VENUE SPOTLIGHT: FILOLI GARDEN
FILOLI GARDENS WEDDINGS BY BUSTLE EVENTS
Once you’ve chosen your wedding planner, your next big selection is to select a venue. Searching for a venue can feel overwhelming, but with a bit of help, it’s one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning! We love helping our clients find the perfect setting for your wedding while helping you fulfill your vision. That being said, we want to spotlight some of our favorite venues on the Blog. Today we want to share a gorgeous gem nestled along the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains: Filoli Gardens.
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING WITH BUSTLE EVENTS
First, we always begin the venue search for our clients by defining a basic wish list. Some of the questions we ask are:
Do you want to have your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception indoors or outdoors?
Do you have a preference for the end time?
What type of setting do you envision for your wedding?
Do you want to have alcohol served, and what type would you like? Open Bar? Signature cocktail?
Do you have catering preferences?
These questions will get you started. Imagining the different parts of the venue in conjunction with your preferences will help guide the venue selection process. The venue selection is so important because it sets the tone for everything else. We always recommend working with the venue’s natural setup and ambiance to create your overall vision (instead of trying to transform a venue into something it’s not). And Filoli Gardens is one of the easiest venues to work with!
FILOLI GARDENS | LUXURY GARDEN WEDDING VENUE NEAR SAN FRANCISCO
The Bay Area of northern California boasts endless wedding venue options, so how do you find the perfect one for your unique wedding? After going through your wish list, the experienced team at Bustle Events will provide you with some of our top-recommended venues based on your location and style. It’s not uncommon for Filoli Gardens to come up on our list of recommendations, and you’ll see why:
Just 30 miles south of San Francisco, the Filoli Gardens estate sprawls across a colorful slope of the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains. Not only is the property gorgeous, but this country estate is also steeped in 20th-century history. Visitors come from all around to experience both the natural beauty and learn about the region’s history. Filoli Gardens features an amazing combination of history and beautifully manicured gardens. The entire property is over 654 acres and boasts many different areas to host each part of a wedding.
FILOLI GARDENS EVENT SPACES INCLUDE:
· Grand Ballroom
· Entry Courtyard
· Pool Pavilion & Lawn
· Large Courtyard (seats 600 for dinner)
· Upper & Lower Lawns (behind the house)
THE FILOLI GARDENS WEDDING EXPERIENCE
For couples who want an upscale garden vibe, Filoli Gardens won’t disappoint. The beauty of this venue is the exclusivity. While the gardens can get a little crowded during regular operating hours (because it’s a must-see area attraction), the venue turns into a beautiful space of private luxury for your wedding day.
The venue offers over 16 acres of lush, formal gardens, diverse indoor and outdoor event spaces, and even a grand ballroom. Their packages (excluding micro weddings) include full, private use of the estate. So, you’re guaranteed to have no awkward guest appearances on your big day!
FILOLI GARDEN WEDDING PACKAGES ALSO INCLUDE:
· On-site personnel
· Complimentary parking (up to 370 cars)
· A 2-hour portrait session
· Complimentary heritage level membership to the gardens
Additionally, we bet you’ll even love the motto the estate was founded on. William Bourn, the estate’s first owner, “dubbed the estate’ Filoli,’ a made-up word drawn from the first letters of his personal motto: ‘FIght for a just cause; LOve your fellow man; LIve a good life.’” Although the Filoli Gardens has served many purposes over the years, the essence and original sentiment of its first founder still rings true.
THE BAY AREA’S MOST VERSATILE OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUE
At a wedding venue like Filoli Gardens, there is no limit to the versatile areas able to host the different moments throughout your wedding day. The versatility is ideal for a venue because each wedding is so unique. For example, some garden spaces like the Pool Pavilion boast a carefully manicured style with perfectly spaced shrubs and neatly lined hedges. These feature a very classic, polished look for the most elegant weddings.
However, if you want something a bit more whimsical, the Walled Garden area displays cotton candy-like crabapple trees, bright cherry blossoms, peaceful alcoves, and a serene lily pond. And it smells just as amazing as it looks when the breeze gently sweeps through the branches—magical!
We love this venue and the way each space has its own feel and overall design. It is such a wonderful blank canvas as a whole, and yet each area is stunning on its own. We have loved every single wedding we’ve planned at Filoli Gardens, and each one has showcased a different style.
Filoli Gardens is also ideal for couples who want to have an outdoor wedding but are hesitant about the weather. The team at Filoli Gardens has always been fantastic regarding inclement weather plans. Whether you decide to use a tent or opt for one of their indoor spaces, your wedding day will still go on without a hitch—looking as beautiful and perfectly planned as ever!
BOOK YOUR SPOT WITH BUSTLE EVENTS AT FILOLI GARDENS TODAY
In addition, Filoli Gardens is perfect if you are looking for a true gem and a venue that can be designed to fit your unique style. We love creating the most extraordinary experiences at Filoli Gardens. Bustle Events is honored to be listed on the exclusive Preferred Planners List for this venue.
If you want to know more about Filoli Garden or our wedding planning services, we would love to chat with you.
