Weddings are some of the most fun, emotional, and downright magical days of our lives. Wedding planning, on the other hand, can become a different story. There are so many decisions you need to make from where to wed, what to eat and wear, how many people to invite, and which extra adventures and surprises you should include with your day that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Worse still, as you face down each of these decisions, the pressure mounts to make sure you’re not messing up and that you’re creating the most perfect day.
While we can’t exactly make those decisions disappear, we can make them a whole lot easier — dare we even say fun?! All it takes is some assistance from an experienced group of venues, jewelers, industry experts, and more who may have done this whole wedding planning thing a time or two before.
The people on this list can help you achieve the ultimate beachfront wedding or a more romantically rustic vineyard ceremony with laidback charm. You can treat your guests to a private yacht chartering the San Diego Bay or an afterparty that includes an appearance from one of the San Diego Zoo’s favorite furry, scaled, or feathery friends. We’ve got jewelers who can offer you rings with edge or classic elegance, lighting companies who can make it look like the stars are twinkling above even though you’re getting married in the middle of the city, and mixologists who create cocktails inspired by you and your partner that look just as good as they taste.
Maybe best of all, these experts’ ultimate goal is always to get rid of the external pressures and put together a wedding that feels the most like you. Because wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly how you end up creating the most perfect day of all.
WHERE TO WED
Santa Barbara
Seriously, how could we not include Santa Barbara, known as The American Riviera®, when putting together a list of great wedding locales? The venue options are limitless, from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse to the city’s many luxury hotels. There’s great weather year-round, so you can pick whatever month works best for you. There’s world-class food and drink, gorgeous Spanish-colonial architecture, and the views, making Santa Barbara an ideal backdrop for a wedding celebration. Truly, words can’t capture the beauty of these views.
The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa
Nestled in Oceanside, the original Southern California beach town, The Seabird offers couples an exclusive beachfront wedding experience. Beyond its stunning coastline views, The Seabird offers a few other California staples: A vibe that manages to be both high-end luxury and laidback and breezy, as well as fresh, locally sourced catering options. The Seabird’s dedicated team offers flexible packages where you can customize everything from the venue to the menu to the décor.
Alila Marea Beach Resort
If you’ve always dreamed of an oceanfront wedding atop a coastal bluff—or if you’d never thought about it before, but the idea sounds pretty ideal now that we mention it—you might want to consider the Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas. Venue options that are equal parts sophisticated and coastal chic include an outdoor ocean bluff, an open-air terrace, and an elegant ballroom for up to 200 guests, and all come with views as romantic as they are breathtaking.
Omni La Costa Resort and Spa
California coastal ease meets a gorgeous Spanish-colonial style backdrop at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. The Omni offers customizable wedding packages, indoor and outdoor venue options, and some of our favorite event add-ons—like trips to the resort’s award-winning golf courses and spa. Omni La Costa’s team assists with everything from flowers to menus to seating charts, meaning you can let them stress about the details while you focus on enjoying your day
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
Picture this: The sun is setting over the ocean as you walk down the aisle barefoot on the beach. It’s the quintessential San Diego beach wedding, and who else could pull this off like La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club? Its many packages and venues accommodate ceremonies of all sizes, and the experienced catering team is ready to make every wedding day want come true.
CHAPEL at Liberty Station
You can get married at a storied San Diego institution by booking at the historic CHAPEL at Liberty Station. Snake Oil Venue Company recently restored and reopened this Spanish-style, multi-faith chapel, which housed wartime Navy events during WWII. The space retains period-specific 1940s Douglas Fir flooring, stained-glass windows, and other original details that make it a one-of-kind space for smaller gatherings or services up to 425 guests. Naturally, Snake Oil Cocktail Company will handle all beverage services—which can include creating signature drinks.
Weddings at Twin Oaks
Located at the Twin Oaks Golf Course, Weddings at Twin Oaks offers couples a backdrop of rolling hills, trees, ponds, rock formations, and vibrant gardens. This venue prides itself on offering packages that are both flexible and affordable, and it handles everything from the menu to the dance floor right on-site.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
If you want to ensure your wedding guests have a real wild time, consider booking with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Its truly one-of-a-kind ceremony spaces include a savannah with views of giraffes and rhinos as well as a lagoon overlook filled with rare birds and plants. You can even add an animal encounter to your reception for an afterparty experience your guests will never forget. Even better, every wedding held here helps support the alliance’s invaluable conservation work.
