How to Plan The Old Homestead Wedding

14 Best Wedding Venues in Oakland CA The Ultimate Guide to the 14 Best Wedding Venues in Oakland CA(complete with pricing and photos) If you are considering an Oakland, CA wedding, you will want a venue that can perfectly turn your wedding dreams a reality. Here’s a round-up of popular wedding venues in Oakland CA to help in your planning! Chabot Space & Science Center Rental Fee : $10900Capacity : 300 guests The Chabot Space & Science Center offers a spot-lit stage under cover of sky. The mesmerizing planetarium offers a front-row seat to indulge your love for astronomy. There is also an observatory deck, but the highlight is, without a doubt, night viewing in the historic telescopes. Chabot Space & Science Center provides ample indoor and covered outdoor wedding spaces, which are also handicap accessible. It can be used for an event of up to 300 guests. Check out my post on planning a Chabot Space & Science Center wedding for more info Preservation Park Rental Fee : $490 – $1325Capacity : 150 – 300 guests Preservation Park is a throwback to old-time Oakland and sits on two blocks just a short drive from downtown Oakland. It is a gorgeous Victorian-themed park with 16 expertly restored Victorian houses, wrought iron fencing, antique benches, and old-fashioned street lamps. It can hold indoor weddings in the English country style home and can host outdoor weddings on the pavilion.  Check out this full gallery from a Preservation Park wedding photo by Ian Chin Photography Preservation Park Wedding Slideshow The Brazilian Room (Berkeley) Rental Fee : $580 – $5538Capacity: up to 150 guests With its affordable rates and prime location, it is one of the most popular Berkeley wedding venues that books out way in advance. 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 Check out my Brazilian Room wedding guide for more info photo by Ian Chin Photography The Terrace Room at Lake Merritt Rental Fee : $2500Capacity : 200 guests The Terrace Room is a historic wedding venue that has been hosting weddings since 1920. It is a luxurious yet characterful space that offers majestic views of Lake Merritt, a bright interior, and a blank canvas to make the wedding of your dreams happen. It needs minimum décor and will hold up to 200 guests in its Art Deco ballroom.  Camron-Stanford House Rental fee: $6000 for a 10 hour blockCapacity: Up to 125 The Camron-Stanford House is a picturesque wedding venue located in Oakland within one of Oakland’s most historic landmark buildings. The magical twinkling garden lights and picturesque veranda with unmatched views of Lake Merritt make this house the perfect wedding venue. The wedding season runs from June through the beginning of October each year.   Check out this Camron-Stanford House wedding video for an idea of how it could look Piedmont Community Hall (Piedmont) Check out this blog post for a Piedmont Community Hall wedding photo by Ian Chin Photography Fairyland Weddings Rental Fee : $4500Capacity : 270 – 1000 guests Fairyland Weddings is an outdoor wedding space on Bellevue Avenue, Oakland. However, it features an indoor space that will fit up to 270 people. Outdoors will host up to 1000 guests. It is a children’s park and events space and offers the opportunity for a whimsical wedding. Check out this Fairyland Wedding video to get an idea of how it could look! Fairview Metropolitan Rental Fee : $4K – $12KCapacity : 280 guests The beautiful Metropolitan Golf Course is home to Fairview Metropolitan—a place of great service, value, and beautiful vistas. With views of the Oakland Hills, a romantic gazebo, expansive spaces, and a splashing fountain, you can make your ideal wedding venue on the emerald green fairways.  Berkeley City Club (Berkeley) Rental: $14,000 minimum spendCapacity: up to 250 persons Actual pricing varies on the time of day/year, space reserved, guest count, and event duration, but to give you a general idea of pricing it starts at $14,000.  For more info, check out my Berkeley City Club wedding guide Sequoyah Country Club Rental Fee : starting at $2500Capacity : 175 indoors – 275 outdoor guests Sequoyah Country Club serves up elegance and antique charm with perfect views of the rolling greens and the East Bay. The club features a Spanish-style interior wedding space with high beam ceilings with a grand elegance in its design. The venue provides a fabulous venue for indoor and outdoor weddings, which you can customize to fit any style of wedding. There is in-house catering, and the staff is professional and experienced at running events. So, you can rest assured that your big day will be a success.  