A Guide To Getting Married in San Francisco
Designing your dream wedding is exciting, especially when you're getting married in the lovely San Francisco. However, there's no denying that wedding planning can feel overwhelming. From researching wedding venues in San Francisco to determining which season to have your wedding, there are many considerations for your big day.
Thankfully, San Francisco wedding planning doesn't have to be a hassle — we've got you covered! Learn how to get married in San Francisco the right way with this complete guide to beautiful wedding venues, the best times of year to get married, San Francisco wedding vendors and tips for getting your marriage license.
San Francisco Wedding Venues
Are you and your partner trying to decide where to get married in San Francisco? From charming botanical gardens to timeless country club settings, this city offers a range of venues to suit multiple tastes and preferences. To start gathering ideas for your dream wedding location, browse this list of some of the best places to get married in the Bay Area.
1. Golden Gate Club
If your dream venue includes delicate cathedral ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, consider the Golden Gate Club at Presidio's Main Post for your big day. Constructed in 1949, this stunning venue once housed several historic treaty signings and a former enlisted men's service club. Now, it's a popular spot to say "I do" in San Fransisco.
Choose from a glorious selection of ceremony and reception spaces when you reserve the Golden Gate Club for your wedding. The lovely Ventana Ballroom can accommodate 300 guests and boasts an elevated stage, internal balconies, an oversized fireplace and a spacious hardwood dancefloor.
Meanwhile, the elegant Cypress and Hawthorn ballrooms give way to a picturesque courtyard with a capacity of 200 guests. The Presidio Chapel is another timeless choice for your ceremony. Enjoy extraordinary event spaces and revival-style architecture that takes you back in time when you book with the Golden Gate Club.
2. Julia Morgan Ballroom
Easily one of the most beautiful places to get married in San Francisco, the Julia Morgan Ballroom is a true architectural gem. Housed in the Exchange Merchants Building in downtown San Francisco, this dreamy ballroom venue features arched floor-to-ceiling windows, glamorous downtown views, lavish hand-carved wood detailing and a stunning coffered ceiling.
Host your wedding at the Julia Morgan Ballroom for a picturesque ceremony you'll treasure for life. This venue can accommodate 350 seated guests.
3. Conservatory of Flowers
Available to rent for a ceremony, cocktail hour or reception with dinner and dancing, the Conservatory of Flowers is a stunning botanical garden on San Francisco's John F. Kennedy Drive. This gorgeous Victorian-era greenhouse is Golden Gate Park's oldest existing building and features a lush variety of seasonal and tropical flowers, providing the perfect colorful backdrop for your wedding photos.
The unique selection of ceremony and reception spaces can seat anywhere from 50 to 200 guests, making this venue ideal for both intimate and larger weddings. Skip the hassle and expense of a destination wedding by reserving a space at the Bay Area's exotic Conservatory of Flowers.
4. Flood Mansion
Located in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, the James Leary Flood Mansion transforms from a private school into a remarkable event venue to host your perfect wedding. Featuring over 6,000 square feet of available rental space, the Flood Mansion is the perfect blend of classic styles like Italian Renaissance, Georgian, Tudor and Rococo.
Built in 1915, this impressive venue boasts elegant Corinthian columns, a marble fireplace, coffered ceiling, intricate parquet flooring and painted murals for a stunning architectural backdrop to accompany your big day. The entire main floor can accommodate 165 seated guests and 300 standing guests. Weather permitting, there's also a gorgeous enclosed courtyard to host the outdoor cocktail hour or reception of your dreams.
5. Domenico Winery
Located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the heart of the Bay Area, Domenico Winery is the prime reception spot for an evening of celebration and fun.
Boasting a romantic cask room with over 6,200 square feet of space, French oak wine barrels, gorgeous chandeliers and string lights — not to mention glasses of delicious award-winning wines — this urban winery is ideal for receptions with up to 200 guests. Add a touch of rustic beauty and ambiance to your big day when you rent the Domenico Winery's one-of-a-kind event space.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in San Francisco
Choosing the right time of year to tie the knot is just as important as picking the perfect venue. If you need help determining the best season to have your wedding in San Francisco, this section will provide some useful tips.
Keep in mind there is no single best time of the year to get married here. It ultimately depends on your preferences and vision for your special day. The Bay Area, in particular, has pretty nice weather all year, so any season is fair game for weddings. Even so, below are some factors that may help you choose the right time of year to have your wedding.
Fall
With colorful autumn hues giving way to the unparalleled city skyline, it's no surprise that fall is a popular time for weddings in San Francisco. While there's a slight chance of rain during this season, September and October generally offer reliable weather and gorgeous outdoor landscapes for wedding photos. Interestingly, September is usually the warmest month of the year in San Francisco!
Because September and October are popular wedding months in the Bay Area, be sure to book your venue and vendors far in advance.
Winter
In San Francisco — and anywhere else, for that matter — winter tends to be a slower time for tourism, weddings and other events. Therefore, a winter wedding provides a greater opportunity to score your top choices for vendors and venues. These can also be more affordable since it's a less busy season.
While winter in San Francisco — specifically December to mid-March — is typically mild, keep in mind it rains frequently during this time since November to March is the rainy season. If you're considering a winter wedding in San Francisco, be prepared to book an indoor venue for your ceremony and reception. Fortunately, there's no shortage of stunning indoor wedding venues in the area.
