Partner Content
FEBRUARY 1, 2025 (Updated Feb 1, 2025)
San Diego’s Most Coveted Wedding Venues & Vendors 2025
Here’s the good news: You’ve found the love of your life, and the two of you are getting married. Better still: You’re having the wedding right here in beautiful San Diego. With that settled, you’ve only got about a million other decisions to make before you take your vows. If that feels a little overwhelming, […]
Here’s the good news: You’ve found the love of your life, and the two of you are getting married. Better still: You’re having the wedding right here in beautiful San Diego. With that settled, you’ve only got about a million other decisions to make before you take your vows.
If that feels a little overwhelming, don’t worry. We’ve got even more good news for you: We’ve put together a list of awesome venues with events teams, vendor lists, and more to help you create your perfect wedding day.
A ”Destination” Wedding At Home
One of the best things about getting married in San Diego is that you can have any kind of wedding you want.
You can take advantage of our premier cultural institutions by exchanging vows at the world famous San Diego Zoo or Safari Park or at the Museum of Contemporary Art. If you’re seeking something more romantically rustic—say, a century-old, family-owned winery—consider the Bernardo Winery.
If you want to be near the water, walking down the aisle with sand beneath your feet or with the iconic views of the San Diego Harbor as your backdrop, we’ve got multiple options to choose from. And if focusing on food is your thing (without sacrificing ambiance, service, and style, of course), you couldn’t have picked a better city. Award-winning chefs abound, as do your choices for cuisine, from delectable seafood to Hawai‘ian fusion.
All of the options here can accommodate different wedding sizes and budgets, so whatever it is you’re looking for, you’ll find it in sunny San Diego.
Venues & Vendors
The La Jolla Shores Hotel
Photo: Tim Mantoani
You can celebrate surrounded by lush foliage in the garden courtyard or barefoot on the beach with a wedding at The La Jolla Shores Hotel. The hotel offers numerous venues, with picture-perfect oceanfront views, and it has several packages to choose from, which accommodate different event sizes and styles.
The onsite team will handle every detail, from dining to planning your perfect gathering, so your only job when the wedding arrives is to enjoy your day.
With rolling green lawns and endless coastline located just outside of San Diego, The Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa is a no-brainer for any couple seeking ocean views for their wedding—whether that’s indoors or outdoors. You can even plan a full wedding weekend here that takes advantage of the resort’s restaurants, spa, and other amenities.
San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Animal and adventure lovers alike should consider the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance when booking a wedding venue. Couples can celebrate surrounded by lush bamboo and Sumatran tigers, overlooking elephants on an expansive terrace, or taking in views of a lagoon with rare birds and plants. You can even add an animal encounter with a furry, scaled, or feathered friend—just ask the expert event staff. Plus, a wedding here helps support the alliance’s invaluable conservation work.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a true blank canvas for weddings, offering a variety of spaces to host your ceremony and reception. Say “I do” in an iconic museum surrounded by art or on a breathtaking terrace overlooking the ocean; either way, you’ll be surrounded by spectacular architecture and modern design—and be able to take one-of-a-kind wedding photos with hundreds of pieces of modern art. Even better, newlyweds receive free one-year museum memberships.
Views of San Diego Harbor and venues including the entire second floor of the restaurant or an intimate wine room make Roy’s perfect for weddings, whether your guest list contains 400 names or 20. Roy’s private dining director will create your dream day, including a delicious Hawai‘ian fusion menu—with seated, buffet, and reception options.
Take in impeccable sights of the San Diego skyline and harbor with a ceremony at either Bali Hai or Tom Ham’s Lighthouse. Bali Hai combines that awesome urban view with delicious, authentic Polynesian cuisine, while Tom Ham’s offers some of the best seafood in San Diego. Both have multiple event rooms to choose from.
The 135-year-old Bernardo Winery combines rustic charm with romance—making it the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Couples can pick a caterer from the winery’s onsite vendor list and expect a California-style bar with Bernardo wines, plus draft beer and nonalcoholic options. Nearby hotels with shuttle services make this location especially convenient.
The Moniker Group’s wedding venues include everything from Building 177, a former Naval training center library turned gorgeous, airy event space, to The Lane, a sleek, minimalist space with views of the San Diego Bay. Venues are completely customizable, so let the events staff know what you want, then watch them deliver.
The pressure on your wedding day to look your absolute best is real—but San Diego couples are lucky to have great shopping options to make getting gussied up a little easier.
Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza is the premiere shopping destination for brides with designer dresses, jewelry, shoes, and more. Whether you’re imagining a sweetheart neckline, old Hollywood glam, or beach bride perfection, this one-stop-shop for all things bridal has you covered.
To find a suit or tux, try Friar Tux. Book an in-store appointment or set up a virtual session—either way, a stylist will get you fitted in a look that matches your wedding’s vibe and your personal style. Plus, you can buy or rent, depending on your preference.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