For more info, check out my Sequoyah Country Club wedding guide Forage Kitchen Rental Fee : $4K – $12KCapacity : 200 guests https://www.foragekitchen.com/rent Mills College Rental Fee : $1500 – $2500Capacity : 175 guests Mills College offers a beautiful chapel designed by architects Callister and Payne from California. It is inspired by Japanese Shinto temples, and the ambiance it creates is breathtaking, to say the least. It offers amazing sound quality, and the enormous vaulted cedar ceiling that leads to a glass cupola skylight makes for an amazing stage, to say your vows. Couples who hold their weddings here mostly hold their receptions at the Aurelia Henry Reinhardt Alumnae House. Another house with rich architectural background. Morcom Rose Garden Website: https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/submit-morcom-rose-garden-rental-information-packet Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral Check out this previous Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral wedding photo by Ian Chin Photography USS Potomac Rental Price: (docked) $900 for first hour, then $500 each additional hourCapacity: up to 110 guestsWebsite: www.usspotomac.org Temescal Beach House Check out this blog post for a previous Temescal Beach House wedding photo by Ian Chin Photography Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate Rental fee: $700 for 50 guestsCapacity: Up to 100 https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/dunsmuir-historic-estate If you are flexible with location, check out my post for the best San Francisco wedding venues or the best Napa

11 Best Wedding Venues in Pleasanton CA The Ultimate Guide to the 11 Best Wedding Venues in Pleasanton CA(complete with pricing and photos) Are you interested in wedding venues in Pleasanton CA? This pretty suburb in Contra Costa County is consistently included on lists of some of the best towns in the US to visit or live in. And for good reason! Its historicity, the beautiful parks, and the light and happy atmosphere are welcoming for not just visitors, but also wedding parties. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best wedding venues in Pleasanton, CA that you won’t want to miss.. Palm Event Center Rental Fee + F&B Min: $39,000+Capacity: up to 300 guestsHours: 6PM – 12AM (end by 11PM) At the Palm Event Center, you can exchange marriage vows in the sweet smelling vineyards of the Livermore Valley Wine Country. After the ceremony, you can dine in high style in the Ballroom or outside on the Vineyard terrace, and then dance the night away under the glow of a thousand twinkle lights. For the sophisticated wine loving couple, Palm Event Center in the Vineyard is a delightful option and one of the best wedding venues in Pleasanton CA. The Club at Ruby Hill Rental Fee: $3,500 – $4,500Food $ Bev: $11,000 – $15,000 The Club at Ruby Hill offers award winning service and gorgeous green vistas for your wedding ceremony and reception. Rolling golf courses and picturesque vineyards form the backdrop outdoors, and beautiful hardwood and tile welcome you indoors. Catering is provided by the venue only, and they offer a full service menu along with late night snacks and bar services. Every little detail is taken care of by the Club’s in house event specialists, from the decor to the ambiance to preparing the complimentary dance floor and dressing rooms. They’ll also provide on site staff to coordinate all the events on your special day. You’ll want for nothing when you book the Club at Ruby Hill. Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery Contact for pricing Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery is one of the most popular wedding venues in Pleasanton CA, so you know you will have a stunning wedding. Surrounded by vineyards, this venue is an exquisite collection of beautiful indoor spaces with fireplaces, crystal chandeliers, and a courtyard filled with lush foliage and sparkling fountains. The formal menu by the award winning culinary staff is tailored to meet your specific tastes, and you’ll get to taste vintage wines straight from the Ruby Hill Winery.  Callippe Preserve Rental Fee: $750 – $2,500Food & Bev: $1,000 – $7,000 Callippe Preserve in Pleasanton commands an incomparable view of the gently sloping hills and vineyards of northern California. The venue is set primarily outdoors against green lawns and white lawn chairs and an elegant arbor. Callippe Preserve provides the menu, which ranges from appetizers to a buffet meal to a plated dinner. And of course, no wedding reception in the wine country would be complete without a bar service and a selection of fine local wines to choose from. For a simple yet tasteful wedding in the heart of Pleasanton’s charming countryside, choose Callippe Preserve. The Purple Orchid Resort and Spa (Livermore) Rental Fee + F&B Min: $23,000+Capacity: up to 120 guestsHours: 2PM – 10AM (20 hours) In California’s wine country, you might still want to have a resort-style wedding, and The Purple Orchid Resort and Spa offers you just that. It is available for outdoor ceremonies and offers tranquil surroundings for your wedding. The olive orchard provides the perfect backdrop to say your “I Do’s,” and its orientation in the sun makes for some fantastic sunset shots. You also get a lavish indoor venue to customize how you desire and create the wedding of your dreams. Canyon Lakes Brewery (San Ramon) Rental fee: $8,000 – $15,000Capacity: 125 guests Canyon Lakes Brewery is a brewery that also doubles as a Pleasanton wedding venue. Since it is firstly a brewery, it does have limited periods that you can rent the space. It is not available during peak season, March through October. Chairs, linens, and tables are included with your rental.   