When planning a wedding, people are always concentrated so much on Budget! But it can also be super helpful to think about planning style too! you know, to keep your sanity and all! If you find the perfect looking venue at the perfect price, but it’s also a DIY style-do everything yourself venue, How is that going to fit into Your life? Some women have time for that, but others DON’T, and that’s just the truth. Hopefully this article will help you discover some amazing venues you might not have known about or thought of yet. And hopefully this article will help you learn what is best for you, setting you up for success from the very first part of planning, picking a venue!

 

Some Important Terminology:

All-Inclusive: Venues that come with catering and banquet staff to handle set up of everything venue/meal related. Banquet staff will set up tables, chairs, linens, place settings, fold napkins, etc. Catering staff will cook, serve, and clean up everything meal/beverage related. Most of the time, these types of venues also come with a venue representative that will help guide you through the process of everything the venue will provide and can offer suggestions on other vendors as well. Often times, these venues will charge by “Food and Beverage Minimum” instead of a flat venue/room rental fee. Although, sometimes there is a ceremony site fee added on, since that is a second area for their staff to set up and manage.

Food and Beverage Minimum: This refers to the minimum $ amount you need to spend in order to use the venue space(s) selected. Instead of being a flat amount that you will pay in the end, the final price will vary greatly depending on the number of guests, length of event, amount of added on services, and level of bar/meal provided for your guests.

Site from Scratch: When the venue includes the venue space, and that’s it. It may be a beautiful wonderful amazing space, but you’ll be in charge of getting everything needed to make a wedding happen there. Things like Lights, Tables, Chairs, Linens, Table settings, Catering, etc, and sometimes even restrooms.

Low range Budget: in the San Diego area, overall wedding budget equalling $15,000 or less

Mid range Budget: overall wedding budget between $20,000-$35,000

High end Budget: overall wedding budget over $40,000

 

Favorite Higher-End Venues:

  Inclusive Planning-

• Hyatt Manchester Grand – views for days and a top tier catering menu that can create something amazing just for your wedding
• Coronado Island Marriott – Top service from the moment you decide that is your venue! Not to mention, the amazing water-front location that overlooks downtown!
• Estancia La Jolla – What I love about Estancia, is that it’s so hidden. Once you’re on the resort grounds, you feel completely secluded from the world outside, creating an atmosphere of intimacy for you and your guests.

      Site from Scratch Planning-

• Scripps Seaside Forum – the forum has the BEST beach side location in all of San Diego. The approved catering list consists of only Full-Service Caterers, which will take care of everything for you from food to rentals, and sometimes even decor.
• Darlington House La Jolla – This historical house is a gem! You’ll need to hire a coordinator, and they have an approved only list of Caterers for you to choose from.

Favorite Mid-Budget Venues:

  Inclusive Planning-

• Maderas Golf Club – A great rustic-italian inspired landscape located in the hills of scenic Poway. Plus it has indoor and outdoor options for your party.
• The Prado – A staple of San Diego culture, nothing beats a special date night at The Prado. Except maybe, getting MARRIED there! Their ballroom is exquisite, and has that same Spanish influenced design carried throughout it’s interior! And their ceremony areas are just as spectacular!
• Horton Grand Hotel – So much historical charm packed into this small and intimate hotel! Amazing outdoor venues for both ceremony and reception.

      Site from Scratch Planning-

• Martin Johnson House – The perfect mix of rustic and beachy! Set on the hill just north of Scripps Pier. This venue needs everything brought in, except for restrooms. However, the catering list that you need to choose from are all Full-Service Caterers who will take care of all the rentals and bar options if you want them to, which will save you a lot of time and questions!
• La Jolla Woman’s Club – I love the indoor/outdoor feel of this amazing venue. You can eat outside, party inside, get married outside then eat and party inside, the options are abundant, and all of them are beautiful. What is also amazing about this place is that you can bring in whichever full service caterer you like!
• The Bradford Ranch – If you’re wanting a piece of property that is completely off the grid and completely yours to use for your entire celebration, this is it! It’s tucked into a pocket of Cleveland National Forest, in the foothills of East San Diego. The entire property has that organic country feel that’s all over Pinterest, and you can completely make it your own. The catering list has options for Full Service Catering and Rentals to make your planning a little easier, or you can opt for a more casual/less expensive catering option and DIY the heck out of your wedding day!

Favorite Lower-Budget Venues:

      Inclusive Planning-

• Chula Vista Golf Course – This golf course is located in Bonita, just east of Chula Vista. It’s convenient, affordable, and has lots of charm! Choose from two ballrooms inside for your reception, and have your ceremony out on the green.
• Handlery Hotel Mission Valley – You get so much more than just the standard 4 white walls with this hotel. It is located conveniently in hotel circle, so if your guests stay at other hotels, it’s an easy walk or short Uber ride. The back garden has to be my favorite. So lush, so green, and so private. They even have an option to have your ceremony in the garden, then they can flip the space into dinner and dancing set up, while your guests enjoy the air conditioned inside for cocktail hour!

      Site from Scratch Planning-

• Old Poway Park – If you like the vintage/historical look or trains are really your thing, this venue has a LOT of character! Get married in the little chapel/old school house, then have your reception outside next to the big gazebo or in the train yard! The best part of getting married here is the lack of restrictions when it comes to catering. You can DIY it (though I’d strongly recommend not doing that), you can get a food truck or taco cart. Or have a full staffed elegant affair. The choice is really up to you. Be aware of alcohol rules and regulations as you are on public property! I believe a professional bar company does need to be pouring the drinks all evening. They do have tables and chairs for you to use, but you need to set them up, or hire someone to do it.
• Coronado Community Center – A more upscale take on a community center, because it’s Coronado! This venue is water front, a short walk to the beach(for couple photos) and has designated areas for ceremony, cocktails, and reception. Their catering list is extensive, and has plenty of more affordable options if you need them. And the community center can provide tables and dance floor! Just make sure you’re not in any hurry to tie the knot, this place typically has a year – two years out already booked.

 

For ANY of these “Site from Scratch” places that have designated or approved only catering lists, and you need someone to help to point you in the right direction of which ones to reach out to for your style/preference/budget, just email me! I’m happy to include this and other help throughout your planning, even if you’re only interested in the coordination package. 

 

Here are some photos of the above venues…