I went here the other day for an event and I will say I was really impressed by everything! It's a nice building in downtown and the Don room, although I didn't get any pictures, was absolutely wonderful! read more

See all

Probably I am the Happiest Bride ever.. My wedding was magical at El Cortez! It's really beautiful venue with a great vibes. Since the minute I arrive for the very first time, I immediately felt that this place is very special. I loved round dance floor and a lot of space. all tables are in the perfect circle, and all the guest could see each other. I immediately imagined my wedding decorations around and I felt in LOVE!!! The second time I felt in Love when I stepped outside and seen a terrace. Jessica, my venue coordinator was a delight. So professional, kind and so attentive to all my requests. It was the biggest pleasure to work with her and her team. We got hundreds of compliments for the venue. All our guests were enjoying such a unique and gorgeous atmosphere. Highly recommend ! read more

See all

We are INCREDIBLY grateful and thankful to have selected the Don Room at El Cortez for our wedding reception venue!! An outstanding, caring staff and historic, glamorous, charming venue combine to make the perfect match for a venue for any special event. We were looking for an "Italian" space to match the "Italian" church (St. Joseph Cathedral) for our wedding theme and found the perfect venue in the Don Room. Joe and Kathi, the events manager and sales/marketing manager, are both such wonderful and thoughtful people and had such prompt, efficient and quick communication with us throughout the wedding planning process. They helped to make our wedding reception more affordable and suggested the perfect package for catering and bar services to make our reception both memorable, fun and within budget. The building itself is so luxurious feeling and historical, featuring an enormous chandelier and a gold-plated ceiling. The Don Room itself is bright and cozy with maroon red hues and golden highlights, making it both a glamorous but classic venue space. What made us fall in love with the space are the huge red velvet curtains drawing back the entrance to the space, also used to introduce the bridal party and new couple during the reception (my favorite part!)! Joe have such a wonderful tour of the space and overview of how the wedding reception usually flows, which was helpful for wedding planning. I am extremely impressed with the high quality of the presentation of the space, venue and catering package, and communication throughout the wedding planning process. Of all the vendors I emailed/called, the El Cortez staff were the most receptive and detailed in their responses, which were always prompt and answered all questions. My new husband and I are so grateful for the space because the reception was an absolute blast, with all our guests and ourselves incredibly happy to have celebrated in such a wonderful, colorful, and classy space! Thank you for making our wedding MAGICAL! read more

See all

Came here the first time for my former company's holiday party. Parking was a nightmare!! I don't even recall a valet option which would have been nice because it was pouring rain that day. When you first walk into the grand ballroom.....be prepared for the most breathtaking view! The ceiling is so ornamental and grandiose you can't help but stare like a mouthbreather. Unfortunately at my holiday party the El Cortez was not prepared to feed and house over 1000 people.....most of which Asians since I work in biotech. Lemme tell you where there is free food there is a swarm of hungry little asian flies-- i mean people. I don't blame the El Cortez for the rain--it's hard to find room for over 1,000 people. But it was kinda bad business not having enough food for us. They ran out of food within an hour and dessert within the second hour. The tents they put up were leaking and there were inches of water on the ground. Luckily after all the food was gone most of the people left. The only thing remaining were all the younger lushes and luckily the El Cortez did NOT run out of booze that night! Second time I came here was for a wedding. I'll post up some pics so you can see the nice purdy hotel and my disgustingly cute friends that got married. Again, no lack of booze. This time great food but it was a smaller gathering of about 100 people. Sit down dinner with steak and fish. Cute candy/chocolate table for you to get your sugar high before wedding cake high. I'm glad I came here the second time because I forgot the so so time I had the first time I came here. At the wedding (and second function) I had a great time being lavished with good food, good company, in such a gorgeous place. Take home message.....outstanding place for a special 'intimate' event. (i hope my boyfriend is reading...) read more

