Costa Mesa, California
Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens Wedding Photographer
An all-inclusive Costa Mesa banquet-and-garden venue built on a former Napa winery theme, pairing a climate-controlled ballroom with lush rose gardens for flexible Orange County weddings.
About Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens
Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens — also known as The Colony House — is a well-established banquet and garden venue in the heart of Costa Mesa, minutes from South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport. Themed around a former Napa Valley winery, its park-like grounds mix a rose garden, a vineyard-styled area, a Noguchi-inspired rock garden, fountains and palm-shaded lawns with a fully climate-controlled indoor ballroom.
The venue is known for all-inclusive packages that bundle in-house catering, bar, cake, décor and coordination, making it a strong choice for couples who want a one-stop Orange County wedding. Outdoor ceremonies in the gardens flow into cocktails in the foyer or courtyard and dinner in the ballroom, and the property scales widely — intimate gatherings up to very large celebrations — thanks to multiple indoor and outdoor spaces.
Location · Costa Mesa, CA (Orange County)
Style · Winery-themed banquet & garden venue
Capacity · Up to ~240 indoors; larger outdoors
Ceremony · Outdoor rose/vineyard gardens or indoor ballroom
Best season · Year-round; spring and fall ideal for gardens
Compiled from Here Comes the Guide's Turnip Rose listing and the venue's published package information; pricing and promotions change seasonally — confirm current rates with the venue.
The complete Turnip Rose planning guide
Capacity & spaces
Seated dinner · Up to 240 indoors (larger outdoors)
Standing/cocktail · Up to 240 indoors
Ceremony · Up to 240 indoors; outdoor lawns accommodate more
Rentable spaces
- Ballroom — climate-controlled indoor reception space seating up to ~240 with dance floor and uplighting
- Rose Gardens — outdoor ceremony and cocktail area with roses, fountains and palm-shaded lawns
- Vineyard area — winery-themed garden space evoking the property's Napa concept
- Courtyard — open-air space for ceremonies or cocktail hour
- Foyer — indoor cocktail-hour and reception-entry space
- Dressing suite and dressing lounge — getting-ready rooms for the wedding party
Pricing
Peak Saturday · Reception packages ~$68-$129 per person plus ~$950-$1,550 venue fee and 22% service charge
Off-peak · Friday/Sunday promotional packages from ~$8,750 for up to 75 guests; seasonal discounts offered
What's included · Catering, bar options, wedding cake, hors d'oeuvres, linens/overlays, chairs, lounge furniture, uplighting, centerpieces, dance floor, coordination staff
Catering & bar
Catering is in-house and required, with butler-passed hors d'oeuvres, salad and entrée selections, a champagne or cider toast, and an espresso/gourmet-tea bar. Bar service is also in-house, commonly priced around $10-$16 per person for the first hour and $8-$11 per person for additional hours. A wedding cake and chocolate tuxedo strawberries are included in packages.
Rules & restrictions
- Reception packages typically run ~5 hours (or ~6 hours with ceremony); confirm the end time
- Alcohol is served in-house on an hourly per-person basis; no outside alcohol
- A day-of coordinator is required (about $875; in-house option available)
- Amplified music allowed indoors and outdoors; candle/open-flame policy should be confirmed
Getting ready, parking & access
Getting ready space · On-site dressing suite and dressing lounge
Parking · Complimentary on-site parking
Load-in · Vendor access through the venue; coordinate timing with the event manager
How to book
Book through the venue with a tour and package consultation; the venue frequently runs seasonal promotions and Friday/Sunday deals, so ask about current offers. All-inclusive packages mean most catering, bar and décor decisions are made in-house, and a required day-of coordinator is arranged as part of booking. Reserve popular dates several months to a year ahead.
Photographing Turnip Rose
The gardens are the photographic draw: roses, fountains, palms and the winery-themed vineyard area give layered, green backdrops, and the Noguchi-inspired rock garden and bistro-lit paths add texture. Because so much is landscaped and shaded, midday light is manageable, and overcast Orange County days render evenly across the grounds.
