Darlington House is a truly beautiful wedding venue, and overall, we had a good experience hosting our April wedding there. The grounds were spotless, the landscaping and different spaces were so pretty that we needed very little additional decor, and our guests had a great time. We were also able to schedule unlimited walkthroughs leading up to the wedding, which was really helpful, and there were no issues with setup, teardown, or getting our security deposit back. Communication with Carly, the venue coordinator, was always quick and professional through the venue's portal. She sent reminders about vendor COIs and other important information, which helped keep us on track leading up to the wedding. My biggest advice to other couples would be to read the contract in full and make sure you are comfortable with the venue's rules before booking. Given that it is a historic site, the rules are extremely specific and there is very little flexibility, so you have to be willing to get creative within their guidelines. In our experience, if we asked for an exception to a rule, the answer was no. The biggest challenge for us was the lack of a built-in rain plan at the venue level. There was no flexibility to use indoor spaces in case of inclement weather, so we had to spend a pretty significant amount on a tent to ensure the day would go smoothly. That said, Carly was helpful in guiding us toward vendors and coordinating with another couple so we could split the tent cost, which we really appreciated. Overall, Darlington House is a gorgeous venue, and the actual wedding day went smoothly; we loved it. If you love the vibe and are prepared to work within the rules, it can be a beautiful place to get married! Photo: @byalexaleigh Planner/Florals: @franceslovesfrancis Tent/Disco: @eventpartyrentals read more

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Cozy outdoors venue with valet parking. It's nestled in a neighborhood so if you don't pay attention you can miss it. We enjoyed the open sky and friendly staff service. read more

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Everything was perfect about Darlington House. My guests are still talking about it over a month after our Wedding. If you are considering this venue defiantly go check it out. We fell in love w/ the charm of the place immediately. There are some restrictions such as having to use their approved catering vendors. I would stay away from Wild Thyme. Among other things, despite there being a Darlington rule against tip jars at the bar, Wild Thyme allowed their bartenders to have a tip jar out. This put my security deposit at risk, not to mention was tacky, and likely resulted in my guests feeling pressured to tip. read more

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Wedding venue was great!!! I loved how every section of the Darlington house was unique and different in its' own way! The open bar, the ceremony, the reception, etc. had plenty of space, and everyone enjoyed it! Valet is a must. Which leads me to the 3-star review. During our rehearsal there was minimal space for parking on the street nearby. Some members of our wedding reported walking 10+ minutes. Darlington house does have a parking lot with ample space for people to park for 30-45 mins for a rehearsal. When my family/groomsman parked in one car in the lot, an individual that works at Darlington house came out and rudely told them they weren't supposed to park there and that it was in the contract and then left and shut the door behind them. My family and friends that witnessed this individual were not pleased. read more

I am a floral designer in San Diego and have for years worked at the Darlington House and Love the venue. It is such a unique, beautiful and elegant place for a wedding or any special ocassion. I very highly recommend it, especially for weddings, at it is very classy and memorable. The staff is very professional and accomodating. I have many happy Brides and Grooms who also are thrilled with their experience. Lois Mathews read more

Had our wedding here on 09/14/24 and we couldn't be happier with our choice to get married here. This venue is so special and unique! Every single area of the house, inside and outside, is its own work of art. The venue is well maintained and their employees are so friendly! This was actually the only venue my husband and I toured in person because as soon as we saw it we knew it was our venue. Absolutely stunning! read more

