Flora Reviews
Reviews
4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8 out of 5 rating
19 Reviews
97% recommend it
Awards
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![Katherine]()
Katherine Sent on 04/30/2023Love blooms at Flora!
My partner and I recently had our wedding at Flora. Flora is a hidden gem, tucked away in the middle of downtown historic San Diego. Flora’s owner, Katherine, did an amazing job of marrying historic with modern and urban. The entrance has a moody, speakeasy feel that leads to a bright, ethereal urban greenhouse, adorned with preserved moss, ferns, and mushroom accents and houses 150 live plants, including an indoor tree. The white wainscot walls and skylight are a perfect combination to reflect lightning comparable to the overcast skies that photographers love. The venue also has cute little details, such as a bookcase that pays homage to the building’s original 1922 owners and a fireplace. Flora also has an aviary-inspired bridal suite with gorgeous blue and white wallpaper that harmoniously brings out the brass bird cages and furniture, natural wood, and greens from the plants. The bathroom gets all the love. The bathroom is every Instagram influencer’s dream and where many of my guests took bathroom mirror selfies. There are so many eye-catching details in this space, you really do not have to do too much decorating. What sold me was the tech. Flora’s speaker system features zoning so that the music can be bumping on the dance floor while being low enough for guests sitting at tables to have conversations. Flora also has their own lighting and the hues can be customized to complement an array of wedding colors and themes. Flora also has a built-in projector for video montages as well as displaying names of the bride and groom or company logos. What is convenient about Flora is that they provide chairs, tables, bar coordination, security, as well as their own wedding coordinator.
The planning process was so easy with Flora’s team. We met with Katherine, the owner, about a year before our wedding date. Jameson and Jill, the wedding coordinator took over 90 days out. We also finalized our bar choices with Erin, the bar manager, 90 days out and she was so great with the back and forth until me and my partner were able finally make a decision based on projected guest count and budget. Jill was the absolute sweetest person to work with. My partner and I are in school and were in the middle of exams during the latter part of wedding planning and Jill took over the correspondence and relieved a lot of the stress that can come from wedding planning, especially since I was kind of a DIY bride in some aspects. I even had some of the oddest requests fulfilled, like asking for plant cuttings from some of the plants at Flora and she coordinated with Jeff, the horticulturalist that takes care of the plants, and now we have a piece of Flora to remind us of our wedding day. Jill and Amanda did such a phenomenal job. There are so many things that happened during the wedding that we were unaware of until after the wedding once we got to spend some time with some of our guests, which goes to show the level of professionalism and hospitality that Flora’s team displays. For example, my dad’s girlfriend had an adverse reaction to something she ate because she has an immune disorder and Amanda took care of her and Jill checked in on her as well. Flora’s team truly goes above and beyond to take care of their couples and their guests. I actually loathed wedding planning so much, but Flora’s team made our big day so special, I’d do it over again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend Flora for any event! -
![Taryn]()
Taryn Z. Sent on 01/30/2023Dream Venue!
From the moment I saw the photos of Flora online, I knew it was going to be our wedding venue! I reached out to schedule a tour and spoke with Katherine and from the moment I set foot inside the venue it was a sealed deal! Not only is Flora a BEAUTIFUL venue, their team is just as fitting. Working with Flora was an absolute pleasure! I couldn’t have asked for a more friendly, prompt, professional, caring group of people to facilitate my dream wedding!! Katherine, Jameson, Erin, and Jillian all deserve recognition for making the day perfect!! Walking into Flora, guests really have no idea what to expect until they walk through the doors and see the beautiful greenery and unique picturesque venue. We received so many compliments on the venue and the staff. My wedding was everything I ever wanted and more because of the team at Flora! This venue is a show stopper; it has such an amazing ambiance and vibe. My wedding was perfect! Thanks, Flora Team! -
![Katie]()
Katie S. Sent on 09/28/2022Fantastic!
Throughout the whole process the whole team at Flora was amazing to work with. Our coordinator, Jill, really went above and beyond for us. She always got back to us immediately and made our dream truly come alive. Jill listened to us about how we wanted our day to go and was able to figure out how to get the most out of our time and suggest ways to make the day go smoother. If anything went wrong that day, we certainly didn't hear about it! I cannot say enough good things about Jill. The venue itself is gorgeous, but the help we had in planning our day is what truly set Flora apart from other venues we had looked at. -
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![Sarah]()
Sarah M. Sent on 10/13/2022Flora Review for 9.17 Wedding
My husband and I got married at Flora on 9.17.22. The venue is incredible, like a secret garden in the middle of the city. We were immediately taken by it at our first visit, and immediately booked a wedding date there.
We opted for the full coordination service; and would definitely recommend it for anyone considering it! I don’t know what it’s like to plan a wedding without one, but my wedding dress alterer said I was the calmest bride she has ever seen. Juliette was our coordinator and she was wonderful. Every vendor we hired through Flora was exceptional. The day itself went by without a hitch; thanks to the professionalism of the Flora team.
