The Prado At Balboa Park

I want to give a huge shout out to Marcy! She is outstanding! She went above and beyond to make our day special and keep us excited about the wedding. She is such a pleasure to work with and completely saved our wedding. Our original Vendor was set for the Ahwahnee in Yosemite but when Covid hit that venue cancelled all weddings for TWO YEARS! Just by chance we decided to stop at the coffee shop at the Prado where the manager heard our story and referred us to Marcy. We were so sad before but from the second we talked to Marcy she guaranteed us they would not cancel and our day would be special. Boy did she not disappoint! Our wedding was beyond beautiful from the ceremony at wishing well to the reception in the ballroom, it was magically perfect. They truly know how to do service at The Prado. Everyone was especially talking about the synchronized servers. I would not change a thing, so beyond happy with everything and would highly recommend The Prado at Balboa Park.

We just had the most amazing wedding celebration at the Prado! After many cancelled versions of our wedding due to the pandemic, the Prado delivered the most magical day! Had I known this is how it would turn out, the Prado hands down would have been our plan A! We were blessed with working with Marcy who was amazing throughout the entire process and made sure the evening was flawless! Fortunately because the Prado has a beautiful outdoor space, Marcy was able to offer a ceremony and dinner for an intimate wedding for 40 of us, while still keeping it safe for everyone and complying with all COVID related guidelines. We were not sure what it would look like or how it would all play out with it being during a pandemic and a 3 week timeline...but it was absolutely perfect and we would not changed it for anything the world. The garden was beautiful and romantic, the food was delicious, and there is not one of my guests that has not commented on how amazing Marcy and the staff was. Everyone was blown away and even have said it is one of the best and most memorable weddings they have attended, and even more so under the circumstances it had to be planned. Marcy went above and beyond and helped through every detail to ensure our day was perfect! We are so grateful for the Prado.

Rachael and her team at the Prado are top-notch and wonderful to work with! Although we had to cancel our wedding at the Prado due to covid-19, we worked with Rachael for almost a year leading up to the wedding and she is absolutely great! She was extremely responsive to all our questions and made sure everything was planned exactly how we wanted for our 200+ guest wedding. She addressed every question and detail with such professionalism and we felt super confident that everything was taken care of. Thank you so much Rachael!

My wedding reception at The Prado was a dream come true. The staff were super friendly and accommodating, the food was amazing and the venue was beautiful. Having the majority of my needs for the reception being provided by the venue made planning an already stressful event so much easier. I could not have asked for a better day.

Stunning location, amazing food. Our guests were so impressed with The Prado - even those local to San Diego. I worked with Marcy and she was so amazing and patient. I knew I wanted to get married at the Prado the first time I saw it years ago and it was more than I could have hoped for.

We got married at the Prado and we literally couldn’t have asked for a better night! Everyone is so professional and the event went so smoothly. The whole staff went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. Rachael was such a huge help getting everything coordinated and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. We look forward to celebrating our anniversary there for years to come.

I was so happy and impressed not only with how beautiful the garden area was, but how the venue coordinator Rachel and all of her staff treated us with so much care and we're so inattentive to all of our every needs. I would highly recommend this venue to anybody looking for an outside/inside venue in the San Diego ,CA area!!

Samantha Minnema at Coasterra was the best event coordinator I could have asked for. She was so organized and on top of it. She really impressed me with her attention to detail. I had nothing to worry about on my big day knowing that Samantha and the rest of the Coasterra team took care of it all. She paid attention to what was important to me and had appetizers and drinks ready for me and my husband on the night of our wedding. After the wedding, they packaged our dinner and cake for us to eat at home. Everyone was so thoughtful and caring. Coasterra is such a beautiful venue for a wedding and has one of the best views of downtown San Diego. It was such a treat for our out of town guests to see such an amazing skyline at one of the nicest restaurants. We love Coasterra and can’t wait to come have a meal there soon!

First thing’s first: Marcy is incredible. She helped us plan our wedding from afar (we live in New York) and was super-fast to respond to our many questions and also meet with my mom and sister in person. She ran through every detail with us beforehand to make sure the day went smoothly and greeted special requests with such a can-do attitude. She seemed genuinely interested in making sure we were happy and I cannot thank her enough for her help throughout the entire process. When the day came, everything was absolutely perfect. We got married in the St. Francis Chapel in August and had our reception at the Loggia Room. The chapel felt like such a hidden gem, had a little pump organ (which my husband wanted) and was a short walk from the Prado. We loved the character of the Loggia Room, from the tile floors to the outdoor patios, and have received so many compliments from people about the beautiful setting. We missed most of the cocktail hour but the dinner was superb (get the short ribs!) and the coordinated table service was exciting and felt very elegant. We had about 70 guests and it was the perfect size. We added a few special touches -- like string lights on the patio and special tablecloths for the sweetheart and cake tables – but the room itself is gorgeous and the soft lighting was perfect when the sun went down. We loved loved having our wedding at the Prado and wish we could relive it!

