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
  • Start your forever beautifully... and sustainably. This award-winning venue encompasses an expansive 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 LEED Platinum Certification, it features energy-conserving climate control, water efficient systems and fixtures, and the imaginative use of recycled and recyclable materials throughout.
  • The Center's airy Museum makes for a striking welcome space, allowing guests explore the interactive exhibits and marvel at the effortless integration of "green" building solutions into stylish contemporary design. Follow the paw prints in the sand-textured walkway to the Oak and Sycamore Rooms, which can be rented together or separately for a welcoming indoor celebration.
  • The dramatic shapes of California native gardens adorn the stunning Garden Patio, which is perfect for earth-friendly receptions, intimate elopement picnics, and dancing beneath a luminous canopy of stars and 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 one of our favorite wedding activities: s'mores!

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

COUPLES ARE ASKING: We've got answers

What's included when we book the Environmental Nature Center, and what will we still need to pay for separately?

A wedding rental at the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach gives you private use of its LEED Platinum building, museum, classrooms, deck, kitchen, fire pit area and native gardens for up to five hours, plus tables, chairs, overhead string lights and two ENC staff members on site. There's a library and lounge with a private powder room for getting ready, too. You'll bring your own licensed, insured caterer, and alcohol must be provided and served by an ENC preferred vendor. Extra hours are $875 each.

Can we have both our ceremony and reception at the Environmental Nature Center, or will guests need to travel between them?

Yes. At the Environmental Nature Center, you can marry in the small garden amphitheater or by the garden stream, then celebrate on the patio among California native gardens, with solar-powered lanterns overhead and a fire pit for champagne and s'mores. If you'd like an indoor option, the Oak and Sycamore Rooms can be used separately or combined.

If we already have vendors we love, can we bring them to the Environmental Nature Center or do we have to use yours?

Yes. The Environmental Nature Center lets you bring your own caterer, as long as they're licensed and provide a certificate of insurance. Alcohol is the exception: it must be provided and served by one of the ENC's preferred vendors. Center staff can also help with biodegradable and reusable decor options.

What should we realistically expect to spend on a wedding at the Environmental Nature Center, and is there a minimum?

At the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, a wedding for 50–150 guests is $5,500 ($3,500 plus a $2,000 membership donation) for five hours, and extra hours are $875. Micro weddings for 10–50 guests are $4,000, Pocket Weddings for 10 or fewer are $1,500, and Saturday daytime picnic weddings without alcohol are $2,500. A non-refundable membership fee and 20% deposit hold your date, and a large portion of your bill is tax deductible. Catering and bar are budgeted separately.

How long do we get at the Environmental Nature Center, and when does the music have to stop?

A wedding at the Environmental Nature Center includes up to five hours of private use, with extra hours available at $875 each. Micro weddings get four hours and Pocket Weddings get three. Amplified music is allowed indoors and outdoors, with some restrictions.

What makes the Environmental Nature Center different from the other venues near it?

The Environmental Nature Center was the first building in Orange County to earn LEED Platinum certification, so it's a natural pick for an eco-friendly wedding in Newport Beach. You'll celebrate among native gardens, a butterfly garden and a stream, with a fire pit for s'mores, and you can bring your own caterer. Most of your event fees support the center's programs, and a big portion is tax deductible.

Does the Environmental Nature Center work for a small wedding or an elopement, and what would that look like?

Yes. The Environmental Nature Center's Pocket Wedding is $1,500 for 10 or fewer guests with three hours of private use, and its Micro Wedding is $4,000 for 10–50 guests with four hours. For a casual, budget-friendly option, a Saturday daytime picnic wedding for up to 50 guests is $2,500, with the stream top, amphitheater and covered tables (no alcohol).

GUEST COUNT: How many people can we have here? What’s the max 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.

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Venue Info & FAQs

OPTIONS: What kinds of events can we have here?

  • Outdoor Ceremony
  • Ceremony
  • Wedding Receptions
  • Outdoor Reception
  • LGBTQ+ Friendly
  • Elopement Packages
  • Small Wedding
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Special Events / Parties
  • Business Functions / Meetings

POLICIES: What are the food, alcohol, music, and other rules here?

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.

STYLE: What’s the style and overall vibe of this venue?

Buildings & other settings available:

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

VIEWS: What kind of views does this place have?

Peep the views you’ll enjoy from this venue!

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

Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
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Alternate Info: ENC