Bel-Air Bay Club — Restaurant in Los Angeles

FELLOW WEDDING VENDOR HERE!

I'm a wedding photographer, and I just had the opportunity this past weekend to photograph a wedding at the Bel-Air Bay Club for my first time!

I have to say: it was a great experience, not only because the venue is beautiful and really lends wonderfully to capturing a wedding day, but also the staff was extremely helpful and professional throughout the entire day!

From the moment I stepped in the front door, I told Sharon at the front desk who I was and that it was my first time here. She immediately pulled out a paper map of the property and showed me all the important areas where the event would take place. She even let me keep the map for my reference throughout the day.

Next I met one of the banquet captains, Anthony. He was equally helpful, in telling me what the layout of the reception hall was going to be, when it would be set and ready, and then pointed out some ideal spots for the First Look from our vantage point on the second floor.

The bridal suite was lovely and spacious, with lots of tall windows for great natural light. It opens right out onto a beautiful terrace that overlooks the ocean. This made for a perfect spot for Bridal Party and Family Portraits, as well as for the First Look with the couple.

Enter Maria. I believe her official title that day was Bridal Assistant. But I referred to her most of the day as our Stylist Extraordinaire! Maria has clearly assisted brides at many a wedding, and she is a PRO. When I would position the couple for photos, she knew instinctively exactly how I'd want the bride's train and veil laid out. This saved me so much time in communication or having to do it myself, which means we were able to move faster from shot to shot and capture that many more gorgeous images for the couple. When the wind was making it difficult to get a good shot with the bride's train spread out, Maria was quick-thinking and grabbed double-sided tape to keep the train in place long enough for us to get the perfect bridal shot. During breaks, she was right on top of bringing the bride and groom an appetizer or a glass of wine. When it came time to bustle the bride's dress, she amazed the bride with how quickly and easily she did it. The bride commented, "It would take me twice as long, and I practiced with it!" And the cherry on top: she was an absolute joy to work with, doing all this work with a smile and a infectiously positive energy. Maria: I wish I could have you at ALL of my weddings!

Gladys, a member of the serving staff, was also a huge help, making sure to find our photo/video team when appetizers came out during cocktail hour so we could document the nice food arrangements as well. And when there was a mix-up and we were one vendor meal short, she quickly made inventory of the meals they had that weren't served to guests and made sure that all of our team received an entree in a timely manner.

But to comment about the grounds themselves: the property is beautiful and has seemingly endless photo-worthy places. The rear lawn makes for the perfect ceremony space that overlooks the water, and the view of the hotel from that side is also quite grand. I already mentioned the great photo opportunities that the bridal suite and the adjacent terrace provided. Just past the main lobby inside is an extremely classy lounge area, decorated to perfection with nice furniture and elegant lighting fixtures. The patio area adjacent to the reception hall is decked with lush greenery on the walls, and is anchored by a noteworthy fountain in the middle. We didn't even have time to make use of ALL these amazing features for photos, but just know that the opportunities are endless!

If you're considering planning your wedding at the Bel-Air Bay Club, you should know that the space will accommodate you well and provide beautiful views for you, your guests, and your photos. And as I've mentioned above, the friendly staff will undoubtedly give you the royal treatment and ensure that your special day is...

If I could give 1,000,000/10 stars I would. Words can't even begin to describe how amazing this venue, staff, experience, etc. is. My husband and I live in San Diego but are from the east coast & decided early on that we wanted to get married out here in SoCal. Ideally we would of loved to get married in San Diego (because duh we live there!) but didn't fall in love with a venue in the area. Our thought process was "if we're going to ask everyone to fly across the country, we need to give them that Southern California feel" and when we found Bel Air Bay Club...our jaws literally hit the floor. If anyone is looking for a venue that not only is STUNNING inside and literally outside + have the absolute best support from the venue, please look no further. From Ashley to Steve to Maria- everyone was unreal. The email and phone support (& yes I was one of those brides who emailed 35 million times a day and Ashley Hann answered every.single.question without any hesitation!) this venue provides of second to none. When I say that every.single.one.of.our.guests couldn't stop talking about how good the food was, how beautiful the lawn was, how amazing that we had so many different rooms to hangout in, etc. I mean, every guest was blown away by the venue. For getting ready, the boys had their own room that's huge and spacious and overlooks the lawn (I did get some feedback that it was a little warm while they were getting ready) and then us girls had the boardroom downstairs that went straight onto the gorgeous patio that overlook the water (I will admit that I think adding some additional couches or something for comfort would be nice but overall, very comfortable!) and made it super easy for the 10 of us to all get ready! I could write a million pages on why this venue made all my dreams come true, and I truly mean it. Cost wise- you're paying a premium but you're getting an absolute premium with service, food, alcohol, VIEWS & overall experience. If anyone is on the hence about BABC, just do it. We had all 160 guests fly into LAX (only 10 of our guests live on the west coast!), they all stayed in the Courtyard Marriott in Santa Monica, and then we hired shuttles to take everyone to the venue (13 min drive). For the entire weekend we wanted to give our guests an experience that was seamless and beautiful & BABC did just that. Was hands down the best weekend of our lives & we have Bel Air Bay Club to thank for it!

P.S- Maria (venue bridal coordinator) is sweetest lady I have ever met. An absolute god sent- she helped me with everything & anything I needed! Made the entire night so amazing for both me and my husband. Right before I walked down the stairs for our ceremony, I was so nervous/anxious and Maria literally just held me to calm my nerves and help me be less anxious. I mean, what other venue offers a literal wedding emotional support coordinator?! If the above rant didn't convince you to book BABC, have 1 conversation with Maria and that's all...

The Bel-Air Bay Club was the perfect venue for our wedding, exceeding all our expectations. From the stunning ocean views to the beautifully maintained grounds, every detail was picture-perfect. The setting provided a breathtaking backdrop for both our ceremony and reception, making our special day truly unforgettable. I had so many comments on how it was the most beautiful wedding they'd been to and also the BEST WEDDING FOOD ever! Shout out to Chef Peter Edwards because I swear the food during my wedding tasted even better than I remember from the tasting... How he was able to pull it off for 211 guests, I have no idea, but the food was all so delicious. I'm so happy I was able to have at least one bite of everything at the wedding. The venue sets aside all of the display items/hor dourves for the bride and groom along with our signature drinks to make sure we can enjoy it. The staff at Bel-Air Bay Club were exceptional, offering top-notch service and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Ashley Hann, the venue coordinator, was extremely easy to work with. Her professionalism and dedication made the planning process seamless, as she provided invaluable assistance and recommendations to bring our vision to life effortlessly. A special mention goes to Maria Elena, my bridal attendant, who was the most professional and attentive attendant anyone could ask for. She fed me, kept me hydrated, ensured my veil, hair, and dress were in perfect order for photos, and even pulled out a lint roller to remove lint from my father's suit. She had everything we might need in her little pouch and was incredibly sweet throughout the day. Maria Elena also sent me all the behind-the-scenes photos she took, knowing I would want to see them before the professional ones were ready. The indoor and outdoor spaces were versatile and elegant, allowing for a beautiful flow throughout the event. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the location and the overall ambiance. The catering was exquisite, with delicious food and impeccable presentation that impressed everyone. If you're looking for a venue that combines natural beauty, exceptional service, and a luxurious atmosphere, the Bel-Air Bay Club is the perfect choice. Our wedding day was magical, and we are so grateful to the Bel-Air Bay Club for making it all possible. I highly recommend this venue for anyone seeking a stunning and unforgettable...