We had our vow renewal here on 1/4/18. They have several options for rooms, party size, menu, etc. Whatever you can come up with, as long as its reasonable, they are willing to work with you. The view is beautiful, and the service was excellent. We held a luncheon vow renewal, and the price was pretty reasonable. We took a chance on buffet style, but the food was delicious. Our guests commented about the food, but mostly they praised the view. Put this on your list of places to check out.

The best! Marcy Malley at the Prado went above and beyond in helping us secure the Prado for our dream wedding! We had our ceremony at the Casa Del Rey Moro garden and reception in the grand ballroom - everything was superb and beyond our expectation! We had toured other venues at similar (if not, more expensive) price ranges, and we chose the Prado for its amazing service and staff (and food DUH! But more on that later). During our visit with the Prado, we saw the staff in action preparing for a wedding later that day. Boy did they impress us! Everything they did was so professional, personable, calm, and beautifully well done – especially behind the scenes! The Prado knows how to do weddings and boy do they do it right! Marcy was so accommodating with us – we wanted to serve champagne before the ceremony and it was such a big hit! And the FOOD! THE FOOD IS SOO GOOD! It was all so delicious! From drinks to cocktail hour appetizers to dinner entrées – everything they offer is amazing. The bartenders and service staff treated us and our guests so well – everyone had such a great time. Also, the synchronized service at dinner was so beautifully done. We highly recommend the Prado for weddings and the beef short ribs too! =)

The Prado is an excellent choice for your special day. From the delicious menu selections, to the beautiful setting for your ceremony and reception we are beyond thrilled with the outcome of our daughter and son in law’s wedding. The staff is easy to work with and very interested and vested in making sure your day goes smoothly and to your expectations. We did much of the planning out of state too. Rachael Wilkerson is a pro and she always made herself available to ensure our needs were met. Rachael is extremely knowledgeable and a trusted partner in planning our event. Thank you to the Prado for giving us and our guests an amazing memorable experience.

Words cannot describe how amazing our experience at The Prado was! After our ceremony at the St. Francis Chapel we had our reception in the Loggia Room at The Prado. It could not have been a more spectacular venue. My now husband and I didn't want the more traditional ballroom look and the tile floors, wooden beams, windows, and balconies of the Loggia Room could not have been more perfect or beautiful. Our guests could not stop talking about how gorgeous our setting was - or how phenomenal the food was. We had a handful of fantastic appetizers and then the Taste of the Prado buffet and it truly was delicious! What really made our experience so great however, was The Prado team. We worked with Marcy to plan our reception and I cannot say enough great things about her. Leading up to our big day, Marcy was so on top of everything. She was incredibly patient with all of our questions and last minute adds/changes and was so flexible - letting us store decorations in her office the few days before and even letting us substitute in our own cava for the evening. We were on a fairly tight budget and Marcy really worked with us to make sure we stayed on track. On top of being amazing at what she does, Marcy is just a very nice, genuine person who wants to make sure couples have the day they imagined. We absolutely loved working with her! The rest of the staff at The Prado were equally delightful and amazing. They were so pleasant and attentive, always making sure everyone, not just my husband and I, were well taken care of the night of our reception. My mom told me that her champagne flute was always stealthily and magically filled the whole evening! The entire team went above and beyond to make our night perfect. I needed a few hugs from some of the ladies by the end of it! We cannot thank or recommend The Prado enough! One closing note: like a few others have mentioned, I was initially not sure The Prado would be in our budget but it was so much more reasonable than we imagined!

We had our wedding on December 30 and it was truly a spectacular night with the best backdrop anyone could have asked for. Coasterra was absolutely spectacular in every way! I can't tell you how many comments we received after the wedding about the wonderful service and unbelievable food let alone the most gorgeous scenery. I would recommend this place to anyone! Kinda on the pricier side BUT not out of control and the price included a lot of wonderful benefits. We were VERY happy with the whole product. Loved it!

