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Guide To Budget-Friendly Wedding Venues

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Couple Married on the Beach (credit: istock.com)

Budget-minded brides, you don't have to settle for holding your ceremony at home or having your reception on a few picnic tables in your backyard -- not that there's anything wrong with that! Beautiful weddings and budgets can come together if one knows where to look. Since the biggest expense will be the head count (you have to feed how many people?) here are few venues that are beautiful — but won't break the bank. As much.

Almansor Court In Alhambra
Almansor Court in Alhambra. (credit: weddingdecoratorblog.com)

Almansor Court in Alhambra

700 S. Almansor Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 570-4600
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Almansor Court, which is also home to a very popular public golf course, features roomy ballrooms for receptions and a picturesque, lakeside gazebo. The venue is centrally located in Alhambra, a short drive from the 10 Freeway. But most importantly, their lunch and dinner packages are reasonably priced -- a lunch wedding starts at $29.99 per person, while dinner starts at $39.50 per person. For Friday or Sunday weddings, Almansor Court offer discounts on lunch, dinner and gazebo wedding bookings.

The Castaway in Burbank
The Castaway Restaurant in Burbank (credit: castawayrestaurant.com)

The Castaway in Burbank

1250 Harvard Road
Burbank, CA 91501-1096
(818) 848-6691
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The Castaway is nestled in the Verdugo Mountains, overlooking De Bell Golf Course. For dinner weddings, two city-view ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows have a spectacular view of the San Fernando Valley. The Castaway, which also features a gazebo against a mountain view, underwent recent renovations to its outdoor area, which added a pergola along the courtyard and a fountain. Pricing is unavailable online, but couples who have married here say it starts at about $80 per person on a Saturday night, including an open bar for two hours.

Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale
The Hilton in Glendale (credit: hilton.com)

The Hilton in Glendale

100 West Glenoaks Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91202
(818) 956-5466
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The Hilton in Glendale (formerly the Red Lion Inn) is a classy, centrally-located option for any reception. The Hilton offers several ballrooms in a variety of layouts, a complimentary overnight stay for the bride and groom and special room rates for wedding guests. A special plus -- the Hilton in Glendale's wedding reception package includes a custom-designed cake from Glendale's famed Cuban bakery, Porto's Bakery. Pricing is unavailable online.

The Pacific Palms In Industry Hills
Pacific Palms Hotel & Conference Center (credit: pacificpalmsresort.com)

Pacific Palms Resort

One Industry Hills Parkway
City of Industry, CA 91744
(626) 810-4455
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The Pacific Palms sits atop a hill that affords it a expansive view of the San Gabriel Valley, where its popular with brides whether they're looking for a gazebo wedding or a an easy place to have a classy reception. The venue offers a variety of ballroom sizes, including the 12,000 square foot Majestic Ballroom, plus an outdoor terrace perfect for an outdoor reception. The resort also offers special bridal spa packages. Pricing is unavailable online.

Friendly Hills Country Club
Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier (credit: weddingdecoratorblog.com)

Friendly Hills Country Club

8500 S. Villaverde Drive
Whittier, CA 90605-1342
(562) 698-0331
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Searching for hidden gem for your wedding? Friendly Hills Country Club is hidden in the hills between Hacienda Heights and Whittier. Rooms where receptions and other parties are held have a view of a a sprawling golf course, lake and waterfall. The venue only accomodates groups from 20 to 250, so Friendly Hills is perfect for small, intimate weddings. Pricing is unavailable online.

La Palapa Restaurant in Long Beach
La Palapa Restaurant in Long Beach (credit: lapalaparestaurant.com)

La Palapa Restaurant

4020 Olympic Plaza
Belmont Shore, CA 90803
(800) 958-7729
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Is it possible to get married on the beach on a budget? Try La Palapa Restaurant, on the shores of Long Beach. The restaurant has one banquet room -- the Del Mar banquet room -- decorated in French Empire style, with a view of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city lights. La Palapa can accomodate dinner parties up to 225 and a bride who married here says the restaurant is owned by a mother and daughter team who book just one wedding a day, so there's no rush to get out for the next wedding. That same bride says La Palapa charged her about $75 a head for a beachfront wedding and reception.

Darleene Powells decorated weddings for at least a decade alongside her florist mom. She blogs at www.weddingdecoratorblog.com.
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