By: Kristen Castillo

Overall SDSW Top Pick of the Year

Vista Valley Country Club
We’re in love with Vista Valley Country Club! This North County private country club just finished a $7 million renovation and we adore the romance, charm and class of the 40,000 square foot property. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, Vista Valley Country Club, owned by John and Terri Havens, combines luxury with French style. The Wedding Garden features Grand Provence entrance gates and stone columns, dating back to the 18th century French estate, as well as antique stone window frames that originate from a guesthouse in the South of France, circa 1700. The property is luxe, the service is top notch and the wedding photos from Vista Valley Country Club are always fabulous!

Favorite Views

Hornblower Cruises & Events
Showcase your love and the San Diego coastline with a wedding aboard one of the Hornblower Cruises & Events yachts! Typical packages include a three to four hour celebration for up to 500 guests. You can say your “I Do’s” and then savor sumptuous food and drink, all while you take in the impressive water view. Photo opps are all around so be sure to take professional pictures along with all your selfies!The University Club Atop Symphony Towers
Get ready to take in the San Diego skyline from your wedding at The University Club Atop Symphony Towers. This newly-remodeled venue, located on the 34th floor, can accommodate weddings small and large (their max is 300 guests). The multi-million dollar “reinvention” of this private club includes an expanded and renovated bar and contemporary finishes and furniture. Anytime of day or night, you and your guests can toast your love story and San Diego’s beauty.

Coronado Cays Yacht Club
Feeling nautical for your wedding? You can’t beat Coronado Cays Yacht Club for its seaside ambiance and impeccable service. The venue is open to non-members and showcases panoramic views of the South Bay. The club, which has a rich yachting history dating back to the mid-1970’s, offers on-site catering including many lunch and dinner options.

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Another newly renovated hotel, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego boasts some of San Diego’s best views. The new look, which has Californian coastal-inspired décor, is “contemporary and comfort-chic.” The venue, located near Seaport Village, has 316,000 square feet and can accommodate weddings with over 1,000 guests. There are four ballrooms and  make sure to check out The Bayview Terrace on the 32nd floor. It fits 110 guests for a sit down reception and is the only place in downtown San Diego with a skyline view of the city and San Diego Harbor.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company
With the motto, “Every wedding is better with beer,” Karl Strauss Brewing Company is helping couples raise a toast to wedding bliss! The Sorrento Mesa location is a beautiful backdrop for “I Do’s.” The koi pond and waterfall are soothing touches for your celebration. The restaurant offers custom food packages, as well as 10 beers on-tap, wedding cake, a DJ, linens and free parking. There’s even an on-site coordinator.

Chart House Cardiff
You love Chart House Cardiff for lunch and dinner, so why host your wedding rehearsal at the restaurant? The beachside seafood restaurant has great food and a great view – the Pacific Ocean! They can accommodate parties large and small.

Peohe’s Coronado
This “island oasis” restaurant in Coronado has views overlooking San Diego Bay. Relax with the cascading water and lush greenery that’s throughout Peohe’s. The restaurant has a Pacific Rim themed menu with fresh seafood and classic cooking, like prime rib and steaks. The venue, which can host tented celebrations for parties as large as 500, has a glass-enclosed patio that seats up to 120 and an al fresco dock area that can accommodate up to 50 additional guests.The Dana on Mission Bay. The most popular wedding spot is the Marina Garden, which seats up to 300 guests. The area has a secluded lawn, roses and a view of the hotel’s private marina. There’s also Sunset Park for up to 250 guests and The Dana Courtyard, which features 1500 square feet of event space for up to 150 people. The venue’s Mission Bay Ballroom fits up to 300 guests and showcases floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air terrace. Gourmet menus at the Dana on Mission Bay include ethnic menus, like Indian cuisine.

Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa
This tropical hideaway on the shores of Mission Bay can whisk you and your guests away to savor Polynesian style. Think koi ponds, palm trees, tiki torches and waterfalls. The resort has four ceremony sites including Beach South Lawn, an outdoor space for 400 guests and Beach South Sand, perfect for a bare foot celebration with 200 guests. Catamaran also has three ballrooms, including the Kon Tiki Ballroom, which has an “A” frame structure and seats up to 425 guests.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort
The private venue, located on a 15-acre peninsula in Coronado, epitomizes luxury and has breathtaking views of the San Diego skyline. Loews Coronado Bay Resort has 65,000 square feet of flexible event space, with six ceremony locations. Weddings range from intimate for 30 guests to large, accommodating 350 guests.  A variety of creative menu options give everyone something to savor.

