, knew each other before they married other people, the groom actually attended the bride’s first wedding.  Now after losing their partners, found each other and a whole new beginning.  It was a lovely intimate affair of 40 guests.

The ceremony had a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean that looked so smooth and silver it was unbelieveable, and to think elsewhere in the country they are cold and covered with snow (no matter what time of year, you can count on  S CA for a great wedding celebration)!!  In the Plaza Room the guests sat around one dining room style table, we  had the fireplace on (for atmosphere, not because we needed it sillies!!), a pianist played the grand piano during dinner, and we even had dancing to his playing after.  He actually played YMCA as a joke for the groom – a song he kept requesting believing it could not be played on the piano!!  A great wedding to start the year with.

But the  main point of my blog today is actually to show you how fabulous a site the Sunset Terrace is.  For those that may remember or know it from a few months ago, there was a large tree in the middle of it, and that really dictated how we needed to set the ceremony site.  Well we were all sad when the tree died and had to go away, but  I can now say that, as much as I loved the tree, I love the site even more now.  Look at those pictures and tell me that backdrop is not stunning.  The backdrop previously due to the tree and the angle you needed to do the ceremony on, was about 75% land and 25% ocean, and now it is 100% ocean.  Aside from the reputation and service you know you will get at the Ritz, isn’t the ocean a huge part of any decision to have a wedding celebration there, so this now helps solidify your decision as a 150%, heck yes.  Maximum in the room that goes with this site is 74 (with a sweetheart table), so that is the max you can do here at the ceremony site.

I am very excited for the couples that now get this new view/backdrop for their wedding at the Sunset Terrace, it is awesome.  I challenge anyone to give me another location for an intimate event that has this backdrop, along with a beautiful dining room feel room for the dinner/dancing that has a fireplace and chandelier, and the 5 star hotel/accommodation/service along with it.  I can’t  think of any hotel or location along the French Riviera, and that would be the only other location I can think that could compare to this backdrop.

Thanks to Katie Clark for the photos (yes those are white doves we released at the end of the ceremony – wee hint, always do 100, it gives the guests and you time to get over the initial surprise and then enjoy.  They were a surprise to the bride from the groom, and she loved them). www.kcpstudios.com

Till next time

Lisa

www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

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