A Natural Setting for Your Special Celebration
151 to 200 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Shayla Luck
CO-OWNER & FOUNDER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (1X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
The Oaks at Duncan Lane is a charming, newly built wedding venue in Pala, CA. Offering acres of serene countryside, this peaceful location welcomes you to host your celebration on their grounds. From the idyllic grove of beautiful giant Oak Trees and Ivy, to the freshly constructed suite, this site aims to offer a complete event experience for you.
The Oaks at Duncan Lane can present you with a secluded playground for your special celebration. They only host one event per day, ensuring that they can completely cater to your needs from start to finish. For your ceremony, you can enjoy beautiful natural backdrops. After tying the knot, you and your guests can enjoy a banquet tailored to suit your tastes. With their complete packages, this venue can offer all the equipment and furnishings you need. From napkins to arches, they can be there to cater to you. As an added touch, their newly built Oak’s Den and Oak’s Nest present two charming get-ready rooms for you and your party to enjoy. Fine furnishings, excellent amenities, and a relaxed atmosphere all add to the inviting feel of this natural setting. Additionally, this venue also boasts a private suite for you and your partner to rest and relax in after the hustle and bustle of your big day.
Couples interested in The Oaks at Duncan Lane are welcome to organize a tour of this venue to see all that it has to offer. The Oaks All-Inclusive package is available for a full-service experience , letting them cater to you no matter your desired event. As an added touch, this venue also offers complete catering and bartender services, allowing their team to keep your guests refreshed throughout your long-awaited celebration. Their culinary team works with each client to create a personalized menu, personalizing each dish to tailor to their tastes.
Our mission is to create a lavish venue thats sole focus is on the bride and groom. We run one wedding at a time and don't have any other events going on. We are in the business of making dreams become reality and are so honored to be able to take part in one of the most important days of your life. We are family owned and operated and are building everything as a team so our hearts and souls are in every little detail!
We made sure that we used a neutral palette so that you can design your wedding with any theme or style and nothing will clash! We are completely customizable from small details like your napkins all the way up to larger details like the arch you decide to get married under. We are on a mission to create a venue that is completely moldable to the couples vision.
Woman-owned Business
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
Up to 200
Settings
Estate
Garden
Mountain
Trees
Vineyard & Winery
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Cakes & Desserts
Cupcakes
Other Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Wedding Design
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Showing slide number 1 out of 3
- Shayla LuckCo-owner & FounderI'm Shayla Luck, previously Shayla Duncan. My parents own Big Top Rentals and they focus on larger events like marathons and car dealerships, but I was SO excited when a wedding came in and I got to help plan it. There is something about weddings, love, and romance that is so magical to me. This lead me to the life goal of owning a wedding venue that made the couples wedding day as easy and relaxing as possible. After my personal wedding and college graduation got postponed due to Covid, my family decided it was time to turn my dreams into a reality. We all work together and I couldn't have done this without them.
- Jordan LuckOffice ManagerHello! My name is Jordan. I was working on my Masters degree in psychology when we decided to open The Oaks. At the time, I wanted to become a high school counselor and never planned on working at The Oaks. After months of helping my father-in-law build everything from the ground up and working the first few weddings with my family, I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be running a wedding venue, but I have never been happier.
- Linda EngstromHead CoordinatorThe best gift I could ever give my clients is peace of mind. The peace of mind that comes from allowing my couples to be fully present on their wedding day. My joy comes from getting to know my couples and providing them with the amazing service that they deserve at this special time.My journey into wedding planning started years ago, as I helped my friends and family design, plan, and coordinate their weddings. This has grown into a full-time business for me, and I hold certification in Meeting and Event Planning from Cal State San Marcos. I have been the owner-operator of a wedding planning and coordination business for over 9 years. I would love to get to know you and your family, and be able to help guide you through the details on your special day. Shayla asked if I would like to be a part of Duncan Lane as I was coordinating her wedding. I’ve been involved since before the first wedding. It’s my privledge and joy to work along side the Duncan/Luck family at the beautiful venue that they’ve created and who are as passionate about their couples as I am.
