If you’re local to San Diego, or at least familiar with the area, you know that San Diego is not all beaches and surf shacks. There are many areas that make up San Diego. North County, South Bay, East County, Beach Towns, Mid-land, Downtown, Coronado… etc. And the crazy thing is, each area has it’s own unique scenic landscape and forecast! The awesome thing about being a local is that we know what to expect for all of it. If you’re wanting a sunny Summer beachside wedding, you probably don’t want to pick a date in May or June. If you’re wanting it to be “Fall” weather for your outdoor rustic wedding in East County, don’t pick September, that’s still summer! Below, I’ve listed out some great options for each area of our little County. Some may not have popped up in your google searches, so it’s worth the read if you’re still on the hunt for a venue for this year!
My last venue blog post I broke down some of San Diego’s best (in my opinion) venue’s into budget and how much planning you will need to do at each one. We talked about the different planning styles that venues can require, what it means for a venue to be a “site-from-scratch” and what it means for you when it is “all-inclusive”. If you still haven’t read it and need more than just this article — Click Here —
Downtown
Great for high up views and urban living wedding photos, downtown San Diego venues are either high end glam, or they have a real industrial modern vibe! Either way, I’m in love! Even in downtown you still have separate neighborhoods that really define the style of the area. So I’ve listed the neighborhood next to the venue, so you know where it is and what is around it!
University Club atop Symphony Towers – Downtown Core – Amazing views from the very top of downtown San Diego, the wow factor is strong with this one!
The New Children’s Museum – Gaslamp(kinda) – So different, and SO cool! This hands on children’s museum is so cool for kids and kids at heart. The space transforms into this industrial modern, and super eclectic building for your one of a kind event!
US Grant Hotel – Gaslamp – Luxury and History in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter!
Sandbox – East Village – Urban Industrial with lots of ways to make it completely yours!
Mission Brewery – East Village – Historic San Diego with Industrial roots! This building is so unique and is perfect for a cool laid back couple who wants to PARTY!
Quartyard – East Village – A super hip, super fun open space venue in the middle of all the high rises and unique charm that downtown has to offer.
Harbor View Loft – Harbor Island – I think this might technically be outside of Downtown, but it’s super close to the Airport. Because of it’s location, it makes it perfect for destination clients who might have busy guests that might need to cut the trip to San Diego short, although I don’t understand why anyone would want to do that 😉 Not to mention, it’s run by one of the top catering companies in the area, so everything can be handled in house, making it really easy for the couple who is planning.
Coronado
Coronado Tidelands Park – This public space can be reserved by permit, and sanctioned off, just for your special event. Right on the water, overlooking both the Coronado Bridge and glimpses of the Downtown skyline.
Coronado Island Marriott – The small town feel of Coronado combined with direct views of the San Diego skyline, and waterfront access.
Coronado Community Center – This beautiful waterfront building has areas for Ceremony and Cocktails outside, and your reception inside.
Lowes Coronado – Coastal Traditional, this resort has so many beautiful options for your event. Not to mention the amount of amenities the hotel has for guests and the above and beyond level of service for Brides and Grooms to be!
Beach Towns
Hyatt Mission Bay– Mission Bay – amazing sunset views and really yummy food, in a tropical oasis hotel.
The Garty Pavillion – Mission Bay – The memorial building connected to San Diego Rowing Club, this venue offers toes in the sand ceremony, and a beautiful outdoor reception right next to the water!
Hilton San Diego, Mission Bay – Bay Park/Mission Bay – Choices! Have a traditional beach-side ceremony in their garden, or go full on toes in the sand I Do’s. This hotel also offers the traditional ballroom, if that’s your style, or opt to have your wedding outside in their pool bar/ patio area. The key thing you get with this hotel is OPTIONS!
Fletcher Cove Community Center – Solana Beach – As with any city rental/permit, there are rules. But for the price and the amazing ocean view, who cares! This is an adorable indoor/outdoor venue space provided by the city of Solana Beach, a short walk from the sand for either a permitted ceremony or awesome photos!
San Diego Botanical Gardens – Encinitas – The beautiful and lush gardens create such a romantic and spacious event venue, perfect for a traditional, vintage, or even lux garden party! Separate event spaces make it easy to host your entire wedding onsite, while still have it feel like 2/3 separate and special locations.
La Jolla
Martin Johnson House– UCSD – Sitting on top of the cliffs, over looking the shores and ocean. This venue has my heart. It’s the perfect mixture of natural landscape and oceanic views.
