Klarysa Sent on 12/06/2023

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Best wedding venue for reception!

We are INCREDIBLY grateful and thankful to have selected the Don Room at El Cortez for our wedding reception venue!! An outstanding, caring staff and historic, glamorous, charming venue combine to make the perfect match for a venue for any special event. We were looking for an “Italian” space to match the “Italian” church (St. Joseph Cathedral) for our wedding theme and found the perfect venue in the Don Room. Joe and Kathi, the events manager and sales/marketing manager, are both such wonderful and thoughtful people and had such prompt, efficient and quick communication with us throughout the wedding planning process. They helped to make our wedding reception more affordable and suggested the perfect package for catering and bar services to make our reception both memorable, fun and within budget. The building itself is so luxurious feeling and historical, featuring an enormous chandelier and a gold-plated ceiling. The Don Room itself is bright and cozy with maroon red hues and golden highlights, making it both a glamorous but classic venue space. What made us fall in love with the space are the huge red velvet curtains drawing back the entrance to the space, also used to introduce the bridal party and new couple during the reception (my favorite part!)! Joe have such a wonderful tour of the space and overview of how the wedding reception usually flows, which was helpful for wedding planning. I am extremely impressed with the high quality of the presentation of the space, venue and catering package, and communication throughout the wedding planning process. Of all the vendors I emailed/called, the El Cortez staff were the most receptive and detailed in their responses, which were always prompt and answered all questions. My new husband and I are so grateful for the space because the reception was an absolute blast, with all our guests and ourselves incredibly happy to have celebrated in such a wonderful, colorful, and classy space!

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Taylor Sent on 08/18/2019

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Breath taking venue, excellent experience, unforgettable wedding

The El Cortez is very comparable in pricing with other venues in the downtown San Diego area. This venue makes it incredibly easy to price everything out and chose your vendors! We worked with Jessica and she was so helpful, excited and knowledgeable. She replied immediately to all emails (of course during normal business hours). Our wedding was like s fairytale. It has a very historic yet somehow Disney and laid back feel all together. The venue has the best of both worlds with indoor/outdoor space. Many people said it was the best wedding they had ever been too.

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Maya Sent on 11/20/2018

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Magical wedding💚💛💜💝

Probably I am the Happiest Bride ever.. My wedding was magical at El Cortez! It’s really beautiful venue with a great vibes. Since the minute I arrive for the very first time, I immediately felt that this place is very special.
I loved round dance floor and a lot of space. all tables are in the perfect circle, and all the guest could see each other. I immediately imagined my wedding decorations around and I felt in LOVE!!! The second time I felt in Love when I stepped outside and seen a terrace.
Jessica, my wedding coordinator was a delight. So professional, kind and so attentive to all my requests. It was the biggest pleasure to work with her and her team.
We got hundreds of compliments for the venue. All our guests were enjoying such a unique and gorgeous atmosphere.
Highly recommended!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Emelyn Sent on 10/09/2018

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THIS WAS THE BEST NIGHT! EVER!
My husband and I married here this past weekend (10/6/18) and it completely blew away our expectations. We wanted a venue that was in downtown San Diego, had some city vibes, some romantic vibes, and could comfortably fit 200 people. I cannot believe I almost overlooked this venue. The moment we set foot in the Don Room we knew it was perfect. Then we stepped out onto the patio, turned around and pretty much immediately signed the paperwork.
Jessica is absolutely incredible. We hired her as our day of coordinator and NOT ONE thing went wrong on Saturday. Everything ran so smoothly, it was seamless. She was so accommodating, always presenting multiple options and solutions to any obstacle, she is a pro.
We had multiple people tell us this was the "best wedding they've ever attended" (we agree... in our humble, unbiased opinion).
105% recommend. If we could relive this night we absolutely would, and we would not change ONE thing. Thank you!

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Jessica Sent on 09/05/2018

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We got married on 5/19/18 and the El Cortez Don Room was the perfect venue for us! It had our 3 biggest must-haves: outdoor space, parking, and an open bar! The ballroom alone is gorgeous and needs very little décor. Jessica, the coordinator, is the one who reached out to us to make sure we didn't miss out on this venue and we're so happy she did! She was efficient in answering emails and really catered to us so that our wedding planning went as smoothly as it did. We will never forget our beautiful wedding at this beautiful, one-of-a-kind venue.

