photo by
Christina McNeill
Weddings
25 of the Bay Area's Most Stunning Wedding Venues
Bay Area wedding venues are some of the most exclusive and sought after in the country, for good reason. Many of these breathtaking venues offer obviously beautiful amenities such as ocean or sprawling vineyard views while others are...
Bay Area wedding venues are some of the most exclusive and sought after in the country, for good reason. Many of these breathtaking venues offer obviously beautiful amenities such as ocean or sprawling vineyard views while others are more subtle, like wedding toasts made with estate wines or the option to arrive at your ceremony by boat. A few of these wedding venues have been around for decades or even centuries, passed down from generation to generation, imbuing those spectacular spaces with a special kind of “marry-making” magic found in few other places.
From intimate, mountainside canyon ranches to time worn winery ruins, organic apple orchards, architecturally significant turn-of-the-century buildings, waterfront lighthouses and oceanfront barns, here are 24 reasons to get married in the Bay Area.
Planning a wedding? Offer your guests exclusive room rates (without making a room block!) with this link →
Reporter: Katie Bush | Location: Peace Barn
From intimate, mountainside canyon ranches to time worn winery ruins, organic apple orchards, architecturally significant turn-of-the-century buildings, waterfront lighthouses and oceanfront barns, here are 24 reasons to get married in the Bay Area.
Planning a wedding? Offer your guests exclusive room rates (without making a room block!) with this link →
Reporter: Katie Bush | Location: Peace Barn
If you’re looking for a statement-making wedding venue for a large (or small) guest list, Villa Montalvo at Montalvo Arts Center is an extraordinary architectural landmark set against the Santa Cruz Mountains with elegant space for everyone you’ve ever known. Surrounded by expansive gardens, an arboretum and hundreds of acres of hiking trails, choose to wed on the great lawn in the shadow of the Italian-style villa or within the aptly named Love Temple, hidden behind dramatic iron gates within the gardens amidst beautiful marble statues.
For a beautifully woodsy bay area wedding, look no further than Chalet View Lodge. This elegantly rustic 4-star boutique resort is adjacent to thousands of acres of national forest. Expect 50 fully outfitted guest rooms, a ceremony on a sprawling lawn under a canopy of trees, cocktail hour on the banks of a fishing pond and the option to host your reception on an exclusive 9-hole golf course. This isn’t simply a wedding venue, it’s an experience your guests will be talking about long after your big day is done.
Located just 35 miles north of San Francisco, McEvoy Ranch is a sprawling property boasting 80 acres of organic olive trees, extensive flower and vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, seven acres of grapevines and several beautiful buildings. Accommodating up to 150 guests, the options for weddings at the ranch are nearly endless: from I-do's in the greenhouse to receptions in the olive groves, the choice is yours.
Beaulieu Garden is a private, family-owned estate and one of the oldest wine producing vineyards in the Napa Valley. If you can imagine a ceremony in a magical sunken garden, followed by dinner in a sun dappled arbor, and ending with dancing under the stars next to a sparkling pool surrounded by grape vines, this is certainly the sweetest setting for your wedding.
Be the first to book this beautiful, new barn: The Barn at Green Valley, a beautifully custom built barn located in wine region. Just 20 minutes from Napa Valley and 40 minutes from San Francisco, it is the perfect location for your wedding with the 8,000 sqft barn accommodating up to 220 people. Did we mention the breathtaking chandeliers, open concept and massively beautiful custom-built bar?
For a beautifully immersive wine country wedding experience, book Beltane Ranch, dating back to 1892 and located in the heart of Sonoma Valley. With accolades from Forbes Magazine, Food + Wine and National Geographic Traveler among others, it’s clear this luxurious, family-owned property is doing something very right. The highly acclaimed boutique winery includes a redone six-room Victorian ranch house for the bridal party, organic gardens and a sprawling lawn venue with vineyard views under a canopy of ancient oak trees.
