At your Vista Valley Country Club wedding, you’ll get amazing memories that will last you a lifetime. The Vista Valley is a clubhouse with a championship golf course, fitness center, tennis courts, spa, etc. which also hosts weddings. There you’ll enjoy the unique atmosphere of privacy, exclusivity, and rustic charm.
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Location & History of the Vista Valley Country Club
Vista Valley Country Club is located off of Gopher Canyon Road in a beautiful northern San Diego County valley, only 40 miles north of San Diego. The property includes a clubhouse with 39, 000 square feet of inside space, a golf course, fitness center, spa, tennis courts, and dining areas. All these settings are surrounded by mountains, rolling hills and a stunning Southern California landscape. The property is very peaceful and secluded yet at the same time leaves a nice impression of open space and freedom.
The Vista Valley Country Club was established in 1979 as a par-72 golf course. Its architect was a famous Ted Robinson Sr. who designed 160 golf courses in his career in different countries. The current owners, John and Terri Havens, purchased the property in 2007 and constantly improve the golf course, clubhouse, and outdoor areas. They adore France and Provençal style and during their family’s trips to France acquired many French antiques which you will see everywhere on the property.
Couples choose the Vista Valley for its rustic charm, old Europe-inspired architecture, and privacy that is not typical for most country clubs. Only one wedding per day is held here. Though the Vista Valley Country Club wedding sites are close to all club activities, you will not feel disturbed because of the space and thoughtful event sites’ location.
Vista Valley Country Club Wedding Packages & Facilities
The Vista Valley Country Club offers several venues for private events and weddings. There are both indoor and outdoor sites accommodating up to 550 guests and lots of personalized options you can choose from.
How much will your Vista Valley Country Club wedding cost? The package varies from $3200 to $6000 per event without dinner.
What is included in the package:
- 5 hours of venue use,
- a facility coordinator,
- one hour of rehearsal,
- dining tables & chairs, farm, and accent tables, linens, china, flatware, glassware, etc.,
- set-up and clean-up,
- complimentary round of golf for two,
- market light and heaters if needed,
- complimentary parking for guests or valet required.
Menus will be from $125-195 per person plus an additional 20% service charge. All the food and beverages have to go through Vista Valley. They also have a guest adult minimum of 100 persons but smaller events can be discussed with the venue manager.
The curfew is by 11 p.m. The venue is pet-friendly.
Events Sites of the Vista Valley San Diego
The Vista Valley Country Club wedding package includes:
- a ceremony in the Provenance Garden with the capacity of 400 seated guests, and
- several options for a reception, both indoors and outdoors.
The outdoor garden’s Parkside setting is well for smaller events and cocktails. The Driving Range is more expansive and can accommodate up to 250 guests. For indoor celebrations, the venue offers the Clubhouse’s big hall that can host up to 200 persons. You’ll choose one of these spots for your reception which is included in the package.
e view of the golf course and mountains. It can hold up to 60 guests. You can use this space for your cocktail hour as well. In addition, there is a private dining room with a maximum capacity of 26 guests.
Bridal & Groom Preparation Areas of the Vista Valley Country Club
On your best day, you’ll have access to a luxurious bridal suite in the clubhouse. There is a large room for preparation and a salon with two step-out balconies.
The room designed in milky soft colors is very spacious and inviting. Several big windows are letting in plenty of light which is great for taking pictures. The space is really full of natural light. Two big chandeliers hanging from a high ceiling add to the vintage atmosphere. Two step-out balconies allow you to see the guests coming below. Besides, the balcony is one of the numerous great spots for taking some fun wedding party pictures.
You’ll find full-length mirrors for your dressing up as well. In front of one of them, we made the alternative First Look with the father of the bride: you see this touching moment in the photos below.
While the bride is preparing in the bridal suite, the groomsmen will be set up in the library downstairs. It’s a great space in the old vintage style with lots of club-style leather furniture, a wood bar, TV, and walls hung with antique maps.
You can use both areas from 9 a.m. which is very convenient to start early. The venue will also offer you a designated server for the bridal party and 2 bottles of sparkling wine complimentary.
First Look & Couple Shots at the Vista Valley
At the wedding where I photographed, the bride made an alternative First Look with her father. The groom has seen her in the wedding dress only at the ceremony spot. If you are planning a traditional First look, there are lots of great places at the Vista Valley where you can make it.
For example, there are these massive 18th-century French gates and pillars outdoors at the entrance of the ceremony site. It’s the most beloved spot for couple portraits and wedding party shots.