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This is the venue of my dreams - outdoor garden vibes (gorgeous weather for our wedding at the end of April), historical interior. We booked our venue during Covid and actually received a discount for booking without an in-person tour. It ended up working out for us but to be honest I am not sure that I would have been as happy with the location without the discount! There are several rules that make this venue difficult. Definitely make yourself aware of these / ask to see the contract prior to booking in case some of these are make or break for you. First, you can't actually get ready at the venue, so the wedding party needs to find another offsite location to get ready and perfectly time arrival so groomsmen and bridesmaids don't bump into each other. Not a huge deal but it causes complications such as time constraints and possibly paying your photographer additional for extra travel if you want to take "getting ready photos" at your getting ready location. Also, food and bev are not allowed inside so no champagne popping pics for the ladies. Second, you have to start wrapping everything up at 9:30pm. I thought it would be fine but it went by so quickly- only about an hour on the dance floor! Seems like so much work to get all the rentals out and such a short time to have fun!!! We ended up having to spend more money for an after party because of the curfew. The curfew is due to the neighboring houses which is totally understandable! Third, the string lights you see in practically every photo is not a part of darlington. You need to find a rental company to put those up for you. I think it cost around $600. Yup, taken off and put up for every event... And then there are other restrictions like no hard liquor shots allowed, no real flower petals, no tosses of things such as rice, glitter, confetti, etc. Also just a heads up that because it is a garden wedding there are definitely bees. Pack that epipen if you are allergic! And finally, this location is not super handicap friendly. Although they do provide a ramp, it takes out a lot of space to put chairs in the ceremony area. Bathroom entrances are tight and large wheelchairs may not fit. We put our photobooth in the Egyptian patio and the bar in the library. I'm not sure if you are able to have the bar in the rose garden, but because both were in separate locations hardly anyone was on the dance floor! I would definitely move the photobooth in the rose garden if there's space. And our guests also didn't know there were desserts because they're hidden in the summer house. Definitely ask your DJ to announce desserts more than once. And finally.... Because where the bride comes out shares the same entrance as the guests, any late guests will have to wait outside the house and wont be able to view the ceremony. Make sure to stress to your guests to be on time or wait a few minutes past start time to walk down the aisle! Overall we had a magical and memorable day with friends and family. Carly was a pleasure to work with and responds very timely! read more

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Wonderful venue, but absolutely, positively miserable dealing with Darlington House administration. On the day of a wedding reception, rather than supporting venue preparation (table set-up, flower setups, liquor storage, on-and-on details typical of the need for support and help in coordination, the senior staff was either in the way or obstructive towards achieving what needed to be done. And frankly cranky, unpersonable, and inflexible. Given the pressures of the day for a once in a lifetime celebration, the Darlington House senior staff was a total pain in the butt to deal with. I would not recommend Darlington House. As opposed to being supportive and helpful, they were miserable, ineffective, and at times just plain obstructive. Save yourself some grief and please try to select a different venue for the one-time celebration of your life or that of your loved one. read more

Darlington House was the perfect venue for our wedding. It felt like we were having such a hard time finding a venue for our wedding until we found Darlington House. My wife and I were impressed with the large outdoor area, the beautiful indoor area, and especially the library. It was great knowing that proceeds from our event were helping a good cause as well. Our wedding was gorgeous and we received so many compliments on how perfect the venue was. read more

Love, love, love Darlington House! It was the perfect setting for our wedding and can't recommend it enough. Intimate and unique: We had 125 guests at our wedding on August 18 and the venue was a perfect size and fit for the elegant, intimate and warm wedding we envisioned. I didn't want the typical hotel ballroom wedding - this venue is the complete opposite, TONS of character! We planned each portion of our wedding in different areas of the venue so there was a beautiful flow and our guests loved moving from area to area. Awesome photos: this venue has so many gorgeous backdrops that you will have such a great variety of photos. The beach is super close by so you can walk there during golden hour with your photographer and snap some awesome pictures. Management: Carly was super accommodating with many of our requests and my frazzled bride emails, thank you, Carly! Volunteers there are very sweet and helpful. Thank you! Don't let the 930pm end time put you off - we started early (3pm invite time) and six hours of event time was more than enough. We didn't feel rushed. We also had a Sunday wedding so that probably helped. We had an afterparty booked nearby and it was the perfect ending (if you need recs, just message me. I researched every option in La Jolla!). Yes, the venue doesn't come with anything so you must bring in everything yourself BUT it's an opportunity to customize it exactly how you like it (trust me, you would end up upgrading chairs and what not and paying more at a hotel anyway) and all the wedding vendors in the area have worked there so they will know what to do. Ashley with Always Flawless Productions was our planner and she was amazing as she's planned so many weddings there, highly recommend her! Cherry on top: it's a nonprofit, so your venue costs are going towards a good cause. Thank you, Darlington House, for a beautiful, magical day! read more

