Hidden Coastal Retreat
Recently updated
This vendor updated their storefront within the last 15 days.
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Debbie
DIRECTOR OF CATERING
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Estancia La Jolla is a hidden retreat in La Jolla, CA, ideal for hosting weddings and other special events. With hacienda-style architecture, this elegant venue provides a romantic backdrop for any big day. You can work closely with the professional staff to make your vision for your big day a reality.
Situated on a spacious 10 acres, Estancia La Jolla is a breathtaking coastal destination. There are more than 210 carefully designed guest rooms for you and your loved ones to unwind. In the expansive gardens, you can admire lush greenery and red terracotta accents. You can say ‘I do’ in front of vibrant flowers and olive trees on the Olive Lawn, which accommodates up to 130 people. Another option is the Garden Courtyard, carefully designed for a grand entrance with two elegant staircases leading to a fountain and a manicured lawn that can host up to 420 guests. The Hacienda Lawn, where a towering tree provides an eye-catching ceremony backdrop, is ideal for smaller events with a capacity of up to 125 attendees. After you say your vows, you can dance the night away in one of the lavish ballrooms. The Grande Room can accommodate up to 130 partygoers and features contemporary gold accents and eye-catching herringbone wood floors. With space for up to 700 guests, the La Jolla Ballroom is a luxurious setting with ample natural lighting. This upscale setting features wrought iron chandeliers, candelabras, and walnut flooring that create a romantic atmosphere. On the connecting lawn and patio, you can have a photo booth, a cigar bar, a plush outdoor lounge, or even late snacks. When the festivities are over, you can rejuvenate in the world-class spa or take a dip in the peaceful saltwater pool.
The expert staff at Estancia La Jolla will do everything they can to ensure that your event is a success. You can collaborate with them to completely personalize your experience and plan the celebration you have envisioned. They offer on-site bar and catering services that will ‘wow’ your guests. During your stay, you’ll be a short distance away from stunning beaches and San Diego’s top attractions. Your guests will love exploring all that this paradise-like location has to offer. Outdoor yoga, hikes, and live music are just a few of the possible entertainment options in the area.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Hotel
Park
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Food & Catering
Service Staff
Transportation
Shuttle Service
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
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- CamilleSenior Catering Sales ManagerWith over a decade of experience in the events industry, Camille brings a well-rounded and thoughtful perspective shaped by her time working with a rental company, a wedding planning team, and several luxury resorts. Her experience allows her to confidently guide couples through the booking process, helping them envision how their wedding will come to life while aligning their priorities, style, and budget from the very first conversation. Camille is deeply passionate about building genuine relationships with her clients and translating their unique personalities into a wedding day that feels authentic, intentional, and unmistakably theirs. Her calm approach and commitment to excellence ensure a seamless experience and a celebration that is as memorable as it is meaningful.
- DebbieDirector of CateringWith over a decade in the hospitality industry, Debbie is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for couples on their special day by bringing a personalized touch to every wedding, ensuring that each event is seamless and beautifully executed. At Estancia La Jolla, she blends elegance, world-class service, and stunning surroundings to make every celebration extraordinary. When she’s not orchestrating weddings, Debbie loves to travel, explore new cultures, and spend quality time with her family. Whether discovering new foods or enjoying live music, she finds inspiration in the experiences that bring people together. These passions fuel her creativity and drive, allowing her to infuse every wedding with the same warmth and joy she cherishes in her personal life.
- MollyEvent Services ManagerWith several years of experience in the hospitality industry, Molly brings both passion and dedication to every event she oversees. Molly has become a beloved member of our staff, known for her sweet nature and exceptional attention to detail. From the moment the wedding contract is signed, Molly works closely with couples to ensure their vision comes to life. She’s there to guide them through tastings, finalize every last detail, and make sure everything runs smoothly on the big day. Whether behind the scenes or on-site, her goal is to ensure every event is a flawless and memorable experience.
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.082 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Estancia La Jolla is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its stunning grounds, elegant atmosphere, and exceptional staff, particularly highlighting Molly Lawler, Isabel Barnachia, and others for their helpfulness and professionalism throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The food is described as high quality, and the service from the hotel staff, including accommodations for Deaf guests, valet assistance, and personalized surprises, received positive feedback. Guests appreciated the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and seamless execution of events, making Estancia La Jolla a highly recommended wedding venue for couples looking for a magical and memorable experience.Review photos
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Jason S
Highlighted review.
5.0
7/29/2025
Estancia was an amazing place to get married! The scenery, lawns, reception rooms, pool, and restaurants made for a perfect weekend. Molly and the team at Estancia made everything ...
seamless and easy. From the moment we got there, everything was taken care of, and we only needed to show up. I cannot recommend Estancia enough for hosting a wedding or any event there!
