THE GRAND: LONG BEACH’S ULTIMATE EVENTS VENUE

By John Grossi

Photo submitted by The Grand

It’s the ultimate event venue and that’s why it may be the best place to start your search for a wedding (or really, any type of party) venue in Long Beach.

The Grand on Willow Street is a 45,000-square-foot events center, redeveloped at the site of Long Beach’s old Elks Lodge, with nine customizable event rooms from which to choose. Whether you’re looking to throw an elegant large-scale wedding with 450 people in the Grand Ballroom, an intimate wedding shower for 30 people, or anything in between, The Grand can accommodate your guests, vision, and menu with their unlimited array of customizable packages.

Family-Owned

What truly sets The Grand apart from any other venue of its size and capabilities is that it is family-owned and operated by a tight knit group of Long Beach locals with a passion for hospitality and events.

President of The Grand, Dan D’Sa, is very hands-on. He explains the difference between The Grand and its corporate competitors, “I don’t work for a company; I only work for my clients and my staff.”

For couples looking to throw their dream wedding, everything they need is provided by the venue. That includes tangibles like tables, chairs, and linens… but also the people who make the day happen. Every couple who books a wedding at The Grand is assigned a dedicated “Details Team” who help every step of the way throughout the planning process, leading up to the day-of, when they put the wedding in the hands of a dedicated operations team.

For couples with wedding planners or day-of coordinators, the on-site personnel follows their lead and helps manage the workload.

Whether you have a vision of exactly what you want your day to look like, or have no clue where to get started, the Details Team is there to help transform The Grand’s event space into a customizable wedding that is all about the Bride and Groom.

The Food And Drink

It’s always nice to know a venue comes with a full bar and catering package, but at The Grand, the food isn’t just included, it really shines.

“I would put our food against anyone’s,” boasts D’Sa. “But most importantly, I’d say we have the least arrogant kitchen in the country. Our staff members are very hardworking, extremely accommodating, and they take on recommendations very well. They will cook anything. It’s like an amazing karaoke chef. They sing other people’s songs almost as well as the actual chef.”

Not surprising for a facility that hosts daily meetings, conferences, parties, funerals, quinceañeras, banquets, and more, The Grand offers an extensive menu of favorites and specialties from which to choose. However, for weddings, the kitchen takes particular pride in accommodating family recipes, meaningful dishes from the couple’s favorite restaurants, and other personal touches. Everything is made from scratch in-house including bakery items, sauces, soups, and more.

Plan It Your Way

While The Grand’s many amenities and customizable packages provide almost everything you need for your big day, they also understand how important personal touches mean to each couple’s love story. The Grand welcomes and accommodates not only personal décor touches, but any outside vendors you wish to bring with you on your special day. They also have a short list of highly recommended vendors for those couples who aren’t sure where to find certain vendors.

Meet The Grand Fam!

With so much customization available, the best thing to do is take a full tour of the facility to compare layout options, pick your favorite room, and learn more about their catering packages.

Email Dan@grandfandb.com to meet the family and get started with a tour!