Availability
Reviews
4.6
out of 5.016 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Oaks at Duncan Lane is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its stunning beauty, exceptional staff, and seamless wedding coordination. Reviewers highlighted the helpfulness of Jordan, Linda, Shayla, and the rest of the staff, noting their commitment to making each wedding day perfect. The all-inclusive amenities, stunning ambiance, excellent value, and attentive service received high praise, with guests impressed by the venue's natural beauty, hospitality, and attention to detail. The on-site houses for preparation ease, accommodating staff, and magical atmosphere were also standout features that made weddings at The Oaks at Duncan Lane truly unforgettable.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
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John d
5.0
3/26/2025
The Best Day of our life! When we tell you we toured 8 venues and didn't feel as comfortable or as loved as we did at this venue that is an understatement. When we booked this venue in 2023 it only felt like a lifetime away until our special day and with all the help and guidance from this amazing team it went by so dreamy. When we toured with Jordan we at first were a little hesitant until like one minute into the appointment when he started joking and making us feel like we were at home. This tour he made us truly feel like our day would be like, answered all of our questions and gave us different scenarios for anything that could happen that day. After we booked we started working with their beautifully talented wedding coordinator Linda, who truly is a wedding coordinator ninja who made sure all of our wedding day dreams came true. Their DJ and bartender were just as amazing as the bartender working with us for months and creating custom bar signs to be able to interpret our fur baby on our special day! Without a dj having so many phone calls and playlist mixing together my husband's love for screamo and my love for country and punk rock! The owners of the venue were just as sweet and on top of every question I had with literally 24 hour replies every time! Angie and Shayla were on top of everything. We got married on March 13th, 2025, and when I tell you we went through every season in one day I'm not crazy. Three days before Angie reached out and was able to tent our entire venue to protect us from the rain that was coming to get us! Within 24 hours the tent was up and the entire venue was protected. The day of our rehearsal and the day of we had so much help from their amazing grounds keeper taylor. When I tell you a true superhero, he was running around when it was pouring rain setting the tables and chairs up making sure our day was perfect and it did not go unseen! This venue truly worked their hands to the bones making sure that our day was everything we wanted and more! This was honestly the best day of our lives. That's to all the efforts that were put in by every person that works at this gorgeous dreamy venue! Also did i forget to mention they allowed us to have a beer burro!!!!! Truly from the bottom of our hearts thank you Oaks at Duncan Lane!
Megan V
5.0
12/02/2024
My husband and I found the Oaks from the knot. We were able to tour last year and we fell in love with the place from first sight. Jordan, gave us the tour and was able to tell the history of the venue and how much effort and time they did to remodel. And his recommendation of vendors is so great. Mark, the DJ, Steven, our bartender, Temecula catering and Linda, our wedding day of coordinator, all are amazing! I cannot express on how beautiful the bridal suit too! If you are looking for something different with a beautiful scenery and have all your vendors included, I would recommend The Oaks at Duncan lane.
Any questions?
Lauren P
5.0
7/18/2024
We had the best day of our lives at the Oaks at Duncan Lane. Everyone is so kind and truly wants you to just enjoy your wedding day. Linda, the coordinator at the Oaks is such a gem!! She made our vision come to life and made sure the whole day went perfect. Jordan, the owner, was so great about logistics and making me laugh before walking down the isle ( this helped me cry less LOL!). Mark, the DJ was incredible. Just let him do his thing cause he will keep the party going. Everyone loved the bartender, Steve! He was also so fun to talk to! Cannot forget about the food, which was SO good!! The staff made sure we ate and we truly couldn't be more thankful for that.
Everyone could not stop talking about how beautiful the venue is, I had multiple people come up to me and tell me it was one of the prettiest venues they have ever been too. The lights on the trees at night make it feel so magical.
All in all, The oaks is amazing and I would have my wedding there over and over again.
THANK YOU!!!!!
Kailyn L
2.0
12/28/2023
This wedding venue is BEAUTIFUL! The planning process was easy. I will say that Temecula Catering is awesome! They were so nice, and went out of their way all night to make sure my husband and I ate. The people that run this property are very nice (for the most part), and were also very helpful.
