A Serra Plaza Wedding Day, Hour by Hour

Kieu & Anthony's real timeline · San Juan Capistrano

What a Day at Serra Plaza Really Looks Like

A venue tour shows you a space when it is empty. This guide shows how Serra Plaza works on a real wedding day, using the actual schedule from Kieu and Anthony's July 19, 2026 wedding, coordinated by A Touch of Lavender. Everything happened on site: getting ready in the bridal suite, a first look under the draped loggia arches, a 4:30 PM courtyard ceremony, cocktail hour in the Lounge and dinner around the fountain. We covered the day with seven hours of photo and video, 1:15 to 8:15 PM. Each step below pairs their timeline with the space it happened in, the photo spots we used and what we would tell any couple planning a Serra Plaza wedding. For capacity, spaces and FAQs, see our Serra Plaza Wedding Guide.

1:00 PM · Getting Ready in the Bridal Suite

Kieu and her bridesmaids did hair and makeup at a rental a few minutes away, then arrived at Serra Plaza by 1:00 PM camera ready, so photo and video started on site at 1:15. The bridal suite has white walls, wood beams, an arched mirror and chandeliers, which means robes, the gown reveal and the first full look in the dress all happen in one bright room. If your suite time is limited, this is the move: do glam nearby and spend the suite hours on photos.

Kieu in white pajamas beside her gown hanging from the chandelier in the Serra Plaza bridal suite

Bride touching her wedding gown as it hangs in the bright bridal suite

Bride and bridesmaids in black robes framed by the arched doorway of the bridal suite

Bridesmaids in black satin robes gathered around the bride beneath the bridal suite chandelier

Bridesmaid arranging the bride's long train on the bridal suite floor

Bride sitting on the white sofa with her bridesmaids in the Serra Plaza bridal suite

Kieu smiling in her strapless gown and veil in soft window light

Bride sitting in her gown with her veil draped over one shoulder

Mermaid gown and train spread out beneath a curtained arch at Serra Plaza

Portrait of Kieu in her strapless gown against the warm drapery

Bridesmaids in butter yellow framing the bride with white rose bouquets

Bride laughing with a bridesmaid in butter yellow, photographed by One and Only Production

1:30 PM · The Groom's Arrival

Anthony and his groomsmen arrived at 1:30 to load in. Cindy's timeline had them call the bridesmaids before pulling into the parking lot so the couple would not run into each other before the first look, a small detail worth copying at a compact venue like this one. The guys used the time for portraits under the curtained arches and a round of beer pong.

Anthony in a sage suit with two groomsmen in sand linen in the groom's room

Groom and groomsmen lined up in front of the curtained loggia arches

Groomsmen standing in a row beneath the arches at Serra Plaza

Black and white photo of the groomsmen joking around under the arches

Groomsman tossing a ping pong ball during a game of beer pong before the ceremony

Groom and groomsmen playing beer pong at Serra Plaza

Anthony in his sage suit beside the drapery, photographed by One and Only Production

2:35 PM · First Look Under the Loggia Arches

The draped arches along the loggia are the best midday light at Serra Plaza. At 2:35 on a July afternoon the open courtyard is bright and harsh, but the curtains soften the sun and frame the couple with nothing distracting behind them. Kieu's long veil caught the breeze for some of our favorite frames. A first look also matters here because July sunset is close to 8 PM, so most portraits need to happen before the ceremony.

Kieu walking up behind Anthony across the courtyard for their first look

Anthony waiting under a curtained arch before the first look

Kieu and Anthony facing each other between the draped arches

Couple holding hands during their first look in front of the drapery

Wide view of the couple in the Serra Plaza courtyard beneath the loggia

Bride and groom standing together under the tall loggia arches

Kieu and Anthony smiling with her white rose bouquet

Couple standing beneath a curtained arch with her train spread on the pavers

Kieu's long veil flowing in the breeze as she leans into Anthony

Veil sweeping across the frame during first look portraits

Kieu and Anthony between two arches and potted olive trees, photographed by One and Only Production

3:05 PM · Wedding Party and Family Portraits

Thirty minutes for the wedding party, then immediate family at 3:35, all in front of the same arches. Butter yellow dresses and sand linen suits sat beautifully against the warm plaster and beige drapery. Extended family waited until after the ceremony, which kept this block short and on time.

