Indoors or outdoors? Old school or brand spanking new? Seaside setting or country charm? There’s a lot to consider when choosing the perfect spot for your Big Day. We offer dozens of options to create a wedding that fits your unique style.

By Claire Caraska

For the Bride Who Has to be the First

If you’re looking to go where no bride has gone before, set your sights on one of the city’s newest venues for getting hitched, including a contemporary art gallery inside a historical Gaslamp building and a fully restored, vintage naval officers’ house in Liberty Station.

Sparks Gallery
Gaslamp Quarter / sparksgallery.com

SCOUT at Quarters D
Liberty Station / scout-home.com

828 Events
Liberty Station / 828-events.com

Coasterra
Harbor Island / cohnrestaurants.com/coasterra

For the School-Spirited

Maybe you met your guy at USD law school, or you’re marrying your high school sweetheart from Francis Parker. If you want to transport guests to where it all began, consider one of these beautiful campuses.

Founders Chapel
University of San Diego /sandiego.edu

Francis Parker School
Mission Hills and Linda Vista / francisparker.org

Scripps Seaside Forum, Martin Johnson House, and Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution
of Oceanography
La Jolla / scripps.ucsd.edu

Alumni Center
San Diego State University / sdsualumni.org 

The Loft
UC San Diego / theloft.ucsd.edu

If You Can’t Book the Italian Fortress like Kanye and Kim

Are you dreaming of a Tuscan villa or French chateau, but know it’s unrealistic to stray so far from home? Dazzle your guests with a palatial private estate in Rancho Santa Fe, Italian Renaissance-inspired architecture at The Resort at Pelican Hill or a luxurious, sprawling country club or inn.

Cal-a-Vie Resort
Vista / cal-a-vie.com

Private Estate Rentals
venuelust.com

The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Beach / pelicanhill.com

Santaluz Club
Rancho Santa Fe / thesantaluzclub.com

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe / theinnatrsf.com

Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club
Carmel Mountain Ranch / clubcmr.com

The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo / ccofrb.com

Rancho Bernardo Inn
Rancho Bernardo / ranchobernardoinn.com

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa
Carlsbad / sheratoncarlsbad.com

If You Like to Play Tourist

From the world-famous zoo and Balboa Park to historical Old Town and the first California mission, make your wedding postcard-perfect at one of San Diego’s many iconic attractions.

San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park / sandiegozoo.org

San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Escondido / sdzsafaripark.org

Bazaar del Mundo
Old Town / bazaardelmundo.com

Del Mar Fairgrounds & Racetrack
Del Mar / delmarfairgrounds.com

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
La Jolla / aquarium.ucsd.edu

San Diego Natural History Museum
Balboa Park / sdnhm.org

Mission San Diego
Mission Valley / missionsandiego.org

USS Midway
Embarcadero / midway.org

Mission Trails Regional Park
Santee / mtrp.org

San Diego County Parks
sandiegocounty.gov/parks

For the Athletic Set

Whether you’re a PGA wannabe, surfer girl, or Padres super fan, declare your love for each other—along with your love of the game—at one of these sporty venues.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines
La Jolla / lodgetorreypines.com

Maderas Golf Club
Poway / maderasgolf.com

Twin Oaks Golf Course
San Marcos / weddingsattwinoaks.com

Pala Mesa Resort
Fallbrook / palamesa.com

Bird’s Surf Shed
Mission Bay / birdssurfshed.com

Petco Park
East Village / padres.com

The Crossings at Carlsbad
Carlsbad / crossingsatcarlsbad.com

San Vincente Golf Resort
Ramona / sdcea.net

Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club
Rancho Santa Fe / rsfgolfclub.com

Lomas Santa Fe Country Club
Solana Beach / lomassantafecc.com

If You Have a Green Thumb or Secret Garden Fantasy

Get back to nature by hosting your special event outdoors in a romantic garden, lush nursery, or on an active farm.

Japanese Friendship Garden
Balboa Park / niwa.org

San Diego Botanic Garden
Encinitas / sdbgarden.org

La Jolla Woman’s Club
La Jolla / lajollawomansclub.org

The Grove at Suzie’s Farm
Imperial Beach / suziesfarm.com

Keys Creek Lavender Farm
Valley Center / kclfarm.com

Barrels & Branches Nursery
Encinitas / barrelsandbranches.com

Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens
San Clemente /casaromantica.org

Franciscan Gardens
San Juan Capistrano / franciscangardens.com

Green Acre Campus Pointe
University Town Centre / greenacresd.com

For Those About to Rock

Unleash your inner rock star at a legendary live music venue, such as The Casbah (casbahmusic.com) or House of Blues (houseofblues.com).

For Brides Who Prefer Topsiders to Heels

Leave the land behind and sail away! From Hornblower cruise ships and private yacht charters to nostalgic steamboats, like the Bahia Belle, and the classic Star of India, there are many ways to say “I do” on the water.