El Cortez Don Room - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

We did not choose this space as our wedding venue, but it is definitely worth checking out to see if it will work for you. First of all, El Cortez knows how to make you feel special. We arrived at the building for a walk-thru and we were greeting by a sign at the parking space with our names on it. We met with Jessica who was extremely sweet and professional. She gave us some sparkling juice and chocolates to take home, along with a comprehensive folder of information. Second, I asked Jessica about some of the complaints people had about the venue (the fact that it is in fact a condo complex, and people are not allowed to just mill around anywhere. People were getting "yelled at"). She was straightforward with me about the issue, and we talked about ways to prevent that from happening. We did not choose this venue because we would like to invite 200 guests. Our quote for 175 guests, for plated dinner, moderate alcohol package, dessert, tables, chairs, linens, plates, cutlery, some lounge furniture, and use of the space, with tax gratuity, and service charge, was about $25,000.00. This is a little more than we wanted to spend. We also did not choose this venue because, while it is nice, it is not our style. The terrace area did not have the downtown skyline views that we were interested in seeing, and the ballroom was a little too formal for us. We wanted to have a fun indian/middle eastern themed wedding, and our theme would definitely compete with the space. We needed more of a blank space. However, I have full confidence in Jessica, and the rest of the team that if this venue fits your desires, they will make your dreams come true. read more

El Cortez Don Room - Sparkling juice for us! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I had my wedding reception at the El Cortez Don Room and it was everything I had wanted and more. From the beautiful outdoor terrace to the grand ball room it truly was a night to remember. Jessica was a pleasure to work with from the moment we stepped foot inside the ballroom for our first look til the last song of the night. She made herself available and was very responsive to emails. She made us feel calm and collected the entire process and had great recommendations with catering. We hosted one of true biggest head count that the Don Room has ever had and we still had room for the dance floor. He unique architecture of the ballroom made for a good seat no matter where you sat in the room. The terrace allowed for extra lounge seating, Photobooth, bar and more - not to mention a great view of Downtown San Diego. Get the twinkle and market light package. It was so worth it. For those looking for a timeless, elegant and vintage feel for a reception/ceremony look no further. This place is perfect. Photo credit: https://raecheldenisephotography.com read more

See all

Beautiful place to have a wedding. This is one of those places that you don't have to decorate much because it's already so beautiful. Just outside the Don Room, there's a patio area that can be converted into a ceremony and cocktail area. My two gripes about the Don Room is that some of your guests' view will be blocked due to the pillars. Also, the room is circular so I'm not sure where someone would put up a screen if they wanted to show a slideshow. Other than that, beautiful venue. Oh, and I don't think this venue provides its own parking. read more

After looking at dozens of locations, I fell in love with Don room for our wedding venue the second I saw it. If you are getting married in San Diego and looking for a venue with character, this is it. I planned our wedding from out of state, and Jessica was always accommodating and helped us get in to see the space whenever I was in town. The patio/ballroom lends itself to so many different options, but we opted to keep the space simple so as not to take away from the beauty of the room itself. I will never forget walking into the ballroom for our grand entrance and seeing our vision come to life! I could not have asked for a more beautiful venue and would recommend the El Cortez and their staff to any couple getting married in San Diego. read more

See all

We had our October 2011 wedding here. Our ceremony was on the terrace and our reception in the Don Room. There is no doubt, the Don Room sells it. The moment we saw it, we loved it. It is historical and glamorous without the stuffy hotel atmosphere. Yet, if I were to plan a wedding all over again, I don't think I would get married here. There were too many hidden "rules" that weren't spelled out in the contract. Regulations that were specified in the contract were constantly changing during the planning process. It was always a cluster of information and seemed that they were making up the rules as we went along. The final straw for me was when I was told a week before the wedding that I HAD to rent ceremony chairs from a specific company (Tavolo) and to the tune of $700+. Never mind I had already paid for ceremony chairs to be brought in and for about half that price. Again this was not specified in the contract and staff members couldn't offer an explanation for it. They admitted that it was a "new rule" but refused to discuss it further. Another bride told me later that the woman who owns the Don Room is married to the owner of Tavolo which explains that relationship. While this location in unique and beautiful, I cannot recommend this venue. There was just too much unnecessary grief and hassle. read more

It took me a while to find the perfect spot for our July 8, 2017 wedding reception. We wanted something enchanting, different, elegant, genuine, not stuffy, and representative of San Diego. We were thrilled and our guest were wowed with the El Cortez Don Room. I almost overlooked it and, boy, am I glad I didn't. Jessica was wonderful to work with and helped me brainstorm, problem solve and dream about our special day! Our guest enjoyed the best of both worlds by dancing inside in the gorgeous ballroom and then mingling outside under the moonlight on the terrace. The space if very accommodating for a small or large wedding. Our wedding and reception was breathtaking! We highly recommend making your own history at the historical The Don Room!! Several of our guest parked and/or stayed at the Holiday Inn. It was very convenient. Best wishes!! read more