Adventuress Luxury Catamaran
Enjoy the romance and elegance of saying “I do” on board a gorgeous 60-foot luxury catamaran as you sail through the tranquil waters of San Diego Bay. Every wedding aboard the Adventuress Luxury Catamaran is fully customized, ensuring an intimate and unforgettable celebration tailored to your vision. Exclusively available for private charter, this stunning yacht offers an elegant sailing experience for gatherings of 2 to 48 guests. Choose from breathtaking ceremony backdrops—including the rugged cliffs of Point Loma, a stunning sunset on the horizon, downtown San Diego’s skyline and the iconic Coronado Bridge—for a truly magical on-the-water wedding experience.
Bernardo Winery
The rustic charm of the 136-year-old Bernardo Winery makes it a must-see for anyone considering a vineyard wedding. You’ll be well-supplied with a California-style bar of Bernardo wines, as well as local draft beers and non-alcoholic options. On-site catering as well as nearby hotels make it an especially convenient location for guests.
Roy’s Restaurant
A wedding at Roy’s guarantees you’ll receive the restaurant’s signature Aloha service and a dedicated private dining director ensuring your day looks and tastes exactly as desired. You can work with the team to put together your perfect Hawaiian Fusion menu. And you can choose from venue options that can accommodate 400 guests or 20, including an intimate wine room, the lanai patio for an al fresco event, or the entire restaurant for the biggest bash. Of course, with every space, you’ll get Roy’s sweeping views of the San Diego Bay.
Wedgewood Weddings & Events
Wedding planning should be fun—that’s why we love Wedgewood Weddings & Events. The company has helped put together more than 46,000 weddings(!), meaning it has perfected the art of hassle-free planning. It has pre-created build-your-own package options, plus venues of all styles around Southern California (and beyond!). We’re partial to The Headquarters in Seaport Village, a historic Art Deco-style venue steps away from the bay, and the unique Carlsbad Windmill, a contemporary space with vaulted ceilings and oversized windows enclosed in classic Dutch architecture.
Malibu Farm
Can’t decide between rustic cowboy and modern coastal vibes? Malibu Farm might just be your answer. This coastal venue is located in the heart of Seaport Village right on the San Diego Bay, combining all the best elements of boho and waterfront weddings.
Rimrock Ranch
Sitting just outside Joshua Tree National Park, there’s really no wedding spot quite like Rimrock Ranch. You can exchange vows in this open-desert venue surrounded by nothing but Joshua Trees and the vast, open wonder of untouched nature. And don’t worry: though the surroundings are au naturale, the accommodations offer a thoughtfully designed mix of rustic and modern character.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Begin your forever at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa— San Diego’s only Forbes Five-Star rated, Relais & Châteaux sanctuary. Romantic gardens, lantern-lit pathways, intimate courtyards, fountains, and sweeping views create a breathtaking backdrop for weddings and honeymoons. Indulge in couples’ spa rituals, award-winning cuisine, and warm, anticipatory service, all elevated by a dedicated concierge and wedding specialist who perfect every detail—from the ceremony to extraordinary sendoffs. From 10 guests to 500, Rancho Valencia’s enchanting 45-acres sets the scene—then invites you to retreat to private, spacious, casitas for effortless relaxation in absolute luxury.
WHAT TO WEAR
Passion Fine Jewelry
Passion Fine Jewelry doesn’t just sell rings—it crafts stories in metal and stone. Each bespoke engagement ring is created in tandem with clients, resulting in a piece that is unique to each person. Designs are infused with symbolism and inspired by nature, with organic forms and elemental details woven into each piece. Beyond the studio, Passion Fine Jewelry also hosts wellness and jewelry retreats, creating experiences that weave creativity, connection, and self-discovery.
Friar Tux
Whether you’re renting or buying, Friar Tux simplifies the process from start to finish. With services designed to fit your schedule, bringing your wedding look together is seamless and stress-free. A dedicated stylist will help you find a look that feels like you and fits the occasion.