Olivia K
5.0
10/07/2025
My husband and I got married at Estancia La Jolla two weeks ago and I cannot recommend it enough! With a love for San Diego, we wanted to create a San Diego experience for our wedd...
ing guests throughout our venue/wedding weekend! As soon as we stepped foot on the Estancia property, we noticed its Spanish charm, wonderful staff, and beautiful scenery. It was the perfect venue for us to create that amazing wedding experience! We primarily worked with Isabel Barnachia, the corporate catering sales manager, and Molly Lawler, the event services manager. Both Isabel and Molly demonstrated exceptional and timely communication throughout the planning process. Molly, in particular, was phenomenal! She was pivotal in helping us execute the most perfect day and was so kind/sweet throughout it all! Every vision we had was made possible because of Molly! If you have the opportunity to get married at Estancia, I would highly recommend it! Thank you Molly and Isabel for being so wonderful!
Any questions?
Callie K
5.0
8/17/2025
We just had our Wedding at Estancia La Jolla this August and the whole team there did an incredible job! Molly Lawler, the event coordinator we worked with, went above and beyond a...
nd made us feel so taken care of. She was also great with communication throughout the planning process and on the day of the wedding. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful and relaxed wedding!
Sherri A
5.0
8/10/2025
The event team at Estancia was amazing! Debbie, Molly and others went above and beyond to make sure our son and daughter in law's wedding welcome party was a lovely and fun event. ...
One hour before the event we learned the bakery we were using to bring in desserts had the wrong date and did not have our desserts. When I alerted Molly, shot got on it immediately and the chef and team came through with cookies and other desserts in a very short time. They saved us! We received countless compliments about how wonderful the welcome party was and I owe a lot of that to the incredible Estancia team! Our guests were also very pleased with the hotel rooms and property. Many of the wedding guests stayed there and said the service was excellent and the grounds were lovely.
Emma D
5.0
5/21/2025
Estancia La Jolla is an absolute class act – the team is phenomenal, food is high quality, rooms are lovely and well stocked, grounds are magical, and the whole experience will lea...
ve you wanting to return again and again. My husband and I booked a room block for our wedding guests and wedding party members – they all LOVED their experience and felt well taken care of. We had several Deaf guests in that mix, and the hotel accommodated them beautifully. In addition, we had our rehearsal dinner in the Olive Lawn, which was dazzling. Taco and churro stations with an open bar made for extra grateful and happy attendees. We especially loved working with Molly and Nahomi – they are incredible.
Katie P
5.0
5/18/2025
All of our guests raved about how beautiful the property was and how delicious the food was! We are so happy with our choice to get married here. Molly was fabulous from the food t...
asting to room blocks to the day of, she was timely, kind and accommodating. We would choose the Estancia 1000 times over!
Jordan D
5.0
5/06/2025
Booking our wedding at Estancia La Jolla was, without question, one of the best decisions we made. From the start, Molly was warm, responsive, and incredibly organized—she made the...
entire planning process feel smooth and stress-free. Every time we had a question or idea, she was there with helpful answers, thoughtful guidance, and genuine enthusiasm. You can tell she truly cares about her couples, and that made all the difference.
As for the venue itself—it’s stunning. The grounds are gorgeous, the rooms are elegant and comfortable, and the overall atmosphere made our entire weekend feel special. More than a few guests told us it felt like something out of The White Lotus—that’s how beautiful and transportive the setting was. The food was outstanding (our guests are still talking about the ceviche and the crap cakes), and Estancia's team went above and beyond to make everyone feel cared for. Even little touches, like the breakfast vouchers my dad wanted to hand out to guests, were executed flawlessly. And on top of all that, Molly surprised us with pastries from one of her favorite neighborhood bakeries—such a personal and thoughtful gesture that meant so much to us.
We felt completely taken care of the whole weekend, and so did our guests. That’s a rare thing, and it meant the world to us.
If you're considering Estancia for your wedding, do it. And if you have the chance to work with Molly, you’ll be in the very best hands.
Gabbie T
5.0
4/01/2025
Amazing venue, we’re so happy with our decision.
Annie B
5.0
11/18/2024
Estancia La Jolla was only the second place we visited when looking at wedding venues and it says a lot that we ended our search right then and there!
We had our wedding in Octob...
er 2024 and it was the most incredible day. We worked with the team for approximately 18 months from contract signing to our event and was met with great communication, warmth, and professionalism every step of the way. Our special thanks go to Kiara and Nicole who were so responsive and helpful to us during the planning stages.
The grounds are absolutely stunning with lush greenery and flora, and the property had a great intimate feel to host our 100+ guests on our wedding day, many of whom stayed on-property. The food and vibes were fantastic.
The team treated us so well during our wedding weekend - we definitely felt like MVPs! - and we want to thank the entire team at Estancia for making this a day we’ll never forget!
April F
5.0
10/19/2024
The perfect place to do a Wedding! The staff always wear a smile in their face, very helpful and respectful of the guest. The first time we tour the place we already fell in love w...
ith it and reserve it right away. The place is peaceful, beautiful and solemn. We are so blessed to celebrate our Intimate wedding here. It was beautiful and memorable for our guest and they love it. The catering manager Nicole helps a lot with the preparation and she make sure the day of wedding is a Success and It is!! Thank you Estancia La Jolla. - April & Mohsen
Kelsey P
5.0
7/12/2024
We had the best, most magical wedding and wedding weekend at Estancia!
Our Catering Manager Nicole was so helpful from the moment we toured the property, through the planning pro...
cess, all the way through to the wedding day.
