Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego Reviews

As a wedding and event planner who has worked at many beautiful venues, the Japanese Friendship Garden is truly one of my favorites. It feels like stepping into your very own Garden of Eden—lush, serene, and unbelievably romantic. From tranquil ponds to stunning natural backdrops, every corner is picturesque. Marina and her team are incredibly kind, supportive, and attentive, making the planning experience smooth and enjoyable for both couples and vendors. If you’re dreaming of a breathtaking setting paired with exceptional hospitality, this venue is pure magic.

As a photo + video team, we’ve had the pleasure of working weddings at the Japanese Friendship Garden, and most recently were part of their Dream of Niwa Bridal Show. We can confidently say: this venue is a gem—not only for couples, but for vendors as well.

Their events coordinator, Marina, is truly exceptional. She planned an incredible bridal show that felt like a curated experience, not just an event. With so many moving parts and vendors involved, her communication was always clear, timely, and thoughtful. She was meticulous with every detail—down to the placement of each vendor, the roses for already-booked couples, and creating different vibes in each area of the garden. Even with a full workload, she somehow found time to make everyone feel valued, welcomed, and important. And always with a smile.

The show was a huge success and we walked away with tons of leads, happy couples, and great connections. As for the venue itself—it’s stunning. Peaceful pathways, koi ponds, lush greenery… it’s one of the most photogenic spaces in San Diego. Pair that natural beauty with outstanding service, and you’ve got a winning wedding location for couples and vendors alike.

We’re always excited to return and highly recommend the Japanese Friendship Garden for anyone looking for a beautiful, unique, and well-run wedding venue.

I'm one of the preferred vendors of the Japanese Friendship Garden and without a doubt Marina has proven to be to exude confidence in her ability to manage weddings and the space. From the details of the history of the venue and all of its architecture, she cares and it shows. She managed and ran yesterday the entire Dream Of Niwa wedding expo, which amounted to over 200 people. Something that would make a lot of people crack, she handled with grace and made sure everything was done. Did I mention the ceremony spaces you can choose from? Holy moly. What's amazing about the JFGM is that the venue ambiance is the nature, the koi fish deck, the beautiful river that flows throughout the garden. Spectacular staff by the way who literally helped me unload my truck the last event we did with them, they are the dream wedding space and team.

Marina was incredibly responsive and helpful from the get-go. She's got a ton of experience making magic happen at the garden, and all of her recommendations were spot-on—most helpful were probably her pointers on the timeline from start to finish, which we deviated from only very minimally. The only thing I wish I would've known that she didn't cover in advance was that the garden is located in a valley, so it gets darker a little faster there than the surrounding areas of Balboa Park. We had an October wedding ceremony that ended at 6pm, and we barely had 45 minutes for photos before it was just too dark to shoot outside. However, there is some lighting around the garden after sunset.

The Japanese Friendship Garden was so beautiful this time of the year. Our wedding was very intimate and our guests really enjoyed being able to see and explore after our ceremony!

As a wedding planner, I’ve had the privilege of working at many beautiful venues—but the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego truly stands out as one of the most exceptional. The lush, serene landscapes, and the peaceful ambiance provide a stunning and unique backdrop for weddings of all sizes. Every corner of the venue feels like a hidden gem, offering endless photo opportunities.

What makes this venue even more remarkable is the incredible team behind it, especially Marina, the Private Events Coordinator. Marina is an absolute joy to work with—professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in making each event flawless. Her attention to detail and collaborative spirit made the planning process seamless from start to finish. She goes above and beyond to ensure both clients and vendors feel supported and welcomed.

If you're looking for a venue that combines natural beauty with top-tier service, I wholeheartedly recommend the Japanese Friendship Garden. It’s a dream location, and with Marina, you're in excellent hands.

Xx,
Renalyn | Founder of Cloudnine Events

My wife and I met in Japan, so getting married in the Japanese Friendship Garden during cherry blossom season was the closest we could come to bringing our loved ones to the place we met in Iwakuni. A huge part of what made our wedding experience exceptional was Marina Miller, the Venue Manager.

