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Weddings

About

Located in San Diego, California, the Prado at Balboa Park is a historic wedding venue that has the feel of another time and place. The building and its adjoining grounds demonstrate exquisite elements of Latin-inspired design. This sophisticated venue offers an enchanting setting for a special wedding event.

Facilities and Capacity

The combination of indoor and outdoor spaces in the Prado at Balboa Park spans over 22,000 square-feet. Between 20 and 20,000 individuals can be accommodated at this location. Couples can host their weddings inside the naturally lit Grand Ballroom, with its lofty and intricately detailed ceiling. Features found throughout the rest of the estate and ground’s architecture includes French doors, terraces, artfully tiled floors, and blossoming gardens. The Casa del Rey Moro Gardens, the outdoor venue, is nestled amongst swaying palms and lofty trees, under which couples can say “I do”. Up to 320 guests may experience this manicured space.

Services Offered

The Prado at Balboa Park offers both ceremony and reception packages. For ceremonies, they can provide chairs, access to a get-ready room, sound equipment, and allotted time for a rehearsal. Supplied for receptions are linens, chairs, and china. Full-service catering is also available, with passed hors d’oeuvres, a wedding cake, and bar services. Over 3,000 parking spaces are available for guests and valet services can be organized to make the evening run smoothly

History

This building was initially constructed for the Panama—California Exposition which commemorated the inauguration of the Panama Canal in 1914. It is now a National Historic Landmark and a hotel. It underwent three years of renovation and refurbishment by The House of Hospitality before being reopened in 2000 for its current purpose.

Location

This event center is located near an array of local attractions and beaches. Wedding guests can look forward to visiting the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, and Legoland. Balboa Park itself plays host to 15 museums, a plethora of art galleries, and the famous Old Globe Theatre.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$30,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$24,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$1,800

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$1,800

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$17

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Open Bar

Reviews of The Prado at Balboa Park

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8 out of 5 rating
64 reviews
97% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.7 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.7 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

The Prado is a highly recommended wedding venue with exceptional service, gorgeous architecture, and a prime location in Balboa Park. Marcy, the wedding coordinator, is praised for her professionalism, helpfulness, and attention to detail throughout the planning process. Reviewers rave about the beautiful ceremony space, courtyard, and ballroom, as well as the delicious food and beverage service. The Prado's flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes, such as pivoting to an indoor ceremony due to rain, is also appreciated. Overall, couples and guests had a memorable and enjoyable experience at The Prado.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The Prado is a highly recommended wedding venue with exceptional service, gorgeous architecture, and a prime location in Balboa Park. Marcy, the wedding coordinator, is praised for her professionalism, helpfulness, and attention to detail throughout the planning process. Reviewers rave about the beautiful ceremony space, courtyard, and ballroom, as well as the delicious food and beverage service. The Prado's flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes, such as pivoting to an indoor ceremony due to rain, is also appreciated. Overall, couples and guests had a memorable and enjoyable experience at The Prado.

Rachel
Rachel Sent on 01/22/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding at the Prado - a dream come true!

My husband and I held our wedding at The Prado in November 2021, and it was EVERYTHING we could have hoped for and more!! Marcy Melley and The Prado saw us through our initial planning and three stressful COVID postponements over two years, at every opportunity going the extra mile to be flexible, kind, and accommodating during these crazy times. They told us at the start of the pandemic that we could cancel at any time and still get our deposits back – a very different policy than many other venues during COVID and it gave us great ease of mind. The wedding day finally came after the long wait, and we could not have been happier!! We held the cocktail hour in the courtyard and reception in the Grand Ballroom. Everything went just beautifully and according to plan, and we received soo many compliments from our guests about the venue, the food, dessert, all of it! The Prado is unique and a GORGEOUS venue, and we feel so lucky to have celebrated our wedding there. Thank you to Marcy and The Prado for making all of our dreams come true for our special day!!!
Natalie
Natalie Sent on 01/03/2022
5 out of 5 rating

We recommend 10/10 The Prado Weddings and Events!

We worked with Marcy and she helped us create our dream wedding day! Marcy went above and beyond to guide us through the wedding planning process and exceeded all of our expectations. Every detail on the wedding day of was perfect. The ceremony space, courtyard and ballroom were all gorgeous. The food and beverage service was excellent. We didn't need to worry about anything -- she took care of everything for us! Exactly how I wanted to feel on our wedding day.

Marcy is the best!! Thank you for all that you have done to make our wedding dreams a reality!
Ashley
Ashley Sent on 10/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Stuff of fairytales!

Marcy is a true Godsend! We had countless, highly particular requests for our wedding at The Prado, and Marcy made each happen exactly as we envisioned. For a Type A bride like myself, Marcy’s communication style was a dream; she responds via email, text, or call (your preference) quickly, thoroughly, and thoughtfully. Her positive attitude, sense of humor, and exceptional level of helpfulness was always a breath of fresh air amidst general planning stress. Her passion for beautiful weddings is abundant and inspiring; it was an absolute delight to work with her.

As a venue, The Prado has it all: beautiful architecture, rich history, thoughtful details, and of course, location location location! The flow between chapters was seamless. We chose the Loggia Room for our smaller wedding reception, and our guests very much enjoyed the balconies overlooking the park.

Our guests cannot stop telling us that our wedding ceremony was the most beautiful they’ve ever attended. We are so happy we made the decision to have our big day at The Prado!

Professional Network & Endorsements

14 Endorsements
Jukebox Entertainment Jukebox Entertainment Wedding Bands

The Prado is an absolute Gem in the middle of one of my favorite parts of San Diego, Balboa Park. If you want Old School charm, an historic venue with soul, an awesome stage, excellent staff and great catering, this is the place for you! We've played The Prado on too many occasions to count and the result is always perfection. I highly recommend the Prado to anyone looking for a timeless event space!

The Dapper Dames The Dapper Dames Wedding Dresses

Balboa Park is a beautiful place to celebrate any occasion so we decided to have my son'd rehearsal dinner at The Prado. Food delicious and a great venue, everyone had a great time, very special.

Andrew Abouna Photography Andrew Abouna Photography Wedding Photographers

I really like photographing here and have shot a couple of events at this lovely property a few times. I've noticed that the staff are very wonderful and attentive to their clients whom I've photographed, and the staff have also been really accommodating at helping me get great shots for my clients, too. Thank you. Andrew Abouna Photography, San Diego, CA.

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