The Best Wedding Venues in San Diego
The Westin Carlsbad Resort Hotel & Spa takes the cake for our top San Diego venue
Updated on 01/16/23
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Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield
Elizabeth Brownfield is a writer, editor, and researcher who specializes in food, travel, home, and lifestyle content. She’s worked on the staffs of Domino, Martha Stewart, Metropolitan Home, and Every Day with Rachael Ray magazines, and was Senior Digital Editor at Food Network.
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Boasting more than 300 days of sunshine a year, San Diego is a go-to for outdoor weddings. However, the southern California city’s wedding venues options aren’t limited to its beachfront hotels and resorts. Across the county, San Diego is host to myriad wedding venues in unexpected locations (a winery or a former 1920’s YMCA building, perhaps?) for every budget. Here are our recommendations for the best wedding venues in San Diego, whether you’re planning a small wedding, jonesing for a wedding with an ocean view, or are looking for something all-inclusive.
Best Wedding Venues in San Diego in 2023
- Best Overall: The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
- Best Budget: Sheraton La Jolla Hotel
- Best for Outdoors: Milagro Winery
- Best Garden Wedding Venue: Japanese Friendship Garden
- Best for Small Weddings: FruitCraft Fermentery and Distillery
- Best for Beach Wedding: Scripps Seaside Forum
- Best With an Ocean View: The Thursday Club
- Best for Uniqueness: The Guild Hotel
The Best Wedding Venues in San Diego
- Our Top Picks
- The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
- Sheraton La Jolla Hotel
- Milagro Winery
- Japanese Friendship Garden
- FruitCraft Fermentery And Distillery
- Scripps Seaside Forum
- The Thursday Club
- The Guild Hotel
- See More (5)
- Guide For Choosing The Best Wedding Venues In San Diego
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Methodology
BEST OVERALLThe Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
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Key Specs
- Price: $$
- All-inclusive: Yes
- Max Guests: 1,200
Why We Chose It
Experts and guests rave about consistent, impeccable service and stunning grounds.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST BUDGETSheraton La Jolla Hotel
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Key Specs
- Price: $$
- All-inclusive: No
- Max Guests: 250
Why We Chose It
A wedding at Sheraton La Jolla places guests minutes from beaches and major attractions without the La Jolla beachfront sticker shock.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST FOR OUTDOORSMilagro Winery
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Key Specs
- Price: $
- All-inclusive: No
- Max Guests: 200
Why We Chose It
Sweeping meadows, vineyard, expressive oak trees and more make Milagro Winery in Ramona a top choice for an outdoor wedding.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST GARDEN WEDDING VENUEJapanese Friendship Garden
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Key Specs
- Price: $
- All-inclusive: No
- Max Guests: 200
Why We Chose It
Meticulous landscaping, traditional Japanese garden features, and its location in the world-famous Balboa Park make for a unique garden wedding in this park within a park.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST FOR SMALL WEDDINGSFruitCraft Fermentery and Distillery
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Key Specs
- Price: $
- All-inclusive: Yes
- Max Guests: 150
Why We Chose It
This plant-filled urban distillery transforms into an intimate wedding venue within one of San Diego’s most lively neighborhoods. Its range of services and photogenic spaces mean you can practically just show up.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST FOR BEACH WEDDINGScripps Seaside Forum
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Key Specs
- Price: $$
- All-inclusive: No
- Max Guests: 200
Why We Chose It
For “so close you can almost touch it” beachfront vibes, LEED-certified Scripps Seaside Forum is a breathtaking beach wedding venue in San Diego.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST WITH AN OCEAN VIEWThe Thursday Club
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Key Specs
- Price: $
- All-inclusive: No
- Max Guests: 150
Why We Chose It
Historic building meets indoor and outdoor space and ocean views in Point Loma.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
BEST FOR UNIQUENESSThe Guild Hotel
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Key Specs
- Price: $$
- All-inclusive: Yes, with food and beverage minimums and room rentals
- Max Guests: 200
Why We Chose It
A former YMCA from the 1920s is now a modern boutique hotel that has spruced up the original building’s inimitable features, like a basketball court turned main ballroom.
Notable Amenities
Pros and Cons
Venue Overview
Guide for Choosing the Best Wedding Venues in San Diego
Is a Wedding Venue in San Diego Right for You?
If you’re looking for a wedding venue with outdoor elements, vineyard to ocean views, proximity to a range of cultural and natural attractions, and an underrated yet top-notch food scene (to name a few), a San Diego wedding is for you. Looking for beaches? Mountains? Desert? San Diego says check, check, check.
A pro tip: “The summer is very busy in San Diego, so for couples seeking a private, personal event, I would recommend staying out of the touristy areas,” Romero advises. Beaches and major attractions typically hit peak visitation numbers during summer.
Comparing Wedding Venues in San Diego
According to Romero, be sure to compare the following when booking a wedding venue in San Diego:
- Does the venue offer parking, and if not, what are the fees?
- If accommodations aren’t available for the wedding party to get ready, where will this happen?
- What does transportation look like? Though the city proper itself is manageable, San Diego County is large. Note that unless a wedding is located within the city, individual transport will be most efficient.
Book Your San Diego Wedding Venue Today
To get started, most venues have a weddings section on their website with a FAQ for preliminary questions as well as a contact form to fill out. For example, some venues will list and include photos of their rentable spaces, preferred list of vendors, as well as direct contact information for the event specialist as applicable. Some venues also include an availability calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do wedding venues in San Diego cost?
Like most cities, the cost of a wedding in San Diego will depend on several factors, including how large your guest list is, seasonality, which elements are inclusive of your venue rental, and what you’ll need to budget for separately. Roughly speaking, wedding venues in San Diego can start at $700 an hour or $3,000 for a blank canvas venue.
What types of wedding venues are available in San Diego?
San Diego’s beautiful weather affords a number of outdoor wedding venues, from wineries, gardens and waterfront resorts to craft breweries, distilleries, and more.
Are wedding venues in San Diego all-inclusive?
All-inclusive wedding venues are available in San Diego. The best way to determine whether a venue is all-inclusive is to contact the venue directly to confirm.
What do wedding venues in San Diego offer?
Wedding venues in San Diego boast ideal weather and range from historic to modern venues in locations around the county.
Methodology
Brides considered a number of venues to determine its top wedding location picks in San Diego, and deliberated over factors including price, service, location, amenities, and unique features and touches.
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