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: The Outdoor Art Club Mill Valley Photography
Photography by: Rosemarie Lion
What We Love About This Facility
The Craftsman style architecture of the Outdoor Art Club creates a great backdrop for your photography. The venue is host to amazing details such as vintage chandeliers, paned French doors, and beamed ceilings (just to name a few) which can only be found in historic buildings.
The Outdoor Art Club has a unique garden setting and lies right at the center of a quaint village. Wisteria covered trellises, unusual botanicals, and artisan-style garden benches dot the property and can become excellent props for photos. If you are adventurous or prefer an avant garde slant to your photography, just take a stroll across the street. The village itself is loaded with fun and thought-provoking locales to add interest and whimsy to your pictures. The town center looks like it has been ripped straight from the pages of history, with its ancient oak tree, retro-style movie theater, antique shops, and even an old-fashioned ice cream parlor! All of these will create memories that will make you smile long after your wedding day has come and gone!
Wedding Venue: Dunsmuir Hellman Estate Photography
Photography by: Ann Hamilton
What We Love About This Facility
The The Dunsmuir Hellman Estate creates the perfect juxtaposition between refined old world elegance and raw natural beauty. The historic mansion offers an eclectic range of scenic backgrounds to accommodate any bride’s style, from classic-romantic to nature-loving to indie-chic. Summer weddings set the perfect tone for extraordinary photography at this unique venue. The Pond offers an amazing setting for the wedding ceremony while the reflective properties of the water help in creating extraordinary photos. Abundant props such as an antique horse and carriage, a sweet gazebo, an old row boat, or a friendly duck or goose are placed thoughtfully throughout the estate grounds and can aid in turning ordinary photography into the artful capturing of stunning memories. The plantation style mansion has a grand veranda that can accommodate even the largest of wedding parties, or for individual shots, the Grotto, Pool House, or Carriage House can create a great picture story. The weathered wood floors, rafters, and huge swinging barn doors of the carriage house create a unique and beautiful contrast to the expected pristine elegance of a bride in her white dress. In a similar fashion, the Pool House is a large structure that again reminds you of a by-gone era.
The Must Have Shot & Portrait Photography
Not many places can claim to have a grotto, but the estate’s exotic landscape, ancient palm trees, and rock cave create the perfect quiet, intimate setting for a couple to retreat to while taking photographs. Pictures taken at the Grotto are always unique, and the moments spent there are always special.
Design Inspiration: Once Upon A Time
Photography By: Jose Villa
Summary
Every bride dreams of her “Happily Ever After;” however, the fairytale begins with “Once Upon a Time.” This unique theme allows the bride and groom to place their personal signature on any aspect – from photography to the reception table. Bucking trendy themes and convention, this “Once Upon A Time” vintage wedding is filled with gorgeous detail that has been photographed by the talented Jose Villa.
Let’s start with the wonderful antique car and the ancient oak tree. What a spectacular shot! The key is to find anchoring points that are timeless. Even her understated tea length dress is eternal – making these photos span decades.
A trip to your local flea market or an afternoon of antique shopping will allow you to replicate many of these wonderful details. I love how they have incorporated a collection of vintage silver tea pots as well as sugar vessels. It adds a look of romantic whimsy into the dessert display. The cracked glass vases are the perfect compliment to the aromatic bundles of lavender that were interspersed throughout the tables. The silhouette of the bride and groom adds a personal touch, while also creating a great DIY project for escort cards and programs. Rather than seeing a dominant color or theme, instead you can see the bride and groom in every small detail. It is the beginning of their story and you can be sure it will end with “…and they lived happily ever after.”
If you like to see more photos from this amazing wedding – check out Jose Villa’s blog.
Venue Recommendations
Vintage works well in so many indoor and outdoor Bay Area wedding locations. A Once Upon a Time design would look amazing at The Montclair Woman’s Cultural Arts Club or at the Outdoor Art Club Mill Valley.
Wedding Venue: Bently Reserve Elegance and Sophistication
Photography By: Julie Mikos
Click here for more images from the Bently Reserve…
Summary
This unforgettable wedding soiree is a classic example of what sets the Bently Reserve apart from so many San Francisco wedding venues. The Bently Reserve is filled with great architectural elements, marble floors, and many gorgeous aesthetics. It is a phenomenal starting point for a great design. This over-the-top celebration is so beautifully captured by the ever so talented Julie Mikos (one of I Do Venues’ favorites).
