The 50+ Most Popular Venues for Weddings in San Francisco
Ultimate Guide to the Top Venues for Weddings in San Francisco
(with pricing, photos, and videos)
Here is a list of the best venues for weddings in San Francisco (updated for 2022!). We are so lucky to have such a wide variety of settings in the Bay Area ranging from giant redwood groves, rustic barns, elegant historic buildings, and more, and within a short drive from San Francisco.
With so many options for venues for weddings in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area, it is inevitable I missed some so please feel free to let me know. I will periodically update this page with more photos, individual blog posts, or videos to give you the best most comprehensive information to help plan your dream wedding. If you would like my honest opinion of your venue choices feel free to CONTACT ME – happy to help!
Favorite San Francisco Elopement Locations: The Mountain Terrace, Shelldance Orchid Gardens, Hastings House Garden Weddings
My Personal Favorite Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Muir Woods
Shelldance Orchid Gardens
Palace of Fine Arts
San Francisco City Hall
Legion of Honor
Stern Grove
The Olympic Club
The Mountain Terrace
Hastings House Garden Weddings
Best “Only in San Francisco” Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Want a location that shows off that you are in San Francisco? All of these wedding venues in San Francisco have views of the Golden Gate Bridge or other San Francisco landmarks.
Hornblower Cruises (SF)
Rental Fee : $118 / person
For one of the more unique venues for weddings in San Francisco, why not sail around the San Francisco Bay! This popular and unique excursion allows you and your guest unique views of San Francisco as well as the ability to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge for some unique photographs. In addition, their food is world class from my own experiences.
Cavallo Point (Sausalito)
Rental Fee : Contact for pricing
Located across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, no other wedding venues in SF shows off the Golden Gate Bridge as nicely as Cavallo Point. Sitting across a hill overlooking the Bridge and the Bay, choosing this San Francisco wedding venue will treat your guests to one of the most breathtaking views of San Francisco.
Hotel Vitale (SF)
Packages : $185 – $260 / person
Situated along the Embarcadero, Hotel Vitale offers a panoramic view of both the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. It is one of the few rooftop venues for weddings in San Francisco as well. Being a hotel, they offer all inclusive services for you and your guests.
Fort Mason Center (SF)
Rental Fee : $1,650 – $11,000
Best Outdoor Wedding Venues in San Francisco:
Love to be surrounded by trees and being outdoors in nature? These are the best wedding venues in SF and beyond with gorgeous views.
The Mountain Terrace (Woodside)
Rental Fee : $2,500 – $4,500 (ceremony only)
With decades-old trees acting as a wedding ceremony backdrop, The Mountain Terrace is the ideal setting for anyone who appreciates natural beauty and basking in the sun and fresh air. With a recently remodeled mega deck, they allow several options for outdoor and indoor receptions, making this one of my favorite wedding venues in SF.
Read more about The Mountain Terrace with my walkthrough
Muir Woods (Mill Valley)
Permit Fee : $60 for up to 30 guests
This popular elopement destination offers the perfect escape to nature by surrounding you with redwood groves all around. It is centrally located between San Francisco and Napa, allowing your out of town guests options in how they explore northern California. In addition to SF City Hall, this is one of my favorite wedding venues in SF for its simplicity and beauty for elopements and small weddings.
Check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding in Muir Woods for more details!
Hastings House Garden Weddings (Half Moon Bay)
Packages start at : $12,000
If you are looking for a secluded “secret” garden look no further than the Hastings House Garden Weddings for your elopement! This enchanting garden only allows for a small number of guests and is seemingly made just for elopements. You need little to no decor at this wedding venue in Half Moon Bay since the beauty is all around you!
Read more about Hastings House Garden Weddings with my walkthrough
Shakespeare Garden (SF)
Reservation Fee : $506
Hourly Rate : $144 (2 hour min)
Refundable Deposit : $500
One of the best places to elope in San Francisco, this small garden in Golden Gate Park allows a great setting for an intimate place to say your vows. One of the more affordable and secluded wedding venues in SF, this is also the most popular Golden Gate Park wedding venue for those wanting a more natural background.
Check out this Shakespeare Garden Wedding for inspiration!
