Serra Plaza is a perfect, intimate, special place for someone who wants to host an outdoor wedding…read morethat feels like a small European town. Lauren from Jay's Catering was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. She worked closely with us on menu selection, food tasting, the walkthrough of our venue, and overall moral support. Our wedding was like out of a fairytale. To this day, we still have friends and family tell us that the food at our wedding was the best wedding food they ever had - a huge compliment to Jay's Catering (and shout out to the Vietnamese Short Rib!) Wedding planning is difficult and it can feel like every decision might be the wrong thing. I am so happy that we trusted our gut and went with Serra Plaza as our spot.

Ideal for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, Serra Plaza has a Spanish summer nights things going…read moreon. It feels very romantic and makes me think of the passionate ballroom dances that could have taken place here. You're also just a couple minutes away from the Mission SJC for more photo ops.

There's a part of San Juan Capistrano that I had never seen. I guess it's their downtown, or old…read moretown, and it's right near the train station. There's a lot of places to eat, but I wanted to try Rancho because I saw them in San Clemente. This location is bigger and there's a nice outdoor patio. The hostess was friendly and excited it was our first time. She gave us a great table away from the other diners. It's just better for Cako. Jane was our server and one of the best! Made a couple of recommendations for lunch, but we saw the steak frites and well, I'm always down for a good steak frites. We also tried the fig bruschetta. This was delicious, though I was hoping for real figs instead of a fig jam. But it all worked nicely with the cheese, arugula, and balsamic. The steak came out and was very tender and had an herb butter that was soooooo good! I loved the salad that came with, spring mix with strawberries, blueberries and dried cranberries. I also like putting the butter on the fries....soooo good! We chose the Trestles Tempranillo and it was the perfect pairing with everything! They have a dog menu and Cako got a chicken and rice bowl, which she loved. The patio is a great place on a sunny day. They do have umbrellas and a covered area but it's all very pleasant. Jane took really great care of us! All the staff were friendly! Unfortunately, I didn't have room for dessert. Maybe next time! Cako Approves!

I typically visit the Rancho Capistrano Winery in San Clemente, and I recently held an event at…read morethis location. The service was fantastic, the staff was very attentive, and the wine was great. The whiskey Bundt cake was absolutely to die for! Unfortunately, the ribeye was a disappointment. I ordered it medium rare, but it came out closer to medium well, and four plates were served incorrectly. To their credit, they fixed it right away and were very kind to offer a complimentary glass of wine, which was appreciated. Even with the great service, I was still disappointed with the ribeye. It lacked the char and flavor I've come to expect from the San Clemente location. The difference in how the steaks are prepared between the two locations was night and day. I'll definitely continue supporting Rancho Capistrano, but I hope this location can bring the ribeye up to the same standard.

This place can get very crowded, but that's honestly part of what makes it so much fun. The energy…read moreis always great, and there's always something going on. I've attended their trivia nights, and they were a blast--well organized, engaging, and a perfect activity for a group of friends. The drinks are fantastic. The Sauvignon Blanc sangria and the frozen rosé are both amazing and have become some of my favorites. The food is consistently good, and the lively atmosphere keeps me coming back. On my most recent visit, I had the opportunity to beta test one of their murder mystery events, and it was such a unique and entertaining experience. It added a whole new level of fun to the evening and made for a memorable night out. If they offer the murder mystery event again, I highly recommend checking it out. It's a great way to enjoy good food, drinks, and an interactive experience all in one place.

I enjoyed visiting Five Vines Wine Bar in downtown San Juan Capistrano. It's conveniently located…read morenear the Amtrak railroad tracks, which adds to the charm and character of the area. There is public parking nearby, making it easy to find parking @ $2/hour. The wine bar is cozy, cute, and welcoming, with a great selection of wines and delicious food options. I especially enjoy their happy hour and the outdoor balcony seating, where you can relax with a glass of wine and watch people stroll through historic downtown. The waitress is fast and friendly....just all around well worth the drive to this area.

From the very first time we stepped into Franciscan Gardens, we fell in love with it. It truly is…read moreso magical, romantic, and welcoming, and it immediately felt like the perfect place to begin this next chapter of our lives together. Seeing it all come to life on our wedding day was truly a dream come true. The venue was absolutely breathtaking. Everywhere we looked was beautiful, and so many of our guests commented throughout the evening about how stunning the gardens were and what a special place Franciscan Gardens is. It provided the most perfect backdrop for one of the happiest days of our lives, and we will cherish those memories forever. The 24 Carrot staff is also truly one of a kind and supported us through each step of the planning process. Every interaction with their team was met with warmth, professionalism, and genuine care. Their guidance and attention to detail allowed us to relax and truly be present throughout the day, soaking in every moment with our family and friends. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are. Our wedding day was everything we had hoped for and more, and Franciscan Gardens will always hold such a special place in our hearts because it is where we celebrated one of the most meaningful days of our lives. Thank you Franciscan Gardens and 24 Carrot for helping create memories that we will treasure forever. We are so appreciative of everything you and your team did for us and feel incredibly lucky to have been able to celebrate at such a beautiful venue with such wonderful people.