I recently had the pleasure of working with the Prado for my wedding this past Labor Day Weekend. My wife and I live in Los Angeles and only knew San Diego from weekend excursions there, but we knew both our Southern Californian and out-of-state guests would enjoy a nice weekend in San Diego. Not knowing San Diego well enough to pick a wedding venue off the top of our heads, we did a lot of searching online and visiting venues. Each venue had it's plus and minus aspects till we reached The Prado. Everything we read on line about the Prado was positive and, after going through the whole wedding process with them, I completely agree. Here is the most organized summary I could give: 1) The Prado Catering Manager (Marcy) was incredible- We worked with her from our first on-site visit/tour till her hugging us right before we walked down the aisle at the ceremony. She was warm, sweet, funny, and enthusiastic about making this the perfect day for us. She wanted to hear about our proposal and was excited to see our engagement photos when we got them done. Marcy was never pushy or trying to up sell things beyond what she thought was right with what we wanted. Anytime we had a question, I knew Marcy would get back to us immediately with a clear answer. She also provided us with a list of their frequently used vendors which helped us narrow down our search for flowers, day of coordinator, etc. 2) The Venue- The venue is beautiful (which is pretty much what you expect in Balboa Park). We had our ceremony in the Casa del Rey Moro garden, the cocktail hour in their courtyard, and then reception in the grand ballroom. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful wedding with each of these sites. 3) The Staff- They were amazing. Everyone was so polite and gave impeccable service throughout the evening. One thing that the Prado offers with dinner (that you don't see anymore) is synchronized dinner service where all the meals are placed at once with each table. It looks beautiful and everyone eats at one time together rather than meals coming out at different times to different tables. 4) The Food- I had read great things about the food here and, after booking the venue, the Prado gave us a free meal for two at their restaurant. We brought a friend along and paid for her food so we could try as much as possible on the menu. The dinner was incredible and the hardest part was picking dishes because everything tasted so good. We spent 5 minutes just trying to decide which of the two salads were the best, they were seriously that good. In the end we went with the fig/strawberry arugula salad, the boneless braised ribs, the salmon, and a vegetarian risotto. The dinner was just as good as the tasting and everyone kept telling us it was one of the best wedding dinners they ever had! The Prado is a bit pricier than some of the other venues in the area, bit you need to have an idea of what they offer and the other venues offer. They included the price of the cake, gold chivari chairs, linens, many lighting options...... So there was a lot for saved time looking for decorating aspects that some other venues don't offer. I have zero regrets picking the Prado, they gave us our dream wedding!

There are not enough words in the english language to express how thankful we are to the Prado for making our day absolutely perfect. The staff was so attentive the day of with the wedding coordinators. The food was simply magnificent, from the cocktail hour selections to the entrees (we did the filet and lobster tail, lemon chicken, and seabass) everything was cooked to perfection and soooo delicious. I had multiple people tell me that it was the BEST food they have ever had at a wedding!!! And the coordinated table service was a big thrill... the servers were exceptional. For our ceremony, we were a little hesitant having it in the Casa Del Rey Moro Gardens at the Prado because we thought the on-lookers dining on the balcony would be distracting, but I didn't even notice them at any point in the ceremony! None of my other guests noticed either so they must have been very quiet :)... and the gardens served as a beautiful backdrop. Lastly, Marcy, our catering manager was absolutely amazing! This woman will go above and beyond to make sure your day runs smoothly and that you have nothing to worry about the day of other than getting ready to marry the man of your dreams! Plus she will keep you on track in the planning process. I can't thank her enough for everything.

We had our wedding reception at The Prado at the beginning of December and it was absolutely perfect. The food was delicious, the space was incredible and the service was great - we could not have asked for anything more. Getting married in Balboa Park was a blast and we highly recommend this wedding venue to anyone looking to get married in San Diego. We had a lot of out of town guests who were blown away by the space. Additionally, their recommended vendor list was extremely helpful and most of the vendors we used were from this list. It really helped us out with narrowing down all the thousands of options for vendors in the San Diego area. Such a perfect day, and everyone was extremely accommodating throughout the entire planning process.

The Prado at Balboa Park was absolutely perfect for our 240 guest wedding. It was a beautiful setting and the service was superb. Mary, the catering manager was absolutely amazing and wonderful, she was quick to answer my emails and any questions that I may have had. I love the fact that the cost of the venue came with a 3 course meal, champagne toast, cake, and an hour of open bar service and the fact that they had a screen and projector on site, was so convenient! Their basic linens and tableware was so elegant, that we really didn't need to upgrade. The only downfall of having the wedding there was that parking was a bit tough because there were 2 other weddings going on at the same time as well as a fair. That's my only complaint.

I had my wedding at The Prado at Balboa Park on 9/25/15. The ceremony was held in the Moro del Rey Gardens and reception in the Grand Ballroom. Guest count was 110 and the event was from 6:00-midnight. It was everything I could have dreamed of and more. Initially, I found The Prado on The Knot. If you think the pictures are gorgeous, wait until you see it in person. On the day of the wedding, the venue was transformed even more. I started planning 1 year prior to our wedding date. Throughout the process, I worked with Mary DiMento. When we first were in contact, I knew she had incredible patience because I changed my wedding date a handful of times. She was gracious with each time. Throughout the process, Mary answered every question with precious and in a timely manner. She gave honest, real responses. Mary ABSOLUTELY knows what she is doing, is organized and efficient. As the wedding approached, I trusted her opinion on lighting, decor, setup, because she has done so many weddings there. The day of the wedding, I hardly saw Mary, but I know it was because she was keeping her staff on-point and organized to the maximum capacity. The entire day ran so smoothly and there was not one hiccup. During the cocktail hour, drinks are hosted on the venue. The hors d'oeuvres were fantastic and wait staff was incredible attentive. The dinner was FANTASTIC and I keep thinking about my Sea Bass. Our guests raved about the food and the service, as there is an art to how the food is presented at The Prado. My husband and I had our own waitress who would constantly refill our drinks and take care of any needs. We had an open bar and the bartenders were SO fast that the wait times were brief for a drink. Besides the food, the venue is incredibly beautiful. We chose pin-lighting on each table and uplighting (from our DJ but they also provide at The Prado if needed) which set the mood. The gold chiavari chairs that are provided are rich looking. With our guest count, I was concerned the ballroom might have felt overwhelmingly big, however it was perfect. We had 11 tables which filled the space nicely, and provided great space for a dance floor. I could go on for days raving about this venue because to me, it was perfection. The entire staff is organized, efficient and timely which makes the planning and wedding day go smoothly. HIGHLY recommend.

