If you’re like me and you love color and whimsy, you might be considering a garden backdrop for your wedding day. Gardens add so much beauty and color to the day, and as a bonus they can be a great backdrop for photos!
After spending time and photographing lots of events at many different garden venues around the San Francisco Bay Area, here’s a roundup of my top gardens for weddings and photo sessions. Each venue offers something a bit different, so I’ve included booking basics + highlights for each.
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Here’s the list in no particular order, followed by full details and photos:
- Ruth Bancroft Garden (Walnut Creek)
- The Gardens at Heather Farm (Walnut Creek)
- Hastings House Garden Weddings (Half Moon Bay)
- Filoli Historic House & Garden (Woodside)
- Allied Arts Guild (Menlo Park)
- Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden (Palo Alto)
- Brownstone Gardens (Oakley)
- Cornerstone (Sonoma)
- Holly Farm (Carmel Valley- okay, I know this is a stretch, but it’s such a cool spot!)
- San Francisco Botanical Gardens (San Francisco)
- *Bonus* Arizona Garden (Stanford/Palo Alto) for photo sessions only
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Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek
(Photos above)
Highlights
- A distinctive garden filled with exotic succulents and cacti with lots of texture and variation
- Indoor and outdoor event spaces: outdoor events up to ~150 guests; indoor up to ~100
- Rates for photoshoots: $500 for 2 hours for members; $550 for 2 hours for non-members ($1500 flat for commercial photoshoots)
- Private events start after their public hours (typically Wed–Sun)
- Photoshoots also happen only after public hours end (public hours are Wed-Sun 9am-4pm)
- They don’t typically book events or photoshoots from Nov-Jan due to their Garden of D’Lights exhibit
How to book
- For events- Reach out to their events team using the inquiry form here
- For photoshoots- Fill out the form here at least 2 weeks in advance
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The Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek
(Photos above)
Highlights
- 6.5 acres of lush landscaped gardens, including a popular circular rose garden
- Outdoor gazebo for ceremonies
- Not a very photogenic getting ready room, but you can step outside in the gardens for photos of those final touches
- Some of the trees turn colors in the fall
- Indoor/outdoor event facility on site, accommodating up to ~150 guests
- Non-profit setting so your fees support the public garden and nature education
- Photoshoot rate: $75 for an hour or $150 for 2 hours (Mon-Fri only)
How to Book
- For weddings and events: email them at rentals@gardenshf.org to inquire
- For photo sessions: Fill out the form here at least 2 days before the session (and no more than 30 days in advance)
*Click here to see a creative and colorful Jewish wedding from The Gardens at Heather Farm that was published in a magazine!
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Hastings House in Half Moon Bay
(Photos above)
Highlights
- Intimate garden wedding site right along the Pacific coast in Half Moon Bay (see views of the ocean above)
- Ideal for smaller weddings/elopements: reservations typically not more than ~30 guests
- You can hire Richard (one of the owners) to play guitar during your ceremony
- Only available for ceremony and portrait rental; you’ll have to arrange a reception for elsewhere
- They do have a small area for getting ready/getting dressed
How to Book
- Contact Linda (she owns and runs Hastings House) for availability and info at linda@hastingshouseweddings.com or 650-726-2513
*Click here to see an intimate wedding at Hastings House with reception at La Costanera restaurant
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Filoli in Woodside
(Photos above)
Highlights
- Elegant historic mansion + 16 acres of formal gardens with a pond, pool, fields, redwood grove, and architectural features
- The look changes with the seasons as different plants and flowers bloom
- Wide variety of spaces available: pool lawn, woodland court, house courtyard; capacities from ~50 up to hundreds depending on space rented
- Wedding pricing varies significantly depending on which areas you’d like to reserve
- Portrait photography is allowed for the price of admission ($34 for adults) during open hours (10am-5pm 7 days per week), but commercial photography requires a permit. Wedding photography is only allowed if you’ve booked the gardens for your wedding. See more on their photography info page here.
- You can pay $1500 for exclusive access to the gardens after hours from 5-7pm
- Open daily from 10am-5pm
How to Book
- Inquire and see available wedding packages here
- See this page for booking private golden hour photo sessions from 5-7pm or commercial photography requests
- See this page for general admission tickets for personal use portrait photography
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Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park
(Photos above)
Highlights
- Historic 3.5-acre garden oasis with Spanish revival architecture, fountains, tilework and a charming, intimate feel
- Multiple different areas available
- Wedding rental pricing: property rental only starts at ~$4,000 (depending on season & location)
- Up to 140 guests allowed
How to Book
- For weddings: Fill out the online event request form here or call their events number at 650-322-2405
- For photo sessions: $150 fee for 1 hour in any outdoor space on the property. Register in the Artisan Shop prior to beginning to receive your photo permit. Hours are Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
*Click here to see an editorial wedding at the Allied Arts Guild (complete with a lavender wedding dress)!
