Lorimar Winery weddings are very special events in comparison to other Temecula winery weddings. You will not only get grandiose vineyard views of Wine Valley but also a full-service wedding venue at an affordable price.
Table of Contents
Location & Story of Lorimar Winery in Temecula
Lorimar Vineyards is located in the Temecula Wine Country, with the Santa Ana Mountains in the west and the view of Mount Palomar in the east. You will get there going along the Rancho California road, just a short drive away from the Old Town where they also have a tasting room. The place itself is not on the main road, it’s hidden between grapevines and citrus groves. Guests and visitors will also find many parking lots throughout the property.
The idea of Lorimar Vineyards and Winery was created in 2009 by brothers-in-law Lawrie Lipton and Mark Manfield. The name Lorimar itself was formed by combining Lawrie and Mark’s first names. Firstly, they opened Lorimar’s Old Town location while the winery itself was under construction. In 2012 the owners celebrated the grand opening of this Tuscan-style winery in the heart of the Temecula Valley.
Nowadays, Lorimar Winery includes a 22-acre estate vineyard with adjoining orange orchards, a tasting room featuring live music, and a local art gallery. The management organizes wine tastings, tours, and private events. It’s also one of the most favored places for Temecula winery weddings. The winery is 22 miles away from the ocean: a soft Mediterranean climate with sunny days and cool nights is perfect not only for growing vines, but it’s also excellent for great outdoor celebrations like Lorimar winery weddings.
Amenities of Lorimar Vineyards & Winery
On your big day, Lorimar Winery will provide you with the following:
- 5 hours of event time including the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception;
- 2 outdoor locations to choose from;
- bridal suite & groom’s preparation space;
- buffet menu including appetizers, a bar, beverage station, cake cutting, plus all the necessities for setup (linen, tables, china, etc.) and cleanup;
- day off coordinator.
You will be allowed to use the whole territory of the Lorimar for photos. Event spaces are separated from public areas to make you feel private. However, don’t forget that Lorimar is open to the public during day hours (Mon-Th: 11 am – 5 pm, Fri & Sat: 11 am – 9 pm, Sun: 11 am – 6 pm in summer). The curfew is at 10 p.m. Also, there may be two events on the lot at the same time.
One of the advantages of the venue (that they also underline on their internet page) is the flexibility and willingness of the staff and management to fulfill the ideas and vision of a couple. Along with standard packages, they help customize the event with small details that make any wedding special and unique (late-night snacks, a champagne bar, etc.)
As for Lorimar Winery wedding costs, package prices vary from $93 to $124 per person. Many couples find it extremely affordable in comparison to other venues in Temecula because you’ll get almost all-inclusive (minus DJ, photography, & flowers).
The venue is a no-smoking area and also no pets are permitted.
Events Areas of Lorimar Vineyards & Winery
There are 2 main locations for celebration at Lorimar and you can choose between them for your ceremony and reception.
Vineyard Lawn can accommodate about 150 guests. It has great spots both for exchanging vows and dinner setup. At first, you will have your ceremony under the wedding arbor and after the cocktail hour, you’ll be invited to a spacious outdoor area with a stage, dance floor, fireplace, and a bar.
The Barrel Room is a favorite place for many couples. It’s near the parking lot which is very convenient for the guests. The ceremony will be held under the wedding gazebo, and after appetizers will be set in the barrel room inside, you will celebrate your reception on the celebration lawn outside. The capacity of this spot is 50 persons indoors and nearly 300 outdoors.
Between these two spots, there is quite a distance and guests may be taken by a golf cart from one to other locations.
Some couples also choose to celebrate in the Coach house. It’s a nice rustic two-story cottage that you can rent for an additional fee: with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, a garden, and a pond. It’s convenient for an intimate celebration with family and some close friends (up to 9 persons). The Oak Room holds up to 100 guests. It’s a popular place for rehearsals as well.
Bridal & Groom’s Preparation Areas of Lorimar Vineyards and Winery
The couple will have separate getting-ready areas. The bride may have her preparation on the 2nd floor of the Coach House to be far from the crowd and have her privacy. You will find there all the facilities: a big bathroom, full-length mirror, and much space to host all your bridesmaids. The groom can prepare in the Barrel room in case this spot is not chosen for the ceremony or reception. Besides, this room is a great place to make some fun shots of the groom’s party while toasting and clinking glasses.
As I know, some couples even choose to prepare at other wineries nearby (such as Carter Estate Winery, for example) and after move to Lorimar to celebrate.
The Tuscan style of the buildings, lush green grapevines, and overall ambiance of the place already give you hints for a color scheme of your wedding: the most popular hues here are burgundy, blush pink, gold, and greenery. Other color ideas for your winery wedding you can find also here.
