Darlington House
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About
Located in La Jolla, California, Darlington House is a historic wedding venue. It was first built in 1925 as a summer home, and now is owned and operated by the Social Service League of La Jolla. The Pacific Ocean is just a short walk away, well-suited to couples who might want beachside wedding photos. The house has an eclectic style throughout, to fit all manner of tastes. Couples can choose between a selection of unique outdoor event spaces to host their ceremony and reception. Pre-wedding gatherings, such as engagement parties, wedding showers, and rehearsal dinners are also welcome here.
Facilities and Capacity
Darlington House's event spaces provide a breathtaking backdrop for every stage of your wedding celebrations. The Egyptian Fountain offers an elegant setting for an outdoor ceremony of up to 120 guests. From here, the newlyweds and their guests can retire to the Andalusian Patio and adjoining library for a cocktail reception. Once they have made their toasts, the party can then move past elegant wrought iron gates to the immaculately maintained Rose Garden. A tent can be set up here for dinner and dancing with 150 attendees. This garden can also be used for larger ceremonies and receptions of 200 guests. When couples rent the house for their magical milestone, they and their guests also gain access to the first floor of the house and the kitchen. The to-be-weds and their party are also welcome to use the upstairs suites to prepare for the day ahead.
Services Offered
At Darlington House, guests are invited to furnish and decorate the space in whatever way best suits their vision for the day. The team is happy to provide couples with their suggested caterers, which they have carefully chosen to ensure choices for all tastes and budgets. The house hosts just one wedding per day, so every couple can get the attention that their day deserves. An event coordinator is encouraged to help the celebration run smoothly, while valet parking is recommended for added convenience.
- Woman-owned
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?
What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?
What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?
Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?
What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?
What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?
Which of the following are included in starting site fee?
What is the maximum capacity of your venue?
What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?
How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?
Describe your venue:
What kind of settings are available?
Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?
What event services do you offer?
What transportation and access is available?
What months are included in your peak season?
What months are included in your off-peak season?
54 Reviews
Write a review22 User photos
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Andrew H. Married on 05/08/2021The best venue in Southern California
We could not have asked for a better venue. The place looked like out of a storybook, and our guests were wowed by it. The value and staff make this a steal as well. Highly recommend for anyone who doesn’t want a cookie cutter wedding.Darlington House's reply:
Thank you so much for your kind words, Andrew. We were so excited to welcome you as our first wedding back after the pandemic closure and the event was absolutely delightful for us as well. -
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Britt C. Married on 09/13/2019Darlington House magic
Our Darlington House wedding was magical and exceeeded our expectations. The house was built for entertaining, it has a perfect flow for wedding activities. The property is charming, expansive and luxurious, for an amazing price. Our floral bill was only for the tabletop because the property has gardens everywhere. Carly was our liaison and she was very patient, helpful and courteous.Darlington House's reply:
Thank you so much for your sweet review, Britt! We are so happy that you made Darlington House a special part of your day. -
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Parastou Married on 08/18/2019Intimate, romantic garden wedding with lots of character!
Love, love, love Darlington House! It was the perfect setting for our wedding and can't recommend it enough.
Intimate and unique: We had 125 guests at our wedding on August 18 and the venue was a perfect size and fit for the elegant, intimate and warm wedding we envisioned. I didn't want the typical hotel ballroom wedding - this venue is the complete opposite, TONS of character! We planned each portion of our wedding in different areas of the venue so there was a beautiful flow and our guests loved moving from area to area.
Awesome photos: this venue has so many gorgeous backdrops that you will have such a great variety of photos. The beach is super close by so you can walk there during golden hour with your photographer and snap some awesome pictures.
Management: Carly was super accommodating with many of our requests and my frazzled bride emails, thank you, Carly! Volunteers there are very sweet and helpful. Thank you!
Don't let the 930pm end time put you off - we started early (3pm invite time) and six hours of event time was more than enough. We didn't feel rushed. We also had a Sunday wedding so that probably helped. We had an afterparty booked nearby and it was the perfect ending (if you need recs, just message me. I researched every option in La Jolla!).
Yes, the venue doesn't come with anything so you must bring in everything yourself BUT it's an opportunity to customize it exactly how you like it (trust me, you would end up upgrading chairs and what not and paying more at a hotel anyway) and all the wedding vendors in the area have worked there so they will know what to do. Ashley with Always Flawless Productions was our planner and she was amazing as she's planned so many weddings there, highly recommend her!
Cherry on top: it's a nonprofit, so your venue costs are going towards a good cause.
Thank you, Darlington House, for a beautiful, magical day!-
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Darlington House's reply:
Thank you so much for your kind review, Parastou! We are so happy that you chose Darlington House as the place to celebrate your beautiful wedding. -
Awards
Real Weddings
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![The wedding of Sarah and Peter]()
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Sarah & Peter71 photos · 04/21/2018
Pricing
Darlington House Price Rates
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Professional Network & Endorsements
7 Endorsements
We love, love, love working at Darlington! This venue is honestly one of our favorites. So many beautiful spots for photos, it truly is like a dream. Plus it is so close to the water, if the timeline works out we've been able to take our couple down to the water for a quick portrait session. Can't wait for our next Darlington Wedding!
The Darlington House is a spectacular venue! It is one of the most elegant and sophisticated locations in San Diego. It is a must see for any new bride looking for the perfect spot for her dream wedding.
Such a beautiful venue just steps away from the beach! We are here all the time and really enjoy working with the Darlington House staff.
Preferred Vendors
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Map
Darlington House frequently asked questions
What items and services are included in the starting site fee at Darlington House?
- Bridal Suite
What are the most important characteristics of Darlington House in terms of venue type, style and location?
- Garden
- Historic Building
- Mansion
What kind of indoor/outdoor options are available at Darlington House for wedding events?
- Uncovered Outdoor
What kind of wedding events does Darlington House offer?
- Ceremony
- Reception
- Bridal Shower
- Engagement Party
- Rehearsal Dinner
What services does Darlington House offer for wedding events?
- Get Ready Rooms
What percentage of users recommend Darlington House and which are the most valued aspects of their wedding services?