Little hills (San Ramon) Rental fee: $2K- $6.5KCapacity: 150 guests Little Hills provides an intimate environment for your wedding, as lovely as its name suggests. If you want to tie the knot in a picturesque location surrounded by nature’s grandeur, here is the place to do it. There is also a lovely tent for dinner, which will give your wedding a bohemian vibe. With trees, birds, and butterflies around, this place is a paradise for nature lovers. Garre Winery (Livermore) Contact for pricing If you want an indoor and outdoor wedding venue set in the middle of vineyards and Italian cypress trees, then the Garre Bella Rosa Winery is the venue for you. It can host up to 370 guests and makes a great option for guests who want less than a traditional wedding. There are lush flower beds, and the wisteria-covered Arbor in the missing style environment gives the weddings an elegance, unlike most Livermore CA wedding venues. The design options here are endless and the perfect place to make your wedding dreams come true. Check out my Garre Winery Wedding Planning Guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YoUQ0V8e-Y&feature=youtu.be The Five Willows (Livermore) Contact for pricing The Five Willows is nestled within the wine regions of Livermore hills. It is an equestrian center with simplistic beauty and a serene surrounding covered by vineyards. It can host up to 200 guests and provides excellent indoor and outdoor venues for any style of wedding. The venue is open for pre-wedding use for bridal and groom parties, making a great onsite home for both parties. The main venue is surrounded by manicured lawns, a pond in the background, beautiful willow trees, and horse pasture to make for a unique wedding experience. Del Valle Winery (Livermore) Contact for pricing If you’ve always dreamed of having a lovely vineyard wedding, this place is ideal for you. The winery invites weddings, parties, and rehearsal dinners with breathtaking views of the vines and event rooms surrounded by beautiful flora. Up to 120 guests can be seated in the Barrel

8 Best Wedding Venues in Palo Alto CA The Ultimate Guide to the 8 Best Wedding Venues in Palo Alto CA(with pricing and photos)   If you are looking for the best wedding venues in Palo Alto CA you have come to the right place! Located in the heart of the Peninsula, there are plenty of Palo alto wedding venues to choose from including lush gardens, gorgeous ballrooms, poolside venues, and intimate banquet spaces. Scroll down to see the wide variety of wedding venues in Palo Alto CA to help in planning your celebration. University Club of Palo Alto Rental Fee: $1,500 – $3,500 (varies based on member/nonmember and spaces reserved)Deposit: $1,000 The modern bride and groom will love the industrial fixtures and beautiful simplicity of the University Club at Palo Alto. This Palo Alto wedding venue offers both indoor and outdoor areas for holding marriage ceremonies and receptions. Indoors, you’ll find a large space with high ceilings and hardwood dance floors. Outdoors, the grounds include a pergola where you can exchange vows and an area shaded by a hundred plus year old tree. Check out this University Club of Palo Alto Wedding  Elizabeth Gamble Garden Rental Fee:  $100/hour (6 hour min.) for weekdays May-Oct. and weekends Nov.-Apr., $1,200 (8 hour min.) for weekends May-Oct. Capacity: 50 guests Among outdoor wedding venues in Palo Alto, Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden stands out for having a serene garden in the heart of Palo Alto. The lush gardens and the historic home make it a coveted wedding venue for all the good reasons. There are three distinct venues—Wisteria Garden, Rose Garden, and Tea house patio within the venue that can hold up to 50 guests per wedding. It offers an easy venue to decorate, but not that you need to! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow2rJpZw4HM Allied Arts Guild (Menlo Park) Rental fee: $4KCapacity: 140 guests If you enjoy art, you will undoubtedly enjoy this Fremont wedding venue. It has a stunning structure that any art enthusiast would like. It is encircled by beautiful, seasonal gardens, lovely fountains, and vibrant frescoes. It has an unrivaled beauty.  