Los Willows Private Wedding Estate

e it to your own vision (they have several ceremony sites). In our case, not only did we use their red roadster and boat, we also brought in a horse drawn carriage, 1955 pink cadillac, jazz trio and live band. After touring 6-8 venues, we knew our choice would be Los Willows the minute we visited. Although our guest count was fewer than their minimum package, we booked it knowing we could use the extra money in the budget for numerous upgrades, such as additional foods, decorations, etc. The staff there is top notch, giving suggestions when asked and making sure our wedding was exactly what we wanted. Our planner worked with us for many months, getting every detail in place, and our day-of coordinator made everything happen as we wished, from start to finish. Los Willows encouraged us to invite our guests up to an hour before the ceremony, so they could enjoy the beautiful estate. That was a wonderful suggestion, because there is so much to see. We used several vendors from their list, and were happy with all of them. Some of our guests told us that ours was the best wedding they had ever attended and we feel that Los Willows is the main reason for that compliment!

ried on a weekday in November. Every step of the way, from emailing Julianne with questions and making payments with Rachel and even other office staff, my husband and I felt so warm and welcome. We received our wedding coordinator, Nancy, a couple of weeks before the wedding and she was also very helpful every step of the way and on the day of. Their banquet staff was cordial and they had a plethora of upgrade options to choose from. I honestly believe we could have done our wedding entirely through Los Willows without having to spend an extra dime, as they offered various centerpieces, and other fun decor items. We ended up using their cake stand, wooden seating chart sign, as well as easels which all looked perfect with our vintage theme. Overall, we are very satisfied with how our wedding at Los Willows went. We just got our photos today and the moss lighting in the trees is literally to DIE for. I think the only hesitation we had with Los Willows originally was at the food tasting where the food was subpar. We were pleasantly surprised on the day of, however, because the food actually came out delicious. Our guests would also agree!!! Best day ever. Thanks, Los Willows!

That said, there are a couple of things that I wish I had been aware of when we selected Los Willows for our wedding venue, and I want to make sure other brides are aware. Our biggest gripe was the food. I was so disappointed in how bad it was. We had a duet plate with filet and halibut, brussel sprouts, and mashed potatoes. We heard many people talking at our wedding about how bad the food was which was a huge disappointment for us as good food was super important to us. Los Willows has their own caterer and their menu is extremely limited and outdated. The barware they offer in their packages is plastic- which has no place at an elegant wedding. In addition, there are strict rules at the bar- no neat drinks, no shots. There are also strict rules about food in the villa, bridal salon/suite, and grooms retreat. We were told multiple times that if we brought in so much as a granola bar we would forfeit our deposit. We opted to stay off-site and get ready off-site as these rules seemed so silly. We stayed at the Rancho Bernardo Inn (30 minutes away) and they were a dream to work with. Our stay was gorgeous and perfect and we brought in anything our hearts desired! The centerpieces, linens, and chairs that they offer are outdated and not in the best condition. If I could do it again I would choose probably choose another venue. Though our big-day was beautiful, it took a lot of work to elevate what Los Willows offers in their packages.

very concern and request we ever had. Second, another big thank you to Allyson for making the days leading up to and including the wedding day as perfect as possible. She made it so we did not have to worry about anything and could fully enjoy our time with each other and our guests. Julianne and Allyson, along with the rest of the Los Willows staff, were not only professional, but friendly and kind to us through the entire process. The property is beautiful and the staff made the price work for us. I highly recommend this venue to anyone and everyone

more perfect for our amazing day. The grounds are immaculate and absolutely stunning. We also chose Los WIllows because it is private and only one wedding per day is held there. Now for the staff! Amazing! Liza, Julianne, Lynne, and Rachel were all great to work with. They kept us informed of every detail each step of the way and accommodated our every need. They recommended fantastic vendors who made our day that much more special. Then there is Kendra, our day-of wedding coordinator. She is a true professional and once everything was in her hands we did not have to worry about a thing. She made sure everyone was where they needed to be when they needed to be there. I can't say enough good things about her. Overall, this was an exceptional experience and we are so happy we chose Los Willows as our wedding venue.

