Phone: 858-774-2850
Email: lois@loismathews.com
What better venue to encompass the all-around excellence that is San Diego other than Darlington House? This unique historic home and romantic event venue is located two blocks from the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla. The home began as two separate houses pieced together by Sibyl Darlington and were used as her seasonal home to escape the East Coast winters. With items and inspiration from all over the world, it is a fusion of culture, and its exquisite artistry is timeless. The many patios offer countless combinations of spaces for classic dinner parties or weddings. As a catering company, it is definitely one of our favorite San Diego venues because it allows clients the versatility to make the spaces their own while still maintaining its dignified charm.
Designated a historic San Diego Site in 1995, it acts as a location for the Social Service League of La Jolla, a non-profit public benefit corporation. According to the Darlington House Website, this corporation “provides housing and meal support to seniors who have lived and worked for the greater San Diego area” at the neighboring “League House” apartment complex. It is a uniquely beautiful venue and a selfless part of caretaking for San Diego’s valued aging population that you can help contribute to while enjoying your dream event.
The entire venue is yours when you book! Couples could spend hours exploring every corner for that priceless photo. Check out Darling House’s Video Tour on their site for a sneak peek tour of the historic home.
Comfortably furnished and elegantly decorated, the Living Room, Dining Room, and several Sitting Rooms are available for all guests to lounge in and explore on your big day.
Reserved space for the Bridal Party with a private restroom, dressing room, and comfortable lounge area. This room offers welcoming furniture and plenty of space for getting ready in style.
An East-facing room also with its own private restroom, dressing room, and lounge area. This room comes with an attached Juliet balcony that overlooks the courtyards where the event setup will occur.
Catering companies use this space to construct an event bar for guests. The arched ceiling and second-floor bookshelves offer uniquely beautiful photo opportunities. With architectural nods to Sybil’s many trips to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, the Library is a photographer’s playground!
Named after the dazzling reflecting pool at its center, the colorful antique Egyptian tile lining the pool can become the threshold for your vows. The most common location for wedding ceremonies, chairs can face either the main house arches or the elevated iron gate arch depending on your guest count.
After the ceremony, guests are most commonly ushered into the enclosed Andalusian Patio between the Library bar area. There, they can enjoy complimentary craft cocktails and check out the seating chart while your catering company works to put the final touches on the main floor in the Rose Garden.
Lush and green year-round, this space is a blank canvas for an imaginative couple hoping to bring their wedding dreams to life!
Monday – Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
Phone: 858-774-2850
Email: lois@loismathews.com
Thanks to the excellent coordination from Stephanie at Events Inspired, and collaboration with the many other talented vendors, this was a flawless day in the ocean breeze!
The Egyptian Patio facing the Rose Garden gate is a perfect ceremony location.
Allowing your ladies to follow a color scheme for their dress choice enables each to feel beautiful and comfortable their way.
Best way to class-up a lighthearted motif full of mismatched flare? Mix in a few handsome gents in their sleekest fashionable attire!
The decor was minimalistic, yet created a whimsical atmosphere!
You can’t go wrong with an authentic upscale Mexican buffet, but include a Spicy Margarita from our bar, and you’ll be the talk of the town!
Make your guests think you scoured every antique shop in town for your carefully cultivated place settings!
For the right bohemian vibe, follow the same pattern with your choice of flowers too!
They are dignified, exotic, and sure to make you feel like wedding royalty!
And delicate desserts deserve these dainty tea plates.
Yes Please! What a sweet treat!
Huge thanks to Cait & Co Photo for the phenomenal pictures, Stephanie at Events Inspired, and the rest of the talented vendors who helped make this magical day a reality!
Vendors
Photography: Cait & Co Photo
Coordinator: Stephanie- Events Inspired
Florals: By the Bride!
Cake: VG Bakery
Location: Darlington House
Rentals
-Marquee Sign: SociaLights
-Dishware: Not My Dish Event Rentals
-Place settings: Adore Folklore Rentals
-Furniture: Cedar and Pine Event Rentals
In Part Six, we explored the versatility of our Rustic Motif. Now, we’ll take dial it up a notch for this next theme that revels in a blended concoction of vintage elegance, exotic charm, and a spray of natural desert beauty.