Elizabeth Sent on 07/19/2018

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Getting married at the El Cortez was a beautiful experience. Jessica and her team were fantastic and extremely professional the whole time leading up to the wedding and the wedding day! Everything went as planned and was more beautiful than I could ever imagine. I would recommend the El Cortez for anyone who wants a romantic and historical vibe for their special day. Thank you so much!!

Emily Sent on 03/16/2018

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I cannot say enough good things about Jessica, Kathi, and Joe at El Cortez/Tavolo Chaise. What an amazing, genuine team that truly cares about their clients. My fiance (now husband) and I had the most magical wedding at El Cortez - it was beyond what we expected. Guests have not stopped raving about the venue and evening. Jessica connected us with an amazing caterer and was such a relaxing person to work with. She even checked in on me while she was out of the state to assure me things would be fine with the rain in the forecast. Kathi and Joe really stepped in the final week of planning to put together a beautiful design for our rainy day ceremony adjustments. My only recommendation to potential clients is that they ask about having one of El Cortez's staff be their "day of coordinator" - I wish I had! Thank you to Jessica, Kathi, and Joe for everything.

Aubrey Sent on 02/28/2018

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I just had had my wedding at the El Cortez two weeks ago and I'm still on cloud nine! The venue itself is gorgeous and I knew as soon as I saw it I had to get married here. Jessica was so quick to answer any questions I had, and always reassured me that everything would go according to plan. I had total faith and confidence in her (which was a HUGE stress relief!). Needless to say, our wedding went smoothly and our guests raved about the El Cortez and how beautiful it was. I couldn't be happier,and I highly recommend this venue to anyone!

Pierre Sent on 12/31/2017

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What a great experience, the staff were wonderful from start to finish. The place is like a jewel. Joe was perfect for the day of the event, we loved the ceiling in the ballroom and the wonderful dance floor.

Jake Sent on 12/31/2017

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What an amazing venue with an amazing staff! We worked with Kathi, who was cheerful and always happy to help us throughout our planning process, and Joe, who was amazingly helpful on the day of the event. The staff really helped make the day special, and we're friendly and personable.

The Don Room itself is a sight to see; ornate golden engravings line the ceiling, pillars line the dance floor, and the entrance through double doors provides a great view of the room for guests as they enter. I would highly recommend the El Cortez Don Room for your special day!

Mk Sent on 12/06/2017

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My wedding wouldn't be my dream wedding if it did not happen in El Cortez Don Room.. It had every single aspect I was looking for. When I inquired, Jessica quickly responded, we met up initially and treated us real special with champagne flutes waiting for us, our names lit up on the tables; it just was meant to be.. We fell in love with the place immediately. The place itself, the views, the detail of the ceiling, the historical background of the building itself--it just exemplifies us as a couple. The decor, the ambience, I can't put it into words..
Now service, again, Jessica would be the best coordinator for all of this. She replies as soon as she can, she even adjusts her time if she can to accomodate us. I am in the military and currently stationed all the way in Camp Pendleton, so the stress from work, oh btw, im also I was a full time in-campus grad student at the time, plus wedding planning.. she was very flexible. She will inform you if she going on leave, so you dont be left hanging and freak out, howcome Jessica is not responding! As a bride, we could be paranoid like that, but she always plans ahead! She has a great network of recommendations, vendors, styles, designs, colors, you name it.
Altogether, EL CORTEZ DON ROOM, kudos, bravo zulu as we say it in the Navy, we wish to celebrate our Silver Anniversary back there! :) Thank you.

Kimberly Sent on 08/01/2017

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It took me a while to find the perfect spot for our July 8, 2017 wedding reception. We wanted something enchanting, different, elegant, genuine, not stuffy, and representative of San Diego. We were thrilled and our guest were wowed with the El Cortez Don Room. I almost overlooked it and, boy, am I glad I didn't. Jessica was wonderful to work with and helped me brainstorm, problem solve and dream about our special day!
Our guest enjoyed the best of both worlds by dancing inside in the gorgeous ballroom and then mingling outside under the moonlight on the terrace. The space if very accommodating for a small or large wedding. Our wedding and reception was breathtaking! We highly recommend making your own history at the historical The Don Room!! Several of our guest parked and/or stayed at the Holiday Inn. It was very convenient. Best wishes!!

Edselle Sent on 12/09/2016

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My husband and I knew rightright away it was our reception venue when we stepped into the Don Room at the El Cortez. Its gorgeous! Jessica and the staff from the El Cortez were so helpful, they made the planning go smoothly. It was everything we had imagined it to be and more. All of our guests were very impressed with the venue and the ambience, they loved it! We didn't even use a lot of decor because the place was already as beautiful in itself. Did I mention that there is also a littlle piece of history to it too? Even more to make the El Cortez Don Room an exciting, beautiful, great place to celebrate your special day!