. We picked Los Willows because of the price and the exclusivity that they only have 1 wedding for the day (unlike one other place in Fallbrook that had a great venue but could potentially have 2 weddings going on at the same time on separate sections of the venue). We had all of Los Willows to ourselves including the different themed sections they have (lake front, gazebo, 'forest' area, vineyard) which our photographer took advantage of. We also booked two nights at the villa and Bobbie was AMAZING! The 4 stars is because we had some small mishaps during planning (the initial 'preferred' vendor list I was given was a short list and only had 1 option for catering, cake and hair and makeup) but I asked if they have more vendors, they gave me more options. Also, my bridal entrance music did not start until I was already halfway down. I felt the coordinator could have communicated to the string quartet earlier that I was already walking down as they did have those 'walkie talkies' and saw them using it for other things. Other than that, the event ended well and that's what really matters.

th Julianne was easy and we were never afraid to ask questions. Thank you to Allyson Clark who was our day of wedding coordinator! She was professional and directed everybody to their correct places. The whole team of Los Willows is absolutely great, professional and eager to help. They are also very experienced in the industry. My husband and I hope to all brides and grooms out there that you get married at Los Willows

er Frame for Los Willows to set up. I left no instructions for how to set this up because there are pictures on the box that shows how it’s all meant to be. The sand from the sand ceremony is poured intro the frame and later another plastic part fits in over the poured sand so that a memento can be kept just floating above the sand. Los Willows did not remove the plastic meant to hold the keepsakes. So, when the sand was poured, I saw the sand settling on the wrong part of the frame and my heart just sank. I didn’t know if it would hold the sand properly and worried that the memento my husband and I were supposed to keep for life just wouldn’t last because that section is not meant to hold sand. This part still bothers me because now sand is starting to pour through the bottom and the plastic, because it’s not that strong, is bending inward on both sides. We could pour in new sand and fake it, but that’s not the point. You don’t get a do-over for that special moment. I’m still a bit heartbroken about this one. Lesser bads that don’t really matter: We had chosen to go with cupcakes for our big day. We confirmed banana cream cupcakes as a flavor but come the big day there was what I can imagine must have been boston cream pie cupcakes. Keep in mind, a mess up like this is only going to bother the people that knew about it. All of the cupcake flavors are yummy and your guests will not notice. The only drawback is, let’s face it, most brides are on diets until THAT day. I so craved a banana cream pie cupcake. The bride’s boat entrance: You’ll hear about how beautiful the bride’s entrance was and then you’ll hear moments later that the boat is slow. This is a lesser bad because I loved the experience. Plus I had “I’m on a boat” playing in my head to get myself over my fear of falling in the water (you won’t fall, it’s a gentle ride and the boat aligns PERFECTLY with the pier). The good: The food: While you are obligated to go with their caterer, rest assured, it will still be awesome and guest will love it. Our vegetarian guests raved about the ravioli they had. They also worked with my husband who is an incredibly picky eater. The grooms entrance: You’ll be hearing about the roadster entrance forever. It’s a unique way for a groom to enter and always super exciting. The groom’s room: Other venues we visited had grooms and groomsmen getting ready somewhere obscure. I really liked that Los Willows provided a space for my husband and his guys. The great: Kendra. She is Los Willows’ greatest asset by far. She will manage your entire day and if there is any snag, she will catch it and I bet fix it before you have a chance to notice it. She’s super coordinated and really keeps it all moving. The champagne cruise: right after your vows you get to catch your breath and take in the giant step you and your love just took. I loved it. It was definitely a high note to the whirlwind day. The grounds: Los Willows takes excellent care of their grounds. If you want a place that feels like magic and doesn’t just photograph well, this is it. You’ll also find come photo time that there are these hidden gems behind the main area that are really going to make for spectacular photos.

running on time, telling you where to go next throughout the night--A true life saver. Our day of coordinator deserves a raise! She was so on top of everything, even things I didn't know needed to be done. She allowed me to fully relax and enjoy my wedding. Allyson is the best ever and used amazing grace when dealing with vendors as well as guests at my wedding. In our mind she made the event come together. I can't say enough good things about our wedding and the day of staff who pulled it all off. Truly relived to have had so much fun at our wedding because all the staff was so on top of things. The banquet staff also did an amazing job. Our DJ was also a key player in our wedding. He works with Los Willows as well as other venues, Alex at Pro Sound DJ- Book this DJ and venue for a killer combo! This venue has been very helpful before, during and even after my wedding! We are very happy with our choice :)

e thought because all the things we wanted was not in our package. I would not recommend if you are looking for an all inclusive this isn't the place and they won't budge on any detail or price.

ful. Everything went smoothly the day of (even the week before when I had a billion questions and last minute changes) She did a great job of making sure everyone and everything was where they needed to be. Overall did an awesome job and we highly recommend this venue.