From check-in to check-out, we were treated like royalty. The thoughtful amenities we received throughout our entire stay were so on point & such great surprises.
I wish we could remember each & every team member that made our day and our stay so great. The Front Desk & reservations teams were so helpful & accommodating, welcoming us by name at check-in. Chad at the pool took great care of us the Sunday after the wedding. An associate helped our officiant with typing up & printing a revision of his speech. The bar team at the lobby bar were incredible all weekend, remembering our drink orders and taking great care of us. The Night Audit team answered requests for us as early as 5 AM. Valet and the bell team assisted us all weekend with our many bags. The catering, events, and banquet team were the stars on our wedding day. We received so many compliments on the service, delicious food, tasty drinks.
I could go on & on, but the bottom line is we couldn't have chosen a better venue for our wedding, or a better team to help us bring the day to life. Estancia will always have a special place in our hearts!
Evan T
5.0
6/29/2024
We had a wedding block here (got married at Scripps down the road) and thought the hotel was beautiful and very relaxing. They took great care of us and had gifts upon arrival and ...
on our wedding night (champagne, chocolate, etc). The food at the restaurants is very good, the grounds are beautiful; all of our guests loved staying here.
One thing that's useful to know is that they dramatically reduced the price of the presidential suite and some of their other suites with a 10-room block--think the presidential suite went from ~2k to ~1.1k. We loved staying in that room and used it for a tea ceremony and for the bridal party to get ready so we got good value from it. Can't guarantee they'll always do that but worth knowing.
Ally S
5.0
11/02/2023
So glad we chose Estancia as our venue for our destination wedding!
Our planning process went very smoothly. Megan Meachum was extremely helpful in answering all my questions, pro...
viding advice and keeping us organized. During our stay leading up to the wedding, we felt so welcomed by all the hotel staff. They also did a great job accommodating all our guests who stayed there. We planned a rehearsal dinner and meet and greet at the Greenfinch Bar which was so enjoyable and a perfect place to host our guests for the evening. The day of our wedding was absolutely perfect. The grounds looked so beautiful and everything went exactly as we'd hoped. The food was also delicious! All in all we had a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend Estancia as a wedding venue.
Drue M
5.0
9/20/2023
I don't even know where to begin about this incredible venue. Months back when my then fiancé & I were touring venues, we instantly knew Estancia La Jolla was the place we envision...
ed ourselves getting married. Megan Meachum gave us our first tour & I cannot explain how helpful she was in our wedding-planning process. From answering countless emails, to attending our menu tasting & even being present on our wedding day, our wedding wouldn't have happened without her. The entire staff at Estancia La Jolla was so kind & helpful, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Our wedding day was everything we could've dreamt of & if you're able to have your dream day there, we couldn't recommend it more.
Roxanne B
5.0
8/16/2023
Amazing venue! We did a farewell brunch the day after the wedding . Everyone involved was absolutely wonderful. Gorgeous setting and delicious food. I highly recommend
Brianne D
5.0
11/04/2022
The Estancia grounds are completely lush, green and beautiful. If you are looking for a mix of "old meets new" California vibes, this is the place for you.
Every detail about the ...
grounds/hotel/spa is thought out, and designed with care - even down the the paintings, lettering and murals sprinkled throughout the hotel by local artists.
The hotel staff was extremely professional, friendly, and very happy to help with all of our concerns. We were lucky enough to have Megan as our coordinator, and she was a dream. She helped us navigate all the grimy details of planning a wedding and ,made sure that everything was in order to have our dream wedding. She was on it with everything we may need and anticipated our needs before we even asked.
One of the great things about booking here is that both we, and all of our family and friends were able to more of each other than a typical wedding because we all stayed at the hotel. They made booking for the wedding really easy, and everyone was able to book with the wedding rate.
I cannot recommend this place enough, we truly had a dream come true kind of wedding at Estancia and we will definitely be coming back for visits for years to come.
Kelly G
5.0
10/18/2022
We chose Estancia initially because of how absolutely beautiful the venue is, and we're so glad we did. Not only are the venues on the property gorgeous, the events/banquet team go...
es above and beyond. From scheduling a tour till the checking out of our room the day after our wedding, the Estancia team was incredible to work with and made sure everything went smoothly the whole time. Our venue contact, Megan, was so helpful with answering questions and making sure our wedding was exactly what we wanted. Signature drinks were something that was really important to us, and Megan and the head bartender took the time to work with us and make sure the drinks were absolutely perfect. The banquet staff was also great with accommodating food allergies/sensitivities and hand-delivered gluten-free bread (that actually tasted incredible) to those who needed it. We got SO many compliments about how amazing the food was too. If you're looking for a beautiful venue - this is it. If you want a venue that has the best service ever, this is also it. Thank you so much, Estancia! My husband and I can't wait to visit the hotel again and hopefully the spa next time too!
Lauren S
5.0
5/18/2022
My husband and I got married at the Estancia this past weekend, and it was everything we hoped for and more. We worked with Kira as our event coordinator for a little less than a y...
ear while planning the entire wedding. On wedding day of, everything exceeded our expectations.