Edselle Sent on 12/06/2016

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My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding reception at the El Cortez Don Room last November 12, 2016. All we can say is that it was meant to be from the moment we stepped into the Don Room. It is just breathtaking. That ceiling is gorgeous. Jessica and the staff have been such a great help with the planning. Everything went smoothly. All of our guests are in awe of the venue. There was nothing but great compliments from guests all night until to this day. We didn't even have to decorate as much because the place is just as beautiful on its own. We highly recommend this venue for any celebration. You will not be dissapointed.

Kaela Sent on 06/23/2016

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If the exterior doesn't sell you on this venue alone, book a tour! Kathi was our director of sales for our wedding and we couldn't have had a better experience! We were allowed to have our ceremony outdoors on the patio and the reception in the Don Room. There are several different options for lighting packages, etc depending on your budget. They also have a very helpful list of vendors that they prefer to work with so the work is much easier for you! Our guests were blown away by the beauty of the El Cortez! My husband and I couldn't be happier with our choice!

Dp Sent on 06/01/2016

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Jessica Beiriger, Joe and the entire team were extremely helpful throughout our entire process. From planning to coordinating and the amazing turn out the day of our wedding. They made an effort to work with us/build a relationship and make our wedding perfect. The venue speaks for its self along with event/sales team makes it the best place to get married in San Diego. I highly recommend making it a priority to visit the venue. Our guest are still talking about the wedding months later. Thank you to the entire team at the Don Room. DP & MO Pom

Rishona Sent on 12/21/2015

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Our ceremony in The Don Room was pretty amazing. The room decorates itself and the shape of the space makes it feel both intimate and spacious at the same time. The cocktail hour was fun on the Terrace, the lighting and lounge options that were setup gave it that extra sparkle, especially as the sun set. Jessica did a great job at coordinating day of both her crew and managing the vendors. You could feel that she was eager to help and make our vision come to life. We flipped the room during cocktail hour for the reception and on our sneak peek, everything looked beautiful and just the way we wanted it. We loved that there was both inside/outside and our out of town family could enjoy the fantastic San Diego weather and see a bit of downtown. We planned the wedding from another coast and it was great to have Jessica's insight and coordination throughout the planning and especially day of. The venue is amazing with an even more fantastic staff. If we could choose again we would totally choose El Cortez.

Anthony Sent on 12/14/2015

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We fell in love with the Don Room as soon as we walked in! Then, once we saw the outdoor terrace we were blown away! This venue has it all, history, romance, beautiful architecture, and it is unique!

Jessica was amazing to work with, and Joe (Tavolo Chaise) made everything run smoothly. Our wedding was absolutely perfect, and because of the attention to detail, we had no stress leading up the big day.

Our guests raved about the venue, and we would recommend The Don Room to anyone looking to get married in San Diego.

Rochele Sent on 11/24/2015

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Jessica and the team at El Cortez were amazing! Our wedding this past Sunday was absolutely perfect. We had more than a few personal touches we wanted to add to our wedding and everything went off without a hitch. Jessica and the team were so attentive to our needs and well as our guests, we can't thank them enough for a truly spectacular wedding day!

Martha Sent on 10/24/2015

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This was an absolutely gorgeous place for my daughter's destination wedding in October. The ballroom did not require much decoration, in fact less is better. We had tall, all white, flower arrangements as centerpieces, which was perfect for the high dark/gold beautifully carved ceilings.

The staff was wonderful. Jessica Beiringer from sales, was quick to answer any questions and provided EXCELLENT service whenever we called her. The "day of" staff were very friendly and everything ran smoothly.

It was a beautiful warm day and evening, so having such a large outside terrace for our guests to enjoy was wonderful. You must use their preferred caterers, but they were also great to work with. We used Abbey Catering (which is yet another good review to be written about them). Chairs and tables must be booked through Tavolo Chaise and we had Best Beverage Catering for the drinks. Again, excellent company to work with. They provided 2 bartenders for over 225 guests, so they were kept busy, but they kept on smiling to the end.

The venue is downtown, but parking was not an issue as we made arrangments with The Holiday Inn Express (which is directly across the street) They were able to provide parking to our guests for $8 (a great price for downtown)

We went over budget on the overall wedding, but I am very happy we took the leap and chose The Don Room. It was money well spent and every penny worth it. My daughter and her husband couldn't have been happier. Our guests are still talking about the day and how much they enjoyed themselves at such a beautiful location.