The Peace Barn is an elegantly eclectic yet rustic setting for a magical wedding just 30 miles up the coast from San Francisco. Host your ceremony or reception surrounded by meadows of cypress and willows overlooking the Bolinas Lagoon or inside the beautiful barn with multi-colored chandeliers. Your guests will enjoy catering by renowned Paula LeDuc Fine Catering and enjoy the pervasive ethos of celebrating your love and a slower, more thoughtful way of living.
As one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, the fabulous Ferry Building has been a beacon for travelers arriving by ferryboat and currently a celebrated gathering space and marketplace on the colorful waterfront. It’s also a grand and gorgeous wedding venue for up to 800 guests. Iconic photo opportunities abound throughout the building, the Grand Hall is noteworthy for its soaring ceilings and beautifully tiled floors, while the clock tower has been a symbol of San Francisco since the turn-of-the-century.
Tucked into a private canyon in the Upper Napa Valley spread out over 157 award-winning acres lies Calistoga Ranch. In addition to the stunning property that includes ancient oak trees, rolling hills, expansive views and a private lake, there are three equally unique and breathtaking wedding venues to choose from. The Wine Cave is the resort’s largest indoor venue and like a scene straight from ancient Italy, Lommel Lawn is outdoors and lakeside while The Vineyard Venue is tucked inside the resort’s very own vineyard, tented for a superb indoor/outdoor feel.
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In the heart of cutting-edge Silicon Valley lies a beautiful throwback to another time, Rengstorff House, a Victorian Italianate house from 1867. Surrounded by sprawling lawns and adjacent to a picturesque lake, there are photo opportunities at every turn. While ceremonies and receptions are held outdoors, guests can take a step back in time to view the interiors filled with ornate brass chandeliers, Victorian plaster rosettes, push-button light switches, Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper designs, as well as Eastlake furniture appropriate to the time.
Environmentally conscious and stunningly beautiful, Olympia’s Valley Estate is an organic dairy farm and apple orchard in southwestern Sonoma Valley. Radiantly rustic wedding amenities include the Victorian House, sprawling lawns, beautiful barn, grounds with a lake and small dock as well as the apple orchards and gardens.
Annadel Estate Winery is a supremely elegant winery, organic farm and heirloom floral business dating back to 1880. Nestled on over 40 acres in the Sonoma Valley of the Moon, the property includes dreamy details like fields of heirloom roses, rolling green vineyards and majestic woodlands. As far as time-worn romance is concerned, the 12 ft. high winery ruins covered in vines, flowers and greenery is an ideal place for a historic wedding, followed by a reception in the naturally distressed barn framed by creeping red roses.
The Lighthouse at Glen Cove Marina is a serene waterfront oasis built in 1910 mixing modern-day conveniences with historic charm. The three-story lighthouse is set between two sprawling lawns overlooking the water and also includes a beautiful vineyard, spectacular for photos. For those looking to make an unforgettable entrance, the lighthouse will assist you in arriving to your ceremony by chartered boat.
For a magical wedding ceremony set in the midst of towering redwoods and intimately nestled in a canyon at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Redwood Retreat at Fernwood Cellars is the family-owned venue of your dreams. Choose from three equally stunning wedding venues surrounded by redwoods, based on guest count (up to 200). Also home to acres of vineyards, enjoy amenities such as a access to a private tasting room, bocce court and a beautiful bridal suite with overnight accommodations.
Located in one of the few remaining apricot orchards of Santa Clara Valley and built in 1905, Los Altos History Museum is a beautiful Craftsman-style farmhouse, surrounded by spacious courtyards, cherry trees and perfect pergolas. Previous couples have mentioned how seamlessly the space translates from indoors to outdoors, allowing for “cocktail hour in the forest, photo booth in the canopy, dancing indoors [and] dinner on the patio.”
