I can say without doubt our hesitation that our fondest memories have all taken place at the Madonna Inn.
We are Theresa and Kris from Chula Vista, CA and our entire love story revolves around the Madonna Inn ❤️

When my husband and I first started dating, he knew that I had already been a world traveler. He asked me one day if there had been anywhere that I had never been before but that I had always wanted to go. And I immediately told him "YES! The Madonna Inn". For my birthday, just a few months later he had painted me a picture of the pop star Madonna, with the words "Just Heaven" across it, he told me that it was only a hint for what my real gift was. I screamed "OH MY GOSH YOU ARE TAKING ME TO THE MADONNA INN???"

Yes, indeed he was!!!

He had booked us the Just Heaven room 8/31/2014, and to my incredible surprise on the bench underneath the gold cherub mirror, he asked me to marry him!

I of course told him yes!!!!!!! The next day we were telling the waitress at the Copper Cafe that we had just gotten engaged and she told us that we could actually get married here. She encouraged us to go visit the wedding office. We finished our linguista omelet and corn beef and hash breakfast remembering how it was so good and joking, wow maybe we could serve that food at our wedding!

We were so surprised after we talked to Kristen Trevino at the wedding office, and how amazing it sounded to actually be able to be married at the Madonna Inn. We drove back to San Diego talking about how awesome it would be. After checking with my family (mostly in Illinois) and Kris' family (mostly in San Diego), they were all on board and so excited that we were choosing a remote wedding destination at the Madonna Inn. We were elated to find out that the day we wanted to get married on, Super Pi Day 3/14/15 at 9:26:53 seconds, was available.

A few months of intense wedding dress shopping went by and we realized we really wanted to go back to the Madonna Inn to taste cakes for the wedding! You know that it is true love (true love of the Madonna Inn that is) when you husband gives up SuperBowl weekend to go back to the Madonna Inn. We were so torn by all the bakery selections, we decided to serve our guest 3.14 different cakes and 3.14 different pies!

As mentioned earlier, some intense dress shopping was taking place, and I could not find a dress that would love up to the uniqueness of the Madonna Inn, and well my personality too. Low and behold I learned of a TV show on TLC that was casting brides who were looking for unique brides wanting custom wedding dresses. I filled out the application, and when the producer called me, I remember them saying "WOW! So you are getting married at the Madonna Inn." I explained our quirky/wonderful/whimsical/beautiful wedding, and they were so excited. I shortly then after found out I had been chosen to be on the television show Bride By Design, where they would be making me a custom dress. I was even more excited when the producers realized that they would be able to send a camera crew to the location and actually film part of the wedding for their show! I was flown to Birmingham, Alabama three times with my friends and fiance and the talented Heidi Elnora, and team created my a dress worth "dying" for! I know that this picture is not exactly the Madonna Inn, but I truly believe that the fact that we were having our wedding in such an incredible location attributed to them selecting me for the show.

Our wedding day is by far the happiest day of me and my husband's lives. We have been married just over 5 years now, and we still believe this vehemently. You see, my father is a Vietnam Veteran, and he has never really wanted to go anywhere or travel places. I was almost nervous to ask him to come to the wedding because I knew there was a chance he would tell me no. To my surprise, my dad not only told me that he would be there, but that he had registered to become the officiant and that he would also officiate the ceremony. My sister, who was pregnant with twins also made special arrangements to safely travel for us that day. All of our family members made such effort to be there for us, and to be able to have them all in a location where Kris and I enjoyed so much, well it was "Just Heaven".

We loved our time at the Madonna Inn so much that we go back for every anniversary for an extended weekend, and pose on the beautiful spiral steps! We would not miss this time together for the world. The Madonna Inn is an incredibly special place for us. @ThankyouPhyllis is my instagram site which I have been slowly adding photos to that capture every single moment.

Theresa F.