Diverse San Francisco Venues for Intimate Weddings

When your clients ask you to plan an intimate wedding for them, do you instantly know what type of wedding or reception venue to pick? It can be more complicated than you first thought. Requests for intimate weddings don’t always mean the same thing. And clients can have extra demands that make finding a venue difficult. 

But your search for the best San Francisco venues for intimate weddings and receptions doesn’t have to be stressful. We have compiled a list of exciting and diverse venues for you to choose from, to suit all types of clients and all kinds of wedding celebrations. 

7  Diverse San Francisco Venues for Intimate Weddings and Receptions

Are you planning a wedding ceremony, wedding reception, or both? Weddings require that extra special touch. But romance and intimacy can mean different things to different people. And the diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco have unique event venues to consider for all types of weddings. 

Therefore, we offer you the beauty of choice, with these diverse San Francisco venues for intimate weddings and receptions. 

1. The Conservatory of Flowers

What could be more romantic and intimate than a wedding ceremony surrounded by family and friends amid natural beauty? It’s the perfect setting for your clients to say “I do”. So let them say it with flowers, at the Conservatory of Flowers on John F. Kennedy Drive at Golden Gate Park.

The West Gallery is an enclosed but light-filled space that’s perfect for exchanging vows in an intimate ceremony. It is the best choice for more small and intimate weddings, with space for 50 seated or standing guests.

Is an outdoor wedding ceremony on the cards instead? That’s also not a problem. The Palm Terrace event space is ideal for this. It has space for up to 200 seated or standing guests, with a beautiful Victorian Conservatory as a backdrop. 

Perhaps you are just looking for a beautiful venue for a reception dinner. This venue has that covered, too. 

The Orchid Pavilion reception hall is a blank canvas where the only limit is your imagination. It can seat 150 people. Or host a standing cocktail reception in the magnificent Conservatory itself, with multiple exhibit spaces filled with exotic plants and flowers from across the world.

What the Conservatory of Flowers Venue is Great For

This is one of the best San Francisco venues for intimate weddings, with both indoor and outdoor spaces. And the beauty of its exotic flowers makes any ceremony even more magical. It’s guaranteed to make a big impression on the big day, even with those who do not describe themselves as nature lovers. 

But there's something else that makes this venue even more special. The Conservatory of Flowers is also an LGBTQ+-friendly wedding venue. This makes it ideal for anyone wanting to solidify their bond in marriage. 

2. The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club

The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club is a premier Italian organization and event space. It’s a popular choice for community and social gatherings of all types and sizes. But few people know that this is also one of the best San Francisco venues for intimate weddings.

Of course, it’s the perfect venue for your clients of Italian heritage. But don’t fret, non-Italians are just as welcome here. This venue has hosted many generations of intimate weddings, receptions, and other special celebrations. 

Two event spaces are available, the Park View Room, and the Ballroom. The Park View room is ideal for small and intimate weddings, with space for 50 seated or 75 standing guests. But if it turns out that your clients need a little more room for their big day, they can have it. 

The Ballroom, with its gorgeous chandeliers, mahogany paneling, and wood floors accommodates up to 300 seated or 350 standing guests. 

What the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Venue is Great For

Every event planner needs the assurance that things will go perfectly on their clients’ special day. The San Francisco Italian Club’s Ballroom has updated sound and lighting systems and fabric soundboards, to ensure smooth after-ceremony festivities.

3. City Club of San Francisco

If you thought the City Club of San Francisco on Sansome Street was just for social gatherings or corporate events, think again. This venue on the 10th floor is also one of the most popular San Francisco venues for intimate weddings. 

Its elegant interiors, art deco details, and stunning city views make this an ideal choice for clients who want an intimate ceremony and reception. There are seven event spaces to choose from, but we recommend the Cafe event space for ceremonies, and the Main Dining Room for reception dinners. 

The Cafe has room for 250 seated or 300 standing guests, while the Main Dining Room has space for 220 seated or 300 standing guests.

What the City Club of San Francisco Venue is Great For

As an event planner, you’ll come across all kinds of requests for wedding day celebrations. Some clients will want lavish surroundings or outdoor events surrounded by nature’s beauty. And others will want simple yet stylish surroundings, with the focus on their nuptials rather than the scenery. 

When you’re faced with a request for simplicity, don’t hesitate. The City Club of San Francisco has what you need to plan a simple yet elegant wedding.

4. Bouche 

Perhaps your clients have opted for a simple civil ceremony but wish to mark the occasion afterward with a quiet lunch among loved ones. It can still be intimate and special. Invite a little French romance with a small and intimate gathering at Bouche on Bush Street. 

This venue offers two event spaces where guests can enjoy small plates of seasonal Californian-French fare and fine wines - the perfect way to mark any special occasion. 

The Semi-Private Mezzanine seats 20, with services for semi-private events and special luncheons. If they want the privacy of a separate terrace but there's a bit of a chill in the air, consider the Heated Parklet. It’s cozy and intimate, and seats 25.  

What the Bouche Venue is Great For

Just as small wedding venues can be romantic, so too can simple restaurant luncheons or dinners be intimate and meaningful. With the right food and wine, and of course, the right company, any venue is perfect for a celebration. The French are known for romance, and Bouche’s French fare will not disappoint. 

5. Webster Hall

This venue may not immediately spring to mind when searching for San Francisco venues for intimate weddings. But Webster Hall has features that make it ideal for intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions.  

This historic building, designed and constructed in 1912 by San Fran’s first Ecole des Beaux-Arts architect, has a rich Bay Area history. Its lofty ceilings and large arched windows let in plenty of light and give the venue a spacious and airy feel. 