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Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
(Photos above)
Highlights
- A historic Victorian home + 2.5-acre charming garden in the heart of Palo Alto
- Lots of plant variety and an intimate feel
- The look changes based on the season and what’s in bloom
- Ideal for intimate celebrations: can accommodate up to 50 guests. They have three distinctive garden + terrace locations (Rose Garden, Wisteria Garden, Tea House Patio) for ceremony and reception.
How to Book
- For weddings: inquire here or call and leave a message at 650-460-1431
- Check here for photographer policies. Photographers are allowed free of charge for one session per day (no mini sessions allowed).
*Check out this colorful summer wedding or these fall engagement photos at Gamble Garden
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Brownstone Gardens in Oakley
(Photos above)
Highlights
- A 2.3-acre private garden event venue, with multiple distinct zones (rose garden, koi pond with waterfall, field area, columns) that offers a lot of variety for planning events
- Up to ~250 guests allowed
- Less flowers and more of a lush greenery feel through most of the venue
- Architectural feature with columns for your ceremony
- Sunken area for use as a dance floor
- The getting ready/prep location is quite small, but you can always step out into the garden for final touches
How to Book
- Fill out the form here to inquire and receive their wedding pricing brochure
- You can contact the venue at info@brownstonegardens.com or 925-418-4532
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Cornerstone Sonoma in Sonoma
(Photos above)
Highlights
- A design-forward garden venue blending art, wine country charm, and whimsical outdoor spaces
- Features multiple gardens designed by world-class landscape architects, all bursting with creative and colorful details
- You can choose between several event spaces including a barn, meadow, terrace, outdoor tent, and gardens. See the different venues here.
- Large capacity of up to 350 guests
- The getting ready room is very tiny, but you can opt to book on-site lodging to give yourself more space
How to book
*Click here to see a flower-filled wedding that took place at Cornerstone Sonoma
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The Holly Farm (Carmel Valley)
(Photos above)
Highlights
- The Holly Farm feels like stepping into a hidden paradise with a blend of rustic, bohemian, and coastal California vibes. Think lush tropical gardens, palm trees, natural wood details, and something interesting around every corner! It’s a truly unique venue unlike anything I’ve seen before!
- It’s a private family-owned property that hosts only one wedding at a time, giving you exclusive use of the grounds for multiple days, depending on which package you book
- There are on-site accommodations for 24-28 people in a variety of charming cottages and bungalows, which makes it perfect for destination-style celebrations where everyone can stay together
- Up to 250 guests
How to book
- Fill out their event inquiry form here, or call them directly at 831-625-1926 to check availability and schedule a tour
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San Francisco Botanical Garden in San Francisco
(Photos above)
Highlights
- Located in the heart of Golden Gate Park with 55 acres of gardens and over 8,000 plant species from around the world
- There’s a large variety of backdrops, from a redwood grove, flower-filled meadows, succulents, to a lake and lush tropical sections
- Ideal for intimate elopements or mid-sized weddings, with several designated ceremony sites including the Zellerbach Garden of Perennials, the Moon Viewing Garden, and the Temperate Asia Garden
- Cost for weddings varies a lot depending on location, size of wedding, and amount of time booked
- It can often be foggy and cool as it’s located closer to the coast in San Francisco
How to Book
- The garden is managed by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, so all events require a special event permit. You can find more info and event inquiry form here.
- You can contact their events team via email or phone to schedule a walkthrough and reserve your ceremony location.
- A photography permit is required for commercial or professional photography and involves coordinating with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department’s Film Permit Office, with at least ten working days’ notice. Info on photography permits can be found here and the fee is $360
*Click here to see photos from a Redwood Grove wedding at the San Francisco Botanical Garden
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Arizona Garden at Stanford (Palo Alto)
(Photos above)
Highlights:
- The Arizona Garden, sometimes called the Arizona Cactus Garden, is tucked beside the Stanford University campus and is an unexpected spot filled with towering cacti, succulents, and desert blooms
- Originally planted in the late 1800s, this garden has been beautifully restored and now features dozens of cactus and succulent species
- It’s a popular choice for photo sessions so you’ll likely see other photographers there during evening golden hour/sunset times
- Type Arizona Garden in Google maps and you should be able to find it! There’s paid parking at the Cantor Arts Center on Lomita Dr, or if you go at off hours (Mon-Fri after 4pm) or on the weekend you can park in the Quarry South Lot (off of Quarry Rd), which is the closest you can get.
How to book:
- It’s open to the public for portraits and photo sessions
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So there you have it- 11 of my favorite garden backdrops for weddings and photo sessions!
Love what you’re seeing and ready to find a photographer that knows how to capture the color and beauty of gardens? That’s me! Take a peek at my portfolio and inquire here when you’re ready! 🤗
Or if you love these locations, check out my San Francisco Bay Area Location Guides where I share 100+ of my favorite photo backdrops along with exact locations, an interactive map, best time of day to go, what to wear, example photos, and other details! You can buy them all as a bundle here (with a discount, of course), or find them individually (North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, and San Francisco) on this page. Have fun with them!
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