Macey Sent on 09/01/2015

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There are TONS of wedding venues to choose from in San Diego! All of which are stunning and beautiful! The Don Room at the El Cortez is one of them. For my fiance (now husband) and I the moment we drove up to the building and then entered the lobby and walked into the actual Don Room - we KNEW - we had found our venue. Being built in the 1920's the building set the tone for the tone of our wedding. The ceiling of the Don Room is spectacular and the circular room creates an intimacy you won't find else where.

Jessica Beiriger - the point of contact for weddings at the Don Room is very helpful and PATIENT! She knows how to handle brides and is the perfect combination of supportive and assertive.

I wish I could get married all over again - and my wedding was only last weekend!

Still walking on rainbows !

David Sent on 09/01/2015

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We just had out wedding at El Cortez and loved it! We had a destination wedding so we were trying to limit having to decorate as much as possible. The venue is beautiful and just a few up-lights really helped make the Don Room a great reception location. We also hired Jessica as our D.O.C. and she did an AMAZING job! The best money we spent the entire wedding was on her. She helped make sure everything day of ran smoothly and efficiently!

Ellie Sent on 08/28/2014

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The El Cortez was the one and only venue we looked at for our wedding. A good friend had gotten married at the El Cortez a few years ago and she had only good things to say about the experience and I completely agree with her. I loved that the El Cortez is a San Diego landmark with a perfect location to Balboa Park for photos. The fact that our wedding is the only event of the evening made it such an intimate experience. Our ceremony on the terrace was perfect and the commute to cocktail hour was easy for guests. The Don Room speaks for itself. It does not need much decoration to make this room glow. The El Cortez made planning simple by providing outstanding vendor recommendations. Jessica, from the El Cortez worked with my husband and I to make sure that we were totally happy and organized. She was the best and it felt like I was planning a wedding with the help of a friend.

Gretchen Sent on 08/24/2014

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Gorgeous venue and the staff there (I worked with Jessica B) were so professional, responsive and helpful. They came up with great ideas and I was not stressed at all because I knew they were well equiped and experienced in providing a quality event. Everything went perfectly day of!! Thank you so much!

Sarah Sent on 08/14/2014

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My husband and I were married just over a month ago at the El Cortez. We had reserved the venue almost a year and a half before the date, and during that time I exchanged many emails and phone calls with the venue coordinator, Jessica. My husband and I live in Portland (although we are both from SD), so planning the wedding and hashing out details required constant communication and quick responses from Jessica and the El Cortez team. Jessica was beyond wonderful. Additionally, we hired Jessica for "day-of" planning services, which was a great choice and was paramount to making sure the day went off without a hitch, and relieving much stress. The terrace where the ceremony took place ended up looking beautiful; the Cortez has a rental company that they work with, which made renting chairs, decor, a pergola and chandelier very simple. Once we moved into the Don Room (which is gorgeous on its own), everyone was blown away. The detail in the carved ceiling is so ornate, and the floors and chairs are so elegant. It was a wonderful, fun,beautiful, wedding thanks in large part to Jessica's professionalism and skill. I would recommend this venue to anyone- it certainly gave us the wedding of our dreams!

Jeff Sent on 09/18/2013

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The Don Room at the El Cortez was the perfect place for our wedding. Jessica Beiriger was incredible kind and helpful all through the preparations. The room was so beautiful - many people told us it was the best wedding they've been too, and I'm sure the room and the terrace - also awesome - were a big part of that. I wouldn't do it anywhere else if I had to do it again. Thanks so much Jessica and everyone at the El Cortez for helping to make our day so incredible!

Lindsay Sent on 07/03/2013

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Jessica was great to work with. We had an amazing wedding.

Lexy Sent on 01/16/2013

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We just got married and loooooved everything about this venue! Our wedding was only 75 people, and this space was perfect. Both my husband and I are in the hotel industry (he is in banquets), so we have seen quite a few weddings. Our expectations were already high, and I must say that we were blown away by everything. We planned the wedding from Texas (where we live now), so we were a bit nervous about how everything would turn out. Jessica from the El Cortez set our minds at ease. She was very responsive and knowledgable. Everything went off without a hitch. Both our wedding and reception were in the Don Room (cocktails on the Terrace). The guests commented on how it felt very intimate and just looked beautiful. Ranch events did our catering, and they also did a great job. Our cake was amazing!!! April, the florist provided with Ranch Events, exceeded our expectations with the flowers. DJ Manny from Sound Illusions was also great, and Godfrey, our wedding officiant, was perfect as well. I would defintely do it all over again the exact way we planned. Great job El Cortez and all those involved in making our wedding day great!