Marina’s professionalism, attention to detail, and warmth were evident from start to finish. She went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of our celebration was flawless, handling everything from parking to the smallest details you wouldn’t even think of. A true professional in every sense of the word.

10 out of 10—highly recommend the JFG if you want a wedding in a stunning, picturesque location. We booked our wedding a year in advance to secure a date right after the cherry blossom festival (March 20th), and even then, the blossoms were only about 70% bloomed. Don’t hesitate to book early, or you might miss out on the wedding of your dreams!

My partner and I just had our dream proposal at the Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego! From the initial inquiry a few months before to the day itself, Marina, the private events coordinator, made the whole process simple and was exceptionally professional throughout.

I first reached out to Marina in January expressing interest in surprising my partner with a proposal at the JFG during cherry blossom season in March. She got back to me quickly and explained the whole process in clear and simple terms. I opted to pay for a private proposal session so we could enjoy the garden in a more quiet atmosphere accompanied by our photographer. This option was reasonably priced, and I appreciated Marina’s honesty in letting me know right away that while we would have access to the garden prior to opening for the public, there may still be programs taking place or staff present at the garden.

Initially, the date I wanted for the proposal was unavailable due to another photoshoot taking place that day. However, when I explained that we would only be in town for a few days, she offered to coordinate with the other photoshoot to ensure we could schedule our proposal for that day. I deeply appreciated the sensitivity she exhibited regarding our situation. Also, because I was hoping to keep the proposal a surprise, Marina helped me to come up with a cover story for why we would be visiting the garden in a private setting and entering through the staff entrance. As someone who isn't the best at maintaining discretion during these big events, that was a huge help. To top it all off, because of the other photoshoot taking place at the garden that day, I wasn’t able to guarantee my ideal proposal location which was the earth bridge in the lower garden. However, when the other photoshoot rescheduled mere days before the proposal, Marina made sure to reach out to me right away so I could adjust my plans and use the earth bridge.

The proposal itself went off without a hitch and the JFG truly was a dream venue. With the cherry blossoms in bloom, I can’t imagine there is a more peaceful and beautiful location in all of San Diego. We were running a bit behind schedule, but Marina was able to let us in immediately after we arrived. She kept up the cover story to keep the proposal a surprise from my partner, and helped our photographer find the ideal spot to capture the moment I popped the question.

On the whole, this was a wonderful experience and the memories we made that day at the garden will last a lifetime!

If you're dreaming of a wedding in a stunning, tranquil setting, look no further than the Japanese Friendship Garden. Nestled in a picturesque location, this serene oasis offers an enchanting backdrop that will make your special day feel like a dream come true. The garden's exquisite landscaping, with its carefully curated flora, koi ponds, and peaceful pathways, creates a magical atmosphere that sets the stage for unforgettable memories.

A huge part of what made our wedding experience exceptional was Marina Miller, the Venue Manager. From the moment we stepped onto the property, Marina's professionalism, attention to detail, and warmth were evident. She went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of our celebration was flawless, offering thoughtful suggestions and helping us coordinate seamlessly with vendors. Her calming presence and personalized care made us feel supported and at ease throughout the planning process and on the big day. It was clear that Marina genuinely cared about making our wedding as perfect as possible.

With its breathtaking beauty and the incredible support of Marina Miller, the Japanese Friendship Garden is truly a dream venue for any couple seeking a serene, beautiful, and memorable wedding experience. Highly recommend!

Working with Marina and Japanese Friendship Garden for the Dream of Niwa Wedding Expo was exactly what one looks for when teaming with a venue! Marina is nothing short of a joy to work with, always professional and engaging, responding promptly. The venue itself is a beauty, easily enhanced with professional lighting, or just on its own. Offering a calm, tranquil ambience, along with gorgeous views, I would not hesitate to refer Marina and Japanese Friendship Garden to any couples looking for a unique and special venue for their nuptials!