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the El Cortez venue in February 2017 and it was perfect. The location is central and easily accessible from all over San Diego. Our guests raved about the decor and space which was capacious enough 150 guests, not including the bar and DJ. There's a large central area for dancing and mingling, and we put belly bars around it, where people can hang out and socialize. The staff was easy to work with and attentive to detail. We would highly recommend this place for a function / wedding reception. read more

When I found out that one of my best, best, best besties was getting married, I was thrilled. And when I found out that she was going to hold her reception at El Cortez, I was ecstatic! I've heard many a good thing about El Cortez and couldn't wait to finally check it out. After we found street parking (I don't think there was valet, but we found parking without a problem around 5 on a Saturday), we headed into cocktail hour on the outdoor patio, which was beautiful. The weather was perfect for celebrating outside among friends. The space is gigantic, so people could move between groups without feeling awkward. After all, non-awkwardness at weddings is essential. After a few rounds at the open bar and many a tray-passed app, we were moved into the Don Room itself. Sigh. The room was stunning. Her signature black and pink colors were draped everywhere. I don't know how much of her decor had to do with El Cortez, but everything was done to perfection. I loved how the room was the perfect size for a medium-large party. And speaking of size, the dance floor space was excellent. If you've ever been to a wedding with a too-large dance area, you know how strange it can look. I'm so happy for my beautiful bride-friend, and very happy to know that El Cortez and the Don Room are as fabulous as I've always heard. I will definitely keep this place in mind. read more

Great wedding venue, dramatic spanish style grand ballroom. Great spot for a wedding, love photographing our couples downtown nearby and the backdrops are great for a wedding ceremony. read more

See all

1st Jessica Beiriger is the sweetest, most professional and encouraging individual. She was always able to answer any questions, provide referrals and give her best suggestions. Not only was she kind, but always had a warm and genuine smile. I knew we weren't just another couple getting married. She treated us as if we were old friends and truly cared that we received the best service. Our wedding went so smoothly with Jessica's help and all our other amazing coordinators. 2nd, This long over-due review is worth bragging about! My husband and I were married on the 8th of December 2018 at the El Cortez Don Room. We had our ceremony out on the terrace during sunset in front of a blazing holiday decorated fire and the reception was inside the Don Room. Our event felt so magical, even though that sounds cheche. We had touches of reds, golds, greens - you know the holiday colors that bring warmth, and of course some bling. Christmas trees, poinsettias, candles and wreaths were set about. We even had a surprise guest drop in...none other than the jolly ol' man himself, Santa Clause. If you are looking for classy, elegant and historical, the El Cortez Don Room is exactly that! The rest is up to your imagination to complete your moment. read more

See all

I went to a wedding here. In the ballroom... Gorgeous. Some old guy in the foyer wouldn't let me sit on the couches. read more

I had my wedding here in 2007. The Don Room was gorgeous! The hardwood floor is amazing. The history of the Don Room alone made me want to get married and have my reception here. The outside patio is also very nice. During cocktail hour guests were able to see planes come in for a landing to the airport which was kind of cool. Jessica was my point of contact at El Cortez. She was great! The only downside was that you must use Best Beverage for the bar. They have some sort of agreement with El Cortez. That's the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars. read more

I had my wedding reception here April 2012 and met with Jessica. The Don Room is gorgeous on its own and Jessica didn't help sell the venue. In fact, when we were discussing our possible entertainment for the day she kept saying "oh yeah we can't allow that b/c of our floors.. oh yeah we don't allow that here" and so on. It's not like we wanted a circus to perform...just belly dancers. If it wasn't noted on my contract then I can do it! You must use their list of vendors for chairs, food, and beverages and Jessica really pushed her liking to Ranch Events. Ranch pretty much has a permanent setup on the patio for the kitchen. We later learned that using Ranch wasn't the best choice. You can read about Ranch in their separate Yelp review. Tavalo for chairs is required and is way overpriced for the quality and padding of a chair they provide. Best Beverages is the only beverage vendor you can use and they were by far the nicest and easiest to work with. Actually, the best workers of the night! El Cortez has their own team of 3 (or 4) helpers on the event night supposedly making sure the Don Room doors are closed, directing guests down the hall and out to the patio, etc. Well, they were not watching the doors too closely as guests found their way in during the cocktail hour to snoop around. They should have also been looking out for common residents of El Cortez and we did notice 1 "wedding crashing" Asian couple on the dance during our opening dance session. Jessica said that a door greeter in costume will be there on the event day but funny that wasn't listed in their initial contract. I made her revise the contract to detail a few items she said El Cortez will provide. Other sad stipulations are that guests cannot sit in the foyer, pictures of any kind cannot be taken in the foyer (This is b/c it belongs to the HOA and the residents of El Cortez condos), the party must end and guests out of the room by 11pm, and El Cortez and Tavolo only accept payment by cash or check. At least let you clients get some points on their credit card for dropping all those G's! Overall, El Cortez Don Room is a beautiful venue with a high price tag and many stipulations/ regulations. It is very beautiful venue and I wish they were easier to work with. read more

