Your wedding is the most important day in your life and we want to help you make it memorable.
Green Wedding Mission
Our mission at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is to heighten the hotel and consumer awareness in supporting and sustaining Southern California’s natural resources. Our Wedding Specialists and culinary staff will offer eco-friendly alternatives in the planning of social occasions.
We are pleased to offer:
• Support of local growers
• Sustainable food products
• Recommendations on local “green” vendors
• R.E.A.C.T (Ritz Energy Action Conversation Team)
• Weekly composting
• Employee conservation training
• Recyclable program
• Water conservation and natural irrigation system
What choices can you make?
One location
Provide both ceremony and reception at one venue. Less travel equals less generation of carbon emissions.
Naturally Organic
Take advantage of natural daylight hours in opposition to consuming additional electricity to light the evening hours.
Create an organic food and beverage menu with our Executive Chef and Sommelier.
Select organic and natural materials for décor (i.e. “living arrangements,” hemp table linens and chair covers, soy candles).
Paper not required
Email a digital “Save the Date.”
Design your wedding invitations with recyclable paper and choose soy ink.
Create and use a wedding website as an alternative form of communicating all of your important wedding details.
Select a photographer that only shoots digital images.
What does an organic menu consist of?
Personally create and customize an organic menu with our Executive Chef Rob Wilson. Chef Wilson will partner with you and offer innovative ideas to achieve an earth friendly menu.
What is the responsibility of a Special Events Manager?
- Act as the on-site liaison between your wedding coordinator and Hotel operations staff.
- Establish your guest room block and monitor the status of reservations (if applicable).
- Personally oversee the details of the bride and groom’s room reservations (if applicable).
- Recommend Special Event Professionals to provide wedding coordination, music, floral, photography, ceremony officiant, invitations and amenities.
- Act as menu consultant for all food and beverage selections.
- Detail your Banquet Event Order and Wedding “Resume” outlining all of your event specifics and overnight accommodations to ensure that all information is communicated successfully to the operational team of the Hotel.
- Create an estimate of charges outlining your financial commitments and deposit schedule.
- Create a floor plan of your function space in order for you to plan and provide the Hotel with your seating arrangements.
- Oversee the ceremony and reception room(s) set-up, food preparation and other Hotel operations.
- Ensure a seamless transition to the Banquet Captain on the day of your event.
- Review your banquet checks for accuracy, prior to the completion of your final bill.
What are the responsibilities of a Wedding Coordinator?
- Assist with etiquette and protocol for invitations, family matters, ceremony and toasts.
- Create a timeline for your entire wedding day, including the ceremony and reception to supply to the Special Events Manager.
- Organize and coordinate your ceremony rehearsal. Remind bridal party of all pertinent “call times” and “don’t forgets” on the wedding day.
- Confirm call times and details with all vendors several days prior to the wedding day.
- Be the liaison with your family, bridal party and all vendors.
- Assist the bride and bridal party with dressing.
- Ensure the ladies have their corsages and bouquets, etc., and assist with pinning of the gentlemen’s boutonnières.
- Deliver and arrange ceremony programs, escort cards, place cards, favors and any personal items.
- Coordinate your actual ceremony (i.e. line up bride party, assist bride with dress, etc.)
- Coordinate your reception (i.e. grand entrance, first dance, toasts, cake cutting, etc.)
- Coordinate with vendors and the Hotel Banquet Captain to ensure timeliness of your events.
- Collect any personal items you may have brought at the conclusion of the reception.
- Count and collect all wedding gifts and deliver them to the appropriate location at the conclusion of your event.
- Assist you with full-service coordinating from your engagement to your honeymoon, should you select a full-service package.
What other services or items can The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel provide for my event?
The Ritz-Carlton can also provide a wide range of specialty items to help you personalize your event. These upgraded items include, but are not limited to: Chiavari chairs, specialty linens, specialty base plates and menu cards.
We can also assist you with welcome baskets, bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts and a variety of other special amenities to help add that personal touch to your wedding. Costs for all items vary.
What is a Commitment Ceremony?
A Commitment Ceremony is very similar to a wedding; however, it is typically between two people of the same gender. It is a public affirmation of a couples commitment to each other and is not a legally binding ceremony.
How do you book and plan a Commitment Ceremony and Reception?
A Commitment Ceremony and Reception is handled exactly like any other Wedding and Reception. See Ritz-Carlton Services, Culinary and General Information for additional information.