Food, and Elegance on Display for Cake) are great, the food/cake was delicious and I was really happy with everything. The only complaint is that I felt very nickeled and dimed by Los Willows. The patio furniture is ugly black metal and you have to pay to have it covered, and then they will only cover the tall tables and not the short and want more money to cover those as well. For how much you are paying you would think that they would throw in a few table cloths to cover the ugly furniture that I wouldn't even have in my own backyard. Also the appetizers are a little bare, I did the hummus and everyone said it tasted good but it was only hummus with bread, no veggies or chips to dip it in. It would be nice if they added in some other things to dip. I also had a few issues with communication, I scheduled a tasting with them showed up and was told it was actually with the caterer at a different location, something they never mentioned before, I scheduled an appointment for my details meeting and they made it for the week prior, I am an out of town bride who flew in for it, they made it work but it was a bit frustrating, and the cake provider was changed and no-one mentioned anything to me until I called to say they had a flavor wrong on my sheet and I was told someone new was doing it and that I would have to meet with someone new to go over the design and tasting (again for someone flying in, it was frustrating to have to continue to do things I had already done). Kendra is a great coordinator, but she had the last song played 10 minutes before we were scheduled to end and was very pushy about us getting in the getaway car instead of staying in to say goodbye to everyone. Overall it is a great venue and I loved the wedding!

ted my wedding party like family. I would definitely recommend this place very highly. Their prices are very reasonable.

thank Liza for helping us with all the stressful planning, she was always willing to help and work with us. As far as the bed and breakfast goes, it was such a great start to our wedding weekend. The wedding party loved it. We all had such a good time and it really helped the wedding day become less hectic by having most of our people there. We loved the breakfast, everything was delicious. We would recommend that any couple getting married there book the bed and breakfast, it really starts the whole experience. Our friends now want to start a yearly tradition where we rent a mansion for a weekend because of how much fun they had there. Also, please give our thanks to Bobby who was an amazing host. He was incredibly helpful and attentive. He was funny and extremely polite. We cannot say enough about how happy we were with him.The wedding turned out better than we had hoped. Everything was perfect and Stephanie still cannot stop talking about how she had her dream wedding. Everything was gorgeous and all the little details really made a difference such as the servers bringing the wedding party appetizers when we went to take pictures. The severs even took requests from the wedding party. The food was delicious and it is something that our guests constantly brought up after the wedding. Not only was it delicious but servings were plentiful. I don't believe anyone left hungry.Lastly we would like to give a huge thanks to Kendra, she is Superwoman! The day was so stress free because she was on top of everything. I quickly realized how little I had to worry about after the first few questions I asked her were answered with "already taken care of." She was so organized and so good at keeping everyone sane. She really saved the day when Stephanie was panicking over her make up mishap just minutes before walking out. Everything we would forget she remembered. I don't even think we would have tried the cake if it wasn't for her bringing us a few plates to our table (cake was also delicious btw). Kendra is so good at what she does! We heard from many people that were impressed by her that day.

when everything was perfect I definitely thought it was worth every penny. They handled all aspects of the food, the cake, decorations, and helping me with all of the details that I didn't think of. Thank you for giving me the best wedding experience I could have asked for!!

hey can to make it that way. As a girl who grew up wanting a Cinderella wedding, but knowing I would never be able to afford it, I have to say that Los Willows was amazing for it, and really had everything I would want. Also, marrying a marine had lots of advantages there with their military discounts.

Wedding day was completly stress free :)

he take care of you from start to finish and do everything they can to create your perfect day!!!

ning process was a nightmare with many lies and mistakes on their part. If you go with them I would recommend getting everything in writing immediately and getting pictures of anything you plan to use of theirs so there can be no denials later on. That being said, when the wedding came Nicole (our coordinator) was wonderful. She guided us through everything and was very sweet, helpful and efficient. We also rented out the Inn the night before the wedding and Bobby was absolutely incredible! He felt like part of the family and knew just what to say and when to say it to ease everyone's minds, entertain us or calm us. I can honestly say that having him there to help and to counsel us made the day before and the day of so much more enjoyable and special. Overall it was 9 months of frustration and irritation with them in the planning process, followed by a beautiful wedding where what few mishaps there might have been were hardly noticed and everyone had a great time.

with anything we needed. I was a little disappointed with the filet we served, which was much different than the filet we had at our tasting. They also have an end time of 10:00, which was a little earlier than we would've liked. Overall, we were extremely happy with this location, and all of our guests loved it too!

huge impression on guests as a unique wedding entrance and getaway (you can also choose a horse drawn carriage). The venue is incredibly photogenic and all of our pictures turned out wonderfully. The staff was friendly, helpful, responsive, and coordinated events on the wedding making sure we felt comfortable and happy. I would definitely recommend Los Willows to any bride!