Like what you see? Which venues for weddings in San Francisco fit your style?
Old Mill Park (Mill Valley)
Rental Fee : $125 – $275 / hour
Refundable Deposit : $100 – $1,000
Located in Mill Valley across the Golden Gate Bridge, Old Mill Park is one of the most popular venues for weddings in San Francisco and perfect for those who love nature. They have a separate ampitheater that comes with its own staging and seating, making it a convenient wedding venue in San Francisco for large and small weddings.
Check out my Ultimate Planning Guide for an Old Mill Park Wedding
SF Botanical Garden
Rental Fee : $875 – $10,000
This well manicured Garden in the middle of Golden Gate Park is one of the more forgotten wedding venues in SF since Golden Gate Park is so large. With 55 acres showcasing plants from all over the world, they offer the perfect natural backdrop for your wedding ceremony. Several locations within the Garden are available for your elopement, with even a 1 hour rental package available. The more popular places to elope are the Moon Viewing Garden and the Redwood Grove.
Saratoga Springs (Saratoga)
Rental Fee : $1,000 – $7,450
Refundable Deposit : $100 – $1,000
One of the more impressive venues for weddings in San Francisco, this South Bay wedding venue has a large lawn and a unique bridge that both serve as great photo backdrops for your wedding photos. This is a popular outdoor wedding venue and is gorgeous at sunset.
Check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding in Saratoga Springs
The Old Homestead (Crockett)
Packages : $2,500 – $5,000
Non-Refundable Reservation Fee : $1,000
Refundable Deposit : $500
The Old Homestead House in Crockett is one of the lesser known Bay Area wedding venues, but offers an affordable venue for your wedding. I consider it a smaller scale and less popular venue comparable to The Mountain Terrace, because it is very similar with a giant deck as well as being surrounded by a grove of redwood trees.
Check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning an Old Homestead Wedding
Deer Park Villa (Fairfax)
Packages : $9,000 – $14,000
Located 21 miles away from San Francisco, this is a gorgeous outdoor wedding venue in San Francisco Bay Area, offering a beautiful ceremony backdrop under trees. It is one of my favorite venues for weddings in San Francisco because of the nicely manicured grounds.
Check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning a Deer Park Villa Wedding
Nestldown (Los Gatos)
Packages : $9,500 – $28,000
This private wedding venue located in the South Bay, is one of the more enchanting wedding venues in San Francisco. The estate is a nature lovers paradise, offering a scenic wedding venue one would imagine comes from a movie. This is one of the more exclusive venues for weddings in San Francisco because it is privately owned, but once inside you will understand why it is so popular.
Brownstone Gardens (Oakley)
Packages : $2,750 – $9,450
Ceremony Only : $1,400
Elopement Package : $1700
Best Garden Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Being outdoors is one thing, but having a venue dedicated to preserving flowers and plants makes it so much better!
Shelldance Orchid Gardens (Pacifica)
Rental Fee: $1,400 for a full day
With a setting seemingly straight from a movie, Shelldance Orchid Gardens is truly a one of a kind elopement setting and one of my favorite wedding venues in San Francisco. Simply looking around, there is little doubt why this is one of the most gorgeous and best wedding venues in SF in my opinion.
Read more about Shelldance Orchid Gardens with my walkthrough
The Conservatory of Flowers (SF)
Packages: $3,500-$20,000 (depends on spaces reserved)
Located in Golden Gate Park, The Conservatory of Flowers is one of the most stunning Golden Gate Park wedding venues for those who want to be surrounded by rare and unique plants. Located in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers also offers outdoor seating, allowing your guests to enjoy dining under the stars even!
UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens
Weddings: $2,800 – $7,800
Receptions: $1,200 – $2,200
Elopement: $1,400
Small ceremony: $2,000
The UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens is located in the Berkeley Hills offering a comfortable temperature and lovely views of the East Bay Hills. Walking around this well maintained garden will allow for numerous photo opportunities and memories and is a solid choice for wedding venues in SF.
SF Botanical Garden
Rental Fee : $875 – $10,000
With 6.2 acres of land, the San Francisco Botanical Gardens offers a wedding venue appropriate for most any and every sized wedding. The great lawn offered at this venue allows for one of the highest guest counts possible with a capacity of 500 guests. It is more commonly used for smaller elopements as the garden offers three other wedding locations to say your vows, making this one of the most flexible venues for weddings in San Francisco.
Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross)
Packages: $2,000 – $7,500 (depends on spaces and hours reserved)
This well maintained 11 acre garden has enough space to cater to 300 guests, but also serves intimate weddings and has multiple locations to marry. It is run by a non profit organization, so this location potentially has a lower rental rate than other similar venues of similar size. I think it is one of the best places to elope in Mill Valley for this reason with a compromise between price and setting.
Unique Wedding Venues in San Francisco CA:
Below are some unique San Francisco wedding venues that include castles, halls of flowers, and domes, among others.
Palace of Fine Arts (SF)
Reservation Fee: $506
Hourly Rate (2 hour minimum): $144
Refundable deposit: $500
The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most surprisingly affordable and grand venues for weddings in San Francisco. Run by the San Francisco Park and Recreation office, you can have a Palace of Fine Arts wedding cheaper than you expect! With such grand architecture and natural photo appeal, The Palace of Fine Arts is perfect for small elopements and larger weddings equally.
Check out my Palace of Fine Arts wedding walkthrough
Shelldance Orchid Gardens (Pacifica)
Rental Fee: $1,400 for a full day
With a setting seemingly straight from a movie, Shelldance Orchid Gardens is truly a one of a kind elopement setting and one of my favorite wedding venues in San Francisco. Simply looking around, there is little doubt why this is one of the most gorgeous places for an elopement in San Francisco.
Read more about Shelldance Orchid Gardens with my walkthrough
University of Redlands Marin Campus (San Anselmo)
Rental Fee: $1,000 – $3,500
When one thinks of getting married in castles, one thinks of Italy. What sets the University of Redlands (formerly SF Theological Seminary) apart from other venues for weddings in San Francisco is that it offers a castle and is a unique backdrop for your wedding. With several locations to have your wedding ceremony, this wedding venue has something for everyone.
Check out my Ultimate Guide to Planning a University of Redlands Wedding
Chabot Space and Science Center (Oakland)
Small ceremony: $900
Large Ceremony: Contact for Pricing
Being a museum and space center, this is one of those San Francisco wedding venues will leave your guests with some awesome memories. Needless to say, the uniqueness of this wedding venue in Oakland will allow your guests to walk around and entertain themselves. You can have your ceremony outdoors or even in their theater for an epic wedding ceremony.
Conservatory of Flowers (SF)
Packages: $3,500 – $20,000 (depends on spaces reserved)
For those who prefer a location surrounded by plants and flowers, the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park is a perfect choice for a wedding venue in San Francisco. One of the most popular sites to visit in Golden Gate Park, this large greenhouse in the middle of Golden Gate Park will easily set your wedding apart from everyone else’s and is one of the more impressive wedding venues in SF.
San Francisco City Hall
Marriage License: $110
Ceremony: $90
Location (optional): $1,000 – $5,000
The most popular venues for weddings in San Francisco, San Francisco City Hall is used most every day for weddings and elopements. They hold over 30 weddings every weekday, but you can rent it out on the weekends for just you and your party. The architecture is like no other in California and is why its one of my favorite wedding venues in SF.
Take a look at my San Francisco Weddings page for more information.
Best Luxury Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Looking for luxury San Francisco wedding venues that will wow your guests and make your wedding even more memorable?
Julia Morgan Ballroom (SF)
Rental Fee: $6,500 – $12,500|
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district, Julia Morgan Ballroom weddings appeal to those Couples that strive for elegance and class for their wedding venue. With the name of Julia Morgan attached to it, you know that this top floor wedding venue in San Francisco will be impressive.
California Academy of Sciences (SF)
Rental Fee: $15,000 – $45,000
Having a California Academy of Sciences wedding is definitely one of those weddings that will offer your guests a truly unique experience, and be one that they will never forget. No entertainment is needed since the entertainment is literally all around you, for 4 floors! Your California Academy of Sciences wedding can be held in an all-in-one aquarium, planetarium, and history museum. Who else can say they have wedding photos under a tank full of sea creatures or around a T-Rex? This is my favorite unique venues for weddings in San Francisco.