All you need for a successful wedding event is the right ambiance. And the Webster Hall event space has an understated yet classic interior style that is simply perfect for all types of weddings. 

There’s enough space for seating up to 150 guests, which may seem a bit too much for an intimate wedding. But it means that there's also enough room for beautiful displays and for guests to dance the night away.

What the Webster Hall Venue is Great For

The best wedding venues in San Francisco are those that can handle all the behind-the-scenes event coordination. Webster Hall has additional facilities, including individual rooms for getting ready, storage of event equipment, and more.

6. The Exploratorium

Who says weddings have to be traditional or conventional? We don’t. Some of your wedding clients will dare to be different. Fortunately, there are several unconventional but exciting San Francisco venues for intimate weddings and receptions for you to consider. 

And the Exploratorium venue is a great example of a unique urban space that can be used for intimate gatherings. With four indoor event spaces, two outdoor event spaces, and the Full Facility Buyout to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding the space you need. 

The Bechtel Central gallery is especially well-suited to night-time wedding reception parties. Here, wedding reception guests can dine and dance among the most fascinating exhibits. It has space for 400 seated or up to 1200 standing guests but is also suitable for smaller, more intimate gatherings.  

If your clients would prefer something smaller and in the open air, the Outdoor Gallery may be the better choice. It has space for up to 300 seated or 500 standing guests and offers wonderful views of the San Francisco city skyline. 

What the Exploratorium Venue is Great For

We understand if you feel the pressure when planning weddings and receptions. You need to find the perfect venue to make your clients’ magical day even more memorable. When your clients insist on defying the conventional, it can be even more stressful to choose the right venue. 

Fortunately, unique venues like the Exploratorium offer creative and imaginative solutions for your more challenging wedding events and receptions. 

7. Greens Restaurant

Are you faced with the task of finding an affordable reception dinner venue for a vegetarian or health-conscious couple? We have some very good news. Your worries are over because Greens Restaurant has all you need. 

This restaurant venue offers multiple event spaces, for everything from more intimate gatherings to large celebrations. Choose from three event spaces with seating for 50, 70, or 100 guests. Or opt for a Full Buyout, with seating for a total of 200 guests.

Large windows offer plenty of fresh air and light, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marina District. Greens can host elegant sit-down dinners or relaxed cocktail receptions; whatever you and your clients need.

Best of all, they specialize in delicious, gourmet vegetarian cuisine, prepared with only the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. And their team will work closely with you to ensure that everything goes smoothly on the big day.

What the Greens Restaurant Venue is Great For

It’s not always easy to find a venue that caters to healthy eating and has all the space and views you need. Greens Restaurant is a venue that ticks all the boxes for a healthy wedding reception dinner in pleasant surroundings. It’s proof that a wedding reception dinner venue doesn’t have to break the bank. 

Tips for Planning an Intimate Wedding in San Francisco

Understandably, weddings are perhaps the most challenging events you’ll handle in your career. Event planners are always keenly aware that one mistake can impact the most important day of their clients’ lives. But wedding and reception planning doesn't have to be a challenge. 

With our handy wedding planning tips, you’ll deal with everything easily and professionally.

1. Know What Your Clients Actually Want 

Intimate weddings are typically defined as smaller weddings with only no more than about 25 guests. But an intimate celebration doesn’t always mean small. Often, clients say they want an intimate wedding, but what they mean is that it should be highly personal and meaningful. 

Also, check whether this applies to the ceremony or reception only or both. Many clients may indeed want both their wedding ceremony and reception to be small and simple. But some might prefer a lavish ceremony, with a simple reception for loved ones only. Others may prefer it the other way around. 

Once you have established exactly what their request for an intimate wedding means, you can choose an appropriate venue. There are different ways to celebrate the union of two people. A unity ceremony can make any wedding more intimate and meaningful. Our unity ceremony ideas will show you the way. 

2. Choose an Appropriate Venue

An appropriate venue must meet many criteria. It must be in the desired location, and guests must be able to travel to it without difficulty. It must be the right type of venue for the event, for example, for wedding ceremonies or receptions. And it must be able to accommodate the number of guests invited.

But there are other factors to consider, too. Does the style of the decor align with the style of the ceremony or reception planned? Is there wheelchair access for guests (or perhaps one of the wedding couple) who need it? Does the venue fit into the client’s budget? These are the questions to ask.

The Perfect Venue Marketplace takes the guesswork out of finding San Francisco venues for intimate weddings. You’ll find multiple venues to choose from. Just narrow down the search by entering your chosen location, event style, and number of guests. 

3. Enquire About Event Services Before You Book a Venue

The Perfect Venue Marketplace saves you valuable time in your search for the perfect venue for an intimate wedding. Many venues also offer event services like floral arrangements, furnishings, and catering. But it is up to you to check that the venue has all the amenities and services required.

Some of our San Francisco wedding venues might not offer all of these services themselves. However, they may be in partnership with businesses that offer them. Always enquire about this before rushing to book other event services. It can save a lot of money, time and hassle.

Services to enquire about include floral arrangements, customized catering, music or live entertainment options, extra seating, centerpieces, etc. When these cannot be supplied, ask the venue owner or manager if you will be permitted to bring these in.

Keep track of everything with a free event planning template. It will help you stay up-to-date with tasks and keep your event on track at a glance. 

Conclusion

When you’re looking for the best San Francisco venues for intimate weddings, look no further than the Perfect Venue Marketplace. 

You’ll find the perfect venue for any type of wedding ceremony or reception, regardless of size, style, or location.  Simply enter your search criteria—area, seating type, and number of guests, and start browsing the results to find your best match. 

Start exploring venues today!