This design captures the essence of what The Bently Reserve can offer: a dramatic and elegant venue with many possibilities. The use of Classic Party Rentals’ chameleon chairs is a key element to this look of sophisticated elegance. The chairs are a perfect blend of a contemporary design with romantic overtones. We especially love using these chairs at wedding venues such as the Bently Reserve, where your chairs will be used twice. The open design of the metal back is picture-perfect for the ceremony, but you may choose one of the many different styles of toppers available for your reception – doubling the look without doubling your price.
Perfect lighting in a facility with such grand scale is critical. The columns, carved ceilings, and mezzanine can all be missed if you don’t use lighting to accentuate them. Consider doing a patterned wash on the ceiling to soften and disperse the large blank canvas. A scroll pattern looks great against the art deco light fixtures. The use of up lights on the columns, pin spots on each table, and dramatic lighting to define the dance floor will help create a cohesive structure.
The floral treatments that the bride chose are a perfect blend of modern vases with long calla lilies, drawing your eyes upwards to take in the rest of the room. The Beaux-arts inspired arrangements are a perfect match for the Bently Reserve. Well Done!
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Julie Mikos; Designer/Planner – Amy Nichols Special Events; Floral – Floramor; Catering – McCalls.
Wedding Venue: Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club Ca ...
Photography by: Julie Mikos
Overview
The Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club is a remarkable venue tucked away in the Oakland hillside. The building’s simple Spanish architecture is an amazing camouflage for its brightly-colored interior. Reminiscent of Alice walking through the looking glass, surprises await you around every corner. Barbara Price owns the facility and her productions company has hosted exquisite music productions, festivals, and other events from New York to San Francisco. The “Club” is her passion, allowing her love of a great party, years of experience, attention to detail, and genuine grace and style to come together. The unique experience of celebrating your unforgettable wedding here will touch your friends and family alike.
Ceremony
Montclair is perfectly suited to host an outdoor garden ceremony with an indoor reception. The patio can easily accommodate between 150 to 200 ceremony guests. The white wood French doors that cover the exterior of the building create a dramatic entrance for the bride and offers a great architectural feature for your wedding photography. The facility owns a variety of chairs, or they are happy to rent others on your behalf. When the ceremony concludes, cocktails can commence in the bar and salon – a colorful and fun lounge which creates an excellent conversation area for 100 to 120 guests.
Reception
Start your cocktail hour by pouring champagne flutes full of golden bubbles while circulating passed appetizers, allowing guests to take in the nostalgic elegant decor. The magic associated with the Montclair facility is largely due to its amazing use of color. The Ball Room has a cobalt blue ceiling, professional stage and hardwood floors for entertaining your reception of 150 wedding guests. The dramatic velvet curtains that adorn the stage, windows and French doors create an air of elegance without being stuffy and rigid.
Barbara has put together a great list of preferred catering companies ranging from the very casual to classic black-tie in style. There are even one or two caterers who specialize in organic and sustainable catering. The facility has a moderately sized kitchen, but more formal events may require additional cooking equipment which can be arranged at an additional cost.
Traditional tables and chairs are included as part of your rental fee, and Barbara is happy to help you design a space that is uniquely your own as well as to rent any additional equipment necessary to get the job done. The club’s beverage policy is very liberal; however, beer and wine is preferred. All catering and beverage services must be facilitated by licensed and insured companies.
Insider Notes & The Bottom Line
Make an appointment to meet with Barbara and you’ll not only fall in love with the facility, but you won’t be able to imagine a better person to help you plan your special day. Barbara takes care of all of her clients with a level of professionalism and warmth that is unparalleled.
Ask about the candle and lighting package. The club has great candle chandeliers, sconces, twinkle lights, and a vintage fireplace that you will definitely want to utilize. The club rental will run between $3,500 and $6,000 for your wedding celebration. The standard rental is for eight hours, but we recommend renting additional time in order to allow your guests to fully enjoy the space without being rushed out. Allow enough time for setup and cleanup. The facility also has a variety of props available, some of which are included in the rental price and some of which may be used for an additional charge.
Wedding Venue: Nicholson Ranch A Black Tie Affair
Photography by: Tia and Claire Studio
Summary
What an inspiring way to bring sophistication to the wine country – a black tie affair at Nicholson Ranch. The winery sits atop a small bluff and it is hard to decide which is the better view – the rolling hills that sit behind the winery, or the expansive and fertile floor of the wine region that lies below.
The Italian-style piazza at Nicholson Ranch looks amazing when dressed in the elegance of black and white. The choice of the black chiavari chairs, the platinum edged china, and the silver chargers set the tone and bring this celebration to the next level.
