La Venta Inn — Attraction in Palos Verdes Estates

• Buyer Beware*

A successful wedding does not leave its guests, bride and groom feeling upset, cheated or embarrassed at its conclusion.

A major reason why my husband & I chose La Venta Inn (New York Food Company) as our wedding venue was due in large part of its elegance and amenities it had advertised.

My wedding on 6/12/15 was a disaster. Instead of a dream come true, it turned out to be a living nightmare. I'm disgusted with how things unfolded. La Venta Inn did not disclose to us that there was a scheduled power maintenance that day Or the possibility that electricity would be disruptive. When we arrived at the venue the coordinator, Mike Halish, kept the power outage from us. I wasted 15minutes before I discovered none of the outlets worked. I struggled with the idea of how management can leave a bride in the dark about basic necessity. There was a lack of power in the bridal cottage, groom’s quarters, courtyard, dining hall, bar room, dance floor, and the restrooms. The levels of anxiety & emotional stress were all too real for my husband and I. Too top it off, we had three legally disabled guest to worry about. More than 50% of the event was over before electricity was restored. Having “white-gloved attendants” was an additional feature we paid for but did not receive. La Venta Inn wouldn't admit that my wedding day was partially ruined. Instead, the owner, Jim Wharton, thought I was contacting tell to give them a tip for "saving my wedding." First you don't live up to your promises and now you want more money on top of the $25,000?? This was ridiculous and insulting.It's obvious that their management and owner lack basic common decency.

To deny us less service but still require us to pay the same price as any other couple is absurd. Jim Wharton refused to give us any money back so I took him to small claims court. He tried to misguide me by telling me to go through arbitration. I received a judgement in the mail. The court sided with me. It's disappointing that someone can have no shame in ruining your wedding day and tried to fight this in court.

Holding my event at this location...

La Venta Inn is absolutely MAGICAL!!!

I photographed a wedding at this stunning venue this past Saturday, and I was completely blown away at not only the location but the 5 star experience thanks to the incredible staff.

First off, this venue is BEAUTIFUL! Every corner is perfect for photos. Mature trees, twisting vines, blooming flowers, and panoramic views surround this property. Everywhere you look, you feel like you've been transported to the vacation spot of your dreams. It is a family-owned historic property that feels secluded, private, and truly one-of-a-kind.

The staff that operates the venue is unbelievably kind and welcoming. I work at a lot of wedding venues. It is uncommon to find venue staff who are so involved and present throughout the entire event. When a medical incident arose (one of the guests), the staff members immediately jumped into action and discreetly handled the situation to help the evening get back on track. The team was professional, accessible, and fed us an incredible hot meal (thanks to their exclusive caterer, Made by Meg) at a very convenient moment in the timeline. Always a huge win as a busy wedding vendor!

I cannot say enough good things about this venue. It is definitely best for intimate weddings, particularly when you do not have a wedding party. If you are looking for a classic, California vibe that has a secret garden element, you will NOT be disappointed! Also, the sunset was...

We wanted a wedding venue that had an ocean view for the ceremony and city view at night that felt intimate and gave us the right backdrop for our vintage inspired wedding. Coming from West LA, we couldn’t find a spot that fit the look and feel till we ventured to La Venta Inn. It was perfect. We had our outdoor ceremony complete with the ocean and garden for guests to gaze at, and at night, a carpet of diamonds to dazzle. The view at night in spectacular.

Drinks in the courtyard by a bubbling fountain, amazing appetizers, a roaring fire, Flamenco guitar from our live band, and Spanish influenced architecture made our wedding feel so old Hollywood and so unique.

The food was five-star caliber and guests commented on this to us to us repeatedly. And my husband and I were ensured that we had appetizers brought to us and that we ate our meal first so that we could then mingle. Personally, I loved the bridal suite with its own amazing view of the ocean and garden where my bridesmaids and I had some wonderful photos taken and a space to bond while we got ready. Plus it’s adorable.

La Venta Inn is charming, intimate, very private and the crew there pays attention to every detail. Truly. It’s worth the drive from LA for you and your guests as this place is a gem and unlike anything we could find in the city. There’s no other...