We are so happy we got married at Flora. It’s a unique venue and is staffed by wonderful, professional people. We love Flora!
All photos featured here are by Priscilla Sanchez, our amazing photographer. Her Instagram is @photographybypriscilla -
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Ashley B. Sent on 09/21/2022
Best experience
Not only is this event space BEAUTIFUL, but the people who work there is another reason to choose Flora. Juliette was our main coordinator and she was phenomenal to work with! Even though we planned our San Diego wedding from Chicago, my husband and I felt at ease knowing we had Juliette and the rest of Flora’s professional team to take care of us and our special day. Juliette was responsive and made herself available for video calls. She brought to our attention details that we didn’t even consider which was so helpful especially for not having planned a wedding before! Juliette made sure to put our wants and needs first to helped bring our vision to life. Even our other wedding vendors who have worked with Flora in the past have also said that they are one of the best venues to work with. -
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![Melissa]()
Melissa D. Sent on 09/21/2022The most beautiful venue in San Diego
There is literally not enough space here for me to articulate how thrilled we are that we chose Flora to be our venue for our wedding. As soon a I walked into the space, I was completely sold -- It's absolutely stunning and truly feels like a secret garden in the heart of downtown San Diego! The owner, Katherine, gave us a full tour and I was blown away with all that it included... beautiful tables, chairs, customized lighting, and aaaallll the lush greenery. We opted to get a full service coordinator to help us plan everything from start to finish and it was literally the best decision I could have ever made -- especially since most of the planning happened while we were living overseas! I would highly recommend this service to anyone and everyone. I had two coordinators during our planning, first Elena and then Juliette. Elena took note of all my preferences and ideas and created a storyboard presentation for me that gave me options to select specially curated vendors (hair/makeup, florals, rentals etc.) that would fit well for our day, and within our budget, which took a bunch of the big ticket items off my plate fairly early in the process. Planning such a momentous day is inherently stressful, so having someone there to help quiet the nerves by genuinely reassuring and supporting you through the finest details makes all the difference in the world and that's exactly what I got from working with Juliette. When she came into the picture, the vendors had already been booked but she was up to speed and made sure everything turned out exactly how I had envisioned it. She even facilitated a total change in our dining experience with our caterer from buffet to plated the month before the wedding seamlessly and on the big day she handled every single moment with care. Our place settings, which she created entirely on her own at my request, came out BEAUTIFULLY, and she made sure my husband and I were taken care of and having the time of our lives. She and every single staff member we were in contact with are the best I've ever encountered and we will forever be grateful for their help in making magic for us -- our guests are still reaching out to tell us how much of a dreamy experience it was to be a part of our celebration. Thank you Flora! -
![Michele]()
Michele A. Sent on 08/16/2022It's a one-of-a-kind and memorable venue your guests won't forget!
I highly recommend booking your wedding at Flora! I coordinated a wedding at Flora on Sunday, August 14, 2022. Amanda, Cat, and Jill were responsive, professional, and amazing women to work with. The venue itself is stunning. From color lighting, custom moveable walls, a gorgeous bridal suite, built-in bookcases for your dessert station, and live plants and trees-this venue was well thought out when designed. It's a one-of-a-kind and memorable venue your guests won't forget! -
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![Leann]()
Leann C. Sent on 09/04/2022Thank you for the best night of our lives!
I cannot thank the Flora team enough! They truly made our wedding night an experience we will never forget! Nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, you would never know this absolutely stunning, lush green venue was even there. It's like you transported and totally forget your in San Diego!
During my tour, I fell in love instantly just from walking into the hallway of the venue. Once that great big door opened to see the rest, I just knew that was my dream venue. We first met with Katherine, who was an absolute joy to meet with. She was so transparent right from the start and shared vendors that the team has worked with previously (which is more help than you know if you're from out of town).
During the planning process, I was introduced to our coordinator, Juliette. Let me tell you, this lady is a blessing and such a pleasure to work with. With my many questions over the months, she had every little detail down. From the placement of the decor to the timeline, we had it all down together and reached out to our vendors even before the month of our wedding.
Now to the big weekend. During the rehearsal, Juliette was so excited to put names to faces that I had mentioned for almost a year to her. The rehearsal was executed so smoothly that my husband and I left with absolutely no stress. We knew Juliette saw our vision and would make our day just how we dreamed it would be!
Here it is, wedding day. Let me tell you, this team... Phenomenal. From the first look at the venue to the grand exit, Juliette kept us on the timeline the entire time, which as a wedding coordinator myself, is VERY hard to do. Juliette even took some videos throughout the night and made a reel for Instagram, which my husband and I still gush over! My guests could not stop talking about how amazing the venue and staff were and I would recommend them to everyone!
Thank you, Flora team, for everything! You truly made our dreams come true and made us want to relive our wedding night over and over again. Who knows, maybe well do a vow renewal in a couple years? haha :) -
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Manny D. Sent on 03/08/2022
Beautiful Venue & Awesome Staff!!!