What is the average cost per person for food and beverage?
Based on our current banquet menus, on average you may expect to spend approximately $150 - $200 per person for lunch and $225 - $275 per person for dinner, both of which are exclusive of service charge and sales tax. These averages would encompass hors d’oeuvres during your welcome reception, three-course plated meal or buffet, wedding cake or dessert buffet station, wine service with the meal, champagne toast and an open hosted bar for the entire event, based on a moderate drinking group.
Please be aware that our menu items and pricing are subject to change and are guaranteed 90 days in advance. Your final menu pricing will be based on what you actually select.
Can food or beverage be brought in from the outside?
The resort must provide all food and beverage items for your event. The sale and service of alcoholic beverages is regulated by the California State Liquor Commission, and The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is responsible for the administration of those regulations. It is our policy that all alcoholic beverages must be provided by the resort. The wedding cake is the only food product that may be provided by the client. A $4.00 per person cake cutting fee will be charged for a cake being provided by an outside pastry shop.
Please explain the food and beverage minimum.
The food and beverage minimum is the least amount of money that you are required to spend on a combination of food and beverage, excluding service charge and sales tax, but it is not all that you could spend. The food and beverage minimum is reached by selecting individually priced, a la carte menu items to equal or exceed the required dollar figure.
The following examples would apply towards the food and beverage minimum:
Hors d’oeuvres, food display and carving stations, plated or buffet meal, wedding cake, dessert display stations, wine service with the meal, champagne toast, the bar (including alcohol), cappuccino station and any non-alcoholic beverages.
Centerpieces, upgraded linens/china/silverware, décor, and specialty lighting would not apply towards the food and beverage minimum.
When do I need to finalize my menu?
Food and beverage selections must be finalized and confirmed with your Special Event Manager a maximum of 6-8 weeks prior to the date of your wedding.
When do I need to let the hotel know exactly how many guests will be attending my event?
The Catering Department must be notified of the exact number of guests attending a function at least 72 working hours prior to the start of the event. This will be considered a guarantee, for which you will be charged, even if fewer guests attend the event.
What are the deposits based on and when are they due?
Deposits are based on anywhere from 25% - 100% of the combined food and beverage minimum, plus the rental fees for the event space reserved. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
What additional deposits are due and when?
Additional deposits are due as follows:
- Second Deposit – Due six months or 180 days prior to the event date and is based on 50% of the combined food and beverage minimum, plus the rental fee for the event space reserved.
- Third Deposit – Due three months or 90 days prior to the event date and is based on 75% of the combined food and beverage minimum, plus the rental fee for the event space reserved.
- Final Deposit – Due one month or 30 days prior to the event date and is based on the estimated final balance for your event, based on your actual food and beverage selections and all related costs.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel requires full pre-payment for all events.
Do the bride and groom get a complimentary room for the wedding night?
The resort provides a complimentary garden view guestroom for the bride and groom on the night of their wedding. The complimentary guestroom is offered with a minimum of 25 guests in attendance at the reception.
Can the complimentary room be upgraded?
With regrets, the complimentary guestroom may not be upgraded. You may however extend the complimentary room to a member of your bridal party or a family member. A separate room reservation for an upgraded room would be made for you by your Special Event Manager and the room would be charged at the prevailing rate.
Where does the bridal party get ready before the wedding?
We recommend guestroom reservations be made for a minimum two night length of stay with a check-in date of the night before the wedding and checkout the day after the wedding. This will eliminate the stress on the day of the wedding of having to check-in and out of guestrooms.
Does the hotel offer a discounted room block?
If you wish to reserve a block of rooms for your family and guests, please notify your Catering Manager who can provide you with availability and rates for up to 9 guestrooms (including the complimentary guestroom). Ten guestrooms or more require a group sales agreement, where 100% of the guestroom and current sales tax must be paid in full upon the signing of the contract.
A minimum length of stay is required on all stays involving a Friday or Saturday evening. Holiday weekends may be subject to a three-night minimum stay. Room blocks are held on a tentative basis, and any unclaimed rooms will be released sixty days prior to the event. Please note our check in time is 4:00pm and check out is 12:00pm.
Guest parking?
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is pleased to offer a reduced valet parking fee for any of your guests attending the wedding. The hotel offers only valet parking and you may choose to host the parking fee for your guests. Please consult with your Special Event Manager for current pricing.