Full wedding party in butter yellow and sand linen lined up beneath the arches

Wedding party with the ring bearers and flower girls in front of the curtained arches

Groomsman walking past the bride and bridesmaids during wedding party photos

Wedding party cheering around the couple at Serra Plaza

Wedding party celebrating with raised bouquets under the arches

Bride and groom with family in front of a draped arch

Large family group portrait beneath the curtains at Serra Plaza

Family portrait in front of a curtained arch at Serra Plaza

Kieu with two of her bridesmaids in butter yellow, photographed by One and Only Production

3:55 PM · The Ceremony Space Before Guests Arrive

Before the gates opened at 4:10, the couple tucked away and we photographed the ceremony empty: ghost chairs on the stone pavers, a crystal chandelier over the aisle, white hydrangea and baby's breath from A Touch of Lavender, and the fountain in the center of the courtyard. Build these fifteen minutes into your timeline. Once guests are seated, the clean shots are gone.

Wide view of the Serra Plaza courtyard ceremony under the trees

Ceremony aisle with a crystal chandelier hanging above the ghost chairs

Aisle of ghost chairs and white florals leading toward the arches

Ceremony aisle lined with white hydrangea and baby's breath

Serra Plaza courtyard fountain with a white floral arrangement

Rows of ghost chairs on the stone pavers before guests arrive

Baby's breath aisle markers on ghost chairs in the courtyard

Welcome sign and guest table in front of the drapery

Vow books, invitation and ring box set out for detail photos, photographed by One and Only Production

4:30 PM · The Courtyard Ceremony

The ceremony faced a curtained arch with guests seated under the courtyard trees. Anthony's brother Nick officiated, the couple read personal vows, and the DJ handled microphones and music. The DJ also asked guests to put their phones away for an unplugged ceremony, which kept the aisle clear for the processional and the dip and kiss on the way back up.

Anthony walking down the aisle with his parents

Flower girls walking down the courtyard aisle

Kieu arriving at the end of the courtyard aisle

Guests seated under the trees for the Serra Plaza courtyard ceremony

Wide view down the aisle toward the arches with the chandelier overhead

Bridesmaids in butter yellow holding white bouquets at the ceremony

Kieu and Anthony beneath a draped arch with tall white florals as Nick officiates

Bridesmaids lined up beside the fountain during the ceremony

Kieu reading her personal vows to Anthony

Exchanging rings during the courtyard ceremony

Newlyweds walking back up the aisle with her train behind her

Guests standing and cheering as the couple exits, photographed by One and Only Production

5:00 PM · Cocktail Hour and Family Photos

Right after the recessional, the DJ sent guests to cocktail hour and asked family to meet on the other side of the fountain for photos. Guests moved between the courtyard and the indoor Lounge, with its beamed ceiling and wood floors, for drinks, a deck of cards guestbook, an audio guestbook and the Hidden Gem photo booth. Kieu and Anthony joined at 5:30, so splitting family photos before and after the ceremony still gave them real time with their guests.

Guests laughing in their seats in the courtyard

Guests mingling inside the Serra Plaza Lounge during cocktail hour

Crowd of guests smiling in the ghost chairs

Two guests posing together in the Lounge

Kieu and Anthony greeting guests on the wood floor of the Lounge

Guest signing the guestbook at a cocktail table

Couple chatting with friends at a cocktail table indoors

Hidden Gem photo booth set up at Serra Plaza, photographed by One and Only Production

5:50 PM · The Reception Reveal Around the Fountain

The reception was set around the fountain: round and long tables in ivory linen, ghost chairs, white florals, a wood dance floor and market lights strung across the courtyard, with Serra Plaza's chandelier package overhead. We had about twenty minutes to photograph it untouched and take the couple in for a quiet look before guests came in at 6:15.