I have only great things to say about this place.!! Loved, loved, loved having my wedding here!! I worked with Jessica Beirger for the entire year prior to my wedding, and she was very responsive and patient the entire time. On the "day of" the door attendants, especially Joe, were fantastic and met all of our needs. The Don Room is truly classic and elegant with it's gold ceilings and octagonal shape, and the outside terrace is spacious and lovely as well. I noticed that a lot of yelpers have complaints about all of the terrible rules here, but I don't agree:--if you can't deal with rules, then you should have your event in your own backyard... seriously, I don't understand your sense of entitlement. I highly recommend the El Cortez as a wedding venue! read more

El Cortez Don Room - best wedding venue ever - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

Here is my honest opinion of the El Cortez Terrace and Don Room. If you are looking for a historic, spanish, vintage venue for your event, this place is great. The El Cortez is great for Weddings, Holiday Parties and all Private events. The Don Room is Gorgeous and there is also a 10,000 square foot terrace available if you want some outdoor space. There are so many beautiful places to have an event in San Diego, so when it comes to narrowing it down to your top choices, you have to look at the overall picture of what will work best for your event. Our final decision came down to Customer Service. We have nothing but positive things to say about Jessica who works in Sales for the Don Room. She is FABULOUS! She was able to answer all of our questions, she was always prompt in responding to emails, she remained patient while making decisions and coming up with ideas for the event. Jessica was always sure to communicate any additional costs or any concerns or suggestions she might have. Jessica is also very personable and kind throughout the whole process and we adored her. This venue does have some preferred vendors that they work directly with. Chairs and Tables must be booked through Tavolo Chaise and any Alcoholic Beverages are booked through Best Beverage Catering. We had no complaints about either of these vendors. They have different vendor options for Entrees/Appetizers and you have the opportunity to chose one of the vendors that works best for you. There are a few things to consider before booking this venue: *This venue is downtown and they do not have a parking garage. There is an option to set up valet parking which can easily fix any parking issues if its in your budget. *This is a Historic Landmark and the upkeeping of the venue is important. There are venue rules to ensure the gold ceiling and hardwood floors and overall look of the building remains classy. (You can't be upset about that). *This building has been converted into Condos so there are people living in the building and the noise level and traffic around the building should be kept respectful. * You get what you pay for. If you are on a tight budget, this may not be the venue for you. If you are fine with these few things I've mentioned, you'll have a great event. We were very happy with our choice and we will be forever greatful to the El Cortez and Jessica for all of her help. read more

Our company took us here for one of our major committee and staff dinners, prior to the start of our annual conference. The huge terrace where we were located was amazing because not only did you get to appreciate the architecture of the grand El Cortez, but also of the nearby appartment and office buildings, and gained a better perspective on what life in gorgeous San Diego must be like for downtowners. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful... and when a light breeze just started almost making it a little too cool, it was time to go inside for our dinner. The room we were in (the Don Room) was absolutely amazing with huge wooden support beams and intersting cherub faces looking down at us. They had decorated the tables in deep burgundy with roses and silver accessories, and we jokingly gawped as if we'd been in a victoria's secret special dinner. Very intoxicating with the waveryness of the candles. Just amazing. The food was very tasty and the service delicate and attentive. Truly an experience. Peole actually live here! It must be nice. read more

Getting married at the El Cortez was a beautiful experience. Jessica and her team were fantastic and extremely professional​ the whole time leading up to the wedding and the wedding day! Everything went as planned and was more beautiful than I could ever imagine. I would recommend the El Cortez for anyone who wants a romantic and historical vibe for their special day. Thank you so much!! read more

Joe was the most helpful person I've ever met. He was so genuine & truly tried to make our experience the very best. He made sure that he directed the guest into the right room he cleaned up nice & always had a smile on. He made sure he had everything in order. We want to thank him for making our wedding so beautiful. (Monique & Anthony) read more