What a cute venue, a hidden gem surrounded by historic buildings and a little train stop…read more I attended a wedding at Franciscan Gardens, and although admittedly small in size, it comfortably accommodated a group of about 50 guests. Also loved that the courtyard was surrounded by tall shrubs, keeping the area cool and shaded throughout the afternoon. Overall a super cute venue, intimate, and beautifully decorated.

Has a tea date this weekend with my better half! She's been here before with her friends, it's my…read morefirst time in this area. It was slightly hot, but not uncomfortable. We Got seated out on the porch. Their menu is essentially a choice of your tea selection with different course levels of food and drink, or on the weekend a brunch offering. We got the Victorian which is the second most under the full course which has another drink and extra dessert. Everything about the Tea House is amazing! Absolutely everyone was dressed up for the vibe. Our tea and ate sets were all unique and ornamental. The Creamy Earl Grey was outstanding, I'm a big coffee and tea fan and this is some of the best I've had. We started with a Scone and compote, not usually a fan of scones but this was fresh. Led into soup, then salad, then our sandwiches! It's pre-set the 6 you get, but if you have a preference you can switch out and double up on your favorite. The dessert was fine, especially the Lemon Blueberry for me. We ate everything. You get 10% off purchasing take home tea from their store next door if you eat here, we got four different types. Looking forward to coming back again soon, it's going to be a thing!

My daughter and granddaughters took me here for my 70th birthday! (It was on my bucket list) . They…read morewere very accommodating! Our server , Marco, explained everything on the menu and made some great recommendations!! The food was delicious, I had the Mission Tea and picked the vegetable soup . My daughter had the chickpea and squash soup. Both were delicious!! Oh and don't get me started on the scones ! So yummy !! The amazing plates came and were a work of art !! Then to top it off we got little cakes !!! Everyone at our table got a fancy teapot and choice of beverage - the teas (I tried all of them) were delicious! The location is unique and gorgeous! Beautiful grounds and table set ups !! This met every expectation and exceeded them !!!! I would recommend this fun experience at least once in your lifetime!!!!!

This location sits at the uppermost part of a vast citrus orchard and, as you can see by some of…read morethe pictures, offers unparalleled sunset views to the ocean. The reception area is level and well-lit although it's recommended to wear comfortable shoes (i.e. thicker heels like wedges) in order to safely wander around the property. As a guest to a wedding, I didn't receive all the details of the venue but it does look like the property will rent out some of the dwellings for the party guests, etc. via Airbnb. We were provided event restroom rentals (limited restroom access inside the buildings) and guest parking is at a lower level of the property in which you are shuttled up. To get to the reception location itself, you'll have to drive Ortega Highway (74) and turn east into their gated property entrance which is very close to Caspers. Once you enter the gated property, you'll be guided via caravan up the 5 miles of dirt road to the beautiful reception area. The dirt road drive is about 20 minutes from Ortega Hwy so keep in mind. The dirt road was in good condition even though we drove over 2 "stream" crossings - AWD/4WD not necessary. On your drive up, you'll go through old growth forested area, drive by some exotic animals as well as hundreds of citrus trees. The drive in itself was a treat! For an early spring event, we were thrilled with the weather although I do understand many of the guests were chilly - so bring a nice coat or blanket in case there are no heat lamps (there were not any available for our event but we could step inside the house to warm up).

The Jewel of Ortega is an absolute dream. From the minute the venue manager responded to our…read moreinquiry, we were over the moon about this place. It checked all our boxes for a retreat style wedding for our wedding party, parents and grandparents, in a nature-filled spot in Southern California but not difficult to get to, customizable to our vision and desires, and with an authentic and laid back team. Before we left our first venue visit we knew we would sign. The previous venue manager was very flexible with our requests and everyone we worked with on the approved vendor list was incredible and excited to go back to The Jewel, although we did appreciate that we had the option to choose others too. A month before the wedding, said manager left the venue and we were so nervous about how the transition to the new manager Sally and her team would go, especially as we were planning a DIY wedding from abroad and had only visited the venue twice. The handover was absolutely seamless and turned out better than we could have ever imagined - which is a testament to the ownership. Sally and her crew worked their tails off from start to finish that weekend and looped us into every decision in a productive manner. They stepped up big time when our wedding coordinator didn't deliver. They made all of our guests comfortable and we all felt like we were home for the weekend, which everyone complimented us on. It was just a pleasure to get to know them as people too, really. Before we even left the venue, we were coming up with reasons to come stay again. Thank you and we will be back!!

