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Darlington House Reviews

Darlington House View more information

Reviews

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4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7 out of 5 rating
59 reviews
93% recommend it
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Awards

59
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
Weddingwire
4.7/5 59 reviews
Google
4.7/5 110 reviews
  • Alex
    Alex Sent on 07/28/2024
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    Perfect venue for the perfect day

    The Darlington house was the perfect venue for our wedding day. My wife and I instantly knew it was the venue for us and it did not disappoint. Inside and out it was eloquent and full of charm. We received numerous compliments and were so happy to have our special day at the Darlington House.

    Darlington House's reply:

    We are so happy to hear that you loved having Darlington House play a part in your wedding! Thank you for helping to spread the word about our venue.
  • Brittany
    Brittany Sent on 06/17/2024
    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    Perfect venue for our 65 person wedding

    The staff were professional from day 1, the pricing/time options for renting the venue covered a good range, and their suggested vendors list was very helpful. The house and garden were so lovely that we really didn't need to put any effort into decorating aside from the tables themselves. We used one of their coordinators (Perfect Day by Renee) who got married herself at DH and has worked there for years, so it was truly seamless.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for leaving your review, Brittany. We are so happy to hear that you had a great time with Darlington House as well as with our preferred vendors!
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  • J
    Jessica Sent on 11/05/2022
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    Perfect venue

    The Darlington House was our dream venue because my grandparents were married there 40 years ago, and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect day! I couldn’t have asked for more, and the staff was wonderful to work with.
  • Cara
    Cara Sent on 03/23/2022
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    Such a lovely place

    Only great things to say about Darlington House! We rescheduled three times due to the pandemic, and the folks at Darlington House made it incredibly easy and stress free. The grounds are beautiful; it's very much like you're getting married on someone's supremely gorgeous and private estate. Carly was wonderful to work with and we can't recommend Darlington House enough.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Cara! We loved working with you on your gorgeous celebration (even if the wait was a little longer than expected)!
  • Andrew
    Andrew Sent on 05/13/2021
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    The 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.
  • B
    Britt Sent on 09/20/2019
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    Darlington 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.
  • S
    Sande Sent on 09/09/2019
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    The Most Beautiful Venue in SD

    Darlington House for our wedding was the best place we could have picked in San Diego.  It's beautiful, intimate, but still plenty of space for everything that needs to happen on a wedding day.  The different spaces around the house made everything run smooth, and allowed everything to feel like it was this perfectly sized party at your own house (granted it's much nicer than our own house).  Being the only event for the day at the venue was something we didn't know we were looking for at first, but it made the day feel even more special, without guests needing to ask which party was ours or where to go.  The little details like the painted accent tiles, the beautiful gardens and the gorgeous interiors really made this the obvious option for us.  We couldn't be happier with the way our day went at Darlington House, and recommend anybody else hold their wedding there too!  Plus your fees go to help out the neighboring elderly home too, so there's an even better added benefit.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for sharing your review! We are so happy that you chose Darlington House to be part of your special day.
  • Parastou
    Parastou Sent on 09/05/2019
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    Intimate, 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!

    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.
  • B
    Brittany Sent on 07/26/2019
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    Perfect venue!

    Darlington House was AMAZING. We couldn't have dreamed of a better venue for both our ceremony and reception. From the adorable upstairs for getting ready to the amazing outdoor space - the venue is gorgeous and we were so happy with everything.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Brittany! We are so happy that you chose Darlington House to be part of your special day.
  • Sara
    Sara Sent on 06/28/2019
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    Stunning venue

    After taking one look at Darlington House I knew it was the perfect location for our wedding day! I could not have pictured a more beautiful location for my wedding reception. All of our guests were raving about the the gorgeous courtyard, flowers and library and said it was the best weddings venue they had ever seen. We had 150 guests and a pretty large dance floor in the middle and we were extremely comfortable. Carly and staff did an AMAZING job making sure everything went smoothly. I cannot recommend Darlington House enough!!

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Sara. We are so happy that you made Darlington House a part of your beautiful wedding day!
  • C
    Care Sent on 09/02/2018
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    Darlington House was as beautiful the day of our wedding as it was on the day of our first walk-through. Stunning gardens, beautiful home. This venue appealed to all of my guests - regardless of age. During the cocktail hour, the older generation loved sitting inside by the fire while the younger crowd socialized on the patio. Easy space to entertain 160 people for dinner and dancing!
  • L
    Lisa Sent on 04/17/2018
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    Amazing venue! Recently had my wedding at the Darlington House and couldn’t have more more pleased with our decision! Carly was always happy to answer any questions that came up during the planning process and helped us feel at home in the venue during walk through with vendors. The location was amazing, especially if you’re looking for more of a vintage feel. The beauty and uniqueness of the house made for gorgeous pictures and was topic of conversation throughout the night. Thank you Darlington House for an amazing wedding!

