Attended a wedding here and it was a great location, hidden away in a campground right by the beach. The views were gorgeous! Some things to note is that there is very limited parking and wedding had to be finished by 10pm. No hotels truly walking distance (in heels!) but this spot as a wedding venue was gorgeous! read more

See all

We chose the Historic Cottage for the price, fantastic view of the ocean, and charming location. That said, while the venue has a lot to offer, they are missing some key elements. Covering all those missing pieces to host a successful event takes an immense amount of work (even with a coordinator). While we are thrilled with how the actual day of the wedding went, it took a lot of effort to make it as successful as it was. Ultimately, if ocean views and a Spanish California theme at a decent price are your highest goals, this is probably the best venue. But if you care deeply about the accommodations, ease of logistics, and helpful venue staff, we would recommend looking elsewhere. Pros: Once you get past the tents and RVs of the State Park campground, the Historic Cottage is a naturally beautiful location. White adobe walls and red Spanish tile, a full 180 degree view of the California coastline and the Pacific Ocean, all the features of sandy cliffs, and distant lights of the San Clemente suburbs as a background. You can (as of October 1st, 2022) bring in any vendor you want. This was extremely important to us for cost and quality. Almost every other venue required us to go through their catering. This meant higher costs and in some cases lower quality of food for our guests. Bringing in our own vendors also meant huge alcohol savings because we were able to purchase our own alcohol from Costco and then ask our bartending rental and event company to serve our alcohol. Inconvenient but saved us about $3,000. We were able to purchase our florals from the LA Flower Market and a family member created the beautiful arrangements. The option of bringing in our own vendors would not have been possible had we gone with Casa Romantica or Ole Hanson. (The Casino San Clemente was much less strict and probably would have been just as good an option) However, we still had to get prior approval for all of our vendors because they have banned certain vendors in the past. Cons: The public bathrooms. This is a venue located in a California State Beach park. There are no private restrooms for your guests to use, so everyone at the wedding and all visitors to the beach and/or campground use the same restroom. They are large, open air restrooms that flush, but at the end of the day they are public state park bathrooms complete with sand, ants, and missing soap. The State Parks staff "thoroughly" cleans them before every wedding but depending on how many people visit the beach that day, you have to accept the state of the bathrooms as being a part of your wedding. We provided luxury soaps, paper towels, electric candles, toiletries, etc. to help but it was frustrating to have to provide these items. The contract- they can change anything they want at any time with no notice or warning. And they did. Three weeks before the wedding. There is no lighting on the lawn after dark you need to provide stand alone lighting. The ocean breeze means you need to have sturdy and heavy centerpieces/decorations. Unprofessional staff. From one of the State Parks coordinators who scolded us for being on-site during business hours even after we called ahead and asked permission to be there to plan our wedding layout, rude teenage park entrance staff refusing to let us enter the park until 1:00 PM on our wedding day (as in turning the groom away at 12:58 PM. We were told we couldn't enter the venue until our start time, not that we couldn't enter the park) to a Parks Monitor basically ordering our DJ to play his favorite song "Sweet Caroline" on our paid time, and then later telling us we might be getting a fine because some food from the wedding spilled onto the floor tile. Nothing happened, but if you don't want food to fall on your historic tile, you should probably stop hosting weddings and putting the tile at risk every week. In general, all of their staff need serious training in customer service. On the whole, we were willing to put up with these challenges for the beauty of the cottage, an outdoor venue during the Pandemic, and as a way to cut costs. Our wedding was nearly perfect with gorgeous weather, great photos, happy guests, and an overall excellent day. But this happened in spite of the Historic Cottage staff. It would have been a less stressful wedding planning process had the staff been more cooperative in their behavior and rules/regulations. Our best recommendation if you decide to book this venue to reduce stress is to hire a full wedding planner and all inclusive catering vendor. (catering/tables/chairs/bar/cake/staff, etc.) If you can afford the money, this will help in many DIY logistics/planning issues. But at the end of the day, many of the cons we mentioned will still exist. Our hope in writing this review is to help future couples consider this place carefully before committing to it for their big day. N&R (Photo Credit- Larissa Bahr) read more

See all

Beautiful, classic view, informal outdoor venue. Was a perfect setting for the young couple and family. Weather cooperated!

What a FANTASTIC venue. I'm a wedding photographer, and I just shot my second wedding of the summer here at The Historic Cottage. I love how no two weddings here look exactly alike. Some couples have the courtyard serve as both their ceremony and reception space, while others have their ceremony on their cliffs and their reception in the courtyard. It's just so customizable, and it's also a DREAM to photograph here. There are so many spots with great light at any and every time of the day. I've had nothing but great experiences here, and I HIGHLY recommend it to any couples looking for a beautiful (and affordable) San Clemente wedding venue. Photographer: Liz Erban Photo (lizerban.com, @lizerban) Florals: The Moody Blooms (themoodyblooms.com) Coordination: Emily from Joy N' Company (joyncompanyevents.com) read more

