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Rancho Del Cielo Malibu Reviews

Rancho Del Cielo Malibu

Rancho Del Cielo Malibu

Malibu, CA
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Reviews

4.4 out of 5 rating
18 Reviews
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94% Recommended by couples

Awards

18
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    Tatev Sent on 12/10/2017
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    We had our wedding in this venue, I knew the view and location of the venue was amazing but I was so happy with the quality of customer service Jill and Her husband provided during planning and the day of. They were available for meetings and made us feel that our special day was important to them and did everything to make it easy.
    Loved this place!
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    Aegean Sent on 09/13/2016
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    If you're looking for a venue that feels like an elegant, dream-like version of a backyard with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and you like working with the most honest and kind people in the wedding industry, BOOK THIS VENUE IMMEDIATELY.
    I am still in awe of how wonderful my wedding was and it was all because of the hard work of Jill, Sparky, and Cathy at Rancho del Cielo. I am not one to usually write reviews, but I had such a fantastic experience planning my wedding start to finish that I felt compelled to share. I combed through all of the venues in the Los Angeles/Malibu area that offered an outdoor venue with ocean views and found this gem offered everything my fiance and I were looking for. We could not have been luckier to find this venue and many of the 100 guests at our wedding have been telling us that this was one of the best weddings they have ever attended.
    For context, I decided to plan this wedding from across the country and I only reserved 1 weekend to come out to Malibu to meet with Cathy and Jill prior to the wedding. We decided to do the all-inclusive Cielo package over the a-la-carte wedding and it was one of the best decisions we made. Here's why:
    1) All of the vendors are amazing. Initially, I felt apprehensive about not being able to pick my own caterer, florist, rentals or DJ, but not having to deal with choosing/coordinating vendors was a big weight off of my shoulders (especially since I was planning from across the country and was not available locally for tastings). In addition, Jill and Cathy have only selected wonderful vendors to work with, all of whom are professional, excellent at what they do, and honest.
    2)Jill & Cathy. They are phenomenal women and an absolute joy to work with. They were both prompt in replying to any question I had and helped me immensely with decor, making gorgeous signs, and putting it all together on the day of, all with a smile and a great sense of humor. I'm out of room, so just do it!
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    Amy Sent on 08/18/2015
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    Rancho del Cielo is magical!!! The lovely owners were gracious, welcoming, responsive, and attentive throughout the wedding planning process. They were generous in allowing us to do several site visits with vendors for planning. Every time we saw them they were smiling and kind. But how could they not be- they LIVE at this amazing, gorgeous hilltop site. I've never seen another view quite like it in all of Malibu. We decided to skip the chuppah/arch for our ceremony decor and instead opted to let the splendor of the sky and ocean be the backdrop for our eternal vows. This place is breath-taking. Our guests were delighted with the abundance of sweet backdrops for selfies and photoshoots. Do note- if you plan to have a large event, pay attention to how many cars can be accommodated for parking on site before another lot needs to be rented. And make sure you're ok with turning off the music early on a Sunday night. Oh yeah, and no live music- has to be a DJ. It was SO SO worth it. We had the time of our lives :-)
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  • G
    Geo Sent on 09/12/2014
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    We recently had our wedding at Rancho Del Cielo in July. We originally started our planning process with Avesta, but she no longer with Rancho Del Cielo and they now have new staff, Kim, Cathy and Jake who are all very easy to work with and definitely get the job done! The entire planning process is great! When visiting their home, expect to be greeted with ear to ear smiles, espresso and biscotti’s and an adorable dog, Hoover. Jill was so happy when discussing the plans for our wedding and makes you feel like an old friend. Everyone truly made us feel like family and like they really cared about our day. Everything was handled with ease and turned out great the day of!

    We opted for their Celeste package because we had a wedding of under 75 guests. This was perfect because it came with the tables, linens, floral, DJ, caterers, etc. Everyone they work with is very talented! On our day, when our guests arrived, everyone was amazed with the view and many said it was the best wedding they had ever been to! This venue is so quaint, vintage, and eclectic. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat!

