Wedding Venues in San Francisco: A Boutique Guide to Planning Your Celebration at The Marker
A City Made for Celebrations
San Francisco remains one of the most sought-after wedding destinations in California and for good reason. The city blends historic architecture, intimate neighbourhoods, sweeping bay views, and world-class dining into a wedding landscape that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. Searches for wedding venues in San Francisco continue to rise because couples want a location where personality, creativity, and convenience come together naturally.
At The Marker Hotel San Francisco, we’ve welcomed generations of celebrations, from our earliest days as Hotel Bellevue to the vibrant era of Hotel Monaco, where two weddings a day was once the norm. Today, that legacy continues in a more refined, design-forward way, offering couples a boutique venue in Union Square with architectural charm and the intimacy only a historic hotel can deliver.
Why San Francisco Is One of California’s Best Wedding Destinations
Few cities offer the variety and atmosphere San Francisco brings to a wedding weekend.
A Venue Style for Every Couple
Unlike cities where venues follow one architectural script, San Francisco’s variety is its superpower. Couples can choose from:
- Grand civic architecture like City Hall
- Boutique hotels (like The Marker) steps from cable car lines
- Garden and park spaces in Golden Gate Park or The Presidio
- Industrial-chic warehouses in Dogpatch
- Historic mansions and ballrooms with timeless character
Whatever your vision is, modern minimalism, vintage glamour, off-beat artsy, intimate and cosy, this city has a venue to match.
Photo Backdrops You Don’t Need to Force
From the Palace of Fine Arts to Chinatown’s Dragon Gate, Union Square’s architecture to Nob Hill’s sweeping views, San Francisco scenery elevates any wedding album.
Year-Round Wedding Season
Foggy mornings, mild winters, and sunny autumns mean indoor and outdoor weddings are possible nearly every month. It’s one of the reasons wedding venues in San Francisco see such consistent search volume across seasons.
Destination-Friendly Logistics
With SFO close by, BART connectivity, and easy walkability around Union Square, guests can arrive, settle in, and start celebrating with very little stress.
Types of Wedding Venues in San Francisco (and How They Compare)
To help couples narrow their search, here’s what each major venue type offers, along with what makes boutique hotels uniquely appealing.
Boutique Hotels (like The Marker Hotel)
Ideal for couples wanting:
- A setting with personality
- Ceremony + reception + accommodations in one place
- Guest convenience
- Catering handled in-house
- Smaller or medium-sized celebrations
Boutique hotels also bridge the gap between affordability and experience, providing a curated feel without the cost of a large-scale ballroom venue.
Historic Landmarks
City Hall, Golden Gate Park’s Conservatory of Flowers, and certain private mansions offer unmatched grandeur, but often require coordinating separate reception venues, transport, permits, and catering.
Outdoor Venues
Beautiful, but weather-dependent and often logistically complex (permits, sound rules, rentals).
Art Galleries & Cultural Spaces
Minimalist, modern, excellent for design-driven couples, though these spaces typically require external vendors for most elements.
Small Wedding Venues
Growing demand for micro weddings (10–40 guests) has led to private dining rooms, boutique hotel parlours, and historic salons becoming sought-after spaces.
Why Couples Choose The Marker for Their San Francisco Wedding
More than a venue, The Marker Hotel is a wedding setting with history, character, and an atmosphere designed for connection.
A Legacy of Love & Celebration
When we were Hotel Monaco, weekend weddings filled our calendar, often two a day. That foundation still shapes the experience we offer today: warm service, personal touches, and a genuine understanding of what couples need.
Architectural Details That Set the Scene
Couples drawn to The Marker Hotel often fall in love before they ever see a ballroom; the building itself carries a sense of history and artistry that’s rare in downtown San Francisco. Inside, original architectural details create a backdrop that feels intentional and atmospheric, elevating celebrations without the need for heavy décor.
At the heart of the hotel is our two-story marble staircase, a dramatic and photogenic focal point perfect for first looks, portraits, or a grand entrance. Nearby, the Inglenook fireplace, a step-in, sit-in architectural feature unique to The Marker Hotel, offers a character-rich setting for intimate moments and winter weddings.
The lobby also features two functioning fireplaces, giving the arrival experience a warm, welcoming glow that sets the tone for the entire celebration. Paired with the building’s ornate moulding, rich textures, and historic charm, these elements create a sense of occasion from the moment you step inside.
Spaces Designed for Flexible, Intimate Celebrations
Whether you’re envisioning an intimate ceremony, a lively reception, a candlelit rehearsal dinner, or a relaxed morning-after brunch, The Marker offers a collection of flexible spaces that shape themselves around your day. Each venue balances character, comfort, and thoughtful design, allowing you to create a celebration that feels entirely your own.
Thoughtful Wedding Packages & Catering
Your menu should feel as personal as your celebration. Whether you’re envisioning elegant canapés, a multi-course plated dinner, or something more contemporary, our culinary team crafts dishes that balance fresh, modern flavours with timeless wedding favourites. Each package is designed to simplify your planning while giving you the flexibility to tailor the experience to your tastes.
Stay & Celebrate in One Place
With stylish Rooms & Suites upstairs, guests enjoy:
- Walkable Union Square access
- Ease of arriving without transportation stress
- The ability to turn your wedding into a full weekend
Wedding & Reception Spaces at The Marker San Francisco
As one of Union Square’s most character-rich boutique hotels, The Marker Hotel offers a collection of versatile event spaces designed for ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and wedding-weekend gatherings. Each room blends the building’s historic architectural charm with thoughtful, modern updates, giving couples a choice of backdrops that feel both timeless and personal.