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch is one of the premiere farm-to-table experiences in Napa Valley and features estate grown wines, organic produce, grass-fed beef and lamb, homemade honey and olive oil as well as a stunning array of wedding venues to accompany the delicious food. Couples can choose from the vineyard lawn complete with fire pits or the beautiful, airy barn and any one of the five ceremony sites (including the lawn and barn), apple meadow, pergola and walnut tree.
Santa Lucia Preserve is a dynamic member-owned and governed community with a commitment to the nature it inhabits. While any events that take place within the preserve must be member-sponsored, its beautiful surroundings and amenities are certainly worth it. Included in the grounds are a 1920’s hacienda, award-winning golf course, equestrian center with horse trails, a private lake and the breathtaking Redwood Grove, utterly magical for a ceremony underneath the 100-foot canopies.
For a dreamy woodland wedding, look no further than The Mountain Terrace, complete with a lodge and antique bar. Towering redwoods stand watch over the property while vibrant views include San Francisco Bay and the hills beyond. Take over the sprawling lawn, dining room and outdoor patio for the perfect indoor/outdoor wedding of your dreams.
Photo by The Cheese School
A beautiful place for the fromage-inclined, or otherwise, The Cheese School is a lush garden space in the Mission District, utterly lovely and unique for an intimate wedding. While offering classes on the appreciation of cheese, they also provide custom catering for events. The space includes Stable Cafe overflowing with fruit trees, a brick floor, and beautiful plants. Meander out the back and find an atrium with an outdoor kitchen, a true hidden gem of a wedding venue in an unexpected spot in the city.
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For a laid-back yet breathtakingly beautiful wedding set on a piece of California’s rugged coastline, study up on Slide Ranch, an environmental non-profit organization with a bohemian soul. Marry overlooking the Pacific, then follow the trail from the venue directly down to the beach for a series of unforgettable sunset photos. Make use of the entirety of the ranch during your wedding, including the coastline, garden, farm, pasture, Mongolian yurt, geodesic dome and farm-to-table kitchen overlooking the ocean. Fun Fact: Jerry Garcia was their first donor, and the Grateful Dead used to practice here.
Centrally located in San Rafael just minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Falkirk Mansion is a Queen Anne Victorian estate dating back to 1888. Boasting eleven magical acres of wooded hillsides, lush rolling lawns, a ceremonial rose garden, private lawn and a spacious verandah for outdoor dining, it’s an utterly utopian setting for a lovely wedding.
Photo by Loews Regency San Francisco Hotel
If it is a wedding venue with a view you’re seeking, try the Loews Regency San Francisco Hotel, occupying the 37th-48th floors of the Bay Area’s third tallest building. The 40th Floor Sky Deck happens to be the highest event venue in the city with sweeping panoramic vistas including the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges and feels as though you’re getting married on a cloud. For an intimate wedding of 60 or less, try the cozy library, chock full of antique books and suede-lined bookshelves.
Built in 1909, The Regency Center is an architecturally significant San Francisco landmark with a colorful past, recently restored with three levels of gathering spaces. Expect breathtaking Beaux-Arts style details like 35-foot ceilings, turn-of-the-century teardrop chandeliers, blonde hardwood floors, a horseshoe-shaped balcony and a built-in stage for a live band within the Grand Ballroom.
If going global without the plane tickets is on your list of wedding wants, consider the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Built in 1916 as the city's main public library, the Beaux-Arts building was renovated in 2003 by architect Gae Auelnti, the visionary behind Paris's Musee de Orsay. Perfect for large or intimate weddings, exchange vows in India or ancient China while moving through a series of five venue spaces perfect for a ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and dancing.
Housed in the noteworthy Musto Building in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, The Battery is a private members-only club with 14 luxury suites, two restaurants, four bars and a whole lot of style. Booking a wedding or event means you’ll become de facto members for the length of your stay and have access to all of the club’s amenities. Host an intimate rehearsal dinner in the Wine Cellar with 35 guests and marry in either The Penthouse with views of downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge or The Parlour, with alabaster chandeliers, “Dior grey walls” and views of Battery Street.