However, after getting married here, I would not recommend it. We found that our experience with the owner, Shayla, was very abrasive and at times hostile when questioned on her reasoning for certain things (when we asked what kind of account our payment was going into, since you are required to make monthly payments and we did not want to risk losing our money, we were told by her that it was “none of your business”).
Another issue that we had here was that for as much money as you pay, the rules are VERY strict. There are no shots allowed. There are certain florals colors that you are not allowed to have (if you do, they cannot be allowed anywhere near the ground, tables, or chairs). Most of these rules are easy enough, but for the price you pay, very restrictive.
Now, all of this could have been completely overlooked- but the reason I will never recommend them: my husband and I were BOMBARDED with issues the entire night of our wedding. From the start of the day, the staff was extremely rude. Not directly to me (usually), but to my family and to everyone else. The day-of coordinator (who was actually very sweet leading up to the day, so this surprised me) was mean to my sister who has Down Syndrome, and I was approached by several different people who said that they heard her yelling at her. She was also just generally unfriendly, which on such a special day, was very unusual.
The final straw for me was toward the end of the night during the reception. The groundskeeper, Angie, is very rude and unprofessional. Apparently there was an issue where the kids at the wedding were throwing a football in the large dirt lot. She came out, and instead of calmly asking to speak to my father, she screamed at every single one of my guests and told them that if she saw the football again that we would lose our deposit, and that she would shut down the wedding and make everyone go home. Then, a while later, there was an issue where a parent let a child take a puff of a cigar. I completely understand why they were upset- we can't have underage smoking or drinking at a wedding. But instead of approaching that child and that parent, Angie once again, SCREAMED that she was going to shut my wedding down, and proceeded to yell at every single one of my guests. The next morning, she called to tell me that "since you had SO many kids there last night, there are things that are broken that we will take out of your deposit". I said okay, no worries. Then, my guests tell me that the lights that "my guests" broke were actually broken by an employee by mistake. So I contact her again and she said "oh yeah he told me"? As if she was not planning on telling me and instead was going to let me pay for it? Also, they only sent back a portion of the deposit and did not state why.
Also, during the night, any time an issue arose, if Angie was not yelling at my guests about it, they would grab my husband and ask him to go fix the problem. How unprofessional is it to ask the groom on his wedding day to fix issues? If there was any sort of issue, the Bride and Groom should not even be aware of it, but at one point, I was so bombarded by Angie yelling at my guests that it completely put a damper on my night.
Natalie T
5.0
11/10/2023
Do not hesitate! BOOK NOW! Where to even begin! The Oaks at Duncan Lane is breath taking. Absolutely beautiful! I looked at MANY wedding venues leading up to our wedding and the Oaks at Duncan Lane stood out among all others! In my experience looking at other venues, everything was extremely expensive and came with the basics. Any upgrade would be very expensive. The Oaks at Duncan lane offers so much in their package. They communicated so well throughout the whole process and really worked with us to make sure our big day was exactly how we wanted! The greenery and string lights everywhere make the venue look like an actual fairytale! Having the two houses on site to get ready at made things very easy! Linda our coordinator was AMAZING! She made everything run smoothly! The food was delicious! The Oaks at Duncan Lane is the perfect wedding venue and I would recommend it to everyone! Our wedding day was absolutely perfect!
Thomas G
5.0
9/17/2023
We were incredibly lucky to find The Oaks at Duncan Lane. We were beyond thrilled with the experience we had. From the moment we stepped foot on the property, we knew we had found something truly special.
Our journey to this venue was a bit unconventional as we had to switch venues just five weeks before our wedding. The team at the Oaks was not only understanding but also incredibly accommodating. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel like a breeze. Their willingness to work with us on such a tight timeline was a true testament to their dedication to making our day perfect.
One of the standout features of this venue is the remarkable ambiance it offers. The natural beauty and the picturesque outdoor spaces were the ideal backdrop for our special day, and our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful it was.
What truly sets this venue apart is the incredible value it offers. We were amazed at the reasonable pricing, especially given the quality and elegance of the space. It allowed us to allocate more of our budget towards other aspects of our wedding, making it an even more memorable occasion.
