Spanish Village Art Center

ct, is great. She responds to questions, helps out when she can, and doesn't provide any pressure or crazy requests. Things we liked: (1) You can party with music until 11:30 and don't have to be out until midnight (clean up can take as long as you need). This was one of the few places we found that allowed for a late-night party. (2) Decor is done. The patio and surrounding buildings are so colorful and beautiful that you don't have to do too much with decor. I, of course, still added things, but it was so pretty in and of itself. (3) The price isn't bad. We were on a budget and though we were hoping for a public venue that cost less, the cost to rent the area isn't bad. They are also fine with your own alcohol, vendors, etc. (4) Speaking of all that, there are A LOT less restrictions here than other locations. No open flame, some vendors recommended, but aside from little things like that, it is great if you want more flexibility than is normally provided. (5) Tons of parking. (6) Great reception venue if you decide to get married elsewhere. We got married at the Casa del Prado patios a few steps away from the village. I loved that and there are a ton of other options for wedding ceremonies if you want this venue purely for reception. Of course, the ceremony can be here too if wanted. Things to be aware of: (1) You can't start setting up until 5 pm because the art studios are open until then and some studio owners are strict about that. This was not a huge problem for us because we wanted a later ceremony, but it's something you need to be specific about with your caterer/rental company, so they know the time constraints. We were able to have our guests come in by 6:30 (some people do 6) and I thought it was perfect timing. (2) It's a public area. So, with that comes potentially unwanted guests or other issues. That's the risk you take, I think and it comes with any public venue. They won't allow you necessarily to block off the entrances, so you do risk people walking in. I will say though, most people won't do that and despite one homeless guy riding his bike through the area at our wedding, we didn't have any problems. Somebody brave enough to come into a wedding and ask for food and alcohol, in my opinion, deserves to get it. (3) It's a different kind of venue. If you are the kind of bride that wants a ballroom-style wedding, this isn't for you. There are cobblestones that are tricky to walk on, public restrooms, and it's outdoor-sy. BUT, I loved that. It was gorgeous, a bit more casual (While still being fancy), and you work with the restrooms (air fresheners, soap, and a basket of goodies for the girls and it's perfect.) All in all, I loved this venue, it brought back great memories for me, and it was so fun. I got so many compliments on the location. If you are doing a nighttime wedding, I would recommend adding more lights (I used SociaLights in San Diego.) It really added to the atmosphere. Happy planning!