How Much Does Pelican Hill Wedding Cost?

Last Updated on February 22, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Hosting a wedding at the exclusive Pelican Hill Resort is the ultimate luxury for couples looking to tie the knot in style. With stunning ocean views, elegant event spaces, and impeccable service, Pelican Hill provides a fairytale backdrop for your big day.

But these premium features come at a price – hosting a wedding at this premier Southern California venue requires careful planning and budgeting to make your dreams a reality. This guide breaks down the typical costs associated with a Pelican Hill wedding to help you set realistic expectations.

A wedding at Pelican Hill offers couples a chance to exchange vows overlooking the Pacific in one of California’s most exclusive settings. Everything from the Mediterranean-style architecture to the dedicated wedding staff helps create a memorable, high-end celebration tailored to your taste.

The natural beauty of the shoreline, expert event planning, and resort-style amenities combine to deliver a quintessential luxury wedding experience.

How Much Does Pelican Hill Wedding Cost?

The average cost of a Pelican Hill wedding ranges from $75,000 to $150,000+. However, the sky’s the limit for luxury upgrades like pricier menus, premium wines and Champagne toasts, high-end entertainment, extra event staffing and more. Carefully weigh each choice to remain within your budget.

The starting point for budgeting a Pelican Hill wedding is to review the resort’s wedding packages. Couples can choose from Celebration, Elegance and Estate packages, which offer progressively more amenities and services.

The Celebration package provides basics like the ceremony and reception venue, food and beverage minimums, and wedding planning assistance. Pricing starts at $15,000 but can rise higher depending on guest count, menu selection, and upgrades.

For a more comprehensive experience, the Elegance package starts at $25,000 and includes extras like a cocktail hour, upgraded dinner service, and floral centerpieces.

The top-tier Estate package brings even more luxury touches, like a dessert buffet and post-wedding brunch. It starts at $35,000 but upgraded menus and rentals can increase it further.

Keep in mind these prices don’t include the per-head cost for food, beverages, rentals, the wedding cake, photographer, florist, entertainment, and other variable expenses.

According to the information provided on Wedding Spot, the rental fee for a wedding reception at The Resort at Pelican Hill ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 and includes 7 hours of event time, excluding set up and clean up time.

The set-up fee for a wedding ceremony is $500 and includes an extra hour of event time. There is a food and beverage minimum applied to all events starting at $80,000. Weddings booked Monday through Thursday have negotiable food and beverage minimums. Additional hours can be arranged for a fee of $900/hr.

Here Comes The Guide reports that the package prices for a wedding at The Resort at Pelican Hill start at $40,000/event and up. All weddings include an ocean view Bungalow Suite for the newlyweds, a Friday-Sunday 3-bedroom Villa for either family or wedding party, a dressing suite with full salon station, a pre-determined staff-to-guest ratio for ultra-luxury hospitality, a dedicated wedding concierge, white garden chairs, microphone, and audio system for the ceremony, dining tables, chairs, linens, table settings with specialty chargers, and a choice of China from their collection, a wood dance floor & stage set up for the reception, valet parking for all guests, and more.

The food & beverage minimum is $250,000/event and up, and the service charge or gratuity is 25%.

Cost Breakdown

In addition to the base wedding package rate, couples should budget for numerous other wedding-related costs:

• Venue rental: There are several ceremony and reception sites to choose from at Pelican Hill, each with its own rental fees. For example, main locations like the Grand Lawn and La Cappella start at $5,000 while more intimate venues like the Villa Courtyard are $2,500.
• Food and beverage: Pelican Hill requires a minimum spend on catering that ranges from $15,000 to $50,000 depending on the space and guest count. Individual menu items cost $85 to $250 per person. Bar packages start at $85 per person for four hours of open bar service.
• Service charges and fees: Pelican Hill tacks on a 24% service charge and 9% sales tax on food, beverage and rental fees. Vendor coordination fees, cake cutting fees and more can add $5,000 or more.
• Decor and rentals: From tabletop decor to lighting and linens, event rentals can run $10,000 to $30,000+. Floral arrangements cost $5,000 to $15,000 on average.
• Photography: Most couples invest $5,000 to $10,000 to hire a seasoned wedding photographer for 8-10 hours of coverage.
• Entertainment: A DJ for 5 hours costs around $2,000, while live musicians like a string quartet run $5,000 to $10,000.
• Wedding planner: Pelican Hill requires couples to use their on-site wedding planners, who charge a $3,500 planning fee plus $1,500 for wedding day coordination.
• Wedding cake: A luxury Pelican Hill wedding cake costs between $1,000 and $7,000 depending on details like flavors, design, servings, etc.
• Stationery: Invites, programs, menus and signage can range from $2,000 to $5,000 for high-end printing and paper.
• Guest accommodations: Booking a block of rooms or reserving one of Pelican Hill’s luxurious villas for the bridal party averages $1,000 to $3,500 per night.
• Transportation: Limousine service, party buses and on-site shuttles to transport guests cost approximately $3,000 to $10,000.
• Welcome gifts: Favors like gourmet treats, beach bags or personalized items run $20 to $50 per person.
• Attire: The bride’s gown averages $1,500 to $3,000 while tuxedo rentals are $200 to $500 each. Beauty services like hair and makeup cost $100 to $300 per person.