pecial day. The Inn is charming, and the highlight of the wedding was booking the entire inn for my groom and I and our immediate family (siblings, parents, grandparents). We stayed up till 2am talking and woke up to a wonderful breakfast. Bobbi, the inn keeper is incredibly warm and friendly and catered to our every need and desire. I highly recommend booking the inn (or at least the B&G staying there) after the wedding. My main disapointment about Los Willows is that at times I felt like I was just wedding #1,215. When I met with my wedding coordinator to discuss ideas and the plan, I felt as if she was in a hurry and was just getting through the questions she needed to ask. I realize that this is her wedding #1,215, but it is my first. I wished that the wedding coordinator would have been a bit more patience and curious about my questions, worries, and expectations. Or, at the very least, pretend that I was the first wedding she's ever done. In the same vein, my other greatest disappointment about Los Willows was that they have a very specific standard way that they like to run things. While this is GREAT for the people that don't have, or don't care, about the way things are going, this can be very overwhelming for the folks that DO have a clear idea about how they would like the day to go. One example of this is during our cake cutting, the wedding coordinator was literally crouched down next to me, telling me exactly how to cut the cake. I had expected the moment to be my husband and mine, together as we figured out how to cut the cake. Instead, I was so worried about following the coordinator's directions that the cake cutting actually became the worst part of the whole day. I wish my coordinator would have told me in an earlier meeting the trick about cutting a wedding cake, and left us in peace while we were actually cutting it together. These details, though small, added to my disappointment about this site. In summary, I would HIGHLY recommend this location, but I would be VERY clear with the coordinator about what you are expecting, what her role is the day of, how much control you want to have over your day. This is what I didn't know, that Los Willows' way of doing things is a force to be reckoned with. To deviate from their standard (and beautiful) way of doing things, in an attempt to make things more personal and intimate for you the couple, is challenging.

ry friendly, and organized. At Los Willows they only do one wedding a day so you will never see another bride or groom on your day. They really make it feel like YOUR DAY. The grounds at Los Willows are very clean and well landscaped. The weather is perfect 90 percent of the time here. Our guests kept asking us "How did you find a place like this? This is literally out of a fairytale!" The funny thing is that the day after the wedding we learned that some things actually DID go wrong during the day. A glass hurricane broke, one of our vendors was late, etc. and my husband and I had no idea because Los Willows just took care of all of it. They were so calm and while some things were not going as planned our Los Willows coordinator, Kendra, was still smiling. We did not have to worry about anything on the wedding day. Our pictures also turned out great because there are so many different settings here to get shots. Benches, lamp posts, gazebos, a pond, vineyard, bridge, etc. It's not like most wedding venues where each of your pictures has the same background. We could not be happier. I cannot believe places like this actually exist!

big day, my bridesmaids were so frazzled that they couldn't remember how to bustle my gown or lace up my corset - Kendra knew how and handled it right away! She knew what I wanted before I knew, and handled everything perfectly! Everything went very smoothly and I was 100% stress-free on the wedding day. The only thing I didn't like was the food. It was OK, but it tasted much better at our tasting than it did on the wedding day. Other than that, it was perfect! Absolute fairy tale!

so much to Amanda, Liza, Megan and the others that all helped to make our fairytale wedding come true. We want to give an extra thank you though because my husband and I actually live in the Cayman Islands, and it was only due to all the extra help of Los Willows that we were able to plan a destination wedding in California where most of my family lives. Planning a wedding is stressful, but planning a wedding from a different country seemed almost impossible, until I met Liza and the Los Willows team. My hope for any of you looking for a place to get married is that you too can find that one of a kind, perfect place, where your day will be stress free and only full of fun and excitement. We cannot say enough wonderful things about our special day at Los Willows - it truly was just perfect and a dream come true. Oh and I almost forgot, but if you have the chance to stay at the Los Willows Inn - it will be an unforgettable, personal and magical memory. I had all the bridesmaids and mothers stay the night before the wedding and it was like staying in some little English bed and breakfast, but you have the whole place to yourself. There are games, and a fireplace, an incredible breakfast, a waterfall and the view from the top of the hill makes you feel like you are at the top of the world - what better way to start or end your wedding day.

e. The spa was available for my use at 10:00 am and my bridesmaids and I took advantage of it. I do regret not starting earlier with my wedding ceremony, the reception didn't last long enough. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. Debra was wonderful to work with and my coordinator the day of my wedding, Gayle did a superb job.

untered during our wedding planning was nice and over-the-top helpful. Amanda (who ran things the day of) seemed to think of everything I forgot well in advance and was very good at making the day run smoothly. If you are looking for a well-run, beautiful, not-too-pricey venue, look at Los Willows. A few specifics that make Los Willows better than everywhere else we tried: *YOU CAN ARRIVE TO THE AISLE VIA BOAT (amazing) *The staff (every one of them) is amazing, nice, ATTENTIVE *The food was perfect for our 20-ish year old guests (fondue, sweet!) *They contact all the vendors the week before, making life a little less hectic *Different and convenient bar options (which we didn't find at many venues) *Lovely tented reception area with a fancy chandelier and lighting *Options for budget weddings.

eren't able to taste the food prior to picking our menu. It was typical buffet wedding food, but the prime rib wasn't good and we thought that for the amount of money we were paying, we should have been allowed to taste test the food. They are also extremely strict about ending the party by 10:00 pm.

ing they have attended!