With less than an hour or two drive you can find the best wedding venues near San Francisco. It’s impossible to create a list of all the best wedding venues near San Francisco, so I’ve narrowed it down to the one’s I’ve captured a wedding at and that I consider to be the best wedding venues in the Bay Area. This will be ongoing post that I will continue to update overtime. All of these wedding venues make for an excellent backdrop for your wedding. Each venue has unique aspects that will help you achieve your dream wedding. If you have any questions about any of these wedding venues please feel free to send me an email. I’m always happy to help with the wedding planning process.
Leonard Lake Reserve – Ukiah, CA
“It’s an amazingly beautiful location. You will show up and literally see no one that you haven’t invited for the weekend. The quality of the accommodation is also really good for the price. The owners/operators are super-friendly. They have everything you need for a basic wedding setup either included in the price or available to rent for a minimal fee. You can have a bonfire (unless it’s the middle of a really bad drought). Prices include lodging for up to about 50 people for 2-3 nights. It’s really best for a smaller wedding where everyone stays at the venue for the weekend. You will need to organize food for the weekend – again, it’s about an hour to the closest grocery store. They book up pretty far in advance, and have limited availability for special events (if you are having a small, mostly self-catered, wedding, get in touch to see if you count as a special event). It may take awhile to set up a site visit, since it’s a small, family-run place.” –A Practical Wedding
Campovida – Hopland, CA
“The property offers a range of possibilities to gather with loved ones. It’s truly up to you how you might use this space to connect.” -Campovida
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards – Sonoma, CA
“St. Francis Winery is an ideal setting for your private event or wedding in Wine Country. Reminiscent of a Tuscan estate, our mission style Tasting Room and Dining Room are bordered by the Mayacamas Mountains with sweeping views of the Sonoma Valley. Our expansive lawn is surrounded by estate vineyards with Hood Mountain as a breathtaking backdrop. The Dining Room, with its coffered ceiling and Palladian windows, opens onto the patio in the summer and offers warmth from its tile-lined fireplace in the winter.
St. Francis Winery can accommodate groups from 20 to 220 as well as offer a wide array of wine tastings, luncheons and corporate dinners, catered by our in-house culinary team. St. Francis is dedicated to working with you to provide your guests with an occasion memorable for its great wine, delicious food and wine country hospitality.” –St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Website
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
“Beloved by brides, the Garden’s Stephen T. Mather Redwood Grove provides an enchanting setting for weddings. Coast redwoods planted in the 1930’s tower above a lush forest floor of companion native California plantings.
The centerpiece of the grove is the intimate Townsend Amphitheatre, the setting for forest fantasy weddings. The bridal party glides under the towering redwood canopy to meet the gathered guests at the amphitheatre and solemnize their union in this magnificent cathedral of redwoods.” –UC Botanical Garden Website
Log Cabin – San Francisco, CA
“Rustic, charming, and historic. Looks like a log cabin! Beautiful fireplace (no extra permit required either), built in dance floor. Pretty inexpensive for SF. Indoor and outdoor space. Gorgeous view. They have chairs and tables available to rent (for an extra fee) and though you have to choose from their catering list, it has lots of options. We were allowed to bring our own alcohol so long as we had someone insured serve it.” –A Practical Wedding
Cow Track Ranch – Nicasio, CA
“An organic blend of nature in a casual rustic atmosphere offering a truly unique weekend experience. The surrounding hills are the backdrop for an exquisite reception setting and the property accommodates celebrations of all sizes. We believe in keeping things simple, providing flexibility and providing a relaxing environment for your event. We simply provide the venue and leave the rest to you.” –Cow Track Ranch Website
Stern Grove Clubhouse – San Francisco, CA
“A redwood getaway right in San Francisco. Built in 1892, the house is in pretty good shape with hardwood floors, a large wrap-around porch, and Victorian styling. Best of all, you can bring in your own food and drinks, so you can choose the best option for your budget. A great site if you have a lot of kids attending, as there is plenty of space to run around. You have to be pretty low maintenance and accept that the city parks will rent you the space and it’s up to you to make it happen.” –A Practical Wedding
Skyfall Panoramic Hills
“Skyfall Panoramic Hills is a private estate and has unparalleled views of the entire Bay Area including all 5 bay area bridges – the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge as well as the San Rafael, San Mateo, Dumbarton Bridges. Built with old world brick, this enchanting place is the best kept secret in the East Bay.” –Skyfall Panoramic Hills
Roberts Regional Recreation Area Wedding – Oakland Wedding Venue
Do you want to get married in the Redwoods? Then this is the place for you. Affordable and short drive for your guests.
Saratoga Springs – Affordable Bay Area Wedding Venue
“We loved the affordability and picturesque landscape of Saratoga Springs and the fact that catering was part of the package! So many decisions could be made in one place and they have wedding planners to help you along the way and one is present on the big day.” -Yelp Review
Outdoor Art Club – Mill Valley, CA
“It’s significantly cheaper than comparable places in the Bay Area. They provide all tables and chairs at no extra cost. You rent the space for the entire day, allowing ample time to set up. It has a fully equipped kitchen for your caterer. (You can choose your own caterer!) There’s space for an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception, and it has a lot of character and Arts & Crafts-era charm as well as beautiful gardens, which is great for those of us who don’t want to DIY all the wedding decorations.” -A Practical Wedding
Dawn Ranch Lodge – Guerneville Wedding Venue
“Dawn Ranch Lodge have helped over 300 couples start their lives together and the rustic, beautifully landscaped grounds are the perfect location to have your dream wedding. The Lodge can accommodate up to 500 people for wedding ceremonies.” -Sonoma
Fern River Resort – Santa Cruz
“Fern River Resort was the site of the wedding of our dreams. All that we had hoped for, planned for, and breathlessly discussed for months came to fruition in utterly spectacular fashion, and we could not have pulled it off without the exceptional assistance and hospitality that we received from the fine folks at Fern River.” -Yelp Review
Anvil Vineyard and Ranch – Annapolis, CA
“Thank you for everything! We seriously had the best time! This ranch made our wedding weekend the most magical 3 days of our lives. So magical that we’re definitely coming back! Thank you for taking every hiccup in stride and helping us figure things out. Most importantly, thank you for making my vision of hanging lights, handmade garlands, and about a thousand pompoms come to life.” –Anjelika & David
OVY Camp – San Gregorio, CA
“We got married here in May and the venue was absolutely incredible. Matthew went above and beyond to help us throughout the whole weekend and preparations up to it. The property is beautiful and the price is incredibly reasonable for the area and for the value of what you get. If you are looking for an outdoor venue with a hall for the reception look no further. I can not recommend this property enough!” -Jason R.
Old Saint Hilary’s Church – Tiburon, CA
“If you’d like to have your ceremony in a very special place, reserve Old St. Hilary’s in Tiburon. This is a simple deconsecrated chapel (built in 1888)—one of the few California examples of Carpenter’s Gothic style to survive in its original condition and setting. ” -Here Comes The Guide