About Irvine
Irvine, California is located in the heart of Orange County and is just a short drive from the bustling Los Angeles metro area. In fact, Irvine has become home to many film studios due to its beautiful landscape and convenient distance from LA. Irvine is home to balmy, beautiful weather year-round, where the average temperature hovers just over 70 degrees and rain is rarely forecasted.
Irvine is described as a “postcard destination” city in Southern California, and it is home to not only natural beauty but also carefully manicured landscaping, a host of gardens, and a designated “open space” preserve. Irvine is a great event location as it is mere miles from multiple beaches, offers beautiful garden scenes, and hosts a number of unique venues for rent.
Choosing a suitable Irvine event space and deciding what to do after hours will be easy parts of the preparation.
Event Options in Irvine
Whether you’re planning an event that is indoors or outside, you’ll find a place that suits your unique tastes. The well-manicured city parks offer gorgeous trees and natural flora that is simply Southern California. Irvine has plenty of pros ready to assist as you plan.
- Catering
Irvine itself is home to a host of event planners and caterers. However, Irvine’s relatively short distance to major cities in Southern California gives event planners the ability to find a great caterer at a reasonable price. These talented artists work to create not only a personalized touch for your event menu, but they also work to create unique platters, food towers, and other edible works of art for your happenings both big and small.
- Event Planners
Yet another benefit of choosing to host an event in Irvine is the wealth of event planners in the area. Most event planners in the area boast years of experience, and they are flexible enough to help you plan for corporate conferences, live music shows, and even special interest conventions.
- Transportation
Getting your guests and VIPs to the event on time is critical to making sure your event goes off without a hitch. Irvine is home to many car services that will get out-of-town attendees to your event in a safe and timely manner.
- Lodging for Event Guests
When hosting an event in Irvine, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the number of accommodations that are available within Irvine itself. However, if your event takes place during the busy travel season, your guests can easily find access to lodging in nearby Los Angeles.
Event Companies in Irvine
Irvine is both a college town and a bustling entrepreneurship city as well. This means hosts will have many choices when choosing an event venue, lodging, and caterers. However, Irvine is also home to many event coordinators who take the stress out of planning for you.
- @Planit LA
The innovative planning experts at @Planit LA believe that there’s always a reason to throw a party, whether it is a birthday party, a holiday event, or even a corporate meeting! Jasmine and her team work together to provide everything you need for events large or small. They’ll hire extra staff specifically for your event, coordinate food and any décor, and manage day-of-event timelines so that everything goes as planned.
- Persiano Event Rentals
Depending upon your location, you may need to rent chairs, tables, possibly even silverware and table cloths. Persiano Events is a highly rated event rental business located inside Irvine with over ten years of event experience. The company will deliver and set up your rented items, all at a competitive price.
- IL Sugo Catering
Whether you wish to feed a small group or you need finger foods for a business meeting, the specialists at IL Sugo Catering can create a menu fit to please. IL Sugo is a drop-off catering service, and they offer everything from appetizers to entrees to drinks.
Pros and Cons of Events in Irvine
Irvine is a rapidly growing city just outside Los Angeles. It is known as one of the safest cities of its size, and it is also genuinely beautiful. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to any city you might choose for your event location, and Irvine is no different.
Advantages
- Great weather
The average temperature all year long in Irvine hovers around 71 degrees, and roughly two months of the year see cool temperatures below 50 degrees. The average rain in inches is lower than in other places across the United States, and most days are balmy and sunny.
- Beautiful landscaping
Orange County is proud of its lush gardens, gorgeous trees, and overall natural beauty. In fact, Orange County offers a dedicated preserve that is meant to save “open spaces” in the area. The parks in Irvine offer beautiful gardens with thriving, colorful flowers; the buildings themselves are planned for the utmost in striking architecture.
- Relatively no traffic
Irvine may be on the outskirts of LA, but traffic in Irvine is downright calm compared to the metropolitan Los Angeles County. In fact, the city planners installed a system so that traffic flows smoothly and lights change based on the flow of traffic at any given time.
Disadvantages
- High cost of living
Irvine has recently grown due to people moving from more metropolitan areas of California. Plus, it is a Fortune 500 city in which many businesses are booming.The cost of living in Irvine is estimated to be a whopping 80 percent higher than in other similar cities across the United States. Venues and supplies may be costly.
- Lack of nightlife
While Irvine has a great tourist industry, there is virtually little to do after the sun goes down other than pubs and bars. Many travel to Los Angeles for a more diverse nightlife experience.
- Lack of public transportation
There is no public transportation in Irvine; the California MetroLink system does not serve the area. So, other than possible ride-sharing opportunities, public transportation is lacking in Irvine. Keep this in mind as you look for an accessible Irvine event space.
Famous Locations in Irvine
- Irvine Spectrum Center
The Irvine Spectrum Center offers something for everyone, from boutique shopping to a giant Ferris wheel to a boon of restaurants. The Center is beautifully landscaped, and beautiful fountains are located throughout the area.
- Huntington Beach
A mere twelve-mile trip will get you to the Huntington Beach area, where a long Pier will make for picturesque moments. Huntington Beach is also home to the International Surf Museum, and Huntington Central Park offers a chance to enjoy gorgeous gardens and lakes after your event.
- Irvine Open Space Preserve
The Irvine Open Space Preserve is the perfect place to enjoy hiking or mountain biking. In fact, those who wish to can enjoy guided horseback riding. The Irvine Open Space Preserve is also home to Bommer Canyon, where more seasoned hikers enjoy tackling the trail on their own.
