Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Reviews

We had our wedding at Dolphin Bay this past August and could not be happier with how it went. The entire team at Dolphin Bay — from our amazing wedding planner, Mary, to the staff at the front desk, to the waiters and bartenders — were incredibly thoughtful and proactive. They handled issues on the day of the wedding without anyone having to ask and were truly the most lovely people to work with. They even had a staff member get into the pool during our wedding ceremony to keep the noise down in the pool during our ceremony! Our wedding was flawless and it is truly a testament to the team at Dolphin Bay that it went as perfectly as it did. Beyond our wedding, everything else at Dolphin Bay — the food, the rooms, the setting, the views — was just fabulous. Truly a one of a kind hotel that I cannot recommend enough!

Highly recommend if you want a seamless flawless wedding look no further. We loved everything about the dolphin bay. It was just what we wanted.

We had our wedding at Dolphin Bay last weekend and Mary Ventura, the venue coordinator, was amazing from start to finish. She was meticulous, thorough, precise, and had lots of great ideas to help bring our vision to life. She was very quick to respond to any communications and stayed on top of everything to make sure our day went smoothly. We had to change our reception plans a few days before the wedding due to a bad weather forecast, but Mary was so quick to help us find backup options to ensure our wedding day was still special. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue to have our wedding and couldn’t thank Mary enough for everything. The hotel staff was also outstanding. Our wedding was perfect and everything was so beautiful! We highly recommend booking your event here. Mary and the staff will exceed your expectations!

We had our wedding here last weekend and it was everything we could have possibly dreamed of. First, Mary Ventura was the best coordinator we could have asked for, no detail was overlooked. Every single guest who stayed onsite at the resort had glowing reviews and were ecstatic about the venue and the setting. Everyone from the valet, to house keeping to front desk staff were perfection to work with. We can't stop talking about what an amazing weekend it was. Amazing experience and venue.

Dolphin Bay Resort made our October wedding dreams come true. I always said to my vendors from day 1 I was willing to put in the extra work if I could be stress free that weekend and that is what happened. The setting was nothing short of spectacular, everyone loved the f&b and danced the night away. The sun appeared at the start of the ceremony and the sunset looked like a painting. Our 180 guests loved the atmosphere, convenience and overall weekend experience. It was truly a mesh of Hawaii meeting California. Thank you Mary, Lisa and team for all of your help. Our guest still rave about the wedding almost a year later and want to go back and do it all over again.

