Park Manor Suites is a historic boutique-style all-suite hotel. Location = awesome. They are on the edge of Balboa Park West. Next door we find the world renowned San Diego Zoo, the Old Globe Theatre and many fine museums – all within walking distance. Just in case you’ve chosen the Park Manor for your Destination Wedding, see what else is close: San Diego Convention Center, Sea World, The Gaslamp District, Little Italy, the Cruise Ship Terminal, Old Town, Coronado Island and beautiful San Diego beaches - just minutes away.

Park Manor Suites - Breathtaking Views of San Diego

So now, imagine your perfect wedding, with breathtaking views of San Diego and panoramic vistas. Surrounded by your loved ones, you recite your vows and toast to the future, as the sun settles upon the horizon. All your wedding desires are attended to with sophistication and attention to detail, as the magical lights of downtown San Diego twinkle into view.

Romantic Penthouse Wedding Venue 

This sounds lavish…The expert staff of the Park Manor will create the wedding and reception of your dreams in the enchanting, newly renovated Penthouse. (Who would not want to do this?) The storybook character and refined charm of the 1920’s surrounds you, with fine period touches including crystal chandeliers, coffered ceilings and antique furnishings. This renowned San Diego boutique hotel, a registered historic site, creates the perfect romantic atmosphere for your special day.

Park Manor Suites - Romantic Wedding Location in the Heart of San Diego

This award winning wedding reception venue provides the perfect setting for the most intimate, to the most grand of weddings. Suspended above Balboa Park and San Diego Bay, this venue can accommodate up to 200 guests in comfort and refinement. Gourmet continental cuisine service can be customized to suit your tastes, from elegant buffets to formal tableside plated dinners or custom theme and carving stations. Their specialty menus and premium liquor, fine wine and imported beer selections allow you to design your very own wedding reception with sophistication and elegance. Another delightful advantage, they also feature classically appointed suites for your out of town guests.

And best of all, you can relax while the very capable wedding specialist and professional catering staff assist you in tailoring your wedding ceremony and reception down to the finest detail. Their wedding packages include a cocktail reception, hors d’ oeuvres, fine Contemporary American Cuisine, wine with dinner, a champagne toast, your wedding suite, and all taxes and gratuities.  Amazing location, beautiful facility, exquisite cuisine. What more could a bride ask for?

If you can dream it…they can totally do it!

Park Manor Suites - San Diego Wedding Location Perfection

Park Manor Suites - Romantic Penthouse Wedding Venue

Park Manor Suites - Classically Appointed Suites for Your Out of Town Guests.

Park Manor Suites - Historic San Diego Wedding Location

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs - Breathtaking Ocean Views in San Diego

This spectacular oceanfront property has two outside terraces over-looking the ocean for your ceremony and reception. Notice the proximity to the water. You’ll feel like the waves are crashing right below your feet. Opt for a wedding at dusk as an incredible sunset fills the entire sky and reflects off the vast ocean making. Really romantic.  Guests are able to enjoy the ceremony, reception, and hotel rooms all in the same location which creates a mini community for everyone invited. These great features make this San Diego wedding location a candidate for the most memorable wedding ever – for you and your wedding guests!

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs has complete accommodations for both your wedding ceremony and reception. Observe these fabulous photos and note: your ceremony and reception are right on the ocean.  Imagine your amazing wedding photographs. Can you hear the soothing sound of the waves during your ceremony? Really cool.

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs - Romantic San Diego Wedding at Sunset

The Inn also provides an on-site wedding coordinator to help with organization, timelines, and planning for free! After your breathtaking wedding ceremony, the reception dinner tables will be just a few steps away. The staff at The Inn provides tables and chairs and will take care of setting up your reception area. Light up the fire pit during your reception to give your guests a place to gather. You’ll also find barbecues on site if a finger-lickin’ chicken and rib reception dinner is to your liking. The swimming pool is a nice feature for guests who are staying at the Inn, giving all a chance to chill and relax before and after the festivities. Hopefully, not during, but remember to be open minded and know that if your new husband and his best man jump in during the reception, you’ll laugh about it…someday.

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs - Spectacular San Diego Wedding Ceremony and Reception Location

Getting married at The Inn will feel like you are getting married right on top of the ocean. The booming waves, cawing seagulls, smell of the ocean breeze, and vast glistening waters will hypnotize you into a state of relaxation and utter enjoyment. Please note that in winter months, or when they are at low occupancy, the staff at The Inn is able to charge a site fee for as low as $2,500. When booking with them, the hosting party will receive 10% off on all 24 rooms for their guest’s accommodations. Sounds like your wedding festivities could turn out to be a mini vacation for all!

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs - Fabulous Ocean View San Diego Wedding Location

The Inn at Sunset Cliffs - Breathtaking Pacific Ocean Views

The Abbey - A Beautiful, Historic San Diego Wedding Location

If you love the thought and feeling of a time-honored wedding, this venue offers an amazing slice of history. Step back into the year 1910. William Howard Taft was president, the Panama Canal was near completion, and the country was enjoying the carefree years of la belle époque (I looked it up – “Beautiful Era”). In the small town of San Diego, a burst of architectural creativity produced noteworthy buildings, such as those in Horton Plaza and the U.S. Grant Hotel. In fashionable “Uptown” San Diego horticulturist Kate Sessions was planting trees that would soon shade glorious Balboa Park. On the fringe of this newborn landscape, master architect Norman Foote Marsh unveiled the Park Place Methodist Episcopal Church, an acclaimed structure that would eventually become “The Abbey.” Makes you want to hike your skirts up above your ankles, doesn’t it ladies?

Now a full service event planning company, the consummate professionals at The Abbey easily handle all the details of your wedding day, so you can relax and enjoy it to the fullest. Packages are available for ceremonies and receptions, rehearsal dinners and any other wedding related celebrations. The Abbey provides you with a full service catering company and offers on-site coordination. Your rental is made easy as it includes: tables, chairs, china, glassware, silverware, linens, and chairs, as well as their “crew” to assure your San Diego wedding is smooth. If you do choose this as your wedding venue, your guests will be treated to yummy cuisine; all prepared on site in their 2,400 square foot gourmet kitchen. Mmm,mm,mm. Fresh, hot and delicious.  

The Abbey Features Two Enormous Domed, Stained Glass Skylights

Picture this: Two enormous domed, stained glass skylights bathe the room in a pale yellow glow, while the twelve luminous stained glass windows cast their own heavenly light. Standing in the middle of this former church, you feel as if you’re in a Renaissance cathedral: dark, polished redwood molding and woodwork is everywhere—framing doors, railings, walls and curved balconies. Stunning fixtures made of hand-blown, orange-yellow glass are suspended from 50-foot ceilings. Wedding ceremonies take place where the pulpit used to be, and no matter where guests are seated—on the ground floor or up on the mezzanine—they can easily see the goings-on. 

The Abbey - Full Service Catering Company and On-site Coordination

After a totally romantic ceremony your guests begin to feast on hors d’ouerves, such as Baked Brie in Puffed Pastry with Apricots and Candied Walnuts, Spinach and Artichoke Gratin with Toasted Garlic Crostini. OMGosh!  Trays are passed with Coconut Fried Shrimp with Passion Fruit Dipping Sauce and Mushroom Bruschetta with Fresh Herbs. Then the chef gets serious! The Entrée: Baby Spinach and Radicchio with Crispy Pancetta, Kalamata Olives, Roasted Red Peppers, Asiago and Roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette, Duet of Pan-Seared Pacific Salmon with Roasted Leeks, Tomatoes, Saffron and Cream, and Grilled Petite Center Cut Filet Mignon sauced with a rich Veal Demi Glace, Truffles and Madeira Sauté of Asparagus, Baby Carrot and Red Bell Peppers with Sage Butter Potato Soufflé with Fresh Rosemary, Rustic Breads with Whipped Herb Butter. Are you getting all of this? And don’t forget dessert of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Assorted Chocolate Truffles. (Please invite me to your wedding, because this sounds fabulous!) 

