UC Botanical Garden Wedding in the Mather Redwood Grove, Berkeley, California
Zoya
& Jack
Loose, carefree and full of crazy dancing.
UC Botanical Garden · Berkeley
Family, close friends and the redwoods.
Zoya and Jack got married at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley with just family and close friends. We made portraits in the garden before the wedding, they said their vows in the Redwood Grove and then the night turned into crazy dancing.
It was loose and carefree from start to finish. Nobody was performing for anybody.
Loose, carefree and full of crazy dancing.
The garden · Before the wedding
Portraits first. In the garden.
Before the ceremony we wandered the garden together. Cactus, ferns and sun coming through the trees. The garden covers 34 acres of plants from all over the world, so every turn looks like a different place.
The ceremony · Mather Redwood Grove
Married in the redwoods.
They got married in the Redwood Grove, in the stone and wood amphitheater surrounded by coast redwoods. Family and close friends on the benches and light coming down through the trees. It is one of the best ceremony spots in the Bay Area.
The details · Hand-painted table cards
Not big on details. Except this one.
Zoya and Jack weren't big on details. Ashley from First Pick Planning told them they should do one thoughtful thing, so they hand painted a table card for each and every guest. That is the kind of detail that actually means something.
The party · The dance floor
Then crazy dancing.
The rest of the night was loose and carefree. Everybody danced, hard, for hours. The best wedding nights look exactly like this.
A quick preview.
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FAQ
Getting married at the UC Botanical Garden.
Where did Zoya and Jack get married?
Zoya and Jack got married at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley with family and close friends. The ceremony was in the Mather Redwood Grove amphitheater, and we made portraits in the main garden before the wedding.
How many guests can the UC Botanical Garden host for a wedding?
According to the Garden, the Redwood Grove holds up to 200 guests for a ceremony. Ceremony and reception packages are capped at 82 guests, including the couple, because that is the limit for Julia Morgan Hall. From November through March the hall is limited to 72.
How much does a wedding at the UC Botanical Garden cost?
As of November 2026 the Garden lists ceremony only packages from $3,500 to $4,500, ceremony and reception packages at $8,500 Monday through Thursday and $9,500 Friday through Sunday, micro-ceremonies and elopements for 12 to 25 guests from $2,000 to $2,500, and reception only from $2,500 to $5,500. Confirm current pricing with the Garden.
Can you have a reception at the UC Botanical Garden?
Yes. Receptions are in Julia Morgan Hall, a redwood Craftsman hall designed by Julia Morgan in 1911 and moved to the Garden in 2014. It holds up to 82 guests and has a deck over the California collection that works for cocktail hour and dancing.
Can you take wedding photos in the main garden?
The Garden's ceremony and reception package includes main Garden access for day-of photography. Zoya and Jack used that time before the ceremony for portraits around the garden.
Who planned Zoya and Jack's wedding?
Ashley Brantner of First Pick Planning. She is the one who pushed Zoya and Jack to do one thoughtful detail, which became the hand-painted table cards for every guest.
Does Wade Snider photograph weddings at the UC Botanical Garden?
Yes. Wade is based in Truckee and travels to Berkeley and the rest of the Bay Area for weddings and elopements. Send your date through the contact page to check availability.
Berkeley, California
Small, loose and a little wild.
Zoya and Jack's UC Botanical Garden wedding was family, close friends, a ceremony in the redwoods and a dance floor that never emptied. If you want a Bay Area wedding that feels like a party with your favorite people, this is what it can look like.
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