The Inamori Pavilion & Lower Gardens at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is an incredibly beautiful & special place to have a wedding. With guests visiting San Diego from the East Coast, we wanted our wedding to be somewhere special to San Diego. Balboa Park is undeniably a San Diego gem, and the JFG is by far our favorite offering. The Earth Bridge provides a breathtaking setting for an intimate outdoor peaceful garden ceremony, and the Inamori Pavilion provides the perfect indoor / outdoor elements for a reception with a unique & stunning esthetic along side the koi pond. The Lower Gardens were open exclusively to our wedding guests to explore and admire for the entirety of our event, which the venue allows until midnight. Christina, Anna and the private events team at the JFG were so kind, patient, professional and easy to work with hrough multiple postponements from the start of planning our wedding in early 2019 to finally celebrating July 3, 2022. Thank you for being a part of our special once in a lifetime day!

When my husband and I found out that the garden was available for wedding events, we knew we wanted to book our reception here. Not only is the garden incredibly beautiful, this place holds significant to the both of us. We met in high school in our Japanese culture club and had our first field trip as well as performed events here.

Anna, the private events coordinator kept an open communication with us mostly through emails. We continued to update her on our chosen vendors and any questions we had she answered in detail. She also helped us schedule a day and time in the garden before opening hours for our engagement photo session. She truly went above and beyond to help our event run smoothly along with the rest of the JFG staff. Our vendors were able to set up earlier than we originally booked and members of our wedding party could drop off the decorations before our ceremony which took place off site.

We had our reception at the Lower Garden in the Inamori Pavilion and added the shuttle service for our guests. They enjoyed exploring and taking photos in the garden and stated it was the perfect place for us to celebrate our marriage. Thank you for making our dream a reality!

I'll be very honest, I booked my wedding at a very awkward time. I inquired before the pandemic with one coordinator, only to put planning on hold about a month later. But by the time they opened back up, the initial coordinator had retired and they had an intermittent coordinator who I talked with and made most of the arrangements with until they hired an official coordinator, Anna. But the whole time the transitions didn't affect my service. A beautiful venue, too.

I will say this, when you plan your event, remember it's a museum first and a venue second, so there a lot of things they don't have that a traditional reception hall would have such as a clean up crew. They do provide brooms and such but keep in mind you should prepare a group of trusted guests or even hire a crew to clean everything up after your event. It's also imperative that you give your guests precise directions. Some of my guests did get lost, even after I gave them the address the venue suggested, because they relied on Google maps to get them there, only to end up at the very front entrance.

Booked and then waited a year plus due to pandemic. Everyone at the JFG was professional and helpful throughout. So beautiful a setting, and convenient to have the ceremony and reception in one location.

Exactly one year ago, on Leap Day of 2020, my husband and I were married at the Japanese Friendship Garden. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect venue. San Diego is a wonderful location for a wedding because of the weather and easy access, but we were doubly lucky with so many of the cherry blossom trees in bloom for our ceremony. Under a clear sky at a perfect temperature, even in February, we couldn’t have been happier with the outcome.

More importantly, the staff at JFG, particularly Christina, were amazingly helpful in making sure we had everything buttoned up for our big day. Scheduling walkthroughs here was such a pleasure. Christina was a true partner to us throughout the process, giving us advice and connecting us with reliable vendors for what can so often be an overwhelming process.

One particular point worth noting if you are on the fence: we wondered if the flight path coming in would be a problem for an outdoor ceremony. From the parking lot above, the sound from the planes is noticeable, but once you’re in the garden the valley acts as a shield from the sound. With all the other positives in play, this ended up not being a problem even in the least.

Most of our vendors have told us that we were among the last weddings they worked for 2020. Looking to the future, we’re hopeful that a location as wonderful as this can once again see its share of happy couples tying the knot. We feel truly blessed with our memories of our big day here and want to thank the JFG and all of its staff for helping us realize an evening we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is a stunning venue. They have gorgeous flowers and trees, coy ponds, waterfalls, and bridges. There is an incredible amount of natural beauty. The on-site event coordinator, Christina, was professional and helpful throughout the entire process. She also had lots of great suggestions for the wedding. The rest of the team was professional and easy to work with as well. Everything went really smoothly before, during, and after the weddin. I highly recommend JFG!