Customization Options

One way to control wedding costs is by customizing a package to suit your needs. Options include:

• Selecting a lower-priced site for the ceremony or reception.
• Reducing the guest count to lower catering and rentals.
• Choosing a signature cocktail over full open bar service.
• Skipping upgraded linens and decor.
• Having a smaller wedding cake.
• Hiring student musicians instead of a 12-piece band.
• Getting ready at a nearby hotel instead of booking Pelican Hill villas.
• Providing your own welcome bag amenities.
• Working with less expensive vendors for rentals, florals or invitations.

Pelican Hill also offers micro wedding packages for 50 guests or less that provide significant savings while maintaining the resort’s signature style. Elopements for the couple and a few guests represent another budget-friendly option.

You might also like our articles about the cost of a wedding at Monterey Bay Aquarium, Yale Club, or La Venta Inn.

Budgeting Tips

To make a Pelican Hill wedding attainable, follow these budgeting tips:

• Have your wedding in the off-season when venue rates are lower.
• Schedule a brunch reception instead of dinner to save on catering costs.
• Limit your open bar time period and menu.
• Omit extra reception elements like dessert buffets or after-parties.
• Work with vendors familiar with Pelican Hill’s policies to get insider deals.
• Provide your own wedding transportation via Uber/Lyft promo codes.
• Buy non-alcoholic beverages from wholesale clubs.
• Negotiate room blocks and secure discounted group rates.
• Get ready in a nearby Airbnb instead of on-site villas.
• DIY elements like programs, escort cards or reception decor.
• Skip the elaborate send-off sparkler exit.
• Consider a Pelican Hill elopement or micro wedding package.

Comparing Venues

Couples debating between Pelican Hill and other luxury SoCal venues should weigh factors like:

• Exclusive setting – Pelican Hill’s seaside location and grounds are unmatched.
• All-inclusive packages – Resort C offers more bundled amenities for your money.
• Guest capacity – Venue A accommodates larger weddings of 300+ guests.
• Event spaces – Pelican Hill boasts more ceremony and reception options.
• Food quality – Catering at Resort B gets rave reviews.
• Service – Pelican Hill’s 5-star team attends to every detail.
• Accommodations – Venue C’s on-site villas feel more modern and updated.
• Complimentary perks – Resort D throws in a free honeymoon suite stay.
• Restrictions – Pelican Hill has more extensive event guidelines than other spots.
• Overall value – For the luxury caliber of the venue, Pelican Hill delivers excellent opportunities for customization within budget.\

Final Words

From spectacular ocean vistas to impeccable white glove service, Pelican Hill delivers a one-of-a-kind luxury wedding experience. While certainly a significant investment, the resort provides incredible value for the caliber of venue and guest experience.

By planning ahead, budgeting wisely and working closely with Pelican Hill’s expert team, couples can make their dream resort wedding a reality, all while enjoying every moment of the journey along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services are offered?

Pelican Hill provides end-to-end wedding planning, including venue coordination, catering, rentals, florals and more. Their team helps customize every detail.

How many wedding guests can Pelican Hill accommodate?

Indoor reception sites accommodate 140 to 380 guests. The larger Grand Lawn hosts up to 600. Smaller ceremonies can be tailored for any guest count.

What are other amenities available?

On-site amenities include Pelican Hill villas, restaurants, pools, spa services, and recreation for wedding guests. The resort concierge also assists with local arrangements.