Presley & Co. Fine Jewelers
If you’re looking for an engagement ring that’s not only unique but has a bit of edge to it, try Presley & Co. The store’s jewelry with attitude only uses ethically sourced and lab-created diamonds and gemstones. Its pieces come at a variety of price points, so you’ll stay on budget while getting something you love.
Unicorn Jewelry
As the largest independent family-owned and -operated jewelry store in the city, Unicorn Jewelry is the place to find the biggest selection of designer jewelry brands and custom-made pieces. The 46-year old San Diego staple is known for its top-tier service and no-pressure environment.
WHAT TO PLAY
Williams SoCal Entertainment
The right music can make or break a wedding reception. To make sure yours meets the moment, try Williams SoCal Entertainment. This company does it all from the hits to the classics, whether that means country, rock, EDM, hip-hop, disco, or a special request from the dance floor.
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JULY 17, 2026
NOW CFO: Specialized Financial Solutions for San Diego Businesses
NOW CFO provides scalable, on-demand accounting and finance support to companies ranging from pre-revenue startups to billion-dollar businesses
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
You’ve Tracked Your Macros, Your Sleep, Your Steps. What About Your Drinking?
The Unconscious Moderation app is helping health-conscious professionals take an honest look at their drinking, without pressure, and without quitting as the only option.
San Diego runs on optimization. Early mornings, clean eating, training logs, sleep scores. The people here take their health seriously and the results usually show. Most of them also have two drinks most nights, not because anything is wrong, but because the day was long and the glass is right there and it has always been right there.
That routine doesn’t get the same scrutiny as the rest of the stack. It doesn’t feel like something to examine. It feels like a reward.
Which is exactly what your brain has decided it is. When something reliably moves you from one state to another, your brain files it under things to repeat. Do it consistently enough and the cue stops requiring a decision. It’s 6pm, the laptop is closed, and some part of your brain has already placed the order.
Most habit-change tools work on the number. They count drinks, set weekly targets, send check-in texts. That’s useful for seeing what the pattern looks like. It doesn’t tell you where the pattern came from, or change it at that level.
Unconscious Moderation works underneath the habit. The app uses guided hypnotherapy sessions, structured journaling, and daily movement to address the subconscious associations that make reaching for a drink feel like the obvious next thing. The journaling isn’t a diary. It’s built to surface what your brain is actually reaching for, so you can meet that need directly rather than through a substitute.
The program runs 90 days. At day 30, you choose your own direction: cut back, drink more intentionally, or stop altogether. The app treats both as equally valid outcomes. The point isn’t to follow a rule you set on a Sunday. It’s to understand the pattern well enough that whichever path you choose, you’re choosing it clearly.
The people who tend to get the most out of it are not in crisis. They’re the ones who have tried tracking apps and found the count drifting back up regardless. They know exactly how much they drink and why. The awareness just hasn’t moved the habit. At some point, the work needs to happen somewhere the count sheet can’t reach.
San Diego’s wellness culture already knows that surface numbers tell only part of the story. What you eat matters, but so does why. How much you sleep matters, but so does the quality. The same logic applies here.
Chemotherapy and radiation have long been considered gold standards of cancer treatment, but they can cause severe side effects. A promising new approach called theranostics—a combination of “therapeutics” and “diagnostics”—could offer patients with certain types of metastatic cancers new hope. It’s a two-step process that uses a drug that binds to specific receptors on cancer cells. Advanced imaging detects this radioisotope, allowing doctors to then use a second radioisotope that binds to the cancer cells and destroys them. Click here to learn more about how specialists at Scripps Cancer Center are using theranostics.
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Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
555 W. Beech Street, Ste. 500, San Diego, California 92101 619-8000-LAW Panakos.law
At Naumann Law Firm, PC, William Naumann and his team have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages litigating construction defects, insurance, and government claims. Mr. Naumann has spent his career fighting for people in their hardest moments, from winning $7 million for homeowners after landslide damage to advocating for victims of 9/11.
“We always believe in working as hard as we can to maximize the recovery for the client.” — William Naumann, Esq.
Combining a personalized approach with a results-driven strategy, he’s helped homeowners associations, property owners, and individuals win against the largest developers, builders, insurers, and municipalities. His commitment is to secure the best possible results efficiently, whether through settlement or at trial.
10890 Thornmint Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92127 858-792-7474 naumannlegal.com
