Nearly perfect temperatures year round, the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, and a relaxed Southern California vibe makes it hard to argue with San Diego as a good choice for a destination wedding. Of course every bride has her own style, so here are five of our favorite San Diego area hotels that will let you express yours [blankline] [blankline]
The Grand Del Mar’s Elizabeth Capella is the only wedding chapel at a San Diego hotel
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La Dolce Vita
You may be in San Diego, but you’ll swear you’re in Italy at the five-diamond Grand Del Mar. It looks like a large Italian villa, with the formal manicured gardens and grounds you’d expect of an estate home. Tucked into the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, it offers a dramatic setting for an outdoor ceremony on the 8,000 sq. ft. Aria Lawn and its open-air pavilion. Or if you are more tradition minded, there are the stained glass windows, beamed ceilings, and hand-crafted-in-Italy wooden pews in the Elizabeth Capella, the only private chapel in a San Diego hotel. Reception options seem endless, from intimate gatherings in the wine room or Manchester Suite, to large, lavish affairs in the 10,000 sq. ft Elizabeth Ballroom. Prepare for the ceremony with some primping and pampering in the Renaissance inspired spa, just voted among the top five spas in the country by Travel & Leisure.
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Paradise Point was created as a movie set.
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Picture Perfect
It was created as a movie set fifty years ago, and it’s been the site of many A-list weddings through the years, but today the Paradise Point Resort & Spa lets you star in your own Hollywood fairytale when you exchange vows on its 44-acre, private island. The lush landscape will make you feel you’re in Hawaii or Bali, depending on whether you choose to have your ceremony on the intimate Island Point Lawn overlooking the water, or at Pine Hill Lawn ensconced in the tropical jungle landscape. Weddings can also take place on the Sunset or Paradise Terraces, which both back to the Bay.
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Hotel Del Coronado sits on a beach that has been named one of the best in America.
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Beach Chic
The Travel Channel called it the best place in the U.S. to get married, and that’s hard to argue with. The historic Hotel Del Coronado sits on 28 acres along the beach named the best in the U.S. in 2012. While a beach wedding or reception on Coronado Beach is the obvious choice, the Del also has many other special places to begin your life together, including the Windsor Lawn, which overlooks the Pacific, or the Vista Walk with the resort’s iconic turret in the background. One of the best reception venues is the Crown Room, which features chandeliers designed by Wizard of Oz author, Frank Baum, and has traditionally been the favorite spot for celebrity and presidential events.
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Ceremonies beside the fairway are especially popular at La Costa Resort & Spa
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“I do’s” for the active set
La Costa Resort & Spa was originally created as a playground for athletes and celebrities, but today it’s an ideal location for active couples to tie the knot. The resort is Southern California’s top golf destination and golfers will love walking down the aisle at the new Valley Promenade, overlooking the greenery of the world-class golf course, or the Orchid Terrace featuring freshly cut fairways and rolling hill vistas. The 400-acre property also features a Wedding Courtyard and many lush, garden nooks to exchange your vows. Brides will enjoy some pre-wedding relaxation at the spa, which was the first U.S. resort spa, and was rated the number one wellness spa by Spa Magazine. Couples can have a romantic experience in the VIP couples suite, where you’ll be treated to side-by-side massages with champagne and strawberries to follow. To calm pre-wedding jitters, the Chopra Center for Wellbeing is the perfect place to take a yoga or meditation class.
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West Inn & Suites specializes in weddings for just the two of you.
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Runaway Bride
Don’t want all the fuss of a traditional wedding? Then the boutique West Inn & Suites elopement package is for you. Elevate your elopement by working with their Romance Maestro to plan an intimate wedding for just the two of you, or parties up to eight guests. Couples can get married in the traditional library done in rich woods and featuring a fireplace, on the beach, or in the hotel’s own park. Executive Chef Eugenio Martignago will use the produce grown on West’s farm to craft a memorable reception meal. And if you are truly on the run, weddings can be planned in a matter of days. — Dena Roche
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Want to know more about planning destination wedding travel for San Diego area hotels? Our travel partners at Coastline Travel Advisors, a Virtuoso agency, are ready to help.