I love how the florist has incorporated a simple and sophisticated single blossom arrangement into both the table arrangements and the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets. The bride’s elegant bouquet of miniature white calla lilies is stunning, as are the crisp white orchids overflowing from a simple glass vase on each table. I love the “little black dress” worn by the bridesmaids and how wonderfully complimented they are by the elongated lines of their calla lily bouquets. Gorgeous!
What an elegant and sophisticated design. Your guests will feel as if you have transported them to an Italian Villa as they dance the night away in the courtyard under the stars.
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Tia and Claire Studio, Designer & Coordinator – Laurie Noble of A Noble Affair, Florist – Julie Stevens Design, Rentals – Classic Party Rentals.
Wedding Venue: CornerStone Gardens by Tinywater Photography
Photography by: Tinywater Photography
About the Venue
If you have not had the chance to pay this venue a visit, you are definitely missing out. The Gardens at CornerStone Sonoma is a one-of-a-kind experience. If you are an aspiring artist, landscaper, designer, or if you just love a taste of the avant garde, you’ll love this place. This location combines quirky, artistic, rustic, and eco-friendly, all in a colorful burst of natural artistic expression. The gardens have been commissioned and created by the world’s best and most renowned landscape architects and designers. It is the garden you dream of but can’t have. So why not indulge your playful side on your wedding day and consider this rare experience as one to share with family and friends?
Ask the Expert
I can’t think of a more fitting combination – CornerStone Gardens in Sonoma paired with Tinywater Photography, resulting in pure perfection. If you check out Tinywater’s blog you will see that their tag line is Truth, Love, Beauty, I think that says it all. Their photography transcends from mere photographs to an artistic expression.
It’s their belief that you shouldn’t want your wedding to be a replication of a magazine or something you have seen before. It should be 100% YOU. “Showcase your personalities and have fun with it.” This is their goal with every client: to go beyond the ordinary and find the extraordinary.
Tinywater has true panache. Their style captures the most intimate moments of love, joy, excitement, and bliss. CornerStone is such a playground for anyone who remembers being a kid. The huge blue chair just makes you smile. You feel dwarfed as you attempt to climb into it (and there is just no graceful way to do it, girls) and I have yet to see anyone not smile at a huge field of bright pink pinwheels. It is magical in a quirky kinda way and the pictures are so unique – not only because of the incredible canvas you have to work with, but because it’s hard not to be 100% YOU when you are surrounded by such imagination and fun!
Wedding Venue: Testarossa Winery Fairytale Wedding
Photography by: Cara Mia Photography
This venue is amazing! Click here for more images from this and other weddings.
About the Venue
Testarossa Winery, located in the historic 19th century Los Gatos Novitiate, feels like a fairytale. This amazing and historic location will garner its fair share of attention from your wedding guests. The strong masonry structures and rich textures provided by the raw building materials remind you of a castle, but this one comes complete with every modern amenity.
The sunny outdoor patio is filled with flowers and creates a wonderfully playful location for a ceremony or alfresco reception. Trees border one side while a bank of ivy envelops a recessed wooden deck on the other. The deck creates a perfect stage for ceremonies and musicians.
As you pass through the front door, a stone tunnel with century-old limestone walls and a vaulted ceiling offers a cave-like feel and an intimate spot for a ceremony. Continue your celebration in The Castello Room, Testarossa’s tasting room, with wine and appetizers before moving into the larger Palazzio Room where an elegant and romantic night of dinner and dancing is sure to unfold.
Ask the Experts
A rich fall color palette of warm earthy tones and warm ambient lighting not only enhances Testarossa Winery, but creates an atmosphere of sophistication and romance. Light your world on fire – the twinkle created by hundreds of votive candles adds flattering amber glow throughout the space. Combine the romance of candle light with diffused amber up lights and a few chandeliers and you have a design that dreams are made of.
Incorporating deep hues of eggplant, apricot, and ecru is a beautiful compliment to Testarossa’s natural ambiance. Our hat’s off to the florist (a friend of the couple) who has brilliantly captured this color combination in the bride’s bouquet and other floral elements. The crisp punctuation of the flowers with a splash of raspberry is perfect, and the calla lilies add a feeling of luxury and glamor.
In keeping with the the winery theme of the celebration, a gorgeous bottle of the couple’s favorite Testarossa wine serves as an alternative guest book – this is a fun way to share your favorite vintage with friends and can be featured in your home as a constant reminder of your joyous big day (or used to celebrate an anniversary)!
