Venues

How to Plan a Wedding in Golden Gate Park Ultimate Guide for Planning a Wedding in Golden Gate Park (complete with pricing, photos, and videos) Curious on how to plan a wedding in Golden Gate Park? Many couples choose Golden Gate Park because it offers so many different outdoor settings in the heart of San Francisco. If you are wanting a compromise between beauty and location within San Francisco, read below for the steps on how to have a Golden Gate Park wedding. A Wedding in Golden Gate Park Overview The park itself is bordered by Fulton Avenue and Lincoln Way on the north and south and the Great Highway and Stanyan on the east and west. Within these confines, you will find virtually anything you can imagine. Situated on the grounds lies a number of popular destinations including the California Academy of Sciences, De Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, Strybing Arboretum, and many more areas to explore.  Golden Gate Park Wedding Venues For couples looking to tie the knot in their very own Golden Gate Park wedding, there are many different places within the park to have your ceremony. The park itself recommends seven different locations. See below for capacity maximums as well as whether they allow ceremonies and receptions. Chain of Lakes. Located near Middle Lake, one of three small bodies of water that form the Chain of Lakes, this setting is loved for its greenery and solitude. Max capacity of 100. Ceremony only. Chinese Pavilion. In the middle of Stow Lake, you will find an area that was a gift from San Francisco’s sister city, Taipei. The pavilion itself is adorned with intricate carvings and creates a peaceful setting for an intimate wedding. Max capacity of 50. Ceremony only. Fuchsia Garden. Next to the Conservatory of Flowers, this is the perfect location for a late spring or summer wedding as the area is covered in purple-red blooms from May into November. This is one of the best locations for beautiful wedding photos. Max capacity of 150. Ceremonies and receptions allowed. Portals of the Past. Another aquatic venue, this location is framed by marble columns and an archway that creates a regal setting. You’ll also find Rainbow Falls nearby, making this an ideal fairytale setting. Max capacity of 100. Ceremony only. Queen Wilhelmina Garden. This garden can be found beneath the grand Dutch windmill and is named after the longest reigning Dutch monarch. Tulips bloom from mid-March to mid-April, making that the optimal time for a stunning wedding in this area; however, it is beautiful year-round. Max capacity of 200. Ceremonies and receptions allowed. Rose Garden. Golden Gate Park’s Rose Garden is one of its most famed areas. A plethora of colors of roses are in bloom from mid-May to July with another wave of beauty blossoming in September. Max capacity of 100. Ceremonies and receptions allowed. Shakespeare Garden. This site has rows of trees lining a potential aisle, a brick wall, sundial, and many other settings that produce a love story backdrop that will rival the tales of Shakespeare himself. This is the most popular venue for a wedding in Golden Gate Park. Max capacity of 200. Ceremony only. If you’d like to read more, check out my Shakespeare Garden Wedding walkthrough. How to Book a Wedding in Golden Gate Park Wedding reservations at Golden Gate Park can be made up to a year in advance. I recommend booking as early as possible to ensure availability. Reservations can be made by calling the Parks Department by phone or e-mailing them. Payments can be made by check or card. If making a reservation less than two months form the wedding date, couples must pay in full immediately by card.   Golden Gate Park Wedding Costs   The fees vary by location, with the reservation fee and 2 hour minimums ranging from $494 – $847. Specific information on costs can be found on the official pricing document from San Francisco Parks, but see below for a general outline of costs amongst the difference venues. Best Time for a Wedding in Golden Gate Park   While San Francisco never gets too cold or too hot throughout the year, “Summer” in San Francisco (aka the warmest months) is actually September and October, rather than the summer months June – August. Throughout the year, it consistently averages the low to mid 60s, so there’s not really a bad time to have a Golden Gate Park wedding!   Golden Gate Park Wedding Reception Limitations If you are looking for a larger wedding, some of the venues are only suitable for smaller crowds. For example, the Chinese Pavilion can only hold 50 guests while Chain of Lakes and Lloyd’s Lake are limited to 100 each. Several locations allow receptions including Fuschia Dell, Queen Wilhelmina Garden, and the Rose Garden; however, the other locations do not. What Is Included with Your Rental? When you reserve your wedding at Golden Gate Park, you are only reserving for use of the specific venue within the park. However, you will likely save a bit on décor as many of the sites serve as perfect backdrops for a ceremony. This is particularly true for the Chinese Pavilion and Queen Wilhelmina garden. It is also important to note that there are some policies in place that may affect your planning. For example, guests are not allowed to throw rice, birdseed, flowers, or confetti as these things may negatively impact the soil. Animals may also not be released during the ceremony. Finally, amplified sound and alcohol are not allowed. However, many of the settings are perfect for a harp or small string ensemble. It is also worth noting that bathrooms are only available at the Chinese Pavilion. Guests at other locations will have to find alternatives for facilities. Conclusion San Francisco is a city with a wealth of treasured locations for a beautiful wedding day. However, there are few spots with as varied and ornate locations as Golden Gate Park. Planning your wedding at Golden Gate Park will be a fun task for any couple as there are so many ways to customize the occasion to fit your

How to Plan a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding (with Pricing and Photos) If you are looking to have a Brazilian Room Tilden Park wedding you have come to the right place! While Tilden Park offers over 2000 acres of space for hiking, golf, a merry-go-round, and steam trains, nestled in the North Berkeley hills lies the popular Brazilian Room to host your event! With its affordable rates and prime location, it is one of the most popular Berkeley wedding venues that books out in advance. Read below on some information to planning a wedding at the Brazilian Room. TLDR Rental fee range (Alameda & Contra Costa County residents): Minimum Fee: $560 Maximum Fee: $4,615 Pricing varies by day/time slot and event duration Rental fee range (non-residents): Minimum: $672 Maximum: $5,538 Non-resident surcharge: 20% surcharge applies for renters outside Alameda & Contra Costa Counties Capacity: Main hall max seated: 150 guests Standing capacity: 225 guests No official minimum capacity listed Botanic Garden ceremony/photo add-on: max 30 people Additional key fees: $1,000 refundable security/cleaning deposit Non-catered events fee: $300 (limited days: Mon/Wed/Thu, ends by 7pm) Late load-out fee: $500 per hour if exceeded time Why a Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding Offering a stunning outdoor wedding venue in Berkeley, the Brazilian Room offers a classic hillside view to host your ceremony and is conveniently located next to a garden to offer a variety of images. The building itself offers floor to ceiling windows and a rustic feel for the reception, and also offers daytime elopement sessions in addition to full day celebrations of up to 150 guests. Because of its relative location away from the city, it also offers a greater chance of seeing stars in the evening! Brazilian Room Tilden Park Wedding Cost Rental Fee : $560 – $5538Capacity: up to 150 guests How to Book a Brazilian Room Wedding Email: brazil@ebparks.orgPhone: (510) 544-3164Website: https://www.ebparks.org/rentals-and-permits/event-venues/brazilian-room Tilden Park Brazilian Room Wedding Spaces The Flagstone Patio offers expansive views of the sloping lawn and the wooded hillsides for you and up to 180 guests. While wedding ceremonies are held outside, the receptions will be taken into the Brazil House with its rustic charm and exposed wood plank ceiling. The reception hall features high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows on both lengths of the wall. There is a small bridal room for quick adjusts as needed. photo by Ian Chin Photography photo by Ian Chin Photography https://youtu.be/h6WgtJ8mh7s What’s Included The Brazilian Room Wedding Restrictions A surcharge of 20% of the total rental fee applies to any non-residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. All parties are supposed to end before midnight. There are some restrictions on playing loud music, but you can play music in both indoor and outdoor wedding spaces. All furniture is provided for by the venue, and so is the AV equipment, including speakers, microphones, and a projector. But they are only permitted for use indoors, which means you source your own for the outdoors part of the event.  The Brazilian Room Wedding Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com Related Posts on the Blog

Shakespeare Garden Wedding San Francisco Ultimate Guide for Planning a Shakespeare Garden SF Wedding (with pricing, photos, and videos) Why a Shakespeare Garden SF Wedding? Choosing a Shakespeare Garden wedding is a recommended choice for those who want an intimate wedding venue at a reasonable price in the middle of San Francisco. Being the most popular wedding venue in Golden Gate Park, couples commonly have a Shakespeare Garden wedding ceremony before holding their reception elsewhere. Run by the SF Parks and Recreation, a Shakespeare Garden wedding San Francisco is an affordable way to get married in a beautiful setting. If you want more options, check out these other locations on where to have a wedding in Golden Gate Park.  Shakespeare Garden San Francisco Wedding Cost Reservation Fee : $531Rental Fee : $152 hourly rate (2 hour min)Refundable Deposit: $500 Reservation Process for a Shakespeare Garden Golden Gate Park Wedding Email: RPDReservations@sfgov.orgPhone: 415-831-5500Rental Application: https://fs18.formsite.com/sfrpsurvey2/jtlyfqhycd/index.html Wedding reservations at Golden Gate Park can be made up to a year in advance. Payments can be made by check or card. If making a reservation less than two months form the wedding date, payment must be made in full immediately by card. Restrictions Unfortunately, there are no onsite restrooms at the Shakespeare Garden. In addition, they have strict music and decor regulations to minimize the damage to the park and do not provide tables or chairs. Shakespeare Garden does not allow any food or drink receptions so you will have to find a secondary location to celebrate. Take a look at this list of 50+ San Francisco wedding venues, if you are looking for all inclusive wedding venues similar to Shakespeare Garden. Best Times for an SF Wedding While San Francisco never gets too cold or too hot throughout the year, “Summer” in San Francisco (aka the warmest months) is actually September and October, rather than the summer months June – August. Throughout the year, it consistently averages the low to mid 60s, so there’s not really a bad time to have a Shakespeare Garden wedding San Francisco! Shakespeare Garden Wedding Walkthrough https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIF4ytamSm0 Wedding at Shakespeare Garden Photos Related Posts on the Blog Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

San Francisco City Hall Weddings – Window Photos San Francisco City Hall Window Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

San Francisco City Hall Weddings – Staircase Photos San Francisco City Hall Staircase Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

San Francisco City Hall Fourth Floor Wedding San Francisco City Hall Fourth Floor Wedding If interested in discussing your San Francisco City Hall Wedding please CONTACT ME  Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

San Francisco City Hall Wedding Mayor’s Balcony San Francisco City Hall Wedding Mayor’s Balcony If you are interested in a San Francisco City Hall Wedding please CONTACT ME  Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

San Francisco City Hall Weddings – Rotunda Photos San Francisco City Hall Rotunda Photos Interested In More Information? Please Fill Out the Form Below! 415 756 9335  ianchinphotography@gmail.com 762 10th Ave San Francisco, CA 94118

15 Best Wedding Venues in Monterey CA The Ultimate Guide to the 15 Best Wedding Venues in Monterey CA(complete with pricing and photos) Couples seeking to take advantage of the Pacific Coast’s splendor for their weddings can take a look at the 15 best wedding venues in Monterey CA. Located in the center of California’s coastline, Monterey is known for its history, architecture, seafood, and local arts scene. For Californians seeking a beautiful place to get married, Monterey provides an excellent choice for a weekend escape. Let’s take a look at some of the top Monterey wedding venues.  Best Times for a Wedding in Monterey CA Old Whaling Station Adobe & Gardens Rental Fee: $1,900 – $2,400Ceremony Only: $1,500 The Old Whaling Station may not sound like the most romantic spot; however, this is a beautiful space indoors and outdoors with flexible rental periods by the hour that focuses on affordable yet elegant weddings. The garden is the perfect spot for beautiful wedding photos, making it one of the more cozy and intimate wedding venues in Monterey CA. The Barns at Cooper Molera Rental Fee: $2,500 – $6,500  Formerly part of a National Trust, this historic property is perfect for a beautiful ceremony. This is one of the more unique wedding venues in Monterey CA in that you can get married in a beautifully restored barn or outdoors beneath oak trees.   Memory Garden (Monterey State Historic Park) Rental Fee: $1,500 – $3,600 (depends on day of the week / number of hours)Processing Fee: $150Refundable deposit: $1,000 This park actually has six different gardens that are excellent choices for an elopement or small wedding. Stevenson Garden is enclosed by a rustic gated adobe wall and is named for author Robert Louis Stevenson. First Theatre Garden and Larkin Garden, in particular, also provide excellent settings for a wedding. The variety in settings makes this one of the more popular wedding venues in Monterey CA that appeals to most. Monterey Beach House Rental Fee: $1,500 – $5,000 Do you dream of a beach wedding? There is perhaps no better place in Monterey than Monterey Beach House. With the peninsula and ocean as a backdrop, this location provides one of the best views compared to other wedding venues in Monterey CA. Sunset ceremonies are popular here and al-inclusive packages mean you can rest assured you’ll be well taken care of.    Perry House Rental Fee: $1,500 – $5,000 The Perry House provides an elegant setting with an ocean view. The Victorian style home was originally built in 1860 and has lush gardens. Renovated specifically to cater to weddings, this is an excellent choice to include in your list of wedding venues in Monterey CA. Jabberwock Inn Rental Fee: $1,000 – $1,500 for 4 hours Small weddings and elopements: $350 – $750 (depends on time of year) One of more popular bed and breakfast wedding venues in Monterey CA, Jabberwock Inn is an elegant craftsman style house that overlooks Monterey Bay. Tall hedges and stone-lined gardens form a perfect place to exchange vows while you can relax in style with your pick of charming rooms. Jabberwock Inn is an excellent choice for a  Monterey wedding venue. Club Del Monte Contact for pricing Located on the campus of the Naval Postgraduate School and part of Hotel Del Monte, named the world’s most elegant seaside resort, this art deco facility is perfect for saying your vows whether you’d prefer the intimate La Novia Room or a spot next to the Roman Plunge Reflecting Pool.  Monterey Stone Chapel Rental Fees: $300 – $750 (depends on number of guests / spaces reserved) You’ll find this chapel located amidst redwoods and gardens next to a turtle-filled pond. For a more intimate wedding, an outdoor gazebo garden wedding is an excellent decision with a quaint, intimate setting to exchange your vows. This is one of the best wedding venues in Monterey CA because the 5 star Tarpy’s Restaurant and steakhouse is right next door! CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS MONTEREY WEDDING PACKAGES Wedding Venues Near Monterey CA Lover’s Point Park (Pacific Grove) Contact for pricing While this community park just outside of Monterey has plenty of things for the community, it also serves as a beautiful site for a wedding. With an ocean view, a small beach, and manicured lawns, there are many different settings for wedding venues in Monterey CA. A rocky outcropping on the edge of the beach makes a great place for photos. A reservation and use permit is required for a wedding.  Check out this Lovers Point Park Wedding to give you an idea of what I’ve done in the past. Big Sur Lodge – Pfeiffer State Park (Big Sur) Packages: $599 – $1,199 Big Sur is extremely popular with nature lovers and this rustic getaway right in the middle of Pfeiffer State Park provides easy walking access to many potential sites. Reserve a cozy cabin and take advantage of a ceremony surrounded by California’s majestic redwoods. The Lodge itself has four different indoor and outdoor venues and wedding consultants, making this one of the best wedding venues near Monterey CA. Huckleberry Hill (Pebble Beach) Contact for pricing This is one of those wedding venues near Monterey CA that you will feel was made for your elopement. Here you’ll find Huckleberry Hill Nature Preserve, which is home to several trails with plenty of picturesque spots. Find you and your love immersed in a wooded oasis amongst groves pine and cypress trees. There is a bit of elevation gain and a short hike, so this spot is best for a small, casual no-frills ceremony for outdoor lovers.  Leal Vineyards (Hollister) Packages: $4,000 – $7,500 This facility has excellent options for elopements, small ceremonies, or mid-sized weddings. Leal Vineyards features three different settings and is one of the larger wedding venues in Monterey CA. Say “I do” surrounded by sweeping hills of vineyards at the Lavanda, have a quaint candlelit ceremony in the Barrel Room, or opt for the Olea with twinkling lights and a tunnel of olive trees.  River Road Mansion (Salinas)