This was our dream wedding venue. We had our ceremony in the garden fountain area which was gorgeous, cocktail hour in the courtyard, and reception in the ballroom. Everything was amazing from the service to the food and drinks. Rachael Wilkerson was so fantastic. Each time I reached out to her, she responded in a timely manner and was so accommodating. She truly made me feel at ease as if nothing I requested was a problem. How lucky the Prado is to have her! Everyone raved at the beauty of the venue and how amazing the food was. It all went off without a hitch! Definitely worth it.

I could not have imagined a more beautiful setting for my wedding! The grand ballroom was stunning and the service was impeccable. Marcy was our coordinator there and she always made us feel so at ease and wonderful about everything was was great since this can be a really stressful process. Everyone at our wedding said it was the most beautiful ballroom hey had seen and the food was the best they had ever eaten. My mom still says her mouth waters when she thinks of the beef at our wedding almost 2 months after!!! I could not be more proud to be a Prado bride =)

The Prado at Balboa Park was the perfect venue for our summer wedding! We had our ceremony in The Prado's garden with its lush greenery which was an easy complement to our florist's designs. The multi-level layout, water fountains, and water well allowed us to plan a procession and ceremony that was beautiful, fun, and full of character! As if the garden itself weren't enough, we had the entire park available to us for memorably exquisite photos with amazing buildings, sculptures, flowers, and landscapes. The cocktail hour followed in The Prado's courtyard. That was definitely an event all unto itself! The courtyard reflects the historic charm of the park's architecture and provided our guests with a comfortable and casual place to relax. Of course, the delicious served hors d'oeuvres and open bar were a hit as well! The highlight of the night was the reception in The Prado's ballroom. The room was absolutely stunning like something "out of the movies" and "elegance defined"! From the never ending high ceilings to the sophisticated furnishings to the perfect lighting... Everything combined to create a dream-like ambiance for the night. Dinner itself was fantastic, and our guests raved about how good everything was. Of course, our wedding could not have been possible without Marcy Melley and The Prado's consummately professional staff! From the beginning, Marcy made everything straightforward and "held our hand" through the entire process. She was always very attentive, incredibly detail-oriented, and immediately responsive. Her wicked sense of humor and quick wit made things fun too! As for the rest of the staff, we could not have asked for a more accommodating and considerate team. Everything was orchestrated perfectly. The "synchronized service" at dinner was amazing, and they were always on hand to ensure guests were comfortable and had everything they wanted. We could rave on endlessly about this fantastic venue, and we're forever grateful to Marcy and The Prado team for helping us create and capture memories of our perfect day!

We had our wedding at The Prado in August. Our ceremony was in the gardens, cocktail hour in the courtyard, and reception in the ballroom. I cannot even describe all the ways in which the day was perfect. If there were any issues I sure didn't hear even a whisper. There is a lot I could say about The Prado...the food is incredible, the site is gorgeous, and the staff is so awesome. I was very impressed with the event staff, especially how my and my husbands glasses were never once left empty all night and the staff went out of their way to make sure we were able to eat both appetizers and dinner! The day of our rehearsal it rained, which in San Diego is almost unheard of in August. We hadn't even thought to set up rainy day plans so after the rehearsal we went up to event planning office and Marcy already had the weather forcast for our wedding day pulled up on her computer. Since there was a chance of rain we did a walkthrough of our options. I was put at ease immediately and while everyone else was watching the weather all night and day I wasn't even stressed about it! By the way, the sun came out bright and shiny just as our ceremony started! Our wedding day was incredible and I am so glad we had it at The Prado. I couldn't imagine it any other way. PS. Brides...the bridal changing room has amazing lighting so be sure to let your photographer know!

Having grown up in San Diego I have always loved the Prado and Balboa Park. I never thought that I would be able to afford to have our wedding there. It ended up being the best deal in town as we didnt have to pay space rental. We had an amazing wedding in the Alhambra room in the Prado for 100 people. Everything turned out perfect. Rachel was great to work with and always available for the smallest of questions via phone, email or face to face. The food and drinks were also delicious and the service was perfect. The staff were all very attentive and kept the drinks and food coming. And, of course you couldn't ask for a better place to take pictures with all the beautiful Balboa park architecture, doors, pillars, columns, arch ways, greenery, etc. Everyone still keeps commenting on our beautiful wedding and pictures. You will not regret having your San Diego wedding here. Enjoy every moment!

