So, you want to get married surrounded by plants and animals? You’re in luck! There are plenty of San Diego wedding venues that can check all of your creature comforts.
1 | The San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo. Credit: Kathleen Geiberger Photography
For example, if you want to walk on the wild side, you could get married at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. For the larger parties that want to dine with a lot of guests, the Sabertooth Grill at Elephant Odyssey can accommodate up to 200 guests on their gorgeous terrace which overlooks the large pachyderm exhibit. Come eye to eye with these magnificent animals while you say “I do” – every one of your guests will be trumpeting about it for years!
Want to be close to the animal experience but rough it a little less? Why not consider the Treetops Restaurant event space? This African plantation-styled room is sleek and modern and comes with floor to ceiling windows and authentic African décor. It’s more intimate while still giving a mind-blowing view of the entire park.
Want to go bigger with your San Diego wedding venue? The San Diego Zoo also offers their couples the option to rent their Zoofari Party Area. This space is large enough to bring in your own tenting and rentals to help create an exciting visual experience.
San Diego Zoo. Credit: Chelsea Anne Photography
2 | The San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Similar to the San Diego Zoo, their sister park also offers incredibly wild experiences for the safari seekers at heart. Among this park’s event spaces is Harusi Lawn which has sweeping views of the Safari Park and its wildlife.
Lined by a canopy of sub-Saharan African trees, the ceremony site can hold up to 250 guests and is typically paired with the unique venue spaces at Hunte Nairobi Pavilion or Sambutan Longhouse at Tiger Trail – both of which can accommodate larger parties. Hunte Nairobi Pavilion is modeled after traditional African buildings with its large round ballroom. The Sambutan Longhouse at Tiger Trail is covered in lush bamboo and flanks the nearby Sumatran Tiger exhibit which fully visible by this venue’s floor to ceiling windows.
For intimate events, the Lagoon overlook could be your perfect choice out of all of these San Diego wedding venues. Adjacent to the park’s Nairobi Village, this overlook has stunning views of Mombasa Lagoon – complete with African birds and exotic plants. It is most commonly paired with the nearby Mombasa Island Pavilion. With its thatched and open-air design, the Lagoon overlook is perfect for the guests that want a tropical backdrop to their big day. According to Safari Park staff, it’s “wildly romantic.”
The Kijamii Overlook has a 360 view of the African savanna, here in San Diego! Transport your guests to their own safari and watch gazelles, rhinos, and giraffes roam the scenery while you dine. This unique space is styled after a South African lodge with an upscale flair.
And lastly, for wild wedding spaces, we have the Station at Walkabout Australia. This space offers private views of the Australian species inhabiting the park. This space was designed after Australian sheep ranches with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and farm-style banquet seating. It has a gorgeous rustic feel to it – like being a part of a Koala summer camp!
Safari Park. Left, Credit: Chelsea Anne Photography; Right, Credit: Xavier Perez, Bellasposa
3 | Seaworld
Imagine not being the only animal in a tux at your wedding when you see little penguins waddling by! This large-scale aquarium and sea park offers one-of-a-kind event spaces for you to get married. Because it’s so large, Seaworld actually offers 13 unique wedding venues to choose from! From dining with orcas to being fully submerged underwater – if you can dream it, they have it.
For underwater dining, consider Aquaria: World of Fishes and California Tide Pools, Orca Underwater Viewing, Turtle Reef, or the Wild Arctic spaces. If you want to dine next to your new friends, consider Dining with Orcas, Dolphin Point, Manta, or the Penguin Encounter. All of their ceremony and reception venues offer a unique experience where you and your guests can watch these creatures play up-close-and-personal.
Sea World. Credit: EventUp
4 | The New Children’s Museum
The New Children’s Museum. Credit: Blair Nicole Photography
Let the child in you run wild at the New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego. With over three floors of interactive event space, this space is anything but dull.
This San Diego wedding venue is broken up into four different spaces depending on your wedding size. You can rent the lower, main, or upper museum levels – or even the whole museum if you’d like!
The lower level, also known as the garden level, offers a beautiful backdrop for your nuptials. This is perfect for intimate ceremonies of 40 or less.
The main level can accommodate 250 seated guests and hosts a 50’ ceiling. This is ideal for large, elegant receptions.
Finally, the upper level boasts a stunning view of the San Diego skyline. Enjoy an airy ambiance surrounded by abstract art while catching the sunset over the Pacific at this venue.
The New Children’s Museum. Credit: Jackie Wonders Photography
5 | The Ultimate Skybox at Diamond View Tower
More of a sports person? Come to Petco Park and let the spirit of the game sweep you away.
Located on top of the DiamondView building in East Village, this venue boasts sweeping views of the San Diego Skyline from north to south. Enjoy dancing above the stars with the Bay as your backdrop. This 220-person event space includes floor to ceiling bay windows, stunning wood floors, 14’ long open fireplaces, and designer lounge furniture to really make your night memorable.
Of all of these San Diego wedding venues, one of our favorite features of the Ultimate Skybox is their ability to party past 10 pm. This high-rise soiree spot can host your wedding into the wee hours – their venue cut-off is at midnight!
The Ultimate Skybox. Credit: True Photography
6 | The Pearl Hotel
Own a retro, funky hotel for a day! With its nostalgic 1960s vintage-modern style and heated oyster-shaped swimming pool, the charm is not lost on this boutique hotel.
This hotel and lounge offers you the opportunity to rent out the whole thing for all 150 of your guests. You can really make a night of it! It comes with 23 contemporary rooms with all the savvy amenities. It is authentic, intimate, hip, and cool!
A wedding at this San Diego venue comes with an indoor-outdoor feel, with their bar nestled right up next to their incredible pool. Project home movies or slideshows above their float-in movie theater or one of their seven flatscreen TVs. The chefs at the Pearl are also ready and able to make a completely customizable food and drink menu for your special night. This event would truly be bespoke from beginning to end.
The Pearl Hotel. Credit: Captured by Aimee