Our first time actually visiting the lower garden was when we scheduled an appointment with Christina. Christina was so friendly, accommodating with our schedule & was very patient while my husband and I explored every part of the venue. She answered all of our questions and helped us envision the kind of ceremony/reception we wanted to have. Our venue search was finally over.

THE LOWER GARDEN IS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM -- it is the most beautiful venue I've ever seen and I couldn't be happier booking them. We had our ceremony at the earth bridge & our reception at the Inamori Pavillion. It was so great to have our ceremony right next to the reception. Also that our guests were able to enjoy a stroll around the garden during cocktail hour while we took our bridal party photos. Will absolutely try to find another occasion to book them again in the future :)

Stunning venue with an amazing staff! We had our ceremony in the Lower garden and our reception in the Inamori Pavilion The event coordinator Christina was so helpful and had suggestions for all my questions! My day went smoothly because of her help! I couldn't ask for more.

Book it! This is an unbelievable place to get married, filled with natural beauty and serenity. Perfect for outdoor events! We just had our 5 year anniversary dinner there, and working with Christine reminded me how easy they are and helpful. I highly recommend it for any outdoor event you are planning, it is a beautiful place.

The ceremony and reception were at the koi pond in Balboa park and it was beautiful. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Darryll & Sacha – September 2015
We celebrated our wedding at the Japanese Friendship Garden in sunny San Diego, September of this year. We were lucky enough to have our ceremony and reception at the beautiful lower garden. The idyllic setting of the meticulously landscaped grounds, and centuries-old Japanese garden design was the perfect location for our special day. We couldn’t have picked a better venue. Our guests were able to enjoy the celebration, as well as walk the scenic landscape of the garden. Everyone in attendance took a little bit of the serene garden tranquility with them at the end of the night.
We had the best day of our lives, and for that we thank all the management and staff of JFG for extending such a warm welcome, and making us feel so relaxed in the knowledge that nothing would be less than perfect on their watch. My husband and I are very thankful for the amazing experience!

My husband and I were set on having our wedding reception at the Japanese Friendship Garden and we are so happy we did! I can't think of anyone sweeter to work with than Lovelynn and the gardens were beautiful! This place is pretty private and no one can come in during a private event. There is almost no way for onlookers to peer into the gardens since a fence surrounds the entire property.

The plants and trees are so gorgeous and the buildings and small Japanese details are a beautiful backdrop for photos! The ceremony gate was the perfect spot to have our cake table and the koi pond was such an inviting place for our guests to enjoy appetizers and drinks before we arrived. We set the Dj up in front of the office building and the dance floor right in front of the walkway. Our favor table and gift table fit perfectly in front of the office building on the other side across from the Dj. We also rented the exhibit house for a slideshow, candles, music and a photo album for our guests to enjoy. The benches they have on the property were perfect with the white pillows we purchased to dress them up. We used them for the koi pond area during the cocktail area and for the bridal tables and the bride/groom table. The pergola was the best space for our head table and we hung white sheer curtains from it to create more culture and romance. I couldn't have thought of a more perfect spot to celebrate our marriage!!

This was the only venue that my husband and I wanted for our wedding. They have two areas, the Upper and Lower Garden. We just got married on the Lower Garden. The place was so beautiful even that it wasn't cherry blossom season anymore. They have bridges, waterfalls, trees, flowers... You have to go and check them out!
Some friends told us about other venues for a cheaper price but honestly, we were not interested in another place. Trust me, this place worth the money you invest. You are not going to find the same view and landscaping in a different place. We not even needed to go to a different location for our photo session.
We really enjoyed our day and I am satisfied with the service that JFG provided. They have some restrictions but we understood. They want to preserve the garden and the pavilion.
Just two inconveniences: Since the Lower Garden is a new area, the address is not included on google maps yet, so the guests could have a hard time finding the entrance. So be sure you give them a map with the location. The other thing is that at 4 pm there were still visitors and it was a little bit uncomfortable for us during the photo session. We had sometimes to wait for them to move and also to get some privacy for certain pictures.
But still, I think these two details are not very important comparing with the wonderful evening we had. I highly recommend this place.
Thank you Christine, Jennifer and the rest of the staff :)

