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Need advice on inexpensive combo wedding+reception near San Francisco

ToasterPhoneToasterPhone member
First Comment
in California-Northern
I'm new to this site and have been reading the boards, but I'm a little overwhelmed by all the info and my own research, and was wondering if anyone would mind making a recommendation or two.

I've been trying to find one site for hopefully both the wedding and reception.
We live in San Francisco, but anywhere within a coiuple hours is fine.  We're not too picky, but have a few preferences:

- Not too expensive... looking to keep this wedding under $20,000 if possible
- Ceremony outside would be nice
- Nothing religious, no churches etc
- 100-120 people
- Someplace that takes care of a lot of the details and has a coordinator would be nice... we don't mind a "package" deal to save money and time!

I made a spreadsheet, but it's got 60 items already and I'm trying to find out which places make sense to visit.  Does anyone have any tips, or little-known gems, that may be worth looking into?  My fiance and I are doing some visits this Saturday, but with so many places and no way to sort by price it all seems a little arbitrary.

Sorry for the rambling post... I really appreciate the time.

A few other details if they help:
- Fiance's family is Irish and British, so something that takes advantage of California landscape and weather would be nice (good view?)
- Booze is a must (see also: Irish family)
- Hoping for something "unusual" (I looked into wind tunnels and airplane hangars and boats.. the weirder the better)
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Re: Need advice on inexpensive combo wedding+reception near San Francisco

  • vb0000vb0000 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Rustic yet beautiful ok? Not sure if it's in your budget - it's definitely not in mine - but if you can afford it this would be an awesome and VERY picturesque place to get married:

    They don't give their address on the website but say they are "in the heart of Silicon Valley"

    Of course there's Brazil Room, but unless you hire a wedding coordinator you have to do a lot of it yourself.

    East Bay Regional Parks has a bunch of other locations (besides BR) that you can rent for weddings but again, you'd need a wedding coordinator or DIY.

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  • ToasterPhoneToasterPhone member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_california-northern_need-advice-inexpensive-combo-weddingreception-near-san-francisco?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:56Discussion:8d5ae26f-23e2-4216-8f01-ee01b9b46425Post:b35509b0-2a20-4276-a340-f72cf3d7eeae">Re: Need advice on inexpensive combo wedding+reception near San Francisco</a>:
    [QUOTE]Rustic yet beautiful ok? Not sure if it's in your budget - it's definitely not in mine - but if you can afford it this would be an awesome and VERY picturesque place to get married: <a href="http://www.nestldown.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.nestldown.com/</a> They don't give their address on the website but say they are "in the heart of Silicon Valley" Of course there's Brazil Room, but unless you hire a wedding coordinator you have to do a lot of it yourself. East Bay Regional Parks has a bunch of other locations (besides BR) that you can rent for weddings but again, you'd need a wedding coordinator or DIY. <a href="http://www.ebparks.org/registration" rel="nofollow">http://www.ebparks.org/registration</a>
    Posted by vb0000[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>That looks beautiful!  Do you know how much it is?  I sent them an email inquiring anyway - thanks for the tip!</div>
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  • alessaycyalessaycy member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    nestldown is VERY expensive, won't fit your budget.  My venue is Mountain Terrace in Woodside.  It has the similar woody environment.  Saturday rental is 4000. If you choose to get married on Friday or Sunday or between November and March, your budget should work.
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  • vickynessvickyness member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    wedgewood at crystal springs comes to mind... its really pretty and they do packaged deals. the girls there are super nice to work with; they were on our finalist list when we were looking at venues. 
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  • sportstergirrlsportstergirrl
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    my venue is Long Branch Saloon and Farms. Its in Half Moon Bay. Its a "off kilter" type of place to have a wedding. But my FI and I LOVED it as it fits in with our personalities and life style.
    Long Branch is an Old Western town. Complete with a mini golf course, Archery range, gold mining for kids....there a lot for your guests to do. Even gambling! Its all out doors, with the exception of of the bar and the western town buildings. It even has a cute chapel! But it is not religious at all, but you can always make it that way too.

    Just for us to rent the place, on a Saturday, its $5,000, plus and extra $200 for the bar tender. They also include all the tables, chairs and linens. But, you have to bring in all your own food, drink, decorations and entertainment. But for us, its perfect!

    check it out though....
    www.longbranchfarms.net
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  • anglynanglyn
    First Comment Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    There was a girl on here that got married at the San Francisco Zoo. It was a really pretty wedding. 

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  • Epolos89Epolos89
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    if you look at the wedgewood facilities, see if one fits what you are looking for. They are affordable and do all the details. We considered them and they were in our final 2!
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  • 2BLCK2BLCK
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Check out the Presidio in San Francisco.  They have a few locations, and let you bring in your own everything.  Congrats and good luck!
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  • aleanettealeanette
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    You should check out Freedom Hall & Gardens... a friend of ours had their wedding there and it has everything you can think of for $10k.

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  • ToasterPhoneToasterPhone member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks so much, everyone - I'm going through all your suggestions, and they all seem right up our alley!  Even Nestldown is affordable on certain days.
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  • ToasterPhoneToasterPhone member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_california-northern_need-advice-inexpensive-combo-weddingreception-near-san-francisco?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:56Discussion:8d5ae26f-23e2-4216-8f01-ee01b9b46425Post:090412e3-76a8-4ed5-84a9-0300372144b4">Re: Need advice on inexpensive combo wedding+reception near San Francisco</a>:
    [QUOTE]There was a girl on here that got married at the San Francisco Zoo. It was a really pretty wedding.  <a href="http://www.herecomestheguide.com/location/detail/san-francisco-zoo/" rel="nofollow">http://www.herecomestheguide.com/location/detail/san-francisco-zoo/</a>
    Posted by anglyn[/QUOTE]

    This seems like an *awesome* idea.  I can't believe it's affordable!  Don't suppose you have a link to that other girl's wedding pics?
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  • ToasterPhoneToasterPhone member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    As as followup, I'm going with Nestldown.  Thanks for the advice!  It's definitely out of my budget on weekends, but on weekdays it's a reasonable $5000 to book the chapel and reception site.  Thanks again!
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  • mikeanddesmikeanddes
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Oh my gosh, I just looked at the slideshow and that place is amazing. You will have a great day.
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  • soprano19soprano19
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Great choice! That's a beautiful venue.
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