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My husband and I had our wedding here and in June and wow what a wonderful day!!! The venue is absolutely gorgeous and Carly from the Darlington House was so incredible helpful and kind. It is such a unique space and offers so much freedom to bring your dream wedding to life. The weather was perfect and all the staff were amazing. I would highly recommend the darlington house for your wedding or other special event. It's a plus that they are a non profit and our money went to a great cause! read more

Darlington House - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - La Jolla, California

If you're looking for the perfect place to host your wedding reception or really any evening event, the Darlington House is a must to check out. My fiancée and I had the good fortune of being able to attend a cocktail hour/wedding reception here and it was an absolute delight! The food, staff, drinks, and ambiance were all perfect as for majority of the night I had no complaints. The only gripe I saw was that the open bar ran out of certain juices and liquor fairly quickly. The staff was able to rush out and grab some more but for someone's wedding, a little foresight and maybe an earlier alcohol run would have helped. You can be confident that your wedding guests will love this place. From the first step in, to the last step out, Darlington House tries hard to make sure the big day goes as smoothly as possible. If you get an invitation to a party being hosted here, the decision is easy--RSVP yes! read more

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Wonderful venue for getting married! I have been a server here many times and it's always a pleasure seeing how much joy this darling house brings to family's coming together in holy matrimony read more

This venue is GORGEOUS!! As a wedding photographer, I can really appreciate all the care and attention to detail that was spent designing and now maintaining this architectural masterpiece. From the leaded glass doors and windows, to the ornate wooden carvings, to the beautiful arches and tile of their twinkle-light covered patios - every corner of this place is a photographer's dream! Plus, the beach is walking distance so you get that added backdrop for your wedding photos as well! If you are looking for a top-notch but low-key wedding venue with worldly charm and vintage whimsy, Darlington is sure to impress you and your guests in the best way! See more images here: https://www.mariemonfortephotography.com/selina_mark_darlington_wedding read more

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We had our wedding at the Darlington House on 9/29/23 and it was the most perfect day! The venue is absolutely gorgeous, from the historic feel of the inside, to the really unique library, and the luscious gardens outside. It's everything you could dream of for your special day. I love that you have each event in a separate place within the venue and you don't have to add a bunch of decor because the venue speaks for itself. Our guests absolutely loved it and so did we. I mainly worked with Carly and she was great! So helpful and quick to respond to my emails and random questions. Our day went so smoothly, we can't thank the rest of the staff enough for such a beautiful wedding! read more

We just got married here one month ago. The venue turned out amazing and all of our guests loved the ambiance. We especially liked having the different courtyards for us to break up the wedding areas such as buffet set up, bar and dinner set up. We worked with Carly, and though we had a few bumps along the way like you cannot serve alcohol before the ceremony and no red wine inside, or alcohol upstairs in the bridal suite, things went well. It got a bit frustrating at times because there was some confusion when talking about the rules for the venue but all in all we are happy we got married here. read more

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Highly recommend Darlington House as a wedding venue! I recently had my wedding day here and it was even more magical than I expected. While tucked away in La Jolla, there is plenty of space for guests and so many options for photography. Please note, if you're planning on having a tented reception you will likely need to account for set up and take down days in your costs. However the tent was well worth it for a chillier December wedding so would still recommended 10/10! read more

What a gorgeous venue! My husband and I were recently in La Jolla for a wedding which took place at the Darlington House. The home itself offers a lot of space for entertaining both indoors and out, and also plenty of space for getting-ready for bridal parties. The sound system and their caterers are great, and the ambiance was absolutely perfect. If you're getting married or holding an event in the San Diego area, definitely check out this venue! read more

attended a wedding in this location. The twinkly lights set up in the backyard for the reception makes the place even more dreamy. Nice, open patio area also that was set up for cocktail hour. Although the area for the ceremony is a tad bit small. There were 150 expected guests but only 75 chairs were set up. It's a perfect space for a small gathering. homey but sophisticated; beautiful, rustic home in downtown La Jolla. read more

