Best decision ever!
The food was creative and DELICIOUS! Staff were friendly and attentive, set up was spot on, ambiance was stunning! Perfect lighting, lots of candles, wine décor, fire pits. Attention to small details and the little extra touches really made a difference. Kenny, Shannon, Mary and Denise were so kind and helpful with event design, floor plan and meal ideas. I couldn’t have been more pleased.
When shopping for a venue, we were wowed by how versatile, accommodating and flexible they were. Can we have our dog in the ceremony? Yes! (not an easy thing to find with an indoor venue BTW) Can we have a late night reception? Yes! Can we have a cigar and whiskey bar? Yes! Will you chase down specific beers and alcohol that we want? Yes! Can we move some couches, furniture and rugs out to the patio? Yes!
No other venue even came close!
As the bride, I know first-hand that you can cruise through your wedding day, oblivious to so many things, including what might be going right or wrong. I like to think I wasn’t just viewing our wedding day with a blind, biased opinion (although I probably was) so the real impact was when so many guests continue to give me compliments specifically regarding the venue, the food, and the service. (I don’t know if I’ll ever stop hearing about the food! It comes up every time I run into a friend who attended the wedding.)
And to top it off, the vendors felt the love too, and have surprised me with some positive responses: “Wow, how did you find this place? It’s gorgeous.” – Day of Coordinator. “The staff were so helpful getting me situated.” – DJ. “I loved working at your venue, really hope to get to do it again” – Piano players. And my favorite….”Thank you for spoiling me with such an amazing meal.” - Videographer

That is how I know we made a good choice.

San Diego Wine & Culinary will live forever in our memories and I am crossing my fingers I get to attend another event there in the future.

We hosted a 58-person wedding at the SD Wine and Culinary Center in February 2022. We chose it for a handful of reasons. The location was fantastic (we really liked having the option of continuing the afterparty downtown); the food and beverage options were top-notch; the staff were incredibly kind, organized, and accommodating; and it wasn't exorbitantly expensive like a lot of other venues around town. I also loved how we were able to use the space--with different rooms available at different times, and the patio with fire pits available all night for guests who wanted some more chill moments. I actually went through 3 different day-of wedding coordinators through the venue (because of staff changes due to COVID and other factors), but the transitions were honestly flawless. They were incredibly organized and I felt confident that I would be taken care of the entire time. I ended up with Erin as my day-of, and she was absolutely wonderful. My wedding was fairly DIY, but she helped take care of everything to make the night flawless. And I also want to note that Liz, the beverage coordinator, is just incredible. She helped with so much this past year, and she went above and beyond to make everything fit our vision. I really can't speak highly enough of my experience here.

My husband and I chose SD Wine and Culinary as our Wedding Reception venue in October 2018. I am so unbelievably thankful at how beautiful and seamless the entire experience was with Shannon, Kenny, and the entire team.
Finding a wedding venue was the most difficult process of wedding planning for me. After attending 9 of my friends’ rustic style weddings in the last 2 years, I wanted something different. I’ve always loved the vibrancy of downtown Gaslamp but couldn’t grasp the price tag of a lot of the fancy hotels. When I found the Wine & Culinary Center and met Shannon and Kenny for a tour, I knew instantly that this was it, I found the perfect venue. The interior is very warm and inviting and makes you feel like you’re in wine country. Step outside on the patio and the venue transforms itself, feeling like a hip downtown establishment with views of beautiful palm trees, the convention center, and tall skyscrapers. I just loved how versatile the venue felt; Romantic and warm on the inside, while trendy and energetic on the outside!
The Event Manager Shannon was so easy to work with when it came to any requests I had. She knows how to do her job well and she does it with ease, kindness, and poise. I loved how dedicated she was at helping me with any little thing. From rearranging the seating chart a dozen times to accommodate our large group of 170 guests, to tailoring a custom bar menu to fit our budget and taste. My absolute favorite was how she decorated the venue with beautifully lit candles everywhere to add ambiance...so thoughtful, it was the perfect touch!
The night of our wedding was absolute perfection. The venue was decorated exactly how I had outlined, and the event went on without a hitch. Bar Manager Kenny was constantly checking in with us, making sure we had all we needed including a drink in our hands at all time. Not to mention, our Signature drinks were the BEST TASTING drinks I have ever had at a wedding, ever! A true craft cocktail, made to perfection each time. All my guests were raving about the “Grooms Cup” and the “Blushing Bride,” it was great! Guests also commented on how knowledgeable Kenny was on liquor and spirits, and how professional, kind, and funny he was! His presence as the bar manager that night really elevated the experience for me and everyone in attendance.
If I ever have another large event to host in the future I will definitely think of Shannon, Kenny and the Wine & Culinary Team, as my experience couldn’t have been more magical. THANK YOU guys for making our wedding the most memorable and beautiful day of our lives. We love you!