If you’ve recently gotten engaged, congratulations! And if you’re planning to celebrate your nuptials locally, you’re in luck—almost every kind of wedding venue can be found within a 15-mile radius of most neighborhoods.
Thanks to our consistently temperate weather, conveniently located airport, and diverse mix of landscapes, it’s not a matter of finding a venue that’ll fit your dream day. It’s a matter of choosing which dream day you’d like to have.
I got married here this year, and after touring what felt like hundreds of places, I can confidently say that our city has no shortage of swoon-worthy options. You’ll want to get married at them all. But you can’t. So to get you one major step closer to saying “I do,” here are 10 local wedding venues that offer a variety of settings and styles for every kind of couple.
The Lane
Marina District
Set along the edge of downtown overlooking San Diego Bay, this 10,000-square-foot, industrial-chic venue is a blank slate with a killer view. What The Lane lacks in amenities, it makes up for in capacity and curfew—great if you’ve got a large guest list of people who will tear up the dance floor into the wee hours of the night. And if the party’s still going after 11:30 p.m., there are plenty of bars and clubs nearby you can take it to.
Best for: DIYers and all-night dancers
San Diego Safari Park
Escondido
I doubt getting married in the company of giraffes, rhinos, and Sumatran tigers is on your Pinterest board, but thanks to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, it can be. The Kijamii Overlook at the Safari Park in Escondido includes live animal encounters, firepits and sweeping views of the African Plains. So the chances of impressing your new in-laws and getting a gazelle in the background of your wedding portraits are both very high.
Best for: Animal lovers and WOW factors
The Inn at Sunset Cliffs
Ocean Beach
If there’s one San Diego venue I’d dub as a hidden gem, it’s The Inn at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach. Set directly next to the iconic Sunset Cliffs, this charming little hotel has a surprisingly large terrace overlooking the ocean—which makes for a sunset portrait sesh your photographer will promote for decades. Plus if you reserve all 24 rooms, you won’t be sharing your special day (or weekend) with anyone who isn’t on the invite list.
Best for: Epic photos and not sharing your venue with strangers
The Wedding Bowl
La Jolla
As you may have guessed by its nickname, The Wedding Bowl (a.k.a. Cuvier Park) is a popular spot for intimate ceremonies. Up to 48 of your closest family and friends can watch you and your spouse-to-be exchange vows on this grassy knoll that runs along the La Jolla coastline. It’s strangely private, considering its location, and your options for a killer reception or dinner (should you choose to have one) are endless in the nearby La Jolla Village.
Best for: Micro weddings and cliffside commitments
Flagship Cruises
San Diego Bay
Dream of getting married at sea? Flagship Cruises & Events can make that dream a reality with its 115-foot yacht, the California Princess. It comes with all the things you need to throw an elegant soirée (including locally sourced California cuisine) minus the stress of planning, thanks to an on-board coordinator. Imagine how romantic your first waltz will be with the 1,600-square-foot deck as your dance floor—and the downtown skyline as your backdrop.
Best for: Sunset vows and dolphin sightings
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Mission Bay
My husband and I tied the knot at this bayside resort, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Most of our attendees traveled from the East Coast, so being close to the airport and providing accommodations greatly influenced our venue choice. The property is gorgeous, with multiple ceremony and reception spaces to choose from (though I’d recommend dancing the night away under the magical ficus tree at Bayside Terrace), and the staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly.
Best for: Out-of-town guests and weekend-long weddings
Venue 808
East Village
San Diego is ripe with romantic outdoor venues. But if you’d rather not stress over gnats or weather updates, this East Village locale offers an alternative: a fully indoor venue with a grove of mature, fairy-lit olive trees. There’s also a farmhouse chapel, two furnished get-ready suites and a speakeasy-style bar, amongst a smorgasbord of other amenities that will take a lot of the guesswork out of planning.
Best for: Hands-off planning and grove vibes (without the grove bugs)
Rancho Guejito
Escondido
You don’t have to jet off to Italy for a rustic vineyard wedding. Just drive 45 minutes north, and you’ll find Rancho Guejito, a historic 23,000-acre estate in Escondido with vineyards, orchards and gardens galore. The property hosts up to 300 guests and includes multiple ceremony and reception spots, all of which are surrounded by a panorama of meadows and mountains
Best for: Large weddings and wine lovers
The Guild Hotel
Downtown
Hotels love to throw out the word “ballroom” to describe a carpeted conference hall designed for PowerPoint presentations. But The Guild Hotel is not one of those places. This downtown property transformed a former YMCA gymnasium into a chic event space with textured brick walls, vaulted ceilings and tons of natural lighting. Rather host outside? There’s also an urban garden, a European-inspired courtyard, and an intimate rooftop terrace at your disposal.
Best for: Cool weddings and ballrooms that actually feel like ballrooms
Garty Pavilion
Mission Bay
Yes, technically, this is the home of the San Diego Rowing Club. But when the boats and oars are stowed away, this space is transformed into a gorgeous summer-only venue overlooking Mission Bay. You can make your big entrance from the water via boat or jet ski rental and exchange your vows in the sand, steps away from the water’s edge. Afterward, move the party to an open-air pavilion with a roomy dance floor and unobstructed water views.
Best for: Classic beach weddings and jet-ski grand entrances