The Bellevue Ballroom
Up to 300 guests · 2,870 sq ft
The centerpiece of our event spaces, the Bellevue Ballroom sets the stage for elegant ceremonies and grand receptions. With soaring ceilings, historic detailing, and room for dining, dancing, and décor, it’s one of the most striking boutique wedding venues in downtown San Francisco.
Perfect for: full wedding ceremonies, receptions, and larger celebrations.
Belvedere Ballroom
Up to 244 guests · 2,300 sq ft
The Belvedere offers the same sense of occasion as Bellevue, with the flexibility to split the room into two smaller spaces, ideal for couples who want a ceremony in one area and a reception in another, or for more intimate event flows.
Perfect for: flexible layouts, medium-to-large receptions, multi-part events.
Wonderly & Spade
Up to 125 guests each · 1,575 sq ft
Located on the lower lobby level, these two sister spaces offer clean, versatile layouts that adapt easily to wedding brunches, rehearsal dinners, micro-weddings, or welcome receptions. Each room includes a pre-function area that allows for cocktails or gathering before the event.
Perfect for: rehearsal dinners, small weddings, cocktail receptions.
Hammet Lounge
Up to 85 guests · 855 sq ft
Warm, welcoming, and filled with the building’s signature character, Hammet Lounge is ideal for intimate ceremonies, after-parties, or lounge-style receptions.
Perfect for: micro-celebrations, cocktail evenings, lounge-style events.
Bogart, Archer & Astor Rooms
Up to 25–30 guests · 348–420 sq ft
These thoughtfully designed rooms are ideal for elopements, family-only ceremonies, bridal party suites, or wedding-weekend breakout gatherings.
Perfect for: micro-weddings, getting-ready rooms, signing rooms, small private dinners.
The Gallery
Up to 25 guests · 181 sq ft
A picture-perfect setting for incredibly intimate celebrations — ideal for couples hosting a chic micro-ceremony, tea ceremony, or small family gathering.
Tratto Restaurant
Up to 175 guests · 1,644 sq ft
For couples who want a vibrant, culinary-driven celebration, Tratto offers full or partial buyouts with rustic Italian menus and a warm, stylish atmosphere.
Perfect for: rehearsal dinners, wedding brunches, after-parties, restaurant-style receptions.
How to Choose the Right Wedding Venue in San Francisco
1. Define Your Guest Count Early
Many San Francisco venues are surprisingly intimate. Knowing whether you’re hosting 30 or 300 guests will immediately narrow your venue list.
2. Consider the Neighbourhood Experience
Your neighbourhood sets the tone:
- Union Square: walkability, restaurants, theatres, iconic architecture
- Nob Hill: grand, historic, traditional
- Presidio / Golden Gate Park: natural and scenic
- Waterfront: bayside romance
Union Square’s convenience and atmosphere make it one of the city’s most requested areas for wedding weekends.
3. Prioritise Guest Convenience
Booking a venue with accommodations on-site (like The Marker Hotel) removes stress and helps keep the celebration seamless.
4. Assess Photography Opportunities
Venues near architectural landmarks give couples multiple unique backdrops without travel time.
5. Clarify Your Decor Vision
Some venues need full-scale design work. Boutique hotels often need far less, as the character already elevates the atmosphere.
Designing a Full Wedding Weekend at The Marker Hotel
A wedding at The Marker isn’t just a single event, it’s a full weekend built around connection, celebration, and ease. Our Union Square location and versatile gathering spaces make it simple to host every moment under one roof, so guests can settle in and enjoy the experience without rushing across the city.
Friday
Guests check in, unwind by the lobby fireplaces, and ease into the weekend with welcome drinks. Rehearsal dinners are hosted in one of our private dining or event spaces, allowing everyone to gather comfortably without leaving the hotel.
Saturday
Start the morning with photos on the grand marble staircase or in our stately common spaces before moving seamlessly into the ceremony and reception. With multiple venues on-site, you can transition from vows to cocktails to dancing without logistical stress; everything happens within steps.
Sunday
A relaxed farewell brunch brings everyone back together before departure. Whether you choose a catered spread in one of our event rooms or a private dining experience at Tratto, it’s a warm close to the weekend.
Every touchpoint feels intimate, elegant, and uniquely yours, a wedding experience designed to keep your guests together, present, and immersed in your celebration from beginning to end.
Make The Marker Your San Francisco Wedding Venue
For generations, couples have chosen this address, first as Hotel Bellevue, then as Hotel Monaco, and now as The Marker Hotel because celebrations here feel both timeless and personal. The architecture sets the tone, the service carries the moment, and the location keeps everyone connected to the heart of San Francisco.
If you’re envisioning a ceremony framed by historic detail, a reception shaped around great food and warm hospitality, or a wedding weekend where guests can settle in and stay close, our Union Square hotel offers a backdrop that makes it all feel effortless.
Explore our wedding packages, discover how we host guest room blocks, or start imagining your day within our collection of beautiful gathering spaces. Whatever you’re planning, The Marker is ready to help bring it to life, with the same spirit of celebration that has lived here for decades.
