bride and groom embracing la valencia hotel wedding

La Valencia Hotel Wedding Guide

If you’re thinking about a La Valencia Hotel wedding, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve had the pleasure of photographing several weddings there, so I have a pretty good handle on the space. Here’s a wonderful article to get you started!

What’s in this article?

La Valencia : Beauty at Every Turn

Situated in the heart of the village of La Jolla, high above the beach, sits the iconic La Valencia Hotel. La Valencia exudes vintage elegance with its Mediterranean style architecture, art and dramatic coastal views. Over the decades, its has been a place of romance, glamour and celebration.

At La Valencia, beauty lies at every turn: Gorgeous views of the coastline; Mediterranean-style architecture design and decor; and amazing service and dining make La Valencia one of the most popular wedding venues in San Diego.

La Valencia Hotel History

Here’s some wonderful information about the history of the hotel from its website:

The grand opening of La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla was a lavish affair. It was the beginning of a golden era in Hollywood, and its co-owner, MacArthur Gorton, had moving picture connections; he knew the value of Hollywood’s endorsement of the hotel. To Hollywood, La Jolla was an undiscovered, unspoiled “jewel,” and its beaches and cliffs were often used for location shots. Hollywood’s stars used (and still do) La Valencia as a hideout from the hectic pressures of La La Land.

2010 introduced new owners to the historic Pink Lady. Pacifica Companies has dedicated itself to ensuring that the legacy and relevance of La Valencia inspires generations of travelers still to come. Pivotal enhancements and additions have included a total renovation of the property including the addition of the ICON collection of suites and the reimagination of Cafe la Rue.

Throughout the years, all of La Valencia’s improvements were undertaken with scrupulous attention to incorporate her old-world ambiance with today’s amenities. La Valencia has stood in a class by herself for decades. In a time when new hotels are competing with each other for the opulence of their design, she retains a timeless elegance and a personality all her own. At once hospitable and lively, iconic and serene, she inspires a following of locals and guests from around the world. Such is the storied Valencia Hotel, La Jolla’s Pink Lady.

https://www.lavalencia.com/the-hotel/history

Amazing Activities for a Wedding Weekend

If you’re looking to host a wedding celebration that shows off the best of coastal Southern California, a wedding at La Valencia Hotel is for you!

Situated in the heart of the village of La Jolla, the La Valencia Hotel is mere steps from a wide variety of things to do. For example, there is no shortage of art galleries, upscale shops, renowned restaurants and chic cafes within walking distance of the hotel.

In addition, your guests are a short drive from La Jolla Shores, where they can enjoy lots of recreational activities! For instance, guests can rent kayaks and paddle boards and use them in the cove!

Getting Ready for Your La Valencia Hotel Wedding

Unless you’re getting ready in one of the hotel rooms, the typical getting-ready space at the La Valencia Hotel is a meeting room near the Veranda Room. It’s really nice, and it sits just above El Jardin, which is most likely where your ceremony will be.

The room is a great spot to shoot because it’s got a decent amount of room and great natural light. In addition, it’s close to pretty much everything in the hotel!

bride getting ready for la valencia hotel wedding

La Valencia Hotel Wedding Spaces

There are several spaces that the hotel likes to use as La Valencia Hotel wedding spaces. However, there are three main areas on the property where weddings take place. Here’s a rundown of those spaces:

Veranda Ballroom, Salon and Terrace

With seating for up to 175 people, this is the main reception space. Its black-and-white checkerboard flooring has that “wow” factor couples love. In addition, the terrace has 180-degree views of the ocean and coastline, so it’s perfect for any couple really looking to impress their guests! Similarly, it has north-facing windows that provide wonderful natural light.

El Jardín

With seating up to 150 people, this is the main ceremony space at La Valencia. Next to the Veranda Ballroom, it offers views for days. In addition, its turf flooring not only makes it easy for guests to walk, but also provides a blank canvas for any design you can envision!

This space offers views of the ocean and the coastline looking north. It’s truly one of the most wonderful wedding venues in San Diego!

Patio Sol And Solarium

The Patio is the perfect location for your cocktail hour or intimate dinner reception. The space is small, yet very warm and inviting.

Photo Spots for Your La Valencia Hotel Wedding

There are so many great photo spots at La Valencia, but here are a few of my favorites.

Alley on East Side of Hotel

Right under the La Valencia sign is an entrance to a long alley that leads down to Coast Blvd. With high hedges on one side and the iconic white balconies of the hotel on the left, it’s a quiet spot for bride and groom photos.

Galleria Balconies

These balconies are perhaps my favorite spots to shoot at La Valencia! You can get to them through the Galleria Meeting room, which is just upstairs from the lobby. However, if there’s a meeting in the room, the balconies are off limits. But it’s good to give it a shot early and hope for the best!

I love these balconies because of their amazing views of La Jolla. In the image on the left, there’s a balcony that faces northeast and has views of the entire coastline. In addition, there’s one that faces due north and has great views of La Jolla!

La Sala

The La Sala room is the main bar area just beyond the lobby. The best photo spot here is the large window that overlooks the ocean.

This is a popular spot for pictures for several reasons. For instance, the tile framing around the window is spectacular. Similarly, the view is unique!

This spot is also fairly roomy, so it’s a great spot for a non-traditional group photo! Have your bridal party grab some drinks and get ready for some super fun bridal party photos!

La Valencia Hotel Wedding Cost

Pricing for your La Valencia Hotel wedding ranges from $140 per person for an off-season date (December-April), and $165 per person for a peak-season date (May-November). There is a minimum spend of $10000. Your wedding package includes:

  • Use of ceremony site and reception venue for up to 180 guests
  • Ceremony and reception chairs
  • Custom menu
  • Setup and clean up
  • Tables and linens
  • Flatware and glassware

La Valencia Hotel Wedding Pros and Cons

Here are my pros and cons to having a La Valencia wedding:

Pros

  • Gorgeous design and decor, so there’s not much you need to bring in
  • Perfect location near shops, restaurants, bars and recreational activities, so your guests will enjoy themselves when they’re not at your wedding!
  • It has a cozy feel so you won’t feel overwhelmed like you would at a larger venue.

Cons

  • It has relatively small ceremony and reception areas, so your guest list can’t get too out of hand.
  • Parking is tough, so either use the valet or park at one of the off-site lots in the village.
  • You can only use La Valencia for catering. But, their food is amazing!
  • Outside alcohol is not allowed. However, you may bring in wine for a $30/bottle corkage fee.

Great Wedding Vendors for Your La Valencia Hotel Wedding

Choosing the right wedding vendors can be a challenge. However, here’s a list of some of my favorite wedding colleagues!

Vendor TypeNameWebsiteEmail
Wedding PlannerLuxe Eventshttps://luxespecialevents.com/hello@luxespecialevents.com
Hair/MakeupAshley Fierrohttps://www.ashleyfierro.com/info@ashleyfierro.com
FloristThird Bloomhttps://www.thirdbloom.com/Hello@ThirdBloom.com
Music/DJStill Listening Productionshttps://www.stilllisteningproductions.com/info@stilllisteningproductions.com
VideographerBlue Tiger Filmshttp://bluetigerfilms.com/bluetigerfilms@gmail.com

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