Sherry Sent on 11/05/2012

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The Don Room at the El Cortez is beautiful. Our guests and family raved about how beautiful the ballroom was decorated. The ceiling and the floor of the Don Room is one of kind and added to the elegant theme of our wedding. The circular shape of the ballroom allowed everyone a great view of the wedding party and the dance floor. We had our wedding and cocktail reception outside in the patio and again, it was a wonderful venue for both. The fire place was an ideal area for wedding party pictures. We could not have been happier with this venue.

Giovanna Sent on 10/06/2012

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The Don Room at El Cortez was absolutely beautifully and looked amazing with the floral and all other elements. The Bride & Groom could not have chosen a better venue. Jessica Bereiger, Sales, was great to work with. Always available, attentive and reliable. Her and her team were outstanding and don't skip a beat the day of the wedding. Would recommend this venue a million times over!!!!

Kerry Sent on 08/26/2012

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My husband and I loved the Don Room and Terrace. The space is beautiful, the ornate ceiling is stunning. Aside from the beauty, we loved the space because the layout of the Don Room is a complete octagon, with the dance floor in the middle. So, all guests have a fantastic view of the action. In addition, this setup allows for the room to feel full, whether you have 75 guests or 175.
Jessica was our contact at the El Cortez. She was very receptive to our needs and easy to contact. She recommended some great vendors for us as well (Ranch Events, Best Beverage!)
Overall, we would do it again in a heartbeat. The building is full of history, and it perfectly fit our elegant and modern wedding.

Cheri Sent on 07/12/2012

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The terrace and Don Room were set up beautifully for our wedding/reception. Jessica was amazing to work with throughout the whole process. It could not have been better.

Cindy Sent on 04/13/2012

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All these reviews make me want to host my event there! Can anyone give me an idea of how much it cost to host your event?

Mindy Sent on 04/01/2012

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What's not to love?! The Don Room was so incredibly beautiful! We fell in love with it the moment we walked in. Kathy helped us with the different options, days, times, prices etc. She was very nice and always quick to return my calls and emails with any questions I had. The room is perfect for weddings. I'd highly recommend having your wedding there!

Cynthia Sent on 02/01/2012

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Jessica was so amazing and sweet. She really took great care of me during the planning stages. The man in charge of the room that night was the kindest most helpful person as well. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and has so much history. All of my guest assumed that I paid a ton and I didn't. It was magical and affordable!

Marion Sent on 08/30/2010

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We loved everything about the El Cortez for our wedding - there was an outside terrace for the ceremony and an inside room for the reception. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful and so accommodating to what we wanted to do. We found the cost to be extremely competitive - especially for what you get. If I had to do it over again, I would definitely pick the same venue

Gretchen Sent on 08/26/2010

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The El Cortez Don Room was absolutely beautiful and the outdoor terrace with a fireplace under the stars was so romantic. The staff at the EL Cortez was extremely responsive and helpful and gave us great recommendations for vendors with experience in doing weddings at the El Cortez

Maria Sent on 08/20/2010

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The don was breathtaking. When they opened the doors for the guest to come in everyone was blown away on how beautiful it is.

Ida Sent on 06/24/2010

5 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

I fell in love with the Don Room when I saw a video at the Bridal Bazaar. I knew this is where I wanted to get married and my dream came true. Kathi & Jessica were helpful. If you're looking for a classy & beautiful venue, Don Room at the El Cortez is the one.

Brandi Sent on 09/09/2009

5 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

Amazing service. Amazing venue. My guests were blown away!

Cinthia Sent on 12/19/2016

4.9 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

If you are looking for a venue that speaks for itself without much decorations, has history behind it and you love architecture then this is the place for you. It's a gorgeous venue that when you see it for the first time you will fall in love with; which instantly happened to us and the rest of our guests when they walked in. We loved that we had the indoor and outdoor space for our guests and for the few kids that we had at our wedding, the parents were thankful. The circular shape of the Don Room was perfect for our 100 guest wedding, it was intimate enough without looking empty. Jessica and the staff are great, very flexible, respond very quickly to meet your needs so you could enjoy your day and not worry about anything.

