Julian is a small gold rush town nestled in the mountains of San Diego County approximately an hour east of San Diego. It is known for its apple pie, the pine forests, and what California doesn’t see much of: four seasons. It is one of the best spots around the area for couples looking to go for a full wedding weekend, if they are looking for a more extended reception than five hours.
Here are the steps to plan one step by step.
The better part of a weekend, versus a single day
The majority of guests will be driving in from San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles. Requesting them to come, party and then drive at night around the mountain is a lot. A weekend gives everyone the time to get comfortable, to relax and to spend time together. There’s more than a few hurried greetings at the reception and your guests have a mini-sit on the mountain rather than a long trip back.
When selecting a venue, make sure to ask the question: Where are you going to stay?
One of the first questions that you should ask when shopping around for wedding venues in Julian, CA is where will the guests be sleeping? Julian’s charming inns and B&Bs and cabins are booked up quickly, particularly during apple season and on holiday weekends.
A Julian wedding venue with own accommodation resolves this. The Dempsey is the restored former Pine Hills Lodge, for instance, which sits on eight private acres, has lodge rooms and private cabins. The property is fully booked by couples, guests can walk from the reception to their room and no other event is taking place on the grounds.
Other questions for consideration on each tour:
- Does the property only have bookings for us on that day or is it booked elsewhere?
- What happens if the weather turns bad, indoors?
- How many people / days are able to accommodate?
- Who do we need as vendors, who can we have?
- What time does the music have to end?
A typical three-day programme is shown below
Of course, each weekend will be unique, and this is a basic outline for most couples.
Friday: welcome and arrive. Check-in is in the afternoon. Have a relaxing welcome dinner in the evening — a barbecue, pizza or family style meal. Top it off with a fire pit and s’mores and your weekend begins right away.
Saturday: the wedding. Keep things slow in the morning. Prepare on-site to minimize travel stress and add to your photographer’s time. A late afternoon ceremony on the lawn is best lit by the pines, then dinner and dancing.
Sunday: Brunch and farewells. Brunch late in the morning will provide a few more things to talk about before going home. A lot of visitors will be glad to pass through town to get some pie as they’re on their way.
Choose the right season!
When it’s spring, the hills are green and the wildflowers appear. It’s a cool evening in the mountains on a warm summer day. Fall is the busiest time to book, having crisp air, changing leaves and being the peak apple season. Snow can be a wonderful wedding photographer in the winter, but it also means a good snow plan and guests who can handle driving in mountain conditions.
Assist guests to arrive
Include explicit invitation instructions with invitations. The roads to Julian are picturesque, but narrow and winding; recommend that visitors arrive during daylight hours. When there are some guests staying in other hotels, a shuttle on Saturday night is worthful of the price. The nearest major airport to San Diego is San Diego International Airport.
Look at the cost for the entire weekend, and not the venue fee only
A complete weekend rental is priced higher than a Saturday rental. But, it is a substitute for a block in the hotel room, for a separate rehearsal dinner site and for transportation at night. Sum up all of the costs of the weekend before you start comparing venues line by line.
Your quick checklist
- Make a short list of venues that have a place to stay on location, exclusive use.
- If you’re hoping to get married in the fall, lock in your wedding date early.
- Schedule activities for Friday, Saturday and Sunday BEFORE sending out invitations.
- Provide instructions, time and dress notes to visitors.
- Plan ahead for weather.
Since this is a mountain wedding weekend, a bit more planning is required than if it’s just a one-day wedding but the outcome will be a celebration that your guests will talk about for years.
