Palace of Fine Arts
San Francisco, CA
| Venue type | Other Venue |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Published price | From $939 |
| Capacity | Up to 250 guests |
| Setting | Outdoor |
| Event type | Ceremony only |
What the venue publishes
SF Rec & Park site page, Wedding Ceremony Fees: "Reservation Fee: $597 / Hourly Rate (2 Hour Minimum): $171". Minimum bookable ceremony cost = $597 + 2 hours x $171 = $939. This is the CEREMONY rate only.
$939 is the lowest published rate for this space. Day, season, and residency can move it up.
Weddings are allowed under the rotunda only, at Lyon Street and Marina Green Boulevard. Ceremony only at this price: the site page states the minimum fee for a RECEPTION at the Palace of Fine Arts is $5,000 with a $1,000 refundable cleaning deposit, and that staffing is required for receptions at an additional $96 per hour (3 hour minimum). $500 refundable cleaning/damage deposit for ceremonies (not part of the price). Amplified sound is not allowed. 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 7 other venue listings in the metro it ranks 4th lowest, against a median of $939 for that type.
What the capacity costs per guest
The source publishes a capacity of 250 guests. At $939, filling the space works out to $3.76 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 larger 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 other venue listings in San Francisco Bay Area
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale Community Center - BallroomSunnyvale, CA · Other Venue | From $880 | 250 guests |
| Stern Grove Clubhouse / TrocaderoSan Francisco, CA · Other Venue | $1,182 to $1,380 | not published |
| Sunnyvale Community Center - AmphitheaterSunnyvale, CA · Other Venue | From $500 | 700 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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