For golden hour, work the garden lawns and vineyard corners as the light warms; string and bistro lighting extend usable ambiance into the evening. Indoors, the climate-controlled ballroom with uplighting and a dance floor provides a controlled, reliably lit reception environment for first dances and low-light coverage.
Engagement sessions at Turnip Rose
Turnip Rose's landscaped gardens make a convenient central-Orange-County engagement backdrop, though access for non-booked couples requires arrangement.
Best time · Late afternoon into golden hour for warm light across the rose and vineyard gardens
Permit/fee · No public permit; on-site sessions require venue permission — inquire with the event office
Standout spots · Rose garden, fountains, vineyard-themed area, Noguchi rock garden, palm lawns
Coordinate any on-site session with the venue in advance, since it hosts private events daily.
What couples love
- Truly all-inclusive packages simplify planning
- Lush, varied gardens in a central OC location
- Climate-controlled ballroom for weather certainty
- Complimentary parking and easy freeway/airport access
- Flexible spaces scaling from intimate to very large
Good to know
- 22% service charge and required coordinator add to per-person pricing
- Everything (catering, bar, décor) runs in-house — limited outside-vendor flexibility
- It's an urban venue; expect nearby traffic and shared surroundings
- Package hours are capped (~5-6 hrs) — plan the timeline tightly
- Confirm which specific spaces your package includes
A typical wedding day at Turnip Rose
1:30 PM — Wedding party arrives; prep in the dressing suite and lounge
4:00 PM — Ceremony in the Rose Gardens
4:30 PM — Cocktail hour in the courtyard/foyer with garden portraits
5:30 PM — Dinner and toasts in the ballroom
9:30 PM — Last dance and send-off as the package window closes
Frequently asked questions
Where is Turnip Rose located?
1570 Scenic Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, in central Orange County near South Coast Plaza.
Is it the same as The Colony House?
Yes, Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens is also known as The Colony House and is commonly called the Turnip Rose.
How many guests can it hold?
The indoor ballroom seats up to about 240; outdoor spaces can accommodate larger ceremonies.
What do packages cost?
Reception packages run about $68-$129 per person plus a venue fee of roughly $950-$1,550 and a 22% service charge; promotional dates can start near $8,750 for up to 75 guests.
Is catering included and in-house?
Yes, catering is in-house and required, including hors d'oeuvres, salad, entrées, a toast and a coffee/tea bar.
How is alcohol handled?
Bar service is in-house, typically priced per person by the hour; outside alcohol is not permitted.
Is a wedding cake included?
Yes, packages include a wedding cake plus chocolate tuxedo strawberries.
Is a coordinator required?
Yes, a day-of coordinator (about $875, with an in-house option) is required.
Is parking available?
Yes, complimentary on-site parking is provided.
Can the ceremony be outdoors?
Yes, ceremonies can be held in the rose and vineyard gardens or in the climate-controlled ballroom.
How long are the packages?
Typically about a 5-hour reception, or roughly 6 hours including the ceremony.
What's the nearest airport?
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is only about 10-15 minutes away.
Getting there & logistics
Address · 1570 Scenic Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Nearest airport · John Wayne Airport (SNA), ~10-15 min
Drive time · ~10 min from South Coast Plaza, ~45 min from LA, ~1 hr from San Diego
Nearby getting-ready hotels
- The Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
- Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa
- Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa
- Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach
The history behind Turnip Rose
- The venue is themed around a former Napa Valley winery concept and has long operated as a Costa Mesa banquet and garden property, also known as The Colony House.
Similar venues we love
More venues we photograph: The Harper · Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa · The Westin South Coast Plaza · Fairmont Miramar · Annenberg Beach House.
Planning a wedding at Turnip Rose? Reach out to check your date →