1. Planning and communication - Kira was amazing and very timely / detailed in her responses back to us. I had so many questions throughout the entire process - peppering her with additional questions at every turn. She was very patient, kind, accommodating, transparent about their packages and offerings the entire time.
2. Estancia staff - everybody was insanely professional, courteous, kind on the day of. Everyone from our servers to our bartender did a perfect job.
3. The FOOD! Was absolutely incredible. I haven't been to many weddings where I loved the dinners served, but every single filet mignon was perfectly medium rare, consistent, plated beautifully, served with the utmost care. We received RAVE reviews from guests about how delicious everything from cocktail hour to dinner was.
4. The grounds: Estancia is gorgeous in its own right. We got married on the Olive Lawn and had our cocktail hour and reception in the Grande Room.
All in all, we'd do this day all over again. Estancia coupled with our amazing vendors resulted in the perfect day that we'll remember for a long time.
Mike G
5.0
10/20/2020
We cannot begin to describe how amazing Estancia is. When we first started looking for venues for our destination wedding, things were so overwhelming. Estancia was the first venue...
we visited and after viewing numerous others.... we knew nothing compared to its Hacienda vibe and beauty. Both the Olive Lawn and Garden Courtyard are beautifully filled with luscious landscape and greenery, perfect for outdoor events. Their Grande Room is a perfect space for a smaller wedding with an indoor/outdoor feel. We love the hardwood floor and the patio space in that room.
The service was above par! Maddie at the front desk was always so sweet, thoughtful, and welcoming. She even gave us the sweetest card on our arrival for our wedding week! Even on our one year anniversary visit, she remembered us and made it a point to make us feel so welcomed back!
Sara East was our events manager. She was so spectacular to work with. She is so approachable, sweet, and knowledgeable. Every visit to the venue, we were greeted with the warmest smile and even the most delicious cheese plate! She was great during our wedding planning, food tasting, and especially during the day of the wedding.
Sara even worked with my husband recently to surprise me with a recreation of our wedding menu. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary enjoying a private four-course dinner. Henry, our server was so friendly and attentive during our dinner and Chef Vincent’s meal was divine.
Sean was the best bartender at Estancia! He remembered us from our wedding week and just added to the experience. When Sean creates a drink you witness someone who takes pride in his craft and service. Amazing drinks EVERY time!
During the wedding planning, we were fortunate to meet Pimm who helped craft our wedding specialty cocktail—pineapple jalapeño margarita.
The food served at our wedding was ridiculously delicious. Our families and guests voiced so many compliments on the presentation and taste.
Being surrounded by our family and friends on our wedding day was perfect and Estancia made it 100 times better!
Estancia La Jolla will ALWAYS feel like a home away from home.
The Adap-Garcias
Kasey C
5.0
7/13/2019
My wife and I had our wedding at Estancia and it was magical. The entire hotel has a beautiful Spanish architecture feel and is extremely well-maintained with vibrant flowers. The ...
catered food was by far the best we had ever had. Even most of our guests went out of their way to let us know this as well. Riley and the whole staff who catered to us for our wedding were exceptional. Truly superior service. I give Estancia my highest recommendations for those couples interested in getting married in beautiful San Diego.
Stacey R
5.0
12/15/2018
Absolutely gorgeous venue. 100% of our guests were from out of town and we took over a large majority of the hotel with our 290 person wedding. The front desk staff, the valet, t...
he bellmen, Cory (the most amazing bartender ever), and everyone who worked at the hotel was incredible. They were accommodating to all needs. Our guests were extremely happy the entire weekend. The planning process with our event coordinator, Riley, was such a great experience. Riley was always available to answer questions and helped to create the most amazing weekend for us. She is very detail orientated, calm, personable, and knows exactly what she is doing! She made this process fun and easy-even during times of stress :) We had the ceremony outside in the Garden Courtyard after sundown and it was perfect. Rain was in the forecast, so Riley ensured that we had a back up plan-just in case, but luckily it wasn't needed! It was a little cold-but she had the idea to include coffee and tea (in addition to the water station) for our ceremony. She didn't miss a beat! The only negative is it was more difficult to add rooms to the room block than we hoped. While the process of booking a room through the website went well, a number of our guests were given incorrect information regarding room availability when they tried to make a reservation over the phone. However, Erika and Andrea were extremely helpful throughout this process. I would highly recommend the Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa! Our wedding weekend was absolute perfection.
Megan M
5.0
7/08/2018
We had the most amazing wedding at Estancia! Five star venue with five star food and service. We toured 12 different venues in the San Diego area and fell in love with Estancia as ...
soon as we set foot on the property. Our event manager Brenna Myers was an absolute joy to work with. We planned our wedding from across the country so there was a ton of back and forth, and Brenna handled every call and email exchange with a smile. She gave us the confidence that every request and wedding detail would be handled with care, and Estancia did not disappoint. We had shuttle busses coming for pre-wedding events on Thursday and Friday, used a number of different spaces throughout the property all day Saturday and had a magical brunch on the Olive Lawn on Sunday. The food throughout the weekend was outstanding! Estancia prides themselves on their cuisine and it definitely delivered. There were so many logistics for all of our events considering that most of our guests were flying in from New York, but Brenna and the entire Estancia staff didn’t miss a beat and execution from their end was flawless. We cannot say enough about how wonderful our experience was at Estancia!
