San Francisco Wedding Venue

Westin St Francis San Francisco Wedding Guide

An elegant wedding venue for all wedding celebrations.

Your wedding will be like a fairytale when you book the Westin St. Francis, commonly referred to as The Great Dame of Union Square in San Francisco. First opened in 1904, the Westin St. Francis is a symbol of luxury, creating grand wedding celebrations with its many unparalleled luxurious spaces and excellent service.

Enchant your wedding guests by having a unique and unforgettable experience at this dazzling venue, which has hosted weddings for over a century, including those of celebrities, royalty, and socialites.

With 33 distinctive rooms, you will be able to create the wedding of your dreams that suits your style and taste perfectly. The hotel has turn-of-the-century rooms like the Landmark Building where you’ll find stunning ballrooms with marble floors, gilt pillars, intricately carved ceilings, and a hundred years’ worth of history.

At the Tower Building, choose a more contemporary look to your wedding celebration that will be sure to enchant you and your guests.

Its two premier spaces, located on the 32nd story Imperial Floor are sophisticated settings for your beautiful love story with floor-to-ceiling windows offering an exclusive view of the city. Five glass elevators overlook spectacular downtown panoramas as they whisk guests up to this sky-high getaway, boasting breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views of the San Francisco Bay Area that extend from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge.

At the Westin St. Francis there is sure to be a room perfect for the San Francisco wedding of your dreams with its many elegant features.

An array of sophisticated hospitality spaces are available at the Westin St. Francis for rehearsal dinners, cocktails, and other wedding events.

The Westin St. Francis offers gourmet options for your wedding celebration along with special rewards and bonus points that can be used toward your honeymoon stay.

The iconic hotel stands in the heart of Union Square in San Francisco, making it the perfect backdrop for your wedding, whether it be an intimate affair or a lavish celebration, featuring its largest event space at over 10,000 square feet, and varying ceiling heights ranging from 8 feet to 24 feet.

Some of the specialty suits include The Grand Ballroom, The St. Francis Suite, and Colonial Ballroom.

In 2019, The Westin St. Francis celebrates its 115 year anniversary as a lux wedding venue that captures the heart of the city of San Francisco.

Westin St Francis Details

Venue Rental Fee (Saturday Peak Season): $3,000-5,000

Rental Fee Includes: Gold Chivari Chairs with Cream Cushions. Wedgwood Charger Plates. Wedgewood China, Crystal Stemware & Sterling Silver Flatware. 5’ & 6’ Round Dinner Tables. High Cocktail Bistro Tables. Votive Candles for all seated and cocktail tables. Printed Menu Cards for each Setting. Oak Wood Dance Floor. Stage Risers for Musical Entertainment.

Catering: In-House/Exclusive Caterer

Number of Guest Rooms: 1,195

Number of Event Spaces: 33

Largest Event Space: 10,700 sq ft

Awards and recognitions: AAA Four Diamond Rating, 2017 & 2018; Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award, 2017; The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, 2017.

Address: 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

From Behind the Lens

What we love about shooting
at Westin St Francis San Francisco.

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Crystal Chandeliers and Golden Hour Drama

The Grand Ballroom's soaring ceilings and ornate crystal chandeliers create naturally luminous ceremony backdrops that photograph beautifully in soft, diffused light. We love capturing the interplay of warm overhead lighting with natural window light during golden hour—it adds depth and dimension that makes every frame feel timeless.

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Iconic Union Square Architecture and Elegance

The venue's 1904 Beaux-Arts architecture provides stunning geometric lines, marble columns, and ornamental details that frame portraits with incredible sophistication. Whether shooting in the hallways, lobbies, or ballrooms, there's always a visually compelling architectural element that elevates even simple couple portraits into editorial-quality images.

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Natural Light Through Historic Arched Windows

Large arched windows flood the ceremony and reception spaces with soft, directional natural light that's a photographer's dream. We can minimize flash dependency and capture the venue's true character with minimal supplemental lighting, resulting in more intimate and authentic-feeling photographs.

Common Questions

What couples typically ask.

What's the ideal photography timeline for a Westin St. Francis wedding?

We recommend arriving 1.5–2 hours before the ceremony to capture getting-ready moments in the bridal suites, which typically have excellent natural light. Plan the ceremony for late afternoon (3–4 PM) to take advantage of Union Square's golden hour for couple portraits outside or on accessible terraces. This also allows us to shoot the first dance and early reception with the venue's ambient lighting, which is most flattering between 6–7 PM.

Where are the most photogenic spots on the property for couple portraits?

The hallways and foyers with arched windows and marble details provide stunning, elegant backdrops without leaving the building. If weather permits, rooftop or exterior Union Square-facing areas offer iconic San Francisco skyline views that are absolutely unbeatable. Inside, the Grand Ballroom's columned spaces and ornate detailing also make for incredibly sophisticated portrait settings.

How does the Westin St. Francis compare to other San Francisco luxury venues photographically?

What sets the Westin St. Francis apart is its century-old architectural integrity combined with impeccable ambient lighting design. Unlike newer modern venues, it offers authentic historic elegance with genuine character in every room. The multiple ballroom options and varied interior spaces give us more creative flexibility than single-space venues, and the Union Square location provides genuine San Francisco context that photographs beautifully.

What should we know about lighting during our reception?

The venue's chandeliers and uplighting are beautiful, but we recommend coordinating with your planner about lighting design to avoid overly colored or dim conditions that can be challenging for photography. Champagne and warm white tones photograph best; we'll work with your lighting design to ensure the ambiance is both romantic and well-lit for candid moments. Golden hour photography should happen before the sun fully sets, so we'll build your timeline around that window.

Is there ample space for our photographer to move around during the ceremony and reception?

Yes, the Grand Ballroom and other ceremony spaces are generously proportioned with excellent sightlines from multiple angles. However, we recommend confirming the exact ceremony layout and any photography restrictions with your venue coordinator in advance. The venue is typically accommodating with multiple ballrooms available, which means we have flexibility to position ourselves for optimal angles without disrupting guests.

Ready to Start?

Photographing weddings at
Westin St Francis San Francisco.

Lin & Jirsa has spent over 15 years documenting weddings across Southern California. If you're planning your day at Westin St Francis San Francisco, we'd love to share our experience with the venue and put together coverage that fits your celebration.

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Westin St Francis San Francisco Wedding Guide

Westin St Francis San Francisco Wedding Guide

Westin St Francis Details

What we love about shooting
at Westin St Francis San Francisco.

What couples typically ask.

Photographing weddings at
Westin St Francis San Francisco.

Ready to have your story told beautifully?

Schedule a Consultation

Westin St Francis San Francisco Wedding Guide

Westin St Francis San Francisco Wedding Guide

Westin St Francis Details

What we love about shootingat Westin St Francis San Francisco.

What couples typically ask.

Other venues we'vephotographed nearby.

Photographing weddings atWestin St Francis San Francisco.

Ready to have your story told beautifully?

Schedule a Consultation

What we love about shooting
at Westin St Francis San Francisco.

Other venues we've
photographed nearby.

Photographing weddings at
Westin St Francis San Francisco.