A couple of notes from Real Weddings at The Abbey:

Hi Kristie,

We just got back from our honeymoon and I wanted to take a minute to say thank you for all your help!!  The wedding was perfect! We really could not have asked for anything more!  I have heard from so many people who tell me that it was the best wedding that they’ve ever been to, and the food was wonderful!!

***************************** 

Hi Kristie,
I got your message….but not until we got back from our honeymoon, sorry! We had a blast – it was absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for all of your help! It was exactly what we wanted and totally stress free! So many of our guests commented on how it was one of the best weddings they had ever been to – which is saying a lot since we have a big family and were pretty much the last to get married! 

***************************** 

Dear Kristie;

WOW, what an amazing day. Everything was so perfect. The music was perfect, the flowers were perfect, the food was great, and the service was unimaginable. They were all so great. They were all so polite and willing to make everything just right. That was by far the best day of our whole life and I owe most of it to you and your staff. That was just amazing. With many thanks and appreciation to one of the most memorable days of our life.

***************************** 

We think The Abbey is definitely worth checking into. If you’ve attended a wedding at the Abbey, fill us in. We want the whole story for our San Diego brides-to-be, and love to hear what you think.

The Abbey - Lovely San Diego Wedding Ceremony Location

The Abbey - Step Back in Time at this Historic Landmark Wedding Location

The Abbey - San Diego Wedding Reception Location

Ocean Pearl Weddings - The Perfect San Diego California Wedding Experience

The perfect Southern California coastal wedding experience can be found at Ocean Pearl Weddings at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa.  Nestled just north of San Diego, in the picturesque coastal community of Carlsbad, the Resort offers over 30,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor event space, gorgeously appointed ballrooms, richly scenic outdoor wedding ceremony sites on an expansive lush green lawn dotted with California palm trees and set to a background of lush rolling hills and colorful flower fields.  An outdoor wedding reception area is included with vistas of the Pacific coastline in the distance, as well as pre and post wedding activities for the entire wedding party and guests. 

The Resort is home to Ocean Pearl Spa, a luxe, completely organic, full service spa specializing in decadent marine based treatments perfect for the bride and her court.  Even in the middle of finalizing last minute details, an intimate Spa Happy Hour can quickly but effectively relax and recharge frazzled wedding groups with 15-minute mini treatments such as the Peppermint Foot Treatment with White Chocolate, Aromatherapy Scalp Massage or Quick Fix Hand and Shoulder Massage. Or, let Ocean Pearl provide full service make up and hair services for everyone from the bride to mom to flower girls and bridesmaids.

Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar offers the freshest in locally grown coastal cuisine in an elegant yet casual atmosphere reflective of the SoCal lifestyle.  The restaurant has indoor or alfresco dining for pre and post wedding celebrations.  Inside, guests of the airy 5,200 square foot space are treated to ribbons of sunlight through floor to ceiling windows.  And outside, on the 1,700 square foot patio, a roaring fire pit and panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean are the perfect backdrop to any meal.  Twenty/20 is an ideal San Diego location for an intimate rehearsal dinner (in its private dining room); post wedding reception cocktails; or morning after brunch with family and friends.

Ocean Pearl Weddings - The Perfect San Diego California Wedding Experience

Ocean Pearl Weddings offers a full service experience with every detail of your San Diego wedding attended to from start to finish.  Fabulous location options throughout the resort for pre and post celebrations, customizable specialty menus with superb ingredients and stunning presentation, a wedding coordinator to handle everything from flowers to menus to spa treatments for the wedding party, access to our contacts with wedding photographers, make up artists and the best creative wedding cake bakers in the world…our complete staff is here to help with this special day.  Just a few of the areas in which we can help create the San Diego wedding of your dreams include:

Ocean Pearl Weddings - The Perfect San Diego California Wedding Experience

Engagement Parties:
A Catering Manager will assist in planning the perfect engagement party, whether it’s a Beach Themed BBQ outside on our lawn or a Formal Dinner in our beautiful ballrooms.

Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties:
Ocean Pearl Weddings can help plan pre-wedding parties as well. Ladies can indulge in a day of shopping at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, and melt pre-wedding stress away with a customized group spa package at Ocean Pearl Spa. Make it a memorable weekend with the men teeing off at our neighboring golf course, The Crossings, or personalized surf lessons at Ponto Beach—a great addition to a San Diego travel experience.

Wedding Day Makeup and Hair:
The Ocean Pearl Spa is available for hair and makeup consultations. The “day of” guests can relax in our Spa and Salon while having their hair and makeup done, or have our beauty technicians come directly to your hotel suite. And don’t forget—champagne cocktails are plentiful!

Ocean Pearl Weddings - Be Pampered in the Ocean Pearl Lounge

Rehearsal Dinners:
For an intimate dinner, invite your closest friends and family to join you at Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar in the semi private dining room, while you enjoy fresh, local, and seasonal cuisine. For a larger celebration, we have multiple private ballrooms and outdoor venues to accommodate a catered affair.

Anniversary Celebrations:
Whether you are celebrating your 1st or 50th Anniversary, celebrate it at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa with a private dinner or perhaps a renewal of vows on our Ocean Blue Lawn and a luxuriously appointed guest suite, perfect for an overnight celebration.

To extend our service and gratitude for sharing such an important event with us, the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort is happy to start the happy couple off on their honeymoon at any Starwood Hotel Worldwide* with the first two nights paid by Ocean Pearl Weddings. The Honeymoon On Us offer is good from May 1, 2009 through September 1, 2010 and eligible weddings must be for 200-plus people and include the reception at the resort.

Ocean Pearl Weddings - The Perfect San Diego Reception Location

Ocean Pearl Weddings - The Perfect San Diego California Wedding Experience

Ocean Pearl Spa - A Place to Relax and Rejuvenate Before Your Wedding

Many couples choose certain locales because they cater specifically to destination weddings and hosting numerous guests; they are the places that everyone on your list wants to go to and may not have had a chance before, but now have an iron-clad reason to make the trek. Here are the most popular spots for destination weddings – as well as what you can do while you’re there. (Just remember to choose a locale that suits you both; if you love water, a beach wedding is best, but if you would rather have a more rustic affair, opt for the mountains!)

Five of the Best Destination Wedding Planning Picks 

Destination Weddings in Tuscany

ITALY  There’s nothing more romantic than Italian destination weddings. Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan – you name it; this is the ultimate getaway for many couples and their families. But going overseas also has a lot of challenges. As part of your destination wedding planning, you’ll have to ensure that all guests have or acquire a passport well in advance, and you’ll be responsible for finding suitable accommodations and transportation to and from the events. Your guests will want to do a little sightseeing while in town, so creating a list of places to visit and how to get there is a must. Fortunately, there are many destination wedding planning specialists who cater to foreign couples, so use their abilities fully. And the true perk of destination weddings: you can honeymoon right where you got married!