Check out this Allied Arts Guild wedding guide for more info Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club Rental Fee: $2,500 – $3,500Food & Bev Minimum: $15,000 The Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club is one of the wedding venues in Palo Alto CA that offers a whole suite of indoor and outdoor wedding venues. You can say cheers forever in a classy, beautiful, and timeless venue with a waterfall, rolling greens, and lush greenery in the backdrop. It offers a welcoming atmosphere and makes an ideal space for small and large weddings. A large wedding could use the Grand Ballroom, which can hold up to 275 guests and offers floor or ceiling windows to the golf course on three sides and a cascading waterfall. Smaller weddings can use the Members dining room, which is equally as beautiful and can be turned into an intimate candle-lit reception venue at night. El Prado Hotel Contact for pricing You probably know it by its previous name, Garden Court Hotel. El Prado creates the Spanish open-air living ambiance and surprisingly feels very homely, perhaps because it resonates with the surrounding residential estates. The new facility opens its doors to the public on October 1, 2021, but it has been a traditional venue for many weddings in Palo Alto for us to ignore. This is one of the more luxurious wedding venues in Palo Alto but in a subdued and relaxed way with modern decor. Check out this El Prado Hotel wedding guide for more info Four Seasons Hotel Packages: $140 – $185 per person For the urban chic couple, the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto is an excellent choice of venue. Known for the expert service of its on staff wedding specialists and gorgeous decor, this is one of those wedding venues in Palo Alto CA that you know provides the best of both worlds – excellent service and an elegant setting. Another great feature is you can avoid traveling to a different location for your wedding night and just book a hotel room! Just another perfect touch to a perfect hotel wedding venue in Palo Alto CA. Woodside Village Church Rental fee: $1200- $3000Capacity: 170 guests This is the place to be if you want a traditional Christian wedding with a stunning vista. This church contains a historic chapel, which is the ideal location for exchanging vows. There is a spacious hall with all the amenities for the reception. The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse Contact for pricingCapacity : 275 guests You come to The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse for its amazing ambiance and fantastic seafood. That said, it has many private dining areas, and this versatile venue can accommodate weddings of many styles. The venue has a capacity of 275 guests and has options for indoor and outdoor seating for the wedding ceremony and receptions. It has unique decor with waterfalls, koi ponds, lush foliage, and quaint footbridges, just to name a few.  The Woman’s Club of Palo Alto Rental Fee: $4,000 (Sat), $3,000 (Fri/Sun), $300/hr (Mon-Thurs)Deposit: $1,000 Customize your wedding and bring your favorite vendors to the Women’s Club of Palo Alto. This venue allows you lots of freedom to make the space exactly as you want it. It will fit under 100 guests perfectly, with plenty of room for dancing, dining, and whatever other entertainment you wish to provide. You can’t go wrong when you book the Women’s Club of Palo Alto for your wedding. Harmony Hall & Courtyard Rental Fee: $3,500 – $7,000 The Harmony Hall & Courtyard is here for you if your guest list goes above 150 guests. It is an affordable Palo Alto wedding venue that provides large indoor and outdoor spaces to host weddings and events of up to 350 guests. It offers excellent bare-bones and flexibility for you to put your mark on with the décor. There are plenty of possibilities to create your dream wedding, and the well-landscaped grounds, wooded surroundings, and ballrooms offer the detachment

27+ Best Marin County Wedding Venues The Ultimate Guide to the 27+ Best Marin County Wedding Venues(complete with pricing, photos, and videos) If you are looking for the best Marin County wedding venues, you are in luck! This is an ultimate guide to some of the best wedding venues in Marin County and outlines a variety of settings for your celebration! If you wanting something more casual, a wedding in Muir Woods is one of the more popular ideas for Marin County wedding venues, but read below for others that you may not have heard of!  Cavallo Point (Marin) Rental fee: inquire for custom quote Of all the Marin County wedding venues, this one has my favorite view with a beautiful backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge amidst rolling hills. Couples will find six venues to choose from that can host up to 250 people at this venue with one of the best views in Marin County. Check out my guide on how to plan a Cavallo Point Lodge wedding for more info If you’d like to see a real wedding from this venue, check out this full gallery from a Cavallo Point wedding photo by Ian Chin Photography photo by Ian Chin Photography Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley) Rental Fee: $160 – $180/hour; 4-hour minimumDeposit: $500 – $1,000  Mill Valley Community Center is one of the more affordable Marin County wedding venues. The Cascade Room features a cathedral ceiling and wood floors with a built-in sound system and can hold 285 people with a dining setup. Residents of Mill Valley receive a small discount. There is an option for ceremonies in the redwoods nearby at Old Mill Park.  