Darlington House - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Such a magical place for a dream wedding! We got married here at the beginning of August, and we are so grateful for this gorgeous venue. The character of this historical house adds so much color and magic to the event, and I feel like our wedding was some fairy tail wedding. Stunning views, character of the interior for amazing photos, easy communication, friendly staff, and proximity to the beach for additional stunning photo ops is nothing short of the perfect wedding venue. At least that's what it was for us. The fact that the cost of the venue goes to a great cause, makes the venue that much more favorable. So happy we chose the Darlington House! read more

What is there to say about the Darlington House? Actually, what is there not to say... If the pictures haven't already convinced you *this* is your venue then hopefully a review - well, another review - will. The Darlington House wasn't the first venue we visited in search of the perfect place for our wedding, but it certainly left a lasting impression for all subsequent visits to other venues. We were immediately transported to a home somewhere along the Mediterranean Sea as we entered through one of the many gardens - this one happened to be situated off the library. As we walked through the library, we were drawn to the other side by the deep blue tile of the Andalusian Patio and the smell of blooming roses in the adjacent Rose Garden; every inch of this place offered something very special, almost fairytale-like. From the upstairs suites to the common spaces below, each room had a sort of unique character that we found very refreshing after having seen one too many "mainstream" venues. There was a story here and I knew this is where we would get married. I fell in love with the Darlington House even before learning the proceeds of each event go toward providing affordable housing to low-income seniors in La Jolla. My heart was already certain and now it was also full. My (now) husband and I married at the Darlington House on the Egyptian Patio in early-April with just over 100 guests (who are still talking about the venue). I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, due in large part to Carly who was extremely patient - I asked a lot of questions - and always very responsive. To Carly: A simple thank you will never suffice; you helped make our wedding dreams come true and for that we are forever grateful. (Photographer: Muse Moments Photo, https://www.musemomentsphoto.com) read more

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Darlington House was our wedding venue and we couldn't have been happier with it. I was a pretty nervous bride and Carly was a gem throughout the entire process - responsive, calm, and reasonable despite my many emails. The space is absolutely stunning - beautiful gardens, lovely tiles, and unique details strewn throughout. I think that it's the perfect wedding venue for the right couples but any potential bride and groom should go into the process of booking Darlington House with their eyes wide open. This is a true "venue only." Every little thing needs to be brought in. That wasn't a problem for us because we wanted to customize all of the details and we worked with a number of fantastic vendors but it is something to be aware of. Darlington House provides the event space, of course, which includes bride and groom prep areas (although due to the old electricity, it is recommended that you arrive with hair & makeup done and use the room just for dressing/photos/relaxing). There is some seating in the house as well as restrooms and a table for a guest book/presents, and that's about it. You will need to bring in all other necessary items as rentals. Darlington House requires that you use a caterer from their approved list which I actually appreciated because I know they vet them. We found an excellent caterer and used their recommended vendor list to secure our valet service (valet service is highly recommended!), our wedding coordinator, and our bar service. All other vendors we sourced ourselves. Darlington House does have volunteers with the La Jolla Social Service League who ensure people are following the rules (e.g. no red wine in the house) and direct people to restrooms plus answer questions about the house's history. The volunteers on our wedding day could not have been nicer. One woman literally got on her hands and knees to help the daughter of a family friend fix her tights while our friend was taking photos with us. As multiple people have already mentioned, you do have to be out by 10pm. This was not a problem for us - by 10pm I was so exhausted and many of our guests had young children. It's San Diego - anyone who wants to keep the party going all night can find plenty of places for an after party or simply book a different venue. Our vendors were all aware of the rules and started to pack things up a little early and with our wedding coordinator's help, by 9:45pm everyone was outside with streamers sending us off in our car. Overall, I was extremely happy with Darlington House. There was some construction going on next door, not their fault of course and no one was working during our wedding, which was a tiny bit of a disappointment. I also felt that the ceremony area by the fountain was a little tight despite the fact that we kept it under the recommended number of guests for that area. Those were minor things, though, and the positives well out-weighed the negatives. If you're on the fence - don't pass this unique, historic venue up! read more

Awesome venue for wedding. My sister got married here and it was unique and different to be in a vintage house. The parking though is a mess. You get a spot for the people getting married. Everyone else has to find street parking and it is difficult given that is at walking distance from the beach. Great thing is you can walk to the beach. You are not allowed to drink anything inside. You also have to be out of there by 10pm. Very intimate wedding about 125 people. The space is gorgeous and the photos reflect that. read more