User1979438 Sent on 12/21/2014

4.9 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

This is perfect for me and my fiance

Stephanie Sent on 11/19/2012

4.9 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

After visiting at least 20 sites across San Diego County and researching probably over 100, my fiancee and fell for The El Cortez Don Room. We had chosen a venue twice already, only to have contracts fall through due to an unprofessional errors at the last minute. I finally abandoned traditional methods of searching and typed into Yelp "inexpensive wedding venue" for San Diego. I was floored to see El Cortez pop up.

Meeting Kathi Skillman was the greatest part of our planning process. She really knows how to make you feel special!! She was always professional and alarmingly fast in her email return. We were hooked right away. The building is beautiful and the space is really versatile. We knew from the beginning that we didn't want a big white rectangle ballroom. The Octagon ballroom with its rich colors and gorgeous sprawling ceiling, is something you really wont find anywhere else. The history gives it such personality, but it has been flawlessly maintained and doesn't look 'old' at all. They even provide a doorman dressed in El Cortez finery for your event, which gives such a special and personal touch to your guests before even stepping through the door.

The outside terrace is transformable! Its huge! With tons of space for a lounge, cigar bar, photo booth or really any other activity you would want to entertain your guests with.

For the level of event the El Cortez provides, it really is a tremendous deal. If you're looking for an economy wedding, this is not the place. If you're looking for the feel of a 100,000 wedding at less than half the cost, call Kathi. :-)

Love, Nick and Stephanie

Kelly Sent on 08/12/2011

4.9 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

As a bride I could not have asked for a better venue. All staff was so helpful, and catered to our every need. The ability to have all options rolled into a package price was exactly what we needed. Although, trying to plan from far away, Kathi worked with us over the phone and through email to answer any and all questions we had. Thank you so much El Cortez for truly making the day a dream come true.

Genevieve Sent on 05/16/2017

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

This is a beautiful space (including a wonderful terrace we were able to use all night) we felt was perfect for our guests. We worked with Jessica, who's professionalism, responsiveness and cheerfulness made what could have been a stressful experience (we planned from Chicago), smooth and painless instead. She would respond to all emails in a timely fashion and worked closely to ensure everything went as planned. Additionally, we felt it was a good value for the money - and she also helped to stay within our budget when needed. We worked with their preferred caterer, Continental Catering, which worked out beautifully as well. The food was fantastic, the service was attentive and plentiful, and they did a wonderful job setting up our "extras". It was a fantastic day, in large part due to the venue and it's staff!

Heather Sent on 12/07/2016

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

The groom and I fell in love with the Don Room and Terrace as soon as we saw it! This is a great venue at a great value and Jessica is awesome! Jessica was very responsive and helpful throughout the entire planning process. She made something that can be stressful into something that was fun to do. The venue coordinators on the day of the reception were amazing, even letting us play one last song that I really wanted played to close out the reception. The reason I gave a 4 for Flexibility is that they have a preferred caterer list and only one bar company that they work with. This could be a problem for some who were hoping to have unlimited flexibility with these vendors, or not a problem at all because it helps in the vendor selection process. You can go off the preferred caterer list for a fee, which we chose to do, and we agree doing so was the best for us and what we wanted. Other than that, the El Cortez was the perfect choice for our reception! Thank you!!

Lindsay Sent on 11/02/2012

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

The El Cortez was beautiful! Jessica was our contact and she was very responsive and helpful.. The venue was amazing, clean, ready to go on the day of. The day of staff did an amazing job.. The only thing that may be a little frustrating for some is that they have preferred vendors that you must use so your options are limited.. However, the vendors vary in pricing so you don't have to go in to major debt just to get married there..

Renee Sent on 10/30/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

From the moment I began planning our wedding we received exceptional service from the coordinators at El Cortez, Jessica was beyond helpful and such a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend the Don Room and Terrace, its a beautiful place to get married!

Ron Sent on 04/28/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely wonderful setting for our wedding! The room is gorgeous, huge, and has a great dance floor. The terrace is huge as well. The decor is classic and classy. The service was incredible as well! Highly recommend.

Monique Sent on 03/22/2019

4.6 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

Elegant and Classic Wedding Venue

Upon viewing the El Cortez Don Room & Terrace, we knew it was the perfect location for our wedding. The space itself lended itself to multiple options (e.g. outside or inside ceremony). It also did not require much decor as the space itself, specifically the ballroom, is beautifully detailed. It fit our vision of an elegant and timeless wedding perfectly. Our guests were amazed by the space and loved having the option hanging out by the fireplace on the terrace.

