The Ultimate Guide to California's Top Wedding Vendors
Best Of 2020: San Diego & Statewide
Find your dream wedding vendor from this discerning list of creatives that are sure to transform dreams into a reality. Featuring the top vendors from Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Malibu, Ventura and San Luis Obispo, as voted upon by California brides, vendors and our staff. And the winners are..
BEST OVERALL VENDOR
Temecula Creek Inn
temeculacreekinn.com
This historic hotel offers natural beauty, wine country style and farm-to-table dining. The elegantly rustic Stone House, surrounded by majestic oaks and provincial bridges, is reminiscent of a medieval manor house.
FINALISTS: Michelle Garibay Events, Thomas Bui Lifestyle, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Best Event Designer and Wedding Planner
Michelle Garibay Events
This historic hotel offers natural beauty, wine country style and farm-to-table dining. The elegantly rustic Stone House, surrounded by majestic oaks and provincial bridges, is reminiscent of a medieval manor house.
FINALISTS: Michelle Garibay Events, Thomas Bui Lifestyle, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Best Event Designer and Wedding Planner
Michelle Garibay Events
michellegaribayevents.com
Passion and attention to detail drive Michelle Garibay’s events team, which takes pride in delivering perfectly orchestrated days with stunning designs that reflect a couple’s unique tastes.
FINALISTS: Amorology, Crowned Events, Kelsey Rae Designs
Passion and attention to detail drive Michelle Garibay’s events team, which takes pride in delivering perfectly orchestrated days with stunning designs that reflect a couple’s unique tastes.
FINALISTS: Amorology, Crowned Events, Kelsey Rae Designs

Best Event Designer and Wedding Planner: Michelle Garibay Events (Meghan Elise Photography)
BEST FLORIST
Soiree Floral Design
Soiree Floral Design
soireefloraldesigns.com
Specializing in lush, modern designs that beg to be posted on Instagram, this floral team also offers tablescape styling, full-service design and a rental selection.
FINALISTS: Carla Kayes Floral Design, Layered Vintage, Parker & Posies Design House
Specializing in lush, modern designs that beg to be posted on Instagram, this floral team also offers tablescape styling, full-service design and a rental selection.
FINALISTS: Carla Kayes Floral Design, Layered Vintage, Parker & Posies Design House
BEST FLORIST: Soiree Floral Design (Alicia Mink)
dearlovers.com
This husband-and-wife team captures dreamy, romantic, light-filled images on medium-format film to achieve a timeless look.
FINALISTS: Allie Lindsey Photography, Emma Hopp Photography, Leah Marie Photography
This husband-and-wife team captures dreamy, romantic, light-filled images on medium-format film to achieve a timeless look.
FINALISTS: Allie Lindsey Photography, Emma Hopp Photography, Leah Marie Photography
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER
Le Rêve Films
lerevefilms.com
Married couple Lindsey and Cherish take pride in getting to know each couple to capture their love story.
FINALISTS: Cloudless Weddings, Emma Lynn Cinema, Sam Eng Films
BEST OUTDOOR VENUE
Temecula Creek Inn
(See above)
FINALISTS: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Scripps Seaside Forum, Vista Valley Country Club
BEST INDOOR VENUE
Rancho Bernardo Inn
Married couple Lindsey and Cherish take pride in getting to know each couple to capture their love story.
FINALISTS: Cloudless Weddings, Emma Lynn Cinema, Sam Eng Films
BEST OUTDOOR VENUE
Temecula Creek Inn
(See above)
FINALISTS: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Scripps Seaside Forum, Vista Valley Country Club
BEST INDOOR VENUE
Rancho Bernardo Inn
ranchobernardoinn.com
This pristine destination resort boasts six outdoor settings, including a gorgeous courtyard with an authentic Italian fountain, a cascading waterfall and hanging lanterns, all surrounded by white roses. In addition, there are four ballroom, all of which have been refreshed in a soft blue and gray palette from top to bottom.
FINALISTS: Building 177, Callaway Vineyard & Winery, Carmel Mountain Ranch
This pristine destination resort boasts six outdoor settings, including a gorgeous courtyard with an authentic Italian fountain, a cascading waterfall and hanging lanterns, all surrounded by white roses. In addition, there are four ballroom, all of which have been refreshed in a soft blue and gray palette from top to bottom.