Check out my Mill Valley Community Center wedding guide for more info photo by Ian Chin Photography Old Mill Park (Mill Valley) Rental fee: $175 – $275 / hour Outdoor seating an a raised stage at this quiet Redwood Park is perfect for a small gathering for your wedding under the trees. It is one of the only places I know outdoors that offers seating, so this is the perfect choice when considering other guests,. The seating is roughly 25 feet away so having a mic would be helpful if the guests are going to be seated. Popular after the ceremony here is to have a reception at Outdoor Art Club or Mill Valley Community Center, making this one of the most popular Marin County wedding venues. Check out my Old Mill Park Wedding Planning Guide photo by Ian Chin Photography photo by Ian Chin Photography Deer Park Villa (Fairfield) Rental fee: Submit contact form for info Specializing in beautiful fairytale weddings, this is one of my favorite outdoor Marin County wedding venues that allows you to exchange vows in a gorgeous redwood grove beneath the towering trees, a perfect backdrop for photos. Have a truly enchanting wedding with a natural theme.  Check out my Deer Park Villa wedding guide for more info Community Congregational Church (Tiburon) Rental fee: contact for pricing This hidden gem offers views of the rolling hills of Tiburon with a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and Mt. Tamalpais out on the ceremony lawn. photo by Ian Chin Photography The Outdoor Art Club (Mill Valley) Rental fee: $5,000 – $5,400 The Outdoor Art Club is a Mill Valley nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve and promote natural outdoor spaces. As such, it is one of the more surprisingly affordable Marin County wedding venues centrally located in Mill Valley. It offers a nice secluded location for an outdoor ceremony with a reception following in the century-old clubhouse.  The Haven at Tomales (Tomales) Rental fee: Submit contact form for info Craft your perfect wedding with your choice of a number of serene settings. Personal favorites include the Terraced Garden with a sweeping canyon view or in front of the waterfall tree. While there are many excellent Marin County wedding venues, The Haven at Tomales stands out for rustic elegance.  CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS MARIN COUNTY WEDDING VENUES University of Redlands Marin Campus (San Anselmo) Rental fee: $1,000 – $3,500 (six venues to choose from) The University of the Redlands Marin Campus is truly one of the more unique and stunning Marin County wedding venues with its castle grounds. This San Anselmo wedding venue features six venues; however, my personal favorite is Alexander Hall, a stunning indoor reception area with a stone, castle-like exterior. Geneva Terrace provides another excellent option for your outdoor ceremony or reception with its labyrinth. Check out my University of Redlands Wedding Planning Guide The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap (San Rafael) Rental fee: $750 – $6000Service : 20% Located in San Rafael, the Peacock Gap is a picture perfect setting with views of the native landscape and golf course. Their popular terrace provides awesome photo opportunities and great views that you would expect from a world class golf course. This is one of the larger Marin County wedding venues that can accomodate up to a thousand guests since they have two main areas to hold a wedding. Landmarks Art & Garden Center (Tiburon) Rental fee: $3,500 – $4,500 depending on guest count (8 hours)Extra hours: $300/hourDeposit: 50% A beautiful, scenic seaside retreat awaits you at this wedding venue in Marin County. Here you’ll find beautiful gardens and an old farmhouse, perfect for an elegant setting with up to 150 people. Located in charming Tiburon, you’ll have panoramic views that make for excellent photos.  Maan Farms (Bolinas) Packages: $9,440 – $18,880 Maan Farms provides all-inclusive service including use of an antique barn and covered patio, full setup, and a buffet dinner with options to upgrade. Packages vary based on time of day and number of guests. This site has an idyllic country charm with three ceremony sites including one with a view of Mt. Baker, surrounded by sunflowers.  Olema House (Olema) Rental fee: Submit contact form for info A peaceful respite for a beautiful ceremony, the Olema House can host up to 150 people. The tranquil garden setting overlooks a small creek.