When You Should Plan a Restaurant Wedding (& How to Do It!)
Restaurant weddings are criminally underrated. A nontraditional wedding that’s food-first AND has a special meaning??? That’s basically everything I love as a SoCal wedding photographer.
If having a full-on, traditional wedding day feels more like a hassle to you than a fun time… A restaurant wedding at your fave place is worth considering. And this guide? It’s gonna show you exactly why restaurant weddings are some of the best days and exactly how to plan yours!!
Why I LOVE Restaurant Weddings as a SoCal Wedding Photographer
Let’s start here: I love weddings that have intention and meaning woven into them. Whether it comes from infusing cultural traditions or including unique memorial ideas, it’s one of those things that makes a wedding extra special to be a part of!!
So, when you choose to host your wedding in a restaurant where you two have spent some of your favorite evenings together… It adds some meaning. And, as a bonus, it means you’re already super comfortable there, so photos never look like you’re internally thinking, “Ummm… What am I supposed to be doing with my hands??”
Another reason that I love restaurant weddings is that they’re just way more laidback. Everyone’s relaxed, having good food and wine, and no one feels like everything’s gonna crumble if they make one wrong move. It’s a super lived-in space, and it makes for a wedding with some really good, really casual energy.
Who a Restaurant Wedding Feels Right For
If you’re considering the idea of a restaurant wedding… This is your sign.
They work especially well for couples who:
Care more about actually interacting with their people than performing in front of them
Want something a little nontraditional or out of the norm
Consider themselves foodies (and I love you for that)
Want their wedding day to feel full of connection
Don’t love being the center of attention or anything that feels like a huge production
Sound like you? Obsessed with you!!! Let’s plan your restaurant wedding, like, now!!
How to Plan the Perfect Restaurant Wedding
I have to say… Planning a restaurant wedding is easy. Everything is pretty much already in place; they don’t require too much decor, and timelines just flow instead of feeling overly structured.
As a SoCal wedding photographer who’s captured many, many days like this, here’s everything I’ve learned that you’ll need to know for planning your own:
Restaurant Wedding Venues in Southern California
Finding the perfect place basically sets the tone for the whole day, and while I always highly recommend choosing one of your favorite restaurants, it doesn’t always work out!! If you need some more recommendations for where to hold a restaurant wedding in SoCal, here are a few of my faves:
How the Flow of Restaurant Weddings Actually Feels
Every restaurant wedding venue will be different and have different inclusions, so the flow and timeline will totally depend on if yours has things like getting-ready spaces, a space for your ceremony, and also, where it’s located.
Generally, though, days like this just feel relaxed. It’s basically like you wake up, grab coffee with your best girls, start getting ready in a hotel near the restaurant, do your first look there, then take a walk to the venue with your lover or take a taxi. There’s never any rushing; you get plenty of alone time with the person you’re marrying (huge plus), and it’s just full of connection and excitement.
Once you actually get to the venue… That’s when the fun starts. If you’re having your ceremony there, your guests will cheer you on with the sweetest darn sounds you’ve ever heard, eat food that they’ll probably be talking about for months, mingle with literally everyone, and then join you on the dance floor for all your FAVEEE T-Swift songs. I love it so much!!
For Jordan and Nate, it looked just like this. They stayed at Seascape Resort because it was close to their restaurant wedding venue, HOME, and did their first look with the DREAMIEST ocean view before they made their way to the restaurant to say “I do.”
Decorating Ideas for a Restaurant Wedding
My top tip as a SoCal wedding photographer? Keep your restaurant wedding simple. If you’re planning a day like this, it’s probably because you don’t want all the stuffiness and hard planning that comes with a traditional wedding… Right?? So, follow that!! Keep it simple, and base everything on the restaurant’s design.
For a ceremony in a restaurant, I love to see decorated chairs, minimalist floral arrangements, and a simple arbor. For the reception, funky tablescapes and guest experience should be your main focus!!
I love things like:
Bold-colored table linens
A unique, layered dinnerware setting
Candles everywhere (think votives and taper candles!!)
Bottles of wine that are free for guests to grab
Stations for food
An Elopement + A Restaurant Wedding Reception
A lot of my couples who plan restaurant weddings choose to have their ceremony elsewhere beforehand and just really lean into the dinner-party reception vibes, and I love it!!
Sometimes it’s a city hall wedding with just the two of you (like this Beverly Hills courthouse elopement), sometimes it’s just a super intimate ceremony in your backyard, or sometimes you actually get legally married months before somewhere far away, and you just use your restaurant wedding as an excuse to celebrate.
Whatever layout yours is… It works with a restaurant wedding. And the best part is that I’m always here to help you make it totally you!!
Where to Take Wedding Photos if You’re Getting Married in a Restaurant
Of course, wedding photos are always in the back of my mind. I mean… For the last 11 years I’ve been yelling “KISS!!!” at people as my job, soooo…
Seriously, though, wedding portraits are a ‘lil bit different when it comes to a restaurant wedding. The things I always look for are:
Any spaces with good lighting
Any spots around the venue (parks, city streets, waterfront hideaways) that make good backdrops
Spaces from the little moments of the day, like the car you ride in from the hotel to the restaurant, or the little room you hide away in to say, “We just did that!!” after you get married.
Common Questions I Get About Weddings Like This
Still trying to figure out logistics? I’ve got you. Even though my job relies on my creative brain, I have a ‘lil bit of Type A in there too!!
What’s the cost breakdown for a restaurant wedding reception?
Totally depends, my friend. Sometimes you can save a ton of money doing this as opposed to renting out a typical venue, and sometimes it takes a little more. It’ll depend on guest count, menus, decor, vendors… The whole shabang.
How do I choose a restaurant for an intimate wedding?
The best thing you can do is to call around to restaurants and see what number of people feels comfy in there! I personally love Redbird for this vibe, because everything feels sooo personal.
How do I book a restaurant for a wedding reception?
Okay, not every restaurant will let you do this, and some might have specific rules or maximum capacities that don’t work for you. The best thing you can do, though? Ask them!! The worst that can happen is they say no, and you find someone else.
You can call, fill out a contact form, or shoot them an email that says something like, “Hi there! I am interested in using this space for a wedding, and I wanted to see if that’s possible and get more information if so. Thanks!”
What’s the best time of year for a restaurant wedding in the US?
Restaurant weddings truly work anytime. A lot of people will go for days like this in the winter, just because it’s a good, warm indoor space, but every season is perrrrfectttt for restaurant weddings. You just can’t go wrong!!
Jordan and Nate’s Restaurant Wedding
Everything about this day still makes me want to squeal. The design? 10/10. The vibes? Cannot even explain how good they were. The food (and cake by Bungalow Bakes Cakes)??? I still have dreams about it.
Above all, though, Jordan and Nate are just the absolute CUTEST. Their love was soooo apparent through every part of the day, and they’re also just… Really cool.
Every part of the day felt so them: a little nontraditional, a little, and full of good energy. I love this for them!!!
We couldn’t have done it without their incredible coordinator, Soulful X Sips, who made everything run so smoothly and gave the sweet couple the most relaxed day.
Cambria Shelley | SoCal Wedding Photographer
If you’re planning a restaurant wedding, this is my formal request to photograph it. If you can’t tell, I love days like this SO much, and I wanna be a part of yours!!!
Inquire right here, and we’ll start planning together. Can’t wait to chat with you, friend!!!