Our wedding at The Oaks was an absolute dream come true, and we owe a significant part of that to the venue operators and their stunning location. We can't thank them enough for making our special day so magical.
Starnes F
5.0
7/18/2023
What separates The Oaks from all other venues is that they truly care about people and they understand what it takes to put on a wedding from 20 people to 200 people. This is such an underrated aspect of any venue. Shayla, Jordan, Morgan, Linda and the Duncan family were great hosts and they all worked well together, like family, which was important to us in our venue search. Their hospitality and work ethic was first-class. We visited the venue in June 2022 and Jordan gave us a very in-depth tour. After looking at the grounds, he then gave us detailed pricing about the venue, the all-inclusive amenities as well as the catering and bar options. You will not find similar amenities likes this anywhere in California. Jordan and his father-in-law are constantly updating The Oaks. There were many improvements and new additions between our tour in June 2022 and our wedding in July 2023! Leading up to our wedding, everyone at The Oaks was extremely communicative about what was needed and when. They also handled a lot of wedding tasks themselves, which was a huge bonus. The day of the wedding we were relaxed and had nothing to worry about. The ability to be on-site at 10 AM was great because both of us had our respective spaces on the property, in the main house and the groom suite, to relax with our wedding parties and families prior to our ceremony and reception. Every one of our guests was enamored with the beauty and set-up of The Oaks and its attention to detail. For a 90 degree wedding day, the oak trees provided so much shade that it was perfect, cool weather in the middle of summer. We can’t recommend this venue enough for anyone in search of one.
Tori C
5.0
4/28/2023
My wedding at the Oaks at Duncan Lane was a dream! Their whole staff is amazing and so responsive.
Linda their coordinator is amazing. I didn’t have to stress at all and knew she had everything ready for me.
It was such a stress free and beautiful day.
Everyone told us it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been too.
Everything was perfect!
Melissa B
5.0
3/31/2023
We had our wedding here on March 18, 2023. I highly recommend this business. The venue team went above and beyond to accommodate my requests and provided excellent customer service and fast communication throughout the entire wedding planning process. Shayla, Linda, Jordan, Morgan, Shayla's parents... I can't thank you all enough! Our wedding day was perfect from beginning to the end.
Our guests also raved about the natural beauty of the venue and loved the food from catering. I wish I could relive our special day over and over again! Thanks from the bottom of our hearts.
-The Bustamontes
Dayna W
5.0
2/09/2023
We toured The Oaks long before it is what it is today. Before the beautiful trees were lit up to sparkle and the paved dance floor even existed. The lot in-front of the main house was dirt, but there was such an air of potential and confidence in the Owners that made us decide to book more than a year out.
Over the year+ timespan, we watched this already beautifully piece of Pala grow into the insanely gorgeous wedding venue it is now, hosting weddings that just enveloped everything we’d wanted for our own.
The process was easy with Linda’s help over the last few months up until Day Of. I tell you, you need a coordinator. You don’t wanna stress? Get a COORDINATOR. And get a team of people who are there for you when you need them (Aka: The Oaks Team)
It’s been three months since our wedding and I still wish I could rewind and do it all over just to relive it, and be so happy knowing our most important day was in the hands of Shayla, Linda, Jordan, Morgan & Everyone else involved from The Oaks and Temecula Catering.
Thanks all ❤️ The Wormingtons
Stephanie A
3.0
12/28/2022
I had my wedding here in September 2022. This venue is beautiful, however due to several miscommunications and unprofessionalism at times, I wouldn’t recommend it.
From the beginning there were problems that I shouldn’t have ignored. I’ll spare the long-winded details, but essentially there was a miscommunication with pricing. When I provided the emails that led to the miscommunication, the price was not honored.
Pricing came up again when they added thousands of dollars to my bill for an upgrade I had not purchased. I only found out about this because my dad (who paid) mentioned it. They removed the item from my bill but had my dad not asked me about it we would have never known. No compensation was offered for this.
The options provided for bar and catering were extremely limited. Only 2 bar options (both very pricy) and one for catering. The catering was mediocre at best. We actually complained about it after our tasting and they allowed us to do a retest, but it was still not great. Since there was no other option we just rolled with it… definitely could have gotten much better quality with the money spent.