This was the only venue that my husband and I looked at for our wedding! I lived in San Diego for almost 25 years and have never came by this hidden gem until it was time to look for the perfect location. We definitely wanted something outdoors since San Diego is a gorgeous city. I love that the venue is in the heart of Balboa Park so our guests were able to enjoy a beautiful backdrop as well. Lovelynn worked with us in the beginning as the Special Event Coordinator and she was amazing with us! Our guests repeatedly complimented how perfect this venue was for our special day!

My venue was beautiful.

My husband and I just got married at JFG and had a wonderful experience. We loved working with Marina, who is caring, responsive, and communicative. The garden had some unexpected construction happen right before our wedding, and Marina was open and honest about how it would affect our reception, and gave us options to ensure that it would still match our vision; we didn't even notice a difference!
We scheduled a couple years in advance and were lucky enough to get married at the height of the cherry blossom bloom, which was truly beautiful. Highly recommend the garden for couples who love nature!

We had a beautiful wedding at the Japanese Friendship Garden. The minimony was fairly priced for the majestic scenery. Highly recommend the location near the Kannon Bostatsu statue. The waterfall, and the privacy from bystanders was ideal! A couple factors to note, with our small party there were still issues locating the appropriate entry to the lower garden regardless of how much info/ pictures we provided by the event coordinator. Perhaps there can be improvement on how to better assist wedding guests since there are three gates to choose from, and people tend to lack common sense here and there. Second note, the grooms suite may not be worth it (depending on where you elope on the property) since the rate per hour is priced exponentially higher than the bridal suite/ not as private. We had a little blip during the timeframe we had with the grooms suite since the event coordinator was unfortunately unavailable, but Marina was able to address and rectify the matter at a later date. Overall, we had a pleasant experience and would do it all over again if given the opportunity.

First off, our wedding was March 15 and probably one of the last events in San Diego before the shelter in place. I thought things were wild the week before due to us planning around rainy weather. Little did I know things would get crazier with COVID-19. With that being said, all of our vendors handled our event with so much grace and professionalism. We could not have done this without them!!

The JFG is magical! I’m surprised more events aren’t held here. Our wedding date luckily aligned with the cherry blossoms and as I walked down the aisle it truly felt perfect.

We worked with Christina for almost a year. She is incredibly kind, helpful, patient, knowledgeable, experienced, accommodating, professional, and friendly. She always took the time to answer our emails with detailed responses.

From our first venue tour to rainy day backup plans to various floor plans, Christina shared some great insight. We felt she really went the extra mile to assist with our reception floor plan. And we were so happy with the set up of everything.

Things to note about JFG as a venue:
-It’s completely DIY (this can be great for couples looking to customize!)
-Like many venues they do have a preferred catering list ( I was a little disappointed at first because our guests included many older asian relatives who are accustomed to asian cuisine. We ended up choosing Ranch Events as our caterer and they were amazing!!)
-Pets can be in the ceremony! (We couldn't imagine having our wedding without our fur baby so this played a huge factor in us choosing JFG)

Some suggestions I’d like to add for JFG:
Consider expanding catering list (Christina did note our catering recommendations and we greatly appreciate that)
Consider bringing on a dedicated event coordinator to assist with the day of things. I think this would ease couple’s anxieties over the DIY factor 😊

Overall our wedding day was absolutely wonderful. Every guest was in awe of the scenery and they could not stop taking selfies! We are so happy we got to share such a wonderful place with our closest family and friends. Thank you so much JFG!

