The Westin South Coast Plaza
An upscale Costa Mesa hotel steps from South Coast Plaza, offering a large Plaza Ballroom plus terrace, gazebo, and pavilion spaces for big, high-polish celebrations.
About The Westin South Coast Plaza
The Westin South Coast Plaza is a full-service hotel wedding venue adjacent to the South Coast Plaza shopping and arts district. It offers a 7,600-square-foot Plaza Ballroom alongside a Waterfall Terrace, Gazebo, and Pavilion, with a large in-house catering operation led by an executive chef. Its scale suits large or multicultural weddings that need real capacity, plentiful parking, valet, and a guest room block under one roof. Reviews credit the culinary team and coordinators like Sheena and Martha for flexible menus and attentive service near the airport.
What couples love
Couples call it the perfect high-class venue and repeatedly compliment the food, with guests remarking on how amazing the catering was. The staff earns strong marks for flexibility with special requests and menu modifications, with Sheena and Martha named specifically. Its location next to South Coast Plaza and near John Wayne Airport makes it very convenient for out-of-town guests and room blocks.
Good to know
Multiple reviews flag it as on the pricier side for Orange County, so it lands as a premium-budget choice. The hotel requires photography authorization forms, an administrative wrinkle worth handling well in advance. Some couples reported difficulty reaching the room-block coordinator, adding friction to guest lodging logistics.
A typical wedding day
Getting ready — Redesigned hotel guest rooms and bridal suite on-site
Ceremony — Waterfall Terrace, Gazebo, or Pavilion outdoors, or the ballroom indoors
Cocktail hour — Guests gather on the terrace and grounds while the ballroom is set
Reception — The 7,600-square-foot Plaza Ballroom for large seated dinners
Golden hour — Terrace waterfall and landscaped grounds for warm portraits
Photographing The Westin South Coast Plaza
The Waterfall Terrace and gazebo grounds provide greenery and water for outdoor portraits, while the redesigned interiors and ballroom read clean and contemporary. This is a polished modern-hotel aesthetic, so lean on architecture, terrace light, and styled details.
Similar venues we love
Explore more venues we photograph: Sherman Library & Gardens · Pasea Hotel · Rancho Las Lomas · Franciscan Gardens.
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