We chose The Prado for our March 8, 2014 wedding reception. It is the most beautiful venue in San Diego for weddings and photos. From the moment you drive into Balboa Park you feel you are in a very special place surrounded by the gorgeous architecture and lush gardens. Our cocktail hour took place in The Prado courtyard at 5:00 pm. Our guests were serenaded by Mariachis on the balcony overlooking the courtyard as they enjoyed delicious tray passed hors d'oeuvres under the setting sun. It was magical. The Ballroom doors opened at 6:00 pm and our guests were welcomed by the band in full swing on the beautiful ornate stage. The historic ballroom was stunning with the beautiful hardwood floors, chiavari chairs, the spectacular ceiling and chandeliers. Each table glowed under the pin spot lighting and sea of candles. It was breathtaking and a vision we will never forget. Our guests raved about the delicious dinner and the incredible wait staff. The synchronized serving was a huge hit and our guests loved it. All these details made our reception unforgettable. We were so fortunate to work with Marcy. She is incredible. Her knowledge and attention to detail is amazing. We know how busy the Prado is and Marcy made us feel like we were her only client. We were living out of state and she was always available for a chat and responded to emails within one hour. She treated us like royalty. Our cocktail hour/dinner/reception was flawless. Marcy is a gem and we are forever grateful. We highly recommend this historic venue and we thank Marcy and The Prado for creating such beautiful memories of our wedding day. Lindsay and Steven

The Prado at Balboa Park is a wedding machine. In a good way. My husband and I were in the midst of changing jobs, moving cross-country, and finding a new place to live. So neither of us wanted to spend the little time we had making a myriad of decisions associated with wedding planning. Enter The Prado. The ceremony venue is spectacular. The reception venue is gorgeous. The food is absolutely delicious. I'm Indian - so I was a little concerned that my guests wouldn't appreciate non-Indian food. I was wrong! We got rave reviews. I'm pretty sure they offered hot sauce with the short ribs. Flour Power, the bakery they partner with, made a lovely, towering (it was ~4 ft tall) cake of deliciousness that I still drool over to this day. We had a guest count of 220 people, and the Prado catered perfectly to this size. Our day was fabulous, I would recommend the Prado 100 times over. They know what they are doing and I'm certain they pull off perfect wedding after perfect wedding on a regular basis. The Prado offers the perfect balance of structure with enough flexibility to personalize your wedding.

Our wedding was held on November 9, 2013 at the beautiful San Diego Prado. The backdrop of lush trees at the Wishing Well made for an exquisite and warm setting needing little décor as its beauty stood on its own. The Prado staff provided a smooth transition into the cocktail reception in the courtyard of the Prado, which had a wonderful bar set up, delicious passed hors d'oeuvres, and hors d'oeuvres stations. The ballroom was the highlight of our experience with an atmosphere of old California which lent itself to our wedding theme of old Hollywood. We could not have asked for a better wedding venue! The staff and service at the Prado was stupendous. We, along with our guests, were extremely impressed by the attention of the staff to the needs of the patrons. Everything ran like clockwork. In addition the food was delicious with everything cooked to perfection. The short ribs were melt in your mouth and the Salmon was flaky and deliciously moist. Even though the venue can be pricey, a lot is included for the price and they were very flexible and accommodating with special requests. We were pleasantly surprised when they actually refunded us for some wine that did not get consumed. We would not have known and were quite impressed with their integrity. Our experience from booking the event to the last dance of the night was truly gratifying and has much to do with the efforts of our event coordinator Rachael Wilkerson. She was so professional, patient and kind as she walked us through this daunting task of planning a wedding. She answered all our questions thoughtfully and in a timely fashion, and she reached out when deadlines were approaching to keep us on track. She truly was a pleasure to work with. Weddings can be very stressful with all the planning and preparation. It was so nice to work with a venue that took pride in their service and had such a wealth of experience that we can say the day of the event was stress free and we were able to enjoy the moment.

We were married May in Balboa Park at the Prado. The ceremony was held in the lower garden terrace with the reception being held in the Loggia Room. This arrangement was perfect since we did not want to deal with travel logistics between the ceremony and the reception. Additionally, Balboa Park is in a central location, close to airport, downtown and hotels. Planning with Rachel and the catering team was professional and pain free. Rachel took her time with us offered a number of useful suggestions and provided a number of preferred vendors they (Prado) had success with. Wedding day want without a hitch. Weather was perfect. We had a cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres and buffet service for the dinner. I would recommend buffet to anyone who does not want to deal with meal choices for each of the wedding guests. We had three meal choices. All the food was outstanding. Let me say this again, the food and service was outstanding. The only disappointment was the calculation for the amount of wedding cake. We were assured that where would be sufficient cake/pastries/cupcakes for 80 guests and that the end of the evening there was absolutely nothing left. So, no wedding cake to take home. I would recommend Prado to anyone interested in an intimate wedding in a stunning location.