So if you don't like an honest review, you just have Yelp remove it? How unprofessional to try to cover up what happened at your location. Was The Darlington House for my nieces wedding and they used one of your trusted vendors to cater the event. However, during the reception, one of the servers stole the Mother of Bride's wallet, credit cards, cash, etc. Employees of the venue (Darlington House) discouraged the Mother of the Bride from calling the police, which quite frankly, is a huge red flag. I personally heard one of The Darlington House staff members complaining about having to work another "Shitt$ wedding" while working this event. Imagine if you heard someone discussing your family event in such a vulgar, crass, and derogatory manner? This entire experience has proven that you, The Darlington House, care far more for your image than your clients. This is the most disgusting and disappointing experience I've ever had with a wedding venue in my entire life. read more

Only great things to say about Darlington House! We rescheduled three times due to the pandemic, and the folks at Darlington House made it incredibly easy and stress free. The grounds are beautiful; it's very much like you're getting married on someone's supremely gorgeous and private estate. There are three beautiful courtyards and never ending spots for photos with lovely trees and florals. Carly was wonderful to work with and we can't recommend Darlington House enough. read more

The Darlington House was the perfect venue for our wedding, and my husband and I are so thankful we were able to find this gem. Yes, it kind of sucks that you can't go past 10pm. But honestly, we were pretty tired by that point anyways, and our guests all partied on at a local bar, so it didn't even matter. If you want a venue that doesn't feel generic, is private, intimate, and romantic, check them out. The staff are really friendly, gracious, and helpful, and really for the location you can't beat the price. All of our guests are still raving about the fabulous location, and we're thrilled too :) read more

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Planning a tea party wedding, an Audrey Hepburn vintage affair, or a quaint and peaceful shindig for your nearest and dearest? Then you must have have your wedding here. I wanted our wedding here, I really did. It is absolutely beautiful and has such great vintage flair. This venue is quite precious, delicate, and feminine, and the big bonus is that the rental fee goes toward the Social Service League of La Jolla, which operates the site. The ladies that helped me were very nice and friendly and let me roam the grounds as long as I liked. Unfortunately, we decided to go with another venue because of the lack of parking and smaller guest capacity at the Darlington House. We have big families and needed more room to roam, plus I felt a little like I would break something in the house since it is a historical site. We're also clumsy in this family. You can check out more of my pictures and review of the Darlington House here: http://pinkargyle.blogspot.com/2009/01/are-you-my-venue-1-darlington-house.html PS: This place has the most amazing wallpaper. read more

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The Darlington House is an absolutely gorgeous venue for a intimate, romantic, private wedding! We loved all the architecture and details that are all throughout this home. The rental goes for a good cause housing senior citizens. Everything about the house fit our style and just added so much to our wedding decor that we really didn't even need flowers with the rose garden and egyptian courtyard. The only downside was the reception has to end at 10pm, but we didn't find out until several weeks before the wedding, that music has to end 30 minutes prior to reception ending. Also if you have a lot of decorations throughout the house (which we did) family and friends spent cleaning up VERY quickly, because when they say close at 10pm it means clean up as well. Luckily we had family that stayed afterward, they carried boxes to the sidewalk and they locked the doors. (Not to complain, it's just so you know ahead of time and you're not caught off guard.) The day was absolutely perfect! The staff were all very friendly and sweet. All our guests loved the place and we made some great memories there that day! read more

Darlington House - Photos by Priscila Valentina Photography - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - La Jolla, California

