Testimonials
“We had our wedding here June 25 2016. It went off perfectly. Jenna and Fred could not have been easier to deal with. They know their stuff backwards and forwards. Virtually every thing they said came true. From what time our guests would actually arrive to the absolute perfect exact spot for the ceremony to how much ice and beverages would be needed to having a great fire pit and more. Jenna made us feel so solid and comfortable. She took care of so many things behind the scenes that this was one aspect we totally didn’t have to worry about.
This place has been doing weddings for many years and they have a ton of experience and wisdom. If you have your wedding and/or reception here you will be in good hands. There was a lot of moving parts to our day and everything went off without a hitch. Jenna has a ton of energy to be able to keep all the spinning plates going, as well as her and Fred having a bunch of great connections in the area. They definitely kept both the groom and bride relaxed and stress free on the wedding day too…no easy feat lol. The price is def reasonable, (especially for Malibu) the views are spectacular driving up and down the canyon, and I would strongly recomend for your wedding site.”
-Leanne M. June 2016
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“We celebrating 50th wedding anniversary, we decided to do something very different, it was very family-friendly. We decided to have a carnival atmosphere. We had balloon maker, face painter, kids and adult pinata, and of course a volleyball tournament. We were allowed to bring in our own caterer and our own alcohol. Jenna and her father Fred we’re constantly walking around the property to ensure everything was going well. Our guests could not stop talking about how perfect the property was how did I ever find this place? Jenna said this was the first time we’ve ever hosted an event with this many activities. One thing when you first talk to Jenna you’ll note she gets very excited but it’s in a very positive way she’s happy when people enjoy what they have to offer. My only comment is, Jenna Slowdown. We hope to have more events in the future. This is not just a place to plan a wedding. You could plan a company event or a family picnic anything you can think of just about can be planned at this location.”
-Paula H. June 2016
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“We had our wedding here 9/26. It turned out to be so beautiful and exactly what we wanted.
When we were searching for a location, we wanted something that felt special and not like a wedding factory. If you are looking for a beautiful setting that feels like you are in your own backyard then this is the place. You are able to use any vendors you’d like and really make it your own.
The most special part of this property is the forest where most ceremonies take place. It was the most magical moment of my life walking down this long windy aisle covered with oak trees with the sun shining through.
The property at night is twinkling and stunning. All of our guests had the best time! This is a really beautiful, charming and special place to get married.
Jenna and Fred who own and run the property were so accommodating in everything we wanted to do. Their goal is to give you the wedding of your dreams, which is exactly what they did! ”
-Sydney Z. October 2015
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“I am writing this right now while on my honeymoon as I can’t wait to give these guys the props they deserve.
Our wedding on 5/30/15 was about as perfect as we could have asked for. Fred and Jenna went above and beyond to make it perfect including several site walkthroughs, hosting rentals be delivered Friday and picked up on Monday (and checking in everything off the list we provided), same with the booze, and they even allowed us to plant a lilac bush near where our ceremony was in honor of my mother. Fred and I dug the hole and planted it!
On our wedding day, we ran out of ice (400 lbs!) and they went to get more. Someone there even ran to the store to get eyelash glue when we had an emergency.
We were looking for a venue that was relaxed, laid back and would let us do what we envisioned with our own vendors. This was certainly the right place for us. “
-Brian B. May 2015
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“Originally my wife and I had decided to make Malibu Phoenix the choice for our wedding because the price just couldn’t be beat for having a beach ceremony and reception in the hills. With that being said, our expectations were beyond past. We’re from Phoenix, Arizona so communication was key and Jenna and Fred were there for us the whole ride. They kept everything in budget and were very helpful. The beach was beautiful as well as the Malibu Phoenix Retreat. Everything was clean and well taken care of. Fred was as calm as could be on the beach, wedding day, and had everything going smooth. Once we all got up to the retreat Jenna took care of everything we needed. It got really cold at night and she even started a fire for us. Since the photographer was over an hour late and pushed everything back, Jenna even pulled out a little stereo for us to keep the party going after the DJ was done.
I highly recommend Malibu Phoenix for your wedding! You will not be disappointed!”