Check out my California Academy of Sciences Wedding Walkthrough
Asian Art Museum (SF)
Rental Fee: $2,000 – $13,000
Nonrefundable deposit: $5,000
Located across San Francisco City Hall, choosing an Asian Art Museum provides an essential location for you and your guests. One of the more elegant wedding venues in San Francisco, this location can hold several hundred guests and will easily provide a chic backdrop for your wedding photos.
The Palace Hotel (SF)
Packages: $195 – $245 / person
When I think of a palace hotel wedding, I can imagine an elegant black-tie affair with one of the most impressive and expensive foyers in the world. You know this hotel will check all the marks for a stress-free wedding. This is one of the most upscale hotels in the City and I have even gone here for a Mother’s Day brunch because I love it so much.
The Flood Mansion
Rental Fee: starts at $11,500
San Francisco City Hall
Marriage License: $110
Ceremony: $90
Different Locations (optional): $1,000 – $5,000
The most popular wedding venue in San Francisco, San Francisco City Hall is used most every day for weddings and elopements. They hold over 30 weddings every weekday, but you can rent it out on the weekends for just you and your party.
Take a look at my San Francisco Weddings page for more information.
Legion of Honor
Rental Fee: $9,000 – $29,000
Having a Legion of Honor wedding is the perfect compromise for Couples that want an elegant museum wedding venue and a location that is convenient for everyone. Located in a more residential area of SF, you can avoid the stress of traffic and take advantage of more space for sunset photos. This is one of the more popular wedding venues in SF because of their signature white columns for photos.
See my Legion of Honor walkthrough for more information.
Best Country Club Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Country clubs are popular venues for weddings because they have perfectly manicured lawns and impeccable customer service to make your wedding day as flawless as possible
The Olympic Club
City Clubhouse: $2,000 – $3,300
Lakeside Clubhouse: $1,500 – $3,300
An Olympic Club wedding is my preferred choice for a country club wedding venue in San Francisco, catering to those Couples who love the naturally lit interior with floor to ceiling windows that grace the ceremony area. Having photographed here several times, I have come to realize why it is where Barack Obama has golfed while visiting San Francisco, as the venue itself is so well maintained, the staff is on point, and the location of it by the ocean affords it some stunning views especially during sunset. This post is talking about the Lakeside Clubhouse specifically, since there is also another Olympic Club location (the City Clubhouse) in the heart of San Francisco.
Check out my Olympic Club Wedding Walkthrough.
Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club
Contact for pricing
This Palo Alto wedding venue offers a setting and service as expected from a country club in the heart of Silicon Valley. They offer outdoor and indoor capabilities and the location in Palo Alto allows you to easily predict the temperature at this outdoor wedding venue in San Francisco.
Check out this Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club Wedding for inspiration!
Crystal Springs Golf Course (Burlingame)
Wedding Packages: $1,500 – $2,500
Service charge: 22%
Ceremony Only: $1,500 – $2,500
A Crystal Springs Wedding is one of the more unique venues for weddings in San Francisco because the ceremony overlooks a lake! With its location a few miles outside of San Francisco, you get to enjoy the warm weather while being close to SF, allowing your out of town guests to enjoy the City as well.
Check out this Crystal Springs Golf Course Wedding for inspiration!
Presidio Golf and Concordia Club
Packages: $1,500 – $4,000
This wedding venue offers a rustic lodge for your wedding in a smaller country club setting. Perfect for a guest count of less than 100 people, this wedding venue in San Francisco is hidden around the Presidio and nearby Inner Richmond district.
Check out this Ultimate Guide to Planning a Presidio Golf and Concordia Club Wedding
Best Church Venues for Weddings in San Francisco:
Having your wedding at your local church is always a more significant idea, but for those who don’t have any ideas here are a few suggestions.
Swedenborgian Church
Rental Fee: $1,800 – $2,200
50% nonrefundable deposit
A Swedenborgian wedding offers a stunning candle-lit wedding venue that is perfect for Couples who prefer a simpler celebration with less than one hundred guests. This non-denominational wedding venue in San Francisco offers a very intimate setting for your wedding ceremony and as an outdoor lawn for a more casual celebration.