My fiance and I wanted a wedding venue that was not a hotel and that had a lot of character. The Darlington House was the perfect choice. We had about 75 guests, which we thought may be too small of a wedding for the venue, but everything turned out better than we could have anticipated. We had the ceremony in the Egyptian patio, which has a beautiful water fountain Mrs. Darlington curated from Egypt (hence, the name of the patio). The cocktail hour was held in the Andulusian Patio, and the bar was located in the Library, which is the most charming and interesting rooms in the Darlington House. The reception was held in the Rose Garden, which had a great, charming ambiance and perfectly accommodated the size of our wedding. The Darlington House required more planning and work as you would have to bring in all the vendors (they do provide you a long list of required caterers), but it was absolutely worth it. With the right vendors, all you have to do is highlight the natural and history beauty of the Darlington House to make it the wedding venue of yours dreams. One thing worth noting is that we hired valet service, which our guests really appreciated since there is no commercial lot in that area, and street parking is quite limited. The venue is located in a residential area in downtown La Jolla, about a few block from the beach. Our wedding was on the earlier side (ceremony began at 3:30pm) as the municipal code would not allow outdoor noise/music after 10:00pm. The time restriction was not a problem for us at all, and our guests thought the venue was beautiful. We did experience one minor confusion with the Darlington House's Director of Reservations regarding receipt of a payment (they sent an email indicating that they hadn't received our last payment check, but in fact they had), but that was quickly straightened out. Our initial contacts appear to be a few different volunteers at the Darlington House. However, about a month or two before the wedding, Emilie became our contact person, and she was great. Overall, my fiance and I were very happy with the Darlington House, and would recommend the venue. read more

This was the venue for my daughter's wedding in Sept. 2007. Everything about it was wonderful....the staff, the gardens, large patio where we held the reception, etc. The house itself lends a very personal touch to a wedding. And it allows guests to sit in comfortable chairs (grandmas, etc.) if they are wanting to sit inside later following the ceremony when the music is playing. At night the house is lit beautifully and it looked even more enchanting than I could ever envision. This venue holds about 110 people max for a wedding. The only drawbacks are that you have to rent most everything and have it brought in. And you need to hire their recommended valet service. Guests need to be prompt in arriving as this is a residential neighborhood and parking is limited. The valet service they use did a great job. The music has to be turned off by 9:30 so this location is best for an afternoon or early evening wedding. The photos I've posted were taken by shawn k photography, San Diego. www.shawnkphotography.com He's great too. read more

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Always love working here, as a photographer I love all the details and ways to capture those moments. Great location in La Jolla staff is always nice and pleasant to work with. http://www.byamylynnphotography.com/ read more

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It was such a charming place for a wedding. The garden the bar the patio where the served snacks

BEST WEDDING EXPERIENCE EVERR! The beauty of a simple wedding. The food by Abbey Cater was just superb

My cousin got married here this last weekend and it was beautiful! Very quaint, quiet venue in La Jolla. Complimentary valet parking which is nice. The Bridal suite upstairs was really spacious and had lots of sitting room and a big bathroom to use. The outdoor space was really pretty. Great for taking pictures. The only downside was that music had to be shut off by 9:30pm, which is pretty early in my opinion. read more

My Daughter was married at the Darlington House in August 2014. It turned out to be the fairytale wedding she always dreamed of. The day was such a success that the entire family, including the bride and groom wanted to do it all over again. The close proximity to wind and sea beach made it easy to get those amazing beach shots. Bryan Miller Photography was spectacular, We elected to rent the upstairs suite starting at 9am so we could get ready there and really enjoy this beautiful house that is full of such character. Even the bathrooms are cool. The bride and groom chose to do the first look so they would not miss their cocktail party which was held in the beautiful library/courtyard. Some people worry about the end time of 1000pm but we found that with people arriving at 330pm it was the perfect amount of time. We used personal touch dining who were awesome and affordable. They took care of layout design and all rentals. We had a sit down dinner which really seemed to fit this venue and was not more costly than a buffet. The ability to bring in your own drinks makes this venue much more affordable. Bil Calhoun was the DJ, he was the perfect guy! People were up and dancing on song one and it stayed that way for the entire night, There were 100 guests, so it was a quaint private party. Once you are behind the front doors it feels like you step back in time and have entered another world. You would never guess this if judging the Darlington House from the curb. It is fun to move from one garden to the next as the wedding unfolds. So many of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to and could not get over how cool and unique this venue was. One piece of advice, put the dance floor in the middle of the Rose garden and place all the tables around it. Everyone has a comfotable seat so they can be a part of the party whether they choose to dance or not. We had San Diego Event Lighting place 3 simple strands of market lights across the dance floor and had tons of candles on the tables which added so much ambiance. It was a Friday night wedding because all Saturdays were booked. This turned out to be a blessing as there were no events scheduled on Thursday night so we were able to have our rehearsal the night before the wedding, not to mention the convenience of dropping off all our drinks and decorations the night before instead of having to deal with it the day of the wedding. Tiffany Monday provided amazing makeup and hair. Stockhammediaweddings.com was great. VIP valet parking was awesome! BTW please feed these guys they are the best. Debbie at Leucadia floral and Plant was extremely helpful and reasonable. Bouquets were beautiful and she provided us with a variety of loose leaf greens that we used to create a relaxed garland look on tables along with candles. If you have a creative friend that can help it will save a ton of money. The Darlington staff was always patient and ready to answer questions. They were extremely helpful and kind the day of Wedding. If you are looking for a private garden wedding look no further. The Darlington house is a hidden gem and any bride who has the opportunity to get married here is one lucky girl! read more