    Darlington House's reply:

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Lisa! We are happy to hear that you and your guests had such a wonderful event.
  • C
    Clare Sent on 04/05/2018
    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    Amazingly beautiful venue, and great service/support. This place was stunning and our guests (and we) loved it. Rules are a bit constrictive and could stand to be relaxed a bit, but given the historic beauty and surroundings, I understand why they are in place.
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    Nadia Sent on 12/13/2016
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    The staff at the Darlington House were very kind and accommodating throughout the entire planning process. The venue itself is beautiful and was just perfect for the look and feel that my husband and I wanted for our wedding. There was really no need to spend any money on decorations because the grounds are already quite lovely. They take great care of the site, and make sure that everything looks great on your special day.
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    Kristen Sent on 11/14/2016
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    I am so happy that I chose this venue! I wanted a place for my guests that would be private, charming, and sophisticated- Darlington was all of these qualities and I still keep getting compliments from my guests.
  • J
    Jackie Sent on 11/09/2016
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    It was incredibly unpleasant to deal with Summer Ray. She consistently got our names wrong not he contract and didn’t remember our details from one meal to the next, even if they were on the same thread. It was a huge pain to deal with. I liked the Darlington House for how it looked, but needing to use their valet service definitely increases the cost, as well as, using one of their caterers. That definitely makes it less valuable as a find.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Hi, Jackie -
    We are so sorry to hear about miscommunication with a former employee. Review of emails suggests that a typo error was quickly rectified, but we appreciate your honest response.

    Darlington House is located in beautiful but busy La Jolla, CA. We do not require our clients to purchase valet services, but strongly suggest it for your guests' convenience. Caterers must be pre-approved by our Board of Directors to ensure the integrity of our venue's unique standing on the National Register of Historic Places.

    If you would like to discuss any of these concerns with someone on our staff, we would be happy to address them. We sincerely hope that your wedding was a happy occasion that you cherish for years to come.
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    Dana Sent on 11/07/2016
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    I would absolutely recommend the Darlington House to anyone looking for a wedding venue. It offers stunning beauty at an affordable price. The wedding industry can be crazy with price gouging but the Darlington House is one of those rare gems that offers a quality product at a reasonable price in beautiful La Jolla.
  • N
    Nicole Sent on 11/02/2016
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    As a wedding planner, there was no question that I knew that the Darlington was going to be the perfect fit when it finally came time for my big day! It didn't take much convincing for my fiance (now husband) to agree that it fit our laid back personalities, would be able to create the perfect private and historic ambiance, and provide us with the flexibility to make it our own. Their staff is so friendly, professional, and accommodating which I appreciate as a wedding vendor myself! The property is very well kept and I love that they recently renovated their back patio, it is so beautiful, lush, and green. I have a wedding there for a client this Friday and couldn't be more excited to work there again!
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    Geraldine Sent on 11/02/2016
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    My husband and I chose Darlington House for our reception because of the beautiful mediterranean feel of the house in gorgeous La Jolla. The price of the venue was not only reasonable, but knowing that it went to support the Social Service League of La Jolla and the League House next to the Darlington House which provides housing to low-income, seniors. The volunteers at Darlington House were incredibly helpful and made us feel at home right away.
  • N
    Natalie Sent on 09/10/2016
    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    Simply stunning! We couldn't have imagined a more beautiful and unique setting for our wedding. The staff are so helpful and accommodating and made our experience very smooth. Don't be intimidated by the need to bring in your own vendors - they provide many great recommendations and it's a fun opportunity to customize your event. The only downside to the venue is that music must end by 9:30 and everyone must be out by 10 pm since it's in a residential area. I was worried about this at first, but our coordinator and vendors did a great job of maximizing our time there. All of our guests had a great time and were very complimentary of the space. Highly recommend!!
  • L
    Lisa Sent on 12/22/2015
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    The Darlington House is one of my favorite venues in San Diego! I'm so glad I chose to have my wedding in such a beautiful, intimate space. Since my own wedding, I've been lucky enough to plan weddings there throughout the years and even attend a few wedding as a guest ;) It never gets old... I love the Darlington House :)

    Darlington House's reply:

    Lisa,

    Thank you for the review! We love working with Wedding By Lisa Nicole and whenever we do, we know our clients are in excellent hands! Looking forward to another wonderful year -Your Darlington House Team
  • M
    Melissa Sent on 12/22/2015
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    The Darlington House is amazing! From the start, they were very professional in making arrangements. They do this often and it shows...all of my vendors had worked with them previously which made planning very simple. And the night of the wedding was spectacular (5pm wedding with reception following). The rose garden is unbelievable at night. My guests were gushing about how elegant the reception was. I would recommend extra "up" lighting around the foliage...it really creates a magical feel. From start to finish, The Darlington House was a fabulous experience.

    Darlington House's reply:

    Hi Melissa,

    Thank you for your review! We are so happy you and your guests enjoyed Darlington House! Wonderful to hear the planning was simple due to our amazing vendors. Congratulations to you and Marc!
    -Your Darlington House Team
  • C
    Christine Sent on 12/19/2015
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    Hello, Our daughter, Stephanie and her husband Trevor Welsh were married at the Darlington House on Friday, November 13, 2015. Summer was so helpful and sweet, a big thank you to her. I had the pleasure of talking with Marie, Jan and Nanette on the night of the wedding and had to tell them how much we loved the property for the wedding. Our guests were very impressed with the house and grounds. I loved how we were able to utilize the areas for our needs. Just beautiful. I told the ladies that our wedding felt so unique and special to us even though I know there are weddings held there probably every weekend.
    Thank you for opening the Darlington House to us. We enjoyed every minute of it and we will all be talking about the Welsh wedding for years to come!


    Fondly,
    Christine Huey

    Darlington House's reply:

    Hi Christine,

    Thank you for your kind words! We are so happy you chose Darlington House to be a part of Stephanie and Trevor's special day. You all were wonderful to work with! Best wishes to you and the family!

    Sincerely,
    Your Darlington House Team
  • J
    Jeanette Sent on 12/15/2015
    4.9 out of 5 rating
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    I had my dream wedding at Darlington House! The place was elegant and the staff kind and helpful.
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