Spring
Spring can be a beautiful season to have your wedding in San Francisco. From mid-March to May, the days grow milder and pleasantly warm. Rain starts to slow down around this time as well. And, of course, fresh springtime blooms make for a lovely and delicate photo backdrop.
If your heart is set on an outdoor spring wedding, mid to late May would likely be your best bet as temperatures begin to climb during this time. However, you'll always want to have a backup indoor venue just in case — this goes for any season.
Summer
Fog can develop sporadically in the city year-round, but it's especially common in the coastal Bay Area during summer. Because of the cold current that flows along California's east coast and blankets the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco summers are unusually cool.
June through August is usually characterized by foggy mornings, which shift to sunny and clear skies in the afternoon until the fog returns again in the evening. While it's not every couple's cup of tea, fog can make for a unique photo backdrop.
While San Francisco summers are typically dry, temperatures may be unpredictable. Once again, be sure to have a backup indoor venue if you're planning an outdoor wedding. This way, if it turns out to be chillier than expected when your wedding day rolls around, you'll be prepared. Summer can also be a busy season for weddings, events and tourism, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Wedding Vendors in the Bay Area
As you and your partner plan your wedding, we recommend outsourcing some responsibilities — like food, music, flowers and photography — to local vendors. Researching top vendors in the area is a great place to start, but many wedding venues can offer their recommendations for San Francisco wedding favor ideas, florists, caterers and other vendors they've worked with.
As you list potential vendors based on your budget, venue, theme, guest count and other factors, read reviews from other couples to ensure they're reliable. Once your list is complete, call each vendor to meet with them in person. When you find vendors you like, hire them quickly as quality vendors book up fast.
Below are some services you might consider outsourcing to local vendors.
1. Catering
No wedding day is complete without fantastic food and beverages for you and your guests to enjoy. Luckily, San Francisco has a wide variety of professional catering companies. Planning and preparing enough food for everyone is a complex task, so hiring a quality caterer is a great way to reduce some of this wedding planning stress.
To create the perfect menu for your big day, consider getting in touch with one of the Bay Area's top caterers to help you out.
2. Music
Music is essential to set the scene for your ceremony and reception. That's why it's important to research some of the best businesses in San Francisco to handle wedding tunes. Whether you'd prefer a live band, DJ or classy string quartet for your big day, the right music provider can set the tone and elevate the celebration.
3. Photography
By hiring an experienced wedding photographer, you can take comfort in knowing that every special moment is being captured by a professional and reliable individual. This way, you can focus entirely on celebrating with the people you love. If you and your partner are searching for a local photographer to take stunning wedding photos, San Francisco has many to choose from.
4. Hair and Makeup
Attempting to style hair and makeup on your own can be a hassle, especially if you don't have the products and expertise necessary to ensure they last the entire day. When you hire a professional in San Francisco to do your hair and makeup, you can relax knowing they come with the highest quality products and skills to make you picture-perfect.
5. Flowers
Flowers are a great way to accent your wedding theme, style and decor. Consider reaching out to one of San Francisco's top florists to handle this task for you. From bridesmaid bouquets to table centerpieces, an experienced florist can create beautiful arrangements based on your preferred color or variety. Even if you don't know where to begin with choosing flowers, they can help you out.
6. Videography
Last but not least, consider hiring a wedding videographer for your big day. A high-quality wedding video provides a beautiful keepsake of your celebration and the opportunity to see moments you may have missed. It's also a great way to experience your wedding from a new perspective and include loved ones who were unable to attend.
If you're looking for the best San Francisco wedding videographers, look no further than Brighter Lights. We create wedding videos in San Francisco and in locations across the country so you can remember every moment of your special day.
Wedding License Tips
While you're likely occupied with finding the perfect venue, wedding dress, florist and caterer, it's important not to overlook another crucial step — getting your San Francisco wedding license. This section will outline some steps for getting a marriage license in this area.
1. Schedule an Appointment
First, you'll want to make an appointment to apply for and obtain your marriage license. You can do this online through the City and County of San Francisco. You can make your reservation up to 90 days in advance.
2. Bring Documentation
Be sure to bring the following documents on the day of your marriage license appointment:
A valid, unexpired photo ID for each person
A completed marriage license application
A certified copy of annulment, divorce, termination or death record if either party's previous marriage ended within the past 90 days
3. Pay Marriage License Fee
The current marriage license fee in San Francisco is $113, but this price is subject to change. Acceptable payment methods include cash, credit and debit card, personal check, money order and cashier's checks. You can make checks payable to SF County Clerk. You can find more information regarding current fees and payment methods online.
For general information and other marriage requirements in California, visit San Francisco's website any time.
Contact Brighter Lights for Wedding Videography Services
After learning how to plan a San Francisco Bay Area wedding, we hope you've gathered some valuable tips for getting married in this timeless city. If booking a professional wedding videographer to capture your big day is on your wedding checklist, our team at Brighter Lights would be honored to take on this responsibility.
With three packages to choose from — each with hours of 4K Ultra High Def Resolution for quality and clear footage — you can feel confident that our award-winning videography services will produce extraordinary results, telling your love story in the most beautiful way possible.
Allow us to capture every wedding day highlight for a video you'll cherish forever. Contact us to book wedding videography today!