Because the venue is still under construction, multiple things changed from the point that we selected the venue up to the actual wedding date. We were aware this was a possibility, but it is another reason I would be wary to book. For example, a huge white storage barn was moved right next to the ceremony area, which was a pretty big eyesore. Also, the area at the top of the hill, which was beautiful and lush in the Spring, is not maintained by sprinklers and is dead and dry in the Summer.
I found the wedding coordinator to be nice but not helpful, and in some instances do more harm than good.
They advertised a certain arch as being available but removed it from their inclusive package at some point during my engagement. I ended up having to drive to Orange county, twice, to see it because the first time it was rented out and unavailable even though I had been told to just stop by. What a waste of time and gas.
Lastly, is that after the wedding we stayed in the on-site suite. (The outdoor lights were glaring so bad and we couldn’t figure out how to turn them off even after searching the house for every light switch for 20 minutes). After we left for our honeymoon the morning, I asked the venue if they could save my bouquet I had forgotten in a vase and they said they had already thrown it away. I was heartbroken, since I had paid $250 for it and planned to have it preserved. I had also forgotten my wedding dress on the bed and they did save that for me, but a wedding venue you would think they would know that bouquets are sentimental and expensive.
There were many other hiccups along the way but what wedding doesn’t have that? I’m just trying to highlight the ones that were not particular to me and may affect others.
Pros:
- Venue is beautiful and unique. It is hard to find one like this
- They really tried to be kind and accommodate me
- They were flexible with some changes to their usual policies
- They had a golf cart for the older folks
- Tons of compliments from my guests who did not have to endure the behind the scenes issues
Ultimately, if you are really on top of things, only care about a beautiful venue, and don't mind problems popping up this is probably ok for you. But if you expect it to be smooth sailing, look elsewhere.
Danielle M
5.0
12/19/2022
Shayla and Morgan were the most wonderful hosts. It is amazing to see how much love and effort they have put into building this venue. Everyone in their team is wonderful and helped make our day run smooth. They went above and beyond to make sure nothing went wrong. Even down to giving our fur baby his medicine at his dedicated time so the FOB was able to enjoy the night with us and not have to worry about watching the clock. We can not thank everyone enough for the amazing service they provided. This venue was worth everything!
Melissa D
5.0
10/23/2022
The Oaks was amazing! The entire property is gorgeous no matter where you look and everyone was so accommodating! I especially loved the house/bridal suite, it made getting ready at the venue so easy. The kitchen is fully equipped with a giant and spacious fridge, coffee maker, and a microwave, my mother felt right at home. :)
For anyone on budget, you can save money on your florals/decor for this space because everything is so beautiful already <3
Thank you so much to Shayla and Morgan for being so easy to reach out to for your attentiveness. It made our wedding day a breeze!
Rebecca P
5.0
10/15/2022
Omg this venue was stunning! Morgan was a DELIGHT, so helpful and responsive! And Shayla was wonderful, showing us all around before it was booked. I so recommend, everything went off without a hitch and my sisters wedding was incredible!! Thank you so much, and yes book this place!!!
Becca V
4.0
5/10/2022
We were the first big wedding to happen at this venue. We naturally ran into a few kinks, but I have no doubt they have since been worked out. The Duncan Oaks team was so helpful with problem solving and making sure we were enjoying our day no matter what. They went above and beyond to make it the best day ever for us. The venue is breathtakingly beautiful and the work they have done on the property before and since our wedding is amazing. You can't go wrong getting married here. They will take good care of you.
Hannah S
5.0
9/21/2021
Shayla and her team were extremely accommodating! It was a pleasure working with them from the beginning. Being the venue's first larger wedding, we ran into some hiccups like any start up would have. But Shayla, her husband, her parents, and the rest of the team worked laboriously to resolve the issues. We were honored to have been the first big event and we received GORGEOUS photos, from the ivy covered stairs to the boho chic bridal suite. The landscaping was in progress during our day but their plans to continue the hardscaping further looks so promising. We cant thank them enough for the time they invested to make our dream a reality.
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The Oaks at Duncan Lane
Shayla Luck
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Co-owner & Founder
Typically responds within 24h
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