    Thank again to everyone at Rancho Del Cielo who made our day a dream. They are memories we will cherish for a lifetime!
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    Brooke Sent on 07/14/2014
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    The owners Jill and Sparky make you feel like part of the family. The setting is so intimate and breathtakingly beautiful. Everyone at the wedding commented that it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended... AND IT DIDNT BREAK THE BANK!
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    Jackie Sent on 10/23/2010
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    Very beautiful location, amazing views and very nice/professional staff.
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    Kate Sent on 08/25/2010
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    I simply can't imagine getting married anywhere else in the world. My now husband and I almost didn't visit Rancho because of some negative reviews, and boy were we glad we ignored them! The owner, Jill, and the site manager, Avesta, were AMAZING. They are incredibly friendly and welcoming and immediately made us feel like family. The location is STUNNING with breathtaking views. Our guests were freaking out over the venue, and even commented on how attentive Avesta was to each of our guests! If I had to do it all over again I would pick Rancho del Cielo in a heartbeat. It is a magical, gorgeous place, and it was an honor to be married there.
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    Caitlyn Sent on 06/24/2009
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    This venue, the owners (Jill and Sparky) and the coordinator (Avesta) went above and beyond to make everything perfect and we felt right at home everytime we were there. Our guests were speechless with from the views and execution of everything. This place is ONE of a kind!
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    Nicky Sent on 05/12/2012
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    I got married at Rancho Del Cielo in August 2006 and it was amazing. You cannot beat this venue for an outdoor wedding. The views are amazing, the owners are the sweetest people ever and Avesta helped me so much. I am so happy I chose this venue. I was able to really pick and choose how I wanted everything to look. Make sure to check it out if you are thinking of getting married in Malibu.
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    Yael K. Sent on 09/23/2019
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    Stunning venue!

    My husband and I got married at Rancho del Cielo this past August, and it was the most stunning venue of all time! Since it had burned down in a fire this past October, we were very worried about what it would look like. In the end though, it was the most spectacular view and everything came together perfectly. Our guests were blown away by the venue and so many people came up to us saying it felt like we were on a Mediterranean island. Plus, Jill and Sparky are so gracious and accommodating – we can’t recommend Rancho del Cielo enough!
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    Becky Sent on 10/15/2012
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    I wanted an outdoor venue that represented Southern California living at its best. I was also looking for a place that was unique and a space that was private so we wouldn't have to run into another wedding. Rancho del Cielo had everything I was looking for. The owners, Jill and Sparky, are so gracious and Avesta, the site coordinator has RDC weddings down pat. Echoing earlier reviews, yes, it's more expensive because you have to bring everything in. Yes, they have certain vendors and requirements for you to follow. For good reason. And it's worth it. The views are breathtaking and stop you in your tracks. It's a gorgeous, charming place by day and transforms into a magical space at night. Our guests couldn't stop talking about how beautiful the place was. Our wedding was such a special day and RDC provided a gorgeous backdrop.
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    Dee Sent on 09/30/2009
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    The folks at Rancho Del Cielo made my dream wedding become a reality. No one in attendance could imagine how beautiful this location was. The photos don't do this place justice. It's absolute magic up there at night!

    Having your wedding at RDC is expensive because you have to rent everything, but if you want a bespoke wedding, this is the place for you.
  • User2177827 Sent on 06/13/2015
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    There are very few venue locations in Malibu, especially with such a spectacular view. Our guests loved the venue, and were all very impressed with the location. The owners are kind and very helpful, and willing to let you really utilize the space. The only negative is that it is very expensive, though in Malibu, it's hard to find anything but expensive. They do have tables, lights, and the dance floor available for use, so that significantly helps on cost!
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    Anne Sent on 08/15/2012
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    My husband and I were looking for a unique venue that could help us capture the beauty of California for our guests who were all traveling from out of state for the wedding. Rancho del Cielo delivered beyond what we (and our guests) could ever have expected. While it does get pricey since you have to bring everything in, the views are so breathtaking and the property itself provides so much charm and warmth that you really don't need to spend money on too many extras.

    I was a little disappointed in the lack of flexibility with some of the vendors you are required to use. They definitely have a set way of how they like to do things, but overall everything turned out beautiful and we couldn't have been happier. Our guests couldn't stop talking about how amazing the venue was!
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    Salina Sent on 09/10/2010
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    Malibu Rancho Del Cielo is an AMAZING location and I can't imagine getting married anywhere else. The ocean bluff views are STUNNING, the grounds are green and the layout is perfect for weddings. The sunset view is picture perfect and there are a ton of prime photo op spots on the property. We've received so many compliments from our guests about how much they enjoyed the view, the vibe and the venue. Because this is a private residence wedding planning takes a lot more footwork than other venues and there are a number of of hidden costs (i.e., purchasing the insurance, lighting, generators, chair/table rentals, dance floor rental, shuttles, parking, site coordinator and garbage/clean-up, etc.-- which can add up to an additional $7K). But the venue really is stunning and worth the extra time and bucks.