See all

As a wedding photographer, this is such a beautiful location! There are so many options for places to get stunning photos with different backdrops. The staff was incredible and helpful and I would highly recommend for a beautiful beach wedding that isn't directly on the sand, but a quick walk down to the beach and train tracks. https://www.jennymarkham.com/ read more

See all

Fantastic ...enjoyed very much. Very relaxing and enjoyable day! Highly recommend for a nice meal

It's my duty to put this hidden treasure on the map. Listen up, brides-to-be/special event planners - especially if you're in LA looking for a "destination" location. If you need a place for an outdoor/beach wedding or a special event, this cottage is the perfect place in the south OC. It's quiet, it overlooks the ocean and best of all, unlike anything at a beach-front southern California hotel, it's easy on your budget! Check the website in the listing for fees. This historic cottage is at the San Clemente state beach. Don't worry about walking your fancy shoes on sand - there ain't none. The cottage has ample paved parking and paved walkways. In the entrance, there's a little trail with enough room to put a gift table or two, and leads to an area perfect for the ceremony/lunch and dinner reception. There's a chamber for the bride to change in and restroom too. There's also a nook in the back for a buffet or your caterer to get food ready. You can fit a live band or DJ and there's plenty of room for dancing. Just make sure your chair and table rental company brings some large umbrellas to shield your guests from the sun. If you plan on having your event run into the night, make sure that you get a light crew to set up some lights. The fire from the fireplace will provide enough warmth but cutting cake or catching a bouquet or dancing in the dark is not ideal. Now that my fun-money is all earmarked for grown-up expenses, I've been daydreaming in retrospect lately about where I could have spent money wiser. Like, having our wedding on a weekday instead of a Saturday since everyone there was already on vacation. If our wedding (which was also a few feet from the beach) was booked here, and all else equal, my mom's $xx,xxx cash gift would have paid for the wedding and then some! Dang it! There's no real address to this place but follow the directions from this link http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=646, plow through the guard tower and head all the way to the end of the road to find this hidden gem. 1) Beach/outdoor wedding at an 2) affordable price and 3) supporting our local state facilities - three thumbs up! read more

See all

Wow! I had no idea I hadn't reviewed our venue yet. Sheesh! So my husband and I got married here in October 2018 and it was AMAZING. Noel is so great and was always willing to answer any questions we had along the way. The venue is gorgeous, clean and laid back. We STILL have guests telling us how great of a time they had which is the best! I highly recommend using this venue if you're looking for a private, old-California feeling wedding right by the ocean. Thank you Noel and team at HCSC! read more

Coming from a wedding assistant, this venue definitely has its positives and negatives to consider when deciding if you want to host your wedding here. Overall it is a gorgeous venue and definitely somewhere to consider when you are looking for that special place. Positives: - Separate areas for cocktail hour, reception, and food (the cottage has both a front grass area, a large outdoor patio that is perfect for the reception, and a side smaller patio that is good for a bar, food, etc.) - Can have private parking (there is a very large parking lot that is accessed by the public, but the section closet to the cottage can be marked off and held exclusively for your guests. This is great because you won't have to hire a valet service) - Raised area for DJ (raised above the large outdoor patio is a small area that they DJ can be placed on. It is perfect for the DJ stand - they will be able to look out over the crowd) - Absolutely gorgeous view and a very blank slate, so you can make it into whatever you like! Negatives: - Bathrooms (There is only one private bathroom for the cottage, which will likely not be enough depending on the size of your wedding, and then the only other option is for your guests to walk to the public restroom. It is not too far of a walk, but definitely not glamorous once you get there. It is a typical restroom that you could find at a public park or beach) - Venue is completely open to the elements (rain, sun, wind, etc. - There is no cover or shield, so there is very little backup plan) Tip: Pay attention to the contract for what is and isn't allowed!! There are no sparklers allowed (and they will not budge on this). Follow their rules from the beginning to have the smoothest experience read more

It was great working with you at the recent San Clemente, Historic Cottage Wedding Event. I admired your work ethic and professionalism. I'm writing to let you know I'd recently finalized the wedding video for the event and I'd given your name credit in both the credit description and the video itself as a token of my gratitude to you. This is a legendary day, not just for me, but for all wedding videographers because this is the worlds very first "Wedding Short Film". I'd absolutely love to continue working with you whenever you're in need of a videographer/photographer or if you'd like to set up an appointment requesting our video or photo services to help advertise your business. I'm more than happy to allow you to use this video to help advertise your work, as I'm a strong supporter of passionate, talented business owners. Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_48MpPqCnI Best, Nic McLaughlin Its Our Productions itsourproductions.com read more

I loved this venue from the moment I got out of the car, the views are SPECTACULAR and the cottage is so adorable. We toured with Noelle and I had some reservations so I wanted to see what else was out there. She told me not to worry that no one was going to book on a Thursday (my reception day) and I had time to think it over. In fact she encouraged me not to make a decision that day. So I did just that and thought it over. I finally decided I wanted that venue, maybe 1.5 months later and called her up. I got her voicemail and it said the entire 2017 year was booked up and they are no longer accepting applications but maybe I wanted 2018? Did she not remember us? It's February. I don't really see that possible, especially for a weekday. Maybe but unlikely. Some things that deterred me initially were: The price wasn't what the brochure had printed, it had gone up around 500-1k. No tables or chairs, just some teak benches. No inside option. Everything from the bartender (plus alcohol permit for only beer, wine and champagne) to lights had to be rented. It feels like a great price until you factor in all the little details and by then you've spent the same as you'd spend at The Casino or Ole Hanson Beach Club. If you want this venue, book it that day you tour, and be prepared to get what you pay for. I didn't like the idea of "monitors" watching my event. It would have been beautiful but there's a reason why this didn't work out. Cest la Vie read more

