Venue Review: Carondelet House – Los Angeles, CA

I have a new favorite venue to add to my list: Carondelet House (pronounced: cuh-ron-duh-lay) in Los Angeles. I just went here last night for a tour and was blown away. This place is GORGEOUS. It is a brick building built in 1928 with warm wooden floors and an urban flair. There is so much architectural beauty here that cannot be overlooked!

This is the exterior of Carondelet House. I love the aged brick and beautiful windows! It is a gem within its’ surrounding buildings.

I LOVE these chandeliers. Chandeliers + brick + aged wood = perfection. This space is so classy, elegant, and unique all at the same time!

This is a side corridor where you can put food stations, a photo booth, or more seating for your guests!

How amazing is this “man cave”!? This is the perfect spot for you groom to hang out and have a drink while he awaits your arrival. So awesome!

This is your bridal suite! I love how spacious this room is, it’s great for getting ready or for a private moment between you and your new husband. I also love that this room is camera ready just like the rest of this venue, it is posh and put together!

Located at the front of the house, this parlor room transforms into the perfect dance floor! I love all of the vintage furniture this place has to offer!

One of two outdoor courtyards Carondelet House has to offer. This chandelier is so different and I love these giant sliding glass doors!

I love this area of the house! This spot doubles as ceremony space and reception seating space. What a gorgeous aisle! I love the chandeliers lighting the bride’s path on her way to marry the man of her dreams, so dreamy!

Here is the other courtyard! I love those hanging lights, so much texture! This is a great spot for guests to grab a drink and catch up with old friends.

Pros

• BEAUTIFUL. It is hard to find a place that is so charming and unique but also one that is simply beautiful. (I love Marvimon and Smog Shoppe to death but, this place has a more classic beauty that no one would be able to deny)
• Bridal Suite – I love how big their bridal suite is! I have 9 nieces and nephews that will be involved in my wedding so it would be awesome to have a space upstairs away from the chaos of the wedding for the kids to go and watch a movie or play a game if it gets to be too much for them.
• Courtyards – The courtyards are a great addition to Carondelet. While the inside is amazing, it’s nice to have the option to go outside for some fresh air if you feel the urge.
• PARKING – One of my main issues with Marvimon and Smog Shoppe is the fact that you must use a valet service and that there is really no place for guests to park themselves. Carondelet has a parking lot right next door! You can reserve spaces for your guests to park at $5 a space. (I don’t know about you, but that is a GREAT deal in my opinion!) I love how easy it would be for my guests to park themselves and walk over to the venue, they can leave when they please, run to get a sweater out of the car, etc. With valet there is so much room for error. You will have people standing around waiting for their cars, the awkward feeling that they need to tip, and major congestion as people are arriving and trying to get inside. Parking here gets a thumbs up from me!
• Kids – Like I said before, I have 9 nieces and nephews who will be at my wedding. The places I have looked are NOT fans of children (this is obviously a problem for me) When I asked Carondelet what their policy on having children at weddings was I was told that they don’t have any specific rules but that it would be a good idea to have one person be designated to look after them. (I totally understand why and would definitely plan on that anyway, it was just nice not to have someone look down upon the fact that I have a lot of children who will need to be in attendance)
• Furniture – they have tons of vintage couches and furniture (which I love!) that can be utilized throughout the house. It would be nice not to have to rent furniture from an outside vendor.

Cons

• Area – I sure know how to pick them! All of my possible venues are not in the best areas! I guess that’s what I get for liking industrial/urban spaces 🙂 Carondelet’s surrounding area is definitely not the worst I have seen, but it is definitely urban!
• Catering – I have heard wonderful things about the in-house caterer here TresLA (and would probably end up using them) but if you do want to use an outside caterer there is a huge buy out fee! Then, on top of that you still have to pay for whichever caterer you end up using (at that point I think its good to consider just using TresLA since they already know the space backwards and forwards and they have great reviews)
• Cost – The cost of this space has gone up for weddings in 2014! But if you read this and want to have your wedding in 2013 I suggest doing it! It’s a bummer that the price is going up, but I totally understand, you pay for what you get, and at Carondelet you get so much more than you pay for! It’s one-of-a-kind!