We were recently married on October 31st 2018, in the lower garden. Even though we had a small party of just 30 people they were still just as accommodating to us as any large group or event. The garden itself was still as aesthetically pleasing in the fall as it is in the spring. The grounds, water features, plant life and pavilion were all immaculately kept. The lower garden itself maintains a pleasing level of light just before daylight savings kicks in to make for wonderful photo opportunities. Our guests, who ranged in a variety of ages, were all very pleased with the garden. When dealing with the venue staff there was very little, if any difficulty in communication at all. We felt just as welcome on the first day we arrived to plan our wedding as we did on the very day itself.

Cristina was great at follow ups and answering our questions, even to the day of the wedding.

The one thing that may be a problem for some may be the parking. Since we used the lower garden, guests can park in a private parking area, close to the lower gate. We loved having safe and easy access, but you do have to walk a very small distance on an unpaved road. If you have disabled guests like we did, who rely on a mobility scooter, they will require someone to drive them up to the gate, and then drive back to the parking space because cars cannot be parked on the side road.

The bridal room easily accommodates 7 adults, more than that, it will be a tight fit.

The Garden also requires that you use one of their approved food vendors. We used culinary concepts and they were great! For decoration and set ups, you use San Diego linens which were great to work with also. All in all, we are very happy, we went with the garden.

We wanted our wedding ceremony to be held at the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park. We sent them an email through their website and were eventually contacted by Christina. Christina was enthusiastic in showing us the Upper Garden and the rooms we were permitted to use. She also made us aware that other events were scheduled at the Organ Pavilion next door on the day of our wedding. In the next few months, Christina was able to meet all of our requests: wooden chairs instead of plastic, allowing vendors early access and allowing us to leave items the night before our ceremony. On the day of our ceremony it felt like we were cutting our set up time pretty close to our start time, but everything worked out fine. Our ceremony was underway and everything was going swimmingly until we heard a loud drumming in the background. We managed to ignore the sound and it eventually ended. We later learned that Victor, who was part of the JFG staff, asked the source of the drumming to stop. The rest of the ceremony commenced without issue. At its conclusion, we were happy that Victor helped us clean up. Furthermore, Christina allowed us to leave items in the room to pick up the next day. Overall, we were extremely pleased with our decision to hold our wedding ceremony at the JFG and we especially appreciated the assistance of Christina and Victor. All of our guests, and ourselves, thought the venue was perfect.

We had our wedding at the Japanese Friendship Garden in March 2019 and it was incredible. With the help of Christina the venue coordinator we luckily timed the wedding just when the cherry blossoms were blooming and with perfect weather you really can’t beat the beauty of the gardens. We got married in the lower garden with the ceremony on the earth bridge and it easily hosted ~80 people including wedding party and could probably host closer to 100 if needed. The value is exceptional given it includes chairs, tables, a gorgeous ceremony location and a very convenient and beautiful reception area in the pavilion with adjacent koi pond and waterfall. You get your own private parking lot for up to 30 cars so you and your guests don’t have to fight for parking in the typically crowded upper lots of Balboa Park. Would highly recommend to anyone.

This is a lovely venue for a small, simple ceremony. They were flexible with their policies to allow us more time in the venue for setup and cleanup. We didn't need much and they don't offer alot of frills. They offer chairs and serving tables only. We provided our own linens, etc. For the arrangement we made we had to do all of the cleanup and haul away all of our own trash etc. I imagine that if you got a different contract, you could get more service, but we got the "budget" contract. Given that, they were great at brainstorming a last minute indoor option when the weather threatened rain, and they moved the chairs back outside when the skies cleared. They offered us a space for dressing and getting ready, and the area was freshly swept and trimmed just prior to our ceremony. It was a stunning location for a very small wedding and I'm glad ours was there.

Absolutely stunning place to get married! We had 130 with seated dinner and a dancing area, and it was perfect. The ceremony space, while beautiful, might have been a little tight for the ceremony in retrospect, but it was a 20 minute ceremony and I don't think anyone minded!