Jessica was sweet and helpful throughout the process, she checked in often and always had referrals. The day of Joe was amazing and made sure transitions and things ran smoothly.

We couldn't be happier with our choice of venue.

User1322513 Sent on 09/07/2013

4.6 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating

I have only great things to say about this place.!! Loved, loved, loved having my wedding here!! I worked with Jessica for the entire year prior to my wedding, and she was very responsive and patient the entire time. On the "day of" the door attendants, especially Joe, were fantastic and met all of our needs. The Don Room is truly classic and elegant with it's gold ceilings and octagonal shape, and the outside terrace is spacious and lovely as well. I noticed that a lot of yelpers have complaints about all of the terrible rules here, but I don't agree:--if you can't deal with rules, then you should have your event in your own backyard... seriously, I don't understand your sense of entitlement. I highly recommend the El Cortez as a wedding venue!

Kristen Sent on 06/07/2011

4.6 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

Its a beautiful venue and the staff are all so nice! Loved my wedding there!

Cynthia Sent on 02/03/2011

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating

I love this venue, the moment my husband and I walked into the venue we were in love with El Cortez. The venue is so romantic and just sets the mood. This place really made our wedding day amazing and just perfect. We loved it here and are so glad we had our wedding reception at this gorgeous venue.

Mariah Sent on 05/19/2010

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating

The Don Room is an amazingly beautiful place to host a wedding! I couldn't believe that it was actually in our budget. They have packages to fit all budgets and even though I felt like we chose the lowest price package it was exceptional! The only disappointment I had was the lack of flexibility with the ceremony rehearsal time. I was told there was another event happening the evening I wanted to do the rehearsal and had to do it that morning (even though some guests hadn't arrived) instead. Once we arrived to the rehearsal we found out there was not another event that evening. Whether it was a misunderstanding, please be sure to schedule your rehearsal as soon as possible.
In the end, I wouldn't change anything about that wonderful day!

Emily Sent on 08/18/2009

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating

The place is beautiful and the people are very helpful. I am sure all weddings run smoothly there like mine did!

Stephanie Sent on 01/09/2010

4.5 out of 5 rating

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3.5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

The venue was absolutely beautiful and our guests were blown away. It's a little pricey but it ended up being worth it. They have rules protecting the building, the residents and the wooden floor but they didn't ruin any of our plans. We had both our wedding and reception in the Don Room and our cocktail reception on the terrace. It was gorgeous.

Genie Sent on 06/25/2013

4.4 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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2 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Historic venue. Huge patio, perfect for larger weddings.
I felt the wedding staff was exceptional, just wonderful people.
It is important to be aware that because the Cortez is an apartment building, there are restrictions on noise and music on the patio. All receptions have to end by 10pm at the latest as well, so be prepared to organize an after party for your guests. The Don Room has severe restrictions for the ballroom floor, no rice, petals, vases, decor, etc. on the floor. No exceptions.
Overall, I'm definitely happy with my venue choice!

Caitlin Sent on 06/25/2012

4.4 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating

The Don Room at El Cortez was absolutely beautiful the day of our wedding. We had Joe as our day of coordinator and he was amazing! He went out of his way to help us and we really appreciated everything he did for us. We also worked with Jessica who was a gem. Overall, we couldn't have picked a better place to have our wedding ceremony and reception; everything came out just the way we planned.

Morgan Sent on 12/20/2009

4.4 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating

Kathi at the El Cortez was wonderful. They do have a lot of restrictions because it is an apartment building, however she was able to walk us through everything and bend the rules when necessary. Though the fee is a bit high for just the venue, it was well worth it. There is only one event space, so you never have to worry about seeing another bride. The Don Room is just absolutely gorgeous and the staff (including their fabulous door man Nick in vintage costume) are all wonderful. Kathi is also dedicated to helping her brides find quality vendors and will point you in the right direction for the type of wedding you want. Plus the beautiful dance floor can't be beat!

Frances Sent on 11/07/2008

4.3 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating
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2.5 out of 5 rating

They have an HOA so they can not be very flexible with some issues. You can not throw anything, have sparklers or play music too loud but the venue is beautiful!

Megan Sent on 03/26/2014

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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2.5 out of 5 rating

Choose the don room as my wedding venue. Most amazing room, we had both the ceremony and reception in the room ( requiring a flip to happen) it's was eververy thing I dreamed of and more. The room is beautiful, not much is needed for wall/room decor. The gold Spanish style ceilings and beautiful wood floor make for a classic wedding. Jessica - is quick at responding and knows her stuff! She was extremely helpful through out the whole process.