Check out this Ultimate Guide to Planning a Swedenborgian Church Wedding
Stanford Memorial Church (Palo Alto)
Church Fee: $3,500
Nonrefundable deposit: $1,750
Organists Fee: $300
Clergy Fee: $500
In order to have a Stanford Memorial Church wedding, one of you have had to previously attend Stanford University. If you fit this criteria, you know how beautiful this Church is. What better way to get married than on campus where you first me?
Check out this Ultimate Guide to Planning a Stanford Memorial Church Wedding
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Contact for pricing
Saint Mary’s Cathedral is one of the more elegant options for those who want a Church wedding venue in San Francisco. Located around Japantown in the middle of the City, it is a stunning cathedral that anyone passing by would immediately notice.
Grace Cathedral
Rental Fee: $2,500 – $8,500
Nonrefundable deposit: $625 – $2,125
In addition to Saint Mary’s, Grace Cathedral is the other option if you wanted a grander Church wedding. This is one of the more decorated San Francisco wedding venues and is more epic than St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is common for Couples to have their reception a few blocks away at either the Fairmont Hotel or Mark Hopkins Hotel.
Presidio Chapel
Contact for pricing
This quaint and hidden Chapel is located around the Golden Gate Bridge and is easily driven by and ignored. It is one of the smaller venues for weddings in San Francisco, perfect for an elopement with a few guests and can be had for an affordable rate.
Take a look at my Presidio Log Cabin Wedding walkthrough for more information.
Best Winery Venues for Weddings in Napa Valley:
With hundreds of wineries in Napa Valley its hard to define the best, but these are Napa wedding venues I’ve personally been to and love.
Harvest Inn (St. Helena)
Rental Fee: $6,000 – $10,000
Located in St. Helena, having a Harvest Inn wedding is a great choice with several open spaces and ceremony options to choose from. Situated along a major route, the surrounding vineyard backdrop and rolling hills are perfect for your outdoor wedding at the Harvest Inn. It is also available for small elopements as they have 4 areas to choose from for your ceremony.
Check out my Harvest Inn Wedding Walkthrough for more information.
Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford)
Rental Fee: $1,500 – $10,000 (depends on year / spaces reserved)
Auberge du Soleil offers a stunning and scenic wedding venue in Napa Valley for both large weddings and small elopements alike. With a patio overlooking the Napa Hills, this wedding venue also offers Michelin award-winning cuisine so you know you will have a memorable meal.
Check out this Ultimate Guide to Planning an Auberge du Soleil Wedding
V. Sattui Winery (St. Helena)
Rental Fee: $7,750 – $12,250
Catering and Wine minimums: $110 – $135 / person
V. Sattui Winery is actually one of my favorite wineries, but it also doubles as the perfect wedding venue in Napa Valley with a variety of backdrops for your wedding. In addition to the classic vineyard view, they also offer a barrel room for your celebration.
Cornerstone Sonoma (Sonoma)
Rental Fee: $3,500 – $11,500
Having a Cornerstone Sonoma wedding is a wedding venue in Napa that was seemingly made for artists. Known for its architectural garden, this Napa wedding venue is one of the first wineries you come across as you enter Sonoma. It also has a smaller elopement location in the back if you want a smaller scale celebration.
Take a look at this Cornerstone Sonoma wedding for more information.
Long Meadow Ranch (St. Helena)
Rental Fee: $3,000 – $8,000
Long Meadow Ranch is one of the most popular restaurants in the Napa Valley Region, and is quickly bec0ming one of the most popular Napa wedding venues. With 5 different ceremony locations to choose from, they offer a variety of settings for your elopement or large wedding. The most popular areas include the rustic bar and the large lawn that seats up to 300 guests.
Hotel Villagio (Yountville)
Packages: $225 – $525 / person
Capacity: 400 guests
Hotel Villagio is one of two hotels on The Estate of Yountville in Napa Valley. With a capacity of 400 guests, you can enjoy the outdoors in The Pavilion or stay indoors in The Barrel Room in its 2,700 square foot space. It is also available for elopements for up to 20 maximum guests.
Check out this Hotel Villagio Wedding for inspiration
Small Wedding Venues in San Francisco:
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