Had my wedding at The Prado last year, and everything came out great. Assisting us through out the entire wedding was Rachael and she was amazing. From beginning to end she helped us in everything, she would email me back promptly with any questions that we might have regarding food, setting the day off or any concerns. To any bride the most important thing is to be relax and for the guess to have fun and serve promptly and the catering service did just that. Everyone in the Prado was so helpful. To have a wedding in the Prado is expensive, however their service and attention to detail is meticulous and is well worth the price. I actually did the decor for my wedding to save some money( probably not the best idea lol) but Rachel the day of did everything possible to help me with the last details which I appreciated cause I was already tired. I truly enjoy my wedding at the Prado and would do it againg. The food was just awesome everyone loved it.

I held my wedding at the Prado on 3/1/2014 and it was a beautiful setting. I did all the planning remotely as I am out of state and they made it so easy...from selecting the menu, room set up, finding an officiant, etc. The day of the wedding was an extremely wet affair...flash flooding and all. The staff was flexible with the previously arranged plans of using the outdoor balcony for the wedding and was prepared to move the wedding inside if the rain didn't subside...thankfully it did. I just can't say enough on how easy all the planning was and the event went off just as planned. Good food, drinks, fellowship, etc. and we didn't have to worry at all about the execution!

We couldn't be more pleased that we used the Prado for our special day. We've eaten at so many of their restaurants, so we knew the food was going to be phenomenal, and it really was. On top of that, the servers were so attentive to everyone, especially my wife and I asking us every time we made eye contact if they could get us anything. It really made us feel like royalty being catered to the way they were!! We highly recommend the Prado. One last piece of advice, just because the Prado is a great, high end restaurant, don't think they will drain your wedding budget!! We nearly didn't go and check out the venue because we expected it to be far too much for us to afford. To our surprised, overall they were very competitive with every other venue we checked out, and actually more affordable than most!

We fell in love with the Prado from the moment we saw the place. This venue has the charm that we did not find anywhere else, from the beautiful garden that we used for our ceremony, to the courtyard with Spanish-style arcades, and the Grand Ballroom that takes your breath away when you first see it. Balboa Park also offers plenty of amazing spots to take your wedding pictures that are within a walking distance from the Prado. We had the pleasure of working with Marcy who made sure our dreams became reality. She responded to our emails right away, she was always available to meet with us and discuss any last minute changes. She made sure we felt like we were their only customers. The staff is amazing as well. Everything was prepared the way we requested and the service was excellent! The food was so delicious, some of our guests returned to the Prado the next day for more! We got tons of compliments from our guests on how beautiful this place was and we could not have been happier with our choice . Thank you so much!!!!!

We were satisfied overall. The only problem was that guests had a hard time finding the location, so the ceremony started later than we planned. Other than that, we were happy with the ceremony site and the reception room

If The Prado is not on your short list of venues, it should be! I planned a destination wedding in San Diego from Texas and only saw pictures on the internet before I was finally able to visit. I was not disappointed. The place is fabulous! We worked with Marcy Melley who helped us throughout the whole process. Marcy was able to recommend other vendors to complete the process. The food was fantastic as was the service provided during our cocktail reception and continued through dinner. The synchronized service is awesome! I just cannot give this place a high enough rating!!

We had our wedding and reception at the Prado at Balboa Park earlier this month. The ceremony was beautiful, the only issue we had was with the mic's, but the Prado took care of the problem! The food at the reception was incredible, just like the restaurant! Our guests have been telling us how beautiful everything was and how the food was not even remotely like wedding food! Will be having many more parties here!

This venue was perfect for my 60 guest wedding. All attendees were wowed by the beautiful building in the beautiful setting that surrounded it. Friendly staff that immediately answered any questions I had during the planning process and a flawless execution of the beautiful and tasty food that was prepared for my guests. I opted for a wonderful buffet that was set up on the terrace to provide extra room inside for guests. My garden ceremony was perfect as well. Easy for guests to transition from outside and upstairs to the cocktail hour and reception. I would not change a thing about my day and I would choose the Prado every time!

Marcy was a dream come true - although she speaks quickly and our first meeting left us a little overwhelmed, she proved herself over and over making herself available and explaining to us the points we would get confused on via email and phone. She was fantastic working with my family and making sure we were on time without being overbearing. We were planning from out of town, so this was a huge help. The Prado itself is an amazing venue. Everyone raved about our food (even though we didn't get to taste the actual dishes ahead of time...instead we got a comped lunch at their restaurant which serves similar food). and the room is just beautiful. Everyone was served quickly as well and every guest was served simultaneously at each table. Having our cake costs covered by a standing contract was very nice as well. Overall, we were very very pleased with our reception with little to no issues along the way! I think the only downside is their food and beverage minimum is high and has to be ONLY food and beverage...all additional services (like pin spots, charger plates etc) are costs on their own. Be aware of that as you plan!