A couple cons: you are not allowed to take picture in the main hallway. Do have to pay a connivence fee (1000) for vendors that are not on the preferred list. And are not able to use real flowers or fake on the hard wood floor ( it's considered a historic landmark)

Still wouldn't have changed a thing about my wedding though!

Stephanie Sent on 07/18/2011

4.2 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating

The El Cortez is gorgeous wedding venue! We just got married there this spring and we couldn't have asked for a better venue. Everyone was so helpful, returned calls and emails within a day, and provided great customer service. The El Cortez provides packages for your wedding that makes for super easy planning. They do have a "preferred" vendor list that you are required to use but everyone on the list was hand-picked for great service by the El Cortez. Our pictures turned out amazing in the Don Room and I would recommend this historic and elegant wedding venue to anyone!

User901133 Sent on 08/16/2012

4.1 out of 5 rating

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1.5 out of 5 rating

El Cortez is the perfect classic venue. We booked it for the reception space, but the terrace is the ideal cocktail space. It wasn't our ideal ceremony space, but it turned out beautiful! The staff is unbelievable-by far one of our favorites to work with.

Renata Sent on 10/04/2011

4.1 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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2 out of 5 rating

The El Cortez Venue is absolutely beautiful. My guest were blown away by the Don Room and attached terrace. Jessica (the main sale rep) was a pleasure to work with and provided excellent customer services throughout the wedding process. It was honestly a beautiful beautiful place and I'm so happy i chose it.

The only down fall to the venue is the extremely strict. Small example, before the wedding my bridal party and I arrived to the venue to take pictures and while we were getting organized we were scolded by some weekend representative of the El Cortez (not Jessica) that we were not allow to stand in the hallway (we hadn't been there but 3 seconds) and in full hair, makeup, and dress she made us all stand outside the front door in the blazing sun. We were melting. Long story short, the venue is not cheap and i would have expected them to treat us better.

Side note: They have a partnership with Ranch catering which i had both good and bad experiences with, read review. And one thing i find important to mention is, after hearing that the staff of Ranch catering was known for steeling, my bridesmaids and I made a conscious effort to not leave our purse in the "bridal room" (it's actually just a utility room down a side hallway). However, we had to for 90 minutes (ceremony and cocktail hour) before the reception room was ready. Within that time their purses were raided and all cash was stolen. We notified the El Cortez on-site representative but no actions were taken since the room was down an "accessible hallway" (even though the door was shut) and they suggested a guest (not likely since they were either in the ceremony or on the terrace plus they didnt even know that was a "bridal" room) or a resident might have taken the money (i was surprised they accused a resident). Whatever happened, it happened to me and another bride i personally know who got married there so somethings going on. your call.

Dustin Sent on 11/19/2011

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating

Beautify location, the don room is drop dead gorgeous. The over all pricing is not that bad either. The only small complaints we have with the El Cortez is that, because it is condo complex, the rules are pretty strict, and there are a lot of rules. For example no one can be in the front entrance hall way what so ever at any time. We could not even take a picture there. Also they give you a "package deal" Yet you still have to meet with and pay each vendor separately and sign individual contracts with each one. You would think that a package deal means one check. Its more of a here are the vendors you have to use. But they do cut you a pretty good deal. Overall our wedding was amazing, and we would have done it all over again.

Courtney Sent on 11/04/2007

3.2 out of 5 rating

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3.5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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2.5 out of 5 rating

though we had a few glitches, and they were not exactly accomodating, those things were relatively minor, and the venue is beautiful! i recommend it.

Gina Sent on 05/05/2017

1.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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2 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating

I got married here in March and would not recommend it. There are plenty of beautiful locations in San Diego that will save you the hassle and headache. Kathi's sugary-sweet personality that she brings to the venue visit and sales pitch is phony. She didn't even bother to show up to help at our wedding as had been promised and agreed on. The staff is very difficult to work with. The venue fee doesn't come with anything included, they therefore nickel and dime you for everything else. The day-of the wedding, they were so short staffed that our groomsmen had to set up all the tables for the reception and there was nobody to wipe down the dance floor. It was so oiled up and slippery that we had ten people fall on the dance floor!

It's in a condo building, so condo residents and dogs can wander through at any time. There are all kinds of restrictions, no candles, no tossing flower petals for the flower girls, no sparklers, it seemed like every time we turned around there was a new hoop to jump through.

El Cortez Don Room Reviews

Reviews

El Cortez Don Room