Wedding Tips and Planning Tools

Advice from some of Newport Beach's wedding experts

Consider an all-in-one-venue. Some hotels and resorts make it easy to host the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception, brunch, and guest rooms in one place. Everyone gets to spend more time together and never worry about transportation - or about where to find a room. Michelle Knutson, Senior Wedding Sales Manager at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, suggests this as a "green" option to eliminate the need for transportation. An all-in-one venues means an expert staff to help you plan everything from start to finish. Many couples that do this on their own at a private estate find the costs add up fast and that large parties are prohibited.

Choose off-days and off-times. Going against the grain (ie. Big Saturday night bash in summer) will likely equal an ample cost savings. Avoid holiday weekends and consider a Friday or Sunday event to reduce costs and allow guests time to either explore Newport Beach on their own or joy you for a golf tournament, pre-wedding cocktail party, harbor cruise, or brunch, advised Kristy Fischer van Egmond, Senior Banquet Manager at Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom. "The off-season, January through March, also tends to mean lower pricing, even though the weather is still outstanding. Marrying outside the summer season can lead to lower hotel rates, better airfare, and fewer crowds."

Get Permit. If you're opting for a surfside ceremony right on the beach, Newport Beach requires a permit obtainable through the City of Newport Beach office. The cost is free but guests may be limited to 50 or fewer attendees.

Photo Opps. Couples now seek a more modern, artistic-lifestyle approach to their wedding and engagement photos which is why Newport Beach's diverse scenic areas create personalized backdrops to match the couple's distinguishing qualities. From back country to bustling streets, to serene beaches or the playful Fun Zone, couples can express their essence in photos that will last a lifetime.

Visit beforehand. If you are from out of town and planning a wedding here, come spend a weekend in Newport, exploring the hotels, restaurants, attractions, and venues. Back at home, share what you learn with guests so they can make reservations and plan an exciting vacation.

Provide suggested itineraries to guests. Go to www.visitnewportbeach.com, the official travel website for Newport Beach, to find vacation itineraries you can share. Planning casual, optional get-togethers - a day at the beach, a lunch-and-shop afternoon, lattes and pedicures, happy hour at a waterfront restaurant - ensure extra time with loved ones.