HAWAII  This tropical island is a mecca for couples who want a relaxed beach wedding with little fuss. And hundreds of thousands of couples flock here to celebrate their nuptials Hawaiian-style. Many airports in the U.S. have direct flights to Honolulu, but if you decide to get married on another island, your guests can easily catch a flight the same or next day, giving them time to explore. And whether you choose to have an impromptu, informal affair or a giant, tropical bash, there are many knowledgeable destination wedding planning companies that can help you decide where to have your event, what to serve, where to spend your honeymoon, and much more.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Destination Weddings in The Bahamas

THE BAHAMAS  One of the top destination wedding locations, the Bahamas truly evokes the Caribbean spirit inmore ways than one. If all of your guests are U.S. citizens, then you’re in the clear (though, based on recent legislation, you are required to have a valid passport to enter). Citizens of other countries are advised to check entry requirements before booking tickets, and you can make it easier on your guests if they are flying from another country by verifying the requirements beforehand. Many couples choose to have their destination weddings take place among the centuries-old cathedrals or fortresses or at the famed city harbor in Nassau. And once the wedding is over, you and your guests can experience the best seafood, golfing, shopping, and casinos available!

NAPA VALLEY  For couples who love wine and/or the idea of getting married in a vineyard, Napa Valley is a great choice for destination weddings. Proximity to the big city – San Francisco and all of its unique sights – and the pastoral beauty of

Destination Weddings in the Napa Valley

countless vineyards lure thousands of couples here each year to tie the knot with the help of a destination wedding planning specialist. From Spring to Winter, the change in seasons provides a new and different look to the Napa Valley countryside. Some wineries even host on site and have event planners at your disposal who specialize in destination weddings. And what would be more fun than touring the Wine Country on The Napa Valley Wine Train for your honeymoon?

LAKE TAHOE  For many years, the scenic charms of Lake Tahoe have routinely been voted one of the top spots for destination weddings. And it’s no wonder this vibrant city appeals to so many different people. There’s biking, hiking, boating, camping, fishing, golfing, and skiing, all right there for you and your guests to enjoy. If you choose a wedding resort, which not only takes care of the accommodations for you and your guests, you’ll be provided with a dedicated destination wedding planning guide who will see to all of the details. 

Destination Weddings: a Break from the Norm

Many couples think destination wedding planning is an outrageous expenditure. While this belief is true in some instances, you’re actually saving yourself from many hassles. Wherever you choose to have your ceremony and reception, you’ll be matched with event planners skilled at making sure that the tiniest aspects of destination weddings flow smoothly. And, you’ll also have your honeymoon built in to the cost. The best part you ask?…experiencing a brand new place with your family, friends, and loved ones.

Posted by Cherie Johnson of Creative Bride for The Wedding Source.com

Destination Weddings in Lake Tahoe

Destination Weddings in Hawaii

 CORONADO

Best attributes: Surfing; Shopping; Biking/skating; Romance; Honeymoon destination; Ceremony & reception location.

Hotel del Coronado - Beautiful San Diego Beach Wedding

Coronado Highlights 

Coronado has some of the most perfect beaches San Diego has to offer, whether you want to spend an entire day or weekend sprawled out under an umbrella until the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean, swim, surf, sail, bodyboard, fish, or just fall asleep in the sun. Other activities include beach volleyball, tide pool exploration, and kite flying. There is also a bike path south of the Hotel Del Coronado. Additionally, in early winter, watch for migrating whales.

For some, the elegant Hotel Del Coronado— a cultural centerpiece of San Diego — is the primary reason for visiting the City of Coronado. One of the most picturesque locations in all of San Diego, this facility is a perfect location for your wedding ceremony, reception and even honeymoon. But this tiny upscale island city, separated from downtown San Diego by bridge, also boasts flat sandy beaches, stately homes, boutiques, restaurants, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego.

Logistics  Beach areas have fire rings, restrooms, showers, and lifeguards. Also, there is an off-leash dog area to the north. Park free on Ocean Boulevard, but plan to arrive before 11 a.m. on summer weekends to beat the crowds. Also, try the free parking lots on Avenida Lunar and Avenida de las Arenas.

Getting to Coronado Coronado is a short ferry ride or car trip across the San Diego Bay Bridge from downtown San Diego. From the Bay Bridge, travel several blocks on Third Street. Turn left onto Orange Avenue. Turn right onto R.H. Dana Place, which will take you to Ocean Boulevard. Coronado Municipal Beach runs along Ocean Boulevard from Avenida Lunar in the south to Naval Air Station North Island Gate 5 to the north. For those making their way leisurely across the bay, the ferry departs from downtown San Diego at the Broadway Pier. Bicycles are allowed onboard. You can get to Silver Strand State Beach by traveling south on I-5 from San Diego and exiting at Palm Avenue / Highway 75. Then go west on Palm and follow signs to Highway 75 and Silver Strand State Beach.

Hotel del Coronado - Weddings on the Beach

Insider Tips For walking and biking, visitors will discover that Centennial Park (near the ferry landing at the end of Orange Avenue) is an excellent starting point. A wide concrete pathway runs east-west, affording dramatic views of downtown San Diego. You can rent bicycles near the Coronado Ferry Landing. Bike riders looking for a more challenging route can follow the same path south and east. At Tidelands Park, follow the pathway under the bridge, continue to Glorietta Boulevard, turn left, and continue until you see Pomona Avenue. Turn left on Pomona and continue to Silver Strand Highway, where you’ll soon see an asphalt pathway on the bayside. This pathway runs all the way to Imperial Beach! Riders of all abilities will enjoy this path. Stop along the way at Silver Strand State Beach. Round trip is over 20 miles, so be prepared with water and snacks.

While visiting Coronado, be sure to take a gander at the upscale restaurants and shops at the corners of Orange and Pomona Avenues… and if you’re not already staying at the Hotel Del Coronado, drop by at sunset for drinks on the water.

 
 DEL MAR

 Best attributes: Surfing; Shopping; Romance; Honeymoon destination; Ceremony & reception location.

Del Mar Highlights The City of Del Mar, world famous for its horseracing (July – September at the fairgrounds), has one of the most popular beaches in North County San Diego. Located just north of Torrey Pines State Beach, Del Mar’s beach is perfect for families, tourists, and surfers who enjoy its wide expanse of sand. Swimming, walking, surfing, body boarding, and even grunion hunting are just some of the activities you can enjoy at this beach.

The Sheraton Hacienda - Breathtaking San Diego Beach Weddings

Del Mar also has two seaside parks — Seagrove and Powerhouse — both great for picnicking, stunning ocean views and seaside wedding ceremonies and receptions. Often referred to as “Malibu South,” the community of Del Mar features expensive real estate, luxury hotels, perfect for honeymooning, and high-end boutiques, trendy cafes, and restaurants (along Camino Del Mar / Highway 101). The Del Mar Fair, one of the largest county fairs in the U.S., runs from mid-June through July 4 and has carnival rides, games, entertainment, and exhibits.

Logistics  Del Mar has restrooms, showers, and wheelchair accessibility. Lifeguards are stationed year-round. Paid parking is available across from Powerhouse Park or try street parking near 15th Street and Coast Boulevard (metered). You can find free street parking on 17th Street; however, like most beaches during the summer, spaces fill early. At peak times, parking is scarce and traffic backs up along Coast Route 101, but it’s not a problem if you arrive a little early in the day.

Getting to Del Mar From the north, take I-5 south and exit at Villa de la Valle. From the south, take I-5 north to Del Mar Heights Road.
 