While you’re walking in the garden, you‘ll see many great nice spots for couple photography. Along the garden’s perimeter, there are several stone frames like half-walls or open windows. They were brought from the south of France and are very old, dating from the 1700s. These stone frames are also favorite photo spots of newlyweds
We took our sunset pictures next to the rustic wood fence, on the ceremony spot by the fountain, on the garden bench, and surely while walking across the green golf course. As you see the Vista Valley offers tons of photo ops with a rustic romantic vibe.
In addition, don’t forget about the interior space of the clubhouse. There are 39,000 square feet of it, so you’ll definitely have enough space: we snapped some shots on the staircase, by the mirror, and in the library. High ceilings, hand-carved paneling, and antique furnishings look refined and elegant. The entire indoor area is picture-worthy.
Wedding Party & Family Photos at the Vista Valley Country Club
At the Vista Valley, you’ll find lots of space for photos with family and friends. We took some shots during the preparation to save time with wedding party photos: in the library with groomsmen, in the bridal salon with the bridesmaids.
When the ceremony was finished, we snapped some shots at the well-shaded altar spot. There is a great old wood outdoor bar that served us as a backdrop. Behind the ceremony site, there are also many really beautiful spots like the French gates or a water fountain.
Also, there is an excellent opportunity to take some pictures on the Southern Terrace while guests are having their cocktails. It’s a spacious covered area with a great view of the golf course and mountains.
So, if you are short on time on your big day keep in mind that these parts of your wedding (preparations, after-the-ceremony moments, cocktail hour) are perfect moments for taking group pictures. How to create the best possible wedding timeline you can read here.
Ceremony site of the Vista Valley Country Club
The ceremony site is located off the golf course below the country club. This site is very picturesque and the grass is well-cared. It probably is one of the most beautiful sites I have seen at venues.
Located in a rose garden with a pond and fountains, ringed by oak trees, it features a wooden pergola with stone columns and enough space for guests on the lawn (up to 400). You can decorate the pergola with any floral arrangements or white draperies as in the photos below.
The bride will move through the rustic gate doors and walk down the aisle on a cobblestone walkway to the altar spot. The wooden canopy creates a nice shade and the guests will sit under the trees, not under direct sun. The photographer can move freely around the arbor and take pictures from almost every angle. So, your ceremony will look both natural and majestic.
The venue also offers nice complimentary options like a lemonade & fruit water station, tables for guest book/gifts, and to & from transportation for guests by golf carts.
After the ceremony is finished, your guests will be invited to cocktails in the garden outdoor settings or inside the clubhouse.
Reception site at the Vista Valley Country Club
In the photos below, you see reception in the ballroom of the clubhouse. It is an ample two-story room in the Mission Revival style with high vaulted ceilings, huge crystal chandeliers, and wall sconces. So, you’ll have enough light for impressive and clear reception pictures. There is plenty of space for more than 200 guests. The overall design and antique decor are from France looking very classic and elegant.
The traditional spot for the sweetheart table is next to a massive fireplace. The guests will sit near the wall of windows enjoying the view of the golf course and mountains of Vista Valley.
There is a separate bar area with a 180-degree bar overlooking the lawn and two adjoining patios with firepits. Some couples use one of the fire pit’s areas for the cocktail hour and the fireplace space for an additional bar or food station. You can also bring in a photo booth there so that guests will have some activities next to their tables. As you can see, the space is really large and transformable.
Still, if you like to organize your reception outdoors, it may be done in the garden’s Parkside setting or you can move to the Driving Range, which is a bigger outdoor space for larger celebrations. It can be tented if needed. Also, the venue will provide you with market lights.
Advantages of your Vista Valley Country Club Wedding
Your Vista Valley Country wedding will be the most exciting experience in your life because you’ll have on your big day the perfect combo of rustic romance & impeccable service plus relative affordability. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a rustic outdoor venue.
The venue hosts events of all types and sizes and offers event sites for both small and large weddings.
It feels far away from the city, in its own secluded valley, yet it’s easy to get in. The venue has only one wedding per day: so, your ceremony & outdoor reception areas, nestled away from the golf course and the everyday members will be completely private.
The ceremony area is probably one of the most beautiful you’ll find. It’s an outdoor natural setting, very spacious and with good shade to keep guests comfortable. With a wood pergola adorned with a little decor, it has a natural beauty and elegance. The entire landscape is well-maintained and very picturesque, with multiple picture-taking spots.
The bride and groom rooms are separated from each other and really chic, with a lot of space and light.
The venue itself in comparison to other venues you find nearby is a great deal concerning your wedding budget. Besides, it will be a new experience for you because you have to be a member to enjoy such places unless you will use them for events. So you’ll feel quite exclusive on your big day:)
Have a look at other venues in San Diego & surroundings:
BRICK San Diego is located right in downtown, with its venue access for 24 hours;
Lake Oak Meadows, nestled in Temecula wine country, is just a short drive from surrounding San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties.