Welcome to I Do Venues—your insider’s view into San Francisco and California wedding ceremony and reception venues. The industry’s best wedding photographers provide daily design inspiration with professional photographs from of real weddings in the hottest Bay area venues. You can visualize the best themes, color palettes, and design concepts for your wedding venue.
Our practical information on each wedding venue is based on first-hand experience from industry professionals who have successfully executed real weddings at your selected wedding venue. Since choosing your wedding venue is the pivotal choice for designing your dream wedding, make the best decision with I Do Venues’ insight and insider knowledge and be inspired along the way.
Wedding Venue: Kohl Mansion
Photography by Andrew Weeks
Catering and Facilities
This forty-acre estate includes a manor house, carriage house, formal rose garden, and even a pond. There are numerous terraces and patios adjacent to the Manor House, which alone has over eight rooms dedicated solely to the various aspects and needs of your wedding celebration.
Design
The interior spaces of the Kohl Mansion are truly grand both in architecture and space and are rich in history. The dark wood seen throughout the house welcomes guests to a formal, stately reception. Heavy fabrics feel right at home here, including beautiful brocades and damask styles in bold, vibrant colors. Those choosing to use the house for their event might consider using a color palette to include antique gold, moss green, neutral beige, or warm pecan hues. Making sure the fabric chosen for linens has some movement to it and setting the tables with flickering candles will maximize the effects and soothing feeling of the space’s soft, ambient lighting.
Photography
Countless opportunities for creating amazing photographs are available at the Kohl Mansion, as the stately home and its beautifully manicured grounds allow for a diversity of locations, each one evoking a different style and feel.
The checkered black and white marble floor in the mansion’s Morning Room is the ideal space for formal ceremony photography, as it is bordered pristinely by clean, white walls. Its walls of windows allow in lovely natural light, creating the soft, ethereal glow every bride desires for her wedding day. Photographs shot here appear almost heavenly.
Entertainment
The Kohl Mansion often hosts musical events on their magnificent outdoor grounds and indoor spaces, so you can be sure that your wedding and reception music will sound delightful no matter where it is played. The secluded patio and various rooms invite a wide variety of musical styles ranging from acoustic soloists during cocktail hour to a complete band during the reception.
Wedding Venue: Old St. Hilary’s Sneak Preview
Photography By: Elle Jae Weddings
Summary
If the catchword for your wedding is “quaint,” we can only suggest Old St. Hilary’s in Tiburon. Wreathed in rare and gorgeous wildflowers, the surroundings are surreal. A picture-postcard little white church is set high on the hillside of the intimate community of Tiburon.As you look out over the bluff, you can see miles of the beautiful blue San Francisco Bay reach toward the horizon. The view is absolutely breathtaking.
The church sits in the midst of a wildflower preserve. The profusion of flowers includes over 217 species, including several flowers so rare that they only exist in this small plot of land on the tip of the Tiburon Peninsula. All four seasons provide a gorgeous blanket of wildflowers and a perfect location for a quaint, floral-themed wedding.
Wedding Venue: Brazilian Room
Photography By: Andrew Weeks
Catering & Facilities
Indulge in a fairytale forest setting amid native flora, dramatic views of Tilden Park, and serene surroundings. Hosting wedding celebrations since the 1940’s, the facility is a picture perfect setting for the couple who is looking for a traditional outdoor ceremony followed by a grand reception in a classical historic building.
Design
There is little needed in regards to structure at the Brazilian room; however, with vivid, lush green, and deep browns surrounding the area, it is important to bring in color. If your floral color pallet includes bright pinks, fiery oranges and sunny yellows, you will get the most “pop” against the natural green and brown background.
Photography
Capture the magic light available just before sunset by strolling the grounds with your photographer. Together you’ll encounter amazing opportunities for portrait shots which will be enhanced by the setting sun’s reflective properties. Use curving trees and small floral vignettes as backdrops, along with the expansive view out over the hills.
Entertainment
Since the Brazilian Room is such a unique venue, you almost feel the urge to find unique music to match. This is definitely a venue where your music can be “outside the box” in your music tastes.
Wedding Venue: Brazilian Room Design
Photography By: Andrew Weeks
Ceremony
The Brazilian Room is so breathtaking, you only need to add the slightest touches to make the venue your own. A natural jewel of the East Bay, your guests will be astonished by its effortless beauty. Most ceremonies held at the Brazilian Room take advantage of its manicured garden or slate patio. The rustic outdoor space requires only the smallest amount of embellishment. Modest natural wood or white chairs create the best contrast with the historic dark stone building as your backdrop. You may consider accenting the chairs with simple floral arrangements in order to give your ceremony a soft, more finished look. Light and airy themes work well in these surroundings, and with the botanical gardens right next door, this is a great venue for a truly rustic or organic theme. Casually thrown-together floral arrangements, natural accessories like twigs, pine cones, and burlap will allow you to make the space unique to your style and design preferences.
Little is needed in regards to structural additions at the Brazilian room; however, with the lush greens and deep browns that surround you, it is important to bring in splashes of color. Your floral designs should include bright pinks, fiery oranges, and sunny yellows – you will get the most pop from these colorful flowers against the room’s dark background tones. I Do Venues recommends considering seasonal blooms for your celebration. With the botanical garden next door, it is likely that these selections will already appear in the natural surroundings during your wedding month.
Reception
The natural brown tones of the interior wood walls weighing heavily on the room, we recommend bringing warmth into the space through the use of light-colored linens and additional lighting. This will give the space depth and warmth. The amazing fireplace automatically acts as a focal point, but it can be made even more eye-catching with the right decorations. Use this feature and adorn it with garlands, fabrics, or lots of candles.
A fall palette works well in the Brazilian room, shades of copper, curry, burnt orange, and gold bring in elegant texture and the color needed to lighten the overall feel of the room. If you prefer darker colors, consider using a corresponding color palette in deeper hues to create accents throughout the space. Concentrate these colors to make a strong focal point- incorporate them into your napkins, cake table, guest cards, or favors. This will create the feel you desire without weighing down the space with too many dark colors. Greens are another way to draw attention to the Brazilian Room’s beautiful natural surroundings, and its many shades compliments the space very nicely. If you are having a daytime reception or making your vows during the spring or summer months, subtle pastels can be used and create an elegant feel. Shades of soft lavender, buttercup yellow, and cornflower blue help to accentuate the dark wood features of the building. If you do decide to decorate in pastels, select fabrics that have reflective properties so that the colors are light and airy.
Wedding Venue: Villa Montalvo Sneak Preview
Photography by: Andrew Weeks
Summary
The House on The Hill, or as it is known today, Villa Montalvo (or the Montalvo Arts Center) has been capturing the attention of Californians since 1912. The building’s unique architecture, expansive grounds, and artistic interpretations were inspired by the 16th century writer, Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo. Montalvo’s fables were centered on the storybook island of California - a land rich in gold, art, and beauty where winged Griffins protected the treasure from potential threats.
The amazing winged guardians still reside at Villa Montalvo, alongside 175 stunning acres of gorgeous landscape and gardens, hiking trails, a breathtaking Italian style villa, countless fountains and courtyards, and the only true Italianate Garden in Northern California.
If you are looking for a wedding venue that represents the history and luxury of Northern California, look no further… More to come!!
Wedding Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom Design
Photography by: Lisa Lefkowitz
Ceremony
The Julia Morgan Ballroom is a designer’s dream with its classic architecture, open spaces, and intimate enclaves. The space is ideal for the traditional bride that wants to play up the old-world decadence of the venue. Elegant history manifests itself all around the space, and only a little fine tuning is needed to turn this venue into a place that is specific to your style. If you are planning to host your wedding ceremony in the lobby of The Merchants Exchange, I Do Venues suggests rows of silver or white chiavari chairs. These will help in immediately setting a tone of classic elegance - more casual styles tend to look at odds in the opulent, luxurious space. The marvelously vaulted ceiling creates the feel of a European church. You can incorporate its details into your design by using tall, majestic florals and a long aisle runner sprinkled with flowers and hints of gold and silver. Since the sky can be seen through the vaulted glass ceiling, it becomes a part of the space’s ambiance. For this reason, colors such as light robin’s egg blue, cantaloupe as well as rich golds and deep pewters work best.
