Wedding Venues for Rent in San Francisco, CA

Your Guide to Renting Wedding Venues in San Francisco, CA

When picking your perfect wedding location, San Fran boasts a wide range of places of all shapes and sizes. From venues in gorgeous Telegraph Hill, upscale Russian Hill, or the heart of the city, you have a wide array of choices emitting a unique feel that will make your ceremony genuinely remarkable. And luckily for you, we’ve searched high and low to create a curated list offering only the best wedding venues across San Francisco! So why not check it out? Your dream wedding space may be just right around the corner! But before you finalize the booking, look at our guide, where we’ve written down a few things you should consider when planning such a special occasion!

Guide to a San Francisco wedding

Your wedding should be a day filled with love, laughter, and happy memories. But it’s much more complicated than it sounds. Getting to that point takes months of planning and organization - in short, lots of hard work. If you’re unsure where to start the whole endeavor, we’re more than happy to help! We’ve jotted down a short guide with a few tips to help you figure out all the most important elements of the wedding planning process. So give it a read and you’ll thank us later!

• Set your wedding budget - Drawing up your budget should be the first thing on your planning list. This way, you’ll be able to figure out what's possible for you and what you can’t afford, which will help you narrow down your options and simplify the whole process. So sit down with your partner and discuss what type of event each of you wants, what wedding elements are important to you, and what you’d like to involve in the celebration, from flowers and other decorations to food and the cake. Once you’re clear with your visions, it’s time to add up the numbers! Your calculations should include everything that comes to your mind, especially the venue rental fees, catering, drinks, vendors, decorations, transportation costs, wedding attire, etc. Once you’ve sorted it out more or less, it’ll be easier for you to plan while staying within your budget. 

• Consider the venue’s location - You’ll be satisfied with San Francisco’s amazing plethora of venues that can accommodate everything from an intimate affair to a lavish reception. Do you envision your wedding in a venue that's already spectacular, so you’ll only need to add some personal touches? Or maybe you'd love a blank canvas space where you could start from scratch and create a unique ambiance that reflects your style and personality? No matter your vision and which venue you’ll consider as “the one”  you should always check whether it is easily accessible by various modes of transportation and if there is sufficient parking for all of your guests.

• Be flexible when it comes to dates -  We know that your wedding date might be incredibly important to you. But if you don’t mind whether you’ll be getting married on the 15th or 23rd, we strongly suggest you stay flexible. For example, if a family event might conflict with your wedding date, you won’t have a problem changing the time of your big day (as long as the venue availability allows it).  Having a few potential dates up your sleeve will help you determine an ideal one that will be convenient for you and your guests. 

• Menu - San Francisco is, hands down, one of the best cities for food in the world, so you definitely can’t compromise on the menu. But before you get to the details, first think about whether you will be serving a buffet or a sit-down dinner. Do you want something easy to eat while standing around and mingling, or something more formal? Once that’s decided, consider what you and your guest would like to eat. Feel free to either choose a modern twist on classic American cuisine or go for old-school comforting dishes! Whatever you end up serving is completely up to you - but remember that your food choice should match the venue’s and the wedding’s style. 

• The style of your wedding - How do you envision your wedding? Is there a chance that you’ve dreamt of a particular ceremony your whole life? Your wedding’s style should be unique to you, reflecting your personality and what makes you happy. It's important that your big day reflects who you are as a couple, so don't forget to discuss your concept and all desires with your partner! But if you’re lost for ideas, browse wedding hashtags on Pinterest or Instagram and check out various celebrations. It could give you a great insight into what style and theme you’d like to pursue.

Now that you’ve read our short guide, you hopefully have a clearer vision and you can successfully plan your dream wedding in San Fran. It may seem like a lot of work, but we can guarantee that it will be worth the effort when you walk down that aisle and see the person you love smiling back at you - all in a fantastic setting! So don’t wait any longer and start searching for your perfect wedding space now!

FAQs about Wedding Venues in San Francisco, CA

How far in advance should I book a wedding venue in San Francisco?

If you want to be sure that you can get exactly what you want on your Big Day and have it all planned out well in advance, we suggest making a booking at least a year ahead. But if you're still unsure what kind of venue or location would work best for your preferences and requirements, then renting a venue about 9 months ahead of the date may be a good idea. But keep in mind that the earlier you start searching, you’ll have many more options that fit your criteria!

What is the price range for wedding venues in San Francisco?

San Francisco offers rental prices that vary widely. Minimum spend options are plentiful with fees ranging between $1000 and $20000. You can also rent venues that charge from $150 to $1800 per hour. Package deals start at $15 and rise up to $100 per person. (Based on data from Tagvenue.)

Can I have external catering in a wedding venue in San Francisco?

It all depends on the type of venue you’re interested in. For example, if you’re thinking of a restaurant, it’s unlikely that they will let you have external caterers taking care of your guests’ hungry stomachs. But when it comes to other types of venues, many of them allow you to bring your own catering, or at least to be able to provide your own alcohol. But remember one thing: some venues will expect you to pay a corkage fee if you bring your own alcohol, so we suggest checking the venue’s policy in advance.

Do I need a permit to get married on the beach in San Francisco?

Yes, you do! State of California beaches require a permit even if it’s a 2-person wedding. Rules for the city and county-owned beaches vary but they’re generally flexible when it comes to requiring permits, so under no circumstances should you worry about getting one.