Selecting the Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa for our wedding venue was one of the best decisions we ever made! We had really wanted to get married at the beach, somewhere in the Santa Barbara area because this was so special for us. We have a unique love story, in that we were high school sweet hearts, and first loves, but lost touch for 17 years, and reconnected 3 years ago!
All the vendors that we talked to were difficult to work with, in that there were all these restrictions (e.g. we couldn’t have rose petals on the ground, etc.). We wanted a small, intimate wedding and many places required all kinds of minimums. At first glance, the Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa looked like it would be way out of our budget, and we were worried that the team might be difficult to work with again. The resort is up on a cliff, overlooking the pacific ocean, and to the views are breathtaking. The entire aura is one of elegance and beauty, and it feels like you are in a Disney movie. To our surprise, we discovered that the resort is family-owned and prides itself on its relationship with their clients. They were absolutely amazing to work with!! Not only that, but the cost was so affordable and they were so accommodating! They truly care about making your wedding dreams come true! They took the time to meet with us, several times, and go over detailed plans for our vision. Nothing was off-limits. There were so many tiny personal details in our wedding, and I felt like they made sure to make these happen. They commit to only ONE wedding for an entire weekend, so that they only focus on your event, and give the entire resort pours so much energy and love into it! I’ve never seen anything like that.
Our wedding ceremony was set for the walkway just outside the pool area, and the aisle led up to the ocean, with spectacular views of the ocean. There were families in the pool just before our ceremony, and one of the assistants at the resort went into the pool area and personally spoke to each person, asking if they could remain quiet for our wedding ceremony. I was so touched by their personal approach in doing that, instead of just posting a sign, that people could ignore. The assistant remained in the pool area, to control the noise throughout the entire ceremony, and from the moment I started down the aisle, I didn’t even notice that we had several on-lookers from the balconies and the pool area! No screaming kids. It was wonderful. It was only after we kissed and they pronounced us as husband and wife, that I heard an enormous round of applause and cheering from the pool area, and the rest of the resort. That was so special!
The reception took place outside in the lawn area, with a dance floor, and the Lido Patio area. We had several choices for settings that were affordable, and the setting we selected was perfect! Simple bistro lighting created a gorgeous ambiance, and they provided heat lamps for us, which worked beautifully. The patio provided the perfect intimate setting for us and our family. The food was absolutely incredible!! When we went for the tastings, every single dish was so good it was very difficult to choose. The chef came out and personally answered questions. At our wedding, we couldn’t stop hearing from our guests about how amazing the food was! The only thing is that they cleared the tables too soon, and some people weren’t quite finished, but that’s the only negative thing I could possibly say about this venue.
The coordinator for special events at Dolphin Bay, Krysta went above and beyond on our special day! She learned a couple days before that my twin sister (and matron of honor) would not be able to make it because she was pregnant and had to go on strict bed rest. It was devastating for her not to be there and to miss my special day. So Krysta took it upon herself to stream the entire ceremony and reception on her cell phone so that my twin sister could see it and “be there.” There will never be the words to thank her for doing that, and I get tears in my eyes writing this. Thank you so much, Krysta!
The most meaningful part of the entire day came with our grand finale’. We wanted to light a sky lantern and send it off into the heavens as our grand conclusion at the end of the reception. There was no other venue in California that would allow us to light sky lanterns, given the fire status of the state (with good reason, I must say). However, Dolphin Bay, after talking to our wedding coordinator about how important this was to us, allowed us to light a single sky lantern for ceremonial purposes. We were ecstatic!! Then they suggested that we do a sparkler send off just before the lantern send off. So not only were they okay with the lantern, but they suggested even more! We were over the moon. Everything for our wedding went perfect! And the sparkler send-off, walking the path to the end of the cliff, lighting the sky lantern and sending it up into the heavens is a memory I will never forget!!

Thank you, Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa for making all of our wedding dreams come true!

We just got married at the Dolphin in September and I must say it was PERFECT. As soon as we saw this venue we fell in love. You can't beat the views, the grounds are so well kept, and the staff was impeccable. My mind was at ease the day of knowing that Krysta, the wedding coordinator, was down in the tent helping my vision come to life. She was AMAZING.
In Terms was staff, grounds, food, pool, service. Everything was 5 stars.
Wouldn't have changed a thing!!

From the start to the end, this place and their staff have been incredible. Krysta, the events coordinator, truly made my dream wedding come to life. We are so lucky we were able to get married here. The view for the ceremony and reception is unreal. The tent that held out reception was absolutely gorgeous. This place, this staff, and Krysta are a 20/10.

This location is beautiful for an outdoor wedding! Our pictures are spectacular from the ceremony and Shell Beach is just a quick 10 minute walk for photos. The landscaping around the venue is beautiful so there is very little you have to do to decorate.
The coordinator Denai was so easy to work with. She has lot's of experience and makes great suggestions to keep the event running smoothly and making it special. She is great with communicating costs and expectations. We had no surprise billing amounts or hidden costs when the final bill arrived. It was exactly as planned.
The food was spectacular. We received lots of compliments on how delicious the New York Steak and Sea Bass were. The food was beautifully presented. My 8 year old daughter really wanted Steak instead of the kids meal which she voiced during our meeting with Denai. Denai remembered and surprised her at dinner with a steak.
Like every bride, I was addicted to Pinterest. I wanted cupcakes with blush frosting and gold sparkles. The pastry chef made it happen. The cupcakes were gorgeous and delicious.
The waiting staff that was on hand was out of this world with their attention to our guests. The Bartending staff was friendly and quick. Plates were cleared promptly and with the best attitude.
I was slightly worried about the weather as it was due to be windy during the evening. Our reception was outside on the patio. No worries on that because they have these amazing heaters on the patio and there was no need for blankets or sweaters.
I would highly recommend this location for a wedding or any event. We enjoyed our day to the fullest and were well taken care of.