We got married on a Saturday in May with ~125 guests. The wedding industry can sometimes feel…read morepredatory, especially with regards to hidden fees, however Plaza de Magdalena does NOT have this problem. From start to finish, Patti did everything she could to make our experience special. Included Perks: 10/10 This venue includes all-day usage of a gorgeous bridal suite (unheard of in this area), perfect size for about 4-6 people to get ready. If you use recommended vendors, they also allow you to use their arches and chandeliers (pictured), as well as an accent cake table, large rectangular farm table, and other items. Location: 9/10 San Juan Capistrano is about as charming of a city as it gets. There are plenty of spots for your guests to explore. The Mission SJC is also right across the street; we walked there before the ceremony and got the most gorgeous photos, it is unreal (make sure to get a photo permit). I just had to take away 1 point for parking, as I did get feedback from guests that the parking garage filled up. They were able to find parking in a slightly farther garage. Catering: 1000/10 The catering menu is affordable and they do not skimp on you. The food was AMAZING in both the cocktail hour and reception, got so much positive feedback, and the drinks packed a punch. The buffet also came with churros + dipping sauce which was delicious! Space: 9/10 If you have more than 125 guests, you might have trouble fitting them in the courtyard. I would say that around 110 guests is probably ideal, as the extra chairs ate into the aisle space. Other than that though the space is absolutely stunning. We really didn't have to decorate much, and if you have live music (we had a harp), it sounds magical in the courtyard. Communication: 100/10 Patti is an excellent communicator. She responded reliably and answered every question we had. She was open to switching things around to fit what we wanted (for example, doing the one-sided aisle and having a harp). An absolute dream to work with! Overall we absolutely loved this venue, and if your guest count is maybe under 120, I can highly recommend it for your event.

Plaza de Magdalena is a lovely venue that is perfect for a holiday party. First off it's in the…read moreheart of San Juan Capistrano which is a good and bad thing, mostly considering the traffic if there are other events going on and parking. I'd also caution in case there's road closures like this particular time I was there which made it hard to get into the parking garage. There is an option to take the train since it's right by the tracks if that's your cup of tea. The venue itself is a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor space, starting with the cocktail hour outside under the string lights with very tasty appetizers and was pleased that they also had outdoor heaters. A short walk inside opens up to a large space, in this case it was set up for dinner with festive red and green lighting. The catered food was pretty good with a nice variety of salmon, chicken and prime rib. The staff were also so friendly and did a good job serving and keeping everything tidy. I heard quite a lot of feedback from others that they liked this venue and had a great time at the party. I would have to agree.

All went well. Beautiful venue for graduation photos, as well as wedding photos I would imagine!read more

Stunning place, my friends had a wedding here and that was an amazing experience! Everything was…read moretop notch

We truly could not have asked for a better venue owner than Cate for our son's wedding. From the…read morevery beginning, she was warm, kind, and genuinely invested in making the day special. She went above and beyond in ways both big and small, and it made all the difference. Her space is absolutely beautiful. It has such an artsy, welcoming feel and was perfect for our 80 person reception. The lighting created a magical atmosphere, the sound system worked flawlessly, and the indoor outdoor flow gave guests room to mingle, relax, and celebrate comfortably. One of the most generous touches was allowing us to use her home for staging the bride and groom. That level of trust and hospitality meant so much to our family. Throughout the entire process, she was accommodating, helpful, and always available with a calm, reassuring presence. If you are looking for a venue with heart, creativity, and an owner who truly cares, this is it. We are so grateful for everything she did to make the celebration unforgettable.

Absolutely Perfect Wedding/Party Venue!…read more We recently had our wedding at The Fish Tank Capo, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. This venue is such a hidden gem--unique, welcoming, and full of character. It immediately made us and our guests feel comfortable, safe, and completely at home. Cate, the owner, was an absolute dream to work with. From the start, she was accommodating, easygoing, and full of helpful ideas. She truly went above and beyond--she even opened up her own attached living area so we could freshen up before the ceremony. That level of thoughtfulness made the day even more special. The venue itself was everything we had hoped for--intimate, cozy, and full of charm. So many of our guests commented on how special the day felt and how perfect the space was for creating such a warm atmosphere. We highly recommend The Fish Tank Capo to anyone looking for a unique and affordable venue. You truly won't find a better combination of price, service, and heart anywhere else!