El Cortez Don Room - Loved the Don Room - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I have nothing but great things to say about the venue and everyone I worked with. As the other reviews have already raved about, Jessica and Joe are wonderful to work with. They make sure that the evening is as flawless as it possibly can be. It is definitely not a cheap venue, but needs so little in terms of decor because of its already so unique appearance. The venue speaks for itself with the ornate features and vintage feel. Two things I suggest to future brides is 1)definitely use the up-lighting on the terrace. People love the terrace and will be out there all night(especially since that is where the bar is set up) 2)i would suggest opting to go with one of the caterers on the preferred list. The evening goes much smoother when the biggest vendor is one who works with the venue on a regular basis. read more

Let me start off by mentioning we are not having our wedding here.... However, we did have a date set for next year, but ended up canceling. (Not because El Cortez isn't awesome, but because we ended at another venue for the ocean views). Jessica B was our contact for the Don Room, and see is great at what she does. When I initially started looking for venues earlier this year, I was working full time and also a full time student. Basically I had NO time to run around after vendors. After doing some online research I found the Don Room and emailed them for more info, as I did with several other vendors. I gave her, and about 10 other places, our info and what we wanted for more info via email or phone call. Jessica was the only person that responded with actual information which made the process easy and personal. (Other vendors sent emails basically stating only their min $$ and a link to their website or that we needed to set an appointment in order to get a quote). So after a few emails we set an appointment to check out The Don Room. It's much more impressive in person!! The photos online do little justice to this beautiful building. The terrace alone is amazing! Basically, I would recommend this venue! Even though we ended up forfeiting our deposit, Jessica was extremely helpful, genuine and professional the entire time. read more

Got married there last weekend and I couldn't have been more pleased!! Jessica Beiringer did such a great job laying out the room and assisting in the decor. On top of the room itself being beautiful from top to bottom, the up-lighting and fixtures helped create a romantic ambiance. The outdoor patio was perfect for our ceremony, and our guests loved that during the reception they were able to step out for some fresh air. Plus, we were able to put the photo booth and the bar outside as well, which kept the dance floor and the dinner tables from getting too cramped. The staff was polite, professional and gracious. We were all treated with nothing but respect and they all took the time to wish us well on our union! Best place ever. read more

Kathi, and the entire staff at the Don Room are out of this world! From the moment my husband and I stepped foot in the building, we knew that is where we wanted to party with friends and family for our wedding!! Kathi's amazing pesonality and willingness to help only made the process that much more enjoyable! We were given so many options for our ceremony and reception and everything worked out PERFECTLY! We had our ceremony on the patio where Joe made everything look AMAZING. And our reception was held in the Don Room...however, most people loved the look and feel of the patio so much that they decided to hang out in the cool San Diego air! Our wedding was truly a night we will never forget in a place so full of history and love! read more

Upon viewing the El Cortez Don Room & Terrace, we knew it was the perfect location for our wedding. The space itself lended itself to multiple options (e.g. outside or inside ceremony). It also did not require much decor as the space itself, specifically the ballroom, is beautifully detailed. It fit our vision of an elegant and timeless wedding perfectly. Our guests were amazed by the space and loved having the option hanging out by the fireplace on the terrace. Jessica was sweet and helpful throughout the process, she checked in often and always had referrals. The day of Joe was amazing and made sure transitions and things ran smoothly. We couldn't be happier with our choice of venue. read more

My fiance and I scheduled a tour of the Don Room for our upcoming wedding. The space was really beautiful, and could have been a great spot for the big event! However, the events team forgot about our meeting. They definitely did their best to recover--they were very friendly and welcoming--but the tour felt pretty scattered. Both of us understand that mistakes and schedule issues happen, but we were left feeling a little uncomfortable at the thought of trusting the event team with our wedding. But again...it's a pretty space! read more

We had both our ceremony and reception at the El Cortez in Feb. 2014 and from what I am aware of... everything went off without a hitch! We worked directly with Jessica B. throughout the year prior and she was so helpful with a process I knew very little about. Thankfully I didn't scare her out with my 100s of questions and updates. We were lucky enough to have Joe on the day of and he was just beyond amazing. He, along with really every single one of our vendors, really took the time to make sure that we were okay and happy with how everything was going throughout the day. I cannot recommend the team at the El Cortez enough. They definitely made this experience as simple as possible! read more

El Cortez Don Room - Don Room - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