I definitely have quite a choice to make. My top three venues are Carondelet House, Marvimon, and Smog Shoppe. They are three amazing spaces, so I know that no matter which place I end up choosing, my day will be perfect (but of course it will be, because I’m marrying my best friend – cue ‘awws’ now) I predict that this place will become more and more popular as a venue. I just hope we can decide and book it before our favorite dates are taken! Happy planning sparkly friends!

xo The Sparkly Bride

Venue Review: Huron Substation – Los Angeles, CA

The Huron Substation is a fun and unique Los Angeles wedding and event venue. It’s gorgeous brick exterior and interior walls give it a warm, loft-like feel, perfect for the chic and stylish bride. Here are a few photos of the space in case you are unfamiliar with it.

Aren’t these windows incredible!? I love the industrial look of this building, perfect for pairing soft accents like flowers and candles!

This space allows for wonderful photo ops for your photographer. This wall was the perfect effortless background for this pretty couple.

Here is an overhead shot of the “garden” area which can be transformed into a lounge after your ceremony!

An example of the decor that is possible for your big day at Huron Substation. Blending flowers and feminine attributes with a hard brick/urban backdrop is always breathtaking!

Look at this one-of-a-kind chandelier! Imagine dancing under it for your first dance, or dining amongst your friends with it shining magnificently above you.

The possibilities at this venue are endless. Think of how many beautiful details you could paint on this canvas!

A view from the ceremony into the reception space. I love those huge subway doors!

So now that you have a vision of this place in your head, here are some of my thoughts. This is a great space for a smaller wedding of 75-100 people. It would definitely be a tight fit for my 175-200 person guest list! Although the flow of the space is seamless, I couldn’t picture all of my guests fitting comfortably (even though I want to do it cocktail style). Definitely something to consider, but if you are having a smaller event, I think this place is a great option!

The location is not ideal, it is in a neighborhood of homes, and not the best in my opinion. Walking up to the entrance I was distracted by the sketchy area surrounding it (of course, when you are standing in front of the building your mouth will drop open – STUNNING to the max.) Now, I have found it difficult to find unique venues in the Los Angeles area with the industrial look I’m going for. I don’t believe there is one that exists in the perfect neighborhood, because many of the spaces are very old and were around before their surrounding areas may have started to decline. So, that must be taken into consideration when/if you see the area around Huron.

This is a residence. The woman who lives here, Micah, is super cool and seems really easy to work with! However, I wasn’t particularly floored by the idea of this being someone’s home…things could get awkward? I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. You are able to use her kitchen for food prep/cooking but something is odd to me about using someone’s personal kitchen (especially someone you don’t know) for a wedding.

The ceremony/lounge area is pre-lit with hanging bistro lights (which I LOVE!) and looks impeccably magical at night, a great setting for your friends and family to hang out, drink some wine, and celebrate your union.

This is a much more cost-friendly venue then others I have found with this aesthetic. While they do provide a few tables, keep in mind that you will most likely have to rent additional pieces to fit your particular event.

• Friday or Saturday (noon – midnight) $4500.00. *
• Sunday $4250.00 (10 AM – 10 PM). *
• Jeffrey Valet is a required vendor. (fee not included above)
• 24 hour $1,000,000 liability insurance policy.
• $1750.00 deposit.
• *Includes 1 hour coordination meeting, each additional meeting billed at $45/hour.
  

Overall, I think this venue is charming and chic and would serve as a beautiful backdrop for your big day. If I were having a smaller affair, I would definitely place it in my possible venue category, but for my friends who also have large guest lists I highly suggest you check it out for yourself to get your bearings on its’ size.

