Return to Search Results

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, Cal State Long Beach

Special Offers

To see this Special Offer, you must be logged in as a MyGuide user. Register, login, or get more info here. (Note: we never share your information with anyone).

Why We Like This Place

Breathe deep, relax, and let yourself fall into the lush embrace of the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. Situated in a tranquil enclave on the campus of Cal State Long Beach, the Miller Garden melts away any stress associated with hosting an important celebration. Not only are you instantly enveloped in beauty, you’re relieved of any lingering concerns by your experienced in-house event coordinator.

The same careful attention is bestowed on the meticulously maintained garden. Rocks and plants are artistically transformed into poetic compositions of form and texture; living things play amidst a harmonious world of earth and water, light and shadow. This powerful place enhances your appreciation of subtle aesthetics, like the velvety lavender of bearded irises or the rustle of the breeze through the weeping willows. In this state of heightened awareness, the joy shared with your friends, family, and that “special someone” seems almost tangible.

Arriving guests gather in a rectangular courtyard outside the main garden. A row of lemon eucalyptus trees screens the courtyard from the outside world and flavors the air with a tangy aroma. Bonsai trees are grouped around the perimeter, and a wooden entry gate is flanked by stone “lion dogs.” Lest they seem threatening, a cluster of bamboo bends gently towards the entrance and beckons you inside.

Spread before you is a vision of nature’s nirvana: A pathway winds around a curvaceous pond rippling with the movement of over 200 brightly colored koi. Nearby, the graceful branches of a Chinese flame tree frame the wedding cake, dynamically showcased by a spotlight hidden within the leaves. Other decorative accents whisper rather than shout—stone lanterns peek out from lacy greenery; a three-tiered pagoda rests among rare black-stemmed bamboo; an ebony-pebbled beach glistens in the sunlight. Seasonal offerings include a springtime rhapsody of rainbow blooms, and a fall aria by the Flame Tree, bursting into scarlet song.

The garden’s structural elements help define your celebration. At the far end of the pond a Moon Bridge arches across a waterfall that cascades down moss-covered rocks. Dressed with tulle and garlands, or unadorned against the watery backdrop, the Moon Bridge puts the bridal party on dramatic display. While the immediate family is seated at the base of the bridge, the rest of the guests have a view across the pond from the wooden Zig Zag Bridge alongside another waterfall. Feel free to add multicultural flourishes. For example, one bride had African-American “prayer dancers” parade through the crowd, and a Jewish chuppah is a standout on the Moon Bridge.

During the cocktail hour, guests adjourn to the courtyard while the garden is set up for the reception. When everyone reconvenes at the pond, guests are wined and dined around the water’s edge, while the newlyweds snuggle at a sweetheart table on their own pondside platform. As dusk falls, the bridges and pathways come aglow with romantic lighting.

The garden invites creative adaptations to the usual wedding rituals: Whether or not you hail from the Land of the Rising Sun, you might get into the spirit at the Tea House (reached from a small side path), and greet your guests with a steaming cup of tea. The adjacent Zen Garden, featuring loose gravel in patterns resembling the sea, is a peaceful spot for a hired masseuse to give guests a few minutes of pampering. Rather than showering the newlyweds in rice, loved ones toss food to the koi, symbols of strength and longevity. The possibilities are virtually endless, and so are the memories created at this very special place.

Capacity

Ceremony	Reception/Special Events	Meetings
Max. Seated Indoors: 0 Max. Seated Outdoors: 200	Max. Seated Indoors: 0 Max. Seated Outdoors: 160 Max. Standing Indoors: 0 Max. Standing Outdoors: 200	Max. Seated: 160
CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Garden holds 200 seated guests. EVENT/RECEPTION & MEETING CAPACITY: The Garden accommodates 160 seated or 200 standing guests.

Fees & Deposits

For ceremonies, an $800 deposit is required to reserve your date; for receptions and other social functions, a $1,100 deposit is required. The balance is due 60 days prior to the event. Rental fees for a ceremony range $1,795–2,500. For receptions, the rental fee ranges $2,800–4,500 for site and equipment costs. Meals by Choura Venue Services and Jay’s Catering range $38–80/person. Tax, alcohol and a 20% service charge are additional.

Availability

Ceremonies: Mid-March through mid-December, Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. Receptions: Mid-April through mid-October, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Catering Provided Alcohol Provided Location Uses Ceremonies Wedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/Amenities Catering: provided by Choura Venue Services and Jay’s Catering Kitchen Facilities: n/a Tables & Chairs: available Linens, Silver, etc.: through caterer Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: available Bride’s Dressing Area: yes Meeting Equipment: available Parking: ample, included in packages Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: no Outdoor Night Lighting: yes Outdoor Cooking Facilities: CBA Cleanup: provided View: garden, waterfall Other: site coordinator

Amplified Music Outdoors w/ Restrictions Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Accessible Site Views Garden Lagoon/Pond Landscaped Grounds Waterfall Venue Type Banquet Hall/Events Facility College Campus/School Garden Restrictions Alcohol: provided by Choura Venue Services and Jay’s Catering Smoking: courtyard only Music: amplified OK with volume restrictions Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: included in packages Other: no rice, birdseed, confetti or rose petals

• Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
• Why can't I search by price?
• Click here for more info on our editorial process.

Wedding Venues > Southern California Wedding Venues > South Bay L.A. / Long Beach Wedding Venues

Want to search again?

Southern California Wedding Locations
Search • See All Southern California Wedding Venues • Los Angeles • Mammoth Lakes / Eastern Sierras • Orange County • Palm Springs / Palm Desert • Riverside / Inland Empire • San Bernardino Mountains / Lake Arrowhead • San Diego • San Fernando Valley • San Gabriel Valley / Pasadena • Santa Barbara County • Santa Catalina Island • Santa Clarita Valley • Temecula Wine Country • Ventura County

Southern California Honeymoon Locations & Romantic Getaways
Search • See All Southern California Honeymoon Destinations

Southern California Wedding Services Search •  All Southern California Wedding Services
• Bridal Makeup and Hair
• Wedding Cakes
• Catering
• Event Coordinators and Wedding Planners
• DJs and Wedding Music
• Wedding Favors
• Wedding Flowers
• Wedding Invitations
• Marriage License Service
• Officiants and Ministers
• Party Rentals and Linens
• Photo Booth
• Wedding Photographers
• Videographers
• Wedding Planning Showroom

Southern California Wedding Dresses Search • See All Southern California Bridal Salons  • Southern California Wedding Dress Trunk Shows and Sample Sales

Wedding Fairs Southern California Wedding Fairs

Expand your search:
Central California Weddings •  Northern California Weddings