    That said, I read the cautions about Avesta (the mandatory cite coordinator--who handles items like showing you the venue, having you sign up the contract, shuttles and parking, and being present on the day of) before booking and would have to agree with the other reviewers in this regard. In showing the venue and signing up our contract, Avesta was very responsive, and on the day of, Avesta was present and plesant; however, she was difficult to get a hold of (sending a lot of follow up emails sometimes does the trick) and incredibly unorganized/scattered during the time between signing our contract (December 2009) and our actual wedding date (August 2010). For example, our shuttles booked through Avesta showed up at the wrong hotel initially and as a result some guests were 45 minutes late to the ceremony. Also, there was a whole lot of confusion regarding whether or not we would need generators in addition to those that our caterers were providing, and the confusion basically stemmed from Avesta telling our caterers one thing and Avesta telling me the complete opposite. I think Avesta means well, she just gets really busy and scattered sometimes.

    Notwithstanding Avesta, if I could do it all over again, I would get married at Malibu Rancho Del Cielo over and over again. Our guests eventually got there in time for the ceremony and we had power for the lights/DJ on our big day. The weather was gorgeous, we had a star studded team of other vendors and had the "more fun than fancy" of our dreams (thanks large in part to our above and beyond wedding coordinator Amber Events). Avesta also offers her wedding coordinator services in addition to her cite coordination services and I would advise any brides to be to go with Amber Events instead. Amber is familiar with the venue, is familiar with Avesta and is truly amazing.
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    Betsy Sent on 08/11/2013
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    I am very torn about Rancho del Cielo. It is without question the most beautiful, romantic, natural venue in all of SoCal. I cannot express how stunning it is, and how truly amazed my out-of-town family was when they got there. It takes very little decoration since the views at this venue are to die for. The owners, Sparky and Jill, are absolutely lovely, and dealing with them was a fantastic experience.

    The cons:

    Their site coordinator, Avesta, is infuriating to deal with. While she seems to be a kind person, she refuses to respond to anything prior to a week before the wedding. I can't begin to count how many unanswered emails were sent and phone calls were made, and when she did respond, she was disorganized and often confused. I knew going in that this would be the case since all the reviews noted it, but if I hadn't known in advance what I was getting into, I think I would have torn my hair out. So many decisions about my wedding had to be made based on the knowledge that I couldn't depend on Avesta, so I needed to lean on vendors who knew the venue and could handle it. To top it off, she told me the day of the wedding that she was not going to be there most of the evening, even though I had paid her the mandatory (and expensive) fee to have her coordinate. Again, nothing I could do about it, but it was incredibly unprofessional, and probably for the better since I didn't exactly have faith in her management at that point anyway.

    Also know that there is no indoor option, so it is weather dependent. Our day was beautiful, and Malibu is rather consistent and temperate, but it is a risk. Also, there are a lot of logistical things that need to be dealt with at this venue, between parking, shuttles, kitchen setup, etc. Know there are some extras steps you'll need to deal with at this venue compared to some other "all-in" venues.

    Everything said, I'd choose RdC again if I had to do it over. Just make sure you have a good wedding coordinator!
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    Amberlynne Sent on 08/08/2010
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    The site is absolutely beautiful but the site manager, Avesta is a very difficult woman to work with. Ladies, tread carefully & hire your own planner. Also, they nickel & dime you for everything, so definitely read your contract carefully!
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    Pritha Sent on 04/07/2013
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    Although the venue is great, the venue coordinator of this location, Avesta, is absolutely the one person who has ruined the whole wedding planning process for me. My fiance and I booked the wedding a year and a half ago - we told her we are having a ceremony in India 5 months before the wedding, that I would need the directions and location information for the invitations ahead of time since we have family flying in from out of the country and we want to give everyone as much notice as possible. For FOUR MONTHS, I called and emailed, called and emailed, and my http://www.projectwedding.com/review/ww_handle_reviewfiance did the same...NOTHING!! I finally had to contact the wedding insurance company, and told them I need to cancel the wedding because nobody is getting back to me. The insurance company had to contact the owners of this property and informed them of my potential claim. Only at this point, was I given the owner's number and I contacted her. Although the owners are nice, it seems that they are not good or effective in employing people who know what they're supposed to do.

    My suspicion is that Avesta is related to these owners because I cannot imagine anyone deeming this woman competent enough to play the role she is hired to play for Rancho Del Cielo. If you are considering getting married at RDC, don't...find another place in Malibu. There are plenty of them and pending that the people who manage those locations have at least 4 working brain cells, you'll be much better off.
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