Beautiful venue and outstanding location in the middle of Balboa Park. The food was delicious and our guests raved about it! The staff was very professional. Everything was perfect from beginning to end!

We used the Prado for our wedding reception of 200 guests. The patio area for the cocktail hour and Grand Ball Room for the dinner and dancing were just perfect. We loved the Spanish architecture and beautiful wooden ceilings of the ball room. Marcy and her staff provided top notch service in preparation for and during the event. And the food was fabulous. Guests are still talking about the beef dish! Good value for your money although alcohol was too pricey.

This is a great choice! We had our ceremony in the wishing well garden and reception of 45 in the Loggia it is a great venue in a beautiful location. There is something to be said about having a ceremony and reception in the same location. The staff was outstanding, the waitstaff exceptional, the food delicious and up to standards of the restaurant. My husband and I had a blast taking photos around Balboa Park. The only downside is the price, ceremony site is $1500 and the reception on the higher end, but pretty consistent with other venues. If I had to do it all again, I would pick the Prado.

We got married at the Prado in August, our ceremony was in the Casa Del Rey Moro Gardens, Cocktail hour in the fountain courtyard and our reception was in the Grand Ballroom. The venue is spectacular. It is kept in pristine condition, which guarantees amazing photo ops for wedding pics, not to mention a quick walk around the park gives a ton of variation in pictures that are all amazing! We worked with Marcy for all of the coordination of floor plans, seating arrangement, lighting, schedule of the day, and all sorts of details. She is great, very accessible by phone and email (which was great!) and she has a ton of ideas from previous weddings about what works (and what doesn’t) in their space. The food was delicious and our guests raved about it! The food is of the same quality that they serve in their restaurant. They don’t do tastings, which I was initially concerned about; however do not let this deter you! Every appetizer, salad, entrée and late-night snack we ordered was amazing! We opted for the plated dinner, which I highly recommend as their wait staff was polite, quick and very discrete (and they serve everyone at the table at the exact same time, which guests loved). We had open bar and they accommodated all of our guests quickly with delicious drinks. You can expect to pay at least $20,000 for a reception in the grand ballroom, which includes dinner for your guests, tables, linens, chiavari chairs, silverware, glassware, china, waitstaff/barstaff, and a cake from Flour Power (YUM!). This is their minimum price and then you add on a ceremony fee, gratuity and tax. The benefit of this more inclusive package is less of a headache for whoever is planning the event. The recommendation I have for future brides/grooms: make sure you triple check your banquet order before you agree and make your payments…There were many errors in our initial banquet checks that all (coincidently) caused the bill to be greater than what we had intended. All errors were very rapidly changed when called to their attention, though. Bottom line…the place is gorgeous, the food is delicious, they know what they are doing and your event will run smoothly. We had our fairytale wedding here, so overall, we highly recommend it!

I can't say enough about Andrea and the Prado at Balboa Park. Everything was perfect! I walked in to the venue back in September of 2011 and knew it was the place from the beginning. I didn't care about the food, the drinks, the cake...I cared about the aesthetics and vibe of the room and the Grand Ballroom at the Prado met everything I had ever dreamed of. Little did I know, Andrea was going to be sure that the rest of those things I didn't care so much about were perfect as well! The food was DELICIOUS, the drinks were steadily flowing and I heard the cake was fabulous too! I can't begin to thank Andrea and her team enough! I had the PERFECT WEDDING!

The staff is very friendly and are very professional. They made sure we had the wedding of our dreams.

Honestly I think that our decision to go with the Prado was the best decision we made in the whole process. They are just so professional, they have everything under control. They know what to do because they do a ton of weddings. The FOOD IS AMAZING. Seriously delicious. Not surprising since they are a top restaurant, but that was key. Also, they provide anything you could need for linens, etc (though you do have to bring your own if you want colors). The staff was SO friendly and attentive. Everything was perfect and beautiful and I couldn't have asked for more. They are a bit pricey, but honestly in San Diego who isn't? They were 100% worth every penny.

Gorgeous scenery all around- from architecture to manicured gardens and everything in between. The food did not disappoint, but at The Prado it never does. Marcy, our catering manager, was a magician! She was professional, pleasant, and almost psychic at times with her anticipation of our needs. It was a bit pricey, but everything was included (tables, chairs, table cloths, cocktail hour, cake- EVERYTHING!)

