Ultimate Redwood Guide for Heart Tugging Elopements: Hidden Near SF!
You’re Forest Dwellers and Outdoor Lovers, you have dreamed of saying “I do” amidst the towering, ancient giants of a redwood forest, then my friend, you just found the right place! In the blog, you will find all the useful guides and tips to help you bypass all complicated logistics when planning an eco-conscious wedding ceremony.
Things To Consider When Planning A Ceremony in Redwoods
Yay!!! Congratulations! If you’re reading this, the dream of you getting married in the redwoods has officially begin to come true! But before diving in hard, let’s ease you in the process with some general info.
- Most of the Redwoods Locations require you to obtain a permit/rental agreement for event use.
- The space rental/permit fee varies depending on how many hours you’d need and how many guests you have.
- You’re required to use native plants for any bouquets and decors to help preserve the health of eco-system in the parks.
- All costs mentioned in this blog reflect on what I have confirmed with each venue at the time of this blog being written. It’s always good to check in with the individual venue again for an updated pricing guide.
Redwoods Elopement Locations
San Francisco Botanical Garden – Redwood Grove
Redwood Grove is one of the many gardens that can host special events inside Golden Gate Park boundary. Why this location is so special and unique for an eco-conscious wedding ceremony is the convenience of it being in the heart of San Francisco. You can literally take public transit to get to your ceremony, and reduce your carbon footprint along the way. What a fun and amazing way to start your journey!
Redwood Grove offers a 1-hour rental for up to 20 people, and a 2-hour rental for up to 60 people. Bench seating is provided. The rental fee includes the entrance fee into the Botanical Garden, and guests are welcome to arrive early, or stay after the ceremony to enjoy the rest of the Botanical Garden during normal business hours. Please note that the Redwood Grove is a 10–15-minute walk from the entrance and is not wheelchair accessible. At the time of writing this blog, this space rental fee starts at $1,150. For more accurate information and how to start your rental inquiry, please check out their website and reach out to their event director, Evelyn, who is so lovely to work with!
Muir Woods National Momument
I personally adore Muir Woods since I’m a NPS advocate. The other great thing about Muir Woods is that all the trails leading to the ceremony sites are almost all boardwalk or paved trails, making it easy to access for all. The maps below are 3 sites you can choose for your ceremony. They’re all within 20 minutes walk.
The Permit Cost Recovery Schedule is quite complicated to read. So to save you sometime, according to my previous couples, the current guesstimate cost for this venue is around $725. But please inquire through NPS permit page for an updated cost and more details.
Roberts/Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
This big patch of forest offers many ideal spots for your intimate ceremony along easy accessed trails. Some could be as close as 5 minutes walk from the trailhead, some could take a bit of effort to find if you’d like it to be more secluded. But no worries, I know just a few perfect spots that are all within 5-10 minutes walk from the trailhead! But that’s not the only enticing factor of this venue. As long as you’re not renting a facility or a picnic area in this list to host guests after your ceremony, you don’t need to obtain a permit! As your photographer, I’ll be the one who is holding the photography permit for you. All you have to do is just to show up ready to be married! What a treat!
I was told there’s no guest count limit for a short ceremony. But East Bay Regional Parks Organization can be reached at (510) 544-3164 or via email if you have any other additional questions. Or take advantage of our free planning assistant once you’re booked with us!
Vendors for Redwood Elopements
Other than offering photography and videography package, to ensure you have a smooth and stress-free journey to get hitched, we offer unlimited free planning assistant and guide for our couples. That includes connecting you to amazing local vendors as well! So here is a list of our favorites
Hair & Makeup:
Joyce Zhou Designs
Bun Bun Bridal Lab
Klose-up Beauty
Florals:
Fleurisse Design
Empress Floral Co
Cake/dessert:
Susie Cakes (Gluten-free option available!!!)
Officiant:
Ben Miyaji
Rebeca Ruiz Delgadillo
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