THIS WAS THE BEST NIGHT! EVER! My husband and I married here this past weekend (10/6/18) and it completely blew away our expectations. We wanted a venue that was in downtown San Diego, had some city vibes, some romantic vibes, and could comfortably fit 200 people. I cannot believe I almost overlooked this venue. The moment we set foot in the Don Room we knew it was perfect. Then we stepped out onto the patio, turned around and pretty much immediately signed the paperwork. Jessica is absolutely incredible. We hired her as our day of coordinator and NOT ONE thing went wrong on Saturday. Everything ran so smoothly, it was seamless. She was so accommodating, always presenting multiple options and solutions to any obstacle, she is a pro. We had multiple people tell us this was the "best wedding they've ever attended" (we agree... in our humble, unbiased opinion). 105% recommend. If we could relive this night we absolutely would, and we would not change ONE thing. Thank you! read more

See all

My wife, Elizabeth, and I could be said to have "eclectic tastes." As an engaged couple, we were the type of clients that either made vendors excited to work with us, or terrified of the idea. We have very broad inspirations, and yet specific expectations. So our hunt for the perfect venue for our Celtic, Gothic, Victorian, Steampunk, Gypsy, Middle Eastern, Indian, Circus Wedding was going to be a grand and adventurous quest. We imagined we might look at dozens of locations over 100 miles in every direction, then merely be disappointed. But we were intrigued when people kept telling us "The Don Room is perfect for you." Situated at the base of the classic El Cortez in downtown San Diego, The Don Room is in a league of its own for San Diego. Everyone from US Presidents to Movie Stars have danced between the columns in that historic spot. The El Cortez building used to be a hotel, but now those units have been converted into condominiums. Thank goodness the owners decided to keep the stunningly gorgeous Don Room available to the public for special events. When we showed up for our tour with Jessica Beiriger, we both felt an electric surge of excitement upon stepping inside. I remember standing in the middle of the octagon shaped room, spinning around in a circle, and gazing at the intricate wood work on the ceiling. I thought "This is a room of artistry, this is a room of beauty, this is a room of passion. It is sacred space, and it is where I will pledge my everlasting love to my queen- Elizabeth." After getting a very thorough and informative tour of the whole facility Jessica sat us down to go over more of the details about what could be offered during the cocktail hour and reception. We were excited to find out that their preferred caterer was not only capable of making Indian food, but they had already provided a sample menu. Most every venue that we had toured or talked to simply told us that Indian food was not possible. So Jessica really hit a homerun by providing us with a sample Indian menu on our first visit. On her recommendation we did a tasting with Continental Catering. The food was great and we decided to go with them as well. The closer we got to the wedding, Jessica consistently contacted us to make sure we were covering all the important details with each and everyone of our vendors. Then she made sure we passed on all of the relevant information to her so she could be well prepared to be our day of wedding coordinator. Her persistence and attention to detail were very helpful for us and she helped us pull everything off very smoothly. Now I think it is important we make clear how challenging our wedding was for a location, staff, and coordinator to handle. In addition to a Celtic wedding ceremony with a handfasting ritual, and a bagpiper...our reception had a champagne dress girl, two separate belly dance performances, a fire show, a circus aerialist, a contortionist, a sword swallower, a wizard, and a top-secret vocal performance by the groom - Me! On top of our circus rolling in, Jessica had to tend to all the normal responsibilities like seating guests, flipping the room for the reception after the ceremony, serving the food, and keeping everything on track so we had time for traditional activities like the first dance, the speeches, the cake cutting, the garter toss and the bouquet. If being a wedding coordinator was a form of martial arts, our wedding was the black belt test! Jessica and The Don Room aced it. If you are scouting locations for your special event The Don Room just might be the oasis you are looking for. And be sure to hire Jessica Behriger as your day of coordinator. She will marshall all the forces together to pull off a great wedding, and protect your vision. Take it from a Baby Sitar playing Wizard - They are both Magic! Greg Vaughan Liz And The Wiz read more

We love photographing weddings at El Cortez! It is such an elegant and exquisite location for brides and grooms looking for a location that has a lovely modern yet classic feel. You can have your ceremony inside the Don Room or outside on the terrace. No matter what time of year your wedding is happening, it is perfect! We love the urban location and the downtown setting. It is close to lots of great hotels for the bride's preparation or for your guests. And the venue takes excellent care of your every need. The staff are friendly and well organized and each wedding we have photographed there has been perfect. Betwixt Studio http://www.betwixtstudio.com read more