Insider Tips For good reason, Del Mar is one of the most popular beach communities in San Diego County. Great beaches, fairgrounds, horseracing, and a quaint, upscale village provide plenty of activities for everyone. Powerhouse Park, with a full children’s playground, is especially nice for families with young kids. Beachgoers can also find good, cheap eats at Roberto’s taco stand on Carmel Valley Road, overlooking Los Penasquitos Lagoon.

Coast Highway which runs through Del Mar is one of San Diego County’s best cycling routes. Start your bike ride in Del Mar and head south to Torrey Pines or north to Solana Beach, Encinitas, Leucadia and Carlsbad. Parking can be sparse in Del Mar, especially on weekends and during the fair and horse racing season. Best to arrive early and/or park along Coast Highway either north or south of the village.

LA JOLLA

Best attributes: Surfing; Shopping; Romance; Honeymoon destination; Ceremony & reception location.

La Jolla Highlights La Jolla (Spanish for “the jewel”) has European elegance, a sunny Mediterranean climate, and some of the most picturesque beaches in the world. La Jolla offers world-class hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques. It is a hot spot for spa goers, surfers, tourists, nature lovers and has many perfect ceremony and reception locations. Fill your honeymoon with a massage and facial at a day spa or stroll the coast and take in the stunning emerald blue beaches and coves.

La Jolla beaches offer endless hours of fun and relaxation… from the pretty sandstone cliffs towering high above the Pacific at Torrey Pines State Beach to the crystal clear water at La Jolla Cove, an ideal snorkeling spot.

Marine Street and Windansea beaches are intimate coastal retreats perfect for romantic getaways or a quiet day at the beach with a good book. Whatever activity you enjoy, La Jolla beaches offer something for everyone:

Picturesque Windansea Beach – An Amazing San Diego Wedding Location

Windansea Beach
Down the hill, past La Jolla’s ritzy homes, hotels, boutiques and restaurants, lies Windansea Beach, flanked by surfers and sunbathers on hot summer days. With its sandstone cliffs, sandy beach, and incredible surf breaks, Windansea has been a popular surfing haunt as far back as the 1940s and a gathering spot of the Windansea Surf Club since the 1960s. The shack on the beach, built by surfers during World War II, is now a San Diego Historic site.

Marine St. Beach
Marine Street Beach is near the upscale community of La Jolla, a small cluster of high-end clothiers, hotels, shops, and galleries. It’s legendary to body surfers and body boarders because of its thunderous waves, which crash right at shoreline. However, this beach may not be ideal for families, as there are no pubic restrooms or picnic areas and the rough surf is not well suited to children.

La Jolla Cove
Not far from downtown La Jolla — an upscale hamlet of hotels, boutiques, and galleries — lies La Jolla Cove, a swimming and diving paradise. This tiny beach nook, part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, is sheltered by picturesque cliffs and offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean in an intimate setting. La Jolla Cove has some of the clearest water of all San Diego beaches, making it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.

La Jolla Shores
Think palm trees next to the Pacific, green lawns dotting hillsides, and bougainvillea blossoms — pink, white, and orange — complementing the Spanish-style architecture of some of the most expensive real estate in all of California. La Jolla Shores, home to world-class resorts, is a 1 mile stretch of shoreline with parks and picnic areas. It also features a boardwalk that spans a length of the beach and is great for walking, jogging, bicycling, or rollerblading.

MISSION BAY

Best attributes: Water sports; Biking/skating; Honeymoon destination; Ceremony & reception location.

Mission Bay Highlights Mission Bay has more than 4,000 acres of bay, bike paths, and parks to play in and on. First named “False Bay” by explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542, Mission Bay supports all types of boating activities and has boat docks and launches. Other water sports include sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing, jet skiing, rowing, and swimming.

The Dana on Mission Bay - One of San Diego's Most Romantic Wedding Locations

For an adventurous honeymoon, rent a sailboat and cruise the bay or bicycle around the bay on the bike paths that wind for miles. Picnickers and sunbathers will revel in the endless supply of green grassy knolls at Mission Bay. The sports-minded can enjoy basketball, volleyball, and over-the-line games. If you’re bringing kids to the bay, take them to the playground at Tecolote Shores (1500 East Mission Bay Drive), which was designed to accommodate physically challenged children. Also see Mission Bay’s plant and animal life at the nature reserve near Crown Point to the north.

Logistics  Mission Bay has picnic shelters, barbecues, public restrooms, and showers. Lifeguards are seasonal and usually watch Mission Bay between spring and November. There’s lots of free parking at Mission Bay. Most lots are near the swimming beaches. But, beware, lots fill quickly during the summer. It’s best to come early.

Getting to Mission Bay From the north or south, take I-5 to the East Mission Bay Drive, Grand Avenue, Clairemont Drive, or Sea World Drive exits.

Insider Tips  If you like to bike, Mission Bay offers some of the best riding in San Diego. There are miles of paved bike paths, which are easily accessible from the many parking lots circling the bay.

Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa on Mission Bay - Bayside Wedding Ceremony Location in San Diego

Mission Bay is also great for kayaking, kite-flying (east side near Hilton), fishing, bird-watching and any other activity that works best in large, grass-covered areas.

Mission Bay hotel, package and attraction ticket reservations are provided by Advanced Reservation services of San Diego (ARES). ARES has developed a reputation for offering some of the cheapest San Diego travel and vacation rates found anywhere on the internet. We encourage you to compare our prices with other national travel resellers–we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised! 

SOLANA BEACH

Best attributes: Surfing; Shopping; Romance; Honeymoon destination 

Solana Beach Highlights  Solana Beach, situated north of Del Mar and south of Cardiff by the Sea, is a modest, mostly residential beach community offering uncrowded, family-friendly beaches and some of the best antique and art shopping in San Diego County. Like other beach communities in north San Diego County, the cultural heart and soul of Solana Beach is Coast Route 101. Along 101, you’ll find an interesting mix of surf shops, restaurants, hotels, arts-and-crafts galleries and everyday grocery and drug stores.

The beach lies below the wind- and water-sculpted sandstone bluffs that run the length of this community west of 101. Fletcher Cove Beach Park, a small beach with public parking, restrooms, and seasonal lifeguards, dissects the bluffs. This cove was constructed years ago by cutting out a portion of the bluffs with hydraulic water hoses and steam shovels. A 2-mile, paved walking and bike path has recently been constructed on the east side of 101. This path offers a comfortable course, safe from traffic, with benches to sit on and enjoy the unique flavor of this pleasant San Diego, California beach community.

Logistics  Fletcher Cove has public parking. From there, you can access the entire Solana Beach coastline if you don’t mind walking and the tide isn’t too high. More beach access is available along Pacific Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Solana Vista Drive, as well as along Sierra Avenue.

Getting There  From San Diego, take I-5 north to the Lomas Santa Fe exit and head west. Lomas Santa Fe intersects Coast Route 101, which you can take north or south for beach access. Easier yet, cross 101; Lomas Santa Fe turns in Plaza Street, which dead ends at Fletcher Cove Beach Park. The Solana Beach Regional Transportation Center is Solana Beach’s very own train station. Offering parking and a daily schedule of train and bus service, the Center is located on North Cedros Avenue just north of Lomas Santa Fe.

San Diego Beach Weddings - Solana Beach, California

The spirit of romance in Rancho Santa Fe began when Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford rode horseback across the valley at the beginning of their great romance in the 1920’s. This romance continues today at Rancho Valencia Resort. Dramatic views, impeccable service and award winning cuisine are the hallmarks of Rancho Valencia. This intimate and unique setting is the perfect backdrop for your San Diego wedding day celebration.

