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Ask The Expert: LA's Most Stylish Wedding Venues

Oviatt Penthouse wedding
(credit: Oviatt Penthouse)

Finding the perfect romantic location in Los Angeles for your wedding can be a challenge if you don't know the ins and outs of navigating all that the city has to offer. Tell wedding specialist Rebecca Weissenburger your fairytale wishes and she will deliver more options than you could ever imagine, and all in your hometown.

According to Weissenburger, who is well known in Los Angeles for her detailed eye and ability to create spectacular events on every budget, the first item on your agenda is location, location, location. Weissenburger has scouted out many of Los Angeles' hidden treasures and has the reputation of transforming a virtually unheard-of spot into a wedding gem. Here are a few of her suggestions for wedding venues in the area.

Beurge Chapel
(credit: Aldersgate Retreat Center & Buerge Chapel)

Buerge Chapel

925 Haverford Ave.
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 454-6699
www.buergechapel.org

Situated on the historic Aldersgate Retreat Center, Buerge Chapel combines the exquisite setting of a vintage garden with the scent of the ocean. This site is the perfect setting for an intimate wedding (up to 130 people) and is a venue that breathes charm, sophistication, warmth and romance. Weissenburger planned an enchanting wedding here that was filled with East Coast guests and treated the event as a "destination" wedding for all the out-of-towners. The chapel provided a peaceful and quiet corner of the world that made guests as well as the bride and groom completely unaware that they were amongst the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Weissenburger's clients were married on a Monday morning after a weekend full of fun-filled local events. The couple hosted a brunch at Geoffreys in Malibu with an overlooking view of the Pacific Ocean. By choosing a Monday, Weissenburger's clients did not have the challenge of weekend beach traffic.

Related: Best Wedding Florists In Los Angeles

Pacific Design Center
(credit: Pacific Design Center)

Pacific Design Center

8687 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 360-6415
www.pacificdesigncenter.com

Weissenburger has planned many weddings at the Pacific Design Center, as it is a blank canvas that can be created into your dream wedding. There are several indoor areas where you can host your nuptials including the turnkey Spectra or Red Seven by Wolfgang Puck. If your wedding plans include an outdoor setting, the Pacific Design Plaza has an eye-catching, two-acre outdoor facility featuring colorful gardens, fountains and surrounding architectural buildings. Weissenburger loves this location, not only because you can literally create your ideal wedding, but also because it is nestled in the heart of West Hollywood between Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, a flawless backdrop to entertain your out-of-town guests.

Shutters on the Beach

Shutters

1 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 458-0030
www.shuttersonthebeach.com

The Ocean Side Room at Shutters is picture perfect for a smaller, more private gathering. Weissenburger used this venue for a wedding where the bride chose to get married on the beach in Santa Monica, which also included the weekend beach-goers. The wedding featured a handful of the bride and groom's closest family members and friends (totaling 34 guests) and Weissenburger set up a beautiful arch with a semi-circle of chairs around it for the wedding party and guests. A unique aspect of using the beach on a Saturday is that the wedding photos were candid with sunbathers and sun-kissed children blurred into the background of each photo. This fit the style of the couple. Guests were encouraged to take off their shoes so that each could experience the wedding as the bride and groom intended. After the ceremony, the couple, followed by their guests, walked in the sand to an exclusive dinner that featured dancing. Shutters also has several ballrooms for bigger weddings.

Related: LA's Best Wedding Shows In 2013

Oviatt Penthouse
(credit: Oviatt Penthouse)

Oviatt Penthouse

617 S. Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 379-4172
www.oviatt.com

"My favorite wedding picture came from this venue," says Weissenburger. "The bride and all of her wedding guests walked down Olive Street on a Sunday evening. The contrast of the street downtown with the cocktail-attired guests was amazing." The Oviatt Penthouse is a boutique venue, beautiful and distinct. The location and style make the Oviatt Penthouse a great cocktail and hor d'oeuvres-heavy type of wedding and is not your typical location. From the 1920s elevator and the ultra-modern feel of the penthouse to the surrounding views of downtown Los Angeles, the décor details do not miss a beat and provide a sophisticated wedding for your guests.

Jennifer Geisman is a freelance writer and faithful beauty junkie living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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