-Micheal T. (April, 2015)
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“My husband and I got married last month 9/13/14 at the Malibu Phoenix Retreat. It was a magical day, and we could not have picked a more beautiful and serene location! Fred Pierson and his daughter Jenna were amazing to work with! They answered any and all questions and they made themselves available for all the times we wanted to stop by the Ranch (which was a lot!) The Pierson’s are very hands on and truly knowledgeable about weddings, and extremely honest. Paul and I could not have asked for better guidance and support!
The Malibu Phoenix Retreat is located in the Malibu Canyons. Being from Hawaii I originally wanted to have my ceremony on the sand at Westward beach and have my ceremony on Malibu Phoenix retreat grounds. Though Westward beach ceremonies and receptions at the MP Retreats has been done before (Fred would be more than happy to talk to you about logistics), my wedding was very DIY, and my husband and I decided it would be a lot easier for us not to have to coordinate our 175 guests. We decided to do a beach reveal before the ceremony and took pictures with our bridal party at the beach. We had our ceremony and reception at the Ranch and could not be more pleased!
Our family and friends were raving about the location! Hidden in the mountains, and the lush gardens and trees make for a beautiful setting. Our theme: “Where the mountains meet our Beach!” A little cheesy, but we decided to have a beach themed wedding in the mountains! We had tons of shell décor and the Pierson’s were gracious to let me have my wish come true, which was to stand on sand for the ceremony! Fred and Jenna are super cool people and they’re really accommodating for whatever your vision is, and will help you do whatever it takes to make your wedding day special!
My husband and I wanted a taco cart and Fred Pierson made a great recommendation for catering, El Gringo taco cart known as El Guac! Amazing! They allowed us to have a tabletop assembly line s’mores bar in addition to our cupcakes, and they allowed me to bring in my own home-brewed beer. If you would like to have top-notch service, the freedom of vendors so make your wedding cost-friendly, unique and special set in a beautiful serene location, the Malibu Phoenix Retreat is my recommendation for you!”
-Crystal & Paul Landon ( 9/2014)
“Malibu Phoenix was exactly what I was looking for and it was priced just right. I wanted to be able to choose my own vendors and have our wedding reflect us. Everything I had found before required me to use their own caterers, etc. The property is beautiful, and there are endless ways to set it up.
Fred and Jenna were great along the planning process. I planned everything from CO so it was very helpful that they were always available to contact. I changed my mind about everything about 100 times and they reminded me it was our day and we could have what we wanted. They even painted and did extra work to the property that I didn’t even expect!
My husband and I got married on the beach 9/20/2014 and rev Fred made a great officiant for us. He was calm and professional and made us feel at ease.
We took most of our photos on the beach, but I also wanted to take advantage of the hidden “forest” area about 1/4 mile from the property. Instead of having to hike in my wedding dress, Jenna offered to drive us there and back. That was much appreciated!
Everyone had so much fun, it was hard to tell them it was time to go. Fred and Jenna were understanding and did not get upset about stragglers on the property.
Thank you so much for rolling with the punches and allowing us to have such a beautiful day.”
-Sarah & Scott Cannon (Camarillo, CA, 9/2014)
“Love You Fred and Jenna ! Thank you for all you did to make our daughter’s wedding awesome!
Beautiful property, over and above service, tons of exceptions made to satisfy the bride 🙂 …wonderful experience … would do it all over again.
Read review of 9/24/14 by Sarah D., the Bride, my Daughter… I concur with her review!!! That was easy…she already got it done 🙂 Not much else I can add, except that we didn’t even have to clean up after ourselves. It was done for us at a very reasonable price. Also, several of us were allowed to leave our cars overnight, needed to call a cab. Stress was minimal and that is a big Plus on your special day!”
-Carolyn, mother of Sarah Cannon
“In September of 2013 my daughter and her future husband began the task of planning their wedding and reception. Since we are a Malibu family and have been part of Pepperdine since it’s beginning, they decided to have the ceremony in the campus Chapel. When the happy couple started to explore locations for their reception in Malibu they immediately knew that the Malibu Phoenix was the right place for them. It’s peaceful, unique, and the perfect place for their family and friends.
The first meeting with Fred and Jenna felt like visiting with family. They understood exactly what the bride and groom envisioned. The rustic elegance of the Malibu Phoenix fit our style perfectly. From the beginning Jenna and Fred made it easy for our caterer, photographer, and DJ to meet and plan their specialties. The party setting is just big enough to allow room to spread out but not so large that people get lost. As the sun went down Fred lit the fire pit so our guests could make s’mores as the pool lights turned different colors illuminating the floating candles. This romantic ambiance set the mood for our special dances and speeches.