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Lavish Outdoor Wedding Receptions in Sunny San Diego

Each wedding ceremony and reception, shower or rehearsal dinner receives the personal attention of a dedicated catering manager who will work with you to oversee every detail of your event. Relax and enjoy your wedding day as these consummate San Diego wedding professionals are intent on creating the wedding of your dreams.  

Rancho Valencia offers a myriad of wedding services for San Diego couples.  Our staff was amused that Rancho Valencia included “Elopements” in their list of services, although, after viewing these photographs we think those not anxious for a large lavish wedding reception are certainly going to love this venue for an intimate wedding ceremony. Following is a list of services provided by this fabulous San Diego wedding location:

-          Ceremonies

-          Receptions

-          Elopements

-          Full service catering

-          On site coordinator

-          Rehearsal dinners

-          Brunches

 Ideally set in Rancho Santa Fe, just 25 miles north of downtown San Diego, and 5 miles from the beautiful beaches of Del Mar, Rancho Valencia is truly one of Southern California’s premier luxury resorts, as recognized by its place on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List. The resort’s all-suite accommodations and world-class spa, tennis and golf offer all of the amenities to pamper the bride, groom and bridal party before and after the big day.

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Elegant San Diego Wedding Receptions

Rancho Valencia, like every Auberge resort, delivers a completely immersive experience. We think you’ll enjoy the absolute essence of your destination and discover a staff committed to delivering every service and amenity with an unrivalled sense of passion. It’s a unique sense of luxury and classic sophistication, refined, yet always relaxed.

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Idyllic San Diego Wedding Location in Rancho Sante Fe

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Lavish Wedding Receptions in Sunny San Diego

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Luxury Accomodations in Sunny San Diego

Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa - Luxury and Classic Sophistication

The winery was built with weddings in mind and the facility allows your event to take full advantage of what Temecula wine country has to offer. Enjoy your wedding ceremony surrounded by lush vineyards and celebrate at your reception with unforgettable food and wine in Wiens fully enclosed event pavilion, vineyard patio or intimate barrel room. Bride and groom suites are available on-site for your wedding party to use in preparation for the big day.

Wiens Family Cellars - Unique Winery Wedding Location in San Diego County

The food and wine at Wiens Family Cellars has gained a reputation for being superb. They are actually known for having superior red wine. “Taking special care to pair the wine with high-quality food to bring out the best in both the food and wine” is a talent taken seriously by the professional chef’s at Wiens. Your wedding reception at Wiens will be a memorable experience for all of your guests, especially if they appreciate fine cuisine!

We think the wedding packages at Wiens seem very inclusive of lots of valuable amenities. This San Diego County wedding location offers tons of value for your money.  Wiens also offers discounts on off-season events and reduced pricing, should you elect to have a Friday or Sunday wedding.

Wedding Packages include the following:

Wedding Ceremony

Ceremony Site Overlooking the Vineyards with Seating for up to 300 Guests

Use of Scenic Sprawling Vineyards for Wedding and Engagement Photos 

Private Dressing Rooms for Bride and Groom

Complimentary Bottle of Sparkling Amour De L’Orange and Refreshments in each dressing room

Complimentary Ceremony Rehearsal

Private Parking with Separate Entrance for the Wedding Party

Complimentary Parking for your Guests 

Professional Event Coordination

Wedding Reception

Use of Event Pavilion, Barrel Room, or Outdoor Patio

Tables and Chairs for up to 300 guests: 72” rounds or 6’ banquet tables

Your choice of floor length linen, up to 40 color choices available

China, Glass, and Flatware

Head Table for the Bridal Party

Gift and Guest Book Table, Placecard Table, DJ Table

Wedding Cake Barrel with Complimentary Cake Cutting

Dance Floor

Premier, Organic, Four-Course Meal Prepared with Local Ingredients
Vegetarian and Children’s Meals Available

Plated, Buffet, or Family Style Meal Service

Appetizer Hour including complimentary Sparkling Amour De L’Orange and Gourmet Cheese Display

One bottle of Wiens house red and white wine per 10 guests

Choice of Two Centerpiece Options and Votive Candles

Wiens Wine Cork Placecard Holders

Dramatic Up lighting Indoors

Umbrellas or Heaters Outdoors

Complimentary Sparkling Amour De L’Orange for Toast

Set-up and Clean-up

Exclusive Pre-Wedding Tasting Event

Professional Event Coordination

Wiens Family Cellars Celebrates with Frank and Anna Choi on April 18, 2009.

Real Weddings

Frank and Anna Choi had a fabulous winery wedding at Wiens on April 18, 2009. Here is what they had to say: 

“We absolutely loved having our wedding at Wiens! We looked into a few places in San Diego, but nothing stood out. I had considered looking into wineries but we weren’t sure we could afford a winery wedding. I emailed a few wineries for pricing information, and everything was over our budget. But then you did what no one else did, you followed up with me! After you offered a few discounts, you were in our price range, so we decided to visit Wiens and check out the location. After we saw everything Wiens had to offer we were sold! The property is gorgeous! Also, you were so friendly and easy to work with, my family fell in love with you! We knew we wouldn’t have anything to worry about the day of the wedding.”

Wiens is a family owned winery and their promise to you is this: “We hope when you have your wine country wedding at Wiens, you feel like you’ve been taken care of like you’re a member of our own family.”  This wedding location is worth checking out if you’re looking for a fabulous winery wedding in San Diego County!

Wiens Family Cellars - San Diego County Winery Wedding Location

Wiens Family Cellars - San Diego County Winery Wedding Location

Photography as follows: Frank and Anna Choi photos – Trailbrook Photography; Barrel Room – Hulse Photography; Event Pavilion – Miguel Pola Photography; Front of Winery – Hulse Photography

This lovely San Diego wedding location has professionally trained staff to take care of everything for you: They offer beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites with the luxury accommodations you desire for your guests and wedding party. Hotel Solamar features the exceptional outdoor Solamar Terrace for your San Diego wedding ceremony or their beautiful ballroom for a grand wedding reception which can accommodate up to 250 guests. Hotel Solamar also offers smaller spaces which make an ideal setting for a rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch or any of the many wedding parties surrounding the Big Day.

Hotel Solamar - Solstice Ballroom

Hotel Solamar only hosts one wedding at a time so they guarantee you receive the attention you deserve. Hotel Solamar’s pièce de résistance is the 8,550-squarefoot Solamar Terrace offering LOUNGEsix. Hotel Solamar’s glistening Shore Pool, private Shell Cabanas and 3,800-square-foot outdoor reception and banquet space overlooking Petco Park and cosmopolitan San Diego. It is San Diego’s premier rooftop deck venue, where function and personality blend to create a versatile space for any occasion. Solamar Terrace is ideal for out-of-the-ordinary wedding receptions.

Additionally, if you’d like any background information on the hotel itself, you can find it at Hotel Solamar’s Press Kit:

Photography by Tim Otto of Tim Otto Photography

Hotel Solamar - Stylish San Diego Weddings

Hotel Solamar - Stylish San Diego Weddings

Hotel Solamar - Stylish San Diego Weddings

Hotel Solamar - Downtown San Diego Weddings

Hotel Solamar - Solamar Terrace - Out-of-the-Ordinary Wedding Receptions

Hotel Solamar - Honeymoons Overlooking San Diego

Hotel Solamar - Refine Your Vision

San Diego wedding ceremonies can be whimsical, awe-inspiring or jaw-droppingly beautiful. If you are exploring non-traditional ways to celebrate and commemorate your special day, then it may be time to look beyond the church and out into the beautiful surroundings of San Diego.

