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