First off, let me say that I'm pretty sure we chose the most beautiful location in all San Diego for our wedding reception. The mood, the lighting, the feel of the building, EVERYTHING was exactly what I wanted. We worked with Rhine and Andrea and both of them were just made of class and professionalism. I can honestly say my breath was taken away when I first saw the room when I walked in, it was so glamorous and exactly what I had pictured in my head! Also, the plate service was incredible, I didn't know that they were going to serve every single person at every single table at the same time! So glamorous! Thank you Andrea and everyone at the Prado, it was the time of my life and I will never forget it!

While we did not utilize the outdoor space for our ceremony at The Prado the Ballroom was spectacular for our reception! Andrea Pena is great to work with and she has a keen eye on the details. The staff were excellent and they are very efficient in their service and quality. The food is outstanding and we highly recommend them if you are looking to do your wedding in Balboa Park.

I worked with Andrea from The Prado at Balboa Park to set up my wedding. She was understanding and helpful through the whole process. The day of my wedding, the staff was professional and very attentive, checking in with my husband and I frequently and ensuring all of our guests were taken care of. This venue is a gorgeous setting for a wedding and the staff is amazing!

That was the perfect place to marry!!! and also Party!!! Sally, catering manager, did an awesome job! She was the best, ever! Food was delicious, service and decoration...as it is needed, because the place itself is wonderful!

I had my wedding here, both ceremony and reception, and it was absolutely wonderful. Andrea was so easy to work with and very responsive. I searched long and hard for a venue in San Diego before deciding on this one. The price, compared to hotels in the area, just cannot be beat. Would definitely recommend it to my friends.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED having our wedding at The Prado. I don't even know where to begin! The architecture of Balboa Park for photos is incredible, the Prado's ceremony cite was perfect, and the ballroom very romantic. Sally was our manager, and she took the time to get to know us personally, and make sure she knew what was most important for our day. We heard from most of our guests that they loved the food and the service was great. A couple things to keep in mind: The Prado restaurant overlooks the ceremony cite, so if there are people dining outside, they will be able to see the ceremony. However, I didn't even notice-it's not intrusive at all. Also, Balboa Park is right next to the SD airport, so there is a chance that planes will fly overhead and be loud during the ceremony (we got lucky!). Other than, we couldn't think of a single thing we would have changed!

Choosing a wedding venue can be more overwhelming than winning a spot in Hollywood on American Idol. And finding the perfect location in a destination city like San Diego can be even more daunting. A wedding will always be a memorable occasion, but picking the right location will only enhance it. One could get married at a place of worship, a private home, a restaurant, a hotel or the beach just to name a few areas (unless you are Prince William, where there may be a couple of additional choices!) so there are many factors that can go into making your final decision. After extensive research and visits to multiple locations, like the most powerful magnet, we kept getting attracted to The Prado at Balboa Park. And what a fantastic choice it was! Although The Prado has historical significance, each of the letters in the name has equal significance to us. The “P” stands for Presentation, Preparation, and Price (and who wouldn’t want those three items for anything, but especially for a wedding?!). Marcy Melley of the Prado was our contact and she made sure everything was to our detailed specifications. She was in constant contact with us and made sure this part of our wedding was stress-free. Her experience and professionalism was superb! Of course there are locations that are less expensive, but like the old adage says….. you get what you pay for! The “R” stands for Reception. The Reception room is one of the most important aspects of a wedding. All of us have been to at least one wedding where something has gone wrong with the reception (the room was too small, the chairs were uncomfortable, the temperature was too hot or cold, the lighting was bad, or the food was terrible). With our wedding EVERYTHING was perfect! The room was tailored to our party size and the attention to every little detail was unsurpassed. The “A” stands for Aesthetics. The beauty of The Prado is Amazing! With a wishing well and a beautiful fountain as the backdrop, our wedding could have been a scene out of the most romantic novel or movie. And for any bride and groom looking at a wedding magazine, it is likely you will find a picture of a wedding taking place at The Prado. The “D” stands for Dinner. Our dinner was one of the finest meals for any occasion! The Prado has been named one of America’s top 10 restaurants by Gourmet Magazine and they have received the coveted four star award by the California Restaurant writers’ association. We received the highest quality of food with the best service. Any food critic would give this restaurant and chef two big thumbs up! And of course the dish washers have the easiest job, because there is no food left on any plate! The “O” stands for Outstanding! A wedding is an event to remember for a lifetime, and The Prado has guaranteed this to happen. Indeed everything was outstanding! From the professionalism and experience of The Prado staff, to the exquisite meals, to the beauty of the surroundings The Prado is the perfect destination for any bride and groom!

I couldn't have asked for a mire beautiful venue or better service. The staff went above and beyond to make sure my wedding day was perfect.

All aspects of this site showed our guests that we invested time, money, and interest in detail for their enjoyment. Service for dinner was exceptional, and the staff led us through the process of cake cutting very well! There was a problem with the food, as we had ordered shrimp in addition to our meal, but they easily fixed the issue at no charge. This graceful move leads me to recommend them even more highly.

Wonderful venue, classic, charming, and historic. Out of town guests were wowed. Food was fantastic.