We had the absolute best setting for our wedding at the Dolphin Bay Resort! The ocean, the sunset, and that spectacular tent were the envy of all of our guests. Working with Denai was so easy, she responded fast to all of our questions or concerns. Everything ran smoothly and was so convenient for our guests to have everything right there. The food and presentation was amazing! Do not hesitate to book here, its worth every penny!!

I truly believe that choosing Dolphin Bay Resort as the venue for our wedding was the best decision we made during the whole wedding planning process. Denai was incredible to work with and made the planning process and the day itself go so smoothly. She is fun and enthusiastic and truly a professional, we could not have asked for a better partner and coordinator for our big day. As for the venue itself, I truly believe we blew away all of our guests with the resort's incredible layout and views, and moving inside Lido restaurant for the reception (rather than a windowless banquet hall) was beautiful and practical. The food was unbelievable and the service was unbeatable. Absolutely worth the price as our wedding will not be one our guests soon forget. I would definitely recommend Dolphin Bay Resort for anyone looking for a wedding venue in the Central Coast!

My daughters September wedding was held outside on the courtyard with the reception at the Lido Restaurant. It was spectacular and beautiful. The service staff is beyond efficient and courteous and outstanding! Our Event Coordinator, Denai Vine is AMAZING!!! How she took our wishes and turned them into reality and not to mention our very last minute "oh, can we do this too" ideas - she was positive, fun and made every detail work for us. We recommend you come in a few days in advance just to play with all the fun events in the area, or relax in the luxury rooms overlooking the ocean.
We consider the Dolphin Bay Resort part of our family now and look forward to going back as often as we can! For your special events call Denai and she will take great care of you!

The Dolphin Bay Resort was amazing. So glad I had my wedding here. The whole staff was super helpful. I definitely recommend this place for your wedding. And the Lido restaurant is great too.

The venue was beautiful and the food and service were amazing!! My daughter had the perfect wedding!!

The night before our wedding in October 2010, my husband and I hosted our rehearsal/family dinner in a penthouse suite at Dolphin Bay. It was a wonderful experience! The setting was gorgeous and more unique and secluded than a traditional restaurant function room. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect. We worked with Chris Ohara and Denai Vine to arrange our event; it turned out perfectly thanks to their hard work, suggestions, and customer service. Almost everyone affiliated with our wedding stayed at The Cliffs, Spyglass Inn, and Dolphin Bay; people walked to the rehearsal dinner and truly enjoyed the setting and the views. Dolphin Bay has several spots for private parties and events, and we highly recommend Denai and her team to help you plan any type of party!

Denai Vine and all the staff at Dolphin Bay Resort did an absolutely wonderful job for our wedding. The day was perfect and more than I could hope for. Denai made sure everything ran smoothly. The staff was a delight to have around and made my family feel very welcome. The scenery backdrop with the bluffs looking off out to the ocean was priceless! They went above and beyond to make sure other random guests didn't get into the background of my pictures during our ceremony. Denai checked and double checked to make sure all our needs were met during our weekend stay. The whole weekend was a dream come true. Thank you Dolphin Bay!

Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa was absolutely the best place for our reception and working with Denai Vine is the best experience. She is so responsive and listens to your every need. Very professional at the reception making sure each guest were satisfied. The staff is absolutely amazing too, very professional. We had such an amazing time and the food was by far the best that all of our guests ever had at a wedding! We did a duo of Prawn Taco with Spanish-style rice, black beans, 8-12oz New York Steak with side of Chimchurri Sauce. The steaks were cooked medium rare and the prawn taco was the hit. Everyone said they left full. I would definetly recommend Dolphin Bay Resort and Spa to anyone that is looking for an all in one package. I will definetly be back in the future, I love Dolphin Bay!!

This venue is to DIE for!!!!! in my now husbands description to a friend of his that couldnt make it, "it was a dream wedding" Dolphin Bay is breath taking!!!! From the views, to the path down to the beach for amazing pictures. I couldnt ask for a better location.

A bit pricey, but worth every penny!

The food was outstanding!

The only thing I would say is the coordinator needs to be more flexible esp when you live hours away and can not be there on a drop of a hat for the tasting. everything worked out in the end! :)