See all

My wedding wouldn't be my dream wedding if it did not happen in El Cortez Don Room.. It had every single aspect I was looking for. When I inquired, Jessica quickly responded, we met up initially and treated us real special with champagne flutes waiting for us, our names lit up on the tables; it just was meant to be.. We fell in love with the place immediately. The place itself, the views, the detail of the ceiling, the historical background of the building itself--it just exemplifies us as a couple. The decor, the ambience, I can't put it into words.. Now service, again, Jessica would be the best coordinator for all of this. She replies as soon as she can, she even adjusts her time if she can to accomodate us. I am in the military and currently stationed all the way in Camp Pendleton, so the stress from work, oh btw, im also I was a full time in-campus grad student at the time, plus wedding planning.. she was very flexible. She will inform you if she going on leave, so you dont be left hanging and freak out, howcome Jessica is not responding! As a bride, we could be paranoid like that, but she always plans ahead! She has a great network of recommendations, vendors, styles, designs, colors, you name it. Altogether, EL CORTEZ DON ROOM, kudos, bravo zulu as we say it in the Navy, we wish to celebrate our Silver Anniversary back there! :) Thank you. read more

I just had had my wedding at the El Cortez two weeks ago and I'm still on cloud nine! The venue itself is gorgeous and I knew as soon as I saw it I had to get married here. Jessica was so quick to answer any questions I had, and always reassured me that everything would go according to plan. I had total faith and confidence in her (which was a HUGE stress relief!). Needless to say, our wedding went smoothly and our guests raved about the El Cortez and how beautiful it was. I couldn't be happier,and I highly recommend this venue to anyone! read more

We had the best experience with the staff at the Don Room. Jessica was so amazing to work with. We put down a deposit for the day we thought we wanted to get married on, but due to some family circumstances we ended up having to move the wedding date. Jessica talked me down on the phone as I was crying and panicking. She was so sweet to me and helped me through the problem and helped us pick a new wedding. Jessica treated us like celebrities every time we came to the venue. She was absolutely amazing! People commented on how breathtaking the Don Room was. We chose to have the ceremony on the terrace and dinner/dancing inside the ballroom. The terrace then transformed into an awesome hangout area for people to play games, smoke cigars, drink and just socialize. The fire place was a great touch in warming since it got a little cold (middle of November!) It really was the perfect venue for us :) read more

NN's review is somewhat similar to our experience with the Don Room. Our wedding was on July 21, 2013. All in all, we had a beautiful wedding and had a fantastic time. Would I do it again with El Cortez? Not sure.. We initially decided on the venue because after we met with Jessica, the location's planner, we were under the impression that this wedding would be much easier and less expensive than what we it turned out to be. It was made to sound that they offer an all inclusive package. For our initial meeting Jessica created a package for us with a caterer, bar services, florist, etc. The entire price was so incredibly reasonable, how could we refuse? Well, this being our first (and hopefully only) marriage/wedding we didn't know all the details that go into a wedding. We felt a little misled because Jessica puts herself as a planner that will help guide you through the entire process- she is here to help you. Trusting her to have our best interest we felt like she just wanted to make a sale. After all, if someone came to me with help or had questions in regards to planning a wedding I would tell them the whole truth, good and bad, so they know what to expect. We also felt incredibly deceived when we found out (about 3 months before the wedding date) that our wedding fell onto Comicon weekend! OH MY GAWSH! We don't live in San Diego, and we had a lot of family coming in from out of town. This made the price for our hotels and flight tickets sky rocket. We absolutely, 100% felt that Jessica should have warned us that the weekend we chose is a very very busy weekend in downtown San Diego. Back to the initial package that was created for us... It was pretty shitty. The caterer that she wanted us to go with is Ranch Events. Yes they are cheaper, and yes they do offer all the floral arrangements, but they are very subpar. The woman we met with was incredibly nice but the food was just not good. We felt a little embarrassed having our families fly across the country for our wedding and making them eat cafeteria food. SO, that fell off the package! Now, we had to go with a different caterer AND florist, making our price significantly change. The caterer we landed on was also recommended by El Cortez, Continental Catering. Although a little difficult to get a hold of at times the food was delicious! We got a lot of compliments on the food served as well as the wait staff. Also, for our florist we went with Flora Linda Design, she did a fantastic job and was very helpful every step of the way. Great choices with those two vendors- but the price was much more than what we thought we were getting into. Another vendor on their list to choose from was our DJ, we went with Patrick from Avant Garde (mainly because of his price), and he truly was the only piece of the day that really messed up. Constantly getting our names wrong in announcements and not being able to start a short film that was scheduled to play. I would avoid him from their list. Tavalo chairs (they force you to go with them for all seating) are way overpriced but there is nothing you can do about that. They do offer complimentary uplighting inside the Don Room which is very nice. And for the outdoor up lighting, you really only need the smallest package. That's what we got and it was plenty. Best Beverage is the only bar service you can go with, they were nice, nothing to write home about. You are not allowed to do a grand exit, so forget about that. And yes, a lot of restrictions. One thing that REALLY irked us the day of the wedding is the patrolling the hall/lobby leading from the front entrance to the Don Room. I get they are doing what their told, so I suppose our gripe isn't with them but with the management. We weren't allowed to take a single picture in the lobby! SO, the only photos we could really take were on the terrace. When we rented the venue we rented it for the beauty of the venue thinking we could actually use it all. It does briefly mention in the contract that the hall is to be used as a thoroughfare. But come on, let us take a couple photos, it would have taken a total of 5 minutes! This is probably the longest review I have ever, and will ever write. But I really wanted to be detailed so that future couples and families are aware of what they are getting into. Be very detailed BEFORE making a commitment with them or anyone for that matter, do your homework. Our quoted package rate for 75 people was $12,000.00 we thought with little other expenses it would be more like $15,000.00. Nope. Our wedding was $27,000.00 when ALL is said and done. Now it was a beautiful wedding, but also keep in mind that we did not do anything abnormally lavish. Also, with that price we got great deals on gown and photography as we have connections in both areas. Also, remember that it is NOT all inclusive, nothing is inclusive. And be aware that Jessica is there to answer questions you have and nothing more. Good luck! :) read more