Jacquelyn M
5.0
3/30/2018
Incredible Hotel to have your wedding!! We had our Wedding at Estancia in the Olive Garden and Reception in the Grande Ballroom. From the moment we toured the grounds, the staff w...
as so accommodating! Through the entire process, even up to the day before they helped with any last minute changes or issues that arose! I absolutely loved this venue because we had everything we needed in one location. They even upgraded us to a Suite during our stay!
Sarah F
5.0
3/08/2018
Since our wedding last year, we have regularly recommend Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa to our friends and family. We fell in love with the hotel and the staff at first sight. The h...
otel itself was incredibly beautiful with its neo-Spanish colonial design and the staff, from valet to management, were all incredibly caring and professional. Estancia turned our wedding dreams into a reality. It provided an amazing culinary and customer experience, to which we still get compliments from guests all the time. After the wedding, we were surprised with and amazing room and a bottle of champagne. From beginning to end, Estancia is a stunning venue that beat our expectations! Best wishes for all the staff and a special thanks to Olivia and Christine! Definitely one of my favorite places in San Diego.
Joan W
5.0
1/22/2018
After touring several locations for my daughter's wedding, we found the Estancia had the most to offer. Since 50% of our guests were coming from out of town, the Estancia was the...
perfect venue because the accommodations were right on the property and were excellent. Brenna was our Event Manager and she was awesome! Brenna and Ryan were very attentive to our requests and went the extra mile on customer service. Everyone at the wedding said they had fun and raved about the food. All the staff at Estancia were excellent! (I wish I had gotten more names, the bartenders, waitress and valet personnel). I would recommend the Estancia for anyone planning a special event.
Ellyn R
5.0
12/22/2017
We live in San Diego, but most of our guests were flying from the East Coast. We hosted our guests at Estancia, and could not have been happier with that decision. We worked with V...
ictor and Brenna - both were super professional, answered all of our questions promptly, and made the process easier. We had our ceremony on the Garden Courtyard and our reception in the Grande Room, which was recently renovated. Perfect size for our 115 guests. The food was fantastic, staff accommodating, and the resort is beautiful. We frequented Mustangs and Burros bar and the pool, as well. Wish we could live at Estancia all year round.
Haylee Pettersen P
5.0
12/05/2017
The moment we walked into Estancia, we knew that it would be a dream venue for our wedding. The whole resort feels like a world away from the San Diego beach that it’s next to. We ...
toured the gardens and ballrooms and suddenly the wedding vision came to life. The planning process was seamless and we enjoyed and looked forward to having our meetings with our coordinator, Brenna Meyers. Brenna is an asset to the Estancia team, she worked so well with our vendors and always made us feel valued. Most of our guests stayed at the resort, but even the ones who didn’t were wowed by the venue, service and welcome that they received. The food is fantastic, the service was incredible, and the accommodations they made for us were above and beyond.
Amanda L
5.0
11/14/2017
Had the absolute best experience getting married at Estancia La Jolla. The staff was incredible, helpful and efficient. Food and service during the reception was amazing. Brenna th...
e event coordinator for the hotel was so accommodating and patient and listened to all of our concerns. Would highly recommend this gorgeous venue in San Diego for any wedding or event!! Our night was a fairytale!
Rachel R
5.0
11/03/2017
The venue and staff were wonderful! Our ceremony was on the Olive Lawn and reception on the adjacent patio at the Grande Ballroom. The property is gorgeous and all our guests enj...
oyed staying here. Brenna and her team did an amazing job organizing the event. She was quick to answer any questions that came up and made us feel at ease throughout the entire planning process. She even surprised us by adding charger plates to our reception last minute, which made the prefect final touch to our decor! We decided on the Vaquero Grill buffet and the guests loved the food. A few people told me it was the best wedding food they ever had! Another bonus was them keeping the bar open late so our guests could keep the party going at Mustangs and Burros after the reception.
Robin B
5.0
10/25/2017
Wow! We can't say enough good things about the Estancia and Brenna, the marvelous event manager, who helped to make our wedding truly a joyous celebration. Brenna was able to add...
ress any issue we threw her way in such a kind and gracious manner. Case in point: we asked- "Can the Chef make a 'happy cake'for the reception?" She responded- "Sure, but what is happy cake?" Once we explained "happy cake", sure enough , the Chef created a wonderful yellow cake with chocolate icing and a big ol' smiley face. :))
It was the hit of the reception. Another example: Last minute friends and family members needed additional rooms and Victor and Brenna made it happen. We bring up these examples to show how Estancia goes above and beyond. The food of course was fantastic. The venue is a small oasis with stunning grounds. Many of our guests were awestruck by the beauty of the setting and no wedding venue could be more intimate and beautiful than the Olive Lawn. The service was impeccable with some of the nicest valet service we've ever experienced. Our families live across the country and had to travel a long way to attend. Everyone spoke about how accommodating the staff were and how wonderful it was to stay at and experience the subtle elegance of the Estancia.
