arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

Museum Weddings and Historic Locations

Add a touch of elegance and history to your special day

From an art-filled rotunda to the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, a San Diego museum or historic wedding venue is a wonderful backdrop for the celebration.

From a magnificent rotunda amid the San Diego Museum of Art's old world collection to the flight deck of the USS Midway to a reception amid World War II aircraft at the Air & Space Museum, San Diego is home to some incredibly unique wedding locations for memorable, one-of-a-kind ceremonies.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • These distinctive settings add a historical element to your wedding
  • Usually only one event is booked at a time, so you have the location all to yourselves
  • You can take one-of-a-kind wedding photos surrounded by unique architecture, great works of art or prehistoric mammals, depending up on the location of your choice
  • Most venues provide private tours of the galleries or rooms
  • Timing is usually restricted to evenings when the venues are closed to the public

Popular Museum or Historic Wedding Locations:

Hotel Del Coronado

It is hard to imagine a more romantic setting than the historic Hotel del Coronado. The resort celebrated its first wedding in 1887, when the daughter and son of two supervising engineers exchanged vows during the hotel's construction. Since then its romantic legacy has only grown, with the Travel Channel naming The Del the #1 best place to get married in the U.S. Wedding and reception settings include the wide, sandy beach adjacent to the hotel, the seaside Windsor Lawn with the hotel serving as your backdrop, the blooming Rose Garden, the historic Crown Room with chandeliers designed by Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum or the elegant Ballroom with views of the Pacific Ocean. Whatever the location, you are assured excellent service at this luxurious resort and one-of-a-kind photographs amid the stunning Victorian architecture. After the reception, simply check into a hotel room or nearby cottage or villa for the honeymoon and become part of The Del's romantic history.

Balboa Park

Known as the "Smithsonian of the West," Balboa Park features 15 museums, plus gardens and other architecturally striking buildings, offering countless locations for indoor or outdoor weddings. Sites for a museum wedding include the San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Natural History Museum, Fleet Science Center and Museum of Photographic Arts.

ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station

Situated on acres of lush landscaping, this property combines 75 years of naval history, romantic ambiance and picturesque scenery. Liberty Station venues offer beautifully restored Spanish-Revival venues at the decommissioned Naval Training Center in Point Loma. From 1923 to 1997, thousands of Navy recruits called Liberty Station their home and many were married on the base. With 10 unique indoor and outdoor spaces available for ceremonies and receptions, brides and grooms have many choices where to celebrate their special day Including two modern banquet halls (originally the library and a barracks building), several courtyards, multiple verdant promenades, a quaint Rose Garden, and a charming North Chapel.

The Abbey on Fifth Avenue

In 1910 In 1910, master architect Norman Foote Marsh unveiled the Park Place Methodist Episcopal Church, an acclaimed structure that would eventually become "The Abbey " set on the fringe of glorious Balboa Park,  This striking embodiment of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture boasts a dozen stained glass windows, and is topped with a triumphant status of Gabriel blowing his horn. Today, The Abbey on Fifth Avenue is a private special event facility managed by Hornblower Cruises & Events. Gourmet cuisine is prepared on-site in The Abbey's commissary, where bread has been broken and wine has been shared for the past ten decades.

Saint Francis Chapel

Perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in Balboa Park is the Saint Francis Chapel, connected to the San Diego Museum of Us. This non-denominational chapel, built in 1915, is a unique, private space for intimate wedding ceremonies. Outside the chapel, the beautiful offerings of Balboa Park abound.

Junipero Serra Museum in Presidio Park

Conveniently located near downtown, The Junipero Serra Museum in Presidio Park is a pretty Mission-style building with both indoor and outdoor spaces. Offering spectacular views of the city, it's especially beautiful at sunset, when you can see all the way to the ocean and up the coast.

Darlington House

One of San Diego's most popular and romantic wedding venues, this stunning mansion in La Jolla features a dramatic entryway with sweeping staircase, period décor, and several lush patios and gardens. The attractive indoor and outdoor spaces here make it easy to hold the ceremony in one area, then move to another for the reception and refreshments. Another special feature: the bridal suites on the second floor, where members of the wedding party can dress and relax before the event.

Marston House

The charming and historic Marston House is a 100-year-old mansion-turned-museum located in northwest Balboa Park. One of California's finest examples of the Arts and Crafts movement, the property was designed and built by the internationally renowned architects William Sterling Hebbard and Irving Gill. Surrounded by five acres of rolling lawns, manicured formal gardens, and rustic canyon gardens, this 8,500 square-foot home became a house museum in 1987 after the Marston family gifted it to the City of San Diego for the enjoyment of the public. While wedding guests may tour the house, the formal gardens and a covered terrace are the only locations available for a ceremony or reception.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Accommodation

Day Meeting Package

Kimpton Alma
Valid: Aug 10, 2023 - ongoing

Book your meeting in the soul of downtown: Alma San Diego! Our Day Meeting Package includes:  - Room Rental - All Day Snacks - All Day Beverage (coffee, tea, water, soda) - 55” TV...

Team Building

Discounted Chills for Badge-Wielding Thrills

Haunted San Diego Ghost & History Tours
Valid: Sep 29, 2023 - ongoing

Whispers of the past echo through the dimly lit streets of San Diego, beckoning you to venture into the spectral realm with Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours. Your convention badge, dear delegate, is not...

Accommodation

Beach, Breakfast, & Bubbles

Pacific Terrace Hotel
Valid: Nov 13, 2023 - ongoing

Start your San Diego Beach stay off  with a delicious breakfast for two and mimosas at the Pacific Terrace Hotel. Wake up each morning and savor a tasty meal with the...

Events to check out

Event

San Diego Crew Classic

Apr 5 - Apr 7, 2024

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United...

Event

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 7, 2024

A San Diego sportfishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sportfishing. Signaling the official start of Southern...

Event

La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K

May 18, 2024

The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and beautiful point-to-point races. Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish