Golden Gate Park - Chinese Pavilion
San Francisco, CA
| Venue type | Park & Pavilion |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Published price | From $939 |
| Capacity | Up to 50 guests |
| Setting | Outdoor |
| Event type | Ceremony and reception possible |
What the venue publishes
SF Rec & Park site page, Cost: "Reservation Fee: $597 / Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $171". Minimum bookable cost = $597 reservation fee + 2 hours x $171 = $939. Matches the "Wedding Sites Reservation Fees & Hourly Rates" line in the citywide Park Code Fees schedule (FY25-26).
$939 is the lowest published rate for this space. Day, season, and residency can move it up.
Carved pavilion in the middle of Stow Lake Island, reached from M.L.K. Jr. Drive and Stow Lake Drive East. $500 refundable cleaning/damage deposit (not part of the price). Amplified sound is not allowed; chairs and tables are not provided; the park stays open to the public during the ceremony. The hourly fee for outdoor weddings is waived for Veterans who are San Francisco residents (reservation fee still applies, proof of veteran status and SF residency required). Reservations can be made up to one year in advance and must be booked at least 10 business days ahead (30 days if park staffing is required); duplicate applications for the same date go to a randomized lottery. Permittee must be 21 or older.
Published on sfrecpark.org, checked August 2026. Fee schedules change, so confirm before booking.
Where this price sits in San Francisco Bay Area
$939 is the 33rd lowest published starting price of the 46 venues listed in the San Francisco Bay Area metro. The metro median starting price is $487, and 10 of the 46 listings publish a higher starting price than this one.
Among the 13 park & pavilion listings in the metro it ranks 13th lowest, against a median of $395 for that type.
What the capacity costs per guest
The source publishes a capacity of 50 guests. At $939, filling the space works out to $19 per guest for the site fee alone, before the license, an officiant, food, or rentals. The median published capacity across the 34 San Francisco Bay Area listings that publish one is 100 guests, so this space is smaller than the metro median.
Cheaper published prices in San Francisco
These listings in San Francisco publish a starting price below $939.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette ParkSan Francisco, CA · Park & Pavilion | From $811 | 150 guests |
| Fay ParkSan Francisco, CA · Garden & Conservatory | From $567 | 100 guests |
| Golden Gate Park - Fuchsia DellSan Francisco, CA · Garden & Conservatory | From $511 | 150 guests |
Other park & pavilion listings in San Francisco Bay Area
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian RoomBerkeley, CA · Park & Pavilion | $672 to $3,468 | 150 guests |
| Sanborn County Park - Sequoia / Peterson GroveSaratoga, CA · Park & Pavilion | $553 | 200 guests |
| Golden Gate Park - Portals of the PastSan Francisco, CA · Park & Pavilion | From $511 | 100 guests |
Marriage license in City and County of San Francisco, CA
The venue fee above does not include the license. San Francisco sits in City and County of San Francisco, CA, and these are the terms that county publishes. Checked September 2026.
| Issuing office | Office of the County Clerk, City and County of San FranciscoCity Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102 |
| License fee | $129Public Marriage License $129; Confidential Marriage License $129. New fees effective July 1, 2026. |
| Waiting period | None |
| License valid for | 90 days |
| Who must appear | Both parties, in person |
| ID required | unexpired government issued photo ID such as a passport, driver's license, resident alien card or military ID; if the ID does not show the full legal name, a certified copy of the birth certificate or Social Security card is also needed |
| Appointment | Required |
| Apply online | Application available online |
| Same-day issue | Issued the same visit |
| Ceremony at the office | Offered for $113Civil marriage ceremony at City Hall during office hours by appointment, $113. Offsite, weekend and holiday ceremonies are $336 total ($186 at reservation plus a $150 commissioner fee). A one-day deputy marriage commissioner is $186. |
| Witnesses | 1 required by statute |
Source: sf.gov, sf.gov, cdph.ca.gov
You must submit the marriage license application when you book the appointment. Appointments cannot be rescheduled, only cancelled, and there are no refunds. Applicants under 18 need written consent of at least one parent plus written permission from a San Francisco Juvenile Court judge and are only eligible for a public license.
How the metro prices out
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Other spaces at Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park rents 6 spaces for weddings and each is priced separately, so booking this one does not get you the others. Compare all 6 side by side.