Gretchen G
5.0
10/24/2017
The Estancia was absolutely wonderful and exceeded our expectations for our wedding. It was absolutely perfect and our wedding went off so smoothly thanks to Riley and the team.
Audrey T
5.0
10/23/2017
Our wedding at Estancia La Jolla was more than we could ever have imagined! We have never been the type of couple to leave reviews, but we were just blown away by the beautiful ve...
nue and our entire experience working with the sales and event teams. We highly recommend Estancia La Jolla as a wedding venue.
Since almost all of our 175 guests were coming from out of town, we wanted to have our wedding at a hotel that we knew our guests would enjoy and love. Everyone complimented our choice of venue and loved Estancia's boutique feel, its tranquil gardens, and close proximity to La Jolla's best hikes and beaches. Many of our guests told us that they would be returning to stay at Estancia.
The Garden Courtyard and La Jolla Ballroom were beautiful spaces for our ceremony and reception. We were looking for a location that could really speak for itself, and fell in love with the lush greenery, hacienda details, and beautiful (not corporate-y) ballroom.
Not only was the space itself great, but the Estancia team (from sales to events to front desk / valet) always made us feel comfortable and relaxed during what can be a stressful time. The level of service, competence, and responsiveness of the sales team (Christine) placed Estancia on top of other wedding venues we had visited. Brenna, our Event manager, was fantastic throughout the event planning process--very responsive, helpful, and kind. Shoutout to Elva for being so sweet during our tasting and while personally serving us on the wedding night!
Estancia will always be a special place to us, and we will return for many years to come!
Katie H
5.0
10/10/2017
Estancia La Jolla was the perfect venue for our intimate wedding of 12 guests! We had our ceremony on the Olive Lawn (one of the smaller lawns), cocktail hour on the Caretaker's L...
awn and our Wedding Dinner in the Caretaker's Suite. Riley, our Event Manager, was so patient with me and all my questions and constant e-mails! Our event turned out beautiful and the food and dinner service was outstanding. We are absolutely elated at how wonderful our wedding day turned out and we are so happy we chose Estancia La Jolla for our special day!
Anonymous
5.0
9/30/2017
I fell in love with the Estancia a few years ago. When I got engaged, I wanted the Estancia and didn't look anywhere else. My mom looked around to double check and when she finall...
y saw the Estancia, she knew why I loved it and we booked right then. The venue is breathtaking, has a unique Spanish style, and has the most beautiful gardens. Every step you take gets more lovely. The ceremony is quiet and private and not like most hotels where everyone at the pool or lobby are watching. There was another wedding going on and I never saw them. The venue knows how to handle more than one event. The event staff especially Brenna Meyers are extremely organized and pay attention to every detail throughout the process . Everything from the tasting to the wedding was perfect, delicious, well organized and an experience that my husband and I will never forget. My friends and family were quite impressed and said it was the most beautiful wedding with the most delicious food and drinks, especially the wine selection. Everyone from the valet, front desk, room block, event staff and the restaurant staff all treated us so kindly and went above and beyond to make the weekend smooth and memorable. I will be booking my future baby shower with Brenna on the Olive Lawn where I had my ceremony. Xxoo
Jordan H
4.0
9/30/2017
Estancia is a beautiful venue! We had many compliments from guests about how stunning the hotel was and we have so many wedding photos throughout the various picturesque places on ...
the grounds. The wedding weekend was wonderful; it was great to have family and friends meeting up at the pool or running into each other at the bar. Our catering staff during the event was phenomenal (they deserve 5 stars)!
While the weekend was flawless, the planning ahead of time did not go as smoothly. There was a lot of staff turn over, including our wedding coordinator and room booking manager. This led to a lot of confusion, frustration, and needing to repeat things several times. Another thing I found disconcerting throughout the planning process was the amount of times I felt "nickeled and dimed". I know weddings are expensive, but there are certain things I felt cheated by (ex: Estancia requires certain food stations to be outside, but then forced us to pay for the lighting). We have already informed Estancia of these things, as they are really good about asking for feedback!
Overall it was a fantastic weekend! I hope you find this helpful.
Roslyn Z
5.0
9/26/2017
Estancia provided us with an amazing backdrop, culinary experience and, most importantly, customer experience that was beyond expectations. Every request we had was responded to w...
ith. "Can do" approach. My daughters wedding and reception went off without a single hiccup. The Estancia team was helpful, accommodating and supportive throughout the entire process from booking to event.
Carolyn T
5.0
9/23/2017
Our daughter wanted to be a princess for just one day and, with the help of the experienced staff at Estancia La Jolla, she achieved her goal. They were able to create a seamlessly...
beautiful event and they made it look easy.
I have attended many galas, fundraisers, balls, and weddings in my life. Rarely, is the food very good. I can't tell you how many people commented on how delicious the food was at the wedding. The proof was in the empty plates. We had 5 courses and every morsel was incredible.
Estancia has the feel of old world California. I call it relaxed elegance. The gardens are backdrops for some of the most glorious wedding photos that I can imagine. At one point in the wedding the groom shouted out, "This is the best day of my life."