La Jolla Woman’s Club– Village – You get the best of both indoor and outdoor events at this venue. They have beautiful gardens and a beautiful vintage style ballroom, you can host your ceremony and reception in separate areas, or have a beachside ceremony a couple blocks away and party the night away at the woman’s club.
Scripps Seaside Forum– Shores – Perfect for a Modern Beachside wedding, this venue has the best private wave level view of the beach, that is free of pedestrians and beach goers, as it sits just above the sand.
Scripps Aquarium– UCSD- Give your guests something to do other than gawk at you all night. This venue is both memorable and brag-able, with an amazing line up of caterer options and magnificent views and unique indoor and outdoor event spaces.
East County San Diego
The Bradford Ranch– Jamul – This gorgeous private estate rental sits in the foothills just east of San Diego. The Property backs up against a national forest, so it is totally private and ready for you to create unique and lasting memories with all your family and friends.
Sacred Mountain Retreat– Julian – If you don’t mind the drive into the mountains, this beautiful private estate rental might be perfect for you. Breathtaking views and a homey/backyard style give this place a casual feeling that will translate to your entire event, helping families to feel like they’ve been blended together for years, and are on retreat together to celebrate you!
Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan– Dehesa – Surrounded by natural hills of east San Diego, this golf resort really stands out with it’s outdoor venue spaces. It’s part of Sycuan, but far enough removed from the Casino (about 3 miles away), that your guests won’t be distracted by the slots. If you are looking for more of a Resort atmosphere, the Sycuan build out of their new hotel and event spaces is almost complete, and the whole event area at the Hotel is going to be stunning and BRAND NEW! That’s hard to find in San Diego!
27 Acres Estate– Alpine – This beautiful private home in Alpine is the perfect definition of backyard wedding venue! Get ready in the house, get married on their perfectly manicured green lawn, and then move to the back yard for dinner and dancing.
Bo Beau Kitchen and Garden– La Mesa – This indoor outdoor restaurant in old downtown La Mesa is part of the Cohn Restaurant Group, who is no stranger to grand- all inclusive- events (their other restaurants include The Prado and Coasterra)!
Brick + Laural– La Mesa – Looking for a smaller venue for an intimate gathering, small-ish wedding, bridal/baby shower, rehearsal dinner? This cute converted brick warehouse is so cute and so raw! Don’t forget to ask about in-house florals, the space is owned by a SUPER talented florist!
North County San Diego
Lakehouse Hotel- San Marcos – Have your wedding on a lake at the newly renovated Lakehouse Hotel and Resort. This charming hotel offers your guests an intimate country lake feel, like you’re all on vacation together at a lake house, except you’re not and you all have your own rooms! Chill out post wedding at their fire pits with s’mores and lawn games, this is the perfect casual lake-side wedding, without being anywhere near lakeside.
Walnut Grove Park– San Marcos – Giant grass fields with a big red barn. If you’re wanting a barn wedding without the straw flooring, this is probably the most affordable and nostalgic locations that is no where near the boondocks. It’s amazing this whole park hasn’t been built over, this barn was there when I was a baby!
Bates Nut Farm– Valley Center – Growing up, this was my school’s go to field trip location. So growing up and working weddings there is SO COOL to me! They have a couple awesome event spaces to offer and have that old town country feel, that goes perfect for a rustic or country wedding!
San Diego Safari Park– Escondido – It’s still weird to call it that, it’s the Wild Animal Park people!!! And yes, you can have the most epic, most memorable, wildest weddings at any of their many event spaces! Go big in their giant pavilion, or go intimate in the tiger house, or have an outdoor celebration at the overlook. Your guests won’t be able to stop talking about the animals they get to meet up close during your private event animal encounters and you’ll love that your wedding funds are supporting animal species all over the globe!
Well, that sums up my venue list for each area of San Diego. Obviously there are WAY more than just this list. I still have a couple more venue posts coming in the future. I hope this list helps someone who is still searching for their perfect wedding venue! And if you need a planner to help you along your way, maybe you’re not living here at the moment, and you need eyes on the ground, I do that. Maybe you need help with coordination, because there is DEFINITELY a difference between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Coordinator. I do that too! And if you don’t need either of those things, I respect that, and I hope you find the guidance you’re looking for here in the scrolls of my blog!
Till next post- xo, Juliette!