First Look & Couple Shots at Lorimar Winery
We took great First Look pictures under the wooden walkway wrapped in climbing vines. Dense green leaves created a perfect shadow for emotional candid shots.
One more spot for a First Look is the grand stone building of the winery itself: this large Tuscan-style villa is an amazing backdrop for any kind of photos. Surrounded by vines, patio seating, and some BBQ spots, here you can place big or small groups and also take nice couple pictures as well.
As we didn’t have a lot of time before the ceremony, our main couple shots we made at sunset. Soft diffuse light at this time is the most beneficial for great wedding photos which you can read about here in more detail. To catch this flattering light we just went out on the path between vine grapes for pictures. And surely, we took some expressive shots on the walkway between famous orange orchards near the vineyards.
Wedding Party & Family Photos at Lorimar Vineyards and Winery
At first, we had time to take some pictures of the groom’s party in front of the Barrel Room, right next to the pond. Still, from my experience, the best place to take really stunning shots with big groups is surely walkways between vineyards. Here you can place as many people as possible plus have good diffuse light.
The ceremony spot is one more excellent place for photography. The skyline, grapevines, and citrus groves are a perfect background for small & big group and family portraits.
Ceremony sites of Lorimar Winery
As you read above, there are 2 ceremony sites at the winery. One is an intimate Barrel Room with an adjacent, secluded vineyard lawn area for the ceremony. But the wedding that you’re seeing here in the photos was held on the 8,000 square foot Vineyard Lawn. This winery patio area is ideal for larger celebrations, up to 300 guests.
Your guests will enter through a tree-lined drive and open piazza to the place of ceremony. In the center of the spot, they will see a big pergola draped in cascading vines (or any other floral arrangements you’ll decide). This stylish pergola also creates a nice shade for newlyweds and their faces and emotions are perfectly clear in the photos.
You will walk down the rose scattered aisle to the ceremony spot. Your soulmate will expect you on a raised platform with the green vineyards in the background. This scenery looks very romantic when the sun goes down behind the picturesque mountains.
After the ceremony, you will be invited to the cocktails under the green pergola. On the lawn here, the dinner will be set as well.
The Barrel Room site offers both indoor and outdoor spaces. The ceremony will be held outdoors in the wedding gazebo on the adjoining lawn with the beautiful view of Mount Palomar. The cocktails will be offered in the room indoors. By the way, you can use this space for your photography even if you will not celebrate there (and there will be no other celebration): the room has a nice though a bit dark rustic interior.
Reception site at the Lorimar Winery
The Vineyard Lawn is easily transformable into a cozy and spacious open-air dining venue. There is a stage, bar, dance floor, and even a brick-and-stone hearth. This fireplace spot usually serves as an area for the sweetheart table. The elevated stage next to the built-in dance floor is used for a DJ or a band.
In the evening, strung lights provided by the venue and fire crackles of the hearth give the whole setting extra twinkle and add a romantic atmosphere. We got lots of fantastic shots on the lawn under the stars.
As I heard it may be really cold in the evening outside once the sun goes down (depends on the season for sure). Lorimar staff will provide you with some heaters but be aware to rent additionally to keep your guests comfortable.
You can also make your reception in the Barrel Room and on the Celebration lawn right next to it. This spot looks actually equal to the Vineyard Lawn, with green grass,strung lights, plus barrels all around. It will be a good choice in case you need both indoor/ outdoor spaces for your celebration. Still, the maximum capacity of this spot is 120 persons, so plan accordingly.
Advantages of Lorimar Winery Weddings
Lorimar Winery is a great place to enjoy pure natural beauty if you always wanted to celebrate your big day in the open air.
A Tuscan-style stone building and citrus orchards are famous symbols of Lorimar winery weddings. Your pictures will be fascinating because of the great vineyard scenery. Obviously, you don’t need many decorations, with its mountain views and greenery it is a beautiful place in itself.
By choosing between the wineries of Temecula keep in mind that Lorimar Vineyards and Winery may be one of the most affordable places there considering what they can offer.
The venue is also popular because of its flexibility to satisfy couples’ requests and help them to embody their vision. Based on all this, it’s one of the most stunning and hospitable settings for Temecula winery weddings.
If you like a rustic charm and picturesque vineyard landscaping check other Californian winery venues:
- at first, consider Ponte Winery & Vineyard Inn and Lake Oak Meadows which are also located in Temecula Wine Country;
- you may pay attention to Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards and Saddle Rock Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains;
- lastly, you can check out an absolutely special Calamigos Ranch in Santa Monica with numerous event sites and great views of the vineyards.
You might also like
Leave a reply