Why The Lafayette Hotel is San Diego's Coolest Wedding Venue

Why The Lafayette Hotel is San Diego’s Coolest Wedding Venue

The vibes are fun, funky, & totally one-of-a-kind

The Lafayette Hotel is the epitome of maximalism done well, full of character and exceptional design in every space; from bright pink cheetah-print stools at the poolside bar to zebra tapestries, checkered marble floors, wallpapered ceilings, and so much more. It is such a vibrant and LIVELY place to be, full of rich colors, textures, and patterns literally everywhere you look. This is exactly why my couple, Taylor & Amit, chose the Lafayette Hotel for their engagement session: they wanted the wild, funky, old Hollywood vibes for photos to use on their future East Coast wedding day! Every freaking room, floor, wall, curtain, furnishing, and lighting fixture is a work of art in its own right… it’s hard to put into words how phenomenal this venue is after its renovation, but hopefully these photos do it justice.

There are ENDLESS spots for unique wedding portraits

When I tell you you could walk anywhere in this venue and be met with a fabulous spot for engagement or wedding portraits, I truly mean anywhere! With a multitude of different event spaces, dining areas, guest suites, and even hallways and elevators that are insanely photogenic, I could have spent hours exploring the Lafayette with Taylor & Amit.

A few of our favorite spots included:

The pool area—checkered green tiles, leopard-print loungers, striped awnings with fringe draping down the edges… what’s not to love?
The courtyard leading up to the bowling alley (yes, they have a two-lane bowling alley on the property!)
Downstairs at the nightclub, Lou Lou’s—which has the most insane sunken stage and clamshell backdrop
The main lobby area
In the elevator and hallways (because like I said, every single spot is gorgeous here. Even the elevators!)
The Main Bar, which opens later in the day. The Pool Bar opens earlier at 10, so if you want drinks in your photos, make sure to time your session accordingly!

We didn’t even begin to cover all that this venue has to offer, including the actual hotel rooms, the area out front of the hotel, and the bowling alley itself. What’s cool about the hotel is that most spots require flash photography, so you pretty effortlessly get a super unique and sultry vibe.

It’s the perfect place for your engagement session

We got to run around the whole hotel for Taylor and Amit’s session, which is amazing because some hotels restrict you to certain areas if you are taking photos! A 1-hour photo permit at the Lafayette Hotel is $200, and allows you to use various spots without any supervision. This is a great option if you want your engagement photos to match the vibes of your wedding photos—and since there are sooo many distinct spots around the venue, no two photos will end up being the same.

Important note: The hotel can get SUPER busy, especially the pool area. So an earlier session on a weekday is ideal!

… and for celebratory day-after wedding photos, too!

Not only is the Lafayette Hotel incredible for engagement sessions and weddings; it’s also a dream come true for day-after wedding or elopement photos.

This is exactly what I did with Hannah and Dom: celebrated their elopement by getting glamorous portraits all around the Lafayette the next day, and we had a blast doing it. We really only stayed in their hotel room & snuck into the hallways for some quick photos… and still got the most fun and unforgettable portraits ever. The decor and design of every suite is impeccable—loooved the details, the textures, and the mint-green themed bathroom. And the pics of these two jumping on the bed were the cutest! They were just so happy to be married, so we popped champagne, took advantage of every single square inch of the room, and grabbed tasty cocktails from the bar afterward.

A glamorous, speakeasy-style reception space to die for

Remember how I mentioned that Lou Lou’s was one of my favorite spots from Taylor and Amit’s session?

Lou Lou’s Jungle Room is the Lafayette’s renovated historic ballroom (previously the Mississippi Ballroom) with some of the coolest, craziest designs I have ever seen from a wedding venue. The golden-age charm of this hotel really comes through in this speakeasy-style space, inspired by jazz clubs and full of iconic details: layered red fringe, a circular bar, a dramatic clamshell stage, a hardwood dance floor, and so much more. I would LOVE to shoot an intimate wedding here, as they host both ceremonies & receptions at Lou Lou’s!

Wedding Packages at the Lafayette Hotel & Club

What is the guest capacity for weddings at the Lafayette Hotel?

According to The Knot, the Lafayette Hotel can host up to 150 guests for weddings and events.

What are the wedding package options available at the Lafayette Hotel?

The Lafayette Hotel doesn’t share pricing and packages publicly on their website, but I dug through the internet forums to try and find a somewhat accurate estimate for you. The most recent quote I could find for wedding pricing at the Lafayette Hotel is as follows:

Friday-Saturday room rentals starting at $15,000
$30,000 food & beverage minimum
Separate weekday rental fees

This is all specifically for Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, and may have totally changed by the time you are reading this.

Please be sure to contact the venue directly for up-to-date and accurate information, as cost estimates will depend on so many things – such as the season, date, and size of your wedding!

How do I book my wedding at the Lafayette Hotel?

The first step to booking your wedding at the Lafayette Hotel is filling out their private event inquiry form here. From there, the venue will get back to you with pricing, packages, and relevant info to help you take the next steps.

Lafayette Hotel San Diego Wedding Photographer

Ready to bring all your maximalist-glam wedding dreams to life at the Lafayette Hotel? Because I sure am ready to help you make it happen!

I’m Rachel, a local San Diego wedding photographer—and ever since doing these two sessions at the Lafayette, I’ve been dying to go back for a killer wedding that celebrates the vibrant, colorful atmosphere it has to offer.

Inquire with me here, and let’s get your special day on the books at San Diego’s most iconic hotel wedding venue!