Because our venue can be customized based on your tastes and vision, there are many variables associated with the cost. On average, our weddings range between $200-$275+ per person for catering which includes staffing, rentals, food, and beverages + venues fees.
Absolutely! We can set up tastings a couple different ways…
If you would like to taste the food prior to booking the venue, we charge $45+ per person, but will refund two tasting spots if booked.
If you decide to book the venue before tasting the food, you will have a complimentary tasting for you and your fiancé. The tasting typically takes place 4-6 months prior to your wedding date.
Once you book the venue, the guest count cannot drop by more than 10%. For example, if you’re estimating 100 guests, your guest count cannot drop below 90 guests. You can however add guests up to our max capacity without any penalty fee, so if you end up with 150 guests instead of your estimated 100 guests, you would just be paying the additional per person price plus extra staffing and rentals needed to accommodate the 150 guests.
The final guest count and payment is due no later than 10 business days prior to your event. This ensures we can place all your orders with food, drinks, and rentals in time for your event. At that point, your guest count will be locked in, and we are unable to make changes due to cancellations or late RSVPs. We will always send you a reminder email prior to the due date so you have time to follow-up with any last-minute RSVPs.
All food (except for cake & desserts), beverages, staffing, lighting, and rentals must go through 24 Carrots/Franciscan Gardens. This includes linens, lighting, furniture, dance floors, china/glassware, etc. Please ask us for pricing and information for upgraded rental options.
Everything else can go through an outside vendor such as DJ, photographer, videographer, florist, signage, small decorations, and coordinator (required day-of). We have many vendors we work with often and if you need any references, we will be happy to provide a list.
If you cancel more than 30 days before your event, all deposits made will be forfeited. If you cancel, within 30 days of your event, the full balance of your event will be due to us. Please reference the contracts’ terms and conditions.
We include our standard bistro lights, chandeliers in the ballroom, twinkle lights in the trees, as well as landscape lights. Additional lighting options include the white paper lanterns, up lights, spotlights, hanging lights in the pergola, etc. We will order additional lighting for you should you want this for your event.
We do require a $1,000,000 policy of General Liability Insurance with 24 Carrots listed as the “additionally insured” for each of your vendors that will be on-site during your event. This includes (but is not limited to) DJ/band, coordinator, florist, photographers, videographers, photo booth, bakery, hair & makeup artists, and officiant will need insurance. If vendors have employees working on/at the event, certificates of insurance for Workman’s Compensation must also be provided.
Your vendors can arrive starting at 10:00am when the venue opens. Please note that our staff lay the linens down 2 hours prior to your wedding, so centerpieces can be added to tables at this time unless florist or coordination team chooses to set-up linens earlier.
The venue is exclusive to you 3 hours prior to your event start time. You are welcome to come on-site at 10am to use suites, but please note there may be tours throughout the morning/early afternoon before the 3-hour exclusive mark. We will not allow the tours to enter either of the suites.
Franciscan Gardens does not own any parking, but there is plenty of parking around San Juan Capistrano that your guests can park in. The most convenient place to park is the parking garage right behind the venue. This structure is owned and operated by the city, so please follow parking regulations. Hosted parking options are available in the parking structure for additional costs. Please ask us for additional details!
We do require a day-of-coordinator at our venue. The two requirements are that they have liability insurance and are not an invited guest to the wedding. The minimum duties required of the coordinator will be listed in our contracts. Our Venue Manger and/or assistant are on-site to ensure that everything discussed with catering and the venue are correct, but we do not coordinate with your other vendors, run your rehearsal, set up any personal décor, etc.
24 Carrots must provide all beverages due to our liquor license. If you choose to have beverages prior to the ceremony in the getting ready rooms, we can order this for you. Menu available upon request.
Rehearsals take place at the venue on the first available day prior to your event. We block off an hour time slot for you to run through everything with your coordinator. Please note, events take precedence over rehearsals. If we do have your rehearsal scheduled and we book an event, we will have to move the rehearsal to another day.
We allow you to bring in your own signage, candles (must be in a votive or container covering the flame), flowers, and decorations. Please note we do not allow confetti, sparklers, or nailing into walls. Additional rules and regulations on the venue contract.
Pets are allowed during the ceremony only. They must not arrive more than 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and must be leashed at all times. Pets are not permitted inside the building at any time. Once the ceremony is over, the pet will need to leave the property for the remainder of the event.
Yes, we have an indoor event space that will seat up to 175 guests for reception.
*Please note that if your wedding needs to use both spaces (courtyard and ballroom) due to high guest count or set up needs, then a tent may be needed due to inclement weather for additional costs.