Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions that our team gets from clients like you! If you don’t see your question below or you are ready to get started with us, please reach out to us at info@serraplaza.com and we would be happy to help you!

WHAT IS THE Max Capacity?

For weddings with a ceremony onsite, we can accommodate up to 300 guests. For reception-only weddings or other seated events, we can accommodate 400 guests. For a cocktail style event, we can accommodate 500 guests.

What is included with the venue?

We include the following at Serra Plaza in our base venue pricing:

Private access to entire venue, including outdoor courtyard with market lighting and fountain and indoor lounge with two fireplaces
5.5-hour event time
Access to bridal suite and vendor setup starting 3 hours before your scheduled event start time
Additional one hour of cleanup time
Round tables for guest seating, plus cocktail tables and additional tables for vendor use
250 ghost chairs

You have the option to add the below for an additional charge if you wish:

Early access to bridal suite at 8:00am
Longer event time and/or additional vendor setup time if needed
Outdoor sparkling chandelier packages

Can I bring my own caterer? What about our own alcohol?

Jay’s Catering is the venue owner/operator, and we are the exclusive caterer at Serra Plaza. We have many great menu options for you to explore, and one of our seasoned event specialists can help guide you through all the options! If you are looking to serve a specific ethnic cuisine, please inquire with us to see if we work with a partner who can assist with the traditional cultural dishes you are looking for!
Due to liability and licensing reasons, all alcohol (including any in the suites) must also come through Jay’s and be served by a Jay’s licensed bartender

Can I bring my own dessert vendor or late-night food vendor?

Yes! You are welcome to bring your own wedding cake for a $3pp cake cutting fee or most outside dessert items for a $2pp handling/outside vendor fee. You may also bring a late-night vendor as long as they are either a self-contained food truck or are not doing any cooking onsite for a $2pp outside vendor fee. All additional cake, dessert, or late-night vendors must be approved in writing by Jay’s Catering prior to booking the vendor, be licensed and be able to provide a COI.

What is the latest my event can go until?

You can party until 10:00pm in our outdoor courtyard, or until 12:00am indoors in the lounge! The longest event time we offer is a 6-hour reception, with an optional half-hour ceremony addition if your ceremony is also onsite.

Can I bring my own wedding planner?

To ensure the best possible experience throughout your planning process, on the day of your special event, and even afterwards, our team has established a list of Planner Partners. We recognize the pivotal role a skilled planner plays in the success of your event and therefore require you to select a planner from this carefully curated list. Our venue team or your event specialist can send you this list to refer to.

What about other vendors? Can I bring in any DIY items or do my own florals?

To continue to ensure the best possible experience for your special event, our team has established a list of trusted Vendor Partners, including planners, rental companies, and florists. As mentioned above, we do require you to select a planner from our list of Planner Partners. If you are looking for any rentals in addition to what we provide at the venue, such as lounge furniture, that would need to be provided by one of our Rental Partners. You are welcome to provide the rest of your vendors at your choosing, but allow us to recommend some amazing Florists as well! Our team can provide all three of these lists at your request.
While we love a good DIY moment and can allow that with most of your décor, for safety and liability reasons (as well as adhering to the State of CA’s organics waste program) your florist must be a licensed vendor with the ability to provide a COI, approved by Jay’s Catering in writing prior to booking the vendor.

Can I have amplified music or a live band?

Yes, good music is the core of any celebration! Because of county noise ordinances and our proximity to neighboring homes, we are not able to have any amplified music outside after 10:00pm. We invite you to bring the party indoors and have your band or DJ in the lounge! Please note, Serra Plaza reserves the right to monitor noise levels and require the music volume to be decreased at any given time.

What time can setup begin?

We open the venue for vendor setup starting 3 hours before your scheduled event start time. When your vendors arrive for setup, all tables and chairs will be set up and linens will be set on guest tables.
Please note that events may not begin until 6:00pm on Fridays at Serra Plaza.

What time can I access the bridal suite?

We also open the bridal suite starting 3 hours before your scheduled event start time. You do have the option of adding early access to the suites starting at 8:00am for an additional fee. Please note that if you add this service, only the bridal suite will open at that time. The rest of the venue will open for vendor setup still 3 hours before your scheduled event start time.

Are candles allowed? What about sparklers? Fog machines?

Real candles are permitted onsite to provide that perfect glow, provided they are enclosed (including the bottom) in a glass hurricane or tea light/votive holder. Any wax that spills on linens or burns to linens that results from candle use will result in a portion of the security deposit being withheld for the replacement cost of the damaged linens. Sparklers and fog machines are not permitted onsite due to legal requirements and the potential for setting off the fire alarm.

Are dogs/pets allowed onsite?

We absolutely love your fuzzy friends and would love for them to be a part of your ceremony! We invite them to walk you down the aisle, make a guest appearance, and be in your photos. However, for safety and sanitary reasons, we are not able to allow animals in any of our suites. All animals must be removed from the premises after ceremony and before any food is served.

Where can my guests park?

We have access to the full parking lot adjacent to the venue. There are many parking spaces in this lot, but of course it is always great to encourage guests to rideshare too.

Can I put a date on hold?

We do offer a complimentary 2-week soft hold for our clients! This hold allows you to temporarily secure that date while you tour the space and review your venue and catering proposal. We offer this to our clients at no charge.

Does the venue come with a rehearsal?

While we do not offer a formal rehearsal time slot, we would be happy to accommodate you with a Ceremony Walkthrough! Ceremony Walkthroughs can be scheduled once we are 4 weeks out from the wedding date, and are offered for a 45-minute time slot on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, based upon availability. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate these walkthroughs on Fridays-Sundays due to our high volume of bookings. Our events that need a rehearsal on those dates typically schedule an offsite meeting with the bridal party to discuss processional order & timing, since our venue is so easy to navigate the day of.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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