Don't get me wrong. The venue was great. The bride was beautiful and the decor is fabulous, the house is amazing. This review is based SOLELY on what I experienced at the end of the night as the guests were leaving. It was around 930 and I went into the main house to sit and check my msgs. There was a volunteer in the main entrance I guess directing/helping/supervising etc. The bride was looking for something and this particular volunteer was SUPER SNOTTY. Her response was that it was not HER job to look after things and that she was not responsible for whatever people took and that people were taking things out all evening and that she didn't know who was to take what. Which is understandable. Totally true. HOWEVER - she did not have to be so rude. The bride may not have noticed but I certainly did. A few minutes later - this same volunteer laid it into the wedding coordinator. Apparently there were too many kids running around for her taste and that there should have been a nanny to watch all the children. That it was in the contract, the children were running around, they were ill-behavedblah blah blah. IT's A FREAKIN WEDDING!!! People are SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY! It's fine if you have an issue with what happens with your venue and you need to take it up with whoever is the coordinator etc. However it does not need to happen within earshot of guests. You do NOT have to have this look of disgust on your face as you walk around tidying the pillows. It was all very rude. The reception ended at 10 for gods sakes. They were practically short of kicking everyone out and threatening to lock the place. I looked at my clock and it said 938. REALLY??? I've been to my share of weddings and I've coordinated enough events to know that the lady is right. BUT - if this is the FIRST time that you are addressing this with ANYONE. That is NOT how you treat the ppl who just paid to have an event there. Maybe it was past her bedtime. Sorry - I've never written such a distasteful review before but that 10min. display was just too much to not write about. read more

The best wedding i've ever been to was recently held here. It's intimate and is made up of courtyards and rooms leading into on another. I imagine the set up can be customized to your vision as a bride or event planner, but the wedding I attended had us move through the property section by section. The event began from the main foyer for the guest book and entry, a piano player greeted us with setting the perfect mood. We were ushered into the courtyard for the ceremony, and the Bride had it set with folding white chairs and a arbor behind the fountain. After the ceremony we went left into a second courtyard and library they used as a cocktail hour space, dreamy! Then they opened doors from there into a fourth space in the back of the property for a formal sit down dinner, it included an alcove where the cake and desserts were gorgeously displayed, then, they reopened the first courtyard where we had the ceremony for dancing, glorious with the fountain ( Although my friend the bride gets the stars for what she and her florist did to it, the tile was completely covered with a garden of Eden level display-that certainly doesn't come with the venue. ) A few things to be aware of: You'll need to book valet parking for your guests, it's street parking only. This isn't a huge venue, and there is a noise ordinance for the neighborhood limiting your party till 9:30 and the music volume in general. Also, one leetle water-closet for your bathroom needs-keep that in mind! It's private and you feel like you're transported to a little world-I loved it for a wedding, truly in those moments it was just the bride, groom, and us, the honored guests. We felt whisked away to somewhere they had created for us, the staff was lovely too. Highly recommended. read more

