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Capistrano's at the Embassy Suites - Mandalay
Beach Resort [ Ventura County ]
*If you can't imagine getting married anywhere but at the beach, you'll definitely want to pay a visit to the Mandalay Beach Resort (Ventura County). The entire complex is built right next to the ocean, with nothing between it and the water but a wide strip of sand.
Almost every ceremony here takes place seaside on the Presidential Lawn, a branch semicircle of grass that slopes gently down to the sand.
The bride makes her entrance from the Presidential Suite, a marvelous suite (which just happens to have two bedrooms, three baths, two Jacuzzi tubs, a fireplace, and of course, a view of the Pacific).
As she walks down the aisle to a white gazebo, she and her guests can't help but be uplifted by the setting: a sunlit shoreline dotted with palms, the Channel Islands in the distance, sailboats gliding by and maybe even some dolphins playing in the surf.
If you prefer a more sheltered spot, tie the knot in the Courtyard, a mission-style garden enclosed by the resort on all sides.
While you can't see the ocean from here, you will have access to plenty of water--the space is dominated by a pair of massive rock waterfalls. Couples exchange vows on a raised lawn, surrounded by palms, flowers and the sound of rushing water.
Receptions are usually held in one of the resort's two banquet rooms, the Embassy Ballroom upstairs or the larger Mandalay Ballroom on the ground floor. Both are done in sunny, tropical shades of turquoise, tangerine and seafoam green; faux-candle, wrought-iron chandeliers and spots provide adjustable lighting.
Each room has a long, beautiful foyer, where your guests can enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres or come for a private chat. Tall, multi-paned windows let in fresh air, and French doors open onto an outdoor terrace.
The decor is a successful mix of comfortable contemporary couches, potted palms and artwork with antiques and hand-carved benches.
If you planning a small reception or rehearsal dinner, reserve Capistrano's, the Mandalay's award-winning
restaurant. This space reflects the resort's Spanish-Mediterranean style better than any other; an arcaded courtyard, it has a terra-cotta flagstone floor, 50-foot ceiling, and windows all around the top with tiny balconies and wrought-iron railings.
Thanks to all the light pouring in, the giant potted ficus trees are thriving, as are the lush pothos vines flowing out of the fountain in the restaurant's center.
At the entrance to Capistrano's, the semiprivate Wine Room (named for the wine bottles that line its walls), is also available for intimate dinners.
*As excerpted from:
"Here Comes the Guide, 6th Edition"
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Mandalay Beach Resort •
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Address: 2101 Mandalay Beach Rd
Oxnard, CA 93035
805.984.2500 ext 525
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