If your wedding ceremony will be held in the lounge of the Ballroom, traditional jewel tones are your best option. Since these areas are gilded in warmth and dressed in deep hues, the richness of peacock blues, cardinal reds, and classic golds works extremely well. The facility is happy to provide mahogany chiavari chairs at an additional cost, and renting custom-colored cushions that tie in with your color scheme provides yet another well received detail. When choosing flowers for the ceremony, plan for your arrangements to be made big, bigger, and biggest! The high ceiling of the lobby and lavish design of the ballroom’s space demand florals that make a strong statement. Small arrangements easily fade into the background of the room’s powerful presence and immense size, so it’s wise to use fewer large arrangements than to try using a larger quantity of small ones.
Reception
The ballroom’s dark patterned carpets are highly sophisticated, and its lavish draperies let in the perfect amount of light whether it is day or night. Sunlight during the day brightens the rooms, and the gorgeous cityscape lights of the San Francisco skyline pour in during the evening. Couples often feel the need to use elaborate designs in such an incredible space in order to complement its already extravagant décor; however, this is completely unnecessary. While drama is perfectly suited for the Julia Morgan Ballroom, we suggest moving toward simple and elegant décor designs so that a balance is created in the already elaborate space.
There is no need to choose stuffy, classic shades for this venue, as the ballroom lends itself very nicely to fun, bright colors. The amazing mahogany wood used throughout the room gives it its regal air, so I Do Venues recommends creating a contrast to the dark wood by incorporating lighter, brighter color tones. When it comes to the use of various textures, it is wise to keep things simple. I Do Venues recommends classic linen, moiré, or taffeta. Prints with smaller patterns and classic lines can also be quite stunning, but we recommend avoiding flashy, busy patterns or super-shiny satins.If you are not afraid of color, we’d recommend using Tiffany blue, flamingo pink, or deep, rich aubergine as a base for winter and spring. In the fall and summer months we suggest selecting terracotta, persimmon, and burnt orange for your decor. If you plan to use these dark yet rich colors, make sure to create table accents with less weight – sparkling glassware, accent chargers, table runners, and contrasting napkins all will complement your design yet not overpower the deep tones.
For brides looking for a more traditional feel, a neutral color palette brightens and softens the dark woods and predominant architecture of the room. Using colors like classic linen, sky blue, and champagne look amazing. Accenting these lighter tones with gold chiavari chairs, or use a deep mahogany chair with light-toned cushions. These simple touches bring depth to the color palette and adds sophistication. The use of tall classic floral arrangements work ideally as they draw the eye upward toward the ceiling’s hand-carved woodwork. Flickering candles and metallic accents make the room sparkle come nightfall, not to mention the venue’s beautiful fireplace! The warm feature can be accentuated with any combination of flowers, garlands, and candle light, creating an intimate environment for your wedding guests and an amazing canvas for portrait style photography.
Ask The Experts
Lighting and foliage are key elements for unforgettable design in this venue. The pin spots and chandeliers are amazing architectural features that allow additional lighting to look at home. Up lights everywhere will add to the warm glow of the space without overpowering it. A patterned “gobow” on the dance floor creates continuity. Foliage with additional lighting throughout the space allows you to introduce a natural and sophisticated element that will soften many of the more masculine features.
Wedding Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom Catering & Facilit ...
Photography by: Andrew Weeks
Overview
If old-fashioned elegance is what you desire, then the Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange is a must see. There are few facilities in the Bay Area that even come close to matching the sophistication of this historic San Francisco landmark. Their vast ballroom is one of a mere handful of local venues able to accommodate wedding celebrations of over 300 guests. The facility was designed by famed architect Julia Morgan and offers a bit of everything for the discerning bride, including dynamic city views, amazing architectural features, and top-of-the-line accouterments paired with an excellent staff.
Ceremony
The lobby of the Merchants Exchange Building creates a breathtaking ceremony location. Its vaulted glass ceiling in rich, luxurious colors give the appearance of a cathedral, and the impression is elegant and luxurious. Set the room with 200 white or silver chiavari chairs for a soft romantic feeling. Many couples choose to hold their wedding ceremony outside of the Merchants Exchange, there are a multitude of landmark churches just a short distance away.