If you are interested in viewing Huron Substation in person (always recommended) send an e-mail to viewings@huronsubstation.com to find out when the next public open house is (they do not accommodate private viewings)

Venue Review: Smog Shoppe – Culver City, CA

Let me warn you by saying that this post might sound a little biased, because I absolutely adore this venue. First of all, this place was once an actual Smog Shoppe and has been since transformed into an out-of-this-world venue space! This place is definitely at the top of my list for possible venues. It is so clever, fun, and definitely has the “wow” factor that I’m looking for in a venue for my wedding (you only get married once, right?!). It’s a little on the pricey side, but in my opinion you get what you pay for and more.  The Smog Shoppe provided decor and furniture will make it look like you went to a flea market and hand picked each item just for your day. Something few, if any of us, have time for while we are busy planning! This space really holds its’ own and few personally added decorations would even be necessary to have a fun/special event that is all your own.

Here are some photos (Unfortunately, these are not my own, because silly me forgot to bring my camera when I went for my tour) I’ve provided a few of the pros and cons below this “photo tour”. You can also go to http://marvimon.com/ for more info. (Expect a review of Smog Shoppe’s sister venue Marvimon in the near future 🙂 )

Nestled in the arts district of Culver City, CA the Smog Shoppe is so much more than meets the eye! It’s vintage/industrial exterior is only a hint of what lies behind its walls.

After you enter the venue from its entrance on La Cienega Blvd you will be blown away! It’s as if you have stepped into a whole new world (Aladdin, anyone?) It will literally take your breath away.

Not only will the architectural qualities of this gem leave you wanting more, but every detail in its decor is so fantastically unique. It’s the perfect blend of vintage, one-of-a-kind elements.

The succulent walls! Did I mention the succulent walls?! This place has walls covered in them! They are gorgeous and ultra-cool, the perfect back drop for your ceremony.

If you are a movie fan or just want that extra element of fun for your big day, check out this movie screen! You can have your first dance while a scene from your favorite film plays behind you (did I mention the dance floor can go right in front of it? Great photo ops and endless possibilities for entertainment!)

The garage doors which can be seen up in a photo above can be closed for a wedding in the colder months of fall and winter. Keep your guests warm and keep the party going! Smog Shoppe also has tables and chairs that can be used free of charge. (pictured here)

A lounge-like, inviting atmosphere allows guests to mingle and feel at ease while celebrating your blissful union. These Chesterfield sofas are to die for!

Pros

• You can use your own caterer/bartender as long as they are an insured entity (for me this is huge! Many venues restrict you to using only their vendors which can be extremely costly)
• There is a separate kitchen space (perfect for prepping and preparing your food) just off of the main lounge area
• You are able to use any of Smog Shoppe’s furniture for your event: couches, benches, chairs, tables (all of which are priceless/unique pieces)
• There is a men’s bathroom and a women’s bathroom, both of which have multiple stalls (this probably seems silly to be listed in Pros, but there is nothing worse than not having enough restroom facilities for your guests’ comfort and convenience!)
• They have a fully wired DJ station that sits above your reception space (your DJ can sit there and control the flow of the party without having to lug their own equipment to the venue)
• Valet (which is required) will allow your guests to pull up to your wedding and leave their cars without having to search for parking
• You can have both your ceremony and reception on site (no need for guests to travel between)

Cons

• Costly – for a 175 person wedding you are looking at a $10,000ish fee (however this does include both valet and event management) Do keep in mind that you will have to pay for your own food, flowers, etc. on top of this amount
• Not the biggest place on the block. Since I plan on having a 175-200 person wedding, it could be a tighter squeeze (good thing I want cocktail style eh?) but for those who want a 100-125 person wedding this place will fit like a glove!
• Kids – they do allow children on-site but require you to have a “babysitter” there to watch them (someone outside of the wedding, it can be someone of your choosing or someone Smog Shoppe recommends) so that their parents can have fun and they can be monitored more closely
• Area – it is a more industrial area, if you are looking for streets lined with gold or a lush garden, this is certainly not the place for you.

I would strongly encourage any one who is at all interested to take a look at the venue in person before writing it off because of the price. You won’t be disappointed.

xo, The Sparkly Bride