San Diego Zoo - Alternative Wedding Locations in San Diego

San  Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park

Many couples have shared vows at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park – and for good reason. This exciting venue, aside from being unique and whimsical, provides beautiful backdrops against which to celebrate San Diego wedding ceremonies. What could be more breathtaking than saying your “I do’s” with an expansive savannah, dotted with graceful gazelles, towering giraffes and herds of rhinos at your back? Or perhaps a beautiful, lush setting amidst the tropical bird-filled lagoon is what you had in mind. Whatever your dreams, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park can make it happen.

Hot Air Balloon Rides above San Diego – With the beautiful San Diego area at your disposal, a hot air balloon ride may be just what you had in mind for a soaring way to say “I do.” Many San Diego couples have exchanged vows in a hot air balloon, while others have lifted off right after the ceremony. Whatever your dream may be, there are many great ways to incorporate hot air balloons into San Diego wedding ceremonies.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - Spectaculat Oceans Views and Distinctive Architecture

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

The spectacular ocean views are just the beginning of what the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has to offer brides and grooms. San Diego wedding ceremonies are welcome here among the distinctive architecture and the open exhibition spaces. Imagine exchanging vows in the middle of a pristine gallery, filled with the ambience that is the Museum of Contemporary Art. From intimate receptions to large San Diego wedding ceremonies, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego can accommodate any type of wedding plans.

NTC Promenade – The NTC Promenade has hosted many San Diego wedding ceremonies. The unique indoor and outdoor spaces provide the beauty and splendor that so many brides and grooms are looking for in a wedding venue.

Consider the McMillin Event Center which boasts 8,700 square feet wedding ceremony and reception space, all of which showcase the historic grandeur of this event center. The Legacy Plaza is an outdoor plaza which is ensconced by beautiful, lush gardens and landscaping. The Luce Court is another outdoor wedding ceremony site that features a grand, 1,700 square foot water fountain as its showpiece. The Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden is an expansive, 5,000 square foot outdoor garden that showcases spectacular rose bushes, a large fountain and a terrace which serves as an ideal spot for San Diego wedding ceremonies.

For the creative couple, the possibilities for a San Diego wedding ceremony are endless. Whether you want your love to be surrounded by packs of wild animals or the most celebrated works of art, it’s all possible in San Diego.

The Beautiful Luce Court - A Spectacular San Diego Outdoor Wedding Location

From wineries in the mountaintops to luxury yacht receptions along the San Diego Bay, your imagination is your only limitation regarding the magnificent San Diego wedding locations at which you can celebrate your special day.

· Yacht Receptions – What better way to celebrate your nuptials than on a beautiful yacht? Sail up and down the beautiful San Diego Bay with picturesque views of the downtown San Diego skyline when you choose the Maritime Museum as your wedding reception site.

Outdoor San Diego wedding receptions usually focus on the beautiful sites of San Diego, and the San Diego Maritime Museum of San Diego is no exception. Set off on the 1898 Berkeley Ferryboat or the 1863 Star of India and discover their open-air sundecks, large dance floors and stunning, sunset views.

Hornblower Dining Yachts is another fine yacht company which boasts more than 25 elegant yachts for a variety of San Diego wedding receptions. The yachts of the Hornblower Dining Yachts can accommodate up to 475 guests.

· Vineyard Receptions – San Diego wedding receptions are at their best when celebrated amongst the serene mountaintops of some of San Diego’s finest wineries. From rustic, Tuscan-inspired San Diego wedding receptions to modern, sleek venues, San Diego’s vineyard reception locations are second-to-none in terms of quality, service and ambience.

San Diego Winery Wedding

The Bernardo Winery and the Ponte Family Estate Winery are two popular wineries for San Diego wedding receptions. The countryside location of the Ponte Family Estate Winery offers beautiful, panoramic views from either the garden courtyard or the amphitheater, both of which have been the site of many fine San Diego wedding receptions.

· Historic Receptions – San Diego boasts many buildings that feature plenty of history and loads of charm. Many of these locations serve as San Diego wedding reception venues, thus providing couples with beautiful surroundings and lots of ambience.

The Junipero Museum, for example, which is located in Presidio Park, is a mission-style building that was built in 1929. Many of the receptions of the Junipero Serra Museum extend from the museum and onto the beautiful, lush grounds.

The Darlington House is another popular site for San Diego wedding receptions, as it features a Mediterranean-style architecture that is both warm and romantic. This building, which was built in 1925, enjoys a close proximity to the beach, making it an ideal spot at which to host a San Diego wedding reception.
 
From sparkling views of the stunning Pacific Ocean to the secluded romance of wineries, San Diego wedding reception centers can make your dreams a reality!

The following list details the top 10 San Diego wedding reception locations (in no particular order):

1. Kona Kai Resort – Your perfect San Diego wedding reception begins at the Kona Kai Resort. Located at the top of Shelter Island in San Diego Bay, Kona Kai boasts a Mediterranean atmosphere and 13,000 square feet of banquet space. An additional, 20,000 square feet of outdoor space can make your outdoor San Diego wedding reception a reality!

2. The Star of the Sea – A spectacular, waterfront location provides the perfect backdrop to the Star of the Sea. This premier, waterfront venue is ideally situated above the San Diego Bay, and the spacious floor plans and expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows further add to the ambience of The Star of the Sea. Since 1966, the Star of the Sea provides space for both large and small weddings, as well as other events.

The Star of the Sea – A spectacular San Diego waterfront location

3. Hotel del Coronado – Known as the premier San Diego wedding reception site, Hotel del Coronado boasts an exquisite, beachfront location accentuated with romantic and grand Victorian architecture. From the ballroom to the garden to the beachfront, the San Diego wedding reception sites of Hotel del Coronado suit every type of wedding style or size, from casual to formal and intimate or grand. Hotel del Coronado has also been named the “Number One Wedding Destination in America” by the Travel Channel.

Hotel del Coronado – Known as the Premier San Diego Wedding Reception Site

4. El Cortez – El Cortez, in particular the El Cortez Don Room, sets the scene for a truly lavish San Diego wedding reception site. From the room’s 24-karart, gold-carved ceiling to the 10,000 square foot urban terrace, the El Cortez Don Room offers a spectacular site for both small and large wedding receptions.

5. Hotel Solamar – Hotel Solamar enjoys a beautiful, San Diego location and plenty of amenities to suit San Diego wedding receptions of any size or formality. From the boutique hotel’s rooftop swimming pool to the exquisite, formal ballroom that can accommodate up to 250 people, Hotel Solamar gives couples plenty of options and more than enough splendor for their San Diego wedding reception.

6. Grande Colonial Hotel – A beautiful, ocean view location sets the scene for a grand San Diego wedding reception at the historic Grande Colonial Hotel. Located in La Jolla, the Grande Colonial is an AAA four-diamond resort hotel recipient. With beautiful views of both the Pacific Ocean and the pristine beaches of San Diego, the Grande Colonial provides a romantic spot at which to exchange wedding vows.

7. Hilton San Diego/Del Mar – The Hilton San Diego/Del Mar is a premier San Diego wedding reception site which enjoys an enviable position in the heart of the area’s beauty. It boasts 17,000 square feet of event space and can accommodate up to 400 guests. From its two garden settings to its beautifully adorned ballroom, the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar is ideal for any San Diego wedding reception.