The El Cortez is in fact a cool building. I would have liked to get a price to have a wedding reception here, but it seems you cannot be quoted a price without giving them your budget first. I base my budget around a price, they base a price around my budget. Rather not deal with all that. read more

When I lived in Little Italy I would lie on the couch, look out the window and admire El Cortez. Its a beautiful building and a historic landmark in San Diego, as it was the first high rise building downtown. I learned it was also a wedding reception location so when I got engaged it was on the top of my list of venues to check out. I was fearful it would be insanely expensive but actually it was quite affordable! The other great part is El Cortez makes everything easy. You chose from their list of approved vendors. The vendor we chose did our food, flowers, decorations, and cake. It's like a one stop shop, very convenient for the bride to be! The Don Room is absolutely gorgeous. A round shaped room with a huge dance floor and beautiful ceiling and chandelier. The patio attached to the Don Room is gigantic and the perfect location for the bar and some outdoor tables if your guests need some fresh air. Over all I recommend El Cortez to anyone looking for a classic San Diego reception location. You won't be disappointed! read more

The El Cortez Venue is absolutely beautiful. My guest were blown away by the Don Room and attached terrace. Jessica (the main sale rep) was a pleasure to work with and provided excellent customer services throughout the wedding process. It was honestly a beautiful beautiful place and I'm so happy i chose it. The only down fall to the venue is the extremely strict. Small example, before the wedding my bridal party and I arrived to the venue to take pictures and while we were getting organized we were scolded by some weekend representative of the El Cortez (not Jessica) that we were not allow to stand in the hallway (we hadn't been there but 3 seconds) and in full hair, makeup, and dress she made us all stand outside the front door in the blazing sun. We were melting. Long story short, the venue is not cheap and i would have expected them to treat us better. Side note: They have a partnership with Ranch catering which i had both good and bad experiences with, read review. And one thing i find important to mention is, after hearing that the staff of Ranch catering was known for stealing, my bridesmaids and I made a conscious effort to not leave our purse in the "bridal room" (it's actually just a utility room down a side hallway). However, we had to for 90 minutes (ceremony and cocktail hour) before the reception room was ready. Within that time their purses were raided and all cash was stolen. We notified the El Cortez on-site representative but no actions were taken since the room was down an "accessible hallway" (even though the door was shut) and they suggested a guest (not likely since they were either in the ceremony or on the terrace plus they didnt even know that was a "bridal" room) or a resident might have taken the money (i was surprised they accused a resident). Whatever happened, it happened to me and another bride i personally know who got married there so somethings going on. your call. read more

My review is a bit late, 7.5 years late. This was the perfect place to have our reception. It is beautiful & unique & historical. Not like any other hotel ballroom. Although because it is not a hotel, your guests cannot stay where the reception is but there are a few hotels very close by. We were very happy with our service at this venue. It was also more affordable then we imagined. This venue will always have special place in our hearts & really helped make our wedding day truly special. Thank you! read more