Looking to plan a wedding with that vintage craftsman vibe? Perhaps at a property with rustic elegance and a masculine touch overlooking the ocean for your destination wedding? Have you considered Southern California for a domestic destination I do with sunny skies and near perfect weather year round? If you want to get away for your wedding, and you want to enjoy the great outdoors but the finer things in life too, then take a look at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in San Diego, CA (La Jolla to be exact).
You might know the name for the historic championship golf course it sits on (great for the guys in your wedding party), but The Lodge is so much more than just great golf and cliffside views of the Pacific…it’s the perfect place for a winter wedding without the snow! I recently got an insider’s look into planning a wedding at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, and from start to finish, it was a fantastic experience.
The fireplace-clad suites, stained glass windows and Tiffany lamps in the lobby create this old world feeling for guests to get lost in. A great place to easily unwind, your wedding will have a relaxed grace to it and a style that’s set apart from other properties around the country. You can even play croquet on the lawn overlooking the water and golf course, a spot which also doubles as a ceremony lawn for your nuptials.
The staff at The Lodge at Torrey Pines is one that will welcome you in like family. The property has 170 rooms and suites, but it feels much smaller than that, in part due to the friendly faces who work there that you’ll see daily. And their wedding and catering department is no different, you’re in great hands here (ask for Molly!). You may find yourself enjoying Chef Jeff’s fine cuisine in a private dining room during your tasting when he pops by for a laugh and nice visit. And when that visit is done, the gentlemen at the front drive will bid you farewell by name and welcome you back each time as if it was your own home.
One of the unique elements of the property is the location – perched high on the cliffside of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, CA, it means there’s typically a nice mellow breeze, leaving the groomsmen and guests in a state of perfect temperature for that outdoor ceremony (instead of those unsightly sweaty wedding photos). If the fog rolls in for your wedding, your photos will be nothing short of magical, but chances are you’ll find sunny skies and weather that’s just right for celebrating.
With multiple locations to wed, you have the choice of a garden ceremony or my personal favorite, the Arroyo Terrace, looking out over the 18th hole and ocean beyond that. It also makes for a fun cocktail hour with vintage lawn games, a perfect fit for this property.
Then for dinner, head inside to one of the beautiful ballrooms, like the Maurice Braun Ballroom which comes complete with a fireplace and chandeliers that look like craftsman lanterns. It can accommodate weddings up to 220 guests, so you don’t have to cut that destination wedding headcount to wed here!
With great outdoor spaces attached to the ballrooms, you’ll find that your wedding at The Lodge at Torrey Pines truly feels like a lodge experience. If you want a residential elegance to welcome your guests to on your big day, then look no further, you’re home.
For more information about getting married at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, be sure to check them out here.