Carmel Mountain Ranch
This semi-private country club hosts weddings for members and non-members. Choose your spot at Carmel Mountain Ranch Country Club to get hitched: the gazebo garden for an outdoor experience or indoors in the Mountain View Terrace room which boasts 180 degree views of the mountains and the club’s golf course. Check out the course’s 11th hole waterfall and pond.

Rancho Bernardo Inn
Get ready to celebrate at Rancho Bernardo Inn. This venue has seven ceremony sites and five reception locations to consider, including courtyard, terrace and lawn weddings. The Aragon Lawn site is over 10,000 square feet and has an impressive golf course view. The rustic inn is photo-ready with a garden, a fountain and a wishing well. Pre-wedding, relax at the Inn’s spa and tranquility pool or take on a round of golf on their championship course.

Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
Located in the 18th fairway of the Torrey Pines Golf Course, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines has gorgeous views of the course and the ocean. The hotel can host parties with as many as 1,500 guests. The Grande Ballroom and Scripps Ballroom accommodate up to 800 guests, while The Fairway Pavilion Ballroom fits up to 350. Your every need will be taken care of since Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is committed to impeccable catering, service and overall attention-to-detail.
The US Grant. A San Diego icon in the heart of downtown San Diego, The US Grant is a favorite wedding venue for its luxury and romance. Since 1910 when it opened, this historic hotel has been a stunner. Choose to host your wedding in one of the hotel’s many stylish spaces like the Crystal Ballroom, the Chaffee Court, or the Palm Court. For larger parties, consider the Celestial Ballroom or Presidential Ballroom, which features nine crystal chandeliers!

El Cortez
A historic venue, overlooking downtown San Diego, El Cortez opened in 1927. The El Cortez, which prides itself on offering luxury in a gorgeous setting, has classic décor like mahogany ballroom floors, oiled bronze handrails and a 24-karat gold leafed ceiling with mica chandelier. It can accommodate up to 230 guests.  Their two most popular event spaces are The Don Room, an indoor area’ and The Terrace, a 10,000 square foot outdoor space complete with an urban fireplace.

NTC Venues at Liberty Station
Located at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, NTC Venues at Liberty Station, is a site where for over 75 years, Navy recruits were trained. Since it was decommissioned in 1997, NTC has become known for its architectural and cultural significance. The historic space, close to downtown San Diego, can accommodate up to 3000 guests. NTC has a number of indoor and outdoor venues, perfect for weddings, including North Promenade, a 75,000 square-feet outdoor space with a large grassy area; and the Historic Non-denominational Chapel, an indoor site which has original stained glass windows, vaulted wood-beamed ceilings and an original pipe organ, and seats 300.

Marina Village
Many couples choose Marina Village for affordable waterfront weddings. The venue, on Mission Bay near Sea World, can host up to 350 guests. There are two outdoor ceremony sites with marina backdrops. You’ll get the ceremony site for three hours, with a white wooden arch and 100 chairs. Host your reception in one of the event rooms, which have vaulted ceilings, loft spaces and built-in dance floors. Marina Village doesn’t have in-house catering and welcomes outside caterers. You can provide your own alcohol too.

Japanese Friendship Garden
Celebrate Balboa Park’s centennial and your wedding with a wedding ceremony and reception at the Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden. Peaceful and pretty, the garden is wedding-ready. Photo opportunities are everywhere due to this venue’s beautiful natural décor. The garden can accommodate weddings ranging in size from 50 to 200 guests.

SpringHill Suites Oceanside
This Oceanside beach retreat is a luxury boutique hotel just a block from the pier and boasts panoramic ocean views. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oceanside has a 4,000 square foot second floor view deck – great for ceremonies and receptions. There’s also a 2,230 square foot function room with an outdoor patio and rooftop pool. Your guests will adore the surf-inspired suite-like rooms and the hotel’s oceanview lounge areas, complete with fire pits.

Bernardo Winery
As Southern California’s oldest operating vineyard and winery, Bernardo Winery is rich in history, old world charm and intimacy. They offer three wedding options: the redwood Barrel Room, a romantic venue for up to 50 guests; Uncle Vito’s Park, a large park surrounded by vineyards and hitching posts dating back to 1905; and the premiere venue: Rosario’s Pavilion, a beautiful reception area under various trees and café lights complete with a covered cocktail area, ceremony site, dance floor and DJ station