“Testarossa is an intimate old world setting in the heart of Los Gatos. Convenient to downtown Los Gatos and the common getting ready location Hotel Los Gatos, which makes a beautiful setting for portraits. The staff are exceptionally friendly and accommodating. I love the old stone facade, the cave, and the multiple ways the venue can be arranged for different size weddings. Each wedding is unique. We love shooting there! And the wine is delicious!” ~ Cara Gardner of Cara Mia Photography
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Cara Mia Photography, Entertainment – Elite Entertainment and Events, Cake – Thao Huynh of Shugar Rush, Catering – Talula Bay Catering, Beverages – Testarossa Winery.
Wedding Venue: Franklin Canyon Park Beverly Hills
Photography by: Robert Paetz Photography
Check out the slide show!
About the venue
This is Beverly Hills like you have never seen it before and might never see it again. It takes a pretty crafty bride to take a standard run-of-the-mill park (even if it is in Beverly Hills) and turn it into a luxurious ‘woodsie’ setting. I half expect to see Tinkerbell and her band of pixi’s flying about!
The glorious color combination of purple haze and bitter fig paired flawlessly with sour lime and green lemon is sensational. The creative use of natural wood and moss has created a virtual “playground” of texture and gives this celebration a bit of an old world feel; however, the bright vivid colors definitely have you feeling a bit playful and whimsical at the same time.
The natural wooded setting in the park is filled with all sorts of natural tones of brown, sand, stone, and slate – the colors brighten up the area by being playful, but they do not go so far outside the elements found in nature that they overpower things. The fun and playful elements such as the “purple Jordan almonds,” the purple chairs, and the sweetheart table covered in moss are genius.
We were fortunate enough to have the very talented Robert Paetz share this colorful celebration with us and I’m sure he can attest to the fact that a good time was had by all.
Franklin Canyon Park provided a beautifully lush background for pictures, with lots of interesting nooks and a picturesque reservoir. The handmade details and impeccable attention to everything made this an outstanding wedding. Christine’s creativity, resourcefulness and enthusiasm shone through as her ‘enchanted woodland’ themed wedding was brought to life in the lush green surroundings of Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills. Christine & Scott proved that by tapping your contacts and with some savvy budgeting, a picture-perfect wedding is possible without busting the bank! ~ Robert Paetz
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Robert Paetz Photography; Floral – Brideshare; Day of Coordinator – Eden Passante; Cake – Kasia Sobolewski (friend); Catering – Maggie’s Tapas Catering; Calligraphy – Krishna’s Artwork.
Wedding Venue: Presidio Golf Course Dressed in Yellow
Photography by: Andi Hatch Photography
This wedding was so much fun! Click here for more images…
Summary
Set on a gorgeous San Francisco hillside, the Presidio Golf Course surrounds couples in lush green acreage, Monterey pines, and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the city beyond. This picturesque property has been part of San Francisco’s colorful history since the 1890′s and welcomes couples to enjoy a carefree celebration with unsurpassed services and views.
When you bring to mind a golf club, the first thing you think of is lush green grass and rolling hills. The Presidio Golf Course is no exception to this rule, but you also get to add sweeping views of the Golden Gate bridge, historic landmark buildings, and an incredible staff. Even the most discerning bride will fall in love with this venue.
Ask the Expert
The grounds are flooded with deep rich green hues of the surrounding Monterey Pine trees. The key to using this vast outdoor space is to embrace and incorporate multiple shades of green into your design. Soft shades of green work well with so many traditional palettes.
Consider dressing up the dining room with natural colored chiavari chairs, paired with chocolate topaz linen and soft green accents. Simply gorgeous! Another palette to consider is a bright coral, peach, brown, and ivory. This is a wonderful color combination for a vintage look. And of course, we have to mention the wonderful combination portrayed above: buttercup yellow paired with ivory and fern green.
Yellow is an amazing color option and it performs perfectly in this venue. There are so many choices from bright to a softer shade of sunshine. The bridesmaids dresses are wonderfully colored with a barely-there shade of maize which looks great on everyone. The combination of pale yellow and ivory roses with soft green hydrangea add continuity to the simple design.
Cheers to the bride – she embraced the warm wood and verdant green tones of this charming venue and has chosen a color palette that looks gorgeous!
I Do Venues wants to recognize the talented team of wedding professionals who helped to make this bride’s dream a reality: Photographer – Andi Hatch Photography, Florist – Seti Design, Venue/Catering – Presidio Golf Course.
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