Plan a Tiburon/Marin Wedding

The beauty of a San Francisco Bay area wedding is being able to capture an incredibly special ceremony and then having the beautiful backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge for your reception. For all our Bay Area wedding couples, I have put together the ultimate guide for how to plan a Tiburon wedding from start to finish.

Ceremony and Reception Locations to Plan a Tiburon Wedding

For a Tiburon/Marin County wedding, there are several romantic options to exchange your vows in front of your loved ones and also have photos of the iconic SF Bay Bridge.

St. Hilary & Landmarks Art and Garden Center

A favorite that our couples love is St. Hilary Catholic Church. As long as you or your partner is Catholic you are welcome to celebrate your wedding here. The church features contemporary stained glass windows unlike anything you have seen before. There is also a wide open sanctuary space, so inviting for your guests. St. Hilary’s weddings blend old-fashioned tradition with modern elegance. The church has a Wedding Coordinator who will walk you through every detail and their priests will prepare you spiritually for a loving and fruitful partnership for life. Here Comes The Guide points out that it is situated atop a knoll overlooking Belvedere, Angel Island and the Golden Gate—a site protected as a rare wildflower preserve. Come here for a romantic wedding everyone will be talking about.

After your St. Hilary’s wedding, we will head with your guests to a reception at Landmarks Art & Garden Center. Your reception will take place on one of the four terraces and will include brick walkways and lush lawns. Every area includes an extensive view of the water and southern Marin’s steep hills. A perfect view for guests sipping champagne and toasting to your forever. Best of all, it’s a 5 minute drive from church to the reception. Your sunset photos with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background will be nothing short of spectacular. 

Deer Park Villa & Battery Spencer

Close your eyes. Picture yourself stepping into a circle of colossal redwood trees in your wedding-day attire. Now imagine all of your closest friends and family are there, waiting for you beneath twinkle lights and tree branches. Welcome to Deer Park Villa wedding venue in Fairfax, California. Fairfax is the gem of Marin County. For wedding inspiration, take a look at a wedding we captured at Deer Park Villa Wedding Venue.   

Situated about 30 minutes south of Deer Park Villa is Battery Spencer. Start your wedding day with a first look featuring the Golden Gate Bridge behind you. This intentional way to start your wedding day is something you will always cherish. Drive together up to Deer Park Villa and stop for a little something to eat. Pre wedding food often gets overlooked on wedding day! You’ll talk about the day to come and get any jitters out. Having both photos with the golden gate bridge and the redwoods is the best of what California has to offer.

San Francisco City Hall & Greens Restaurant

One town over from Marin County is San Francisco. I know a lot of couples are set on getting married in the city. If you envision your special day staying in San Francisco with a small group of loved ones, I am here to introduce you to a San Francisco City Hall micro wedding. We had a couple choose a San Francisco City Hall Wedding Ceremony and it is so much more than a courthouse wedding!

For one, the SF City Hall is historic landmark and has become a national wedding destination. If you want the elegance and opulence of a royal wedding without white horses and a castle drawbridge, this is the place. San Francisco City Hall, aka “The People’s Palace,” gets its name for stunning staircases, sky-high ceilings and enormous, ornate windows. You can count on stunning wedding portraits at this four-story wedding venue. If you are wondering ‘how far in advance should I book my wedding at SF City Hall?’ no more than 90 days! Although there is a fair amount of planning you can get a start on ahead of time.

Two miles away from City Hall, host your reception at Greens Restaurant. A treasure trove for vegetarians, Greens is known for a distinctive culinary style of celebrating vegetables. Their ever-changing menus are dedicated to the seasonal harvests of local farmers and the organic gardens of its farm, Green Gulch. Book the private dining room for your reception with a panorama view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and the Marina sea life. Your lively celebration will take place in a spacious warehouse with grand windows stretching from floor-to-ceiling in the dining room. It does not get more San Francisco than this. 

Plan a Tiburon Wedding with Hair and Makeup Services

Jennica Leys has been in the bridal hair business since 2016 and absolutely loves every minute of it. She creates beautiful and unique styles, perfect for your wedding day. Jennica specializes in a variety of braids making her hairstyles stand out.

If you are planning to have your hair up, our recommendation is Aimee Lam. Her style of clean texture updo’s and modern waves stuns on her brides. She looks forward to bringing elegance, beauty and happiness to your special day.

For your beautiful bridal makeup, Kary Li and her team are ready to take care of you. On your big day, their stylists will be with you for the ENTIRE duration, making sure you look great for each and every photo opportunity! In addition to makeup applications for you and your wedding party, they also include eyebrow shaping and false lashes. 

Rose Rosales is a San Francisco makeup artist and brand ambassador for luxury cosmetic brands found in Sephora, Nordstrom, Space NK, and Blue Mercury locations across the SF/Bay Area. She specializes in weddings and is on TheKnot’s – Best of Weddings  list of beauty vendors. Her goal is to simply enhance your natural beauty and accentuate your best features with her attention to detail, artistic & creative skills.

How to Marry in Marin County

If you are ready to plan a Tiburon wedding, you can apply for a marriage license anywhere in California. Both you and your partner must be unmarried and 18 years old with valid, legal identification. You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California. You’ll want to start your planning before your marriage application because you can’t actually get your marriage license until you are less than 90 days out from the date of your ceremony. Good news – they make it pretty easy to download and complete the application.

While you don’t need to get your marriage license in Marin, you DO need to return it to Marin City Clerk if that is the county where your wedding took place. Your marriage license must be recorded in the County where it was issued. When you plan a Tiburon wedding, you will need to return your license to Marin County NOT San Francisco County. This is typically the responsibility of your officiant, but it is always good to confirm with them.

Learn more at County of Marin.

Plan a Tiburon Wedding and Choose Your Officiant 

Speaking of your officiant, your wedding ceremony has to be performed by an authorized person. If you have someone close to you who you would like to officiate the ceremony, it is relatively easy for them to get ordained online. Universal Life Church has been used by some family turned officiants that we have met! However, there is always the option to use a professional wedding officiant. With a professional you can guarantee that your officiant is well spoken and an expert on walking you through the ceremony start to finish. 

Aside from the ceremony, the officiant also has the important job of facilitating some of your favorite photos! This includes your first kiss as husband and wife, letting the guests know when to stand for your aisle march, and announcing your proper send off photos! We love a good dip heading back down the aisle as you make your exit.

Since 2017 Officially Hitched has officiated ceremonies and solemnizing marriages throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Their officiant will work with you and your partner to design a ceremony that  reflects your union. The most raved-about feature is writing your original love story, the unique signature of your wedding. By your wedding day, everyone will think you and your officiant have been friends for years!

Reverend Don at Golden Gate Weddings has a unique gift to create and present a memorable and touching wedding ceremony, reflecting the couple’s feelings for each other, and celebrating their desired traditions. When you attend a wedding ceremony that he conducts, you will quickly see and feel how the gathering is turned into an event that is spiritual, even without being specifically religious. 

Let’s Work Together

When you are ready to plan a Tiburon wedding, give me a call as your dedicated Bay Area wedding photographer! I have a passion for documenting weddings and specialize in portraits for both California and destination weddings. I am here to bring calm and warmth as I guide you through your wedding day photos. You are there to enjoy every moment, I am here to help you remember them.