Reception
I Do Venues suggests ushering your guests upstairs to the lounge of the Julia Morgan Ballroom so they can take in the beautiful city view while enjoying tasty libations and appetizers. The lounge is designed with comfort in mind, providing welcoming large overstuffed couches and traditional wing-back chairs scattered about. Two large fireplaces and an impressive built-in mahogany bar that lies just around the corner are the focal points of this enchanting room.
Once cocktail hour has come to a close, wedding guests are in for a treat as they enter the magnificent ballroom. The stately room easily accommodates 25 to 32 tables with plenty of room left over for an expansive dance floor and entertainment stage. Dramatic arched windows with rich draperies complement the ballroom’s trademark detailed wood ceiling and unique chandeliers, giving your guests plenty to absorb and ponder. The facility is well equipped and always impeccable – tables, chairs and furnishings are included and many upgrades are available. The Julia Morgan Ballroom has an amazing in-house catering company and seated meals served with elegance are the specialty of the day. There is a list of preferred outside catering companies. If you choose to go outside these resources – there is an additional charge of approximately ten dollars per person. The in-house catering company is able to handle beverage service, but outside beverage catering is allowed as well so long as it comes along with the appropriate licensing and insurance.
Insider Notes & The Bottom Line
Linda Hylen, the site coordinator at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, is one of the most respected individuals in the local Bay Area wedding industry. She has built her reputation on excellence and strict attention to detail, and she expects her vendors to have the same level of perfection. At first glance, the rental fee for the Julia Morgan Ballroom seems a bit above average. The room rental for your celebration will average between $10,000.00 – $12,000.00 for a wedding celebration. However when considering the whole package, this is really quite the deal. The rental period lasts from 12 pm to 2 am, which is far more liberal than most venues. This expanded time frame allows your vendors to get the job done right. The extravagant architecture and detail of the rooms allows you to play off of the natural elements already existing in the venue without needing to spend extra money trying to fix or camouflage room flaws.
Wedding Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom Entertainment
Photography by: Andrew Weeks
Summary
Live music in this venue creates the elegant party atmosphere that most brides are looking for. The ballroom’s high ceilings are both gorgeous and effective in creating the perfect acoustics for live entertainment. The lobby of the Merchants Exchange is a grand and dramatic space for your ceremony, the beautiful vaulted glass ceiling creates a dramatic visual effect and is an amazing backdrop for any type of acoustic entertainment – when planning your ceremony, consider a string quartet or harpist.
After the ceremony your guests will enjoy appetizers and cocktails served in the lobby and lounge of the ballroom. We love seeing smaller groups of one to three instruments setting the mood and providing light background music in different areas of this space. Live music in the Julia Morgan Ballroom creates an elegant party atmosphere that anyone would love. The decorative high ceilings offer both beauty and function, providing the perfect materials and space for excellent acoustics. In a space that commands so much presence, it is a good idea to bring in a stage for your live entertainers. With the addition of some great lighting, you’ll have a look, feel, and sound to keep the party going exceptionally well! A full twelve-piece ensemble would make quite an impression, but even a five- to eight-piece band would bring your reception tons of life and energy as you celebrate!
Wedding Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom Photography
Photography by: Andrew Weeks
What We Love About This Facility
The Julia Morgan Ballroom is an extremely fun and unique place to shoot a wedding. The ballroom is absolutely gorgeous with rich dark colors. The pin-lights create a great effect and make the room look amazing, making this a great location for photographers who prefer those low light settings. – Andrew Weeks
Have some fun with the architectural beauty that is all around you both inside and outside. The facade of the building is not only a beautiful San Francisco landmark, but an amazing piece of architecture as well. The huge stone pillars are a great prop for formal shots of brides and grooms, and since it lies in the heart of the financial district, timeless formal photos near a cable car with a background including the Transamerica Pyramid are not difficult to create! Up on the 15th floor, the foyer of the ballroom has a singularly unique feel with a white marble fireplace and black and white inlaid marble flooring that creates a dramatic background for formal portraits. The lounge and ballroom have pin spotlights that aide in creating amazing up- and down-lighting effects which look spectacular in photographs as they create the look and feel of warm, glowing candles.
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