You want to show off your complex personality, and we see you!
You’re all about that sunshine, so why stay cooped up inside when true artistry is all around?
We see them in all fades, sizes, and shapes to fit your needs!
Lots of details in the flatware only need simple floral centerpieces, like these adorable wildflowers in dainty glass bottle vases.
Mixed with loose, romantic curls or a Fishtale Braid, and you’ll have the perfect romantic Boho Bride aesthetic.
A Seated Dinner seems a little too stuffy for young souls who crave open spaces to wander. So, go for a dining style that promotes mingling and dancing!
We’ve loved asking our experts and brainstorming the best Theme Details for you.
Hopefully, we’ve been able to help our readers better narrow their focus for their themes and answer any questions along the way!
Feel free to contact our expert Event Planning Teams, who are always ready to answer any questions you might have!
Our fresh Bruschetta on crunchy Baguette Slices, drizzled in a tangy Basalmic Reduction, and topped with fragrant basil is a crowd favorite.
Glow sticks and bubbles always make these pictures pop!
Links to Vendors:
The soft breezes, salty air, and vacation escapes are reminiscent of Part Four of this series if you want to mix a little tropical travel into your wedding motif.
We love these mermaid earrings, and groomsmen could sport some themed socks or ties on the big day!
The best part of this theme is that anything that washes up could be perfect decor with a little TLC.
These broad stripes are fun and just nautical enough to give the tablescape the right feel.
Just find some on the beach and make a night of it with your friends and their most delicate handwriting.
We love the look of this “Coral Garden” made from a few succulents and a sea star.
Beach weddings are the perfect excuse to let loose. Ask your photographer to have fun with your photo opportunities, and we’re sure they won’t disappoint!
Custom shades are the perfect wedding favor for your guests!
Keep those brews chilled on a warm beach day with a custom beer koozie favor!
All this idea took was a little black chalkboard paint and a steady hand.
If you’re looking for a set up on the classy scale, a seated dinner would add a little formality, especially while your guests are going to be admiring the hard work you put into your tabletop decor.
The Moving style dinner is another excellent choice if you know your guests are likely to want to kick off their heels and eat while they dig their toes in the sand.
Garden Parties, like Beach Weddings, are lovely in their versatility. It’s easy to make your event more casual or formal, depending on your tastes by including a few small details.
A new and fun idea we would love to see during cocktail hour is a combination of a Buffet and a Picnic!
Encourage your guests to grab a basket and travel along an appetizer station, filling their baskets with tasty snacks as they go. At the end, offer guests small blankets to promote lawn lounging in groups!
Perfect for Sunday Events or couples who aren’t looking for a lot of fuss, just quality family time.
Incorporate vintage class with Croquet for that Victorian Era feel, or stick with the favorites like Corn Hole and Bocce Ball to please the crowd.
We’ve seen Mimosa Stations with fancy juice varieties and fruit toppings, but this Blood “Marry Me” Bar looks like a Sunday morning dream!
Here in San Diego, summer mornings are known to rival the evenings.
A Moving style or having multiple Breakfast Stations would be a step up and provide a more extensive selection for guests who are picky eaters first thing in the morning.
Last time, in Part One of our series, we focused on Formal/Traditional and Modern themes, and while their elegance will never falter, we’re kicking our heels off for this post!
With the clever use of repurposed antiques, Accessory Tables can add to the overall feel of a rare collection brought back for your special occasion.
Try a buffet-style service and include a gorgeous antique visual focal point to bring cohesion to the room.
So feel free to have that seated dinner style and keep the dance floor alive with a full jazz band!
Exquisite hotels don’t have to be the only option for this motif; we’d love to see someone recreate an “Orient Express” experience for their guests.
This motif is all about being young, vibrant, and lively!
Keeping the dining style more socially inclined with some smaller cocktail, or belly-bar, tables for quick bites on the go will suit this energy the best.