Wow! Who would of thought this beautiful venue was right in the heart of Downtown San Diego. The minute I walk inside the Flora I was just amazed how beautiful and unique this venue is. The lushes greenery of live plants, high ceiling, unique architecture of the room is one of a kind and the built in sound system that allows you to plug into using your own music or the house music is channeled throughout the entire room include the bathrooms. So convenient and high tech. Oh and the lighting that illuminates the walls can changed colors depending on your style or mood of your event. They even have a personalized monogram that can be projected on the wall. What!!!
The staff there are Awesome A++. So knowledgeable with events, hands on, friendly and always going beyond to help make your event a success and to ensure your guests are comfortable so they can have a great time.
I would highly recommend this venue for your wedding or next special event.
Manny -
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![Adan]()
Adan R. Sent on 01/26/2023Rajiv is fantastic to work with
Rajiv is fantastic to work with professional, punctual, hip, and cool. And I LOVED working
with him and his talented team -
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![Brenna]()
Brenna M. Sent on 10/04/2023An absolutely beautiful venue
Nestled in the middle of chaotic downtown San Diego is this hidden gem. Flora is Female owned. The venue has so much to offer and couples will not have to buy too much for their big day. There are hundreds of plants throughout the venue, huge farm tables, a cozy fire place, large book shelf and many other details that gives this venue such life. Their sound system and light system is also top notch. We had the pleasure of working with Amanda and Jameson. They listened to all of our requests and tried to make them come to life. On the day of, they constantly checked on us and took care of us. This venue is very popular and gets very busy so if you’re considering it, I would book it promptly. It also may take awhile for email responses but if you reach out to the whole team, someone will get back to you. -
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![Taysia]()
Taysia M. Sent on 03/19/2023Post-wedding bride detailed honest review
Contract-wise: Flora has a very, very, very strict contract with absolutely no wiggle room. You have to put down 50% of the cost of venue (about $5000) to hold the space, another $1,000 security deposit, and 50% of the cost of the bar (~$2500) at the very beginning. Many things we thought wouldn't be a problem ended up being a huge nuisance. Additionally, it's best to use their recommended ‘in-house’ vendors because there are less requirements. Otherwise they'll make your vendors fill out a tedious ‘vendor approval packet’ and require insurance (even for drop offs). All of our outside vendors did not have a good experience communicating with Flora prior to the wedding.
Staff: (8/10) Generally friendly people but they were unprofessional at times, as nobody was on the same page when it came to things. Many people 'misspoke’ on items that the owner herself said would be okay. One example (out of many) was when I told my team that the video montage must be sent to the DJ since he’s wired up to the sound system, as per my conversation with Katherine, the owner. The Flora coordinator corrected me and said that’s not the case and we would need to send it to Flora. But on the actual wedding day, I was told by Flora staff that it needed to be sent to the DJ.
Venue: The venue itself is quite unique. You would never expect something like this in the middle of downtown San Diego. We did the ceremony and reception, but I recommend reception only because of how cramped it was. My bridal party could barely fit and the tree was blocking a couple of the girls. Ceremony + reception, will run you about 10k off the bat (for 6 hours only). And they mean 6 hours… they literally will have your guests waiting outside 30 minutes before arrival time. There's no reason for this as vendors stop setting up by 2:30pm.
Bar: (6/10) Haha, actually theeeee worst, most painful part of the entire wedding process was figuring out this bar situation. If you're doing an open bar OR a dry wedding, you'll be fine. Cash bar will be your biggest nightmare. First, you will be required to pay up front $27~ per guest and you get refunded if your guest make that amount of money back. For a cash bar, they required us (again no wiggle room) to hire their 4 bar staff at which we paid a rate of $375 pp plus 20% industry fee and sales tax. That’s about $2,000~ to simply STAFF the CASH bar. If you're trying to save money on the bar this is not the place for you. The director of beverages was also very unpleasant throughout the entire process. Partly to blame by miscommunication with things we could/couldn’t have… and partly was just the attitude. I will say the owner Katherine helped us reconcile these issues and offered one or two accommodations to make up for it. (which we didn’t end up taking because it wasn’t even worth talking to the bar director ever again lol)
Post-wedding: A generic email was sent out asking me to fill out a review. Other than that none of the staff bothered to contact us post-wedding. Not even about our security refunds. Or taking accountability/explaining things that went wrong with my caterer (in which they were CC’d on those emails). It felt like it was because they were done draining us of our money.... Luckily, we ended up getting all our deposits back in full a month later after they sent it to an outdated address.
Overall, I would rate my experience here a (6.5/10). I just wish the staff/business was more flexible and cared more about easing the bride and groom’s then just the rules. While I understand it’s to protect the company - it comes off as cold and not a fun time. Not how I wanted to remember the venue of one of the biggest milestones of my life but oh well. They treated us like just a money bag from beginning until the end. Do I think it’s worth $10k+ after all the headaches from their team? Sorry but probably not.
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