Lafayette Hotel Wedding Guide: Everything to Know for a Funky San Diego Wedding
The Lafayette Hotel is basically what happens when a wedding venue refuses to be boring. There are stripes, checkerboard floors, velvet, wild color combinations, a bowling alley, a pool, and approximately 700 places where I want to stop you for photos. I walked in and immediately thought, “Oh yeah, we’re going to have FUN here.”
If you’re planning a Lafayette Hotel wedding because beige is simply not your journey, welcome. You’re amongst friends.
As a San Diego wedding photographer, I photograph weddings ALL over Southern California, and The Lafayette is easily one of my favorite San Diego wedding venues for couples who want personality, character, and FUNK built into the entire experience.
Why a Lafayette Hotel Wedding is Perfect for the Maximalists
Quite literally, everything about The Lafayette Hotel can be described with the words unique, cool, or completely recognizable. It’s retro and modern all at the same time, with design elements that are basically like if the roaring 20s met Art Deco met modern maximalism. And if that’s not enough to make you fall in love with it, I truly don’t know what will.
With its bold colors and funky designs and unique elements, you can totally get by without even having to decorate. When a bride comes in with a vision, though (specifically a maximalist wedding vision), and leans into the hotel’s design… That’s where the magic happens.
Aside from its looks, a Lafayette Hotel wedding feels best when it has a LOT going on. Live jazz music, someone passing out glasses of champagne, and a full dance floor just work here. Bring on the maximalism in every way (please)!!
What a Lafayette Hotel Wedding Feels Like
As I said… A Lafayette Hotel wedding thrives when it's bustling. And don’t get me wrong; that doesn’t mean that everything feels chaotic. It feels like the best party of your lifeee, but still, like, organized and flowing effortlessly.
Weddings here are a fully immersive experience. You have guests hanging out by the pool (wearing really cool outfits because a funky guest dress code here is pretty much essential), champagne flowing, food and activity stations all around, and the beautiful sound of loud laughter from all your favorite people. Sounds like your dream day?? Yeah, same!!
The Must-Know Details About The Lafayette Hotel
Okay, okay, I’ll stop gushing about how stinkin’ much I love this place and get into the details. People can do hard things!!
Max guest capacity: The maximum capacity really depends on the space you’re in, but the Lafayette fits around 150 guests really well in my experience.
Indoor and outdoor venue options: Yeah, and they’re all a funky couple’s dream!! Not having to stay in one rigid room the whole time is always the move.
All-inclusive packages: Yep, the San Diego wedding venue makes it super easy to plan, just as the cherry on top.
On-site accommodations: Yes, and wedding weekends are kiiind of a must here. The venue is TOO good to not squeeze every little event you can get out of it, IMO!! More on that later, though.
The Venue Spaces for a Lafayette Hotel Wedding
For the Ceremony: The Courtyard
Pretty much everything about a Lafayette Hotel wedding is iconic, but having a ceremony entrance where you walk down the stairs in front of everyone? That’s just on a wholeee other level. If you are even remotely dramatic about an entrance (hi, I support you), those stairs are doing you a FAVOR.
The courtyard is a perfect space for a ceremony. It feels kind of tucked away but still so full of personality, and then it flows perfectly right to the cocktail hour, which is one of those small details that makes a huge difference in how your day feels (trust me). You get movement, guest reactions, the architecture behind you, and you don't have to manufacture some giant “entrance moment.” It's already built in.
For the Cocktail Hour: The Pool
Poolside cocktail hour at Lafayette is obnoxiously fun. Striped awnings, checkered floors, everybody holding a cute drink… My camera barely gets a lunch break.
If you're the couple who wants cocktail hour to actually feel like part of the wedding instead of 60 minutes everybody is killing before dinner, this setup is SO good. And the best part?? Guests love it just as much as I do. Watching people hug and laugh and mingle here during a cocktail hour is one of my favorite activities, like, ever.
For the Reception: The Bar
The bar is where Lafayette really starts showing off. Cheetah print? Sure. Circular bar? Obviously. More patterns than should legally work together? Somehow yes. And once the dance floor gets going, the room somehow makes even more sense. Direct flash, people leaning over booths, drinks everywhere, dresses moving, somebody inevitably doing something questionable on the dance floor… Exactly the kind of reception photos I want.
How The Lafayette Hotel Photographs
The Lafayette's whole thing is being fun, and as a San Diego wedding photographer, I’m here to report that photographing it is no different. The bold colors and patterns create so much visual interest that I could actually cry, and that’s not even to mention that we can use direct flash ALL DAY LONG, which essentially feels like Christmas morning to me.
The winning part of photos here, though? Everyone is having a genuinely good time. I’ve never photographed a wedding here where everyone hasn’t been smiling, laughing, or dancing, and it translates sooo well into photos.