The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

8. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego – The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is a stunning, waterfront hotel which boasts formal ballrooms and beautifully appointed accommodations. With the San Diego Bay as a backdrop, the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel is the ideal spot at which to host a formal San Diego wedding reception.

9. San Diego Maritime Museum – The San Diego Maritime Museum has become a popular San Diego wedding reception venue for the beautiful, downtown San Diego views, open-air decks and Victorian-era surroundings on its 1898 Berkeley ferryboat. The San Diego Maritime Museum offers a truly unique location for a San Diego wedding reception.

10. Paradise Point Resort & Spa – The island resort setting of Paradise Point Resort & Spa provides both indoor and outdoor San Diego wedding reception locals, as well as 44 lush acres of land. From indoor ballrooms to outdoor gardens, Paradise Point Resort & Spa is an idyllic location at which to host a San Diego wedding reception.

Top Ten San Diego Reception Locations

The El Cortez Don Room - A Truly Lavish San Diego Wedding Reception Location.

Dockers Waterside - Weddings at Sunset

The exceptional head chef and experienced staff are attuned to make your New York wedding day a memorable one from start to finish. Specializing in custom wedding events, their knowledgeable catering staff and chefs will work with you to create a menu which suits the needs of your event and guests. The friendly and experienced staff will handle everything, making sure your wedding reception will be seamless and relaxing. Dockers easily offers one of “The Most Beautiful Views in the Hamptons” and this spectacular wedding location will only help to make your event even more special and memorable. 

If an outdoor wedding reception is what you are looking for, Dockers offers an amazing, fully enclosed tent seating up to three hundred guests, ensuring that your wedding ceremony and reception will go on, rain or shine. For an even larger wedding event, Dockers has the ability to seat up to five hundred guests on their deck, outdoor patio and indoor tables. 

The possibilities are endless at Dockers. They always go above and beyond the expectations of their customers. Visit them online today for details.

Dockers Waterside - Amazing Wedding Location in the Hamptons

Lake San Marcos Resort and Country Club - Serene San Diego Ceremony Location

This venue truly is spectacular. Make sure to visit their wedding photo gallery to view some of the lovely San Diego weddings previously hosted by Lake San Marcos Resort. We were impressed! If you have not had an opportunity to visit the resort, take the time to experience its peaceful atmosphere, world class golf course and delectable cuisine. Over the years, Lake San Marcos Resort has hosted every kind of event imaginable. Weddings ranging from 2 to 300 guests; poolside barbeques or elaborate cocktail wedding receptions overlooking the lake are just a few of the amazing options they will create for you. Of course, a big part of the attraction is the lake. As San Diego’s only lakeside resort, you will find a variety of picturesque environments for your big day. This is a perfect location for an outdoor wedding in sunny San Diego.

Romantic Wedding Ceremony Locations

Lake San Marcos offers two wedding ceremony locations, both of which are breath taking; choose a garden setting or a lake view!     

Lakeside View Ceremony: The Lakeside setting combines inspiring views of the water, wildlife and avocado orchards on the surrounding hills.

Garden Ceremony: The Garden sits adjacent to the Country Club and is surrounded by mature Pine trees and greens.

Whether you choose The Lakeside setting or The Garden, your wedding can be an intimate affair for just a few or a grand party accommodating up to 350 people. Both ceremony sites and reception venues over look the lake and golf course.

Lake San Marcos Resort and Country Club - One of Five Fabulous Reception Locations

Picturesque Wedding Reception Venues

Lake San Marcos Resort offers a selection of five wedding reception venues. Choose from a variety of indoor dining options, some with lake views and one with its own fireplace. Their wedding reception venues over look the lake or the rolling hills of our golf course. Imagine The Lakeview ceremony and a wedding reception over looking the golf course…you can have the best of both worlds at Lake San Marcos Resort!

Lake San Marcos Resort and Country Club - Old Quail Fountain Lights up Lake San Marcos

Menu Options

Lake San Marcos Resort offers fine dining, as well as resort accommodations and amenities. Providing full service catering, you can visit their website to view a selection of delectable wedding packages. Their banquet staff will work to stay within your budget and help you create your own customized package or choose from packages created by their fine chefs. The resort has a wide assortment of menu options from which to choose.

Perfect San Diego Wedding Setting

The combination of natural beauty and dedicated service means your wedding day dreams are only a phone call away. The Lake San Marcos Resort & Country Club will ensure your entire wedding experience is exactly as you envisioned. Casual or formal; large or small; this talented team of wedding professionals will create the wedding of your dreams. This San Diego wedding location is truly a hidden gem!

Lake San Marcos Resort & Country Club - Joyous Wedding Receptions!

Lake San Marcos Resort & Country Club - Lovely San Diego Wedding Ceremony Location

The Grand Tradition

Settled in the cozy town of Fallbrook, one of San Diego County’s oldest and most charmining communities, the Grand Tradition lies tucked away in a peaceful valley surrounded by gently rolling hills. Here is a place embodying the timeless charm of a bygone era, when romance, joy and beauty were the center focus of your idyllic wedding day. Spending the day here, your wedding guests will truly leave their cares behind and enjoy some much needed serenity and peaceful relaxation.   

The Grand Tradition - Lovely Garden Wedding Ceremony

If your heart is set on the perfect outdoor wedding location, look no further. The Arbor Terrace garden offers the ultimate setting for a beautiful garden wedding. Embellish your wedding ceremony with gently swaying palms, fragrant Plumeria, Champaca blossoms and cascading waterfalls. Beautiful bridges, expansive lawns, whimsical water fountains, and statuaries mingle to create a peaceful, yet elegant décor. Graceful swans adorn the lake and are delighted to be a part of your wedding festivities. If you have always dreamed of a fairytale wedding, make your entrance in a timelessly elegant carriage, drawn by a pair of magnificent Arabian horses. Sound like a dream wedding? The Grand Tradition brings it to life……

The Grand Tradition has options for lovely indoor as well as outdoor wedding receptions.

The Beverly Mansion at the Grand Tradition: The centerpiece of the Grand Tradition Estate is the lovely Beverly Mansion. Invite guests to your wedding reception in the Crystal Ballroom and carry them back into time, to the romance and charm of the Victorian era. Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers adorn the ceilings, while panoramic windows offer a spectacular view of the peaceful lake with its waterfall, graceful swans and ornate gazebo. Enjoy refreshing beverages or engage in stimulating fireside conversation in the Mansion’s English Style Pub and covered veranda. Ascending the Grand Staircase you will find full private men’s and women’s dressing suites. Perfect accommodations for the bride and groom and their attendants to prepare for the big event.

The Grand Tradition - Romantic San Diego County Wedding Ceremony Location

Arbor Terrace Pavilion at the Grand Tradition: The Arbor Terrace Pavilion and its surrounding waterfalls and gardens are the newest addition to the Grand Tradition Estate. A casual, relaxing atmosphere, tranquil beauty and open air are just a few of the amenities which set the Arbor Terrace Pavilion apart as a breathtaking reception venue. French style windows, fabric draped ceilings and airy floral draped arbors create an ambiance of serenity and beauty. A leisurely walk off the beaten path will take you to private men’s and women’s dressing accommodations. Wedding guests are sure to enjoy the well stocked garden bar and beverage area, and will take pleasure in the decadent buffet menus prepared for each event. The Arbor Terrace is the perfect option when an informal yet beautiful ambiance is what you desire for your wedding reception.

