Latest news with #MBMHospitality
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
La Venta Inn: A Coastal California Wedding Venue Rooted in History and Inclusion
Known for its sweeping ocean views and historic architecture, La Venta Inn is a scenic coastal wedding venue that prioritizes actively welcoming couples of all orientations. 'Couples want to feel safe in an inclusive space,' says Meg Walker, president of MBM Hospitality, the team behind La Venta's full-service planning and catering. 'They're not looking for vendors who only signal support during Pride Month. They're looking for year-round commitment.' That ethos shows up across the on-site experience, from gender-neutral getting-ready suites—the Oceanview Cottage and Hideaway Suite—to intentional staff training that centers non-binary, affirming language. 'The verbiage seen and heard throughout the venue really matters,' Walker notes. For LGBTQ+ couples, and for allies with queer guests, the atmosphere makes it clear: this is a venue where you're not just accepted, but expected. Perched high on the cliffs of Palos Verdes, La Venta Inn has been a fixture of the Southern California landscape since 1923, originally serving as a private clubhouse and artist retreat. Today, it functions as a full-service estate venue with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, framed by mature gardens, red-tiled rooftops, and original Spanish Revival design details. Weddings at La Venta unfold in sequence across distinct, private spaces. Ceremonies take place on a lawn overlooking the ocean and LA basin cityscape below, followed by cocktail hour in a bougainvillea-lined courtyard and receptions in a ballroom anchored by a grand fireplace. The property accommodates up to 200 guests and is offered to couples as an exclusive-use venue for the day. Catering is handled exclusively by Made by Meg, the in-house culinary team led by Walker. Their approach prioritizes fresh, seasonal California ingredients, allowing couples to create customized menus that balance refined technique with personal meaning. Cocktail hour, seated dinners, and late-night bites are all part of the package, as are setup and cleanup, rentals, staffing, and coordination essentials. Many couples find La Venta through word of mouth or inclusive vendor platforms like The Inclusive Wedding Alliance. Walker notes that having a dedicated LGBTQ+ ceremony landing page and diverse social media presence helps ensure that queer couples see themselves reflected and represented throughout the planning process. 'It's about creating a truly inclusive experience—not just saying you do,' she says. With nearly a century of character and a modern commitment to hospitality that affirms all identities, La Venta Inn offers couples a space to celebrate that feels both elevated and completely their own. Says Walker, 'It's about creating a truly inclusive experience—not just saying you do.'
Los Angeles Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Raise the Bar: Wedding Drink Trends That Go Beyond the Expected
Crafting a thoughtfully curated wedding drink menu is an easy way to create a lasting impression at your wedding celebration. The days of simply offering wine and beer are long gone. From creative cocktail bars, custom beverage experiences and elevated zero proof drink options, the latest wedding drink trends are all about creating one-of-a-kind and inclusive drinking experiences. To help you conceptualize your unique beverage program, we contacted ten wedding experts and mixologists to discover the latest wedding drink trends. One interesting and inclusive trend is the rise of sophisticated zero-proof cocktails at weddings. 'It's no longer an afterthought and, thankfully, sober guests aren't limited to Shirley Temples. They can now enjoy drinks that are just as beautifully presented and carefully crafted as their alcoholic counterparts, blending fresh ingredients and not skimping on garnish and rimming, presented in glassware that complements the beverage,' declares Brittny Drye, wedding expert and editor-in-chief of Love Inc. Magazine. 'With so many opting the alcohol-free route, a good rule of thumb is that at least 20-30% of your drink menu be dedicated to non-alcoholic options.' With an increasing number of sober guests, couples are crafting their beverage menu to include delicious alcohol-free connections. 'Sophisticated zero-proof cocktails have become essential on modern wedding menus, reflecting a shift toward inclusivity and intentional hospitality. The result is a curated mocktail experience that allows all guests—regardless of their drinking preferences—to feel equally celebrated and engaged in the festivities,' adds Kelli Sturges, director of guest experiences and programming at The Sanctuary Beach Resort. A wedding bar that involves guest interaction and surprise elements is sure to stand out. 'One trend that comes to mind is our custom interactive beverage station—the Smoke Show, featuring a smoke gun and a smoking machine,' remarks Meg Walker, executive chef and president of MBM Hospitality. 'Watching the bartender add a unique component that guests don't regularly see adds an exciting element to your wedding beverage offering, easily adding buzz and deliciousness to your drinks menu.' Perry Lau, assistant director of hospitality at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Los Angeles, adds: 'We offer a Build-Your-Own Shochu Bar, which invites guests to explore a curated selection of shochu paired with seasonal, house-crafted fruit purees, traditional Japanese mixers such as sencha, oolong, and hot water alongside modern interpretations like matcha, yuzu, and shiso.' Being creative and using drinks to tell people about who you are as a couple is one of the most popular trends for 2025. 'Couples in 2025 want every detail to be intentional and tell a story about who they are and where they come from. So naturally, a cocktail menu will reflect that. Our signature cocktails like the 'Punjabi Mango' with yogurt and coconut rum or the 'Chai Ishq' show how beverages can blend traditions and identities in unexpected ways. The most memorable drinks always have fun, unique twists that reveal something about the couple's personalities,' states Anmoldeep Khinda, owner of Roots Indian Bistro. A themed bar is a great approach to showcase your personality as a couple. Maria Soriano, director of events and style at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo adds: 'A couple recently created a one-of-a-kind tequila and mezcal bar for their welcome party, using regional spirits from Jalisco and Oaxaca, and curated themed cocktails representative to the destination such as custom margaritas and palomas.' Brides and grooms have embraced signature cocktails for years, but now they are serving custom-crafted beer at their wedding festivities. 'San Diego is the 'Capital of Craft,' so beer-loving couples can level up their wedding beverages by brewing their beer at Ballast Point Brewing Company. The couple can create their custom beer that represents their personalities and taste preferences and serve it at the reception. As a bonus, we offer customized growlers to fill with their commemorative brew as a take-home gift for guests,' remarks Emily Goldman, director of sales and events for RMD Group. Photographer Lensy Michelle, adds: 'A couple in Maine had custom-printed beer cans they gave out during their ceremony. True to their personalities, they ditched the formalities—serving their custom beer, 'Hoppily Ever After,' and replacing the traditional 'grand entrance into cocktail hour' with a Lobster Launcher tournament that had everyone laughing and cheering.' Beverage programs are increasingly embracing hyper-local ingredients exhibiting the local produce of the wedding destination. 'There's a growing shift towards using locally sourced ingredients like regional herbs, seasonal fruits, and artisanal infusions, to craft drinks that are meaningful, sustainable, and deeply connected to the couple's story,' mentions Peeyush Bhushan, director of food and beverage at the JW Marriott Pune. 'Many couples have opted to tap into a hyper-local connection, including resort-grown herbs and citrus for their welcome cocktails. We've also been incorporating local flowers for an added Hawaiian touch, and visual element, for couples and their guests,' adds Melina Manchester, director of special events at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Couples are personalizing their cocktails with edible cocktail toppers or stirrers with photos of memorable moments like their proposal or their beloved pet. Alternatively, the portraits are of the guests themselves. 'We have had the pleasure of collaborating with The Grand Bevy, a Los Angeles-based beverage company. One of their standout features is their 'Sipmi' program. Guests can step into a booth, and within moments, their photo is printed directly onto the top of their cocktail,' states Pamela Wolter, director of sales at The Resort at Pelican Hill. 'Imagine guests arriving and being greeted with a cocktail adorned with a special photo—a truly magical moment that adds a personal touch to the celebration.'