I hope that you have a magnificent wedding day and that it turns out to be as perfect as our daughter and her groom's wedding day.
Ben S
5.0
9/22/2017
My wife and I were recently married at Estancia Resort in La Jolla. I cannot recommend Estancia and its staff more highly. Their entire events staff helped make our wedding day a...
bsolutely perfect. Brenna Myers (Senior Manager of Events) worked with us to plan all the details and ensure that all of our outside vendors were able to provide their services right on time. Brenna also helped us book a block of rooms for our guests to stay at the Estancia and made sure everyone's special needs were met.
The hotel grounds are perfect and we were able to take all of our wedding photos at various locations around the property. The Olive lawn was a perfect size for our wedding size (about 110 people). The Grande Room was recently remodeled and it was a great size for our group as well.
Overall Estancia could not have been better and we will always look forward to visiting there in the future.
Anonymous
4.0
9/20/2017
The venue was gorgeous and the food was amazing. Everyone can't stop talking about how it was the best wedding food they've ever had!
N+D J
5.0
8/24/2017
We just had our wedding ceremony and reception for 130 people at Estancia La Jolla. Thank you Riley and the Estancia team. It was MAGICAL! The grounds are stunning and you feel lik...
e you're in your own private resort. We had our ceremony in the large outdoor garden, then cocktail hour in the smaller garden, and reception in the recently renovated Grande Ballroom. From start to finish, the day was perfection! Most guests (and some of their dogs too!) stayed at the hotel and loved their rooms, pool, food, and the serene environment. I would give this hotel 10000000+ stars if I could.
Jena D
5.0
7/27/2017
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Estancia La Jolla was the most gorgeous venue for our recent wedding (April 2017) and were so easy to work with! Christine, Brenna, and the entire team made our ...
experience seamless and the venue speaks for itself in terms of beauty and class. Most of our guests (ourselves included!) were coming to San Diego from out of town, so we loved having a venue where our guests could spend a weekend with us and where they could easily walk between the ceremony and the reception. The hotel even kept the on-site bar & grille (Mustangs and Burros) open until 2am on our wedding night for our guests to enjoy after the reception! We had the BEST time, with personal touches throughout the event and in our honeymoon suite - we would get married again here in a heartbeat!
Clara D
1.0
7/24/2017
I'm sure our wedding would have been beautiful. We booked our date in February of 2016 for a November 2016 wedding. We found out we were expecting our first child and she was due...
on our wedding date! She was obviously a surprise. We informed Estancia right away (amount a month after we signed our contract and paid our deposit). I will say that Estancia offered to change our date for an additional cost. Since we were expecting our first child, it didn't make sense to spend close to $50k on a wedding. We asked to just cancel it completely. Of course, they said they could not return any of the $6,250 deposit. It was hard to swallow, but we were okay with it. However, they were demanding compensation for the room block we had in place for less than 2 weeks! I get it, we signed a contract but felt that $6,250 was more than enough money to compensate the hotel for holding a date for about a month. The date was probably re-booked anyway and we never received any money in return.
When we argued with the Estancia team and advised that their normal cancellation policy is at least 72 hours for standard reservations, they said that we had to pay because they've already budgeted for the rooms (mind you, for less than 2 weeks). We get it if we cancelled a block of rooms a month before an event or something. We barely even had the damn rooms blocked for 2 weeks in February/March for a November wedding.
Overall, it was just the way the team handled themselves. Again, we totally understand that we signed contracts. We didn't expect the biggest surprise of our lives. BTW, the "special rate" is NOT special, so take my advice, and don't block any rooms. It was actually more than what was being advertised on their website. I trusted that they knew better than me.
Overall, we came to a resolution with the hotel. We weren't happy about it but just glad to be done with the back and forth.
Katie W
5.0
7/22/2017
Estancia was the first venue we visited on our search, we instantly fell in love with it (as did all of our guests!) but knew we had to keep looking to be sure. Every place we vis...
ited, we would leave and give each other that look that says "we already know where we want". Since we had 150 people coming from out of town, we wanted a place that we could have everyone stay comfortably, have the ceremony, reception, and brunch the next day. Estancia checked all of these buckets and more! The La Jolla Ballroom was beautiful, the food was great! Everyone was so nice and helpful, they always made sure we had everything we needed, from the day we signed the contract until we checked out of our rooms after the wedding. Brenna, the hotel wedding coordinator is amazing! She was so attentive and so easy to work with. I would recommend Estancia over and over again!!
Diana J
5.0
7/20/2017
We had our April 8th, 2017 wedding at the Estancia and could not say better things about the venue and staff! We had our 165 person wedding outside for the ceremony on the grass an...
d the ballroom for dinner. I actually am from San Francisco and was apprehensive about planning it so far away- but Brenna and Victor made it really easy! I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for a perfect wedding venue! Our guests really loved the food too!
Victoria M
5.0
7/10/2017
I highly recommend the Estancia Hotel and Spa to anyone that is getting married in San Diego. My daughter was married there last weekend and I was so pleased. Everyone was wonder...
ful to work with from the sales manager to the event manager to the hotel staff and the valets. They were very thorough and professional during the planning process and through the actual event. The setting is so beautiful and the fact that it is more of a boutique hotel adds to the charm and the intimacy of the event. My daughter and her husband were very pleased as well.