The chefs at the Grand Tradition offer a selection of amazing menus for your wedding reception and are second to none! Fine cuisine is prepared fresh daily by a staff of talented chefs and pastry cooks, and assisted by a professional and courteous banquet staff.

Whether you are looking for timeless and traditional or upscale and elegant, the Grand Tradition is the perfect venue for your San Diego County wedding reception. Please visit the Grand Tradition’s listing on The Wedding Source.com for ratings and reviews from previous brides and grooms.

The Grand Tradition - Horse and Carriage

The Grand Tradition - Wedding Reception Venue Cozy Fireplace Setting

The Grand Tradition - Exceptional Cuisine

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding

The wedding venue was a lovely private home north of San Diego, California. Tucked in to a peaceful valley in the small community of Poway, the back yard of a friend’s home has been designed to accommodate the perfect wedding ceremony and reception. A rock paved path bordered on both sides with colorful flowers, begins at their driveway and winds around the side of the gracious home through a beautiful arched trellis. There our guests were greeted by Chelsea’s Uncle Scott and future sister-in-law, Alyssa, and beckoned to sign the wedding guest book. The guest book table was adorned with several photos of the bride and groom. Gifts were left on a large table adorned with fuchsia kalanchoe plants and tulle. Proceeding a bit further down the path, wedding guests walked through the fabulous gazebo which sits on the north side of the yard. Following the winding path around the perimeter of the yard they were taken to the stone dance floor bordered by a waterfall and pond. The coy fish were happy to be a part of our wedding festivities and swam smoothly through the cool water. The grass area of this beautiful San Diego backyard is huge and makes the perfect outdoor reception location. It allowed us plenty of room to set up chairs for the wedding ceremony, as well as the tables for the reception. While it was still warm – about 85 degrees by then, as it had cooled down considerably – the breeze was soft. Our wedding guitarist Rob Szajkowski, seated in the gazebo, strummed a selection of beautiful hymns and classical pieces, thus lovely melodies filled the air as the guests arrived. The view from this yard is truly beyond spectacular, as it overlooks a golf course and other lovely Poway homes. We were blessed with the most perfect outdoor wedding venue imaginable and have much of it captured in photographs by our wonderful and amazing wedding photographer, Kate Jeppson of Jeppson Studios.

Tom & Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - Alexis, our flower girl heading down the aisle

The wedding ceremony began at 5:30 p.m. The grandmothers were seated first, as tradition was followed. I came next and was seated by my son – the groom – which was a very tender moment for me. He then took his place up front to await his bride. Chelsea’s mother, Suzi Camp, was then seated by her son, Casey who was a groomsman for Tommy. Bridesmaids followed, dressed in lovely champagne beige dresses with bright bouquets of fuchsia roses. Tiffany Wright, Chelsea’s sister, followed by Tiffany Jones, Tommy’s sister, Casey Long, Kira Riches and Kindall Fernando, the maid of honor. Next came the flower girl – Tommy’s two year old niece, Alexis. She was not happy to be the center of attention, but made it successfully down the aisle with the assistance of her mother, Robin Toth.

As our bride entered the ceremony venue, coming from the south end of the house, she may not have noticed the rows of chairs covered in classic white chair covers, or the fuchsia organza sashes adorning each chair blowing softly in the breeze. She may not have noticed the carpet of fragrant pink, white and fuchsia rose petals covering the aisle upon which she walked. She may not have noticed the smiling warm faces of her friends and family which had gathered to share her wedding day, or even heard the guitarist as he played Pachelbel’s Canon in D.  The bride only had eyes for her groom – and how they sparkled. Chelsea was the most beautiful bride. I found out later that one of our 3 year old wedding guests had inquired of her father if Chelsea was Princess Aurora, from the Disney film Sleeping Beauty. She truly looked like a princess.

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding

The wedding ceremony was lovely. Performed by the Bishop of our church, a perfect blend of smiles and tears, laughter and joy, as well as beautiful and meaningful vows were exchanged. After the recessional, the newly pronounced husband and wife and their bridal party retired to the house while we geared up for the wedding reception. The first order of business was to move tables and surround them with the chairs which had been originally set up in rows for the wedding ceremony. A little confusing but it was accomplished within about 5 minutes. The disc jockey began to play Michael Bublé. Guests were invited to indulge in the appetizers as well as the wonderful chocolate fountain! Yum! Set up and provided by my wonderful husband Rick Muir. He is the owner and CEO of Sephra, the top manufacturer of chocolate fountains in the world. Yes, I am a lucky woman – chocolate is a big part of my life…

Our disc jockey staged an amazing Grand Entrance for the entire wedding party, bride and groom. He invited all of the guests to form two lines creating a large aisle leading up to the dance floor. Each couple of the wedding party was then announced and came up the aisle lined with clapping wedding guests. Music played. It was really fun to see all of our guests and bridal party having such a good time. The maid of honor, Kindall Fernando and best man, Cory Bookman, actually skipped up the aisle! The bride and groom were announced and entered while the DJ played “Its Not Unusual” by Tom Jones – get it?

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - catered by The French Gourmet

The rest of the evening was absolutely perfect. Guests mingled and dined on amazing cuisine prepared by The French Gourmet of La Jolla. I cannot tell you what a wonderful feeling it is to pass by your caterers in the kitchen and see that they are creating cuisine for your wedding event which is not only going to be tasty – as it smelled delicious, but so beautiful. Everything was prepared fresh on site. While I was focused on last minute details throughout the afternoon, I would pass through the kitchen often and watch as amazing platters of fresh fruit, beautiful varieties of croissant sandwiches, the most amazing green bean salad parmentier (very French), and spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette were being skillfully prepared by Edith and her fine staff from The French Gourmet…all exquisitely delicious. We had guests who, admittedly, stood at the buffet table for 10 minutes sampling the artichoke fondue – while their small children ran unattended. And they didn’t care! It was really delicious.

The weather in San Diego this time of year is warm – especially in Poway, so we made sure we had plenty of refreshing punch and water. We served the usual punch and citrus garnished water, but my favorite was the cucumber and mint water. Our catering manager, Edith, sliced cucumbers and fresh mint sprigs and added them to beautiful glass beverage dispensers filled with cold water and ice. It was delightfully refreshing.

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - Wedding Cake by Edelweiss Bakery

The evening commenced with dancing. First the Father – Daughter dance was lovely, as Chelsea danced with her father Roger Wright. Then, the highlight of my evening was dancing with my son, while Il Divo sang one of my favorites, “Mama.” It was a very tender and emotional experience for me, as my son and I have always had a close loving relationship. It was nice for me to be able to share a few moments with him before he begins this beautiful new chapter of his life. He told me repeatedly, “It’s perfect, mom, everything is just perfect”.

As the afternoon turned to dusk, lamps which adorned the perimeter of the yard and candles on each of the tables were lit, and reception continued amidst the soft glowing lights.

The bride and groom cut the cake – a beautiful creation by Edelweiss Bakery, located in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego. Shortly thereafter it was time to for Tom and Chelsea to head off on their honeymoon. Guests lined the driveway and blew thousands of bubbles to send them off. They spent their honeymoon night at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego, before heading off to Maui the following day.

Now after all is said and done, my son is a married man. I cannot imagine a more perfect or beautiful wedding. If we had it to do over again, I am happy to say – we wouldn’t change a thing. To all of you planning a wedding, enjoy every minute!

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - Bridal Party Jumping for Joy!

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - Here's to Us!

Tommy and Chelsea's San Diego Wedding - Our Lovely Reception Venue