Hornblower Cruises & Events
Embarcadero / hornblower.com

Adventuress Catamaran Sailing
Harbor Island / adventuressluxurycatamaran.com

Aolani Catamaran Sailing
Harbor Island / aolani.cc

Electra Cruises
Newport Beach / electracruises.com

Bahia Belle, The Sternwheelers
Mission Bay / sternwheelers.com

Star of India
Maritime Museum of San Diego Embarcadero / sdmaritime.org

If You Love the Water, But Don’t Have Sea Legs

Take in ocean views from the historical Hotel del Coronado, get close to the surf at The Marine Room, or go nautical along Mission Bay and San Diego Bay while keeping your feet on terra firma.

Hotel del Coronado
Coronado / hoteldel.com

The Marine Room
La Jolla / marineroom.com

Bali Hai Restaurant
Shelter Island / balihairestaurant.com

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina
Mission Bay / missionbay.hyatt.com

Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites
Shelter Island / halfmooninn.com

The Dana
Mission Bay / thedana.com

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Harbor Island / sheratonsandiegohotel.com

Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Downtown / hiltonsandiegobayfront.com

Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Coronado / loewshotels.com

San Diego Marriott, Marquis and Marina
Downtown / marriott.com

For the Literati

Does your love of the arts rival that of your sweetheart? Bring them both together by exchanging your vows on stage at the California Center for the Arts, among the books at the Central Library, or inside your favorite art museum.

Central Library
East Village / sandiego.gov/public-library

La Paloma Theatre
Encinitas / lapalomatheatre.com

The New Children’s Museum
Downtown / thinkplaycreate.org

San Diego Museum of Art
Balboa Park / sdmart.org

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
La Jolla / mcasd.org

Museum of Photographic Arts
Balboa Park / mopa.org

Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center
North Park / queenbeessd.com

California Center for the Arts
Escondido / artcenter.org

If You Want to Feel Like a Jetsetter Without Stepping on a Plane

Hold your ceremony on the sand at Pier South, a modern beach resort in Imperial Beach. Or opt to get hitched near Ensenada’s bustling port, in the tranquil mountainside setting of Tecate, or in Baja’s vineyard-rich Guadalupe Valley.

Pier South Resort
Imperial Beach / piersouthresort.com

Rancho La Puerta
Tecate / rancholapuerta.com

Hotel Coral & Marina
Ensenada / hotelcoral.com

Encuentro Guadalupe
Guadalupe Valley / encuentroguadalupe.com

Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar Golf & Spa Resort
Los Cabos / sheraton.com/haciendadelmar

Estero Beach Hotel and Resort
Ensenada / hotelesterobeach.com

For the Beer and Wine Enthusiasts

Celebrate your love for each other, and your favorite adult beverage, at one of the county’s top vineyards and craft breweries. (Tip: Hops and vine leaves add extra pizzazz to bouquets and boutonnières.)

Ponte Family Estate Winery
Temecula / pontewinery.com

Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Sorrento Mesa / karlstrauss.com

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Escondido and Liberty Station / stoneworldbistro.com

Vineyard Hacienda
Rancho San Diego / vineyardhacienda.com

Thornton Winery
Temecula / thorntonwine.com

If You’re a Little Bit Country

Revisit the days of Old California at one of these historical ranches, where rustic glamour abounds.

Condor’s Nest Ranch
Pala / the-condors-nest.com

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Carlsbad / leocarrilloranch.org

The Retro Ranch
Temecula / retroranch.com

The Red Horse Barn
Huntington Beach / theredhorsebarn.com

The Ranch at Bandy Canyon
Escondido / bandycanyon.com

For Brides Who Want to Give Back

100 percent of the proceeds from weddings held at The Retro Ranch in Temecula are donated to the charity of the couple’s choice (retroranch.com).

If You’re Looking to Turn Back Time

Channel the past while looking forward to your future at these retro chic locations, from the Wild West-era Cosmopolitan
Hotel to 1920s elegance at The Don Room and mid-century modern at The Pearl.

The Westgate Hotel
Downtown / westgatehotel.com

The Cosmopolitan Hotel
Old Town / oldtowncosmopolitan.com

The Don Room at El Cortez
Downtown / donroom.com

The Lafayette Hotel
North Park / lafayettehotelsd.com

The Pearl Hotel
Point Loma / thepearlsd.com

The US Grant
Downtown / usgrant.net

For Brides Who Want to Be Sky-High

Get bird’s-eye views of the city from The Ultimate Skybox and the University Club, or enjoy breath-taking surroundings on top of Mt. Helix and overlooking the Pacific at Park Hyatt Aviara.

The Ultimate Skybox at DiamondView Tower
East Village / theultimateskybox.com

University Club Atop Symphony Towers
Downtown / clubcorp.com

Mt. Helix Park
Mt. Helix / mthelixpark.org

Manchester Grand Hyatt
Downtown / manchestergrand.hyatt.com

Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
Mission Valley / hiltonmv.com

Bertrand at Mister A’s
Bankers Hill / bertrandatmisteras.com

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
La Jolla / lajolla.hyatt.com

Park Hyatt Aviara
Carlsbad / parkaviara.hyatt.com

For the Inner Martha Stewart or Etsy Lover

Designing women who want (almost) full creative control of their décor will love these blank-slate, urban spaces in the heart of downtown.

Luce Loft
East Village / luceloft.com

Moniker Warehouse
East Village / monikergroup.com/warehouse

Quartyard
East Village / quartyardsd.com