FINALISTS: Building 177, Callaway Vineyard & Winery, Carmel Mountain Ranch
BEST INDOOR VENUE: Rancho Bernardo Inn (Photo Courtesy of Rancho Bernardo Inn)
BEST RESORT
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
fairmont.com/san-diego
This elegant Mediterranean-inspired resort offers dramatic views; romantic, Old World–style settings; luxury accommodations; and fine dining.
FINALISTS: Rancho Bernardo Inn, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Temecula Creek Inn
This elegant Mediterranean-inspired resort offers dramatic views; romantic, Old World–style settings; luxury accommodations; and fine dining.
FINALISTS: Rancho Bernardo Inn, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Temecula Creek Inn
BEST RESORT: Fairmont Grand Del Mar (Photo Courtesy of Fairmont Grand Del Mar)
BEST CATERING
Toast Catering
toastcatering.com
Whether it’s a buffet-style event or a plated dinner, this catering team cooks all of its meals on-site to ensure a fresh, unforgettable dining experience.
FINALISTS: Coast Catering, MIHO Catering Co., Root Cellar Catering Co.
BEST RENTALS
Jake Duke Studios
jakeduke.com
Whether it’s a buffet-style event or a plated dinner, this catering team cooks all of its meals on-site to ensure a fresh, unforgettable dining experience.
FINALISTS: Coast Catering, MIHO Catering Co., Root Cellar Catering Co.
BEST RENTALS
Jake Duke Studios
jakeduke.com
This passionate team offers creative consultations, event design and rental services, with a vast inventory of items covering every style, from vintage to understated to ultramodern.
FINALISTS: Catalog Atelier, Folklore Rentals, Witty Rentals
BEST CAKES AND DESSERTS
Sweet Cheeks Baking Company
sweetcheeksbaking.com
FINALISTS: Catalog Atelier, Folklore Rentals, Witty Rentals
BEST CAKES AND DESSERTS
Sweet Cheeks Baking Company
sweetcheeksbaking.com
Sweet Cheeks creates delicious and gorgeous custom cakes using rich buttercream frosting and local, sustainable ingredients. It offers vegan and gluten-free options, too.
FINALISTS: The Baked Bear; Hey There, Cupcake!; Laura Marie’s Cakes
BEST DRESS SHOP
The Dress Theory
thedresstheory.com/san-diego
FINALISTS: The Baked Bear; Hey There, Cupcake!; Laura Marie’s Cakes
BEST DRESS SHOP
The Dress Theory
thedresstheory.com/san-diego
This boutique dress shop stocks a handpicked selection of hard-to-find designers from around the world, including Sarah Seven, Monique Lhuillier and Lihi Hod.
FINALISTS: Archive Bridal, Grace Loves Lace, The White Flower Bridal Boutique
FINALISTS: Archive Bridal, Grace Loves Lace, The White Flower Bridal Boutique
Statewide
Amanda Judge and her team create high-quality, made-to-order accessories for the modern bride, including slinky bridal robes, delicate crystal-embellished headpieces and pearl-dotted veils.
FINALISTS: Erica Elizabeth Designs, Margaret Rowe Couture, Veiled Beauty
FINALISTS: Erica Elizabeth Designs, Margaret Rowe Couture, Veiled Beauty

BEST ACCESSORIES: Untamed Petals (Kristyn Villars Photography)
BEST CUSTOM DRESS DESIGNER
A Bride by Samantha
A Bride by Samantha
abridebysamantha.com
Samantha Popa designs elegant and unique couture-quality gowns in a range of styles to capture any bride’s personality.
FINALISTS: Amanda James Bridal, Rminé, Trish Peng
Samantha Popa designs elegant and unique couture-quality gowns in a range of styles to capture any bride’s personality.
FINALISTS: Amanda James Bridal, Rminé, Trish Peng
Aisle Planner modernizes the wedding planning process by connecting all of a couple’s vendors
in one place and streamlining communication, from the first mood board to the day-of timeline.
FINALISTS: Balloonzilla, Vogue Candles, Wedding Dapper Bar by BreLuxe Beauty
in one place and streamlining communication, from the first mood board to the day-of timeline.
FINALISTS: Balloonzilla, Vogue Candles, Wedding Dapper Bar by BreLuxe Beauty