My wedding reception was held here October of this year. I have to say that it was absolutely amazing! I love this venue. The sunset views are amazing & the setting is perfect overlooking the ocean. The ambiance from the built in fireplace & waterfall were lovely. This setting was a dream. I had candles everywhere & it looked so romantic at night! As for the park rangers, because it is part of a CA State Park, they need to be there to make sure that the guests are not out of control (drinking wise, etc) and to make sure the integrity of the structure itself remains protected. The previous entry regarding the Park Ranger Pam really concerned me because my wedding reception would be there. I spoke with the Historic Cottage coordinator and she assured me that the problems that occurred with that particular ranger were uncommon & would not happen at my wedding. As it turned out, I never even saw the Ranger. He stayed out of sight unless necessary. There was one guest cut off from the bar by him, and from what I heard it was necessary. Even that I didn't know about until after the reception was over. I highly recommend having your reception here if you are interested in an outdoor beach wedding. read more

I had my wedding reception at the Historic Cottage last weekend and it was spectacular. It's awesome because it's a gorgeous blank slate and they are very clear about what you can and cannot do from the get go. Noel is awesome and while she might not be on site all the time (as someone else complained) she responds to emails really quickly and never left me hanging. I am an Event Coordinator for a LIVING and so if my expectations can be met then I don't see how anyone else could be disappointed. The only reason that it's 4 stars and not 5 is because no hard liquor is allowed (not their fault, state park mandate), and it was sort of a bummer not being able to get in the site earlier than 1 pm for set up. That being said, we had one large item that we needed to drop off earlier and Noel made that happen for us so they are VERY accomodating. Oh and the "creepy maintenance" worker that the other review mentioned.... is the park monitor and they are there the whole time and they are not creepy. It is in your contract that they will be there so it's no surprise. read more

Buyer beware!!! My daughter had her wedding here not too long ago and everyone that we were in contact with seemed nice at first. But when it was time for the week of the wedding their communication broke down tremendously. We wanted the roofing cables up for extra lighting and they weren't up the day before so we had to call and leave voice mails with no return phone calls, but did go up. Then the day of the wedding all the gates were suppose to be unlocked at a specific time that was mutually agreed upon so the vendors could do their set up on time and go according to the schedule, but that didn't happen. My wife and several guests tripped and got hurt on their uneven tiles along a walkway. I had to drive over to the State Park office to try and find a maintenance worker to help fix it so no one would get seriously hurt. It was also promised that someone would be onsite at the beginning of the day to help with any set up needs. When it came to find that person they were no where to be found. When it came for us to leave from their strict curfew policy, who shows up and stayed on us like glue? The mysterious maintenance worker. Remember you're dealing with state park rangers and a wedding planner coordinator Noel who's there only 2-3 days a week and the day of the event, good luck! And to Roger Fisher the Park Supervisor, all your park employees aren't always telling you the truth. So I guess it's my word along with 3 other vendors against a maintenance worker who is never around to help. Bottom line. It's a beautiful spot along the coast and the venue is not cheap by any means. If you're able to deal with surprises and fend for yourself on the most important day of your daughter's life, then go for it and good luck. read more

We are frequent campers at San Clemente State Beach and can provide some insight on the Historic Cottage. We love the idea that this venue supports park operations, but also believe it should be done correctly. The historic cottage was built as a caretaker's cottage when the park was developed in the 1930's. Small and utilitarian, you are renting a mediocre patio that feels small and fenced in. From Brochure - Fri, Sat, Sun rental is $3600, Mon-Thurs $2400, from 2-10pm all days. Includes parking for 50 cars, 150 guest maximum. Additional catering and party rental required (tables/chairs/etc). Pros: Quiet. Beautiful horizon looking northwest through south. Parking close to venue. Cons: Costly for what you get, walk across parking lot to beach bathrooms (and all that implies), landscaping only on grounds of cottage, else you are in a campground. About what you would expect from a CA state run operation. read more

The Cottage is a gorgeous venue to get married! If you're looking for that SoCal Spanish flair in a venue, you absolutely must take a look at it. As a wedding planner, I'd recommend more intimate weddings, but you certainly have the room for a larger group if needed. The bistro lights were plenty of light for the dance floor through the whole night and it makes for some gorgeous photos. Noel is on top of her emails and their team is a pleasure to work with. Check them out! read more

I recently got married at the historical cottage. The venue is absolutely gorgeous. The event coordinator Noel is great, she answers all your questions promptly and tries really hard to accommodate your requests. I would recommend the venue to future brides and had a wonderful wedding at the historical cottage. read more