Pros - outdoors! You can do every aspect of the wedding outside if you'd like (ceremony, reception and cocktail hour). Public space (a little more budget friendly), naturally beautiful, can have loud music till late! Great space to hold supplies from the night before, as well as a "green-room" type set up for the bridal party to hang out before the ceremony/the band to take their break.

Cons - the JFG does have certain restrictions on candle use, putting things on the grass, hanging things, etc but nothing that was off-putting at all!

Overall, if you want a beautiful outdoor venue in San Diego, that you can customize and party till late...look no further than the JFG! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

The Japanese Friendship Garden is an amazing venue! Our guests had an amazing time exploring the garden. Marina is a fantastic host and the venue was beautiful for our ceremony. However, it is pricey and maybe not the place for a full DIY wedding or at least do less detail with your DIY because of time constraints unless you have a ton of people to help set up. Highly recommend having full coordinator from start to finish! Make sure you visit this venue at varying times in the year and are sure you want your wedding at that time of the year. It rained on us at the end and we had our wedding in May (May Grey). Even with only half the pavillion (only available to rent half) we were able to fit 110 guests with a dance floor using the patio for tables at well. It was gorgeous, a little tight but felt very intimate. It would be nice to get the full pavillion but otherwise, such an amazing space and we wouldn't have changed having our wedding there!

The most beautiful venue in San Diego. They have a few rules & restrictions, but they are easy to live by.

Beautiful location - we are so happy we chose the JFG for our ceremony and reception! The process was not complicated at all, and the on-site coordinators (we had two during their transfer/transition period to the new person) were super helpful and responsive.

There are some things that we wish we had thought of beforehand, but none of them would have been deal-breakers for us: the San Diego Airport landing path is nearby, so there is a possibility that you will hear planes during your ceremony (not super loud, but in the background); open flames are not allowed (e.g. sparklers for grand exit, ceremony unity candle, or reception candles without at least a side covering of a couple of inches above the flame are not permitted); choosing a venue like the JDG that does not offer all rentals, catering, lighting, etc. as a package, can be a bit stressful and less cost-effective than say, a hotel venue that offers it all. Despite these "drawbacks", we got so many compliments on how beautiful the wedding was, and we didn't really devote much of our budget to the decor - the garden really speaks for itself and is a beautiful, natural gem that kids to grandparents can enjoy and appreciate...that's not to say that you can't dress is up to match your own taste and style - it's perfect if you're looking for something carte-blanche!

The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park was such a beautiful place for our wedding! The staff was going through a change so I got passed around a bit near my wedding date (which was nerve wracking!) but everything turned out fine and the interim coordinator did her best. The venue itself is an amazing garden and a great value too!

Great wedding, and everyone who attended said it was the best venue they ever saw for a wedding. However, there was not a lot of flexibility on the wedding start time since the Japanese garden wanted to stay open during it's regular hours, then have the wedding. We still visit the garden about once a month to relax, and we bring the kids too now, when they are not crying. :)

beautiful location, and I liked that it was for a public place, they are very used to having weddings here, so it ended up well, but there's not a lot of flexibility for things, since it's a strictly kept garden.

a place of pure serenity embracing the full spirit ...
This venue was actually a last minute decision. At the time we had narrowed it down between Marriott Coronado or Symphony Towers University Club. When looking at venues we knew at 80% of our guests were going to be from out of town, and we really wanted a venue that displayed the best of San Diego. Then before we actually decided we threw in the idea of JFG. What a beautiful hidden gem with history, energy, and beauty all in one garden. I would give 5 stars, however the Site Coordinator was not as easy to deal with as expected. Overall we had a beautiful garden all to ourselves for our special day. Our ceremony was on the moonlight deck, cocktail hour at the Ceremonial gates, and outdoor reception lit with yellow and white paper lanterns.

