The UC Botanical Garden sits in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus. It’s 34 acres of plants from all over the world, plus the Mather Redwood Grove, a stone and wood amphitheater under coast redwoods. It’s a beautiful place to get married.
I’ve photographed weddings here. Here’s what couples usually figure out after they’ve booked.
The guest count decides everything.
The Redwood Grove seats up to 200 for a ceremony. But if you want the ceremony and the reception both at the garden, the cap is 82, or 72 from November through March. That number includes the two of you.
Decide the guest list before you fall in love with the Grove. It’s a lot easier than cutting people later.
The Grove is a dry ceremony.
No alcohol in the Redwood Grove. Not a toast, not a flask in a groomsman’s pocket. Save the champagne for the reception.
The rules are strict, and they don’t bend.
No candles or open flame, confetti, bubbles, balloons, drones or pets. It’s a living plant collection, and the rules are there to protect it.
Caterers come from the garden’s approved list, and you’ll need event insurance. Get the rules early and send them to every vendor you hire. Florists especially.
The light in the Grove is tricky.
Redwoods make soft, filtered light with bright spots punching through. It looks amazing. It also means someone can step from shade into hot sun in one move.
The package includes the main garden for photos. Use it. Do your portraits before the ceremony while the light is good, and let the Grove be the Grove.
Football Saturdays are a real problem.
The garden is up Centennial Drive from Memorial Stadium, and the road closes before Cal home games. A fall Saturday can turn into a parking problem fast. Check the football schedule before you pick a date.
Parking is limited.
Events get 50 reserved spaces. That’s fine for a small wedding. For a bigger group, plan carpools or a shuttle, and put the garden’s actual address on the invitations, not just “UC Berkeley.”
Hire a planner who knows the garden.
This venue has a lot of moving parts. The guest cap, the rules, approved caterers, the move from the Grove to the reception, game days. It goes a lot smoother with someone who has done it many times.
My pick is Ashley Brantner of First Pick Planning. She does a ton of weddings at the UC Botanical Garden and she knows everything about how it runs. She’s the best coordinator for this venue, period. You can find her on Instagram at @ashleylaurenbrantner and @firstpick.
A few practical things.
- Count your guests before you tour.
- The garden asks couples to attend a Rental Open House before booking. Go. Walk the Grove, the hall and the parking lot.
- Ceremony and reception packages run from 5 to 11pm. At the time of writing the garden lists $8,500 Monday to Thursday and $9,500 Friday to Sunday. Check with the garden for current pricing.
- There are also ceremony-only, micro-ceremony (12 to 25 guests) and reception-only options.
- Send the garden’s rules to every vendor.
- Check the Cal football schedule before you lock in a fall date.
If you’re getting married at the UC Botanical Garden
I know the garden, the Grove and how the light moves through the redwoods. I’m based in Truckee and I shoot all over the Bay Area. If you’re planning a wedding here, get in touch.
More on the venue is on my UC Botanical Garden page. Want to see a real day? Here’s a Redwood Grove wedding at the UC Botanical Garden.