Wide view of the courtyard reception with a wood dance floor and ivory tables

Round reception tables set beneath the courtyard trees

Serra Plaza fountain surrounded by reception tables

Long reception table with white florals in front of the arches

Round table with glass cloches and candles beside the fountain

Close up of ivory place settings and glassware

Welcome seating chart sign with white florals

Deck of cards guestbook on a wooden tray

Kieu and Anthony taking a first look at their reception among the tables

Wide view of the reception courtyard with the couple at the far end, photographed by One and Only Production

6:30 PM · Grand Entrance and First Dance

Parents were announced first, then the wedding party danced in and Kieu and Anthony entered as Mr. and Mrs. Pagano. They went straight into their first dance to Forever by Noah Kahan under the chandelier, while every guest was already watching the dance floor.

Bridesmaids dancing in for the grand entrance

Guests cheering at their tables during the grand entrance

Groomsmen huddled together before their entrance

Groomsmen dancing across the courtyard for the grand entrance

Groomsmen posing in a line during the grand entrance

First dance under the chandelier at Serra Plaza

Kieu and Anthony holding each other close during their first dance

Couple's first dance on the wood dance floor to Forever by Noah Kahan

Anthony dipping Kieu at the end of their first dance, photographed by One and Only Production

6:35 PM · Dinner and Table Photos

Jay's Catering served a buffet, and Cindy released tables one at a time. Each table stopped at the sweetheart table for a photo with the couple, then went to the buffet. It is one of the smartest timeline moves we see: every guest gets photographed, the buffet line stays short and nobody needs a separate table photo block later.

Kieu and Anthony with family at their table for table photos

Guests gathered at a reception table for a group photo

Friends crowding around the table for a photo with the couple

Family table photo in the courtyard, photographed by One and Only Production

7:00 PM · Dusk, Cake and Toasts

With sunset at 7:50, the couple slipped away for a few quick portraits, then cut the cake with no announcement so the evening kept moving. Kieu's sisters and Anthony's brothers gave their toasts as the market lights came on and the courtyard turned golden.

Wedding cake on a round table beside the fountain

Family watching as the couple cuts the cake

Kieu's sisters giving the maid of honor speech

Sisters raising a toast beside the sweetheart table

Birds crossing the market lights over Serra Plaza at dusk, photographed by One and Only Production

7:50 PM · Parent Dances and Open Dancing

Kieu danced with her father to My Wish and Anthony with his mother to I Hope You Dance, then the dance floor opened at 7:55 with dessert and coffee. Our coverage wrapped at 8:15. The party ran until 10:00 with vendor load out by 11:00, so if you want a send off or more of the late night, plan an extra hour of coverage.

Kieu dancing with her father as she wipes away a tear

Father daughter dance beside the fountain

Kieu hugging her father after their dance

Bridesmaids dancing together on the wood dance floor

Kids and guests dancing in the courtyard

Guests cheering with hands up on the dance floor, photographed by One and Only Production

Planning Your Serra Plaza Wedding Timeline?

The big lessons from Kieu and Anthony's day: arrive at the bridal suite camera ready, use the loggia arches for midday portraits, protect a few minutes for empty ceremony and reception photos, and pair table photos with your buffet release. One and Only Production is a photo and video team based in West Covina, serving Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. See our Serra Plaza Wedding Guide, Kieu and Anthony's full wedding story or our wedding portfolio, and tell us about your day.

Wedding Vendors

Venue: @serraplaza
Coordination & Florist: @atouchoflavender
Photography & Videography: @oneandonlyproduction
Hair & Makeup: @beautybyrhea_
Bridal Gown: Kora Bridal
Officiant: Nick Pagano
DJ/MC: @denvertootall
Caterer: @jayscatering
Photo Booth: @hiddengemphotobooths