The venue is absolutely beautiful; our guests loved the setting and it was the perfect choice for out of town family - we wanted them to have the quintessential Balboa Park experience. Communication with the venue coordinators was sub par. The coordinator we booked with, Anna, often took 2-3 days to respond to email. Her successor, Marina, is still green and doesn’t seem to grasp the importance of transparent and timely communication. She conveniently forgot to inform us that the Garden wouldn’t be refunding the security deposit we made, and we wouldn’t have found out had I not inquired a month and a half after the wedding. Once she finally provided an explanation, we reviewed the contract and understood why. Unfortunately, her predecessor had given us contradictory information when we toured the venue before booking. Not her fault that we were given incorrect information - and I feel foolish for not getting it in writing - but given the amount of money we spent to rent the venue ($10,000+), it’s not too much to expect professionalism. I’m a wedding planner and have prior experience as a venue coordinator, so admittedly, my expectations are quite high.

We do not recommend JFG as a wedding venue.

We were victims of wire fraud theft due to JFG's negligence. JFG's email account was hacked thus we were sent fraudulent payment instructions from their email and JFG refuses to take responsibility for their cybersecurity failure resulting in this theft. JFG did not inform us of the hacked email account/scam/theft until 22 days after we made our final payment, which was 5 days before our wedding. Then 3 days before our wedding, JFG demanded we pay half of our final balance again or they threatened to cancel our wedding.

We hope by sharing our experience, we can prevent others from facing this nightmare situation that we've experienced pre and post-wedding with JFG. Wells Fargo (bank of the fraudulent account) refuses to confirm cancellation of the fraudulent account, so there is potential for more couples to be scammed in the future.

We were informed there were other victims - we're hoping you all the best - please reach out if you want to collaborate on resolving this. Since sharing our experiences online, we have already found one other couple that were victims of this scam. From speaking with each other, it has already brought to light additional negligence from JFG. JFG informed us of the scam on 5/17/22 but waited until 5/22/22 to inform this other couple.

Since the wedding, we spent significant time and effort with our bank, police, Wells Fargo, and government agencies to recover the stolen funds but can't because the thief already withdrew the funds.

Concerns:
Lack of Cybersecurity - Inadequate cybersecurity, insurance coverage (JFG informed us that their insurance denied coverage of this theft), processes for timely discovery of cybersecurity failures.

Lack of Accountability - This was not a phishing scheme that we "fell" for where the email looked similar to the JFG's email. We were emailed directly from JFG's account as a reply to our existing email thread. JFG's verbiage following the incident, "As neither party's at fault for this issue"..."In the meantime, what we can offer is requiring only half of your payment", demonstrates lack of accountability for the crime that JFG allowed to occur resulting in their clients paying thousands of additional dollars that was not agreed upon nor budgeted for when signing the contract. It is outrageous that forcing their clients to pay their final venue costs again is considered an "offer".

Lack of Responsiveness - The hacker checked JFG's email more frequently than JFG in order to intercept emails (ie. payment receipts, follow-up confirming payment). JFG failed to provide final payment instructions in the contract or any other communications resulting in us having to reach out to JFG for payment instructions. If JFG had timely business practices and sent their actual payment instructions before the final payment was due, then we would have paid JFG instead of the hacker. It is inconceivable that JFG allowed 22 days to elapse after wire transfer (which was 5 days before our wedding at that point) to notify us of the stolen payment. JFG's lack of timeliness resulted in the inability to recover the funds. It is near impossible reaching JFG on the phone - it is highly advisable to call before completing wire transfers - but if we had called JFG to confirm wire transfer information, we likely wouldn't have been able to reach anyone in a timely manner.

Lack of Transparency - JFG reports they have contacted their insurance and Police/FBI; yet fail to provide documentation after numerous requests. The lack of 3rd party docs (ie. insurance, police, etc) from JFG to corroborate their claims is suspicious.

Lack of Customer Service - JFG's threat to cancel our event 3-days before our wedding was gut-wrenching and horrifying. JFG further victimized us with emotional distress.

The scammer was the original culprit in this crime, but JFG's negligence was a factor in this theft and poor customer service was unacceptable. The gardens are gorgeous, so it's a shame that the business practices of the organization are poorly managed.