This is the first reception venue we looked at and I fell in love with it instantly. Barely two blocks from the beach and if it weren't for the luxury retirement home in front of it, you would be able to see the ocean from the front door. Gorgeous Spanish-style villa with beautifully decorated interior. Receptions happen in their terra-cotta tiled rose garden which can fit up to 200. There is also two other courtyards perfect for cocktail hour - one with a blue and white tiled fountain in an Egyptian theme and the other with Moor-inspired pillars. The privacy and intimacy offered by the beautiful house is a definite plus as well as the fact that the fee for use of the home goes toward a non-profit committed to taking care of senior citizens. That being said there are quite a few restrictions and the cost per hour is quite high considering that you still have to pay for rentals and catering (all chosen from their required vendors list). If you're looking for flexibility and value, this may not be the best option. However, it is a must if you are going for an intimate ambiance. For the most part, the staff was very professional. There was a bit of a mix-up with my paperwork but I think this is because they non-profit and rely on volunteer office help. Also, while you have your wedding volunteer docents are present in the house to make sure that your guests respect the historic home. For the most part, they were very helpful but one of the older docents became very annoyed with the children of my guests who were playing in the house and scolded them. Unlike me, you probably want to consider hiring a babysitter if you're planning on having a lot of children at the reception to avoid this. read more

I was able to use the Darlington House for my wedding a few weeks ago. It was definitely the most beautiful and charming venue we looked at. Everything from the getting ready rooms- which were adorable and gave us fantastic pictures, to the bathrooms and library, the whole place is amazing. We had about 150 guests, which I think was just about the perfect number. We chose to have the ceremony and reception in the Rose garden with a cocktail hour in between in the Egyptian, Andalusian patios and the bar in the library. It was perfect. The ceremony was gorgeous. We had a pianist come in and it was just a beautiful and light mood. The trees and fountain make it serene. I was able to set up my own arch, which worked perfectly. I was a little disappointed you can't use real rose petals or bubbles, but I do understand wanting to preserve the home. For cocktail hour I was able to set up a photo book and advice to the couple frame with a table, while the guest still had plenty of room to move around. The reception was also beautiful. The alcove for desserts is perfect, and the brick makes it easy to dance. As for having the music end at 9:30 and having people be out by 10, that is true and it can feel a little early, but they were very upfront with us about that so we told our guest ahead of time. I didn't have any problem with being rushed out, possibly because our DJ did a great job of ending the music and sending everyone off. Likewise, I didn't have any problem with the volunteers. They were all friendly and polite to all my guests. I worked with Emilie and then Rebecca for the planning. They were responsive and helpful. They gave me advice on vendors are were more than happy to walk through everything with me as often as I needed. My only (small) complaint is the required caterers are a little on the pricey side. I would have liked to see at least one cheap option on there. But I was very happy with my caterer (Personal Touch), although they did start clearing things before it was all over. But most of my guests were up dancing, so clearing dessert plates and empty glasses wasn't a problem. Overall, I adore the Darlington House. It was beautiful, charming and such a great cause to support. I loved my whole experience. I would definitely host another even there. read more

The Darlington House pretty much made my wedding. It is an amazing venue. I am not a fan of the cookie cutter type hotel weddings that a lot of people choose to have. The Darlington House has that timeless, classic, vintage feel that you can't find at any other venue. The place has so much character. Absolutely beautiful. Just a block from the water, we were able to get some great photos on the beach as well. The staff is amazing. The docents at my wedding were so kind and helpful. I am so grateful to have stumbled upon this venue right here on yelp! My only suggestion is that Darlington House make some adjustments to the bathrooms for motorized wheelchair access. We had one guest at our wedding who was wheelchair bound in this way, who was unable to use the bathroom because her chair would not fit in the doorway. She had to leave early. I felt awful :(. The thing about this venue that really stood out to me, was the fact that it is run by a non-profit organization and the proceeds go to the Social Services League. So not only is it the best outdoor garden venue in San Diego, but you can feel good about where the money goes, because it is going towards a good cause. That unique attribute, combined with the character and beauty this venue has to offer, pretty much sealed the deal for me! In conclusion, I would just like to say that if you're willing to put the work in, because with this venue it is necessary to bring in pretty much everything, it will be well worth it. I thought my wedding was absolutely gorgeous, mostly due to this venue. Thanks to the Darlington House, I had the wedding of my dreams. read more

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