Jonny S
5.0
7/07/2017
We had the wedding of our dream at the Estancia. Absolutely stunning venue, great service, and delicious food / drinks. Highly recommended!
Allison T
3.0
7/06/2017
Everything on our wedding day was perfect. I loved the venue, it was beautiful, and the wedding day was just as I imagined. Once we were working with Brenna, the whole process was ...
great. Brenna is a pro at what she does, very communicative and responsive, and really great to work with. As a wedding venue I would recommend Estancia.
However, prior to working with Brenna things were pretty rocky, and working with the hotel on items surrounding the wedding day itself (i.e. room block, guest services, rehearsal dinner, and brunch) was not easy. The biggest issue far and away was booking and coordinating the room block. Getting straight answers regarding the room block was like pulling teeth. We also had some issues on the day after the wedding with settling the bill for our hotel rooms and brunch, where everything was put on the master account when we went to check-out. In the end it was not really an issue, we just had to wait for their accounting department to separate out different bills, but this process was not communicated to us ahead of time, and the front desk didn't know about it, so it caused needless aggravation the day after our wedding. It was just some communication issues that could have been avoided and would have made the whole process better.
Hilary D
1.0
6/20/2017
This is a terrible wedding vendor! They are very focused on revenue goals for groups and not on the quality of service. The discounted group rate is also higher than their advertis...
ed rate and they have threatened to sue me for the difference. I'm lucky that my friends and family were willing to spend an average of $50-80 a night more to book rooms under our wedding block. The sales managers will hopefully meet their revenue goals and not try to sue me for the difference.
Note to the Estancia for the future: your revenue goals should not be a part of my wedding planning!!! They also initially refused to provide transportation to our wedding but on the tour showed us a Mercedes transport van.
Estancia has been very unresponsive. I have reached out to the general Miaread Hennesssy several time with no reply. My wedding date is in less than 2 weeks and they are very difficult to work with.
Sharareh D
5.0
6/04/2017
Our wedding at the Estancia hotel was an absolute dream - everything about the hotel, its staff and setting makes for a memorable wedding ceremony and reception. We found Estancia ...
through my mother-in-law -- a San Diego native who said this was THE hotel to see. I fell in love the minute I walked around it. I wanted a ceremony and reception at a location that could accommodate all of our guests (we had around 160 guests) but not *feel* like a hotel but more of a location. Estancia has an old-world beauty to it, a romantic hacienda get-away. The gorgeous lawn with the fountain was our ceremony space and their luxe La Jolla ballroom was our reception location. Guests loved everything about our wedding venue and how nice and helpful all the staff were on our big day.
The FOOD was amazing - seriously the best wedding food I have ever had and I have been to a ton of weddings. That was a big priority for us - to have delicious food during the cocktail hour and reception, and Estancia delivered. I especially loved their empanadas for the cocktail hour and the steak and chicken entrees for dinner were perfect.
We worked with a mix of coordinators -- ultimately Riley was our girl the day of the wedding and she was super professional and helpful with all of our wedding questions and needs. She helped manage quite a big mix - a Persian/Mexican wedding - and did it with ease and grace.
We will always love this hotel and the memories it gave us for our wedding day and would highly recommend it for any brides and grooms to be!
Michelle D
5.0
4/18/2017
Location and Venue: You CANNOT BEAT getting married in La Jolla! Even though we lived in the area, we cannot believe how fortunate we were to be married in that location. The entir...
e property is BEAUTIFUL and PICTURESQUE. There are many spots on the property to get perfect pictures of the happy couple.
The spaces at the Estancia are perfect for a wedding reception. We were in the newly renovated Grande Ballroom, which had plenty of space for our 120 guests at tables and dancing. The seats, tables, table-settings, room décor, and beautiful NEW wood flooring are ALL AMAZING!!
Dinner: Our guests were thrilled with the dinner at the Estancia. The most favorite item was the Street Taco bar, of which almost every guest got seconds (or thirds). For appetizers, we strongly recommended the bacon wrapped sirloin and the red, white, and blue salad. We served our dinner at stations, and every member of the Estancia team was polite and responsive to all our guests.
Service: The events team at the Estancia are WONDERFUL to work with, specifically Brenna. She was so friendly, prompt, and accommodating through the entire planning process. The entire Estancia team was incredible and accommodating to every request we had.
Hotel Accommodations: Most of our out-of-town guests stayed at the Estancia and loved it. The rooms are CLEAN and COMFORTABLE. The property is BEAUTIFUL and SERENE. Even though it is more expensive than staying at a budget hotel, it is worth it to create a luxury experience of your entire wedding weekend.
Price: While normally Estancia is on the very pricey end, we received an amazing deal for our February 4th date. If you want to have your wedding/reception at the Estancia (and trust us you do!), try planning for a January/February wedding when they have fantastic special offers!
We strongly recommend that you consider the Estancia for your wedding and/or reception!
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Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Debbie
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Director of Catering
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Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
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