Our photographs in the Oak forest are breathtaking. The setting couldn’t be more romantic that at the Malibu Phoenix. We have the pictures to prove it.”
-Lari Bright (May 25, 2014)
“We had a beach wedding and a reception at Malibu Phoenix and I have to say, my daughter had the day she always imagined thanks to Rev. Fred and Jenna! From when we booked the site 9 months earlier to our interim logistics visits and to the actual wedding and reception day, Fred treated us gently, diplomatically, and reminded us along the way of the details, details and more details that go with the territory of such a big event. Our costs were not out of range, thanks to Fred keeping the pricing reasonable, and he and Jenna covered our last minute emergencies (such as needing more ice at the reception) very graciously and truly taking the emergency down to a manageable logistic! Thank you again, Fred and Jenna!!! You guys are amazing AND affordable!”
-Boni H. (Ventura, CA, 10/2013)
“My husband and I had our dream wedding at Malibu Phoenix!
Our hearts were set on a Malibu wedding, but got very disheartened when looking at venue prices in the area… so many were looking for $10,000 min + per person head cost + had to use their caterers + had to share venue with other events. Then we found Malibu Phoenix- a family owned and operated beautiful wedding venue with acres in Latigo Canyon.
Rev. Fred Pierson, the owner, acted as my advocate, my best friend, my wedding planner, my coordinator, my hard-liner and best of all, our ceremony leader- he is everything wrapped up in one to help you plan a wedding. He has so much experience and an accepting, compassionate demeanor. Plus, he is always there when you have questions. We had his lovely daughters do our photography, and they could not have been sweeter or given us better pictures!
We had the ceremony and reception on the property, where there is a pool, a gazebo (where the ladies changed), a forest (where we had the ceremony) and large lawns for dancing, seating, eating. All light up and with minimal decorations needed, this place looks just gorgeous. We had 60 people there for 8 hours and didn’t hear one complaint. The road there is a canyon road, so we bussed all guests in from a hotel so no one had to drive, but there is a lot of room for parking. We really enjoyed that the venue is secluded – no other outsiders could come and no other event to compete with.
If you are looking for a beautiful, affordable Malibu wedding with kind, professional, experienced people, Malibu Phoenix could give you your dream wedding too!”
-Rebekah N., (Torrance, CA, 8/2013)
“Fred is amazing and the ceremony and reception site on his property and gorgeous! We thought we wanted a beach wedding, but as soon as we saw the forest location we knew we had changed our minds. Fred Pierson is very straightforward when it comes down to the details and has been very helpful. I also feel like he truly cares about the couples that book with him and making their day perfect. I looked at a lot of different venues, but no one came close the Malibu Phoenix! Set up a consultation. You wont regret it!”
-Brittany Haro (Little Rock Arkansas, 3/2013)
“We had our wedding here 2 years ago. I dream of reliving it! It was perfect. We were able to do our own food and alcohol. Every need was catered to and our pictures were amazing! It is the most beautiful location with the most flexibility.”
-Ariel Meshriy (2012)
“The only thing my honey and I were set on was a beach wedding, and in LA, Malibu is kind of the only option. After spending several weeks searching through all the venues that charge $15,000 just to step in the door, we found Rev. Fred Pierson. He performed our beach ceremony, and owns the Malibu Phoenix Retreat just up the hill where we did our reception. For $20 a head to rent the Retreat (a private ranch-style home with a pool), you can’t beat the price or the level of kind, professional service the Rev. offered.
Rev. Fred was all the things you hope for in both an officiant and venue owner–organized, friendly, and entertaining with the guests, cool and collected whenever things got a little crazy, and laid-back and straightforward when it came down to final payments.
To have the venue be the least stressful part of the day is a blessing. Plenty of parking. Rev. Fred recommended local vendors and handled calls to the Fire Marshall so we could have our beloved fire dancers (yay). Everyone had a great time, and several guests even want to use the Malibu Phoenix Retreat now for their own events. Highly recommended.”
-Sarah M. (Los Angeles, CA, 7/2010)
