We were on a tight budget for our wedding, and were looking for an affordable reception site. After looking at other venues in the area, there was no way--the people were nice, but the places just didn't have what we were looking for. However, as soon as we walked in, the people here were friendly and welcoming, they had just put a new dance floor in the year before, they had a decent sound system, and they had nice carpet and chairs that actually matched our wedding colors. It was definitely a match, especially with my husband being military and becoming a member. They have tons of public meals here, so many of their members are capable of cooking for a lot of people--we even hired Tommy, one of the members, to cater our wedding (it was much more affordable-and better-than a "regular" caterer), and many people told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. I actually ate my entire meal (absolutely delicious), and I think I might be the only bride alive who has ever done that! The members there helped magically transform the place from a typical VFW with lots of "stuff" on the walls and protective plastic tablecloths to a fun and pretty wedding site, especially around the dance floor, which is the focal point (there will still be plaques, etc. on the walls where the guests are, but that's expected--they have a white curtain around the dance floor to cover the walls for your event and a privacy door to separate your event from the bar). Thanks Linda, for insisting on how some of the decor was used--it was beautiful! They even saved us a VIP parking space out front for our entrance and had two guys escort us in. Our friends and family said that they had never had such great service, and we all had a total blast. The place can really be transformed when the florescent lights are off, the "mood" lights and stage lights are on, nice linens and centerpieces are on the tables, and the curtains and privacy doors are up. It is a very family-like place, so once in a while we heard conflicting things about what we could and couldn't do with decorations like candles, but we were very glad we chose this place, and these people really came through for us like family.
We heard about their Sunday breakfasts from some of our caterers and have been going since. They are open to the public and are fundraisers for the various groups in the organization. They also have many dinners and lunches. Many people get "to go" containers--it's the same price as fast food (or cheaper), just as fast, and the money goes to a good organization, so think about that instead of heading to a greasy fast-food joint!
We love these people and have found lasting friends here. The place is in great shape, there is plenty of parking, the drinks are as inexpensive as you will find in San Diego, they have Stone and other good beers on tap, and they just have fun people and events. They still have a few WWII members who are awesomely fun and have some amazing stories! Plus, all of their events are very family friendly--even events like Valentine's dinners are places you can bring the kids--then afterward you can go to the bar side for a "grown up" night.
People might not think about renting a VFW for an event, but I can tell you we never for a moment regretted having it for our reception, and our family and friends really enjoyed themselves, as well. We love the "V!" read more