Environmental Nature Center 1601 East 16th Street • Newport Beach • California 92663


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Why You'll Love This Place

A Here Comes The Guide Wedding Venue Review

Building a beautiful future together? How about starting it out with a fabulous eco-friendly celebration at the Environmental Nature Center. This award-winning venue has a dreamy 8,500-square-foot facility with halls, patios, and native gardens planted in the midst of its gorgeous 3.5-acre natural setting. The first building in Orange County to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification, it features energy-conserving climate control, water efficient systems and fixtures, and the imaginative use of recycled and recyclable materials throughout.

Begin your party in the Center's airy Museum, where guests can marvel at the effortless integration of "green" building solutions into stylish contemporary design. The ENC actually produces more energy than it consumes, and a computer monitor in the hallway displays its usage levels. Guests will find plenty of interactive exhibits to explore and discuss, as they meet and greet one another before stepping out though the glass foldaway doors and onto the broad Garden Patio.

Flanked on one side by a catering prep kitchen and patio, library/lounge with private powder room for the wedding party, and a butterfly garden…and on the other side by the pale desert shades and dramatic shapes of its California native gardens, this is a stunning outdoor venue—day or night—for your scrumptious seasonal, earth-friendly reception. It's also great for dancing under sunny skies or beneath a nighttime canopy of stars and the facility's softly luminous solar-powered lanterns. At the foot of the patio, a small amphitheater with built-in bench seating frames a large open fire pit that's ideal for an elegant version of a favorite campfire activity—that's right, how about toasting the good times with champagne and s'mores?

Wondering about indoor options? Follow the paw prints in the sand-textured walkway to the Oak and Sycamore Rooms, two cozy chambers separated by a movable airwall that can be used individually or combined into one large space. Well-equipped for just about any function, the rooms have picture windows, high ceilings, handsome honey-colored cabinets (composed of recycled materials like wheat chaff and sunflower seed), and AV and internet capability. Center staff can help by providing all kinds of exciting biodegradable and reusable decorating options.

For a surprisingly affordable celebration with the tiniest possible carbon footprint, consider a picnic wedding and reception. You can tie the knot in a picturesque way in the little garden amphitheater or at the end of the small garden stream. Then hold your reception amid berries and blossoms on picnic tables under the trees before releasing guests to wander off along the ENC's many enchanting paths. Whether your affair is large or small, you can be sure that you're doing the world a big favor when you have it here. And you're helping the local community, too, since your event fees are also recycled: Most of them go to supporting the Center's operating costs and programs, and a big portion of your bill is tax deductible, too.

Video

Video by Elle Lily Photo + Video.


PRICES: What's this going to cost?

Rental Fee
  • $1,500–5,500/event
  • Rental fee varies depending on:
    • Guest count
    • Type of event
  • Weddings for 50–200 guests start at $5,500.

    Micro-weddings, rehearsal dinners, and parties (10–50 guests) start at $4,000 and Pocket Weddings (under 10 guests) start at $1,500.

    Saturday "picnic" weddings (no alcohol) for under 50 guests start at $2,500.

    The rental fee includes:

    • A membership to the ENC
    • Private use of the LEED Platinum building, museum, fire pit area, kitchen, and native gardens, classrooms, and deck
    • Tables and chairs
    • Beautiful overhead string lights
    • Ample parking
    • On-site staff members

Capacity

Indoors Outdoors
Ceremony Seated 125 125
Cocktails, etc. Standing 200 200
Reception Seated 125 125
Meetings Total meeting capacity for this venue is 125.

CEREMONY, EVENT/RECEPTION & MEETING CAPACITY: The site holds 125 seated or 200 standing guests indoors or outdoors.


Venue Details

Site Uses

  • Ceremony
  • Outdoor Ceremony
  • Wedding Receptions
  • Outdoor Reception
  • Small Wedding
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Special Events / Parties
  • Business Functions / Meetings

Essential Info

Price

$ • $$

Catering

BYO

Caterers must provide a COI and license


Alcohol

BYO

Alcohol must be provided and served by a ENC Preferred Vendor


Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors
Some restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair accessible

Availability

Year round, daily.

Venue Type

Buildings & other settings available:

  • Community Center / Civic Building
  • Museum
  • Non-Profit
  • Patio / Deck / Terrace
  • Unique
  • Garden
  • Park

Venue Views

Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!

  • Creek / River
  • Forest / Woods
  • Garden
  • Park
  • Waterfall

Services & Amenities

Feel like a VIP with these services and amenities:

Catering: BYO
Kitchen Facilities: limited
Tables & Chairs: some provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: Linens
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: provided
Dressing Areas: CBA
AV/Meeting Equipment: BYO
Parking: Limited on-site parking, additional parking nearby available for an additional fee
Accommodations: no guest rooms
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes; string lights over the patio
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no
Cleanup: renter or caterer
View: creek, forest, courtyard, waterfall
Other: picnic area, fire ring and wood

Restrictions

But take note of the following limitations!

Alcohol: select from preferred vendor list
Smoking: not allowed
Music: amplified OK with restrictions
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: liability required


Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
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