How I Photograph a Lafayette Hotel Wedding on Film + Digital as a San Diego Wedding Photographer
As I said… The Lafayette is basically permission to stop being scared of flash. The darker interiors, saturated colors, little lamps, mirrors, checkerboard floors… All of that looks SO good with direct flash.
Then, I can switch gears outside and pull film into the softer poolside and courtyard moments. You end up with a gallery that has variety without us driving all over San Diego to find it. Aka: more hanging out, less “everyone get in the car, we're going to another portrait location.”
What to Know About Design for a Lafayette Hotel Wedding
My Lafayette design rule? Pick a lane and then commit HARD. If you're doing florals, make them weird and fun. If you're going colorful, repeat those colors enough that they look intentional. If you're wearing something dramatic, let it have its moment. Lafayette can handle personality; you just don't need every single idea you've ever pinned fighting in the same room.
This wedding design guide and this Valentine wedding have some inspiration that you’ll probably love if you love The Lafayette Hotel.
How to Plan the Best Timeline for a Wedding at The Lafayette Hotel
Since this is a venue that works well with maximalism, that goes all the way down to your plan for the day.
Don’t get me wrong, it can still feel laid-back, but a fun experience should be at the forefront of ANY wedding timeline here.
Now, don’t screenshot this and start bossing your planner around, because I know that every wedding is different. If you want to actually enjoy the hotel instead of speed-running through it, though, this gives you a good idea of how much breathing room I'd build in:
8:00 am: Wake up + grab breakfast at the hotel before you start getting ready
9:00 am: Hit play on the playlist and get glammed with your gals
12:00 pm: Lunch break (we don’t want you hangry!!)
1:00 pm: First look, private vows, and portraits on the balcony
2:00 pm: Wedding party + family photos in the bar
3:00 pm: Grab a drink + hide away with your people while guests arrive for the ceremony (pro tip: this is where you’ll make some of your favorite memories of the day)
4:00 pm: Say I do!!
4:30 pm: Join your cocktail hour and mingle with your people over cocktails and live jazz
5:30 pm: Enter your reception and do your special dances
6:00 pm: Start dinner (and if you want more mingling and movement, small plates or stations can work really well here)
7:00 pm: Reception outfit change + dance party time!!
Wedding Weekends at The Lafayette Hotel
My best wedding timeline tip for your Lafayette Hotel wedding is to do the wedding weekend. It’s too perfect of a place to NOT, since everyone can stay on-site, and dragging the celebration out all weekend long always gets a yes from me.
Imke and Noah did a welcome party in the bowling alley, spent pool days daily with their friends and family who were staying at the hotel, and hung out in the diner the morning of the wedding, and that was the best way to do it!! The entire weekend was immersive and fun, and genuinely, no one wanted to leave.
Imke + Noah’s Funky Maximalist Lafayette Hotel Wedding of My Dreams
Imke and Noah are the BEST. They were smiling and laughing all weekend long, and the vibes for everything were just so good. The Lafayette couldn’t have been a better spot for them if it tried. It fit their contagious, happy energy so well, and they planned the entire thing perfectly.
Their reception truly may be one of my favorites, ever. Good music, fun drinks and snacks, an outfit change… It all had my heart!!
If you’re planning a Lafayette Hotel wedding, these vendors need to be on your list, because they absolutely killed it:
Coordinator: Heart and Sol Events
Florals: Pilar Floral
DJ: The LoveTap DJs
Dress: Love and Lace Bridal Salon
FAQs For Wedding Planning at The Lafayette Hotel
How Much Does a Lafayette Hotel Wedding Cost?
This answer 100% depends on the kind of wedding you’re planning. The Lafayette Hotel has so many different wedding packages that are specific to your day, so the best way to get an answer to this is to reach out to the venue directly!!
What Catering Options Does the Lafayette Hotel Offer for Weddings?
With an all-inclusive package at The Lafayette Hotel, catering is included. You’ll get many menu options to choose from, and all I’m saying is that I’ve never had bad food from there.
Does the Lafayette Hotel Provide Wedding Day Coordination or Event Staffing?
Yes! All-inclusive packages at The Lafayette Hotel mean staff on-site to help you with planning. And we love that!!
How Early Should I Book the Lafayette Hotel for a Wedding Event?
Listen. A venue this good books up QUICKLY. I recommend reaching out ASAP to lock in a date here!!
What is There to Do Near The Lafayette Hotel?
The Lafayette Hotel is conveniently located to the San Diego airport, and if you have out-of-town guests staying at the venue, you can always recommend that they go shopping at Fashion Valley, visit Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, or walk on the Mission Beach Boardwalk.
Cambria Shelley | San Diego Wedding Photographer
If you’re a self-proclaimed funky, maximalist bride and looking for a San Diego wedding venue that fits your vibes, walk away knowing two things: 1. I love you already and 2. The Lafayette is probably your venue soulmate.
I’d LOVE to be there to capture your Lafayette Hotel wedding!! You can inquire about booking me right here. Chat soon, loves!!
