Known as one of the most idyllic cities in the world, San Diego, California is sprinkled with a spectacular offering of wedding venues. But these venues, spread throughout San Diego county, are not necessarily equal in their ability to awe guests and fulfill your desire for distinct nuptials.
To ensure your special day is everything you imagine and more, and everything you’re planning for, we’ve scoured San Diego’s top wedding locations and located eight of the most unique in the bunch. From a venue featuring living walls to a castle made for a design maven in the 1920s, San Diego has something special just for you.
1. Brick
If prim and proper isn’t your thing, Brick just might be the edgy, industrial event space you’ve been dreaming of. Coated in (you guessed it!) brick, this unique wedding venue provides a semi-blank template that easily accommodates everything from a vintage- to a romantic-style wedding.
Additionally, Brick gives you access to the site for a full 24 hours, lets you bring your own booze, and has no curfew or noise ordinance. Score!
Adding to the gritty-chic ambiance is the neighborhood the venue is located in—Liberty Station, the site of the former Naval Training Center. Brick is located on the North end of Liberty Station, known as the Arts District.
Typical Cost: Site fee ranges from $3,500 – $8,000; coordination fee is $3,500
Capacity: 220
Bonus: This event center has 100 parking spaces just a block away.
2. Mt. Woodson Castle
The perfect place for a storybook wedding, Mt. Woodson Castle is a highly sought-after 1920s venue that emulates a dynamic mix of Craftsman, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Medieval architecture.
A true masterpiece, the 12,000-square-foot structure has 28 rooms, walls that are 8 feet thick, a Great Hall with a sixteen-foot ceiling, a swing porch, four fireplaces, a Dutch oven, and a gasoline engine-assisted windmill. Essentially, the house blasts you into the home that Sleeping Beauty probably would have bought with Prince Charming if she had her druthers.
The venue’s all-inclusive package—which includes access to the castle, eight-and-a-half acres of landscaped grounds, bride and groom dressing rooms, a children’s playroom, and other perks—helps make your planning as simple as possible. The package also includes a day-of Venue Coordinator, decor, catering staff, tray-passed appetizers, a champagne toast, a full buffet, linens and napkins, china and flatware, glassware, and additional essentials. In other words, everything but the dress and flowers.
Typical Cost: Ranges from $79 – $115 per person for a ceremony and reception
Capacity: 400
Bonus: The venue provides a full-service caterer that’s known for crafting amazing food.
Find Mt. Woodson Castle on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
3. Lot 8
A super trendy venue steeped in Southern California vibes, Lot 8 is an ideal choice for couples who want sleek, unique nuptials. This outdoor event space feels like a modern backyard with living walls and soaring palm trees and allows guests to enjoy the gorgeous California weather.
To help ensure you have a memorable food spread on your wedding day, Lot 8 provides a range of packages including a standard or premium buffet, street tacos, and upgrades like organic coffee and late-night snack services such as a donut hole bar, pho station, or Belgium waffle station.
Typical Cost: Starts at $3,500
Capacity: 250
Bonus: The venue’s central location in Hotel Circle makes it in close proximity to numerous hotels.
4. Bahia Resort Hotel
If you want your wedding venue to make an impression, book your nuptials at Bahia Resort Hotel. The most unique and striking aspect of this resort is a massive stained-glass ceiling in the William D. Evans sternwheeler, an iconic reception site. This Victorian-era boat is docked beside the resort and provides spectacular views of the sea and city.
Before getting the party going under the stunning array of glass in the sternwheeler, you can say your I Dos on a golden beach, featuring gorgeous ocean views, or under a garden gazebo surrounded by lush grass and exotic plants.
Bahia is a one-stop-shop in many ways, offering wedding packages that include customized food and drink menus as well as plush accommodations for your large or small wedding.
Typical Cost: Ranges from $11,650 – $17,500 for a 100-person wedding
Capacity: 125
Bonus: The in-house catering team cooks up everything from pulled pork slider stations to Mediterranean dishes.
Find Bahia Resort Hotel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
5. Ethereal Open Air Resort
A rustic gem in Escondido, Ethereal Open Air Resort is an idyllic spot for couples wanting a handcrafted, outdoor wedding that mixes the beauty of unfettered nature with the allure of elegant decor.
This truly unique San Diego wedding venue, which sits on 40 acres of edible gardens, is surrounded by old-growth orchards and 100-acres of organic herb and vegetable farms. Decor options include one-of-a-kind furniture, a smoked cedar lounge and bar, candelabras, and other showstoppers.
No matter the kind of ambiance you’re going for, this resort has you covered with its seven ceremony sites including the Orchard Barn, Passion Vine Greenhouse, Brick and Timber Chapel, Starry Night Meadow, Ethereal Garden Pergola, and Open Air Pavilion.
Typical Cost: $15,000 – $50,000
Capacity: 500
Bonus: The award-winning chef at Ethereal Open Air Resort helps couples create a menu by pairing two gourmet classic entrees, two accompaniments, and a choice of a flavorful variety of leafy, green salads. Plus, all dishes are served with fresh-baked artisan bread and specialty butter.
6. Luce Loft
An urban event space located within the historic 1928 Carnation Dairy Factory, Luce Loft is a winner for couples wanting a unique wedding with an industrial backdrop. This venue is made all the more distinct with its arching ceilings, stained concrete floors, and large windows that fill the room with an ethereal glow during afternoon celebrations.
While the loft seems most obvious for a more contemporary wedding, it can act as a clean base that easily accommodates a bohemian, romantic, or vintage theme. Plus, clean up services, lighting, and a sound system, in addition to an event manager, liability insurance, and a bridal suite, are all included with the rental fee.
Typical Cost: Rental fee is $2,000 – $5,000
Capacity: 125
Bonus: The loft’s amazing location in Downtown San Diego makes it easily accessible to many of the best hotels and bars in the Gaslamp Quarter and throughout the city.
7. San Diego Botanic Garden
Couples wanting to create a sense of whimsy at their wedding, using an eclectic mix of flowers, palm trees, ferns, cacti, and towering bamboo, should look no further than the San Diego Botanic Garden. The garden’s 37 acres include rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, and a subtropical fruit garden.
Many of these spaces can be used for ceremonies and receptions, with The Victorian Gazebo Lawn, The Walled Garden, and Lawn House Garden as the most popular. The Victoria Gazebo Lawn is most used for larger gatherings, as it’s a sprawling, grassy expanse flanked by a mosaic of lush plants and mature trees. Meanwhile, The Walled Garden has a secret garden vibe, as it’s surrounded by an adobe and tile wall in addition to ferns and trees.
Couples usually celebrate intimate weddings in the tropical setting of the Lawn House Garden where the tranquility of the grounds is enhanced by the sounds of a waterfall. As California has superb weather almost every day of the year, there is never a bad time to utilize the mesmerizing tapestry of gardens.
Typical Cost: $1,500 – $5,000
Capacity: 300
Bonus: The site fees go toward the conservation of this urban retreat.
Find San Diego Botanic Garden on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
8. Diamond View Tower
For the most stunning views, head to Diamond View Tower—the ultimate rooftop event venue in San Diego. Located on the top floor of Diamond View East Village, this event space provides awe-inspiring vistas of the San Diego skyline, San Diego Bay, Coronado, and Petco Park.
When guests tear themselves away from the sights, they’ll experience 4,500 square-feet of space that features a large terrace with a 14-foot-long fireplace, an indoor area with floor-to-ceiling bay windows, and contemporary lounge furniture. Book this venue if you want the spirit of San Diego to have a strong presence during your special event.
Typical Cost: Rental fee ranges from $5,000 – $6,500 for a wedding reception and includes five hours of event time, excluding setup and clean-up; setup fee for a ceremony is $800 with reception rental
Capacity: 220
Bonus: The venue has valet service and underground parking, ensuring ample convenience for guests.
