About Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a rich history that dates back to its founding during Spanish rule. The city was one of the original villages built by new arrivals from Spain during California's early colonization period. Located on a broad basin in Southern California, the town covers an area of 469 square miles and stands at an elevation of 305 feet above sea level. Today, Los Angeles is home to many industries including aerospace, finance, fashion, entertainment, tourism, and technology, making it one of the most diverse cities in terms of economic activity nationwide.
Hacienda weddings have become increasingly well-liked over recent years due to their rustic charm. These venues generate a unique blend of old-world elegance with modern amenities and bring with them an air of romance and sophistication that can’t be found anywhere else. Many couples opt for Spanish-themed weddings at these types of spots with lush outdoor gardens featuring vibrant colors and stunning landscapes. For instance, you can have traditional dishes served while filling the air with traditional Spanish or Mexican music.
Hacienda Wedding Options in Los Angeles
- Videography
Videography services capture all the special moments on a couple's wedding day. Professionals offer packages that feature a variety of camera equipment, aerial footage, drone footage, stabilized gimbal shots, and more. The final product is typically a highlight reel and/or full-length wedding video in both digital and physical formats for the couple to keep for life.
- Musicians
Live music can help set the tone for any occasion. From bands playing classic songs to soloists singing romantic ballads, there are plenty of options to choose from when selecting musicians for the big day. Couples can opt for traditional Spanish music as well as more modern genres like Latin pop or rock.
- Catering
Lovebirds have the option to work with top chefs while designing their own customized menu or choosing from a range of pre-set menus offered by local caterers. Traditional Latin dishes and fusion cuisine that combines Latin flavors with international recipes, catering companies provide delicious meals that guests will remember long after the celebration is over.
- Bartenders
Bartending services complete any event experience by presenting expert mixologists who create signature cocktails and serve drinks quickly and efficiently. For those who want to bring a little extra fun to their hacienda wedding, these guys usually offer interactive cocktail experiences such as mixology classes and molecular mixology demonstrations that can help make any occasion cool.
Hacienda Wedding Vendors in Los Angeles
- About Town Bartending
With over 23 years of experience in beverage catering, Aout Town Bartending is a quality provider in the Los Angeles area. Providing full-service bartending solutions for private or corporate events and weddings, this company does it all. Taking the hassle out of hosting, they ensure that your guests are well taken care of without you having to worry about purchasing liquor. The team understands event planning is an investment and will provide maximum return on that investment. They offer menus of their own signature cocktails as well as the option to incorporate your own personal favorites among other drinks.
- Mariachi Zacoalco
With two decades of performing experience, Mariachi Zacoalco is a great option for traditional Latin music at a hacienda event. Their music is a modern fusion between traditional sounds and current songs, which makes them stand out. Their highly skilled professionals have experience playing at all kinds of gatherings, from weddings and parties to corporate gatherings and more. They provide unique services to each client and cater their repertoire to each occasion, making them a great choice to create the musical ambiance at your hacienda wedding.
- LA Paella Catering
L.A. Paella Catering is a classic Latin catering company run by a husband and wife team. Their paellas and tapas dishes are truly unrivaled, and they prepare all meals onsite, freshly cooked in front of you and your guests. They have online consults available and through these, they offer particular packages tailored to your specific occasion. Their services are excellent, and they require bookings to be made months in advance. The chef has been creating paella for most of his life, and he continues to show his extensive knowledge through each spread that he puts together.
Pros and Cons of Hacienda Weddings in Los Angeles
With its Southern California location, a hacienda wedding offers access to some of the most beautiful venues and weather in the country. Here, we’ll take a look at a few of the pros and cons of having such an occasion in Los Angeles:
Advantages
- Stunning venues with picturesque views of the city skyline and nearby mountains. Hacienda venues around Los Angeles offer some of the most wide-open and natural views in the area.
- Year-round warm temperatures make outdoor ceremonies more comfortable. The promise of beautiful weather inspires guests to attend and creates positive and social energy among invitees.
- Ability to customize your dream wedding with personalized decorations and menu options. Spanish-themed weddings invite decorators to incorporate vibrant and warm colors into their decor, which suits a hot and sunny day quite well.
Disadvantages
- Limited availability of certain haciendas due to high demand during peak season. Depending on the size of the venue you need, certain more popular spaces tend to be booked far in advance, so in order to get the best choices, you must book early.
- Increased logistical complexity when dealing with larger groups due to remote locations. Some venues are difficult to access and may cause guest attendance to suffer if people aren’t properly warned or prepared.
- Difficulty accessing certain areas if a wheelchair or other mobility devices are needed. Most hacienda venues are designed in a different time, and their unique setups have not been modified to accommodate accessibility issues.
Tips on How to Organize Hacienda Weddings in Los Angeles
Organizing a hacienda wedding in Los Angeles can be a complex process due to the cultural and traditional elements involved. However, with the right preparation and research, you can ensure your special day is nothing short of perfect. Here are some tips:
- Research local venues: Consider searching for locations with outdoor courtyards, brick walls, and plenty of open space to host an unforgettable event. Consider your guest list and the capacity listed for the venues you are checking.
- Find experienced vendors: This includes finding expert photographers, caterers, florists, and bands with knowledge of maintaining the authenticity of these types of celebrations.
- Incorporate traditional decor: Make sure to include features such as colorful banners, vibrant flowers, and Latin-inspired artwork throughout the venue to create a warm atmosphere that your guests will remember forever.
- Provide authentic cuisine: An integral part of any hacienda wedding is traditional Latin cuisine. So work closely with caterers to discover recipes that are not only delicious but also true to the customs of this culture while still accommodating your guest’s dietary needs.
- Plan ahead: Start early on planning your wedding so you have enough time to account for any last-minute details or surprises. This way you won’t be caught off guard when it comes time for your big day.
Famous Locations in Los Angeles
- Lake Balboa
Lake Balboa is a quaint neighborhood in Los Angeles featuring a beautiful lake and many recreational amenities. On the edge of the park lies the workout area, where visitors come to get away from it all and do a low-key jog or circuit training routine. Unlike other spots in Los Angeles focused on achieving aesthetic workout photos for social media, this area sings a different tune. Locals here come dressed for comfort rather than aesthetics, ready to sweat and get a good burn. Additionally, it's important to bear in mind that coyotes sometimes make an appearance, so visitors should keep their eyes peeled near the brush near the dirt path for any unexpected visitors.
- Japanese Garden
Visitors to Suiho-en, often aptly named the “Garden of Water and Fragrance” due to its location next to a Van Nuys water treatment plant, can not only enjoy the stunningly lush visuals of winding pathways, symbolic trees, and waterfalls — they can also imagine themselves transported away from everyday life. For those who want to see and smell and hear the beauty of nature, this traditional Japanese Garden provides an instant reprieve from daily stressors. Although perfect weather is not always guaranteed, there is no denying that this serene natural gem amidst a not-so-glamorous reclamation plant offers an alluring escape from the daily grind.
- Museum of Tolerance
The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles opened the Museum of Tolerance in 1993, a unique institution dedicated to addressing issues of human rights. Exhibition spaces showcase the brutality of the Holocaust, as well as other struggles for human rights around the world such as Latin America and Cambodia. Amongst its special offerings is a "Holocaust Section" exhibit which gives visitors a chance to interact with WWII events and scenarios separated into different groups. Guests are given an individual photo before entering this section, leaving many wondering whether or not that person survived genocide after seeing the exhibit.